Wings of Faith

 

Does This Seem Hard To You

I. Intro: would you build a house or remodel your bedroom without figuring out how much money you would need to do it? Why do churches try to make converts and disciples without telling the truth of the cost of it all? Why do they seem to tell of all the blessings but not of the conflicts, trials, walk in darkness etc. Do they just want big numbers? Many are called , few are chosen, narrow is the way and few find it.

…..Now we will take a look at who is a disciple, and what are the requirements and rewards!

II. Who is a disciple?

1. A disciple is someone who constantly lives according to the word of Jesus. He doesn’t just follow several individual commandments of the Teacher, but he totally commits himself in obedience to the doctrine and the way of the Teacher. Jesus is our Teacher. Every day He’ll tell us the living words through the Holy Spirit. The commandments, the doctrine and the examples given by the Teacher must find the embodiment in our lives. The most important thing in discipleship is that it’s not based on feelings and emotions, but on the admonition. We have to practically implement what the Word of God reveals to us. The basis of our discipleship is the absolute obedience to God’s Word, or we’ll be dependent on chance or a sudden feeling.

2. A disciple is someone who continually and entirely commits his life to the personality of the Teacher, realizes His faithfulness and love to the disciple. Jesus has a right to demand such commitment from us for He gave His life for us. Jesus entirely committed Himself to us and He’s waiting for the same in return. He desires we trust Him our every step so that He can take our life and guide it in accordance with His will (Matthew 6:24, John 10:1-18). Our Teacher doesn’t pursue His own interest, but takes care of His disciple’s well-being and spiritual growth.

3. A disciple is someone whose connection with Jesus bears fruit (John 15:4-5). Whalen Moor writes : "Our union with Christ transforms our life so that it helps others gain salvation. When a tree is filled with vital juices it can’t keep them inside, and as a result it bears fruit! When a Christian is filled with Christ others see Him, hear about Him, and renew spiritually into the Kingdom of God. Such new converts are one of the fruits of the discipleship". Without such fruit in our life God’s Kingdom won’t spread and the Body of Christ won’t grow.

    1. what are the other "fruits of the spirit:

4. A disciple is someone who has committed himself to an unconditional sacrificial love for others (John 13:34-35). It’s not love as we understand it, but it’s God’s love that He revealed to us. This love isn’t selfish, it doesn’t look for reciprocity. In the Greek original of the Scriptures this love is described with the word "agape" , which means "love that doesn’t demand anything in return"; when God and your neighbor are more valuable to you than your own egoistic desires.

III. Requirements Luke 14-25—33

    1. Puts Jesus above everything and everyone else Luke 14-26
    1. must love Him more than those earthly around us
    2. can have family, friends and Jesus if Jesus is first
    1. Must value following Jesus above life itself
    1. hard to imagine in America—other countries, people get dead for professing faith in Jesus
    2. in America, harder to start a church, zoning laws, neighbors, etc, people want money making things they can tax in areas
    1. Commitment to Jesus above material possessions Luke 14-33 - give up your own possessions---they are Gods on loan to you
    1. rich in material things should be rich in good works 1Tim 6-17—19
    2. nothing is to compete with Christ
    1. die daily to self interest-take up your cross Luke 14-27; 9:23
    1. different from Jesus’ cross ours is death of self and self interest
    2. death of the old man our old self Romans 6:1-14; 1 Corinthians 15:31; 2 Corinthians 4:7-12; Colossians 2:20; 3:11
    3. to please God not ourselves

IV. Rewards

    1. we all have a Master, Christ is the more gentle
    1. we are slaves to what controls us Rom 6:16 , our bodies, our appitites, our religious system Satan
    2. He never requires of us anything which He does not enable us to do, that is the difference from the Pharisees, they won’t help, He will and uses people to do it.
    3. He reveals innermost thoughts and secrets to disciples, no parables to the disciples Mark 4:34 4:11-12 John 15:15, become an intimate friend
    4. Reward based on motive of our actions not size
    5. can’t just seek Him for fringe benefits, He is the reward and is a rewarder of those who seek Him Heb 11:6 we have succeeded only in kicking materialism and self-interest out the front door while inviting them in through the back door
    6. There is nothing which the Lord denies His disciple which is for his ultimate good, and nothing which He takes away which He does not replace with something better Satan wants us to ponder the negative consider this Mark 10:29-30 God only takes away what is not for our good, get a "piece of the pie" now eternal life in the world to come
  1. So what happened to discipleship in the rest of the New Testament?
    1. disciple means follower of Jesus, not just a fan
    2. Jesus called people to follow Him, not just believe in Him the demons do that
    3. Discipleship is the goal—not the means
    1. had to have a "going
    2. had to baptize, not as means of salvation but as a result of it outward show public profession of faith
    3. had to have a teaching personal relationship with Jesus
    4. it is not dependent on some formal program—it is individualistic and intended for every Christian, not just the super spiritual
    1. Whose responsibility is it?
    1. individual to some extent
    2. whole church, corporate
    3. based on giftings and callings all called to something that uses our gift
  1. What are we to do?
    1. Commission: Mat 28
  • 19Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 20teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you(1) always, even unto(2) the end of the world

    Mark 16

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    15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the(1) gospel to the whole creation.(1) See marginal note on Mr 1:1) 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. 17And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with(1) new tongues;(1) Some ancient authorities omit new ) 18they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

    Luke no commission but to the 12 and the 70

    John 21

    15So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of(1) John,(2) lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I(3) love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.(1) Gr Joanes ; See Joh 1:42 margin 2) 3) Love in these places represents two different Greek words) 16He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of(1) John,(2) lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I(3) love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep.(1) Gr Joanes ; See Joh 1:42 margin 2) 3) Love in these places represents two different Greek words) 17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of(1) John,(3) lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time,(3) Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou(4) knowest that I(3) love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep

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    • Does todays church do this?