Discipleship
Topics: Disciple
Text: a scholar, sometimes applied to the followers of John the Baptist (Matt. 9:14),
and of the Pharisees (22:16), but principally to the followers of Christ.
A disciple of Christ is one who
(1.) believes his doctrine,
(2.) rests on his sacrifice,
(3.) imbibes his spirit, and
(4.) imitates his example (Matt. 10:24; ``A student is not greater than his teacher. A servant is not above his master.
Luke 14:26, ``Anyone who wants to be my follower must love me far more than he does
his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters--yes, more than his own life--
otherwise he cannot be my disciple.
- 27. And no one can be my disciple who does not carry his own cross and follow me.
- 33. So no one can become my disciple unless he first sits down and counts his blessings--
and then renounces them all for me.
Jn: 8:30: As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31: Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him,
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Jn.15:7: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
-abide,-- continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry .
John 6: 66. At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.
:67. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, ``Are you going too?''
:68. Simon Peter replied, ``Master, to whom shall we go?
You alone have the words that give eternal life,
:69. and we believe them and know you are the holy Son of God.''
Jos:1:7. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you; turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
- 8. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.
- 9. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
1Ti: 4:15: Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
2 Ti: 2:15:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Mt:10:25: It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master,
and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Mt:12:49: And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said,
Behold my mother and my brethren!
2 Ti. 2:19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
- 20. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver,
but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
- 21. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour,
sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
- 22. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace,
with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Tit. 2:11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12: Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing
of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14: Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity,
and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
There is a balance between grace and holiness.
We live separate, we are not of the world but we are in the world.
Jn:15:19: If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Rom:6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you:
for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Rom:6:15: What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law,
but under grace? God forbid.
Don't get out of balance in either direction
either getting into bondage to legalism or thinking you have a license to sin.
An example of this is trying to live under the law verses living in grace. You can try to be holy in every aspect of your life to the point of legalistic bondage. For instance the way you dress, wear your hair, makeup, etc. These things are between you and God, I am not trying to tell people what they must do, only to say true holiness doesn't come from the outside but from within. Or thinking you have so much freedom that you can do anything you want any time you want to do it. You can and God will permit you to do so, but there will be a price to pay! God requires true holiness from His children. There is a balance in God's Word concerning all things.
G R A C E ----- God's Riches At Christ Expense
Grace is an enabling force to cause us to overcome:
death with life
evil with good
sickness with health
poverty with prosperity
Eph:2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
Ja.4:6: But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you.
8: Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands,
ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Rom:6:6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Gal:5:24: And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
2Cor:6:17: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,
saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
The purpose for being separate is to good works.
Mt:5:16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Eph:2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ti:2:14: Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity,
and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
1Tm:6:18: That they do good, that they be rich in good works,
ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
[Communicate is not speech but providing, or giving money for the sake of the gospel.]
God is love, He loves to give good gifts, He wants us to do the same
When we walk in the love of God, and allow Him to manifest Himself through us, we bless others and get blessed in the process.
-- Revised Standard
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.
We will get blessed not only now but in the age to come.
1Tm:4:8: For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
There is profit to exercise Paul didn't say there was none. But these bodies are temporary, our spirits are eternal. Godliness is profitable unto all things.
[Living Bible]
He.12: 1. Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.
- 2. Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor. He was willing to die
a shameful death on the cross because of the joy He knew would be his afterwards; and now he sits in the place of honor by the throne of God.