What is a Disciple? What did we say disciple was? A follower, somebody who follows. Let’s read again from Matthew 16:13-15, When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" [14] They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." [15] "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" , that is the question that we want to toss to you. we’ve been tossing it to you for a while. Who is Jesus to you? If Jesus were standing in front of you and He ask you that, what would you say? Sabi ni Simon Peter, you are the Christ the son of the living God. He was saying Jesus is the Messiah, remember when was before Pilate, what did Pilate ask Him? Ikaw ba talaga? You know everything in the new testament can be boiled down to this one question, who si Jesus? The only trial in the entire world. Si Jesus do you what He was tried for? He was put on trial for Blasphemy that means the Jews said, He was claiming to be God when He was only a man. He was crucified because He claimed to be God. Many people they believe that Jesus is a preacher, good, He is a good man, right, He is a good teacher, right but all of those belief are short. Look at John 8:48-52, The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?" [49] "I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. [50] I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. [51] I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." [52] At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, What’s the question, Who do you think you are? They were saying He was demon posses because his teachings went against everything they knew. As far as they were concerned Abraham he live then he died, that means everybody else will die. Ang sabi ni Jesus, "If anyone keeps my word he will never see death. Many of us especially if you’re knew here for the fist time maybe we’re afraid to die, then if you ask people where will you go after you die? That’s an even more fearful thought. And we have been raised up to believe something like this, "Don’t worry about it, God is a good God, God created heaven, God will send your there, wala ka namang ginagawang masyadong masama." Look at all of you, aren’t you all good guys? Babait nyo eh. The worst thing that you ever did was shout at your husband, was slap him a litte bit, or put him outside the kulambo, that’s all, how bad can that be? Or you just lie a little bit, or you stole 50 cents. Aren’t we such good people? We are so harmless, we’re not doing anything evil. The thoughts that we think in our head only us can see and God. We have many thoughts in our heads only God can see. We’re so well respected people, we could never go to hell, then we’re thought na you know one day dadaanin natin yan pupunta ka don nagsimba ka naman eh, etc. See many of those things we have to get rid of when you answer the question, who is Jesus to you. Many people are not sure they will go to heaven, many are I think I’ll go to heaven. I had the opportunity of being called to the house of one of the doctors, he was the head of the Philippine Cancers Society and one day that doctor he got cancer and so he was going to die. And what his friends did was they ask all of the religious people to come and then I was like second to the last. My turn came so I began, I ask him questions. Doc. People tell me your dying, is that true? Yeah. Let me just ask you one question Dr. You know you’re dying let me ask you where will you go, are you sure you will go to heaven? He look me straight on the eye and he said, 95% I’m sure, I look him straight in the eye and said, Doc. That’s a dangerous 5% you’re playing around with, the steaks are eternal, you cannot afford that kind of error then I preceded to share Jesus Christ with him. See many of religion… you know this entire bible is not about religion, it’s about a person, that’s why the question is who is Jesus to you? so I ask him, who is Jesus to you ? God knows the answer, we know the answer in our head but many times it will go against what we believe, our religious beliefs will contradict what the bible say, kagaya nito: "I tell you the truth," notice it did not say, if anyone believes, what does it say? If anyone keeps my word, because in the bible believe means you obey. If anyone keeps my word you will never see death. You know you can be sure going to heaven depends on your answer to that question. If you’re sitting here this evening and your answer to that question is Jesus is a good man or a teacher, nice, hinde ka aakyat sa heaven. What should the answer be like Peter? He is the Messiah, that means He is your savior. Sabi sa kanya, Doc. You are relying on Him to take you to heaven not on yourself. The reason why you are only 95% sure, the reason there’s 5% uncertainty is your relying on you that’s why you are not sure. Because if you rely on Jesus can you be 100% sure? Absolutely! So I shared with him the simple truth. What’s the simple truth? Christ died for your sins doc., almost 2000 years ago and then He rose again from the dead, those are two undeniable facts. Now if He is your savior ibig sabihin non you believe that He because of his death and His resurrection will save you, do you really believe that? a lot of you will say yes right away because that’s what you know but what about in your heart Do you really believe that? see only God can see. Remember when Jesus said, nagpunta sila sa harap ni Jesus, they call Him Lord, Lord and Jesus said, "I never knew you," In other words they don’t have an intimate relationship with Jesus. Let me expound on this in a new way, it sounds like something you have heard before, but it’s not. Sabi dito that person will never see death. Look at what the Jew said, now we know you are demon posses are you greater than our father Abraham? Is there anyone greater than Jesus? In our country there are many things or people greater than Jesus Christ that’s why they bow down to them. In their heart they will say, I believe in Jesus, as what? Many they go church because that’s the way they’ve been brought up. Do they really believe in Jesus? Suppose you did not go to the church, could you be save? All this people in this new testament did they go to church to be saved? No!. they met Jesus, Jesus died for our sins. Many would feel entirely uncomfortable if they did not go to church and just rely on Jesus. What does that tell us? Is should tell you that you’re trusting not only Jesus but something else. You’re like on the top of the cliff, you’re looking down oop delikado so anong gagawin mo, tatali ka sa waist mo then you’ll tie it to a tree called religion and then you slowly lower yourself down meronkang parang alalay. Jesus said no such thing, "If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death." So look at their answer John 8:57-59, "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!" [58] "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" [59] At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. The eternal question is, who is Jesus to you? is He your savior really and truly? That’s where it begins and He can only be your savior notice look at the words, If you keep His word that means He is your Lord. He cannot be your savior without Him being your Lord. You go to John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. But you know you read on John 3:36, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." You know why people are not sure they’ll go to heaven because they don’t obey, some people in this room have told me, I believe in Jesus, I confess Him, I have accept Him as Lord and Savior but I am committing adultery, will I go to heaven? I tell her, I cannot give you that assurance you will go to heaven if you are living in adultery. The bible does not do that, the bible is very clear. What does it mean to be a disciple? Back to Matthew, the eternal question of disciple is who is Jesus? because disciple means follower. Let’s go back to Matthew 16, what is the implication My Lord and My God, kasi yon ang sinabi ni Simon Peter. Simon Peter answered, You are the Christ, the son of the living God, sabi ni Jesus, blessed are you Simon for this was not reveal to you by man but my Father in heaven. Once you make that profession Jesus Christ is my Savior, my Messiah and He is my Lord, look at what happens Matthew 16:21, From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. What can you learn from v. 21. What are the first three words? From that time on. See many people skip that but if are studying the bible you want to understand this read on slowly. What does that indicate from this time on? When Peter answered correctly who do you say I am? It does not matter what any body else say. See when you now confess Jesus as Lord, when you have that relationship with Jesus Christ it’s personal, God will come to you and say, Who do you think I am? Like Paul, on that route to Damascus Paul ask the question, who are you Lord? And He said, It’s me Jesus whom you are persecuted. Ang next question ni Paul, what would you have me do? pag naka lusot ka na sa first question, you know who Jesus is, it’s a turning point in your life, unfortunately many of us it was not a turning point, it was external turning point, it was not internal. Once you say Jesus is my Savior, Jesus is my Lord what will Jesus begin to do from that time on He will now train them to be disciples. If you say Jesus is my savior, I am trusting him to go to heaven, what will Jesus now do? He will begin to train you to become His disciple. So when you read this passages, you’ve got to understand. Now with that in mind from that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples. And tonight we going to take a look at it again. Notice the first thing that Jesus explain is His suffering, He has to suffer many things and what did Peter say? Never. Jesus turn to Him get behind me satan you are a what? Stumbling block to me. Can a disciple be a stumbling block? How can a disciple be a stumbling block to Jesus? Do you understand those word, that means I can block, si Peter was blocking the way of Christ, if you professed to have Jesus as your savior and Lord, Do you know that you can be a stumbling block to Jesus Christ? By the way we behave, by the way we think we can become a stumbling block to Jesus Christ. Peter Tachi shared with us one of the greatest truth there is on this earth. India should have been Christian why? Because one of their greatest leaders Mahat Magandhi was a servant in a Christian home but Mahat Magandhi said, "If I look at the so called Christians I know, I am sure that Jesus Christ cannot be God, I am 1000% sure He cannot be God because of the way that Christian caught and caught family behave." They would say some good words by their behavior was nothing like Jesus. And so Mahat Magandhi’s conclusions, Jesus is not God, We the way we behave can influence the way people think about Jesus, we can become stumbling blocks to them. So what is the secret. Then Jesus said to His disciples, eto na yung training, if you say I am your Lord, I am your savior, eto ang umpisa, If anyone would come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. Let’s go to Luke 9:20-23 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God." [21] Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. [22] And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." [23] Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. So what is the first criteria of a disciple? He must deny himself. I called that selflessness. What does it mean self in v. 23? It means self-centered, self-absorption, self-interest must be denied. I, me, my. It has to do with your identity. The next question is, who are you in relation to Jesus Christ so that it’s your identity, it’s your soul, it’s your very life that is in question. Notice the next verse, whoever wants save his life will lose it, whoever looses his life for me will save it. You will only save your life or your identity when? When you loose it for Jesus, in other words here’s the statement. Selflessness means what? Apart from Jesus I have no eternal identity. My identity emanates from my relationship with Jesus Christ. Kaya pag tinanong ka, Butch who are you? I am a stock broker, no that’s only your job, if Butch says, I am Butch, that’s only your name, if I give you another name would you still be you? Yeah!, you’ll still be you, if you say, what’s your religion and you say, Buddhist is that who you are? No that’s only your religious belief. Who are you? and Jesus is saying, You wanna have a real identity? If you are seeking it without Christ you have nothing because when you die what’s your identity nothing, who will you be? No one. Apart from Christ, what eternal identity you have? Nothing. So if that is true, what is Jesus saying, you must deny self, apart from Jesus we have no lasting identity therefor what’s the implication? If Jesus is my identity, He is the source of my lasting identity where should I invest my time in everything else? In Him. So selflessness, let’s define it.

• Disciples must put Christ and His kingdom in priority over their own comfort, convenience, happiness and even their own existence.

2. ETERNAL PESPECTIVE

• Disciples must believe that real profit can be realized ONLY in Christ.

Therefore if He is your identity our suggestion is that deny self means that you will put Christ and His kingdom ahead of everything you think you need to be significant. You are not your own man. If your concerned with your own identity, you will lose it but if you leave your life, if you lose your life for Jesus then and only then will you find real life, in other words you will have identity. What are some of the implications for this? Look at it, What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet loose or forfeit his very self. Do you understand what Jesus is saying? Why is everybody trying to gain the whole world? Because they want to have an identity. See you cannot be more popular than Jesus Christ. It is so important that you will think about your identity, the most crucial thing in fighting the devil is knowing who you really are, because he will try to dissuade you, he will try to get you to be somebody that God never designed you to be. Just like he full Adam. Sabi niya kay Adam and Eve, you know if you it that fruit you will become like God. What is the issue? Identity. Ladies and gentlemen all of us struggle with this issue that’s why some of you are trying to be promoted, that’s why some of you want to have more money, that’s why you want this, that and the other. It will all boil down to identity, who are you. and our suggestion Jesus is saying, you got to know who is Christ and then who are you, you must be related to Him, are you His disciple, are you His follower or not. Let me close with a simple example tonight because many time we are misled by the devil and we give away something so precious for pennies Genesis 25:24-25.The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. [26] After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.V. 27, The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. Genesis 25:32-34 "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" [33] But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. [34] Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright. When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. [25] The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. Now what’s the connection to us? Let me make the connection? You see what was Esau interested in? his life where? here, he did not want to die, he thought his survival was more important than his birth right, he was thinking of his own survival, his comfort. Do you know that many Christians are like Esau? Do you know the birth right that you have if you are connected to Jesus Christ, let’s turn your bible to John 1:12-13, Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- [13] children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. If you receive Jesus, if you get your identity from Jesus Christ He gives you the right to become a child of God. In other words before you knew Jesus, before he was your savior and your Lord, were you a child of God? No, because sabi dito when you receive Him you are given the right to become, it’s a right given by Jesus. So who are you? you are a child of God. Many times eto yung demonyo, anong gagawin nung demonyo? Like Esau, "O ito sopas surrender your birth right." He does not say it to you like that. How does he say it? He gets you to compromise. What’s the devil trying to say? He is trying to get you to behave in such a manner that is contradictory to your identity. Your identity, "Anak ako ng Diyos." Ang anak ng Diyos hinde nangdadaya, ang anak ng Diyos hinde nagsisinungaling, ang anak ng Diyos hinde nag-aadultery. It is inconsistent with your real identity if you’re doing something inconsistent with it, that means the devil has fooled you. It’s not a matter of religion, it’s a matter of who you are. Sino ka ba? "Ako ay isang anak ng Diyos, I have been given that birth right, if I have Jesus." Therefor, I will not give that for anything. Si Jesus in Matthew 4, He was tempted, anong sabi ng demonyo, you can get the whole world Jesus its in his power to give it, ano si Jesus tatanga-tanga? Eh tayo? What’s your price? Sabi nila everybody can be bought if the price is right. That’s discipleship. What’s your price? Are you priceless? can you be bought by the devil? You can never be bought by the devil if you have an eternal perspective. In other words sabi ni Jesus what does it profit a man if you gain the whole world but lose your very self. Sabi niya, Disciples must believe that real profit can be realize only in Christ. That’s the only profit that there is to be realize. Yung earthly profit natin dito wala yan, if your living for those kinds of things then please change your ways be a disciple its your choice but don’t say Jesus is my Savior and Jesus is my Lord if you are not willing to follow Him all the way, don’t be a stumbling block, don’t be like a Judas, are you willing to follow? The rules not gonna be easy will you suffer? Yeah, will you be persecuted? Yes. People will redicule you and say all sorts of things. Many will be surprised at the end time Jesus will say, " I never knew you!".

The criteria for discipleship, we’re just beginning.

1. Selflessness
2. Eternal perspective

It has to do with your identity, apart from Christ you have no eternal identity. Our suggestion think eternally, maski na anong ilagay sa harapan mo whether it be the most beautiful woman or the most beautiful man if Jesus says, "Don’t marry an unbeliever", what should you do? Get out of that relationship, no ifs, buts, or when if you’re willing to lose your life for his sake but I can’t he’s so handsome if I let him go somebody else will get him then one day he’ll become a Christian and I’ll make sisi. Kalokohan!, if you cannot obey Jesus in that little thing when can you ever obey Jesus Christ? Don’t do that please! Follow Jesus, be single for the rest of your life if necessary but you know let me tell you the secret pag hinde ka, "akin yan, akin yan.." pag hinde ka ganon God will bless you. Ngayon kung may nag-propose sa iyo pangit pero Kristiayano, spiritually mature, say yes!, huag ka nang magpakipot pa. Not sight but by faith, do not look at the looks they go away very quickly, go by faith be a disciple. Yun ang ibig sabihin pakasalan mo ang isang disipulo, isang disipulo na hinde iniintindi yung kanyang self and therefor if your boyfriend ever invite you to go and have sex before marriage what should you say? Get behind me satan, you’re a stumbling block to me and to Christ. Be patient. So discipleship means deny himself, take up his cross daily, have an eternal perspective, in that way the devil cannot attack you because his perspective is always temporary. So are you children of God? sabi sa bible if you receive Him, He gives you the right to become a child of God, are you? Let’s pray.