DiscipleshipGBPA - 510 Discipleship – The Call to God’s Discipline 1st Edition, June, 2009...

GBPA - 510 Discipleship – The Call to God’s Discipline

1st Edition, June, 2009

Midwest Seminary of Bible Theology

This material is not to be copied for any purpose without written permission from American Mission Teams

© Copyright by American Mission Teams, Inc., All rights reserved, printed in the United States of America

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Discipleship The Call to

God’s Discipline GBPA - 510

Requires the book,

“Intentional Christianity”







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ARE YOU BORN-AGAIN?

Knowing in your heart that you are born-again, and followed by a statement of faith are the two prerequisites to studying and getting the most out of your MSBT materials. We at MSBT have developed this material to educate each Believer in the principles of God. Our goal is to provide each Believer with an avenue to enrich their personal lives and bring them closer to God. Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? If you have not accepted Him as such, you must be aware of what Romans 3:23 tells you.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God: How do you go about it? You must believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I John 5:13 gives an example in which to base your faith.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

What if you are just not sure? Romans 10:9-10 gives you the Scriptural mandate for becoming born-again.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation.

Take some time to consider this very carefully. Ask Jesus to come into your heart so that you will know the power of His Salvation and make your statement of faith today. Once you become born-again, it is your responsibility to renew your mind with the Word of God. Romans 12:1-2 tells us that that transformation of the mind can only take place in this temporal world by the Word of God.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.






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The Apostle Paul, giving instructions to his Ason” Timothy states in 2 Timothy 2:15:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

What happens if we do these things? Ephesians 4:12-13 gives us the answer to this question.

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

By studying the Word of God, you will be equipped for service in the Kingdom of God and you will also be ready to take the position in the Body of Christ to which God has appointed you. You will be able to walk in unity with other Believers and you will be a vessel of honor to God that can rightly divide the word of truth. If you are not saved and you do not know what to say, consider this simple prayer. Lord, I know that I have need of a savior. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and the God raised Him from the dead three days later. I ask to be forgiven and for Jesus to come into my heart and be the Lord of my life. I believe now by faith that God has heard my prayer and I am born- again. If you have prayed this prayer, you must accept by faith that your sins have been forgiven. It is important that you tell someone of your decision to accept the Lord. Also, it is our recommendation that you should attach yourself to a local church and undergo water baptism. For those who have prayed this prayer with sincerity of heart, we welcome to eternal life in the Kingdom of God. May the blessings of God overtake you. May God grant you wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in all of His ways. MSBT Directors and Staff






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THE VISION

As we have been commissioned by the prophet of old, we now set our hand to write the vision of Midwest Seminary of Bible Theology, so that: "He that runs may read it, the vision having been clearly written and made plain" Habakkuk 2:2. 1) UNITY - To build up the Body of Christ by networking with all churches, as well as with

local and international ministries. This networking is to provide seasoned leadership ministries to the small local church, to encourage unity and fellowship among Pastors, church leadership and para-church groups through active service.

2) GOSPEL - To go with the lifeline of the Gospel, to educate with love, integrity, and

without compromise. 3) ONE CROSS FOR ALL - To cross the cultural, racial, and denominational lines for

unity, fellowship, networking, and progress. To have an open door through MSBT to all who desire to join with us in a common goal and for the highest good. To proclaim one cross for all cultures, races, denominations, and peoples.

4) GO YE - To go wherever there is a need, to rich or poor, to majorities or minorities, to

large or small churches, to free or bound: to go where many fail to go and to meet the needs before us.

5) THE CALLED - To make available opportunities to those called to minister and to

expand their horizons through new associations and experiences. To aid new and/or younger ministers fulfilling God's call on their lives.

6) EDUCATION - God has charged us with propagating the Gospel through education to

whosoever will. This education is through foundational schools that teach the basics of Christianity as well as correspondence schooling for those seeking more in-depth levels in Christian teachings.

7) APPLICATION - To bring opportunity to students by making available to them

teachings and information for practical application and beyond traditional confines. 8) DREAM A DREAM - To cause each person we associate with to catch a vision, to

dream yet another dream, and to keep their eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith.

9) THE CALL - To encourage each person to move out of their comfort zone, to be all they

can be for Christ and to fulfill that call upon their life. To encourage each one to pursue his purpose, live up to his potential, and produce the fruit of the Spirit.






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Midwest Seminary

of

Bible Theology

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth"

II Timothy 2:15

Administrative & Curriculum Office

P.O. Box 339

Norris City, Illinois 62869

Phone: 618-378-3821

This electronic data file/publication is the sole property of American Mission Teams Evangelistic Organization, Inc. It may be printed in its entirety for

the readers personal use or to pass on to family or friends. It may not be altered, edited or changed in any way and all reproductions of this electronic

data must contain this copyright notice. 8 2004 American Mission Teams Evangelistic Organization, Inc. This material is not to be posted or transmitted






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Discipleship- The Call to God’s Discipline THERE ARE: 143 pages of Commentary 8 Homework assignments 30 Writing assignments 0 Quiz assignments 1 Midterm Exam 1 Final Exam 28 pages of Answer Keys for school sites only (Answer keys are not included in the student’s copy of material. INSTRUCTIONS: Read the Commentary. Do Homework I, which covers pages 7-29 in the Commentary. Do Homework II, which covers pages 29-37 in the Commentary Do Homework III, which covers pages 37-57 in the Commentary. Do Homework IV, which covers pages 57-73 in the Commentary. Do Homework V, which covers pages 73-89 in the Commentary Do Homework VI, which covers pages 89-106 in the Commentary. Do Homework VII, which covers pages 106-123 in the Commentary. Do Homework VIII, which covers pages 123-138 in the Commentary. 13 weeks in a Trimester: 11 weeks of teaching = You will need to cover 13 pages per teaching session. 18 weeks in a Semester: 16 weeks of teaching = You will need to cover 8.9 pages per teaching session. NOTE: The Instructor is encouraged to add his/her personality to the teaching sessions and to add knowledge to the Commentaries. The Instructor had some latitude if they desire to give some outside homework or essays. Before doing so, please check with the administrator of the school.

ALL TERM PAPERS MUST BE COMPLETED AND TURNED IN TO THE INSTRUCTOR BEFORE THE FINAL EXAM. NO GRADES WILL BE GIVEN FOR THE COURSE WITHOUT THE COMPLETION OF THE TERM PAPER.






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Table of Contents I. Introduction 7 II. The Disciple and Seasons of His Salvation 12 III. The Disciple and Discipleship 17 IV. The Disciple and Brokenness 27 V. The Disciple and Prayer 33 VI. The Disciple and His Fellowship with the Bible 37 VII. The Disciple and Worship 45 VIII. The Disciple and The Holy Spirit 48 IX. The Disciple and Christian Responsibility 57 X. The Disciple and Stewardship of His Faith 66 XI. The Disciple and His Spiritual Anatomy 73 XII. The Disciple and Perpetual Sin 81 XIII. The Disciple and Excellence in Ministry 84 XIV. The Disciple and His Church 89 XV. The Disciple and the Disciplined Lifestyle 97 XVI. The Disciple and Forgiveness 103 XVII. The Disciple and Leadership 106 XVIII. The Disciple and His Money 112 XIX. The Disciple and the Equipping Ministry 115 XX. The Disciple and the Great Commission 123 XXI. The Disciple and Continuing Education 129 XXII. Conclusion 134






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I. INTRODUCTION This course has been designed and structured for the serious disciple who has sharply focused his vision on becoming all he can be as a disciple of Jesus Christ. It targets individuals who have a burning desire to serve the Lord Jesus Christ in the greatest of their capacity, and in their own calling. It is our assumption that each one has already yielded the control of their life to Jesus. If it seems as though it offers an appeal to the would-be missionary, that is likely correct, but it will work for others also. After all, the commitment and training necessary for a missionary will be helpful for any Christian. A careful study of this material will be a major benefit to any disciple who desires to seek the face of Jesus and find the mind of God about life and future ministry. In fact, this study is designed to help any person who desires to get started off right and live a life of dedicated obedience to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. A lifetime of servitude to Jesus Christ cannot necessarily be planned and implemented by undertaking a study on discipleship. But, each one can gain an overview of some of the things that lie ahead, and capture special information necessary to help them stay close to Jesus, be led by the Holy Spirit, and be obedient to His call on their lives. Not everyone is “called” as an ordained minister, but everyone has a ministry of some sort, and needs to learn as much as he can about living and being a real Christian. He also needs to learn to minister for Jesus regardless of his situation, calling, and circumstances. Our study here provides bite-sized portions of data that can move us, step-by-step, to maturity (perfection- He.6:1). Following through on these guidelines can help us become the anointed minister of competence God has called each of us to be. We have a lot to learn about being a disciple of Jesus before we can become a capable minister and a mature Christian. But, because of this graded, step-by-step approach to discipleship, we can assemble all these necessary elements without being overwhelmed by them. Thus we should pace self and proceed at our own speed. This study provides many of the things so necessary to our spiritual growth, but it can save us from having to plow through so much unnecessary and time-wasting garbage that others have had to endure. Unfortunately, without proper, structured and accountable leadership, many disciples have become dropouts in the school of Jesus Christ. They were overloaded with too much garbage of unnecessary pressures, overwhelming temptations, excessive demands and false teaching. This garbage came too early and too fast for the disciple to assemble and absorb it into the immature, and ever fluctuating levels of growth in his/her life. There are pit stops, detours and service stations all along our journey. Whether it is addressed in this book or not, some of these stopovers are necessary, while some may






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not be necessary. Hopefully, with a dedicated and prayerful study of this material, each one can steer clear of many of the potholes and pitfalls in the road ahead. We believe this study is designed for those who will not “play” with God. God is not playing games and Christianity is not a game people play. It is a life and death situation. God is serious about this matter, and expects us to be serious about it also. If we are indeed serious about this “life and death” situation with God, then go ahead and read, mediate, study and take Godly counsel from this material. In Mark 12: 28-30 (AMP), Jesus quoted from the Law of Moses to answer a lawyer who desired to know which was the most important of all the commandments. Jesus said,

“The first and principal one of all commands is: ‘Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord; And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength’. This is the first and principal commandment. [Deut 6:4, 5]

The Lord’s answer to this question posed by the lawyer is definitely Scriptural (De.6:4-5). But it was also well known among all the Jewish community. Because of its utmost importance this commandment could be quoted by memory by every Israelite, young or old. Take time out right now and read the entire context of Deuteronomy 6: 4 - 5. Glean from it why Jesus would say this is the “. . . first and principal one of all the commandments,” even though it is not included in the Decalogue (The Ten Commandments). Many scholars have called Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “The Great Commandment.” Please note this: The Great Commandment and The Great Commission have one predominant theme, “teaching” or “discipleship.” At this particular juncture, in Jewish history, during Israel’s wilderness wanderings from their Egyptian bondage and just prior to their entrance into the Promised Land, God gave this very important message, or command (De.6). The Lord God knew that heathen people possessed the land, and that their heathen practices held a grip on the inhabitants. He desired to preserve His teachings about Himself and, therefore, help His children gain and maintain their knowledge and fellowship with Him, as well as their love for Him. The best way to retain and maintain these precious commodities among them would be to teach them to their own children. The Jews knew this passage of Scripture, that Jesus put His stamp of approval on, as the primary commandment, as the “Shama.” The word “Shama” (pronounced “sh ma”), comes from the first word of verse 4, “hear.” Certain variations of the Hebrew word simply mean, “To hear intelligently, often implied as/with attention and obedience.” God wanted the “Sh ma” to be permanently printed on Israel’s hearts and minds.






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Read the context of Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and discover the measures God took to preserve these teachings. Moses told Israel that God had commanded him to teach these statutes and judgments to the people. God wanted Israel to observe and obey His word. If they truly knew God’s teachings they would came nearer to fearing (respecting) Him and being obedient (De.5:1-2) to Him. Let us take a closer look at the emphasis God put on what He wanted and how He wanted them to do it.

Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord [the only Lord]. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might. And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then] You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets (forehead bands) between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (AMP)

First, God commanded Israel to “HEAR.” That means “to hear intelligently,” with attention and for the purpose of obedience. God wanted them to listen intently so they would know exactly how to obey Him. He definitely intended for Israel to purposefully listen to His commands. In order for them to perpetuate His commands, He stirred into this mix an ever-present program of reminder. The point of doctrine was the fact that there is only one God. The first thing God wanted them to hear was His “declaration of monotheism”. He (God) is the only God. There is none like Him. In the Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Everett Harrison discusses all three Synoptic (Matthew, Mark & Luke) Gospel accounts of the encounters of Jesus with the inquisitive lawyer. In Mark’s account of his comments on the phrase, “The Lord our God is one,” Harrison says that the statement is, “The distinct “we” principle of Hebrew faith, that God is one. It should always be noted that Israel is monotheistic and worships only one God. Hearing carries with it the connotation of obeying. Above we gave you a definition of the word “hear” in the Hebrew. We quoted from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, “to hear intelligently, often implied as/with attention and obedience.” Strong’s further implies that “Shama,” the Hebrew word for “hear, “means” to be obedient, to obey.” In brief, when God commanded Israel to “hear,” He simply meant for them to obey. His emphasis on “hearing” was that they should get the message and obey it. God wanted His Word to be in their hearts, and then they could follow their hearts and be obedient to Him.






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Secondly, God commanded Israel to love Him. God wanted His people to love Him with a total love, complete love, a perfect, intense, intimate love. God’s exacting of this type love came to Israel through the lawgiver, Moses. The kind of love God demands is perfect love. The love God desires from mankind must come from the total man- spirit, soul and body. The command states that man must love God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his might. Our Heavenly Father wants us to love Him with every fiber of our being. As the New Testament teaches, each part of man’s tripartite being can be preserved blameless, that every part of man’s makeup can love God. This is that perfect love the beloved disciple taught us (1Jn.4:11, 12, 17, 18). As an interlude, after commanding man to hear, and commanding him to love, and before commanding him to teach, God added this: “These words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart” (v.6). This reminded Israel of the “heart-principle” involved in all their relationships with Him. The heart is the seat of man’s affection and God desires that His commandants proceed from this center of influence. From the center of man, love can identify itself in perfect obedience. Thirdly, God commanded Israel to teach His precepts to their children. This was God’s method of perpetuating His law and attributes to the succeeding generations. He was most emphatic about each thing He taught them. If Israel would hear she could obey. That kept an experiential knowledge of God ever before them. If Israel loved God with all her heart, all her soul, and with all her might, she would preserve His message. If the message was carefully deposited in the head (heart) of every Israelite, it could easily be projected to every part of their individual make-up. These principles could then be infused into children through teaching. They were to teach their children diligently, the very things that they, the parents themselves, had in their own hearts. This meant they were to teach these things “sharply” to their children. The teachings were to “pierce” and “prick” the children’s hearts, so that they would not soon forget God’s teachings. The New International Version begins the 7th verse thusly; “Impress them on your children.” God instructed that the family was to talk about His commandments, and His system of values, making them household words. These teachings were to be discussed when the family was sitting in the house, when they were walking down the road, when they retired for the night, and when they woke up in the morning. What wonderful family discussions. These words from God were also tied as symbols on their hands. They were to wear them like frontlets on their foreheads. These teachings from God were also written on the door facings of every Israelite home, as well as on the gateposts of every dwelling. God wanted Israel to be perpetually reminded every way they turned and at every moment of the day. The is the way every Israelite could commit to memory every word of the “Sh ma,”






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God wants us to hear and obey Him, love Him with all our being, and teach and promote Him wherever, whenever and however, As we study our way through this course and live and love our way through the world, follow God’s method taught in the “Sh ma.” We will never go wrong. Study every Scripture, look them up and meditate on them. This approach, along with the others, can help us find “the real me.” II. THE DISCIPLE AND THE SEASONS OF HIS SALVATION From His vantage point in eternity, God can see things about redemption that we cannot see. He can see from before the beginning to beyond the end. There are epochs or periods or eras in the drama of our redemption that, in His unlimited view, He sees and knows about as a continual process of salvation in our lives. These periods of time, in the continual success of our redemption, we will call seasons. Let us venture into this study with our minds set on God and His plan of salvation for us. In doing so we will attempt to see some of what God sees and gain something of the sequential advances of the upward trend in the process of our redemption. God will give us a glimpse into this crusade toward full salvation and let us see some of the milestones along our individual path. These we will use to map out a proposed or tentative idea of where we are headed in this venture of redemption. God has chartered a course for us to travel as disciples of Jesus Christ. This charted course is an expedition toward maturity, sanctity and perfection.

A. Salvation’s Two Aspects

Salvation has two aspects; that is, salvation is from something and salvation is to something. Israel was saved from serving Pharaoh in Egypt to serving God. So salvation means being saved:

1. from sin to righteousness;

2. from death to life; 3. from guilt to innocence; 4. from condemnation to justification; 5. from disobedience to obedience; 6. from defilement to purity; 7. from pollution to holiness.

The Holy Spirit and the Grace of God are both involved in all the seasons of our salvation. John Wesley said, “The Holy Spirit is the Grace of God at work”. It is the combination of these two that brings Jesus and the cross of Calvary within the reach of mortal men.

The new birth is a crisis, while salvation is a process. The process begins before






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we were born again. It can even begin before we are born. The new birth is a crisis experience and salvation is an experiential and perpetual process. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a crisis experience and the growth that follows it is an experiential, perpetual, sanctifying and maturation process.

God’s Special Agent in the drama and duration of our redemption is the Holy Spirit. He is involved in the process all the way through. It is by grace that we are saved, through faith. This does not depend on anything we have achieved. It is the free gift of God. It is not earned and no man can boast about it (Ep.2:8-9). Salvation, in Gods economy, has always been by grace through faith. Grace is the plan and the Holy Spirit is the Agent that initiates, processes, and completes the plan.

Some people define the grace of God as “the unmerited favor of God.” The Apostle Paul said that it is “Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us...” (Ti.3:5). This is indeed grace. Since we could not work it out ourselves, God injected His love and mercy and thus wrought our salvation through the merits of Christ and the finished work of Calvary.

We can see the Holy Spirit move in a progressive direction as He applies the grace of God to every spiritual season of our lives. Let us remember, from God’s perspective, He can preview, interview, and review the history and track record of our march toward salvation. These different seasons of salvation in our spiritual experience are places where God has invaded the privacy of our lives. In this walk through our spiritual history, be sure to notice what God has done, is doing, and will do in and for us. We should then look retrospectively, introspectively and prospectively at self and try to identify our position on this spiritual map.

B. Three Phases of Salvation

These three phases of salvation can be classified as justification, sanctification, and glorification. Thus we can say: 1) I have been saved from the penalty of sin (justification); 2) I am being saved from the power of sin (sanctification); 3) I will be saved from the presence of sin (glorification).

1. Season #1: conception to rebirth;

The Holy Spirit at this juncture or season, steps in to minister what John Wesley called “prevenient grace.” In this part of the process, during this time, the Holy Spirit is gently wooing us and preventing us from moving too far toward disobedience (sin).






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Actually, prevenient grace is the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the potential believer. Prevenient grace, is Gods initiative in the origin of our redemption. We could easily say, with confidence, that in our salvation, God makes the first move. According to Tuttle, John Wesley said, “God begins a work in us while we are still in the womb.” We can see this from the biblical examples of God touching Jeremiah and John the Baptist in the womb. In reading the Scriptures referring to Jeremiah and John the Baptist, concerning God’s touch on individuals prior to actual physical birth, we can see that God, if He chooses to, can do the same things for us. In the womb is a good place for God to do some preliminary work: 1) It is a good place for God to get to know and approve us (Je.1:5); 2) It s a good place for God to sanctify us (Je.1:5); 3) It is a good place for God to ordain us (Je.1:5); 4) It is a good place for God to make us jump (leap) (Lk.1:41).

It makes no difference what the abortionists say, human beings are alive in the womb. Can a mere piece of tissue jump in a womb? God can indeed intervene in the lives of individuals before they are born and He does not be deal with a piece of tissue, but a living being who is a spirit, has a soul and is being formed in a body.

God, the Holy Spirit, has been on our case a long time. He is the One Who “broke the ice” to begin a relationship with us. The Apostle John said that the reason we love Him is because “He first loved us” (1Jn.4:19). Paul seems to be in agreement with John on this matter of God taking the initial step to begin some kind of relationship or fellowship with us.

God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us, While we were yet in weakness (powerless to help ourselves), at the fitting time Christ died for (on behalf of) the ungodly. . . . God shows and clearly proves His [own/love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us (Ro.5:5b-6, AMP).

Also, during this season of our lives God is convicting and convincing us of sin (Jn.16:8). Some people call this work the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. Tuttle gives us a more positive picture of Wesley on “Prevenient Grace.” The Calvinists call it a “Special grace which was limited only to the ‘elect.’” It was irresistible. It was received without choice, if a person happened to be the elect. The reprobate, according to Calvin, never had this grace. Wesley contends that this grace is resistible. A person can spurn it, they can reject it. We have the prerogative to accept it or refuse it but the Bible says,






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The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men (Ti.2:11).

Our eternal destiny is weighed in the balances at this point. To reject this grace is to pass our own sentence of eternal damnation.

2. Season #2- Rebirth to sanctification;

The Holy Spirit is at work at this season of our lives, administering what Wesley called “Justifying Grace.” This form of grace starts to work at our experience of justification/rebirth .

In Prevenient Grace, the Holy Spirit was readying us for a crisis period, the experience of the new birth. Because of our sinful nature we are bent toward sin, we have a tendency to sin. In his great hymn, Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, Charles Wesley actually asks the Father to “take away our bent to sinning.” To be justified by faith we need the Holy Spirit to minister justifying grace, which when received by us, brings about the new birth. At this moment we are justified, or “made right” in His sight. Paul said in his Letter to the Romans that we are justified by faith and by Christ’s blood (Ro.5:I, 9).

The word “justify,” in the original language means: 1) to render righteous or as such he ought to be; 2) to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered; 3) to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be. When an individual experiences the new birth, God sees him as righteous. Jesus Christ actually became sin for us on the cross so that we could be made righteous. The born again child of God actually becomes the righteousness of God, but only in Christ (2Co.5:17-21).

Among other things, discipleship is a growth toward sanctity. Every part of this growth is truly the work of the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament the words “sanctification” and “holiness” mean practically the same thing. The original New Testament root word for the two we have mentioned mean: 1) consecration, purification; 2) the effect of consecration, sanctification of heart and life. All this takes time, but the Holy Spirit is patient, especially if you are submitted and cooperative. He is also persistent. Stay with Him.

At this juncture we will move temporarily to an item that will help us get a clearer picture of “Justifying Grace”. Let us look at the three phases of sanctification. These “three phases” are similar to the seasons of our






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salvation.

The three phases of sanctification:

a. The initial phase;

The Holy Spirit introduces His work of sanctification (holiness) at the New Birth, which is a crisis experience. It is known as “initial sanctification.” We are born of the Holy Spirit in much the same way as we are baptized by the Spirit. Each of these phases is by grace through faith. Sanctification is begun on a very slow and minute scale and moves us on toward sanctity.

b. The intermediate phase;

This is a crisis work also and is known as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is an entire sanctification (1Th.5:23), and is wrought by the Holy Spirit. When He (Holy Spirit) comes in, in all His fullness, He cleanses the temple of our body. For that moment, we are entirely or completely sanctified.

c. The progressive phase;

Since we dwell in earthen vessels, our bodies tend to gravitate toward sin, and we do not remain “entirely sanctified.” But, the Holy Spirit remains faithful to His assignment and helps us in our growth toward holiness. This phase is known as “progressive sanctification.” In this phase of sanctification, the Holy Spirit continues to lead us from the baptism of The Holy Spirit on a steady and progressive course of growth in grace and sanctity.

We took a moment to look at the three phases of sanctification to give us a perspective on where we are at this season of justifying grace. From this position we can look in both directions. We can look back to where we have been and identify our present position and have a little better grip on charting our course as we move on to maturity.

It is as if the Holy Spirit, in justifying grace, has zapped us with the new birth, but continues to carry on His progressive work in leading us toward maturity. From this crises experience we move on to our goals of sanctity and maturity.

Paul, in his Second Letter to the church at Corinth explains it like this;






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We all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, as being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit (2Co.3:18, NASB).

As the Holy Spirit is allowed to continue His justifying work, after the experience of the new birth, He continues to work more and more change in the life of a believer. With our cooperation, the Holy Spirit does a marvelous job of character development. The Apostle Paul was convinced about the perpetual, perfecting work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the disciples of Jesus. He wrote to the Christians at Philippi and said,

“...being confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Php.1:6, NIV)

3. Season #3- From sanctification to glorification;

During this season of our spiritual journey, sanctifying grace is at work moving us on to perfection. The second phase of sanctification mentioned above, entire sanctification, which was a crisis experience, moved us into a more profound sanctifying experience. From this we were led into a progressive sanctification that carries us on into Heaven, This season is exactly like the progressive phase, after we have been baptized with the Holy Spirit. Be sure to remember that the Holy Spirit is involved in our entire experience, from before conception all the way to Heaven,

In most cases, in Protestant Christianity, we do not normally call God the Father, the Holy Father. In the same way, we do not normally call Jesus the Son, the Holy Son, but we do call the Third Person of the Trinity, The Holy Spirit. This is simply because the ministry, the work, and the function of the Holy Spirit to make us holy (Ro.15:16; 2Th.2:13; 1Pe.1:2).

The Holy Spirit has set this sanctifying work in motion, and it is indeed a good work. This work in our lives needs to be worked on and worked at daily to keep us pure and holy before His Majesty, Jesus Christ, and before a world dying in sin.

It is important that we understand the above, chart our course and embark on our journey to follow the prescribed course for our journey. It is very important that we be intentionally and purposefully a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. It should be noted here that the kind of intentional Christianity we are projecting demands our full support and cooperation.






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It requires special initiatives on our part. To be the Jesus-kind of disciple, we must enter into it with full determination to follow Jesus, even to the death, if need be.

In some circles, today, it is thought that real discipleship is either automatic or accidental, at best. No, it is not unintentional; it is deliberately intentional. Real Christianity, of the brand that Jesus would put His stamp of approval on, is truly deliberate.

III. THE DISCIPLE AND DISCIPLESHIP

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? (Lk.2:49)

“Where’s Jesus? Has anybody seen Jesus?” Mary inquired, as she visited with the other Ladies in the caravan (men and women traveled in separate caravans). They were returning to Nazareth after being in Jerusalem for the celebration in which Jesus received his bar mitzvah, the confirmation ceremony by which a Jewish child is recognized as an adult. “Oh I know,” Mary, pondered, “He just received his bar mitzvah and now he can travel with the men.” At the bar mitzvah, Jewish boys were apprenticed to their fathers and to the family business. After having been trained by his father, Jesus could, someday assume the oversight of the family’s carpentry business. Mary thought, “Now, he is no longer mother’s little boy, he’s daddy’s little man.” Meanwhile, over in the men’s caravan, Joseph also made inquiry, “Where is that boy? I cannot keep up with him lately. Has anybody seen my son, Jesus? Okay, I know, even though he received his bar mitzvah, he still loves to cling to Mary’s apron strings.” Jesus had lingered behind in Jerusalem and his parents were unaware of his absence from the caravans. They traveled an entire day without missing the boy. Once they realized what had happened they retraced their steps back to the Temple in Jerusalem. There they found Him there conversing with the teachers, doctors and interpreters of the Law. He amazed and astounded all who heard His questions and answers. Mary took the twelve year old in her arms with mixed emotions. She was happy to find Him but also disappointed for not realizing He was not with them for three or four days. She cried out with joy, and with sorrow, “Son, why have you behaved like this?” Jesus replied, “Did you not see and know that it is necessary, [as a duty] for me to be in my Father’s House and [occupied] about my Father’s business?” (Lk.2:49, AMP) Apprenticeship and discipleship was a major, cultural lifestyle among the Jews. It was so important that it was a family affair, a religious confirmation rite and a wonderful time for celebration, consummated at the Temple in Jerusalem. It was something that was






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specifically planned and projected, as a very significant and major event in the life of every Jewish child. Jesus adopted this program which was really nothing new; God had instituted it hundreds of years before (De.6:1-9), as a preservation measure for Israel as they entered the Promised Land. Jesus catapulted it into the Christian faith when He called His disciples to follow Him. This program of discipleship became the New Testament standard for training (equipping) the saints for the work of service and building up His Body (Ep.4:12). The Lord intended for this approach to kingdom building be the norm and the standard to push the Kingdom of God to the last frontier. He assigned His chief lieutenants to complete the task in every age. Jesus went about His Father’s business by concentrating the vast majority of His time with twelve men, equipping them for world evangelization. He trained them to train others also. The Apostle Paul adapted this approach as he carried the Gospel and planted the Church in the regions beyond. Where is Jesus? He is occupied with Father’s business. Where am I?

A. What is Discipleship?

Discipleship is more than academic and classroom instruction; that is available in the university, in Sunday school or in other institutions of primary and secondary education. There are specialized institutions that can grant academic or practical training, but these cannot accomplish what real, God-centered discipleship can. Perhaps the greatest difference is the relationship, fellowship and association one can receive from being dedicated to Jesus Christ. He needs to be willing to pursue a life of holiness, willing to change, prepare for the rigors and hardship on the road to maturity. This is procured by possessing a continual fellowship with a God-appointed elder who can guide the disciple in his march to perfection.

B. Discipleship: Relational and Intentional

While there are valid differences of perspective on what constitutes discipleship, we have chosen to define Christian discipleship as:

“A process that takes place within accountable relationships over a long period, for the purpose of bringing believers to spiritual maturity in Christ. Though the Bible provides no formal definition of discipleship, biblical examples of the process would suggest that discipleship is relational and intentional.” (International Leaders of Discipleship)

This definition of discipleship is precise and to the point. The succinctness of this definition should keep us on target. It can also hold us to the very title of this study. The subject of “discipleship” is a broad and very encompassing title and we do not want to get sidetracked and stuck in the mire of all the minute details of such a broad subject. The definition closes by saying that “discipleship is






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relational and intentional.” A life embarked on carrying our cross and following Jesus without the intent to sink one’s entire life into it and endure to the end is not the Jesus-kind of discipleship. The Jesus-kind is one we walk into intending to be obedient and accountable to Jesus Christ and His appointed mentor for our life and walk. This is a determination to follow Jesus with our cross to the place of our execution, if necessary.

C. Magnificent Obsession

As we make this adventuresome journey from the new birth to the new heaven, we should be sure to learn early in our march that we are a special and rare gem among the Christian family jewels. God loves us; He saved us; He gave us special gifts, endowments and graces; He has a unique plan and purpose for us on earth. There is a rare obligation upon us. We are under divine appointment and development. It is our commission. It will become our destiny when we find it, develop It and practice it. Following our destiny will shape our life. Other lives will be enhanced and highly developed because we are fulfilling our destiny. Be sure to find it. Seek for it as far hidden treasure.

Here is wise counsel, and in order to help us truly succeed, we must do this; make our divine assignment our magnificent obsession. Build the life around what God wants us to be and do. God wants us to know He has a Magnificent Obsession for each of us:

1. One Goal Heaven

2. One Desire To please Jesus

3. One Direction Straight ahead

4. One Speed Full throttle

5. One Determination Fight the good fight of faith

With this sense of direction and determination for following Jesus, we have a standing invitation to consider becoming His devoted disciple. Discipleship is a long journey, full of pitfalls and potholes, which demand total dedication to our Lord Jesus Christ. As we pray and ponder about becoming a disciple of Jesus, meditate on the following considerations and make a quality decision about this solemn and earnest lifestyle.

The Great Commission was a command given by Christ just prior to His ascension back to the Father. It is an edict, a mandate, yea, and an ultimatum issued by Christ, Who expected obedience and closure in the matter. When our






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Lord issued the command to go and “...make disciples of all nations”, He was actually saying, “Bring all nations under my discipline.”

Jesus was called teacher (Rabbi) more times than He was called preacher. The central theme of the outreach of the Body of Christ is to make disciples. Maybe this accounts for the fact that the word, “disciple” occurs 275 times in the Bible, and the word “Christian” occurs only 3 times. Moses had disciples (Jn.9:28), the prophets (Is.8:16) had disciples, the Pharisees had disciples and the Greek Theologians and philosophers had disciples. Discipleship is the most productive way to preserve a cause, at least into the next generation. Because of the many invitations to discipleship offered by Jesus, and the many exhortations extended by the Apostle Paul, discipleship is the grand design offered by God for the New Testament.

D. Divine Development

Discipleship is a program of Divine development for the person desiring to go on to maturity (He.6:1). It is development because its agenda has been distinctively engineered to produce growth. It is Divine because it came directly from God from ages past. An individual who has committed and submitted to this kind of training is situated to receive Divine power which grants “...all things that pertain to life and Godliness” (2Pe.1:3). His power has given us everything we need to be power-driven with a life of Godliness. According to W. E. Vine, “The doctrine of Godliness signifies that which is consistent with Godliness- the truth which is according to Godliness: The Apostle Paul, in his letter to Titus, makes us aware that the true Gospel produces Godliness (Ti.1:1).

The Apostle Peter, as quoted above, was referring to Gods promises, throughout the Bible, by which we can stand on and become partakers of the Divine nature (2Pe.1:4). The disciple needs to recognize that these promises were given to us to utilize during the earthly phase of our existence. The disciple will not need these promises in heaven; he will have everything he needs in heaven. According to the Nelson Study Bible, promises are offers of divine provision found in Scriptures (v.4). We should always be aware of these provisions that present themselves to us for our continued training, welfare and warfare. The apostle lets us know if we partake of these promises, we can become partakers of the Divine nature (2Pe.1:4), thus putting us in a position to be the disciples Jesus can train and use in world harvest. It is also worth noting that this partnership puts us in position to live Godly in Christ Jesus, which according to The Wesley Bible is, “the believer’s highest ambition in life” (p.831). To live Godly in Christ Jesus is a very special necessity in the life of a disciple.






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E. Standards of Excellence for the Disciples of Jesus

In the Order of Worship in some church liturgies there is an item listed as “Invitation to Christian Discipleship”. At this place in the order of worship, the minister offers individuals an opportunity to come forward and accept Jesus as their personal Savior. When a person responds and receives Jesus into his heart, he should be brought immediately into an active Christian discipleship program. Unfortunately, most churches do not take advantage of this opportunity to enroll the newborn child of God into the school of Jesus Christ. In many situations the words, “disciple” and “discipleship” are oblivious, because the practice of Christian nurture, known as Discipleship, has not been included in their approach to spiritual growth. Later we will list some of the standards of excellence and look at what Jesus would require as core curriculum in the disciples spiritual development.

In his letter to the Church of Philippi, the Apostle Paul was praying and believing that the love in the church, “...would abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight.” It was his desire that their love would extend itself in greeter depth (Php.1:9, AMP). Then in the next verse he proceeds to exhort them about their continued growth. He wanted them to “...learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value” (1:10, AMP). The apostle was exhorting them to raise their spiritual standard, in order to be “...sincere and blameless until the day of Christ” (1:10, NASB). This is exactly what we are urging here. Make every attempt to raise the standards of excellence we seek to the height of that which is exhibited by Jesus Himself. The Presence of Jesus, when He was on earth portrayed to us, not only what God was like, through Jesus’ living example, but demonstrated to us what God wanted us to be like. This is what Jesus did while here on earth. God lived out His life through Jesus, the Son. Now, Jesus wants to live out His life through us while we are here on earth. Please note in the next few pages some of the things required by Jesus to be the New Testament “standard.”

Jesus introduced His strategy of divine development to His disciples as He gave them “on the job” training during His three and a half years of ministry as the incarnate Son of God. Their training had been completed when He, on the Mount of Ascension, issued the command to bring all nations under His discipline. Discipleship was the particular program He adapted from His Jewish heritage, to take Christians on to maturity (He.6:1). Jesus understood completely mentor/discipleship from His own 30 years of training and three and a half years establishing His plan, with the twelve men He called His disciples. Because of His training, these disciples (learning ones), became His apostles (sent ones), and were left with an infant Church to build and maintain. Their track record as leaders of this young Church bears testimony to the high quality






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of training they received at the feet of Jesus. The Divine development given to disciples then and now can only come through Jesus.

F. You Are What You Become

Many years ago St. Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo, Northern Africa, gave a charge to a group of newly baptized adults. He said to them “Become what you are.” What was he saying to these newcomers in the Christian faith? He meant those who have been baptized into Christ have embarked upon a lifelong process of growth, and discovery, of growing up into Christ and coming to know Him as the deepest truth of whom we are and that we are called to be conformed to the image of God’s Son. This is our challenge, to become what we are. We are out there somewhere, a special product; handpicked and hand made, by Jesus Himself. It is our responsibility to go out there and find self and become the real me.

The process of discovering self and our destiny can be found in what we are dealing with in this entire study. Sincere disciples of Jesus Christ can become special ministers that can do whatever God desires. If we are that person who is serious about being the individual who desires to be God’s anointed, we should take the advice and challenge here and run with it.

When a person is praying about becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ, he needs to ponder some of the concrete, no-nonsense regulations Jesus gave us to consider. One thing the candidate for discipleship needs to understand would be to make a decision to sell out, lock, stock and barrel for Jesus and His claims. To be a disciple of Jesus, the disciple must make a clean break with sin. Then, he can enter into this new relationship with a clear conscience and a pure heart. Be sure to keep this in mind concerning this relationship; all disciples are Christians, but not all Christians are disciples. Gain discipleship status and plan to live the rest of our lives there.

G. Jesus- Prime Example of a True Disciple

To begin listing these standards of Jesus, we will start by looking at the perfect role model- our Lord Jesus Christ. After washing His disciple’s feet Jesus asked them, “Do you know what I have done to you?” Then, He said to them, “You are right when you call me your Teacher and Lord, and if I wash your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” After doing and saying this He said, “I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you” (Jn.13:15). Jesus was a living example of humility and servitude.






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1. Jesus was a disciple Himself;

At the age of 12, when Jesus received His Bar Mitzvah, He was apprenticed to His father Joseph to run the family carpentry business. A disciple is a “learning one”, one who follows another’s teaching and is more than a pupil- he is actually an imitator of his teacher. The disciple is one who puts into practice what he has learned from his teacher. Notice what the writer of Hebrews says about Jesus being a learning one:

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation (He.5:8-9, NASB).

Dr. Luke reported on our Lord’s development as a disciple. He said, “...the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.” Later, Luke said, He “...increased in wisdom and stature, and n favor with God and man” (Lk.2:40, 52, NASB). This was the God-man, the Son of Man, yes, the Incarnate Son of God. The grace of God that was upon Him is the same grace that is available to all His disciples. We too can share in the wisdom and stature, and favor, as He experienced.

From a study of the life and teachings of Jesus, one could learn by the example Jesus set. He was the Divine standard for discipleship. His very behavior and mannerisms exhibited exactly what a disciple should be in thought, word and deed. Read what Jesus said about the teacher and His pupil,

A pupil is not superior to his teacher, but everyone [when he is] completely trained (readjusted, restored, set to rights, and perfected) will be like his teacher (Lk.6:40, AMP).

Jesus was a model disciple and a prime example to follow. If we follow close enough, long enough, we will begin to look like Him, think like Him, talk and act like Him. The milestones along the road to discipleship are placed there by God, Himself, to make us like Jesus.

2. Jesus is a discipler;

Jesus was called “Teacher” more often than “Preacher.” To many, Jesus was thought of as being a Rabbi or teacher. He knew the blueprint of discipleship from being both a disciple and a teacher, A disciple of Jesus can learn from Him the things Jesus expects from His followers. A






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disciple must possess a humble spirit, a servant spirit, and he must gain and maintain a teachable spirit (2Ti.2:2). A disciple can learn all three of these characteristics from Jesus. The disciple first observes what his teacher does. The he helps his teacher do what He does. And, when he has become mature, he does what his teacher did. For a disciple to be Christ-like, he will be a servant of all- Jesus was.

3. Jesus lived a life of total obedience to the Father.

“The disciples went and did just as Jesus commanded them” (Mt.21:6). This means the disciple must be disciplined and do everything his teacher expects because he must respect his teacher in all things. The teacher can command respect. Then he must demand respect. Then, if necessary, he will have to reprimand in any failure to respect. The hallmark of discipleship is discipline. If there is no discipline, there is no discipleship. Nothing less than total commitment is accepted by Jesus.

H. He Cannot Be My Disciple

There is a negative side that needs to be considered when our future with Jesus is in question. At least three different times in the Gospel of Luke Jesus said, “He cannot be My disciple”. Let us look at what Jesus said would prohibit some individuals from being His disciples. Since these negatives are of utmost importance, we will deal with them first.

1. Hating our family;

“Whosoever does not hate his family” (Lk.14:26, emphasis added). This is a startling phrase from the lips of our Lord, concerning those who desire to follow Him. He said, “If any man come to Me, and hate not his father...mother ...wife, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple”. What is happening here? The Bible says, “God is love.” We are to love people as the Lord has loved us, but now, is He telling us to hate those we love the most?

The Lord desires for those who follow Him to be totally committed and willing to leave all to do so. The disciple is to love his Master, and he should love that relationship which he possesses in his mentoring process. What Jesus meant here was the love the disciple has for his Master should, when compared with his love for his family, would look like he hated his family. We could call that love for Jesus a “matchless love.” Remember when Jesus invited a man to follow Him (Lk.10:59-61)? The man’s request was, “Let me wait until my father dies and bury him.” The Lord said to him, “Let the dead bury the dead”. Then the Lord said,






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“Go and preach the Kingdom of God”. Other individuals came up with similar excuses. When Jesus answered them, not only did He say NO!- He said GO! (Lk.14:18-20). This is the Lord’s primary purpose for inviting us to be His disciples.

2. Bearing our cross;

Bearing one’s cross means to follow Jesus to the cross, if necessary (Lk.14:27). Martyrdom is not some isolated incident, confined to the era of the Early Church. The 20th Century saw more Christians martyred than all the preceding 19 centuries combined. Execution on a cross was one of the most brutal and horrible means of death known to man. The guilty party was to carry his cross to the place of execution. In this particular case, addressed by Jesus, means a life of sacrifice for the disciple-follower. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) shares this, “The Christian’s life is sacrificial living based on Christ’s sacrifice for him.” In his 2nd Letter to the Church at Corinth, Paul shared this concerning Christ’s sacrificial death and our connection with Him.

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him Who died and rose again, on their behalf (2Co.5:14-15, NASB).

Paul is saying that any dedicated Christian should be willing to do anything, even to die, because He died for us. In his classic, The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffher, who was executed by the Nazi regime of World War II, spoke heroically about the fact that the Church in his day had already forfeited its means for real New Testament growth, by choosing another route then that of discipleship. He said, “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.” When the Church abandons discipleship, it becomes an institution that fosters what Bonhoeffher calls, “cheap Grace”. Cheap grace puts no restraints or restrictions on the individual and requires no accountability for a dedicated life. Therefore the disciple floats through life without the means of real grace. When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” and “Take up your cross”, He is actually saying, "Come die with Me."

C. T. Studd, the famous, professional cricket player from England gave away his fortunes and his game to serve God. He spent his life in China, India and Africa, giving himself as a missionary under the direst of circumstances. His life as a missionary was a prime example of a crucified life. He said, “I must go! If Jesus be God and died for me, then no sacrifice is too great for me to make for Him.”






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The life of a true disciple of Jesus is a crucified life. There is only one way, the Way of the Cross. Jesus walked, in the old city of Jerusalem, the route to Calvary, called “Via Delarosa,” the way of the cross. The narrow and winding street is a continual climb, up hill all the way. It is indeed the “Blood Sprinkled Way.” The poet was absolutely correct when he said, “There’s no other way but this. I shall ne’er get sight of the gates of the cross I miss.” (Baptist Hymnal- The Way of the Cross Leads Home)

3. Any who does not give up everything;

Jesus is calling for dedicated followers who will give up houses, lands, family, riches, material things, desires, plans, relationships, interests, and their own lives also, etc.(Lk.14:33). He is asking those who would consider following Him to count the cost. It does not mean that we must reject all we have, but that all we have must be placed at Christ’s service and under His guidance. The things we must give up are those which are not absolutely necessary to the spread of the Gospel. To cling to these things will cause idolatry in the person who cannot reject them.

I. Positive Factors in the Life of a Disciple of Jesus

There are several things that are more positive than what we have just studied. 1. Take up the Cross daily;

One reference in the Gospel (Lk.9:23), states all three of the usual things the disciple must do: a) deny himself; b) take up his cross; c) follow Him. However, this admonition adds a different word to the above mentioned three. The word is “daily.” In using the word daily, Jesus is adding a 24 hour accountability factor into the fabric of His discipleship program. To be a follower of Jesus, one must learn and practice accountability. As a disciple of Jesus Christ we need to keep short accounts. We need to check-in daily to report our progress in our growth and get our marching order for the day. It has been said, “If you have not repented in the last 24 hours, rigor mortis has already set in.” It means so much to keep in touch.

2. The duration factor;

Another addition Jesus made to His repertoire is that of a duration factor. This is a day of instant coffee, instant cream, instant potatoes, instant grits and instant breakfast. Remember, there are no instant saints- no, not even with celebrities and super stars. This is one of the problems with the American Dream. We want everything right now! We do not want to






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stand in line and wait for anything for any length of time. But when it comes to instant saints, we are just going to have to wait. It does not happen instantly. Every individual will have to hammer out his maturity on the anvil of everyday, nitty-gritty, hard-working Christian living. We have got a long way to go, baby. There are no short-cuts to sanctity. There are no short-cuts to perfection. Jesus is in this for the long-haul. We will just have to wait on Him. Paul said he was “...confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Php.1:6, NIV). Jesus is not calling people to follow Him on a part-time basis or for a couple of years. William Barclay has said, “God gave us life to spend and not to keep.” We must spend it here.

3. The important factor of love;

Jesus gave us another important factor in His Discipleship Program called love. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (Jn.13: 35, NIV). This is the norm for Christians. We are indeed expected to love. This word on “Love” is presented by Jesus in two forms:

a. He gave it as a command (Jn.13:34), so we have no choice

in the matter- we are to love. b. He gave it with a condition (Jn.13:34), so we must love

others as (like, or in the same way) Jesus loves us. This is a`gape, the God-kind of love.

His kind of love is unconditional. It continues to love regardless of the behavior of the recipient.

In John 15:12, the command to love is repeated and follows in the next verse, saying, “There is no greater love than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friends” (v.13, NEB).

4. Obedience and loyalty expected;

Jesus expects obedience and loyalty from His disciples. Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Mt.7:21). To do the will God is to be obedient to Him. One can shout and praise God all he desires but it does not grant him heavenly status. Also, Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, than you are truly disciples of Mine” (Jn.8:31, NASB). All disciples need to know that we cannot stay (abide) in God’s Word without obeying it.






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IV. THE DISCIPLE AND BROKENNESS Disciples that emerge as leaders are a necessity to the future of the Gospel. The Gospel is only a single generation away from extinction at any time. These disciple/leaders must take up or allow certain things to happen to be the disciple/leader they are designed to be. The three aspects of this disciple, in order to be the emerging leader God wants, must go through brokenness, connecting, and discipline.

A. Brokenness

Brokenness is the place where the emerging leader’s heart is broken over what God’s heart has been broken. It may be: 1) the salvation of a person or people group (evangelist); 2) the lack of leadership in a church (pastor); 3) the failure to reach a people or to set in order the reaching of that people (apostle); 4) the lack of understanding of the times (prophet); 5) the lack of truth that keeps a people from growing as they should in the Lord (teacher).

This breaking is to take away what is holding the disciple (emerging leader) back from the calling God has placed on them. It is accompanied by repentance of wrong attitudes and actions. It could take place in a day, though God usually takes a person over several months and some may even undergo years of it, depending upon what needs to be broken and the willingness of the disciple. The attitudes that most often need to be broken are pride, lust, idolatry, party spirit, greed, jealousy, anger, etc.- typically the works of the flesh. It is the work of Holy Spirit to bring about this breaking and cannot be manipulated by a man. However, it can be encouraged if that disciple is hungry to be changed.

Paul is our example of a man who was broken before God. He was so broken that he called himself the greatest of sinners.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1Ti.1:15)

For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (1Co.15:9)

Yet, for Paul, he also saw himself as an apostle and defended his authority in the apostleship, which he had every right to do (2 Co.11: 5-12: 13; Ga.2: 8).

Paul equated an apostle with a father (1Co.4: 9-15). This idea of being a father relates well with God being our Father, just as the Lord will use mature disciples






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(emerged leaders) to be fathers to the Body of Christ, and especially to emerging leaders. These fathers come about because of the call of God (Ro.1:1-5) and can only be chosen by God and not men (Ac.1: 15-26). We should notice that Mathias was chosen by men, and though a good disciple, he was never heard of again. It is God that does the choosing to the position, not men.

B. Connecting

Disciples (emerging leaders) critically need a father. Without a father, they lack the direction and correction that is necessary to become the leader God intends. Seldom does God choose a leader without connecting them to a “father.” Most men do not bend well under God’s direction, thinking they can “do it” by themselves. That attitude is what gets them in trouble, as they follow their own direction (carnal) instead of God’s (Spirit). A father (seasoned leader, apostles in the New Testament and Judges in the Old), will bring correction and direction until the disciple gets it right. It is not that the disciple wants to go the wrong way, but that they do not know the direction nor how to go until they are broken and, most often, have a father figure who will guide them.

King Saul is our example of the unbroken, fatherless leader. Yes, Saul had a “father” in Samuel, but like so many, when Saul came to leadership, though he appeared to listen to the direction given, he went his own way under his own direction. Samuel had been the Judge of Israel for many years, but in his old age, and the fact that his own sons were not fit to lead, the people sought for a new leader in the form of a king. Saul, the man chosen for king of Israel, was an unassuming man. The first we hear of him he was simply minding his natural father’s livestock. Since Israel was requesting a king that could lead them and fight their battles, Saul was the chosen one. He was head and shoulders taller than the other Hebrews and was the people’s choice, but not God’s. He had the appearance, but not the broken heart of a true disciple-leader.

God directed Samuel to anoint King Saul. The anointing God would have all disciples or emerging leaders connect with comes through a father-leader. Just as Elijah anointed Elisha by draping the mantle over him, so the anointing of God came upon Saul. The vast majority of the time, God’s avenue for passing the anointing on is for an emerging leader to be connected and remain connected to the father, so that the anointing that is flowing in the father will flow down to the next generation’s leader (Ps.133; 1Kg.19:13). However, as we shall see, King Saul heard Samuel but did not heed Samuel’s counsel and was destroyed for it.

Everything appeared to be okay, with the signs Samuel gave Saul coming to pass (the gifts coming to him and the presence of God, 1Sa.10:3, 9-10). God’s






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anointing came upon him and he was given another heart- one to run after God’s purpose (v.9). Saul had a good start to be the right kind of leader. He was humble and unassuming when he was to be presented before Israel as their king (1Sa.10: 22). He did not even reply when those who did not think him to be a good leader disparaged him (v.27).

Saul was bold, raising an army of 330,000 when Nahash the Ammonite laid siege to a city of Israel. He was decisive as the Spirit of God came upon him in moving immediately to counter the enemies attempt to harm Israel. His military strategy destroyed the Ammonite army. Saul remained unassuming, though there were still detractors. Yet somewhere after this victory, Saul began to take on things that were not his to take on.

At Gilgal, Saul was told to wait for Samuel to present the sacrifice to the Lord and give him direction. Here we see the 1st failure in Saul, as he undertook the priest’s responsibility in offering the sacrifice. He overstepped his bounds, due to pride. Pride causes a man to overstep responsibility, moving ahead where others are to function. Pride elevates a man to places he should not attempt to go. A father will correct this with admonishment and correction (1Sa.13: 13-14). Pride can cause a disciple (an emerging leader) to assume that, since he is becoming the leader, he can undertake his own direction.

Pride, connected to impatience, will cause a disciple to move when he should not move. This is usually due to that lack of brokenness, which would put down pride and cause the disciple (emerging leader) to see that God is to be totally in control and that they are simply to be an instrument in the hands of God for His purposes. As the proud disciple moves away from God’s plan, the situation will always deteriorate, except that disciple becomes broken before God. The question is, will they fall upon the Rock or will the Rock fall on them (Lk.20:18)? It is a choice that has to be made, and the difference in the decision is all that matters. The one who falls on the Rock takes correction, and though “broken,” they become changed and what God wants. Humility becomes a hallmark of their lives and they follow what the Lord wants. But the one who has the Rock fall on them is one who has refused correction, takes their own plan to follow, and they are headed for destruction (Pr.16:18). Saul, though he appeared to take correction, nevertheless continued in his self-will and was destroyed. Saul demonstrated this pride by setting up a monument to the victory the Lord had given.

When Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, he was told, Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up for himself a monument or trophy [of his victory] and passed on and went down to Gilgal. (1Sa.15:12, AMP)

Pride is such a deceptive attribute. It brings a man to destruction even though






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he thinks he is right. It will cause him to take steps he thinks he should, though they are the opposite of what God wants. Such was Saul, moving on his own ideas instead of God’s. Samuel tried to correct the situation, as a father, but it was all downhill from there with King Saul. Saul was not connected to a “father” as God would have and thus would not listen to Samuel.

Saul continued to demonstrate his un-brokenness and pride, trying to protect his “territory” when it became apparent that David would be the next king. Pride causes a man to see all those who might be next in line in leadership as enemies and will attempt to kill them, whether in actuality as with David, or in today’s most prominent method, character assassination. Saul’s pride would not allow him to follow Samuel’s direction as a father nor allow for any successor to the throne of Israel, though God will always have His way in the process. May every disciple learn, whether they are headed to the pastorate of a church or in a subordinate leadership position, to be broken and to seek to be connected to a father who will help guide us and give us wise counsel.

Elisha and Elijah are the positive demonstration of this connecting to a father. Elijah, at God’s direction, draped his mantle (indicative of the calling and anointing) over Elisha and immediately Elisha was connected to Elijah. God was the activator of it, but Elisha had to make a decision to follow his leader. He made the right decision to move into what God wanted. He “poured water”, as a disciple, on Elijah’s hands for several years. Elisha endured things that were not pleasant because he wanted what Elijah had- the anointing of God (2Kg.1:10). His remaining with Elijah would not have occurred if Elisha were not connected in the spirit with his mentor. There is no value in the flesh being connected. This connection we are talking about is not a step we take on our own nor can we make it happen. God has to instigate it, but the disciple-emerging leader must maintain it.

Elisha refused to be deterred from the anointing, following Elijah from Gilgal (place of new beginning- cross), to Bethel (place of dreaming- vision of destiny), to Jericho (place of past victory- road to our individual work), and Jericho (place of crossing- death of old leader). Elisha never lost contact with his “father” and saw the fruition of his steadfastness in the anointing, demonstrated by miracles and signs, as well as leadership of the school of the prophets for years to come.

C. Discipline

The trait of self-discipline is critical to the disciple-emerging leader. No one else can do it for them. When we are young we make our habits, and when we are old our habits will make us. So, we will never be any younger than today to make new habits. Making new habits is critical for us to become what God wants, when we have had bad habits in place. The older we are, the tougher it






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can be for us to get a change made. Thus we need some focus on the habit we want to change, such as our staying up late and then not putting any time into study of the Word, prayer, etc.

Focus and concentration are needed if the disciple is to become all God wants him to be. There are 3 attributes that will stand us well in development of right habits. They are decision, discipline and determination. While the 1st and 3rd are needed, the 2nd is likely the most critical. Discipline is the structured activity a disciple takes until that activity brings them to a completed different habit. Many people make decisions (mind-set) to change something, and then do not change it because they do not apply discipline. Of course we must first of all make a decision that we will change that habit that is limiting us from God’s best.

1. Decision;

A decision here is not some fanciful thinking nor is it a wish. A decision is to measure what we want carefully, and then decide if we can/will pay the price. Only when we decide we will pay the price can we hope to bring about a change in our habits.

2. Self-discipline;

The second step is self-discipline. God will not do this and neither will society (except in the case of prison, which does not really change the inside of a man). The wise disciple is one who sets out to discipline self. That means taking up a steady, continuous action in a specific direction designed to attain the goal, whatever that goal is. To discipline is to bring into a state of order and obedience by training and control. We need that to be the kind of disciple-leaders God wants.

3. Determination;

The third step is determination. That is, we have to set ourselves so that nothing takes us away from our formation of the new habit. It is to be resolute and firm in our purpose. The world has lots of things to take us away from God’s plan for our lives, but by good habit formation, the disciple will take the necessary steps to become the leader (in His assigned area), that God wants him/her to be.

V. THE DISCIPLE AND PRAYER Prayer connects us with God. Jesus was the perfect model and example for us in this area. He and His Father were in constant communion. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing- ever wonder how that could even be possible? As children of God we should all desire this close and intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. We must






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always be tuned in to His heavenly channel. Whether we are listening to God, speaking to God, or just resting before the Lord, this two-way communication is very important so we stay on the straight and narrow path. Jesus showed us throughout Scripture how it was so necessary to hear what the Father was saying and do what the Father was doing. We are disciples of Christ. He was in constant, continuous communication with Father God. As followers of Jesus Christ, we must emulate the life of Christ. Do not think for a moment that anything is too insignificant to God. He cares about the things that concern us. He wants what is absolutely best for us, His chosen ones. We are those who have been called out and who, by an act of our own free will, have made the choice to do things His way. We must follow His rules as He so specifically lays out in the rule-book He has given to us, the Holy Bible. Anything short of that constitutes sin. Missing the mark, falling short, is giving in to those fleshly desires that Paul warns us about in Romans chapter seven. We are to crucify the flesh and die daily to the things and ways that nourish the flesh. We are living in a continuous battle here on earth and the avenue for help is prayer. God never tires of our asking. In fact, He desires this close intimate relationship with us. He made us that way. We need Him and we need each other. Prayer helps us to understand who we are and how great God is. Prayer is spending time alone with God. No matter how inadequate and unable we are, whether it is asking, receiving or just being, we are drawn back to Him. This is how He made us, to need Him. He placed within each one of us a void only He can fill. Before we realize this, we seem to try to fill this with something we can relate to or that which we have access to. The world offers us so many counterfeits, such as alcohol, drugs, sexual perversion, materialism and the like. When we put our dependence on those substitutes rather than going directly to God, we have made a wrong choice. God has given each one of us a free will- the right and the ability to choose. The more time we spend in prayer and the Word of God, the better equipped we are to make the right choices. God made each of us unique and individual for a purpose- to get a job done here on earth as it is in heaven. How long will it take us to realize this is what life is all about? As we learn, we are to teach and model to others. God will place people in our path who need what He has just revealed to us. We are all searching and God wants us to find Him. When we do, as we turn things over to Him, then He can truly make us and mold us more into the image of His perfect Son, Jesus Christ. True life is all about death- death to self, that is. When we give God the permission to change us, we are then asking Him to come in and have His way. This is what He wants- submission to Him first and then to others. Jesus Christ came to serve. He is serving each one of us. Right now He is seated at the right hand of God interceding for us. We must all learn to be more like Jesus. The






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Bible tells us to consider others as better than ourselves. We are to do and to be to them as we would have them do and be to us. What we would like, we are required to give to others. We cannot do this in and of ourselves. We cannot leave God out of the equation. When we do, we are only giving of our self. When we give our selves to God, then He can fill us with His love and His power. God is love and this love He desires us to release to others. We must first be emptied, so we can be filled. It is only then that we can give out that which will satisfy and that which will last. It is this love that will be the strong foundation that will not crumble when the hard times or difficult situations and circumstances come our way. We must all learn and practice to rest in the presence of God. It is this time that we give to Him, when He is able to equip us for what lies ahead. Just as it says in Ephesians 6, “When you have done all this, then stand.” We are all to do what we can when God shows us how and when. He is the one who fights our battles for us. It is in Him that the true victory lies, but He does require us to be prepared. There is victory in the place of rest. We do “fight” as we rest. When God sees this total submission to Him, He becomes excited. We have finally said, “It is yours, God. Have your own way with me:” We have many examples of this principle in the Bible. Think about Mary and Martha. Remember the battles when God told the people to do something that did not seem to make a bit of sense, like walking around a city seven times, or blowing a trumpet or singing praises to God in jail? These actions confound our mind and challenge our intellect. But through this submission, God can do His thing. As we humble ourselves and pray, we are submitting ourselves to God and admitting that He is in control, not us. Prayer is our untapped resource to the power of God. God has all of the power for each of us to complete the call and the reason that God has us here on this earth. He has not made any mistakes. We are all created in His image and likeness. That is why He loves each of us so dearly. The door to the throne of God has been opened to each of us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The door is open, but we must put out the effort to walk through it. On average today, Christians (pastors included), pray an average of only four minutes a day. As the Body of Christ, we are not tapping into our power source of life, direction, anointing and love that is available to us. As followers of Christ, we must look at His life, our Rabbi (teacher) and put into practice what we see He did in His life. Jesus tapped into the power source. He said on several occasions that, “l only do what the Father is doing. Jesus also said, “As the Father has sent me, so l am sending you. Go and do as I have been doing.” This is powerful. In order to accomplish this, we too must be getting our instructions from the Father. We must look to Him, our power source, in order to do “God works” and not just “good works.” Satan, that deceiver of old, always works to unplug us from our power source. If we do






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not follow up with an intimate relationship with our Father God that He desires, we are walking in darkness, making our own decisions for our life, without consulting our Creator. As we walk into our homes at night, the first thing we do is turn on a light. We may know our house well, but we will probably stub our toe on a piece of furniture or trip over something left on the floor where it should not be. Why should we walk in the dark when with just a touch of our finger, the lights will come on for us to see clearly? God is like a megawatt generator that produces electricity for all to use. That generator or power source that brings electricity to our home is connected directly by power lines. The electricity is there to be used at all times. All we have to do is turn on a switch. God is our spiritual Power Source. He wants us to plug our power lines into Him. The switch to allow the flow of power is prayer. Prayer allows God to flow into our lives, to light up the dark situation or to fix the condition that is against us. We have a choice- we can turn this switch on and walk in the light or leave it off and walk in darkness. As we read about Adam and Eve, they would walk with God in the cool of the morning. You can imagine the deep, personal, loving relationship they had. That is the way God intended their relationship to be and He desires the same for us. God wants that deep, personal, loving relationship with each of us everyday. That is why He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to bring reconciliation and forgiveness from sins. The Temple curtain was torn in two pieces so that we, today, can go into God’s Throne Room and have a personal talk and relationship at anytime. God loves us so much and desires to walk and talk with us if we will simply allow Him into our lives. He is waiting for us. His power is react, that is, to flow when we turn on the switch through prayer.

I never called you to be able, I called you to be obedient.

It is not about you, it is about me. You are not the power source.

I am your supply. God

VI. THE DISCIPLE AND HIS FELLOWSHIP WITH THE BIBLE The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the divinely inspired and only authoritative Word of God; supreme and final in its authority in matters of faith and practice. The Bible stands unique and alone above all books. For this reason every lesson should be based upon Scripture, every lesson a Bible lesson, with Scripture applied to present-day Christian living. The disciple and his fellowship with the Word of God must build an intimate relationship in order to be effective. It is to be an unending fellowship that becomes more intense as the fellowship grows. The best place to start on this perpetual journey is for the disciple






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to learn what the Bible is all about. The mentor or teacher needs to implant in the heart of the disciple the importance of developing a deep and an abiding respect for the Word, because the Bible is indeed the Word of God (1Th.2:13). When it comes to the Bible, the disciple should never doubt his trust, and never trust his doubts. The disciple needs to get established in the Word. It should become second-nature to him. He should know that Gods Word is His bond. When the Bible said that the ungodly “...changed the truth of God into a lie” (Ro.1:25), it is because that truth of God is the Word of God. When the Bible announces the blessings and redemption of the obedient, or when it warns of the impending fate and punishment on the disobedient, be sure to know that each of these Truths are inevitable. The fact that some will choose not to believe does not change the validity or the fact of its integrity and virtue. When discussing the fact that some will not believe, the Apostle Paul said, “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Ro.4:3). The writer of Hebrews told us that every transgression and disobedience will receive a justified recompense for its reward (He.2:2). We can be sure it is still that way now, and will be forever. The Word of God is true. Even if man chooses to leave the Word of God out of his life, he will still be judged by the Truth of the Word. The Bible, the Word that God spoke, revealed the fact that Jesus Christ is the Living Lord of our salvation. God spoke by the mouth and pen of Isaiah, the prophet and said, “By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before Me every knee will bow; by Me every tongue will swear” (Is.45:23, NIV). God swore by Himself because there was none higher to swear by. This is the Word of the Eternal Creator. It is the Word of the Everlasting Father, spoken in righteousness and integrity. It cannot be disputed. Jesus Himself said, “...The Scripture cannot be broken” (Jn.10:35). The Amplified Version renders it thusly, “The Scripture cannot be set aside or cancelled or broken or annulled.” Then the Apostle Paul relayed and echoed the message of Isaiah to his New Testament readers. He said:

Christ died and returned to life so that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. We will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God (Ro.14:9-11, NIV)

Both of these passages, one from the Old Testament and one from the New, ratify the fact that God’s only and chosen Son will be the Lord of all. Everyone will eventually confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, even though it may be too late for their salvation. It is indeed a fact, and an eternal truth of the Bible, that some, even in hell, will have to






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confess the Lordship of Jesus, but to no avail. On a more positive note; Paul as a mentor to young Timothy, said,

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error, for re-setting the direction of a man’s life and training him in good living. The scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God, and fit him fully for all branches of his work. (2Ti.3:16-17, Phillips)

All the above Scriptures have been printed to establish the fact of the absolute authority of the Word of God. The Word of God is infallible! Any true disciple, who definitely desires to go on with God, must stake his entire life on this authority. He cannot go nor grow without it. The Bible is the road map and the travelogue for the entire journey. Do not leave home without it.

A. Fall In Love With the Word of God.

The disciple needs to fall in love with the Word of God. This relationship or rendezvous is not automatic. It does not just happen. This, like any other relationship, needs to be cultivated. The beginning of the rendezvous that helps a disciple fall in love with the Word of God is for the disciple to fall in love with God.

The story is told of a scholarly young lady who enjoyed reading. She was a prolific reader. She was what is known as a speed-reader. Her speed in reading was phenomenal. Her retention was incredible. The lady would perpetually go to the library and bring home an armload of books. She would read them all in the time allotted and return for another armload.

Upon returning from one of her trips to the library she found one book, among the many she brought home to be offensive. No particular reason, she just did not like it. “Why I even brought it home is a mystery to me,” she exclaimed. She did not like the title. Neither did she care for the cover. As her fingers walked down through the Table of Contents, she found nothing that changed her feelings. She just did not like that book. “But”, said she, “rather than ruin a perfect record, I’ll read it or burst.” So, she began to read, despising every chapter. Gritting her teeth, she continued to force her way through this grueling task. What used to be such a pleasure, and her ideal for life, had become a laboriously and difficult obligation. She read on, detesting every page. “I’ll not ruin my good record,” her selfish pride kept screaming out inside her head. “I have a perfect record,” she thought, “and I’m going to whip this one also.” So, begrudgingly, she read on, and after many strenuous hours, finally finished the book.






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Some time after that she met a kind and considerate man whom she was soon attracted to. After several months they fell in love and later married. The man she had fallen in love with and, was now her husband, was a writer. He had written several books. Yes, he had written the book she hated with a passion. What did she do then? That is right! She went back to the library, checked out that book again. Yes, she read it again, and again, and again. She loved every chapter, every page, every line and every word. Why? She fell in love with the author. The most promising way to assure that we fall in love with the Bible, and read it, is for us to fall in love with the Author.

B. What the Bible Says About Itself

According to Marvin R. Vincent, the Word of God is “That which God speaks through any medium.”’ Up to this juncture we have been made aware that the Bible is infallible. It is the absolute truth spoken by God Almighty. We have learned that we must respect the Bible for what it is and not toy with its Truth. Another lesson that we have learned in this study is the fact that we must get established in the Word. Our entire being or life must be built on the solid foundation of this awe-inspiring Word. At this point let us allow God to speak for Himself as to the nature and characteristics of the Bible. Notice what the writer of Hebrews has left for us to glean from, so as to help us earn more about what God wants us to know about His Word.

The Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective; It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breathe of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature), exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart (He.4:12, AMP.).

1. The Word of God is alive;

The Sacred writer says, first of all, the Word is alive! It is indeed the Living Word. It lives and abides forever (1Pe.1:23). It will live right along beside us. It will never be thrown into the dead letter file or pile. God’s Word is living, active and operative, even while we are reading here. To quote Vincent again, notice fact of the Word of God being alive; “Living is the word of God, since it is the word of ‘The Living God’”. Paul wrote convincingly to the Thessalonians concerning the activity of God’s Word.

“...We ...thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God which is at work in you who believe” (1Th.2:13, NIV).






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2. The Word of God is powerful;

It is like fire that consumes all that cannot endure the test and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces (Je.23:29). It is the word of power or creative energy. The Psalmist David said, “The voice of God is powerful...“ (Ps.29:4). The voice of God happens to be one of the mediums through which God speaks. Because this sword is double-edged, it has double power.

3. The Word of God is sharp;

The Word proceeding from the lips of Jesus is a sharp two-edged sword (Re.1:16; 2:12). In Ephesians, Paul said, “The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God” (Ep.6:17). Whether it is the voice of God or the sharp, two-edged sword coming from the mouth of Jesus, it is the Word of God. This well-whetted sword has two edges. In discussing this passage in Hebrews 4: 12, the Abingdon Commentary says it is “the word of judgment... One the edge of promise and hope, the other the edge of reproof and retribution.”

4. The Word of God is divisive;

The Word of God is the only tangible thing we have that is spiritual, and because it is spiritual it can separate between the soul and the spirit. It can distinguish and discern what is spiritual, as well as what is fleshly and emotional. This s(word) is so sharp it can slice between the soul, which is the animal or fleshly part of man, and the spirit which is the God-part of man (what is born of the Holy Spirit). It is extremely difficult for carnal Christians to determine whether something is truly spiritual or whether it is soulish or fleshly. But, a mind that is renewed by the Word of God can know the difference.

5. The Word of God is critical;

God’s Word runs a continual positive critique on man’s thoughts and intentions. God’s Word can back away and get a broad, outward perspective and panoramic view of man. But it can also zoom in with a more intense, laser-type, x-ray and get a very minute picture of “the thoughts and intents” of man’s heart. While we are reading the Bible, the Bible will be reading us. It will indeed check us out.






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C. What We Can Do With the Word of God

We have discussed much about the Bible. Now let us move further and deal with what we are to do with the Bible. Maybe we should ask self some questions. For instance, “What can I do to get a greater understanding of the Bible?” “What can I do to ‘hide God’s Word’ in my heart?” “What can I do to learn God’s will for my life?” “What can I do to gain strength from the Bible?” “What can I glean from the Bible to become a stronger witness?” “What can I learn from the Bible that will help me in my prayer life?” “What can I do with the Bible that I may know what to do to be obedient?” “What can I do to truly get into the Bible and hear what God is saying to me and others?” All these questions are valid and need to be answered. Following are seven ways to approach the Scriptures.

1. We can survey it (Is.34:16; 1Ti.4:13; Co.4:16; 1Th.5:27);

To survey it is simply to read it. Several Scriptures validate the exhortation to read the Word. Isaiah said, “Seek ye out the book of the Lord and read...” (Is.34:16). Part of Paul’s instruction to Timothy, as a pastor, was to read, “Concentrate... on your reading and on your preaching and teaching” (1Ti.4:13, Phillips). In closing out his Epistle to the church at Thessalonica, Paul said rather sternly, “The Lord’s command, which I give you now, is that this letter be read In all the brothers” (1Th.5:27, Phillips). This advice is plain and simple, read the Bible!

2. We can investigate it (2Ti.2:15);

By that we mean to study it. We need to know the deep things of God (Mt.13:10-11). “Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not be ashamed- rightly dividing the word of truth" (2Ti.2:15). God gave these words to the Apostle Paul to pass on to Timothy. We need to follow his instruction ourselves because it is a command. It will bring God’s approval, and it will also prevent us a great deal of shame because we will be able to rightly divide (correctly handle the Word of Truth, NIV), God’s truth.

3. We can meditate it (Jos.1:8; Ps.1:2);

God told Joshua to meditate the Word (law), day and night. God wanted Joshua to meditate on His Word in order for Joshua to observe to do according to all that is written in it. Notice these things that come from the Word God spoke to Joshua: God commanded it. By doing so you will learn what God wants. In Psalms 1, we will find that meditating on the






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Word of God shapes the character of the Christian disciple.

Paul passed this good advice onto Timothy (1Ti.4:12-16) and preserved it in writing to relay it on to us, to help us become who we are.

4. We can pray it (1Jn.5:14-15);

Someone has rightfully stated, “Praying is sharing with God those things which are already His will.” As stated earlier, “God’s Word is His will and His will is His Word.” John, the beloved disciple, made this statement: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of Him” (1Jn.5:14-15, NIV).

Simply put, we call this “praying the Word”. Praying the Word is one of the best ways to get our prayers answered. When we pray His Word back into His heart, He listens. This is one of the ways we are sure to get a hearing before His Throne.

In the context dealing with the vine and the branches in John 15, Jesus shared this concerning our relationship with Him: He said, “I am the vine (the stalk or trunk) and you are the branches”, meaning that we, the branches, need to be connected to Him, the Vine. If the branch is severed or cut off from the vine, it dies and is burned. Explaining the results of being intimately connected to Him, He said: “If you live in Me (abide vitally in Me) and My words remain in you end continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you” (Jn.15:7, AMP).

An individual who is filled with the Word, and his mind having been renewed by the Word, has a special connection with God. In Romans 12:2, the Apostle warned the disciples of Jesus to be aware of being conformed to the pattern of this world and to its customs. He then moved in a more positive channel and challenged the disciple to be transformed by renewing his mind. The word “transformed” in the original Greek is the same word used in the account of Jesus and His disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt.17:1-9; Mk.9:2). The Bible says that Jesus was transfigured in their presence, The Greek word means “was altered” or “became different”. This is what will happen to the disciple who has his mind renewed. It also carries with it the connotation of an inward renewal or transformation. In the latter part of Romans 12:2, the Apostle declares that this renewal-transformation will put the disciple in a position to “...be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will” (NIV). Remember, we have confidence because we pray






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according to His will and He guarantees us that by praying His Word He hears us, thus guaranteeing also that “...we have the petitions we desired of Him” (1Jn.5:14-15).

5. We can say it (Ti.3:8; Ro.10:9-10);

We are to give positive confession to God’s Word. Christianity has rightfully been called “The Great Confession”. Christian conversion begins with the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord (Ro.10:9-10). But there is much more to confess besides sin. Some believers think that the only thing we can confess is sin. We have all the beautiful and positive promises of His Word we can confess. The old saying “An honest confession is good for the soul” is really a true proverb, especially if the confession is from the Word of God. The root word in the Greek for our word “confession”, in this context, means “to speak the same thing, to assent, accord, agree with”. When we confess the Word of God, we are speaking the same thing as God. We are then agreeing with God; confessing the Scriptures as our own.

6. We can obey it;

To obey the Bible is to obey God Himself. Our faith is grounded and founded on God’s Word. It’s the source of our faith (Ro.10:17). Four times in the Bible it is said that “Abraham believed (obeyed) God and it was accounted unto him as righteousness:” (Ge.15:6; Ro.4:3; Ga.3:6; Ja.2:23). This statement comes from three different writers and from two different Testaments. On this same project, James reported that it was by works (obedience) that Abraham was made or brought to perfection, maturity or completion (Ja.2:22).

The Bible says, “...to obey is better than sacrifice” (1Sa.15:22). The Lord spoke to the Prophet Samuel that King Saul had disobeyed His (God’s) orders. Saul was soon to be rejected as King of Israel and questioned Samuel as to the reason for his dismissal, Saul had not fully carried out God’s command to totally destroy the Amalekites and all their livestock, etc. Saul had spared the best of the sheep and the cattle, so he said, “...to sacrifice to the Lord.” Samuel replied to the king, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better is than sacrifice” (1Sa.15:22, NIV). That is the positive side.

The prophet continued to speak to the king, saying that “...rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king” (v.23). It






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is extremely important to obey the Word of God. If what we are planning to do does not agree with the Word of God, for God’s sake, do not do it!

7. We can convey it;

Jesus declared to His disciples that the Gospel He came to convey was to be conveyed by His disciples also. At the end of each of the Gospels of our Lord and at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus gave us our marching orders. These orders or commands are known as “The Great Commission.” The Great Commission was the last words He spoke on earth and they were the first commands to the Church. We are to tell everyone we meet that Jesus Christ is alive and He wants them to live also. Jesus died and rose again so we could die to self and rise again to life eternal.

The Gospel is the Good News about Jesus and His victory over sin, death, hell and the grave. Jesus said, “This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Mt.24:14). He did not say, “It would be nice for the Gospel to be preached to others.” He said, “This Gospel SHALL be preached!” The Great Commission is found in several places (Mt.24:14; 28:18-20; Mc.16:15-18; Lc.24:44-49; Jn.17:18; 20:21; Ac.1:8). Check it out! These words of Jesus happen to be in the imperative mood. What in the world does that mean? It means that it is a command, not a suggestion.

VII. THE DISCIPLE AND WORSHIP

You Samaritans know so little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming and is already hero when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. (Jn.4:22-24, NLT)

God is looking for someone- someone who will worship Him! The Samaritan people worshipped, but their worship was empty, evolving from generations of religious traditions perpetuating an act of lip service. Out of obedience to their forefathers, their bodies were participating, but their hearts did not know whom it was that they worshipped. Somehow, the Church today has fallen into the same path and has a form of worship in practice, but they have forgotten whom they worship. Worship has become an industry, rather than a lifestyle. A pattern has developed and indeed become the mentality of the average church. We come together in corporate worship to mechanically sing a few songs. Someone who is






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“anointed” sings a special or solo, attempting to provide an award winning performance, or the choir does an anthem to move us to tears. Then, the highest part of our attention is giving to the performance of preaching the word. Everything else we do is just added to enhance the preaching experience for the hearer and for the preacher. We embrace this performance mentality of religious worship by reasoning that we want our services to be “evangelistic” and yet, very few if any lost people are present to hear and be touched. We continue week after week to preach salvation to the same people, to preach against sin to the same people, to find spectacular themes on the roller coaster of theology to impress them, impart to them or inspire our people to greater service in the church. Yet, we neglect to disciple them into becoming true worshippers or true disciples. We teach them instead that church attendance, filling a role and singing in church is something that we “owe” God as a religious duty. Our example to the Body of Christ is that worship is for enhancing the ministry and the preparation of the heart to receive the Word of God. In reality, however, the preaching of the Word is our ministry to man, worship is our ministry to God. Yes, it is true that corporate worship does enhance the work of ministry, and that worship does prepare our hearts to receive God’s Word. However, that is not the purpose of worship, but a by-product. The purpose of worship is to lift up and exalt the Lord God and to draw close to him. While in recent years much study has been done and a greater understanding the dynamics of worship achieved by many in the church, we are yet just beginning to see the true weight and primacy of worship in the church and in our prayer closet. For many churchgoers, their total service to God is the hour spent in church on Sunday morning. They have two distinct lifestyles: 1) at church; 2) out in the marketplace. Instead of coming together as a local church Body and embracing the presence of the Lord and turning our focus and affections on Him, we have built for ourselves a “liturgical buffet” that is designed to please the pallet and senses of the church member. Rather than express our deep gratitude and desire for God, we critically review the performance of those that we pay to do the work of ministry that has been presented to us under the guise of worship and service. In John, Chapter 4, Jesus addressed this very issue with the Samaritan woman when He said, “You Samaritans know so little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him! For salvation comes through the Jews.” Notice that Jesus did not say, “You Samaritans know so little about worship”. He said “You Samaritans know so little about the One you worship.” He was telling her that “Yes, you may know about worship, and you may do all that is traditionally expected of you, you fit right into the flow of what everyone else is doing. . . but you do not know HIM, the object of our worship.”






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He added in verse 23, “But the time is corning and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way." At this time in the life of Israel, and all the people surrounding them, patterns of worship were already well established within their cultures and yet Jesus is saying that something new in worship is coming, and yes, is already here. Something new? Different? What could possibly be new? The newness is this; Worship at one time may have occurred at designated places, specific times and seasons and for pre-described purposes, and that served its purpose in its day. However, now God is looking for a higher, purer form of worship. He wants people whose life is a living sacrifice (offering) of worship. He wants our worship not just in the congregation, but also in the car, in the house, on the street in the marketplace and on our jobs. He wants us to become people whose hearts are constantly set on Him. Jesus moved us from merely corporate worship (which is correct and valid in its place), to personal worship. For years we have sung about God with great songs of encouragement and declaration. But God is calling us up to another level in our worship. To worship God in “spirit” is to no longer talk or sing about Him (merely bringing attention to Him), but to minister to Him with a heart of love and gratitude. It is to worship Him with all we are, with all our attention and focus and to pour self out to Him for whom He is. It is a reflection of our relationship with Him, responding to His God-hood, worth and place. It has nothing to do with who or what we are and has everything to do with Him. The closest thing we can compare this to is the relationship between a husband and wife. Their most intimate moments are private, intense sharing on a level that we have yet to comprehend. Likewise, our worship time with God is our deepest, most intimate time with Him. It is those private moments that we gently and lovingly pour out our heart declaring our devotion to Him and our need for Him. It is in those moments that He pours back into us. It is those moments that He whispers the secrets of His heart back to us. To worship God in truth is to know, apply, and obey His word as the standard for our lives. Not our experience, not our pet doctrines or even our history. His Word is the standard by which we enter into His presence. Worship does not have to do with how we feel or what we are walking through. It has to do with who God is and our relationship with Him. When we allow our circumstances to dictate our worship, we place them above the Lordship of our God. In short, our problems are “more important” than our God. A life of worship is just that, life lived intentionally so that we reflect His image back to Him and to others around us. It is life lived: 1) intentionally, “acknowledging Him” (Ps.3:5-6) in all our ways; 2) intentionally bowing every area of life in obedience to His every desire and command (Ro.14:11); 3) intentionally living as crucified with Christ






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(Ro.6:6; Ga.2:19-20); 4) intentionally in Holiness simply because He is HOLY (Le.20:7; 1Pe.1:16); 5) intentionally in repentance as we walk in Truth (Ac.3:19). So many believers today live as accidental Christians. They grow and mature as they accidentally come across truth and into God’s presence. However, that is not ever been Gods plan. God has always desired a people for Himself, to be the object of their desires and the center of their lives. It takes desire, effort, focus and a serious act of our will to set our affections on Him. It is a choice that we make in response to the work He is doing in and through us. God does not want to be the afterthought of our day, but rather the primary centerpiece of our life, So how do we get there? How do we lose ourselves in Him so that we might find life? We must maintain a life of repentance as we intentionally give ourselves up in total surrender, total trust and abandonment to Him, as we learn to walk in His Ways rather than our own (1Kg.3:14). Holiness, obedience and worship are inseparable. If we are not holy, our sins separate us from God, If we are not obedient, our worship becomes empty, vile lip service (Is.29:13) and our hearts are far from God. Does this sound a bit severe? Well, it should, for it requires something of us that only God’s grace can supply. If we could work this up through the efforts of our flesh, then it would produce salvation through our own righteousness, God wants us to know that He has not left us helpless! He has made the standard high and has gone the next step and provided the means to achieve it. His provision is made through His Word, through the Blood of Jesus, through the power of Holy Spirit and through embracing His presence. The only problem is that we rarely avail ourselves of His provision. We talk about His grace, but many do not walk in it. We expect His mercy, as long as there are no strings attached. Worship is about surrender- letting go of who we are and being hidden in Christ. Notice the words taken from the hymn, I Surrender All:

All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.

All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow, Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me Jesus take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender, Make me Savior wholly Thine; Let me feel the Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender Lord I give myself to Thee.

Fill me with Thy love and power; Let Thy blessings fall on me. All to Jesus I surrender Now I feel the sacred flame. Oh the joy of full salvation! Glory, glory to His name

I surrender all, I surrender all. All to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all,

By: Van De Venter, Judson I Weeden, Winfield S., Public Domain






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VIII. THE DISCIPLE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

And they beckoned unto their partners, who were in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink (Lk.5:7).

We must remember, at this point, these men were fishermen and not disciples nor apostles of Jesus, But somehow, they had learned how to respect others. Jesus happened to be a traveling teacher, not their emperor, governor, master or Lord. But, for some reason they listened to and obeyed this nomadic Teacher.

A. The Divine Sidekick

The Holy Spirit is the Divine Paraclete (pata, beside & kletos, to call), meaning “a calling to one’s side, or to ones aid.” This suggests the capability or adaptability of giving aid. In the widest sense it signifies “Comforter.” Christ said this to His disciples and by the implication of His word “another” (altos, another of the same sort, not “heteros”, different) “Comforter” when speaking of the Holy Spirit (Jn.14:16).

B. Partners in Power

According to John the Baptist, this is really a baptism administered by Jesus (Mt.3:11). John said, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but there is One coming after me, He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? When we were born again, it was a definite work of the Holy Spirit, for we were born of the Holy Spirit. At that time, the Holy Spirit took up residence in our spirit. We possessed the Holy Spirit, but not in baptismal measures. This proves the fact that all born again people do possess the Holy Spirit. At the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, that same Spirit who took up residence in our human spirit, flooded over into the our soul and body, and we were filled. That is the reason we call the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the In-filing of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a gift of God to us and He (the Holy Spirit) brings His gifts with Him when He fills us.

C. Partners in Purity

The Holy Spirit is the cleansing agent for purity of heart. In the Scripture cited above, the fisherman, obedient to Christ, needed help. Their obedience brought such astounding results that their net was breaking and they needed help to draw the fish into the boat. Their “paracletes” (helpers) not only helped fill the boat of their partners, but filled their own boat also. Obedience and cooperation in this situation brought astounding and astonishing results.






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Our relationship, fellowship and partnership with the Holy Spirit can be a very enterprising venture for us. In this particular circumstance, we are dealing with the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in our personal lives. This can happen if we establish a Holy Alliance with the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah! What a combination! What a mixture! What a merger! Yea, what a partnership!

We need to beckon to our Divine Partner for assistance as we begin our march toward sanctity, purity and holiness. The Holy Ghost is God’s Divine Agent to assist us in our aspirations to become like Him. We must enter into a sanctified agreement or Covenant with the Holy Spirit if we desire to be obedient and cooperative with Him in this Divine endeavor. In other words, make a quality decision and commitment to work hand-in-hand with our D. A. (Divine Agent) and go for it. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, “He will convict the world of guilt” (Jn.16:6. NIV), or “He will expose the guilt of the world.” The Holy Spirit will expose our sins. What a Friend! He will point out our sin, our faults, our failures and mistakes, and still love us while He is doing it.

At the Jerusalem Conference (Ac.15:5-12), Peter gave his report concerning the fact that the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit. This was literally unthinkable to the Jews, but God can do whatever He so desires. But, it happened, in spite of what the religionists thought or wanted. He not only reported that God had moved among the Gentiles, and had given them the Holy Spirit, but that God made no difference between the Jews and Gentiles. Peter let them know that God gave the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles, in the same way He gave Him to the Jews, “Purifying their hearts by the Holy Spirit by faith” (v.9).

It is amazing the many things Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would do (John 16). Let us look at them, realizing that Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit to US (v.7). We need to position self, as a disciple, to receive the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave us a job description for the Holy Spirit so we would know what is available. Our Divine Agent will be reproving, convicting, convincing and exposing the world of guilt:

1. In regard to sin;

This is because men have not believed on Jesus (v.9), and the greatest sin of all is not believing in Jesus.

2. In regard to righteousness;

This is because Jesus was returning to the Father and we would not see Him as that Standard of righteousness (v.10) that God had exemplified in the Person of the Incarnate Christ.






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3. In regard to judgment;

This is because Satan, the prince of the world, stands condemned (v.11). Praise God, the Holy Spirit can lead us into all the truth about God’s sanctifying grace. Remember, we win and the devil is defeated, condemned and his sentence is already passed (Re.20:I7).

4. In regard to guiding us into all truth;

Our Divine Agent is the Divine Guide, leading the way, showing the way, teaching the way (v.13). This Divine Guide will administer what Jesus said about sanctification and the Truth, “Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy word is truth” (John 17: 17), But again, do not forget to be a competent Christian and cooperate with our Partner. If we have problems comprehending and even adjusting to this Scriptural lifestyle, do not go into cardiac arrest. Our Agent has traveled this way before and He will champion t(His) cause, but only with our cooperation. Our Partner is the Advocate of Truth, and we critically need to know the truth, because “...the truth shall make you free” (Jn.8:32). The truth is that it is God’s will for us to be sanctified (1Th.4:3- be made holy). The truth is that we are sanctified by the Holy Ghost (Ro.15:16; 2Th.2:13), and as quoted above we are sanctified by the Word or Truth (Jn.17:17). The truth is that the Word that makes us holy is the same truth that makes us free, free in the Holy Ghost, free in the Word, and free to live a holy life.

5. In regard to speaking;

Holy Spirit does not speak on His own accord, but speaks only and exactly what He hears from God (v.3), Again, Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy Word is truth.” The Apostle Paul gave us this counsel at the conclusion of his first letter to the Church of the Thessalonians:

“Abstain from all appearance of evil, And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Th.5:22-24).

The Apostle is desiring that we be every wit made whole, He prays for the Lord to sanctify us “wholly,” meaning entirely and/or completely. Vines says this is the sanctification of the believer in every part of his being (under “all”, p. 47). He further states “...Every grace present in Jesus Christ should be manifested in the believer”.






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6. In regard to being preserved blameless;

Another aspect of moving toward sanctity with the Holy Spirit, addressed by the Apostle, is that we remain in a particular level of attitude and behavior, namely being “...preserved blameless.” This is a continuous preservation of the believer without regard to the time involved in its accomplishment. Whatever elevation or level we might have achieved, do not regress. How long should we stay there? Paul said, till Jesus comes (v.23).

The One who calls us is faithful. Just as this is a continuous preservation, it is also a continuous call to holy living from the Faithful One. This verse says He will do it (v.24).

7. In regard to the future;

Holy Spirit will speak to us about what God has in store for us in the future (Jn.14:13). The Lord purposely declared that He was leaving “many things” that were yet to be revealed (v.12), but even these things would be unveiled when the Holy Spirit came. At that point, the spiritual condition of His followers was inadequate to receive these new revelations. But, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit would raise their levels of reception, retention, recognition and revelation of spiritual things. After that experience they would be in a proper position to receive more of the things of God, Then, the Holy Spirit, Whom Jesus addressed as the Spirit of Truth, would reveal “things to come.” These prophetic utterances would be and are brought forth by the Holy Spirit through the Spirit-filled believer.

8. In regard to the gifts of the Spirit;

The gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit are not maintained automatically, and should not be taken for granted. The Spirit-filled believer must preserve that “dynamic-duo” relationship with the Holy Spirit. Failure to do so can open up our soul to many manipulations of Satan. Remember, this is a process begun and continued by the Holy Spirit. This is the reason the Apostle Paul stated in Thessalonians, “I pray God that your entire being: spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless.” (5:23) We were wholly sanctified at the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, but these old clay pots (2Co.4:7) leak, So, again, do not take our experience of sanctification for granted. Be a responsible Christian! Maintain that dynamic fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Stay in school, do not be a drop-out, stay in the school of the holy Spirit!






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9. In regard to our understanding;

Holy Spirit will bring glory to Jesus by taking what belongs to Jesus and making it known to us (Jn.16:14). All that belongs to God belongs to Jesus, and the Divine Agent will make these things known and available to us (v.15). He will show us the things of Jesus. The Amplified Version says of the Holy Spirit:

He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you (v.14).

It will bring honor to Jesus for the Holy Spirit to receive the things of Jesus and disclose and reveal them to us. The Holy Spirit will transfer the things of our Lord directly to us. Would the things that the Holy Spirit draws from Jesus include His love, mercy, grace, joy and peace? Yes!!! so what about His character? Everett F. Harrison, in his commentary on the New Testament says of this transfer of Christ’s attributes, “The Spirit’s teaching mission would be first to receive the deposit of Christ-centered truth, then show it to believers. It follows that a ministry, to be Spirit directed, must be one that magnifies Christ.”

D. Divorce From the Spirit

The kind of Scriptural lifestyle mentioned above must extend over into one’s ministry. Actually, we are discussing the lifestyle of Jesus, and what Harrison is saying is that this is the only lifestyle that can be directed by the Holy Spirit. If we desire our ministry to be sanctioned by, controlled by or empowered by the Holy Spirit, we must get our act together and clean up our life by submitting to the Spirit’s work. Many ministries have folded because they have gotten a divorce from their Divine Partner, and He (the Holy Spirit) had ample grounds for divorce. What are they? Be sure to keep this in mind: The Holy Spirit is the best friend you have on earth, so don’t abuse, misuse or insult Him (Heb. 10: 29, NASB), Following are some of the things that we can do to insult, etc., and give Him grounds for divorce in this Holy Matrimony with the Holy Spirit?

1. Lying to the Holy Ghost (Ac.5:3);

The word in the Greek for the verb “to lie” is “pseudo” and means “to deceive by lies.” The Apostle Peter was able to recognize the deception in Ananias and Sapphira by the intuitive and instinctive power of the Holy Ghost. Do not tell me that the Holy Ghost cannot detect sin! He can discern sin in each of us. It is so simple to learn, from this passage, what






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God can do with liars. This couple, in an attempt to deceive, lied and died on the spot. This could be what God might decide to do to us, if we lie to Him. Lying is grounds for divorce, as well as carrying the death penalty.

2. Grieving the Holy Spirit (Ep.4:30);

The context, from which these words flow out of the Scripture, deals with the walk of the believer as in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit. The meaning of the word “grieve”, in the original means “to cause pain or grief, to distress, grieve.” Among many other things that could proceed out of the mouth of Spirit-filled believers are things that would grieve the Holy Spirit. The Apostle made it simple and easy to understand, when he said “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit.” The Amplified Version states it this way:

Do not offend, vex or sadden Him, by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured).

The end of this verse will grab us if we allow the Holy Spirit to quicken the message to our heart. He is focusing His attention on us. Why? Because we are in-dwelt by His Spirit. “For the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).” Then, the Apostle continues his warning against the consumption of other poisonous sins. Notice the deliverance from evil and the consequences sin, through Christ. What if we grieve, vex or offend Him? What if we continue in the sins or offences that are listed in the succeeding verse? God is indeed trying to tell us something, He does not want us to sin. Sin grieves the HOLY Ghost! Sin offends the HOLY Ghost. Offensive attitudes and behaviors are grounds for divorce.

3. Quenching the Holy Spirit (1Th.5: 9);

Paul emphatically told the Thessalonians to not quench the Spirit. What is he saying to us? “Do not suppress or subdue the Holy Spirit” (AMP). Harrison presents this proposition: “The Greek construction suggests this translation ‘Stop quenching the Holy Spirit.’” This was something that was in progress among the Thessalonians at the time, but It needs to confronted today also. Harrison goes on to say, “to quench amply describes the rendering of the Spirit Whose nature has been likened to fire (Mt.3:11; Ac.2:3; 7:30). W. E. Vine suggests that “quenching the Spirit” is “Hindering His operations in oral testimony in the church gatherings of believers.” That may be true as far as it goes, but the very next verse boldly commands: “Despise not prophesyings.” God has something He desires to say to His people and many times He turns up






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the heat when He brings it forth, It takes fire sometimes to wake some people up, and He is in no mood for any one pulling out the fire. Pouring a bucket of ice water on what God is attempting to do is truly grounds for divorce.

4. Resisting the Holy Spirit (Ac.7:51);

The verb “resist” in the original language means “to fall against, or upon, or to strive against.” Stephen was speaking directly to these stiff-necked (religious) people that were always resisting the Holy Ghost. They were actively and perpetually striving against the Holy Ghost and what He was attempting to do. This religious crowd was accusing Stephen of blasphemy, when they, themselves were fighting everything the Holy Ghost was doing. Religious, self-righteous, Sunday Morning church-goers that continually attempt to stop the move of the Holy Spirit in the Body of Christ today are guilty of being in a belligerent-person duel with the Holy Ghost.

Fighting, in any marriage relationship is good and solid grounds for divorce. Like it or not, the couples that are always fighting, bickering, arguing and quarreling are setting themselves up for something that God is totally against, divorce. It is the same way in our marriage relationship with the Divine Paraclete. It we are bickering and fighting what the Holy Ghost is trying to do in our life, our family, our church and/or our country, divorce proceedings have already been filed. We do not need to get a divorce from the Holy Spirit. He is the One we need if we desire to live a life of purity and holiness of heart and life.

5. Despising the Holy Spirit (He.10:29);

The writer of Hebrews reminds us of the fate of those who despised Moses Law and warns us of the worse punishment for those who defy, scorn and mock the New Covenant. The phrase that draws our attention in this verse is “...hath done despite.” The Greek word for despite is “enubrizo.” When broken down in syllables it looks like this: “eb” is “intensive” and “bubrizo” is “to insult.” Thus the word means “to insult intensively.” W. E. Vine says that some “connect it with “huper”, meaning “above, over”, and in the Latin “super”, which suggests the insulting disdain of one who considers himself “superior.”

There are those who place self a notch or two above those who have accepted Christ as Savior and Lord. They have “...done despite” to the work of the Holy Ghost. They do not need a divorce, for they have never been married to the Holy Ghost. Then, there are those who are in the






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kingdom, but are “super-spiritual.” They place themselves a notch or two above others that are born-again and Spirit-filled. They shout louder and pray louder. They play the grand stands with their Christianity. These type people have a macho religion and say or feel they can handle anything or never worry about any thing, but they fall apart when they are put in any kind of trying situation. With these people the Holy Spirit has already contacted an attorney and started the divorce proceedings,

6. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Mt.12:31; Mk.3:29);

The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is a sin that reaches beyond God’s desire to forgive. As such, it is an offence of eternal significance because there is no forgiveness or pardon for those who continue to commit such a sin. In the Scriptures cited above Jesus said that all other sins could be forgiven, but not that of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Within the broader context of this Scripture, Jesus had just chosen His twelve disciples and endowed them with special gifts, including the authority to cast out devils. Because of the authority invested in them they became extensions Christ’s own ministry. This facet of His ministry brought false allegations from religious leaders of the Jewish community.

The charge leveled against Jesus was that He was demon-possessed (v.24). This is attributing the works of the Spirit to demons. Prior to this the religious leaders had already completely dismissed Him. Their allegations against Jesus were completely disarmed when Jesus showed the irrational logic of their reasoning. Jesus knew His ministry was empowered by the Holy Spirit, Who was already at work bringing conviction to the hearts of the Jewish religious hierarchy. Their reaction was to strike out against the Spirit Who was diametrically opposed to the unclean spirits which prompted their evil and hypocritical behavior.

Jesus proved them wrong against the backdrop of the fact that they said, as it were, that He was casting out demons in the power of Beelzebub, the Prince of demons. This allegation showed the lack of common sense because they said, demons were casting out demons.

If Satan cast out Satan, his kingdom is divided against himself; how then can his kingdom stand? (Mt.12:26, NASB).

According to Plummer, in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, the unpardonable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a, “constant and consummate opposition to the influence of the Holy Spirit, because of a deliberate preference of darkness to light.” The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit which Jesus addressed so directly is not a one time act of






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sin. These religious leaders had maintained a habit of rejecting and blaspheming the work of the Holy Spirit, and to quote Plummer again, “Render repentance and forgiveness morally impossible.”

The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is perpetual and intentional rejection of the Holy Spirit’s witness to the Incarnate Son of God. The late Donald O. Stamps, General Editor of The Full Life Study Bible, carries the reader through the downward spiral of the individual who continues to reject and oppose the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He calls it a process. He says the things we have already mentioned above are part of the process. The persons who are heading in the direction of this degenerate process have removed themselves from the only force that can lead them to forgiveness. Here is the descending course taken by these hopeless people when they persist in their actions: 1) grieving the Spirit (Ep.4:30); 2) leads to resisting the Spirit (Ac.7:51); 3) leads to putting out the Spirit’s fire (1Th.5:19); 4) leads to hardening the heart (He.3:8-13); 5) leads to a depraved mind and to a labeling of good as evil and evil as good (Is.50:20; Ro.1:26), Somewhere in this process the Holy Spirit will pull away and no longer strive to lead that person to repentance.

There is hope for us if we still yearn to know God. This means that the Holy Spirit is still striving with us, so continue to seek His face, repent and turn away from all sin that He might be actively at work to free us from.

IX. THE DISCIPLE AND CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY According to Webster’s New World Dictionary, a steward is “a keeper, a person in charge, an administrator.” So, stewardship is simply acting as a steward. It also carries the thought of how well the steward administers the affairs of his office (Lk.12:42ff; 16:2, 8; 1Co.4:1; 2; 1Pe.4:10). Actually, stewardship is what we do with what we have been given. A steward is a trustee and has been entrusted with certain blessings and gifts from God. A person’s stewardship is determined by the way he manages the possessions, anointing, talents, gifts and graces God has entrusted to his care and keeping. In Luke 19:12-27, Jesus tells the story of a nobleman who went into a far country to have himself appointed king and then return. He left his servants in charge of his estate and gave them the resources and capital to carry on the business of the estate. He said to them, Do business with this “until I return.” It is indeed a fact of history that in 40 B. C., Herod The Great went to Rome to obtain from the Roman Government the Kingdom of Palestine. He received a kingship, a stewardship. The word in the Greek for stewardship is “oikonomos”. “Oikos” means, “house”. “Nemo” means, “to arrange.” Normally, this would refer to the manager of a






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household or estate (Vine). A. Trust

A steward is an administrator. He is one that oversees an estate, etc., which is not his own. He has been entrusted with the property and possessions of another, and is a trustee. The steward, who is a trustee, has been given a commission. He is commissioned to manage, maintain, and improve that for which he is commissioned. Whatever the steward oversees is to be a productive venture.

In the parable, Jesus shared what happened with the stewards who were left in charge of the estate. Those who made their stewardship a profitable venture were blessed. The one, who buried the resources left in his charge, was punished, and the punishment was horrifying.

B. Good Stewards

Every child of God is given sufficient resources to administer the affairs of our Lord’s Kingdom while He is away. It is our responsibility to learn how to be a good steward of Kingdom affairs. To be responsible stewards demands that we be good disciples of Jesus in order to know how to be a good steward of His property. Let us take a look at what constitutes a good and faithful steward. There will indeed come a day when we will be expected to give an account of our stewardship (Lk.16:1-2).

1. A good steward is responsible.

In this parable Jesus quotes the landowner as saying, “Do business with this until I return.” The stewards were responsible for their lord’s money and resources. The KJV version uses this expression for the same phrase: “Occupy till I come.” Another version uses this expression, “Be in control until I return.” It simply means to occupy and be in control until He returns. The steward is actually running a business and is accountable to his master. This steward is dependable, accountable, and punctual. In a taped message on the Father Heart of God, Jack Frost shared three different definitions of responsibility. He said responsibility has these definitions: 1) “using all my energy to fulfill the expectation of those who are counting on me”; 2) “completing a task so that it will endure testing”; 3) turning mundane tasks into enjoyable experiences.

2. A good steward is trustworthy.

Again, he is a trustee. In the first Epistle to the Church at Corinth, Paul






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said, “It is required of a steward that a man be found faithful” (1Co.4:2), meaning, “It is demanded...” that a steward be faithful. “Who is this faithful and wise steward...?” (Lk.12:42). He is like a treasurer, one who keeps that which is committed to his trust (1Ti.6:20).

3. A good steward is accountable.

In a parable similar to the one in Luke 16, Jesus told of a steward who also had squandered his master’s money. His master called him on the carpet and said, “Give an account of thy stewardship . . .” Whether we are called on the carpet or not, we need to be accountable. This is what makes discipleship such a success. A mentor is there to hold the disciple accountable. Regular accountability prevents extended gaps of negligence in the disciples advance en route to perfection. As a dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ we should never be in a position where we are not accountable.

4. A good steward is sensible.

Actually, the word used in the KJV is “wise.” “Who is the faithful and sensible (wisdom) steward ...?” (Lk.12:42ff). This parable goes on to point out who this wise and sensible steward actually is- that one who is found faithful upon our Lord’s return, who has diligently handled and administered the affairs of his Master’s estate, with discretion.

These are the type stewards that the Apostles chose to handle the affairs of the young Church in the Books of Acts. They said, “Look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business” (Ac.6:3).

5. A good steward is blameless.

Paul had appointed Titus to be the Bishop of the Island of Crete, and in-turn, had given Titus the responsibility to appoint elders in every city. The church was located in the midst of all kinds of heathen practices, unbelievers, and false teachers. To be capable of standing up under these dire circumstances, Paul said, “...The overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward...” (Titus 1: 7). According to the commentary in the Full Life Study Bible, God insists on the highest moral standards for overseers in the Church. “If leaders are not above reproach, then the Church will depart from righteousness because of the lack of Godly role models.”






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6. A good steward serves.

According to First Peter 4:10, a steward ministers his gift to others. The Apostle said, “As each has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1Pe.4:10). Gifts are not given to us to wear as badges or costumes but for ministry purposes.

Earlier we stated that a steward is accountable. According to First Corinthians (4:1) we learn that this accountability means the good steward ministers the mysteries of God. “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1Co.4:1). This reveals the fact that stewards can minister the hidden things of God, similar to that of a prophet. God uses them in his/her particular area of ministry.

7. A good steward is a disciple.

We are to be a good steward of our march toward maturity and perfection. We owe it to self, to our testimony, to our family, to our church and to the universal cause of Christ. Some Christians think of discipleship as an accident or something that occurs automatically in the Christian’s walk. The real “Jesus-kind” of discipleship is not a bestowal of God’s special favors on His special people. For disciples to arrive at a good solid level of maturity, it must be intentional. It is something that is desired, decided and determined by the sincere disciple and his dedicated mentor. They must want a good, in-depth, plan of action for the mentor to lead his disciple through to bring about the desired maturity. A quality decision, guided by the mentor, must be made by the disciple to carry through on this gigantic task. They must be determined to complete the course. This lifestyle will have walked out daily, perpetually, and must be sincerely worked at.

C. Biblical Discipleship for Determined Disciples

Paul addressed this situation when he saw the Jewish Christians, beleaguered by persecution, and, tempted to return to Judaism. He asked them this question: “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation...?” (He.3:3). This is what we are grappling with. It will probably be said more than once in this study but it bears stating now, “Every disciple is a Christian but not every Christian is a disciple.” When we have a disciple-less Christianity, we have neglected to spell-out what is required of a disciple in the life and testimony of the individual. The individual who is not receiving or has not received Divine discipline, which is what we are discussing here, is not treated as sons of God (Christians), but as






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illegitimate children. He knows nothing of the love and discipline of a father (He.12:6-8).

1. Exercising faith to be a disciple of Jesus;

In the Epistle to the Hebrews, the word says, “He that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (He.11:6). To believe is to obey, meaning to put our faith into action. Remember, faith is a noun and needs a verb to activate it. We have a verb, “to believe.” Simply put, it is acting on the Word of God. The disciple must exercise his faith, first of all by believing in the existence of God. God is the Rewarder. He is the One Who knows the disciple’s heart to the extent that he is obedient to the point of diligently seeking Him. Dear disciple- put faith to work for self and for God. Without this obedience of faith (Ro.1:5), there can hardly be any results come about. The bottom line with God is still where it has always been, in the area of obedience. If we desire to bring God out of His neutral corner, be obedient and act on His Word.

2. Recognition of His place in salvation;

The Jesus-kind of discipleship calls for recognition of His place in our salvation. The disciple needs to learn and continually recognize what is going on in their relationship with Jesus. He needs to know what is going on inside himself. All Christianity begins and flows from the inside. Someone has said, “We need to become more God-inside’ minded”. We have been shown by the Apostle John that He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world (1Jn.4:4). What is going on inside us is addressed by the Apostle Paul in his Letter to the Church at Philippi. We are challenged to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Php.2:12). It is that serious and we must do it. It is not easy but demanded. So the Apostle encourages us that God is at work inside us, working on our situation. It is for our special benefit that God is where He is in us and what He is doing is according to His will. This working is for Him to help us to will His will and it is for His good pleasure (Php.2:12-13). It is of great importance that we recognize God place in our continued salvation.

3. Recognition demands diligence in our search of Him.

The kind of disciple Jesus is searching for is one who is diligently searching for Him. We have already been made aware that God rewards those who search for Him. The disciple must be on an eternal quest for God and His ways. Early in the Old Testament God gave us a conditional






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promise. He said, “If My people who are called by my Name (simply meaning “Christians), would humble themselves and pray and seek My face,” He said “I will hear” your prayer and bring revival to you (2Ch.7:14). We must seek God. We must continually seek His face. The commandment comes from Jesus for us to seek first and foremost the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Mt.6:33). The word “seek” means to: “inquire, require, search out, investigate, crave and demand” (Vine). The word “diligently” quoted earlier from Hebrews 11:6, means “to seek out.” This requires a thorough search, a diligent search. This needs to be woven into the fabric of the disciple’s life from start to finish, in order to guarantee his constant place in the will of God.

4. Making investment in our own salvation;

The kind of discipleship that would satisfy Jesus is for His disciple to make an Investment in his own salvation. Yes, we contribute to the transaction. Salvation is already free and paid for, but there are some maintenance fees all along this “toll highway”. We must be a good steward of our salvation. Stewardship is what we do with what we have been given. God was gracious enough to give us our salvation, so the least we should do is maintain it, grow in it, develop your gifts and preserve a good relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

This is the reason God wants us to gain and maintain an accountable relationship with Him. We are the benefactor in this Covenant and it behooves us to stay in good graces with Him. How long has it been since He heard from us? Have we spent quality time with Him in prayer and meditation of His Word? This is one association that should never deteriorate. It is good just to get in His Presence, realize His holiness, acknowledge our imperfections, and repent. We should be sure to keep our account with Him up to date. The command is this, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Php.2:12). This means that the disciple must work at his salvation perpetually. He must walk it out continually. It is so serious that God said it must be done with fear and trembling. The investment is this, be a serious disciple and be a good steward of salvation on a daily basis.

5. Confidence in God’s loyalty;

Another requirement in this “Jesus-kind” of discipleship is that it requires the disciple to be confident about God’s loyalty during the process. When an individual has lost his respect for God and the knowledge of His loyalty, he is treading on dangerous ground. In spite of the negatives factors involved in God promising to give Abraham and Sarah a son, the






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old couple did not waver in their faith. They believed that, “...what God had promised He was able also to perform” (Ro.4:21). Their faith was not just in His power to perform but also in His integrity in what He had promised. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul shared his confidence with the church that God is dependable, and that beginning His work in them would “...carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Php.1:6) Completion means to “accomplish, to perfect, to fulfill or to finish”. The disciple must be convinced that God is faithful in all His functions. He is indeed responsible for Who He is and what He has promised. Dear Disciple, can we stand on who God actually is and what His obligations are? Notice the following:

a. Vertical dimension;

The Lord’s faithfulness has a vertical dimension which is made sure to the disciple by the Psalmist in these words, “Thy mercy, 0 Lord, is in the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reacheth to the clouds” (Ps.36:5). His faithfulness is from where we are to where He is.

b. Horizontal dimension;

The Lord’s faithfulness also has an horizontal dimension. This is also shared with us by the Psalmist, “Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth” (Ps.119:90). God’s faithfulness reaches across the length and breadth of all His creation, for all eternity. We can depend on God to be there when we need Him, We can allow Him to do the following in our life as we walk as His disciple:

1) To forgive and cleanse us. “If we confess our sins,

He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn.1:9).

2) To invite us into His fellowship. “God is faithful, by

Whom you were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1Co.1:9).

3) To call us to holiness. “And the very God of peace

sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it” (1Th.5:23-24).






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4) To establish and keep us from evil. “The Lord is faithful Who will establish you, and keep you from evil” (2Th.2:3).

5) To remain faithful even when we are faith-less. “If

we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself” (2Th.2:13).

6) To not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to

resist. “There is no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it” (1Co.10:13).

7) To complete, finish and perfect the good work He

has started in you. “I am confident of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Php.6:6, NASB).

8) What ever He has promised, He will perform. “Let us

hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised” (He.10:23).

6. Disciples commanded to be patient;

Another aspect in the Jesus-Kind of discipleship is that the disciple is commanded to be patient. The Apostle James issues the command to be patient as part of our preparation for the coming of the Lord. Patience is actually the motive for being ready for His coming. Patience, according to the Commentary from the Full Life Bible, gives the best definition for patience concerning discipleship. It says. “Patience is the virtue of enduring in justice, suffering, trouble and mistreatment, while committing our lives to God in the faith that He will make all things right at His coming”.

The road the disciple must travel to maturity is long and extremely difficult. There are many potholes and pitfalls along this path. A sincere disciple who has his eyes on the summit of the mount must know that the enemy lies in wait to deter and discourage his race to excellence. The disciple must gear-up in order to run with patience (endurance) the race that is set before him (He.12:1), To help in our thinking concerning patience, we should fit the words endurance, stamina, fortitude,






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insistence, perseverance and determination into our vocabulary.

The amazing thing James is talking about is that it comes forth as an order. Disciples of Jesus Christ should never ask God for patience, because God makes it clear, as He simply says, “Be patient!”

Earlier in James’ Epistle, he commanded Christians to use patience. Yes, we should let patience work for us. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish ifs work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (Ja.1:2-4, NIV). After all, is not this what we are in the process of?

7. Disciples cooperate in the Body of Christ;

The disciple that has taken up his cross to follow Jesus must know the Lord expects cooperation in the all-inclusive program of the Body of Christ. Paul was a part of the Five-Fold ministry mentioned and elaborated on in Ephesians 4:11-15. He knew that the Five-Fold or the Equipping Ministry had a solemn assignment given to them by Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Harvest. That assignment was a commission that has in recent years been taken lightly. Not so much, as to the appointment to the various offices, but to what is to be accomplished in the duration of their respective ministries. Here we have a member of that perceptive group sharing what their jobs were to accomplish. But in his Epistle to the Colossians, after fixing his eyes on the scope and extent of the task before them, Paul gives a thumbnail sketch of who and what this ministry is to reach. This written and verbal confrontation, coming from the heart of one Equipper to all others, in a sense said, “This is how I feel about our job.” He said,

“Him we preach and proclaim, warning and admonishing everyone and instructing everyone in all wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God), that we may present every person mature (full-grown, fully initiated, complete, and perfect) in Christ (the Anointed One)” (Co.1:28, AMP).

In order to achieve the task of reaching everyone with the Gospel of Jesus Christ it will take the Five-Fold ministry operating at full capacity, bringing all Christians to perfection, and in turn, releasing these full-grown duplications of Jesus Christ to a world hungry for the peace of God which passes all understanding.






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X. THE DISCIPLE AND THE STEWARDSHIP OF HIS FAITH To the lost person and the new convert, the words “believing, faith,” and “stewardship” are vague and ambiguous, Many times people really do not know the meanings of these words and are at a loss as to what to do about them. A. What is Faith?

Faith is God’s ability in us to help us take Him at His Word. Faith is a noun, and a noun is “the name of a person, place, or thing.” Being a noun, it is defined as “...the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen” (He.11:1). It is also a gift (Ep.2:8). God has given this gift to every Believer (Ro.12:3), Paul said that he lived by the faith of Jesus (Ga.6:20). The true child of God already has faith. God saw to it that we would have it. We needed it to live the God-life, so He gave us His faith. We needed faith to walk the faith-walk, so He graciously gave it to us (Ep.2:8). Remember, as previously written, stewardship is what we do with what we have been given. What kind of steward are we since we have been given faith from God? What are we doing with our faith?

In the parable of the talents, one steward buried his talent. He lost it. The other two stewards used their talents and doubled them (Mt.25:14-30), James puts teeth into his message from God by saying that faith by itself, without obedience, is dead (Ja.2:17-20). When a person actually uses his faith by obeying God’s Word, he is believing. Faith is based upon God’s Word, and obedience to His Word is believing.

In the English language there is no verb form to activate the noun “faith.” This means, in order to activate the word, we have to find a verb form from another word, not from faith. Faith, by itself is inadequate.

B. What is Believing?

In conjugating the word faith, we run into a problem: “I faith, you faith, he faiths,” which does not work. Faith is a noun. We do not conjugate nouns, only verbs. Verbs are action words. We can conjugate the verb “to believe”, simply because it is a verb. It is an action word. “I believe, you believe, he believes.” Believing is putting our faith into action.

A study of the Epistle of James will come to our rescue at this point. The Apostle is very extravagant with the use of the word “works.” In the age-old dispute between “Faith” and “Works,” he puts up a well thought out and well written case for Works. Many believers have a difficult time understanding the Epistle of James, because they believe in Salvation by grace through faith. Their belief






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and adherence to this doctrine (Salvation by Faith) is very well grounded in the Scriptures. Most all evangelicals truly rely on it as God’s way of salvation.

Martin Luther, the great reformer, called the Epistle of James, “The Book of Straw.” Luther was leading the crusade for “Salvation by grace through faith,” against a practice in the Roman Catholic Church known for the selling of indulgences. This was the practice of an individual who could give a considerable sum of money and receive remission for punishment due for a sin after the guilt had been forgiven. Luther’s rallying cry was that an individual could receive forgiveness by the grace of God without paying for it or working for it. For this reason Luther could have no appreciation for the Epistle of James because, in Luther’s mind, we do not work for it; it is given by God.

For those who have difficulty understanding James, there is a ray of hope. Any place in the Epistle of James that the word “works” appears, if we will substitute the word “obedience” for it we will come to a clearer understanding. Such phrases as, “...faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone”, and “Faith without works is dead”, come alive and begin to make sense, when the substitution is made. Notice: “...Faith, if it hath not [obedience] is dead, being alone.” “Faith without [obedience] is dead.” Makes good sense, does it not?

C. Believing is Obeying God’s Word

Believing is doing God’s Word. It is not simply a passive listening; it is an active response to what God has said. Different inflections (alterations are the forms of words to indicate number, tense, person, voice or mood) of the verb, “to obey,” in the Old Testament (Hebrew), such as Obedience, Obey, Obeyedest, Obeyeth, and Obeying, totaling 77 uses. All these variations come from the Hebrew word, “Shema.” In both the Old and New Testaments, hearing carries with it the idea of obeying. Paul said “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Ro.10:17).

Actually, the “hearing” is the message, that which comes through to the brain. The root word in the Hebrew language for “hearing,” is “that which you heard, preached, a report, a rumor.” So, whatever is the message, the report or the rumor, that is preached, if it is the Word of Christ, produces faith.

In the preceding verse, Romans 10:16, Paul makes reference to Isaiah 53:1, in which the prophet cries out, “Who has believed our message?” (NASB, in the KJV, “report”). The Apostle makes a bold statement in saying that the people did not heed the prophet’s message. John 12:38 and Romans 10:16 express Isaiah 53:1 thusly, “Lord, who has believed our report?” The content of the report is the message that produces faith in the heart of the child of God because faith comes by hearing the “rhema” (word that the Spirit speaks into our hearts) of






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God (Ro.10:17).

As one hears, he obeys. If we have difficulty in getting a person to understand when we ask him to have faith or believe, simply ask him to act on God’s Word. Tell him to take God at His Word, and simply do what God has said.

In a discussion dealing with faith and obedience, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, drives this point home by comparing both sides of the coin. He states two propositions: 1) Only he who believes is obedient; 2) Only he who is obedient believes. But, when it comes to justification, it is necessary to separate these propositions. But, “...We must never lose sight of their essential unity. For faith is only real when there is obedience, never without it, and faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience.”

In some verses of the Bible, belief and disobedience are actually pitted against each other within those verses. In Numbers 20:12, Moses was in the flesh and not in the spirit. He disobeyed God by striking the rock instead of speaking to it. God said to Moses, you “...believed me not”. The writer of Hebrews challenges Christians to labor to enter into God’s rest. His reference is to Israel’s past, in which many failed to enter into the earthly Promised Land because of unbelief. The “rest” and the Promised Land which flowed with milk and honey were synonymous. In disobeying they disbelieved, and in disbelieving, they disobeyed (He.4:11). In the New International Version for Hebrews 3:18-19, the word “disobeyed” is used rather than believed not or unbelief, while in the King James Version it shows a direct connection between the words. First Peter 2:7 also shows that disobedience and believing are opposing forces (read it, study it, meditate it, etc.). In his hard-hitting book on The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, spent several pages discussing the unity of faith and obedience. He said, “For faith is only real when there is obedience, never without it, and faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience.”

D. How Does a Person Believe?

To believe God is to do what God says. There is no reason why Christians should not be believers. But some are not. In teaching on Discipleship, the statement is true that, “All disciples of Jesus are Christians, but not all Christians are disciples.” And so it is in the area of believing, “All believers are Christians, but not all Christians are believers.” They simply do not take God at His Word and thus are not obedient to God’s Word. The disciples, after the resurrection, did not believe Christ had risen (Mk.16:11, 13, 14). Later, they “took Him at His Word” and their actions and the results proved they were believers (Mk.16:20).

To believe is to act on God’s Word. Jeremiah heralds the word he received from God (Je.1:12), in which He said, “I am watching over My word to perform it.”






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God is perpetually looking for a man to be obedient to His Word so He can back it up or prove what He has said.

Abraham was totally convinced that what God had promised He could produce (Ro.4:21). Malachi tells us that God is crying out to His people and saying, “Prove me” (Mal.3:10), “give me a chance to prove to you that I will do what I say.” (a likely paraphrase).

To begin acting on God’s Word, start by quoting it. We must let it flow through our mouth, say it, confess it. Our mind, mouth, spirit, and even our body will have to pick it up if we say it enough. An honest confession is good for the soul, especially if that confession is the Word that has already flowed from the mouth of God (Mt.4:4). Then, as we continue to allow these powerful words to flow through us, opportunities will arise for us to further put them into practice. We will have ample opportunity to prove them. As God affords us the privilege to do His Word, we should seize it at every opportunity. “Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (Ja.1:22). If we fail to do it, we will forget it (Ja.1:23-25). We retain what God has taught us by practicing it. Abraham believed (obeyed) God and it was accounted unto him for righteousness (Ge.15:6; Ro.4:3; Ga.3:6; Ja.2:23). Do not forget, faith comes by receiving and doing what God says (Ro.10:17). Abraham continued to obey God, and his faith was brought to maturity (Ja.2:22). He is known today as the “Father of the faithful”.

E. What Will Believing Do?

Believing gets results. The reason for this is that believing is obedience to God. The Bible says, “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1Sa.15:22). Obedience honors God and God honors those who honor Him. Believers act on God’s Word because they know God can and will back it up. A person’s action is directly proportional to his faith. A believer acts on the Word because Jesus Christ is “...the same yesterday, today, and forever” (He.13:8). The devils trembled and believed but they did not act in obedience (Ja.2:19). They knew God would back up what He said. We also need to know that.

Jesus said, “With God all things are possible” (Mk.10:27), but the possibilities do not stop with God. Believers are included in this also, because they live and do what God says. The Word also comes from the lips of the Son of God that “All things are possible to him that believeth” (Mk.9:23). What are some of the things that can truly happen to and through those who take the Lord at His Word?

1. Believing will bring men to salvation (Ac.16:31; Ro.10:9).

This is a good place to prove the validity of obeying the Word. Paul






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challenges the lost person to confess Jesus to be his Lord. When he obeys that command he has acted on God’s Word. He then receives “...the measure of faith” (Ro.12:3), and with that faith he can believe in his heart that God raised Jesus from the dead (Ro.12:9). “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God” (Ep.2:8).

In Acts 16:26-31, Luke tells the story of Paul and Silas and the Philippian jailer. Paul and Silas had been beaten with rods and their sweat was running through the stripes on their backs. They were put in maximum security and their feet were fastened in the stocks. It was midnight. In spite of all the pain and embarrassment they were enduring, they began to praise and worship God. The other prisoners were listening to their songs of praise. No doubt they wondered how anyone could sing in the midst of all their afflictions. As Paul and Silas continued to sound praises to God, the very ground on which the prison stood, began to shake. They were all in the midst of an earthquake. During the earthquake the prison doors flung open. The prisoners were free to escape. The jailer, in fear for his life, because he thought his prisoners had fled, drew his sword and attempted to commit suicide. Paul and Silas cried out to him and said, “Do thyself no harm for we are all here.” The jailer also screamed out in desperation, to Paul and Silas, with the question of how to be saved. Their answer to the jailer was not for him to confess his sins, nor got the pastor’s confirmation class, nor join the church, nor to study and confess the Roman Road to Salvation to be saved. Neither did they try to find their “Four Spiritual Laws” in order to lead him to Christ. Their reply was simple, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ” (give yourself up to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping) “and you will be saved.” (Ac,16:30-31).

2. Believing will bring the fullness of the Spirit.

Two distinct words of exhortation from Jesus are most helpful at this point. In Luke 11:3, He said: “If ye being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” We already know to ask in prayer, believing (Mt.21:22).

Jesus and His disciples were in Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals, the Feast of Tabernacles. They, along with other people, were watching the priests go through one of the rituals of this particular festivity. The priests were pouring water out of large jars into small ones. Jesus explained the spiritual significance of the ceremony. John said that Jesus cried out and said: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He






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that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (But this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified (Jn.7:37-39).

It is believed that after Jesus ascended, there was a great coronation day in heaven, and at this ceremony Jesus was crowned Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords. He was glorified. The impact was so powerful that it shook the earth also. The Body of Christ happened to be in session and the place where they were assembled together in perfect harmony, received the message from heaven through strange phenomena.

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of tire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were tilled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them (Ac.2:2-4, NIV).

While at that feast at Jerusalem, many people were listening to the teaching of Jesus. Many of them, when they heard the spiritual meaning behind the ritual, said, “Surely this man is the Prophet. Others said, He is the Christ” (Jn.7:40-41, NIV). They remembered the words of the prophet Ezekiel, where he said God would put His Spirit in man (Ezk.36:25-27). They knew that what Jesus had said was the truth.

Remember, believing is the vehicle God uses to get people to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus said we were to believe in Him as the Scripture has said, we would believe according to the total program of God as recorded in the Bible, or a Full Gospel.

3. Believing will activate the Word of God (1Th.2:13).

In commending the Christians at Thessalonica for the way they received the word Paul had preached to them, he said they welcomed it not as the word from mere men. They were blessed that they actually knew that it was indeed the Word of God. They accepted it as it actually is, The Word of God, which is effectually at work in us, “who believe.” Notice, from the Amplified Version, what follows the word “believe” in brackets, “[exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it].”

4. Believing will get our prayers answered.






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God will indeed answer the prayer of those who believe. When Peter had seen that the fig tree Jesus cursed had withered and died, he mentioned it to Jesus. The Lord’s reply to His disciple was simply, “Have faith in God.” which literally means, “Have the faith of God” (Mk.11: 22). In further conversation He encouraged them that this God kind of faith, which He had just told them to possess, would bring results. He said, “What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” In Matthew’s account of this same event, it is recorded that Jesus answered saying, “. . . All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” When Thomas doubted that the Savior had been resurrected from the dead, Jesus told him, “Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing” (Jn.20:27).

5. Believing will put us in position to do the works of Jesus.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father (Jn.14:12).

Remember, all things are possible to the person who believes. To do the works of Jesus would be a great feat, and He said it could be done. He also said the believer could do even greater works than He did because He was returning to the Father.

Why did Jesus say it was expedient that He return to the Father? If He did not depart, the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, would not come (Jn.16:7). The Holy Spirit came to give Christians the ability (power) (Ac.1:8) to do the works of Jesus. At the time Jesus spoke these words He had not gone to Calvary and defeated the enemy. Since Calvary, the enemy has been put to naught (Co.2:14-15; He.2:14; 1Jn.3:8). We as believers are free to do the works of Jesus and are granted the power to do so because of the finished work of Calvary.

We work the works of Jesus by believing. In John Chapter 6 the multitude had followed Jesus and received food as He fed the five thousand. Jesus told them they had not followed Him because of the miracles, but because they had eaten and were filled. Then, He cautioned them to not work for what perishes, but for the “...food that endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give you.” The multitude’s question was how they might work the works of God. Jesus immediately replied, “This is the work of God, That you believe on Him whom He has sent” (Jn.6:26-29, NASB). How do we work the works of God? The answer is simple,






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Believe!

Jesus fully explained what He meant by this. In Mark 16:17, He said, “These signs shall follow them that believe.” Then He proceeded to share a list of miraculous things that could be accomplished by those who would truly believe. Remember, believing is taking God at His Word. Believing is obeying. He gave another stipulation to doing His works--“In My name.” We do these things on the Word of and in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Then Jesus went away (Mk.16:19), and was exalted to the right hand of God (Ac.2:33). The precious Holy Spirit was then poured out on the earth to prove what was actually transpiring in heaven- the coronation of Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Ac.2:36). Pentecost proved the Lordship of Jesus. Jesus had been glorified; now we have Pentecost and the God-given Holy Ghost power to do the works of Jesus. Throughout the Acts of the Apostles we have a record of the Apostles as they believed and did the works of Jesus, and even greater works than Jesus! It was all done in the name of Jesus. Mark closed his Gospel by saying of these Apostles, “And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen” (Mk.16: 20).

It was not by perfect Sunday School attendance, nor being on a Church Board for years. It was not by those who could quote entire chapters of the Bible, nor did the signs follow those who tithed nor gave sacrificially to help the poor. While all these are good and proper things for us to do, these things do not even keep a person from hell. The things Jesus left for us to accomplish can only be completed by and through people who believe.

The only evidence or proof we will ever need for anything we do, as a Christian, is the Word of God. Therefore, do it and stand on it (Ep.6:13-14). The Lord will work with His Word and confirm it in us.

XI. THE DISCIPLE AND HIS SPIRITUAL ANATOMY A greater knowledge of our spiritual and internal composition can accelerate our growth toward Christian maturity. To know our spiritual composition will speed our growth on to maturity. There are certain laws, which, if followed, will help each component work together and compliment each other for spiritual growth. The word “flesh” in Scripture is “basar” in Hebrew and “sarx” in Greek. Seen often in the Bible, it is used in various ways. Its most significant usage, observed and made






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most clear in Paul’s writings, has reference to the unregenerate person. In connection with this usage of “flesh,’ it must be remembered that from the beginning, man was constituted spirit, soul, and body. On the occasion of man’s fall the soul resisted the spirit’s authority and became enslaved to the body and its passions, Thus, man became a fleshly, not a spiritual, man. Since the soul is now under the power of the flesh, the Bible deems man to be fleshly or carnal. What is soulish (coming from the soul), has become fleshly. We know that a human body is composed of flesh, bones and blood. Flesh is that part of the body through which we sense the world around us. Therefore, a fleshly person is one who follows the world. Broadly speaking, flesh means the human body whether living or dead. According to the latter part of Romans 7, the sin of the flesh is related to the human body: “/ see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members” (v.23). The Apostle Paul continues in Chapter eight (8) by explaining that if we would overcome the flesh, we must “...put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit” (v.13). The flesh totally disregards the things of God. The fleshly sometimes do exert their utmost strength to observe the Law. The Bible never treats the fleshly as synonymous with law-breakers. It merely concludes that “...by works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” God looks upon the flesh as utterly corrupt, So closely is it linked with lust that the Bible often refers to “...the lusts of the flesh” (2Pe.2.18, Darby). The corruption of the flesh is such that even the Holy Spirit of God cannot, by striving against the flesh, render it un-fleshly. A. Disciple’s Dying

Man unfortunately does not understand God’s Word, so he tries continually to refine and reform his flesh. Because God appreciates the actual condition of the flesh He declares it as being unchangeable. Any person who attempts to repair it by acts of self-abasement or severity to the body shall fail utterly.

The flesh must die. This is salvation. By the Holy Spirit Who dwells in the disciple, Christ enables him to overcome self daily and obey Him perfectly. Liberation from sin is an accomplished fact; denial of self is to be a daily experience. If a disciple understood the full implication of the Cross at the time he was born anew, he would be freed wholly from sin on the one side and on the other be in possession of a new life.

Many tend to do good even before they believe, They, of course, do not possess the power to do good nor could they be good. But their conscience seems to be






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comparatively enlightened, though their strength to do good is nevertheless weak.

Others, before believing, harbor pitch-black consciences, sin terribly and never intend to do good. Upon hearing of God’s whole salvation they naturally grasp the grace of forgiveness and neglect (not reject) the grace for deliverance from sin. They will encounter much struggle over sin of the flesh afterwards.

In every human the flesh demands full sovereignty; so does the spiritual life. The flesh desires to have the disciple forever attached to itself; while the spiritual life wants to have the disciple completely subject to the Holy Spirit. Not realizing the full salvation of Christ, a disciple will constantly experience such a struggle.

B. Disciple’s Conflict

When young disciples fall into such conflict they are dumbfounded. Some despair of spiritual growth thinking they are just too bad. Others begin to doubt they are genuinely regenerated, not aware that regeneration itself brings in this conflict. New life has sprung up, and it penetrates the man, immediately exposing the defilement and corruption within. The new desire is naturally dissatisfied to remain in such a state and longs to follow the will of God. The flesh begins to contend with the spiritual life. The purpose of God is never to reform the flesh but to destroy it. It is by God’s life given the believer at regeneration that the self in the flesh is to be destroyed.

All believers could like Paul, be filled with the Holy Spirit at the moment of belief and baptism (Ac.9.17-18). Unfortunately, many still are controlled by the flesh as though not dead and raised up again. These have not truly believed in the accomplished fact of Christ’s death and resurrection for them, nor have they sincerely acted upon the call of the Holy Spirit to follow the principle of death and resurrection. This is the Disciple’s Conflict, becoming who God wants them to be through “death” to the flesh.

But I, brethren, could not address you as spiritual men, but as men of the flesh, as babes in Christ I fed you with milk, not solid food; for you were not ready for it; and even yet you are not toady, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving like ordinary men? (1Co.3.1-3).

Here the Apostle Paul divides all Christians into two classes: the spiritual and the fleshly or carnal. The spiritual Christians are simply normal- it is the fleshly who are out of the ordinary, because they are abnormal to the life of Christ.






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Biblical regeneration is a birth by which the innermost part of man’s being, the deeply hidden spirit, is renewed and indwelt by the Spirit of God. It requires time for the power of this new life to reach the outside: that is, to be extended from the center to the circumference. The Bible does not expect new Christians to be spiritual instantaneously; if they should remain as babes after many years, however, then their situation is indeed most pitiful. The disciple is not to remain as a baby. To do so is to reject the power of the Spirit to change and conform their lives to the image of Christ.

The purpose of Christ’s redemption is to remove all hindrances to the Holy Spirit’s control over the whole person, so that he can be made spiritual. We should not become aged babes, grieving the Holy Spirit and suffering loss ourselves. All regenerated ones should covet spiritual development, permitting the Holy Spirit to rule in every respect so that in a relatively short period He may be able to lead us into what God has provided for us.

C. Reasons for Not Growing

While the new born believer is to be expected to act like a baby, the disciple is expected to grow up. There are several reasons why a new believer does not under go this growth process:

1. Negligence of leadership;

It may be due to the negligence of those who, watching over the souls of the younger believers may only speak to them of the grace of God and of their position in Christ, but neglect to encourage them to seek further spiritual experience.

2. Ignorant of spiritual affairs;

It may be because the believers themselves are not aware of spiritual affairs. They may assume that it is sufficient enough merely to be saved, have no spiritual appetite, or they simply are unwilling to pay the price for growth.

3. Unfit to absorb teaching;

A characteristic of the fleshly is that they are unfit to absorb spiritual teaching. “I fed you with milk, not solid food; for you were not ready.” The Corinthians grossly prided themselves on their knowledge and wisdom. Of all the churches in that period, the church at Corinth was probably the most informed one. However all their understandings were in the mind, Most likely there are many fleshly believers today who grasp so much, so






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well, that they can even preach to others; but who are themselves yet unspiritual, Genuine spiritual knowledge lies not in wonderful and mysterious thoughts, but in actual spiritual experience through the union of the believer’s life with truth.

4. Knowledge in the mind;

The transmission to knowledge from one mind to another will not render a fleshly person spiritual; his carnal walk actually will turn all his “spiritual” knowledge into that which is fleshly. What he needs is not increased spiritual teaching, but an obedient heart which is willing to yield his life to the Holy Spirit and go the way of the Cross according to the Spirit’s command. This way of the Cross is a place of death, a putting to death of the fleshly appetites of a man.

5. Strife and jealousy;

Another evidence of being fleshly is when there is jealousy and strife. Paul addressed this among the Corinthians, saying “...are you not of the flesh, and behaving like ordinary men”? The sin of jealousy and strife is eminent proof of carnality. The flesh is always and everywhere jealous and contentious. For these to hold themselves up as being of Christ, but in that attitude of spirit, are inescapably carnal. However sweet the word may sound, any sectarian boasting is but the babbling of a babe. The divisions in the Church are due to no other cause than a lack of love and walking after the flesh.

To be fleshly or carnal means to behave as ordinary men. We should ask ourselves whether or not our conduct differs very radically from ordinary men, If many worldly manners cling to our life, then we are doubtless still of the flesh and have much work to do as disciples.

D. Legitimate Requirements

The necessities of the human body may be classified into three categories: 1) nourishment; 2) reproduction; 3) defense. Before man’s fall these were legitimate requirements, unmixed with sin. Only after man fell into sin did these three become media for sin. In the case of nourishment, the world uses food to entice us. The first temptation of man was in this matter of food. The carnal believers at Corinth, with their lust for food, caused their brethren to stumble. All who were, therefore, to be elders and deacons in those days, were required to have overcome on this point (1Ti.3:3, 8).

When sin has secured control, the body exhibits its strength in self-defense, and






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opposes anything that may interfere with its comfort and pleasure. What is commonly called temper and such of its fruits as anger and strife, issue from the flesh and are therefore sins of the flesh. Many of the darkest sins in this world spring from self-interest, self-existence, self-glory, self-opinion, and whatsoever else there is of self. To be a disciple, we must die to self and live to Christ.

The manifestations of the flesh man-ward are well-known. The Galatians Letter gives a list of the sins of the flesh so that none can be mistaken. Here the works of the flesh are plain: “...immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger; selfishness dissension, party spirit (literally, 'sect'), envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like” (Ga.5.19-21). The presence of a work of the flesh proves its existence and the lack of dying in the disciple.

E. Work of the Spirit

The first step in the work of the Holy Spirit is to convince and convict us of our sins. Without the illumination of the Holy Spirit, a sinner initially will never see the sinfulness of his sin and will not flee from the coming wrath into the obedience of Christ. A believer, desiring to be a disciple, subsequently needs to see his sin a second time, To the degree that a disciple is enlightened by the Holy Spirit into apprehending something of the pitiful condition of being fleshly, to that extent will his struggle with the flesh be intensified; and more often will be manifested his failures. In defeat he will be shown more of the sin and frailty of his flesh in order that he may be aroused to an increased indignation at himself and an ardent determination to contend with the sin of his flesh. Here are the five classifications of the fleshly sins of man.

1. Sins which defile the body, such as immorality, impurity,

licentiousness;

2. Sinful supernatural communications with satanic forces, such as idolatry, sorcery;

3. Sinful temper and its peculiarities, such as enmity, strife, jealousy,

anger;

4. Religious sects and parties, such as selfishness, dissensions, party spirit, envy;

5. Lasciviousness, such as drunkenness and carousing. Every one

of these is easily observed.

Many believers, ignorant of the salvation of God, attempt to conquer these works of the flesh by going to battle with it. They hold that victory depends upon






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the measure of power they have. These, therefore, earnestly anticipate God will grant them increased spiritual power to enable them to subdue their flesh. This battle normally extends over a long period, marked by more defeats than victories, until finally it seems that complete victory over the flesh is unrealizable. To try to improve or discipline his flesh, a disciple may set up many rules, such as, “...do not handle, do not taste, do not touch.” He tries to give his flesh some spiritual training (Co.2:21-23).

We cannot yield to the flesh; nor can we repair, regulate, or educate it, because none of our methods can ever alter in the slightest the nature of the flesh. The flesh must die. Since we became flesh by being born of the flesh, it naturally follows that we shall be freed from it if the flesh dies. Crucifixion is the one and only way. “For he who has died is freed from sin” (Ro.6:7). Anything less than death is insufficient. Death is the only salvation, and even the precious blood of the Lord Jesus cannot cleanse the flesh.

F. Finished Work of Christ

What attitude should we assume towards Christ’s finished work? Not just in name, but in actuality has He crucified our flesh on the Cross. If the disciple will believe and if we exercise our will to choose what God has accomplished for us, it will become our life experience. If we desire to put our members to death we first must have a ground for such action; otherwise we merely rely upon our strength. No degree of zeal can ever bring the desired experience to us. Since we are united with Him in His crucifixion, we can apply His death to any member which is tempted to lust and immediately put it to naught. But where does the power to so apply the crucifixion of the Lord to our members come from? It is by the Spirit, insists Paul, that we put to death the deeds of the body (Ro.8.:3). To put away these deeds the disciple must rely upon the Holy Spirit to translate his co-crucifixion with Christ into a persona! experience. He must believe that the Holy Spirit will administer the death of the Cross to whatever needs to die.

The wicked works of the flesh may spring up at any time and at any place; accordingly, unless the disciple by the Holy Spirit continually turns to reliance upon that power of the death of our Lord Jesus, he will not be able to triumph. It is in this way he lays the deeds of the body to rest. The Holy Spirit Who indwells the disciple will ultimately bring about God’s purpose of putting the body of sin out of a job (Ro.6:6). Henceforth, the Christian should “...walk by the Spirit” and should not “...gratify the desires of the flesh” (Ga.5:16).

Many matured disciples have experienced sustained victory over the flesh. Though the flesh abides, its power is reduced practically to zero. Its life with its nature and activities have been laid to rest by the cross of the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit, and it is relegated to a state of existence as if not even






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present.

“If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.”

The entire relationship expressed in this verse hangs upon that word “if.” God has done all that is necessary; He cannot do anything more, and it is now up to us to take a stand. If we neglect this perfect salvation, how then shall we escape? If we live according to the flesh we will die. This is a severe warning. Although we are regenerated, the disciple will nonetheless lose out in his spiritual walk as though he were not alive.

“The flesh,” says the Lord Jesus, “...is of no avail” (Jn.6:63), Whether it be the sin of the flesh or the righteousness of the flesh, it is futile. That which is born of the flesh, whatever it may be, is flesh, and can never be un-fleshed. Whether it is the flesh in the pulpit, the flesh in the audience, the flesh in prayers, the flesh in consecration, the flesh in reading the Bible, the flesh in singing, or the flesh in doing good; God says that none of these can avail. They are futile and therefore of no value to the disciple.

G. Facts About the Flesh

1. “To set the mind on the flesh is death” (Ro.8:6). According to

God’s view there is spiritual death in the flesh.

2. “The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God” (Ro.8:7). The flesh is opposed to God, There is no chance of peaceful co-existence.

3. “It does not submit to God’s law, Indeed it cannot” (Ro.8:7). The

better the flesh works the farther away God is.

4. “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Ro.8:8). This is the final verdict- regardless how good a man may be, if the doing is out from himself, it cannot please God. How vain and futile are the efforts of the flesh.

H. How Do We Win?

The Bible never instructs us to crucify ourselves. Precisely the opposite are we told. We are taught that when Christ went to Calvary He took us there and had us crucified.

The critical term the disciple must know and come to is, “...in Christ”. It is because we are “...in Him” and are united with Him that we can say that when






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Christ went to the cross, we went there in Him; that when Christ was crucified, we too were crucified in Him.

Faith comes through revelation (Mt.16:17). Without the latter the former is impossible (Ro.10:17). This explains why many do not have faith, for though they mentally understand, they do not have God’s revelation. Meditation on/in the Word is what is required (Jos.1:8),

Sin can no longer tempt the believer, for he is a new man; the old has died (2Co.5:17). “Reckon yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Ro.6.11 Darby). This is the essential of faith. When God says our old man was crucified, we account ourselves dead; when He insists we are made alive, we reckon ourselves as alive. The failure of many who would be disciples lies in the desire to feel, to see and to experience this crucifixion and resurrection before trusting in the Word of God.

Neither yield your members instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but yield yourselves to God as alive from among the dead and your members instruments of righteousness to God (Ro.6:13, Darby).

This is the essential of consecration to discipleship. Triumph over sin is like a door; one step taken and we are in. Triumph over self is like a pathway; we walk and walk for the rest of our days. Upon overthrowing sin we are called next to overcome ourselves, even the best of self, the zealous and religious self, daily.

XII. THE DISCIPLE AND PERPETUAL SIN God made man in His own image and gave him the privilege of being a free moral agent. Man can make his own decisions. He can make up his own mind and choose whether he will sin or not. The choice belongs to him. He can decide for himself whether he will obey or disobey. To commit sin is a choice, man’s decision. It is not something we can blame on someone else, on the weather, on the devil, on the circumstances, on our condition or on God, There is no excuse! Obedience is also a choice. Rather than being called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses chose to “...suffer and endure ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin” (He.11:25, NASB). The writer of Hebrews said that at a certain juncture of their wilderness wanderings, the Israelites could not enter into the Promised Land, because of unbelief (3:19). Two things kept Israel out of the Promised Land: 1) hardness of heart; 2) unbelief. The Greek word from which “...could not” was translated "...comes through" in the NIV & TEV as “...were not able.” Why? They had sinned away their strength and their ability to resist.






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A. Perpetual Sin Affects Nations

In Deuteronomy Chapter 28 God told Israel about the many blessings she would receive “if” she would obey. He also told them about many curses they would receive if they rebelled and were disobedient. Israel walked into her disobedient lifestyle with her eyes wide open, because God had been very firm, open and honest. Israel knew what the consequences would be because God told them. Israel learned from the results of their disobedience that: 1) God was true to His Word; 2) the devil is vicious (vs.49-51). The devil will stop at nothing, including the high fenced wall Israel thought would protect her in any circumstance. Undying or perpetual sin will break our power to resist (v.55). Israel had set herself up to be the prey of all the diseases of Egypt, whether the diseases were listed in the law or not (vs.60-61).

This was not all Israel had learned from her experience of disobedience. An account of a previous warning is shared in Leviticus Chapter 26. In this account God related, as He had in other situations, what the Israelites could expect if they sinned (disobeyed, rebelled). In verses 16 to 29 God goes into a detailed discussion of the curses, chastisements, and calamities they could expect. To introduce the list of calamities He told them what He would do if they would not pay attention to Him (vs.14-15). Not only did He tell them what calamities would come, but that they would be appointed to terror (v.16). His face would be against them (v.17), He would avenge the quarrel of His Covenant (v.25), and also told them it would be a seven-fold greater or more severe punishment (v.21, 24, 28).

By Israel’s disobedience, they were chastised in demonstration of their utter helplessness against their enemies. These chastisements included the results of: 1) distress (v.16-17); 2) drought (v.18-20); 3) beasts (vs.21-22); 4) disease (vs.23-26); 5) famine (vs.27-31); 6) dispersion (v.32-39).

In their dispersion, God said, “Ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies” (v.37). He also said that “...There shall be no might in thine hand” (v.32) to overcome the conditions. Just so, in the situation with the little city of Ai, due to the sin of Achan, God said, “Israel could not stand before her enemies, ...because they were accursed” (Jos.7:12).

Further, we read that: “The children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites” (Jg.1:21). Israel “...forsook the Lord and served Baal and Ashtoreth” (2:13). “The anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers who spoiled them, and He sold them into the hands of their






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enemies round about so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies” (2:14).

Each time a person yields to the temptation to commit sin he gets progressively weaker. As he continues to commit sin, the immune system becomes more and more deficient. Due to these deficiencies, the person acquires AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).” Notice- it is acquired! Something in the life of that individual was acquired by whatever he was persistently involved in. Disciples, notice this: Any Iniquity Destroys Strength. A perpetual life of sin causes a person’s immune system to head down bill to the point of no return. Do not check it out!

Israel had acquired an “Immune Deficiency Syndrome”. Like Israel, many in the church have sinned their way into a trap of helplessness. They have braided the locks of their spiritual hair into the web of satanic tyranny, such as happened to Samson. Beware! Take heed!

B. Perpetual Sin and the Individual

If it can happen to Samson, whom else can it happen to? Satan does his sly and cunning work slowly, by manipulation, until his victim has unwittingly been ushered into the innermost part of Satan’s lair. The process is as it was with Samson: 1) first the “seven green cords that were never dried”; 2) the “new ropes that were never used”; 3) the “seven locks that were not as yet woven into Delilah’s loom; 4) the same “seven locks that had never been cut”.

Samson’s continual deception, his persistent sin, and his constant compromise rendered him helpless in the face of those who had once trembled at the mere mention of his name. This did not happen instantly, but when it finally did come to pass, it came unexpectedly and, most assuredly, as a surprise. Why was it so astounding? Samson, like many Christians today, was so subtly lured, and charmed, and snared into Satan’s noose that he was hanging before be realized his miserable predicament. The Bible plainly tells us that Samson “...did not know that the Lord had departed from him.” This association with sin is to be avoided at all costs by the disciple. No, no disciple is so strong that they can take up this kind of behavior and still avoid disaster. Check it out in Judges 16. Is Samson like anyone we might know about today? He was announced by an angel (Jg.13: 2-21), and was a Nazarite (meaning one separated) from birth, yet he fell to the temptation because he dared dabble with sin (Numbers 6; Judges 13: 5). The end result was loss of vision and slavery. Only God could deliver from it, but the pain in between was horrific.






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XIII. THE DISCIPLE AND EXCELLENCE IN MINISTRY Discipleship calls for a spirit of excellence. In his letter to the Church at Philippi, Paul stated that one of his prayer concerns for the saints was that they “...may approve things that are excellent” (Php.1:10, NKJV). “Excellent” means: “surpassing, better, higher in value” than the norm, In order to approve only of things that are excellent, one must differentiate between highest matters and side issues. One has to be awake only a few moments to realize that he has many concerns and choices facing him that day, which require differentiating between highest matters and lesser things. Discipleship requires that we make the wisest of choices daily. In Colossians 3:1-2 Paul said, “lf then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth.” The things above, we can be sure, are all “excellent”. Christians are God’s “new creation. We are no longer of this world, but have been born again from above. We have “...put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Co.3:10). We died to sin and the flesh with Christ, and were raised to a new life with Him. If this is true, we should desire and endeavor to walk in the same spirit and grace in which Christ walked. Therefore, the very first desire of the disciple’s heart, in approving things that are excellent, should be to become like Christ. He was excellent in all His thoughts, words and works. The Father affirmed Him at His baptism, saying, “You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased” (Lk.3:22). Even before the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Jesus portrayed a spirit of excellence. The multitudes to which He ministered said of Him, “He has done all things well” (Mk.7:37). He said of Himself, “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do, for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner” (Jn.5:19). Remember, He is our example. All of Christ’s relationships, works, teachings, attitudes, reactions, etc., were of excellent quality. This is what we must desire as well. Discipleship calls for intentional imitation of our Lord in character, aspirations, relationships and ministry. The disciple, in the ministry he has been given, must understand that ministry is giving out, not taking in. It is an outflow of what is within a person. So, we must first of all be considerate of what we are on the inside, for what we are will greatly determine what we do. No one can escape or cover up the reality of what we are on the inside. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As he thinks in his heart so is he.” What is on the inside will eventually surface. This is an inescapable and invariable truth. Jesus said essentially the same thing in Matthew, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”






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(6:21). When we look at what people treasure, we will see their hearts. It is the same with the disciple. The number one natural killer of people is heart disease. The physical heart is at the core of our natural life system. As goes the heart so goes our activities. This is also true in our spiritual life. Our heart, or inner man, is the key to all we do and accomplish in life. While many books deal with the gifts and mechanics of ministry, we here concentrate on the heart or the inner motives of a disciple’s ministry. What he is inwardly will determine what kind of fruit he produces as he ministers to others. God told Samuel one of the most important principles of God’s selecting process in putting people into a position of properly ministry to others. As Samuel tried to determine who among Jesse’s sons be should anointed as the next king of Israel, he was impressed by what they looked like on the surface. God corrected him before he made a critical mistake when He said, “Do not look on the appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him, For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1Sa.16:7). That being true, we, being His children and servants of one another, must judge accordingly. We should never try to impress others with external expressions; neither should we be impressed by the external expressions of others. Remember, all that glitters is not gold. A disciple must, above all things, develop, guard and nurture his heart (his inner man) in such a way that God can be well pleased with his thoughts and motives. Proverbs says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (4:23) This being true, we must be sure that all we do emanates from a pure heart. This is especially important when thinking of ministry. Remember, ministry is the outflow of what is within a person’s heart, If the ministry of a disciple flows out of wrong motives such as selfishness, pride or deceit, it will “infect” people they minister to. Sanctification or cleanness cannot be transferred, but defilement can; just as health is not contagious, disease can be (Hag.2:11-14). So, we must by all means guard our hearts with all diligence. David, a man “...after God’s own heart”, was not exempt. After submitting to inner lusts he committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed. Later, in repentance, he put his finger on the problem and penned his agonizing and sincere confession in Psalm 51. He cried out, “Create in me a clean heart, O’ God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me“ (Ps.51:10). This requires great diligence on the part of a true disciple, but it is absolutely necessary. Here we share keys to excellence in ministry. These keys are absolute necessities for a true disciple who wants his ministry to be effectual for righteousness in the lives of people he touches.






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A. Walk Humbly With God

Foremost in these keys is our attitude toward God! The worst of all sins, besides unbelief, is pride. It was Satan’s down fall, and the downfall of many Christians, even disciples, down through the ages. Pride tops the list of the seven things God hates (Pr.6:16-19). “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Pr.16:18). This is always true. Never should a disciple desire to be personally exalted. We are not to “toot our own horn”, but let promotion come from the Lord (Ps.75:4-7). Isaiah says, “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (57:15). It is the humble believer whom God will anoint and use in ministry, not the proud.

The closing of what we call the Lord’s Prayer says, “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen” (Mt.6:13). Every disciple needs to become very familiar with First Corinthians 1:26-31, where Paul said that, “...no flesh should glory [boast] in His presence “ Remember, “He who glories [boasts], let him glory [boast] in the Lord” (v.31). Paul confronted many believers in the church and in traveling ministries over this issue of pride. He said, “For who makes you different from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you glory [boast] as if you had not received it?” (1Co.4:7)

Within us dwells no good thing. All we have that is worthy of any praise comes from God; therefore, all praise must be returned to Him. The disciple’s desire and prayer should always be that they maintain an humble and contrite heart, and that God and Christ receive all praise and glory. A famous man of years gone by said something on this order, “There is no limit to what one man can accomplish if he does not care who receives the credit.” There is no limit to how God can use a disciple who will minister with humility, and who is careful to give God all the praise.

B. Walk in Love Toward Brothers

One of the dire needs in the Church is that brethren love brethren. This is especially true of people in the five-fold ministry leadership. Jesus told the Jews of His day that all the law, including the Ten Commandments, were actually fulfilled in two laws: 1) loving God with all the heart, mind, soul and strength; 2) loving one’s neighbor as himself (Mt.22:34-49). Jesus narrowed down the whole law of God to One Commandment (Jn.13:34-35). Verse 34 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”






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The Apostle John wrote at length concerning the importance of loving one another in the Church. At one point he said, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1Jn.3:18). Note that “life” here means not only His physical life, but also His own will and any rights to personal fulfillment other than that which would please the Father and minister life to his fellowman. He gave Himself totally for others. This is the way the disciple is be, determined to love his/her brethren. There is such a dire need in the Church to truly express genuine love for one another, “...not in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1Jn.3:18). Words are so cheap when not accompanied by genuine expression.

Love also requires that we forgive one another and make quick amends for wrongs done to us. Otherwise bitterness can overcome the heart and cause catastrophic problems that can reverberate throughout the Christian community. First Corinthians chapter 13 should be engrafted into the disciple, so as to control his very thoughts and lifestyle (Ja.1:21).

C. Be Sincere and Genuine

Serious disciples understand the need to be sincere and genuine (Php.1:10). “Sincere” means to be “without wax”. Wax was used throughout the Mediterranean world to patch and cover up flaws in marble, stone and furniture in Paul’s day. Paul is saying here to not put on a mask for appearance sake. Disciples must avoid acting like something they are not. One of the perils of our day is the desire to be glamorous or to appear overly gifted, so as to gain favor and prestige. If people want glamour they should go to Hollywood. Glamour and showmanship have no place in the Church and Christian ministry. The disciple is to keep their motives and ministry pure, and let people actually see Christ in them, which is more beautiful than anything in Hollywood, rather than some masking of Christianity.

D. Work to be Without Offense

The disciple cannot afford to not work diligently at being without offense (Php.1:10). This is to keep a good conscience toward God and man. It means to not be easily offended, as well as being careful to not offend others. There has been major damage done to Christian ministry and the Church by believers, and professed believers, who allowed offenses to get out of hand instead of dealing with them in a Scriptural and Christian manner. That is why Jesus taught us to quickly deal with offenses so as to neutralize the enemy and maintain unity and agreement between believers, There is great power for good in agreement and unity (Mt.18:15-20). In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us to turn the other cheek, let him have your cloak aIso; go with him two miles, etc. This seems absolutely ludicrous to the natural mind, but remember that we disciples are






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spiritual men, followers and disciples of the One who taught these truths. Therefore, be diligent to keep self free and clean of all offenses.

E. Become a Servant

The true disciple will become a servant to others. To the natural or untrained mind the word “servant” gives the picture of unimportant and demeaning status and work, but in God’s thoughts and ways, which are higher than ours, a real servant is at the top of His chart. Christ taught us that, unlike the world where leaders lord it over others, in His Church the greatest ones are servants (Mt.20:25-28). A true disciple and one who ministers in any capacity must desire and agree to serve others, rather than being served. “Just as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mt.20:28).

In most churches and ministries we find those who want to rule and those who want to serve; but “The greatest among you shall be your servant” (Mt.23:11). Those who exalt themselves want to lord it over others, but those who take the route of a humble servant will be a blessing to others, and will be exalted by the Father. One of the greatest compliments ever given to anyone in the Church was given by Paul concerning the household of Stephanus of Achaia when he wrote, “...they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints” (1Co.16:15). Any disciple should want to emulate that spirit. This kind of addiction will bless any Church and whomever they minister to.

F. Additional Keys

Here are several other Keys for the serious disciple. Consider them well, and pursue the thoughts:

1. Heavenly vision;

Remember why and to what we were called and stay with our purpose. Stay with the heavenly vision, rather than pursuing our own (Ac.20:17-27; 26:15-23).

2. Nourished spiritually;

Keep a diligent devotional life. Our ministry will reflect our own personal relationship with God. Meditation on the Word and communion with the Holy Spirit will strengthen and quicken us, and then we can bless others (1Ti.4:16).,

3. Endure difficulty without bitterness (2Ti.2:1, 3-4);






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4. Take time to save our own family, then saves others;

5. Remove the unnecessary hindrances from life, lest they cause us to stumble;

6. Be fearless and courageous like Joshua (Jos.1:1-9); 7. Keep self joyful (Ne.8:10);

8. Determine to forget the past and press on toward a productive future (Php.3:12-14).

XIV. THE DISCIPLE AND HIS CHURCH Why do I need to come to church? Why do I need to join a particular church? These are valid questions, and need to be dealt with in the life of any serious disciple of Jesus Christ. All across the land this coming Sunday, thousands of churches will be turning on the lights, opening their doors, hoping that more will show up than last week. In the mainline denominations, this is especially true because of the decline in membership and attendance. Those that remain cannot understand why. Whatever happened to faithfulness and fulfillment of vows made, they ask? So what is the appropriate, God-ordained relationship that the earnest disciple of Jesus Christ needs to maintain with a local church? Is it necessary? Has the church lost her relevance? What part should a local Body have in the life and the maturing process of the disciple? Notice these definitions for starters. Disciple: Webster’s Dictionary defines this person as:

1. A pupil or follower of any teacher, school of religion- in our case that means Jesus Christ, and faith in Him.

2. A convinced adherent to a school of thought- in our case that

means the Word of God. For our purposes we might add another definition- “one who is under the discipline of another” (of course the School of Thought of Jesus Christ in the New Testament is where we need to look for our description of His disciple). The disciple is a person who not only has been convinced that Jesus of Nazareth is the Way to God, the Truth about God and the Life of God (Jn.14:6), but has committed self to the discipline of maturing in Him. As the disciple of Christ, we have not only come to see that He is right and true in His Teachings, but that He is alive to implement those Teachings in our life also.






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The true disciple will have submitted self to the Truth that He alone is able to will and to work God’s good pleasure in them (Php.2:13). A true disciple is someone who not only believes that God exists, but that “...He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (He.11 :6ff). The true disciple of Christ is one who has submitted the rule of His life to a living, personal, and Holy God who desires unity with him. The Good News is that not only can we know the True God, but also that He is able to make it all happen for us. It means that we can have a personal relationship with the living God. It means that the One who created us is also the One who redeemed us for the purpose of our continued, personal relationship. We are a New Creation, and a Partaker of the Divine Nature. We have been crucified with Christ and the life we now live is by His faith. Christ in us and our Hope of Glory. (2Co.5:17; 2Pe.1:3; Ga.2:20; Co.1:27) Christ in us is the Good News. If the above verses are true, and they are, then the Church is made up of people who have died and were raised into newness of life, with the life of God being in them (Ga.2:20; Ep.2:4-7; Co.3:1-2). The Church has been elevated to a level beyond the country club, social service organizations or any other civic group. These groups are all fine and serve a definite purpose, but they are not the Church. The Early Church, born on the Day of Pentecost, was a New Creation, Those people knew that something had happened. Something supernatural had occurred that forever changed their perspective on life. They knew that they had better devote “...themselves to the Apostles Teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer” (Ac.2:42). Now they were different, a new species of man, and for a very specific purpose- to be witnesses to Christ’s Resurrection life (Ac.2:32), and to proclaim the excellencies of Him who “...called us out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1Pe.2:9-10). They knew they had to stick together! Not because of tear, but because they knew that together they made up the Body of Christ now on earth. They were the incarnation of God’s Glory now to men because of Christ in them. They had to be instructed, shown and reminded that this was not because of their own righteous deeds or worthiness, but by the washing, regenerating work that God, the Holy Spirit had done in them (Ti.3:5). They knew they had to stick together because each of them had been given gifts as Christ apportioned them (Ep.4:7). They needed everyone’s participation in the work of ministry, in order that the Body of Christ might continue to be built up, until they all might reach unity in the faith, and a personal, intimate knowledge of the Jesus; that they might all become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness, which belongs to Christ Himself (Ep.4:11-13). They had to be instructed, reminded that Jesus wanted them all, as the whole Church, not just the clergy to develop into a mature representation of the fullness of Jesus Himself.






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And all this was for a reason! That we might accurately, boldly, and fruitfully proclaim the excellencies of Him who brought it all about, to others in whom He wants to bring it about. God meant for all of us to be like Him, because He is in each one of us, functioning in different ways. He created this new species of human being (2Co.5:17), with a precise intention. Jesus meant for the local church to be His Body, His Ambassadors, as He Himself was entreating others through us, to be reconciled to God (2Co.5:20). The Church has gotten off track, down through history, at various times and the age-old question comes again and again- “Why do we need to be apart of it”. When this occurred, in any given generation, it has always been because She has ignored or misinterpreted Her Calling or spent Her Inheritance on Herself, or wasted the surpassing greatness of His power in us, because we would not believe in it. (Ep.1:17-19). In the less civilized times, when that obvious question was asked, the church would cut a person short, literally, on a chopping block, or they would light a fire under them to change their mind. There has always been this radical element in the history of the Church which would return to their roots and stand up for an interpretation of the Apostle’s teaching from God’s perspective. This would bring a renewed appreciation for fellowship, breaking bread together and corporate prayer and intercession. When it happened, they regained a fresh vision of their calling as His witnesses. They saw the real meaning behind the necessity of their fellowship- not just to feed themselves, but also to help each other reach out to the world with the Bread of God. The Greek word for “fellowship” is “koinonia”, which carries a more accurate connotation of “participation, partnership or sharing”. True disciples of Christ realize that the mercy of God has fallen upon them and formed them into the people of God. They are indeed a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, sent to proclaim the praises of Him Who worked it all out. In modern days these people have more often that not formed what has been coined a “para-church” organization. “Para” is the Greek word for “coming up alongside”. These organizations have arisen and come alongside the Church to fill the void of an unmet need that Christ meant to fill through the Church. The need for these para-church organizations betrays our failure as a Church to reach our maturity, the full measure of Christ Himself. In most cases these companies of believers have been more fruitful, mobilized more effective work, and met more human suffering than the Church herself. Nevertheless, they have arisen and walked alongside the Church because of a deficit in the ministry of the Church, whether it be in counseling, missions, worship, teaching






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or discipleship. Actually there is no deficiency in Christ’s Body. Whatever God has created has been good and He is not crippled. He is not lame that someone must come up alongside Him. He is the Healer! He is the Great Shepherd, and not one of His Sheep will be lost. He has called us to be the Church, His Body on earth now. We are a Royal Priesthood; called to minister to the real needs of a sick and dying world. We are a Holy Nation, called and equipped to be distinctly different than this wicked and perverted world. God Himself, demonstrating to this lost and undone generation, that if they have seen us then they have seen Jesus, and if they see Him they have seen the Father, the only True God, who possesses us. That changes everything! If we see from that perspective, then we do not need to be beaten into submission to a local church. That is why it is so critical to know who we are in Christ. If we are who He says we are, then that changes everything.

A. Perspective is Everything

Having His perspective is everything. We all do the things we do for a reason. This especially shows up in crisis. We can know that the Lord is our Shepherd, but when we are faced with a real “want”, it will prove whether we really believe He is the Good Shepherd. When we walk out into the valley of the shadow of death, our real faith in Him shows up.

This applies to our church membership. If we really believe that Jesus is the King of all kings and Lord of all lords, then we will believe that He is in control of everything. He works everything out for our good, because we love Him and because we are called according His purposes. He remains sovereign over us, not just for our benefit, but also for the benefit of His purposes.

When we believe that He is in control, then we can trust that He will lead us to a Church, one that is right for us. He is going to do this for our benefit and His. This is not due to what we will get out of the worship, or out of the sermons. It is for our up-building, so that we can fulfill the good works He has prepared for us. It is so that we can be equipped for works of ministry and thrust out into the harvest field. It is so that the whole Body, jointly fitted together, even with what we supply, might build itself up in love (Ep.4:16).

This is the proof that we are truly His Disciples (Jn.13:35). Jesus said this, so it is right and necessary for us to submit to it! Too many times people have left the local church over issues of un-forgiveness. This betrays that they are not under His discipline. We cannot hide or protect ourselves from the fact that we have difficulty relating to people. We cannot mask our hurt or resentment by running






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from Christ Himself. It is His Body, and if He is sovereign, He allowed it for a good reason- our good.

Others hide among the numbers of a “mega-church” because it is safe; not necessary to really reveal themselves to others. Still others have refused to get involved in the first place, because they see the impossibility of Christ’s discipline and His enabling power, the essence of the Good News, which seems too far removed. Whatever the reason for our neglect of the fellowship, we must repent all the more quickly as we see the Day of His return fast approaching (He.10:25).

Again, if we are Disciples of Jesus Christ, then we are under His Discipline. The problems with the modern day church, especially the version that is so typical in the United States, when boiled down, can be easily identified. Namely, they are directly related to the way the church has drifted away from its heritage.

B. Early Church Devotion

Let us look at the way the Early Church valued and devoted Herself as opposed to most present-day adaptations:

1. The Apostle’s teaching;

This meant more than a devotion to the Scriptures. It was a devotion to the Early Apostle’s Teaching of the Scriptures. We see the element of submission based on a trust that those early missionaries had for their leaders. It was also obvious throughout their ministries that God confirmed these Apostles, in that He was granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands (Ac.2:43). There was reason to respect their elders.

2. Fellowship;

This was viewed as a shared partnership and participation in the ministry. More than just a meal, it was absolutely necessary for survival, especially in the midst of persecution.

3. Breaking of bread;

The believers shared all their resources, but also devoted themselves to developing and maintaining authentic, current relationships (Ac.2:44-46).

4. Prayers;






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The Early Church had real prayer meetings, not just Bible Studies disguised as “prayer meetings”. They recognized that not only their ministry depended on this discipline but also their very lives.

5. Unity in worship and witness;

These radicals were daily either in the Temple or meeting from house to house to praise God, taking meals together, or witnessing to others. It was obvious to everyone that these families had something real. There was evidence to convict them as changed people and enough evidence to convict others of their need. They had a sincere devotion to authority among themselves, especially to the authority set over them (Ac.2:46-47).

C. Modern Church Devotion

1. The Apostle’s teaching;

Somewhere along the line though, She decided that She could Interpret the Scriptures according to the needs and understanding of the present culture. This is reflected in the debates over a) ordination of homosexuals; b) stem cell research; c) gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit, etc. The real debate is over the authenticity and authority of the Apostle’s teachings and their record of Jesus’ teachings as recorded in the Bible. If we are disciples of Jesus Christ, there is no question. The entire Canon has authority over us, as Jesus and the original Apostles who interpreted His teachings have interpreted it. There is no devotion to accountability, especially to the authority over us!

2. Fellowship;

By going solely after numbers, we have reduced ourselves to another organization that accommodates her members. Fellowship is seen as an option, rather than a necessary partnership. Under these conditions, if someone upsets another, they just leave and no one notices. There is no devotion to accountability, especially to the authority over us!

3. Breaking of bread;

We are too busy. We cannot seem to relax, let alone invite others into our homes to praise God and break bread. And who taught us that we must always appear to be perfect, in charge at all times, never sweating? There is no devotion to accountability, especially to the authority over us!






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4. Prayers;

We have too many good gimmicks, classy programs and conferences to attend. We have something for everybody . . ., which everybody now expects when they come in the door. What happened to the Prayer Meeting? There is no devotion to Accountability, especially to the Greatest Authority over us!

5. Unity in worship and witness;

Nowadays, we compete against each other, instead working, witnessing, praying, and interceding together for the lost. This leads to our greatest indictment.

The modern world has grown accustomed to seeing an irrelevant, unmoving witness of Christianity. No wonder we are scorned in governmental circles, ignored in the public schools, and laughed at by Hollywood. The “proof is in the pudding”, and the pudding has soured because we have not devoted ourselves to the things that make for an effective, fruitful, sought after witness in the world.

Perspective is everything. It is when we see ourselves as God sees us, when we see our purpose, calling and adequacy as God sees them, that we see the absolute necessity to be resolute in our relationship with the local church. It has always been the plan of God to accomplish the work He has to do through us. It is the place God has chosen to display His Name, His Glory, and His Character. It is His Chosen Bride for His only Beloved Son. It is the vehicle that God chose to ride in!

What we truly see is the need for an authentic, accountable, apostolic fellowship. When we see ourselves as the Lord sees us, it changes the reason why we go to church. We hunger for a place where we can experience Him deeply, in an authentic two-way relationship. We want to be with like-minded disciples who are more concerned about the Glory and the Kingdom of God than with “what is in it for them” (He.10:24-26). We want to be a part of the Church, and the part of it that He wants us to be in. We are willing to be sent and want to be a part of a church that truly sees Her calling, and is going after Her inheritance, in the abundant power that only God can provide (Ep.1:16-19). We find ourselves looking at the Early Church, past the glamour of it and past their minor problems, to the way God had led them to organize. They turned their world upside down (Ac.17:6). They had a secret that we believe is available for us today.






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D. Enter the Cell Church...Again!

Throughout the world an old phenomenon is reemerging. It has withstood the harsh Communist regime in China and other countries. It has weathered the political storms that have changed the face of the world maps that don our walls over the last several decades. It thrives in the midst of abject poverty, whether in metropolitan or rural areas. It grows the same way our body grows. After all, we are the Body of Christ, are we not? It thrives on exercise and grows even faster and stronger through times of harsh discipline. It is the Cell Church. This ingenious way of meeting the needs that we all have dates back to the Early Church. Read Acts 2:42-47. This is what they were doing.

The Cell Church can flourish and prosper, even in adverse circumstances, because of its makeup and metabolism. This type meeting format of a church comes from a single cell; a small group of people meeting in a home or other public area. All we need are some essential building blocks.

1. Cell churches need a nucleus;

That is, one or more persons who are connected genetically to the Head of the Church, that is Jesus Christ. This nucleus has to be connected also to others, whether they are other Christians or just interested “onlookers”. The nucleus (Cell Leader) must hold as priority values, the belief that it is God who does the work in us, both the willing and the working of His good pleasure (Php.2:13). He has to see that we all are needed for the work of ministry before the Body will be built up, that we are all witnesses of Christ and His resurrection power, that we are a Kingdom of priests, in which no one is discriminated against due to color, race, or formal seminary training.

2. Other “leaders”;

The Cell Leader, then, can be on the lookout for other potential Cell Leaders, because they are there, right in front of him. As the group grows from the nourishment that each member who is connected to the Head provides, it will produce fruit (Ep.4:15-16). Once the group reaches a typical maximum number of people, usually between 12 to 15, it must decide to split and multiply.

3. Divide to multiply;

This always a crucial period in the life of any Cell, but it is absolutely necessary for the continued growth of the whole body. The new Cell goes through the same changes as the old, although it will always have






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some different characteristics. As Cells continue to multiply, whole areas of the Body begin to take on new emphasis and importance. It is by being connected to the Head that everything grows properly while disease and other attacks are fought off as well, primarily by the Blood.

It is the way our bodies grow naturally, and it is the way that the Body of Christ grows as well. It is devoted to all the things that the 1st Church was devoted to, and grows by doing the same things the Early Church did (Ac.2:42-47). The 21st Century disciple will hear the beck and call to be a part of the Church, in an authentic, accountable way. It is still God’s plan, still the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, and one day the Glory of the Body will greater than any former Glory that She has ever enjoyed (Ha.2: 6-9).

Does the Disciple of Christ Jesus need to be a part of the local Church? If he is truly a disciple of Jesus, he is a part of the Church. He fails the Body of Christ by not participating and investing in a local fellowship. It has always been God’s plan for the disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus meant the Church to bring all Nations under His discipline. One Day, we will see this come to pass.

XV. THE DISCIPLE AND THE DISCIPLINED LIFESTYLE Back in 1947, Albert Edward Day published a well-grounded presentation of the disciplined life, entitled, Discipline and Discovery. This was a revelation by God to resurrect the experience of the disciplined life. Day pointed out in his book the fact that the Church revolted against the strong legalistic regimens of the Medieval Church. In the process, he concluded, we almost forgot the faithful practices of discipline. Day further stated,

“Without discipline there would have been no Francis of Assisi, no Bernard of Clairvaux, no Teresa of Avila, no Brother Lawrence, no William Law, no Evelyn Underhill, no Thomas Kelly.”

These were all profoundly recognized men and women of faith who left footprints that have not been eroded by the shifting sands of history. There was something in their lives that stabilized them to the point that they caused future generations to be aware of them even though they had departed the earth generations before. A. What is Discipline?

What do we mean by the term, discipline? The situation we are discussing is an activity Christians should embark upon to intentionally bring stability and order into their life. Albert Day gave his definition of discipline by saying,

“Real discipline is not vain effort to save one’s self. It is an intelligent






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application to the self of those psychological principles which enable the self to enter into life-giving fellowship with God, Who is our salvation.”

Self-discipline is God’s way of integrating us into a special activity, which, if properly and persistently pursued, will bring us into the His divine Presence.

In this study we are not dealing with: 1) the punishment aspect of the Word, although that part of the disciplinary process is very important. especially when there is rebellion on the part of the disciple (Pr.22:15; 23:13-14); 2) a field of study, as in the different academic disciplines one might become a part of at the university level of one’s education. We desire to show the instructional side of the matter, which is the fruitful outcome for an individual living a life of discipline, as opposed to an undisciplined life, which is out of control, un-manageable, disobedient, riotous, and/or rebellious.

The undisciplined life is a dead-end street. It offers no positive fruit, no genuine purpose and no eternal promise. The undisciplined life is destined to failure and defeat. In further dialogue on the futility of the undisciplined life, we borrow a comment from Richard Taylor in his book The Disciplined Life. He comments rather pointedly on the futility of the undisciplined life. He says,

“Even if by good fortune or ‘pull’ the undisciplined man should reach the position of power, he cannot maintain it, for he is not inwardly prepared. He collapses under the weight of responsibility, and the pressure and complexity of detail.”

Further, Taylor remarks on the sad situation of the undisciplined life, by saying that “the undisciplined individual lacks the strength of leadership, the fullness of knowledge, and the soundness of judgment, which can only be built up bit by bit through years of painstaking toil.“ Many bright futures and successes are aborted by some of the most promising young people, because they refuse to buckle down and subject themselves to the regimens required for their particular field of interest. They become “also-rans.” Mediocrity is their best potential and their final outcome.

The Apostle Paul commanded Timothy to gain and maintain a life of personal discipline. He said, “...discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;” (1Ti.4:7, NASB). He told the young pastor that bodily exercise offers very little profit or gain, but that “...godliness is profitable in all things” (v.8). The Apostle is saying that God, through His Holy Spirit, and the finished work of Calvary, has appropriated everything necessary to go forward with a disciplined lifestyle with Christ.

All who would be disciples of Christ should be challenged to live a disciplined






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life. They are expected to exhibit a servant spirit, a humble spirit, and a teachable spirit. These students are also admonished to stay with something long enough to get established. Submitting to a lifestyle of stability and steadfastness will put individuals on the right track for success in whatever direction he pursues.

Discipline is the hallmark of Discipleship. To attempt the long journey of discipleship without discipline would be a genuine exercise in futility. Discipline is the control and regulation of anyone’s success in anything he might embark upon. This is where the believer must make a quality decision to follow through with the discipline the Lord would have. It has been said, discipleship is discipline. While every believer is a born-again Christian, not all are enrolled in the school of Jesus and submitted to a mature mentor. One of the most successful ploys of Satan is to keep Christians from living a disciplined life.

The believer must possess a desire to be Christ’s disciple, with a strong determination to be disciplined enough to sustain himself through the process. Many will not make it because they do not want to surrender themselves to the type of regimen needed to ride out this storm of discipline and correction. The Apostle Peter echoes the same sentiment in his Second Epistle. Peter challenges Christians to grow in grace. As he lays the foundation upon which to build one’s life, he says concerning God, “...His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness...” (2Pe.1:3). Appropriations have already been made for us to follow through on these gifts and graces.

Richard Taylor, shares further thoughts about the lack of discipline in many people in the Western world today. He discusses the intensive and demanding training expected of the youth in Russia as over against the American way of life, which emphasizes relaxation and recreation. The high pressure of the feverish pace among our Western culture is sending many people to mental hospitals and increasing the suicide rate. Taylor made a straightforward statement about the people of the West, saying, “The Western world loves to play.” And continued on by saying:

“Up to a point, this is good. But when play- whether vicarious play via Television or grandstand, or play via personal participation- consumes a larger portion of leisure time, money, conversation, and interest than is warranted by its cultural and re-creative returns, then the play becomes the mark of a decadent age and the badge of softness rather than strength.”

His concern about ours being a playful culture is highlighted by a statement every disciple needs to pay close attention to, “It takes discipline to learn a new art, or science, or skill; it takes no discipline to watch a ball game or a wrestling






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match.”

A leading churchman, a generation ago, remarked on the playful situation of Americans. He said:

“It is a sick society that pays the playboys and celebrities more money than it pays its preachers and teachers.”

That is where we are right now, enjoying our undisciplined lifestyle. When the coach of a university makes 26 times the salary that the teachers of science and math do at that university, it shows where many Westerners put their money. Money is coined life. We put our money where our head is.

There was a time when ships were made of wood and men were made of steel. That, no doubt, was a time when more stress was placed on individuals living disciplined lives. Now, no doubt, ships are made of steel and men are made of wood, due to the undisciplined lifestyle.

In the Genesis account of Creation the Bible says the earth was shapeless, empty and dark (1:2). The earth was in chaos and total disarray. In the midst of all this chaos and confusion, God spoke and brought order to all the disorder. Before God makes a special move, order must be brought to the situation. This is the way it is with the Christian life. The Christian must become disciplined in order for God to truly use him. In other words he must bring order into his life so God can move in (2Kg.20:1). It would be beneficial to meditate on this verse and draw our own conclusion as to what God is saying. Richard Foster, in his book, Celebration of Discipline, reinforces our premise by saying,

“God has given us the disciplines of the spiritual life as a means of receiving His grace. The disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that He can transform us."

A disciplined life is not a gift from God. A disciplined life is one of those situations where we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Php.2:12). This is where our accountability to God really sets in. After an individual is saved by the grace of God, he needs to muster the grit to walk and work through the rigors of the discipline required to grow on to maturity. The born-again child of God must train himself for godliness. According to the Apostle Peter, appropriation has already been made for us to receive every thing we need for “...life and godliness” (2Pe.1:3).

B. Samson Our Example

A prime example of both the disciplined and the un-disciplined person is found






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in the life of Samson, one of the Judges of Israel. He was a man of great strength and a man of great weakness. Samson was part of a group of individuals known as the Nazarites. They were one of the most dedicated groups of the Jewish faith. According to the Wesley Bible, the word Nazirite means, to vow. A further meaning of Nazarite, is the fact that he was to be a person who consecrated himself to God for some religious task, The vow was identified by special expressions of abstinence.” A Nazarite was truly an individual set apart wholly to God.

The Law of the Nazarite is spelled out in Numbers 6: 2-8, namely: 1) they were to separate themselves from wine and other strong drink (v.3); 2) they did not cut their hair (v.5); 3) they did not touch a dead body (v.6). The FLSB indicates that the Nazarites were “raised up by God Himself in order that through their lifestyle they might demonstrate His highest standard of holiness, sanctity, and commitment in the people’s presence.” A disciplined life was the most important aspect of the Nazarite’s vow. Samson demonstrated the disciplined life by staying within the restraints of the Nazarite vows and through the fact that God manifested His supreme authority and miracle working power through him, Because of his lax and perverted behavior he fell from being a judge of the Jews to a libertine with a Philistine. Unfortunately Samson brought himself to destruction by violating all his vows and abandoning his disciplined life.

C. Godly or Bodily Exercise

One of the best words to describe a disciplined person is the word “thorough”. The disciplined person sets his heart to be thorough in his every undertaking. An individual must make his choice as to whether he desires bodily exercise or godly exercise. The individual who lives a life of godly exercise makes sure he does everything decently and in order (1Co.14:40). If we desire to live a disciplined life, we may want to follow Jesus in His way of doing things. When our Lord described the disciplined life, His list of what to do as His disciple is found in Matthew (16:24). He said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me”. The first stipulation for the Jesus-kind of disciple is self-denial, which means the individual must give up his right to himself. Like Jesus, disciples must say NO to their own will and yes to the Father’s will. Then, the disciple must take up his cross. The disciple knows, prior to entering this lifestyle, just like Jesus, there is the shadow of the cross lying across the road ahead. This calls for a daily putting to death of the desires of one’s flesh. He says “No” to the world and is dying daily. The next stipulation is to follow Jesus. Our Savior carried His heavy cross up Via Dolorosa, the way of the cross, the blood sprinkled way.

The disciplined life holds much in store for the individual who gets serious about his relationship with God. In discussing the disciplined life, we can get closer to






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the reality of the matter by calling them spiritual “disciplines.” These disciplines are spiritual values and goals we work on and walk out with God. Different books used in research of this study list 50 different disciplines we need to pursue. Some of them are as follows: meditation, prayer, fasting, dependability, obedience, humility, frugality, purity, determination and guidance, to name a few. These and several others are especially important because of the out of control lifestyle.

The late Dr. V. Raymond Edman, former president of Wheaton College, shares this reason for the dire necessity for disciplined lives. He says, “This is an undisciplined age, where liberty and license have replaced law and loyalty..., creating a much greater need than ever before that we be disciplined to be His disciples.”

A young mother, with her new baby cradled securely in her arms came to General Robert E. Lee with a heart felt need and request. She sincerely asked the General to bless her baby. The General took the infant in his arms and looked conscientiously at the mother, and said, “Madam, teach your child to deny himself”.

XVI. THE DISCIPLE AND FORGIVENESS Of the many things Jesus’ taught His disciples in the last week of His earthly ministry, one of the most powerful topics was “Abide in Me...” (Jn.15:4 NKJ). Andrew Murray in his reflections Abide In Christ, says,

“All the vine possesses belongs to the branches. The vine does not gather from the soil its fatness and its sweetness for itself - all it has is at the disposal of the branches. All the branch possesses belongs to the vine. The branch does not exist for itself, but to bear fruit that can proclaim the excellence of the vine: it has no reason of existence except to be of service to the vine.”

As disciples of Christ, we have spent more time concerned about bearing fruit than we have abiding in Christ. Many Christians testify to the fact that they are “doing alright in certain areas” of their Christian walk but in other areas are struggling. The same goes when examining our own fruit of the Spirit production. True discipleship understands the fruit of the Spirit is not external (something to be added) to our life in Jesus, but is a result of our life in Jesus Christ. In other words, God is now our Father and we bear the image of the One who fathered us, which is to have a new way of living. It is this new way of living that seems to cause a lot of confusion, because our new life is a paradox to the old way of living and the world. A.W. Tozier (quoted in Dale Galloway’s, Leading With Vision), describes the Christian like this:






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“The Christian is an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for one he has never seen; talks familiarly every day to someone he cannot see; expects to go to heaven on the virtue of another; empties himself in order to be full; admits he is wrong so that he can be declared right; goes down in order to get up; is strongest when be is weakest; richest when he is poorest; happiest when he feels the worse; he dies so that he can live; forsakes in order to have; gives away so he can keep; sees the invisible, hears the inaudible; and knows that which passes understanding.”

Instead of seeking revenge for injuries received, the Christian now releases the offender in forgiveness. This is not the way of the world, but the way of the Cross. Forgiveness is a powerful tool of healing, yet to most Christians, it is a misunderstood term. Forgiveness is not to be withheld until a set of conditions are met by the offender. Often individuals, Christian and non-Christian, live a life filled with bitterness and resentment rather than the release that forgiveness brings. There are many reasons why people do not forgive. Of the many, one is an incomplete comprehension of forgiveness and another is the high cost of forgiveness. May we gain a better understanding of forgiveness here, that we might walk it out in our daily life, Johann Christian Arnold says, “It is impossible to tell someone how to forgive, forgiveness is possible. . . we just need to be led to the door.” A. What is Forgiveness?

Louis Smedes describes forgiveness in this manner (quoted in Lisa B, Lampman, Helping A Neighbor in Crisis);

“Forgiveness is God’s invention for coming to terms with a world in which people are unfair to each other and hurt each other deeply. He began by forgiving us. And He invites us all to forgive each other. Forgiving is love’s toughest work and love’s biggest risk, If you twist it into something it was never meant to be, it can make you a doormat or an insufferable manipulator. Forgiving seems almost unnatural. Our sense of fairness tells us that people should pay for the wrong they do. But forgiving is love’s power to break nature’s rule.”

In ancient times, forgiveness was not a pagan virtue. A good-hearted man might disregard cases that he considered beneath his notice, but to forgive was considered weak-spirited or soft. The Old Testament rarely speaks of man’s forgiveness of his fellow-man.

In Matthew 18:22, Jesus spoke to replace the natural, pagan spirit of hardheartedness with a generous, forgiving spirit in His response to Peter’s






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question, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (NKJV). Jesus plainly tells us that, just because we became a Christian, that does not automatically mean we will be filled with a forgiving spirit. Forgiveness is a costly tool against hurt and offense and it cannot be reduced to a simple formula. Forgiveness often involves sacrifice. To forgive means we often must sacrifice what we are holding. Sometimes it is a sacrifice of pride; sometimes letting go of hurtful memories; sometimes releasing anger, malice, or hate. According to Louis Smedes, the honest heart is outraged by cheap cures for unfair hurts; it does not want to forgive at all, for forgiving leaves the victim exposed and encourages the wrongdoer to hurt again.

B. Why Do We Forgive?

It is freeing to become aware that we do not have to be victims of our past and can learn new ways of responding, but we must step beyond this recognition to take the step of forgiveness. Forgiveness is love practiced among people who love poorly. “It sets us free without wanting anything in return” (Henri J. M. Nouwen, quoted in Johann Christian Arnold, Seventy Times Seven). When we forgive others, not only are we freed from our past, we also prevent Satan from taking advantage of us. “Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, / have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

As physical injuries create physical wounds, emotional and spiritual hurts create emotional and spiritual wounds. In physical wounds, antiseptics are usually applied to cleanse and promote healing of the affected area. In the same manner, true forgiveness acts as a spiritual and/or emotional antiseptic to cleanse the affected area, speeding the healing process. Left alone, physical wounds are at greater risk for infection. Without forgiveness, emotional and spiritual wounds will be openings where emotional and spiritual infection can enter. Bitterness and resentment, the “infection” of emotional or spiritual wounds, will infect the individual and leave an end result worse than the initial injury.

True forgiveness releases both the injured person and the perpetrator of the offense spiritually. In Matthew 18: 23-35, after Peter’s question about how many times he should forgive his brother’s sin against him (v.21), Jesus told the story of a king who was owed a tremendous amount of money from one of his servants, far more than the servant could have earned in a lifetime. Asking for mercy, the king responded by forgiving and releasing him from the debt. The master freed him from the debt and also eliminated the record of the debt.






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The servant then found a peer who owed him a small debt and the servant called for payment. When his peer asked for mercy, the first servant refused, and had his peer thrown into prison until the debt is paid. Other servants appealed to the master on behalf of the servant who was imprisoned. The master recalled the first servant, questioning him about why he did not have mercy on his peer when he had received mercy. Before he answers, he is told that the debt is restored and tormentors or bill collectors will visit him every day of his life expecting payment.

But what of the servant who is sitting in prison? The master did not place him there and cannot release him. The servant who imprisoned him must release him. Likewise, many people who are harboring hurts and wounded spirits hold the offenders in a spiritual prison. They cannot proceed any further spiritually until the debt is forgiven and released.

C. Understanding Forgiveness

From an early age we are conditioned either through teaching or preaching to forgive and forget. Forgiveness is not forgetting. One of the greatest hindrances to forgiveness is the misunderstanding that is equated to forgetting. As Richard Lord says (quoted in Helping Neighbors In Crisis), individuals interpret forgiveness as acting as though the harm never occurred. Many individuals can remember explicit details of their wound and feel guilty about the remembrance although they have forgiven the offender. Much of our teaching on forgiveness comes from the following passage which tends to bring us into a spiritual dilemma; “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Mt.6:14-15 NKJV). We are compelled to “...forgive as our Father has forgiven.” Most of us acknowledge God as omniscient or all-knowing. Therefore the question arises, if God is all-knowing, how can He ever forget? The Psalmist says “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps.103:12, NKJV). What is actually being said is that the God, who never loses a thought He once had or acquires a thought He previously did not know, will never bring up something against us again in accusation that has been forgiven. Therefore, to forgive as God forgives we are to never bring up the past against the offender.

D. How to Forgive

Forgiveness is a crisis of our will. God has asked us to forgive; therefore, it is something we can do. Forgiving someone frees us, not just the one we forgive. Forgiveness is really an issue between God and us, not the offender and us.






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Louis Smedes describes four stages of forgiveness: 1) feeling the pain; 2) facing the hate; 3) forgiving the one who offended; 4) freeing for reconciliation. Neal Anderson further acknowledges that in forgiving from the heart the offended person must “acknowledge the hurt and the hate.” This is a difficult process for Christians — acknowledging hurt and hate. Once again, Lewis Smedes writes, “forgiveness is honest when it occurs with honest judgment, honest pain, and honest hate.:

Forgiveness is an effective tool for healing, but a costly one. Forgiveness cannot be demanded or forced upon someone. Each person must walk it out in their daily lives. Louis Smedes suggests the following questions for us in response to our pain and wounding: 1) Do I want to be healed or do I want to go on suffering from an unfair hurt lodged in my memory?; 2) Will I let my pain hang on to my heart where it will eat away my joy?: 3) Will I refuse to let the one who offended me be the center of my thoughts and allow Jesus Christ to be the center of my thoughts - providing me with healing and the grace to forgive?

XVII. THE DISCIPLE AND LEADERSHIP There are basically three steps into the door of leadership. But first a question; “Are leaders born or are they made”? The answer is, “Yes”. While there appears to be a few chosen people who are leaders from the cradle to the crowd, true lasting, impacting and enduring leadership develops in the laboratory of time and opportunity. This beginning premise is that we can become a better leader no matter how effective we are now or how much of a failure we have been in the past. So here are the three “doors.”

A. Door of Surrender

Everyone who enters the circle of leadership starts by following not leading. Although many principles of leadership are used in the secular realm as well as the Kingdom of God, we will relegate ourselves to the ones pertaining to Biblical discipleship.

Beginning with Father Abraham, we can see that God called Abram to be a leader. But the first command this “leader in the making” was given was a strange one; leave the Ur of the Chaldees, leave his family, and go to a land that God “would show him.” Abram partly obeyed, therefore his leadership partly began. True, the Bible states that “...Abraham staggered not at the promises of God” (Ro.4:20). Thank God for His grace that covers the multitudes of our disobedience and gives us another chance. The Scripture quoted does not negate the fact that Abraham did not do that in the beginning. Some Bible scholars and historians say that it was approximately 12 years after Abraham’s father, Terah, died at Haran before God spoke to Abraham again.






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Abraham went to the land of Canaan after the death of his father, but when he arrived, there was a famine in the land. Like any “thinking” man, he knew that God could not be in a place where there was famine. Perhaps it never dawned on him that his leadership coupled with God’s blessing and design could have possibly turned the tide of famine for the entire land. But we should not be too hard on Abraham as he traveled south to Egypt, learning to follow God one failure at a time.

Abram was beginning to learn as he wandered back north, but this time under the tutelage and the guidance of the Heavenly Father. Abraham had already tried to bring to pass the promises of God by his own effort and there were serious consequences (Ge.12: 16-20).

Abraham had a hard time learning, for in Chapter 16 of Genesis he surrendered to the voice of his wife instead of God’s voice. Who can forget September 11, 2OO1? The world still suffers from Ishmael’s descendents.

Another example of Abraham’s lack of surrender and failure to exert proper leadership, causing ongoing negative ramifications in the lives of others, is found in Genesis Chapters 12 through 21. There are many character flaws exposed in the early days of our Father of Faith. The time to find the flaws is in the beginning of our ministry, where we have the opportunity to deal with them. It is much better to realize flaws in mission school than on the mission field. So the first step into the door of leadership is to surrender and learn to follow.

B. Door of Obedience

This is an oft mentioned but seldom heeded door. In Genesis 22, we see another Abraham, a man full of confidence and faith, totally surrendered and obedient.

Dr. John Maxwell says that if he had to deduce leadership to a one-word definition, he would choose the word “influence.” Somewhere in Abraham’s failures and shortcomings, he realized he was a man that was destined to influence a nation. Therefore, he must learn to obey and if we are going to be people of influence, we must also learn to obey. Listen to God’s statement:

Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgement; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him” (Ge.18:18-19).






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We should not assume that Abraham had no part in bringing to pass the blessing of God. We are talking about obedience and Abraham must obey to receive the promises. One of the greatest Old Testament Scriptures on obedience is:

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.

The operative words in this Scripture, Isaiah 1:19, are “willing” and “obedient”.

In Genesis 22, Abraham is doing the first part of obedience, willingness, as he says, “Here I am”. Are we willing to start our trek up the mountain side of leadership, knowing that in the distance there will be rocky crags and jaunted surfaces that we have never seen before, that darkness will fall upon our climb and that we may loose our grip as we hang on to the side of the unfamiliar landscape. Are we still willing? Then let us climb together, realizing that the God that called us to climb will take care of the details.

This older and more obedient Abraham is not moved by the fact that God has told him to sacrifice his son. Abraham told those that accompanied him that He and Isaac would go to “worship” and that “they” would return. He was saying that he was willing to be fully obedient to God. He trusted that if God wanted his son’s life sacrificed, He would also raise him from the dead, since he was the son of promise. Obedience must carry a trust in the One that we are obeying.

There are two prominent Greek words for “obedience” having to do with hearing and responding immediately. The first, “hupakouo” is a compound word. “Hupo” means “under” and “akouo” means “to hear or listen.” So the meaning is to “listen under”. In Hebrews 5:8, the Scripture is referring to Jesus. “Though He were a son He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Therefore, we can say that Jesus learned obedience as a man as He set His ear under His Father and listened.

The second Greek word, “peitharcheo”, used often in the Scripture and is also a compound word. Many scholars believe it has two acceptable meanings. The word “peitho” means “persuasion”, while “archeo” has to do with authority or rulers and its second meaning is “the first authority” (where we derive our word archaic). So for our understanding we do what is common with the Greek language and turn it around. Therefore, we come up with this, “persuasion of the first.” Remember we turn it around to make sense to us and we have obedience meaning the very first persuasion, or, “Obey Now”.

If God has called us as a leader, we need to be willing to “listen under”, both God and other Godly mentors that He places in our path, as well as to “obey completely and immediately” (Now).






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C. Door of Implementation

The third step is the door of implementation, and with it we are through the door. Actually, our peripheral vision can see on the right and the left as we make our way through the third and final step on our journey in leadership. The excitement is building as we walk into the third step of implementation. Wait a minute, this “implementation” stuff sounds like work. Yes, some are balking as they hold onto the sides of the third door, looking for someone they can delegate this project of implementation to. Here we are in our last step and we just stepped on the Achilles heel of Leadership.

Some people think may think they want to be a leader because they have great ideas and a creative mind: They are looking for someone to boss around to work out their ideas, strategies, plans, and visions. Pay attention! You that desire to be leaders, there is the two edged sword of implementation and follow through that must be used; otherwise we are just a “dreamer” dressed in leadership armor.

Leadership is not the downsizing of responsibilities through funneling exercises to others; on the contrary, it is the constant evaluation, retooling, and tweaking of the disciplines of our personal involvement. Yes, as we grow in leadership we will be assigning more details to more helpers, but we will also need to be available to affirm as well as align those who are accountable to us.

Yes, many who are future leaders are hoping to be able to get in a small room, close the door and do whatever leaders do in small rooms with the door closed. But, alas, our room is somewhat like the glass elevator that hangs on the side of the Height Regency Hotel in downtown New Orleans. It goes up and down and everybody can see what we are doing and they watch us when we get stuck between the floors.

Abraham is our leader of the hour. He has walked with us in cadence as we press the ball of our foot into the third and last step of implementation. We draw from his experiences in Genesis 18, as God is preparing to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, As God informs Abraham of his intentions, Abraham went instantly into the implementation mode. He said “God if you can find 50 righteous will you not destroy the city for their sakes?” Abraham, after much dialogue, negotiated the number to as little as 10 righteous. He did not send a servant to do implementation because he knew it was imperative he maintain immediate and continual involvement during this process.

Implementation is discipline of leadership that does not require us to do all the work but it always requires a leader to be aware of the work that is being done.






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This leadership requires taking steps to bring about the change that God wants, not just doing it all ourselves. For instance, suppose there is a new wave of God in worship taking place and the leader knows that God wants him to lead in that direction. In order to bring about a total restructuring of worship, it would be imperative to move from performance and pushing people toward God, into celebration and intimacy with God. The leader must, after prayer and getting God’s clear direction, began to design and implement a long-range plan. Remember, a great ship is not turned on a dime, unless God is turning it. This would mean prayer support from intercessors is critical, preaching on the issues of change and where the Lord wants that congregation to go, meeting with elders and board members to inform them of what God is asking, as well as possibly traveling and listening and learning from others.

Over time a leader, under this process, will be able to work with the Lord in restructuring to what God wants. These kinds of large changes could mean that a leader would have to release, re-channel and redirect the former music leader into another church. It could lead to replacing an organist, adding guitarists, etc. Part of pastoral leadership is knowing when to employ and when to terminate and implementing it regardless of the ramifications. Some people will get upset when changes are made, even to the point of leaving because “their” way is not the new way. But when there is implementation of the direction of God, it will have a positive impact. Part of wise implementation can be accomplished by five words, “Know when you need help.”

Leadership is never a position to step on others to get what we want. Even those we put into new positions must take these steps we are talking about. The question becomes, “Can the new worship leader implement?” The answer will usually be, “Not without the leader’s guidance.” So the new leader of worship may be talented and anointed, and yet lack leadership skills. They may not know exactly what must be done, though they are wonderful at leading worship. So, the overall leader must implement their plan, likely in phases.

Leaders must lead, even when there are broken heads and tear stained eyes. People resist change and that is why leaders are rarer than followers. Some who are put into position to lead will seem to think that there are people they can work with and some they cannot work with. That is a bad step, for God does not reject any. Since leaders are to develop people, this brings about the question, “Are the motives of leadership pure? We reap what we sow, and to use people as stepping stones is to find we reap a nightmare. Here is where the overall leader must implement what God wants by building up the person who can help bring it about.

If we are leaders, whatever we become involved in will be better than it was before we got there. All these implementations may sound like just a bunch of






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words, but to the student of leadership, it is a picture of leadership that works. If we have a dream from God and a plan, we can truly be the leader God wants us to be.

XVIII. THE DISCIPLE AND HIS MONEY Many trust God with the control of their lives in every area except finances. Satan’s question to those who tend to trust in their own ability and finances is, “Did God really say, ‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.’” He will test our belief in God’s Word, “Test me in this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (Ma.3:10, NlV) Do not buy into Satan’s lie, for to do so is to live under a curse (Ma.3:9). Those who buy the lie will live deeply in debt, barely making it from one paycheck to another, and blaming God all the while for “not blessing us.” Do not follow the unbelievers who say, “It is useless to serve God; what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance?” (Ma.3:14, NKJV) A. The Tithe Belongs to God

God has a storehouse of blessings for us that are untapped, and will remain so to those Christians who need to change their understanding about tithing. For a disciple, tithing is not optional. Jesus was quite clear on this, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, will be measured to you” (Lk.6:38, NlV). When we withhold our tithes and offerings, we stop God from blessing us with His abundance.

Tithing is first mentioned in the account of Abram and Melchizedek (Ge.14:18-20). Melchizedek blessed Abram who had been given the land and had the enemies delivered into his hand, and Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; as well as “king of Salem” or “king of peace” (He.7:2). Melchizedek did not have lineage from Levi, yet he received a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises (He.7:6).

The Hebrew word for tithe is “ma’aser” and the Greek word is “dekatoo”. Both the Hebrew and the Greek mean “a tenth part”. As to the question “A tenth of what?”, King Solomon wrote, “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops;” (Pr.3:9. NIV). Moses wrote, “Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God,” (Ex.34:26, NlV). Thus it is easy to see that the Lord has honored us with the opportunity to give to Him our “first fruits” or what we would call our gross pay. The real question here is, “How much do we love God and how willing are we to give Him control over our lives?” As we “give” our tithe to God, we completely relinquish control of that tithe to






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God.

B. Tithing Is Worship to God

We worship God through our prayers, singing, and most of all by our obedience. As we come together, into the presence of Almighty God, we praise and worship Him. Our tithe is a part of our Worship (De.26:1-10). We do not come with empty hands. God accepts our worship and comes and breathes His blessing on us. The tithe is as a sweet aroma going up to God, It says, “Thank you” and “I love You and put complete trust in You.”

C. Hilarious Giving

Our giving is to go beyond the tithe and it is to be given with joy and gladness (2Co.9:7, NlV). The Greek that is translated “cheerful” is “hilaros”, which means propitious or merry (hilarious). We should be overjoyed that God allows us the opportunity to worship Him with our tithes and offerings. Everything that we have is because of His blessing, so our heart should be singing His praise as we give to Him. Jesus said, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Mt.7:11, NIV).

D. Excuses Given For Not Tithing

Tithing is not about giving to the church, but giving back to God and honoring Him with what is already His. We do not give just to get a blessing, but to be obedient and show where our trust and reliance lays. If we are giving our tithe to God, where it belongs, all excuses fade into obscurity.

Some claim that all the church does is “ask for money,” but their real problem is with submission to God. If we cannot trust Him with control of our money, there are likely other areas we are not trusting Him in.

Some do not like the way “they” spend the money. Their problem is that they have not relinquished control of the tithe to God. When we give it to God, we also turn the control of how it is spent over to God. The disciple’s responsibility then is to praying for those who God has entrusted with the handling of the finances of the Church. If we really believe that God is who He says He is, then we can trust Him to direct the finances of His Church.

Some complain about the 90%, but as we give ourselves to God, in return God makes us a better steward of the things we possess. The closer we grow to God the dimmer those things and possessions of the world become. As God’s blessings pour into our lives we will find our wealth growing. Try it. If we do, we






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will find that we cannot out-give God. No, we do not give just to get, but we need to give to God to have His blessing upon our lives. Without it we are in big trouble.

E. Obligation of the Disciple as a Steward of God

When we are born again, we are born into the Kingdom of God. We are citizens of the heavenly Kingdom, with a new King- Jesus. Jesus told his disciples what living in the Kingdom of God would be like when He used the parable or illustration of a man going on a journey (Mt.25:14-19). Talents were entrusted to the servants of the man who went on a journey, with the idea that it was good to gain more talents. But one man dug a hole and “buried” the talent he had received. Calling for an accounting, he was pleased with the two that had used their money to gain more money and he commended them (Mt.25:21). But, the man who hid the talent he received simply returned the talent, without increase (Mt.25:24-25). Expecting that his master would be happy he had not lost what he was given, he heard the words of a master who expected gain. “You wicked, lazy servant!” His master replied (Mt.25:26, NlV). The sentence was bad, “And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Mt.25:30, NlV) Is God expecting increase and stewardship? Certainly.

F. Who is in Control?

Does our money control us or do we control it? Some people are controlled by their money while others control their money. Those controlled by their money usually do not give because they want to bless or help someone, but with the idea of, “What will it benefit me?” If we have not given personally, we have not given. The disciple is submitting to God as he gives personally. We do not have to be rich to be controlled by our money. Jesus observed as people gave their offerings in the Temple. Many made a display of giving a large amount, but the poor widow is the one commended, as she put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.(Mk.12:42, NIV) The religious people did not catch the significance of what had just happened, nor the disciples. This woman had controlled her money and Jesus wanted the disciples to know about it (Mk.12:43-44). It is not the amount we give that is important, but the motivation for our giving. This woman gave due to her love and that pleases the One she gave to.

In relation to this, the disciple must be careful to avoid the world of credit cards that will control them and put them deep in debt. The Credit Card is the same as money, except it is a future obligation and not what comes from what they currently have. No, it is not wrong to use credit cards, but it is wrong to allow the credit card to control us. Many Christians are deluded into thinking that they






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cannot get along without all trinkets of this world and that they only have to pay a small payment each month. Do not be deceived, for that small payment, over many years, accruing interest, becomes a gigantic price to pay for trinkets and that is much money that could be invested in the Kingdom by the disciple who is cognizant of the fact. The disciple’s Christian witness is so intricately tied to how they handle finances that they must use the highest standards so that their light is not dimmed by the world system’s tricks and there is no reason for accusation against them.

XIX. THE DISCIPLE AND THE EQUIPPING MINISTRY Jesus spent a lot of His time on earth training and equipping the disciples (apostles). It was from the disciples that Jesus assigned His Five-Fold ministry persons and that is the way it is today also. The quality of care, mentoring and training of a disciple we have shared here could easily foster the type men Jesus could use in the Five-Fold or Equipping Ministry (Ep.4:11-16). Positive traits are necessary in the life and ministry of a disciple and it calls for a deep-seated desire and determination to pull it off. The type devotion Jesus and His disciples put into their entire discipleship venture would be the seedbeds from which Equipping ministers would emerge. Every dedicated disciple should seek God’s plan on whether or not He is grooming them for this specialized leadership in His Church. Disciples, trained according to most of the characteristics we have suggested in this study, would be capable of fielding the ministerial personnel needed to evangelize the entire world. To complete the evangelistic mandate ordered by Christ, it will take Five-Fold leadership to supply the demand for mature Christian workers.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unit,’ of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ep.4:11-18).

In the context of Ephesians 4: 1-16, there are three essential characteristics of a healthy church listed: love, unity, and edification. Any church without these traits is very unhealthy and needs special spiritual attention. These three traits are cardinal principles of any New Testament Church. These “gifts” are individual people, human






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beings that God has given to the Church. It must be made clear at the beginning that these ministerial people have a very specialized assignment accompanied by an endowment of Divine power to accomplish their focused assignment. God desires more from the Five-Fold ministry than some latter day “opportunists” are attempting to glean from it. Many times these individuals are using the line-up of gifts listed in Ephesians 4: 11 as an opportunity to elevate themselves to a controlling position in the Body of Christ. So, we need to go deeper than the common carnal interpretation given to this passage.

A. The Dynamic Behind the Equipping Gifts

Too often there is speculation on who might be an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, etc. We need to determine the dynamic that influenced Christ to present these gifts to the Church and what prompted Him to put such a plan into operation. These gifts to His Church were, no doubt, prompted by a need of such magnitude that He felt deserved His special and personal attention. He assaulted heaven and hell to acquire the type vehicle necessary to meet the pressing demands of the massive assignment He had in mind.

This need that pressed so heavily on the heart of Jesus Christ was that He planned to deal with condemned man, the masterpiece of God’s creation. Mankind was lost and alienated from Him and would be irrevocably if He did not do something. He felt the weight of the lost world pressing heavily on His shoulders. The entire world was eternally alienated from God and the continual separation was rampant and unchecked.

B. God’s Salvage Operation

This Jesus who came to earth, lived perfectly, died an ignominious death and arose again, is the Mediator between God and man. He took up the responsibility of reconciling the two. God created His own salvage operation, with the idea of using the “gifts” He gave to men to do so. The recipient of these gifts was His own Body, the Church. The gifts He gave to the Church were gifted men. During the earthly phase of His ministry, Jesus concentrated most of His time with 12 men. Originally known as disciples, later they were called His Apostles. He bequeathed the legacy of the work He had started to these men. The young New Testament Church became the benefactor of this brand new, bold operation He had instituted. He chose the equipping method to oversee the huge demand of reaching the entire world. Jesus discipled and equipped His followers and He expected them, and eventually us, to do the same. That is the reason He commanded His followers to go and make disciples of all nations. The work is large, the laborers are few; though few in number, they must be equipped.






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C. Gifting

Separate from, and prior to, the listing and description of what we have labeled the Five-Fold or Equipping Ministry, Paul acknowledges that all of us are endowed by God’s gifts and graces (v.7). Earlier he acknowledged God’s “gifting” in his own life and ministry (3:7-8). This presents the fact that there are both general and specific allocations of God’s endowments. We are all included in God’s benevolent spread of gifts and graces, but the offices listed in verse 11 come under the heading of extra special responsibilities.

To introduce his announcement of God’s gift of the Five-Fold list of Divinely endowed individuals, Paul borrowed a metaphor from the Psalmist David. The Psalmist depicts the miraculous intervention of God in some of Israel’s military campaigns that brought victory to God’s people. Psalm 58 is evidently a song of triumphant praise to God for great deliverance from her enemies. Paul applies Psalm 68:18 to the ascended Christ. The ascension marked the completion of our Lord’s victory over the enemy of our souls, while these gifts, given by Christ, revealed the completion of His work for us. Through these gifts there can be a full development for the Church in every part, and full equipment for us to accomplish our worldwide responsibility.

When He “...ascended on high, He led captives in His train and gave gifts to men” (NIV). Jesus descended to earth, delivered mankind who had been held captive by Satan, and then ascended to heaven. Heaven and earth became the field from which He gleaned the treasure hidden (Mt.13:45-46). The five-fold team of ministers could easily be a “pearl of great price” for which He searched. It was after He descended from heaven and ascended from earth that He gave gifts to men.

D. God’s Purpose for the Gifts

Jesus last message concerning His enormous mission for the Five-Fold ministers was also His first message to the Church. It is now the responsibility of the Church to fulfill the “Great Commission.” The great task of world evangelization falls heavily on the shoulders of the Five-Fold or the Equipping Ministry. Jesus was indeed establishing a Divine program, which had to be administered by divinely endowed men.

E. The Church Triumphant

The Apostle Paul, a missionary of the first order, saw the need for a well-equipped and trained army. In order to win a lost world, the Church must be the “Church Militant!” He knew that to overcome the enemy would require a






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Church that was militant in its thinking. Jesus is the Lord High Advocate General of the Church and He is determined to go forth conquering and to conquer (Re.6:2). The Church is triumphant, but before it can be the Church Triumphant it must be the Church Militant! No other type Church will overcome the enemy that has been deep-rooted and firmly established in the world so long. The Church must be organized and outfitted by the Five-Fold Equipping ministry, with every man standing in his predetermined and strategic position, as was Gideon’s army against the Midianites (Jg.7:21). Gideon’s army conquered the enemy and that same military strategy and precision, utilized in the Church Militant, which is trained, dedicated, organized and obedient, will defeat any enemy who opposes our march to completing the Great Commission. Each of these Five-Fold ministers has a particular place in which to stand. He must stay on his watch and stand in his Divinely endowed position.

F. Reason for Five-Fold Ministers

Immediately following the list of ministers which Christ gave to the Church, the Apostle shares why our Lord gave these different, Divinely inspired and anointed men to accomplish the gigantic mission of world evangelization (Ep.4:11-16).

The goal is spiritual maturity. Then, there is a pattern that is “...the stature of the fullness of Christ.” The Church is what God wants to become spiritually mature and move toward the stature of the fullness of Christ.

G. Operation Preparation

God assigned these Five-fold ministry people to be the equippers to prepare the Church to complete His program. The following list is an assignment sheet that intentional, God-fearing disciples should aspire unto. This list reveals the qualities and attributes of the saints equipped and outfitted for the work of ministry. The believer is really not operational until they reach maturity (Ep.4:12-19). These are a strong set of specifications that Christ expects of the saints.

1. Saints are to be mature and fully equipped (v.12).

That is quite an order to fill, similar to the Lord’s command in His Sermon on the Mount, “Be perfect just as our Father in heaven is perfect” (Mt.6:48). Not impossible, and definitely gives us a goal to march toward. For some reason God put this thought as a priority item on our “things-to-do” list. The direction is clear, calling for the perfection or building up of the Body, to the place it where it can do the tremendous job of bringing a lost world to the foot of the cross. Adam Clarke says this is






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“For the complete instruction, purification and union of all who have believed in Christ Jesus.”

2. Saints are to be edified to do the work of the ministry (v.12).

When individual Christians fail to be edified and equipped, whether by self-neglect or negligence of the Equippers, their church will fail to achieve the unity, love, body growth and quality of workmanship expected by God. It will not come into completion immediately. This perfecting and equipping is for the purpose of putting saints in the position to work as servants (to do works of service) for God. The gifts we are dealing with here were designed to continue to minister till all God’s servants attain full development. It will take time and effort on the part of the mentor and the disciple to bring the disciple to full development. No instant coffee here.

3. Saints are to be brought to the unity of the faith (v.13).

Another responsibility of the Equipping team is to bring the believers together in unity, one of the main things Jesus prayed for in His High Priestly prayer in John 17. He asked God for the Church to possess a unity like the unity of the Godhead (Jn.17:21). Before He finished His prayer, He asked the Father for the Church to be “...perfected in unity” (17:23). No church, regardless of its other qualities, can do what it is called to do if there is no unity among the brethren. Two things in our Lords high priestly prayer are truly worth mentioning then: 1) He prayed for the unification of the Church so that the world may believe (v.21); 2) that the world would know that He is indeed sent from God (v.23). The Church definitely needs to be in harmony to complete its assignment. Someone has said, “They will not be WON if we are not ONE.” A divided church can never win such a diverse world to Jesus Christ.

4. Saints are to have imparted to them a full and accurate knowledge

of the Son of God (v.13).

Paul here expounded on the importance of knowing something in substance of the Incarnation of Jesus and why God was manifested in the flesh, as well as the place of Christ in our overall salvation. We must in fact, have an experiential knowledge of the Son of God.

In his letter to the Christians at Philippi, Paul said, “I want that righteousness which comes by faith in Christ, so that I may know Him in the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering, being conformed to His death” (Php.3:9-10, NASB). This is the experiential






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knowledge the Apostle knew because of the righteousness that came as a result of his faith. He could also experience and know Him in the power of Christ’s triumph over death, hell and the grave. Paul desired to know Christ by His righteousness, faith and power, through first hand experience (2Co.5:21). Five-Fold Equippers are to impart to the saints the full and accurate knowledge of Christ and the standard height of His own perfection (Ep.4:7, 13, AMP). Oh God, make us adequate.

5. Saints are to come into a real, spiritual and mature manhood

(v.13).

The battle for winning the world to Christ is not children at play, it is adult, mature Christians at work. The immature have no place in this work, for it is war. In this war, there are no place for panty-waists and conscientious objectors. God is provoked at our juvenile behavior as members of His body. How long will He tolerate our vacillating between different winds of doctrine which show our immaturity in our walk and work with Christ? As a result of this immaturity we have become pawns on Satan’s chessboard.

H. Infantile, Juvenile or Senile?

After describing the finished work the Equippers are to perpetually complete, Paul gives us the reason for the necessity and urgency of the responsibility expected from the Equippers. Immediately following, in verse 14, he shows the immature status of the Church, saying, “We do not need to continue being tossed back and forth any longer as children.” This verse stands in total contrast to the maturity we can achieve under the tutelage of the Equippers. The immature are always easy prey for Satan and his cohorts, being always susceptible to their trickery. The Nelson Study Bible says, “Children are gullible, vulnerable, and easily victimized. The Church needs to work diligently at moving babes in Christ to maturity.”

The Abingdon Bible Commentary brings to light what it means for the Body to be brought to real, spiritual manhood, It says, “The statue of the full grown man is measured by the standard of all that Christ is (His fullness).” This quote prompts us to pose a question at this point: “How can we reach the real spiritual manhood of Christ (His fullness)?” John, the beloved disciple, answered our question when he was showing the superiority of Jesus over John the Baptist. Of Jesus he said, “Of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace” (Jn.1:16, NKJV). This means grace stacked upon grace and gifts stacked upon gifts.

A mature Church can withstand all the fiery darts of the wicked one (Ep.6:13).






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Immaturity is an impasse used by the enemy to hold us at bay, preventing us from making spiritual advances in our frontal attacks and offensive maneuvers. In this Ephesians passage, Paul is projecting the offices of the five-fold equippers and what their ministries combined and established can accomplish. But in his letter to the Colossian Church, he shares a ministry report on how he exercises the equipping obligation as a mission statement of his own ministry.

We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Him. And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power which mightily works in me (Co.1:28-29, emphasis added).

His mission declaration gives us a job description for what we are supposed to do in the Body of Christ to put ourselves in a position to bring the world to the foot of the cross. Be sure to notice the all-inclusive words we emphasized in the two explanatory verses cited. These all-inclusive words are emphasized because it takes superlatives to explain God and His desires for us. Notice how Paul says that no person is left out, because we: 1) admonish (warn) every man; 2) teach every man; 3) present every man (to God). This warning, teaching, and presentation are done with all wisdom, simply to present every individual complete or perfect in Christ.

I. Standards of Excellence

Evidently the rank and file of the Church thinks that the Body of Christ can just exist as names on paper and have no standards of excellence to govern the affairs of Christ’s Body on earth. If we care no more than that for the Church, we will continue to operate from the seat of our pants and be inadequate in every purpose and function. God is a God of policy. He is a God of high standards. Our failure in not setting high standards and strict policies has fostered an ill-trained, un-intelligent, and “ethically-insensible” system of behavioral lifestyles and operational measures.

A church in this category is spiritually anemic when it comes to spiritual warfare. It is incapable of meeting an enemy that is well equipped and fortified in the area of demonic and perverted lifestyles. If we train our soldiers in the same boot camp of sin and imperfection and follow the same standards of sin and carnality, our troops will be trained to fight for/with the enemy. The Church must grow up, clean up, stand up and take up a firm stand against sin and train our forces to follow suit. If we do not set our sights on the peak of the mount and strive for perfection, we will continue to experience defeat at every training camp, battle station and field hospital in the world.






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J. Direction to Perfection

The leadership of the Church must understand the responsibility of being the Five-Fold Ministry/Equippers as stated in Ephesians 4. They need to realign and redirect their entire mind-set and strategy in order to perfect the quality of their personnel and production. If the Church is to be what Paul says in Ephesians 4, the Equippers must realign their thinking and move the Church in the direction of perfection. In His standards of conduct given in His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pointed in the direction of perfection. His commands in this sermon supersede the demands of Old Testament standards. Many of the lifestyles Christ refers to in the sermon are preceded by this phrase, “You have heard that it hath been said by them of old time that...” Usually it is followed by Christ’s own teaching with this, or a similar phrase: “But I say unto you...” Jesus simply said, “This is the way it is,” and He always has the last word. After all, He is Alpha and Omega (Re.1:17).

Old Testament Israel distorted God’s standard of conduct through perverted clerics, which perversion flowed over into the New Testament era. Jesus promptly saw through their hypocrisy and announced the fact that His plan of salvation was superior to the Old Covenant. His code of conduct presented in the Sermon on the Mount put teeth into what the Old Testament had said earlier, pointing out the motive aspect of it. Jesus put His authority behind it, showing New Testament people the continued relevance and application of Gods law.

K. Spiritual Manhood to Christ’s Perfection

This challenge looms large before the disciple who desires to be all they can be for Christ. The reason He is expecting so much is the fact of the vast responsibility of world evangelization. When it is all said and done the Church will be held accountable for every soul that is left that did not hear the saving message of Jesus Christ. At this juncture, we need to understand what God is seeking in and through and from us when we press on to perfection. What does God mean when He admonishes us to “Go on to perfection” (He.6:1)?

When Paul listed the accomplishments to be brought into existence by the Equippers (v.13), he said that they are to “perfect” the saints. Some versions use the phrase: “...equipping of the saints.” The Amplified Version includes both; by saying His intention was “...the perfecting and full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people)...” The New International Version says that the Equippers are “...to prepare God’s people for works of service...” It simply means that God’s people, not just a chosen few, but all, are to do the work of reaching the world for Christ. But, they will definitely need to be discipled to do so. Unless these saints have gone on to maturity, they cannot do these works of






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service. The existing Equippers are to train or lead them on to perfection.

According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary, the English word, “perfect” comes from the Greek word, “teieios”, which means “having reached its end,“ or “telos”, which means, “finished, complete, perfect.” Vines says it can be used of persons and of things. Our interest here will follow the use of that which deals with persons. He states, “of persons: a) primarily of physical development, then, with ethical import, fully grown, mature.” The word or words for perfect is used in First Corinthians 2:6 thusly, “We speak wisdom among those who are mature...” This shows the maturity we are dealing with. Shepherds do not give birth to sheep. Only sheep give birth to sheep. The Equippers are the shepherds. The saints are the sheep and they need to be nurtured and trained. Jesus is the “Quality Control” agent of the Church Who inspects the quality of the disciple who has been or will be promoted to leadership.

XX. THE DISCIPLE AND THE GREAT COMMISSION The nearest thing to the heart of God is the redemption of the world. The former chief lieutenant of God, Lucifer (Satan), led an insurrection and took a third of the heavenly host with him. This act of treason turned man away from God and Satan established a counter kingdom whose major attribute is darkness. God’s Kingdom was thus dissected and partially usurped. God immediately set in motion His salvage operation. His Son, Jesus, has assigned to the Body of Christ the serious mandate concerning the Harvest of souls. It is indeed an obligation we must proceed with. Here is His Declaration of our special assignment:

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Mt.28:16, 19-20).

The true disciple cannot ignore the Great Commission. It is his reason for being. It is the purpose of his discipleship. All disciples of Jesus Christ are commanded to go and make disciples. So we need to learn all about discipleship because that is what we will be doing to obey the Lord of the harvest. Being thorough in this study includes searching out every detail. This means we must notice the all-inclusive or comprehensive words, such as the superlatives, that Jesus specifically put into these verses: “power, nations, all things, whatsoever, always” and “even unto the end”. Jesus is very responsible as He presents this Divine order and is very thorough. Notice His word “shall” in such passages as Mark 16:15-18 and Acts 1:8. He believes in doing a complete job! That should rub off on us that are Spirit-filled






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disciples and called of God. All study, teaching, and implementation of the Great Commission needs to be observed with the following acknowledgments in mind. We will fulfill the Great Commission by acknowledging the following facts from Scripture. We have the challenge to do a great big job and to do it right. A. Authority

Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth, “Therefore, go ye!” This puts Jesus in a position to delegate the implementation of His entire operation. It establishes the context in which all evangelistic outreach should proceed. It is not just a mere work of the flesh, as it has God’s stamp of approval on it. We can go and know that we possess His special endorsement. We have been deputized to bring all nations under His discipline.

Also worth noting is the fact that He passes that authority on to us. That’s what the “Therefore” is there for. Every missionary that goes out under the strong and powerful Name of Jesus has all the power and authority of the Throne of God behind him.

In Luke Chapter 10, Jesus appointed seventy and sent them out, telling them that “...the harvest is great but the laborers were few.” He admonished them, and us, to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into His harvest. When the seventy returned they were rejoicing because of what they had experienced while functioning under His authority. They marveled at the demons being subject to them through His Name. He reemphasized the fact of His authority in their hands, “Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm you” (v.19). (Note that the first word “power” in the KJV is actually the Greek “exousia” which is better translated as “authority.”) They had operated under the authority of Jesus’ Name and, as a result, God brought the power and authority of the Throne to bear on the situation.

When Jesus gave the Great Commission, with implication to His Supreme authority, He was definitely and emphatically making reference to delegated authority. It is like as the word mentioned by the Roman centurion, concerning his being under authority (Mt.8:6, 8). The Lord earlier made reference to His authority to forgive sins (Mt.9:6, 8). He delegated authority to His 12 disciples so that they could exercise authority over evil spirits (Mt.10:1). When His authority was challenged in the Temple, He challenged those who challenged Him about their knowledge of the ministry of John the Baptist (Mt.21:23-24). With this He silenced their wagging tongues and with His answer to them, they realized He was a man under the authority of God.






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The Apostle Paul really put teeth into this matter of delegated authority when he made the bold statement that God had “highly exalted” Jesus and gave Him a Name that is above every Name, and that “...every knee, in heaven and on earth” would bow before Him. He made it plain every tongue would confess that Jesus is Lord (Php.2:9-11). This relates to the prophecy of Daniel chapter 7, God gave Him (Jesus) “dominion, and glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve Him” (7:13-14).

It goes without saying: the entire mission mandate hinges on the fact of our Lord’s authority, and that that authority is invested in His individual disciples who are a part of the corporate Body of Christ. After His coronation in heaven, when He was crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He came back to issue the command to His Body, to make disciples of all nations. The binding claim upon the Church is that He still continues to dispatch and execute that command.

B. Ultimatum

The Church has been issued a court order by Jesus Christ, and that command is that we make disciples of all nations. The Great Commission is not a game some church people play. It is not a ritualized speech we recite from rote memory on Sunday. The Great Commission is an institution owned and ordained by Jesus Christ Himself, and It demands the employment of a marching army that is sent forth to conquer, with Jesus Christ as its Commander and Chief. He demands compliance to all His commands. This is truly “orders from headquarters” that we dare not minimize, diminish nor disregard.

Several Bible commentators and scholars agree on the fact of what baptism does for a very definite witness to Jesus and for the believer’s identity with the Person of Jesus. It has been our experience in cross-cultural ministry, especially in Restricted Access Nations, that baptism has been the critical point when it comes to hostilities against those who profess Christ. Baptism is a direct witness to Christ. According to W. E, Vine,

“The phrase in Matthew 28:19, ‘Baptizing them in the Name,’. would indicate that the ‘baptized’ person was closely bound to, or became the property of the One in whose name he was baptized.”

The Apostle Paul is very emphatic when he states that, “As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Ga.3:27). In commentary on this particular verse, The Wesley Bible acknowledges that “Through faith, witnessed by baptism, we have put on Christ. We have been unified with, and become like Him.”






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Another observation by Vine is this: “A ‘baptism’ to be undergone by believers, thus witnessing to their identification with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection.” Our assignment and responsibility in the Great Commission is to “Make disciples and baptize them in the Name...”

Jesus’ final message to His disciples was not just a nice way to say “Good bye”, but a legally binding document that became His last commandment to His disciples and His first commandment to the Church. Because of these remarks, believers are held responsible for the evangelization of the world. Evangelicals, to borrow the words of Matthew Henry, “are bound and must obey.” They have three things to do. They must Go, Baptize, and Teach. The Early Church “...went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs following”(Mk.16:20).

According to Matthew Henry, in order for us “To observe what Christ has commanded, due obedience to the commands of Christ requires observation.” If we are to observe and obey “all things” Jesus has commanded us, we will have little time to observe and obey the things He has not commanded us. From the command to observe all things, we must remain spiritually alert, and with careful scrutiny, investigate every questionable thing we encounter each day.

The enemy is ever so vigilant in his attempt to sidetrack us (He.12:1) and paralyze us with many kinds of offenses, temptations, and demonic solicitations. We cannot afford to get sidetracked if we are to observe and obey everything Jesus has dictated. This could be the reason the writer of Hebrews challenged us to “...go on to perfection” (He.6:1). If we fill our lives with the commands of our Lord, the Lord of the Harvest, we will be left with very little time and space for “extra-curricular” thoughts and activities.

C. Implementation

We are under specific orders to implement Christ’s Commission to bring all nations under His discipline. He expects the achievement of this Divine, serious, and binding contract which He has delegated to His Church. Closure should be the predominant factor in our deliberation and strategy, especially at this late date. We go and we do it! “We pray and we obey,” as David (Paul) Yonggi Cho has so aptly stated. The duty of the Five-fold ministry is to teach the commands of Christ. The Church stands under the immediate and constant inspection of God as He monitors our faithfulness and progress, or lack thereof.

D. Solemn Warning

Jesus shared a parable in Luke Chapter 19 (v.11-27). It is a story of a






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nobleman, or a man of noble birth, who went into a far country to secure for himself a kingdom. It is actually a fact of history that one of the Herods went to Rome about 5 B. C. to receive for himself the kingdom of Palestine. Jesus says, in the parable, that the nobleman distributed to each of his ten servants an equal amount of money, possibly about three month’s wages. His message to them upon departure was that they were to do business with that money until he returned. When he returned he asked for an accounting on his money, which was left at their disposal for them to invest to gain a profit. One servant multiplied his ten times the amount his master had left with him. Another gained five times the amount he was entrusted with. And another gained nothing for his master. Those who made gains were rewarded. The one who had gained nothing was penalized and was dispossessed of what he had been given.

The parable also says there were those who had rebelled against the king that had been appointed over them. Those who had rebelled were executed. These are those who reject the Lordship of Jesus over their lives. This is understandable. The believers are those who have been entrusted with eternal life, with the Gospel of His saving grace, and with God-given talents and gifting. Jesus told us to “Do business with” what He had given us, until He returned.

Stewardship is what he was requiring of his servants and they were called upon to give an account of their stewardship, just as we will be. Commentary on this in the Wesley Bible says, “His servants are to be diligent in Kingdom business.” The unprofitable servant tried to blame God for his failure to be profitable, and for his disobedience in Kingdom affairs. That will never work. Do not try it, lest the one who will not obey lose whatever spiritual benefits he has.

What are our gifts? Callings? Graces? Anointing? Material possessions? Our knowledge of the Gospel and its call and challenge upon our life? How about our stewardship of all these blessings? Are they given to God to be used of Him in world evangelization? When Jesus returns to set up His final reign, His servants will be called to account for the assignments He left them. Each one must answer for himself.

E. Closure

All believers, and especially disciples must be accountable in this matter and make special arrangements to march toward completion. It is later now than it has ever been before, making the fulfillment of the Great Commission more restrictive and demanding. We must crank up the combines and reap, for the harvest is indeed ripe (Joel 3: 13).

Now the word “ultimatum” comes into sharp focus. The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word as: “A statement of terms that expresses or implies






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the threat of serious penalties if the terms are not accepted.” It is with the Great Commission, as with all the other commandments of God, serious disciplinary measures await those who disobey God and His demands.

Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His precepts, and His statutes which I command you today, Lest when you have eaten and are full, and have built goodly houses and live in them, And when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all you have is multiplied, Then your [minds and] hearts be lifted up and you forget the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage (De.8:11-14, AMP).

The Great Commission carries as much weight and is just as binding on God’s Church as any or all of God’s commandments.

F. Promise

We are not only dealing with the Great Commission, but also with the Great Promise of His continued Presence. He gave us His word on it; He will be present with us to enforce His plan to make disciples of all nations, and be witnesses to Him, “...both in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth”(Ac.1:8). In this portion of the Great Commission, Jesus truly becomes Emmanuel (Mt.1:23; He.13:4, 6; Re.21:3).

We have the light to expect triumph as we march toward closure in this massive responsibility. We have the assurance of His Divine Presence and His angelic host, because He is indeed the Lord Sabaoth, the Lord of the heavenly host. It is a win-win situation.

The Lord expects us to believe, because of the Proclamation of His Word, Promise of His Presence and His Power, that we should see a great harvest of souls and other miraculous confirmations. The only stipulations were: if we would but believe and obey. Since “to believe” is a verb, something we do, to believe then is to obey. His Great Commission account in Mark 16 assures us that certain signs would follow the Word that is shared by them that believe. This works for both the proclamation and the reception of the Gospel. And again, His authority rises to the occasion. He said, “In my Name, they shall...” and then He lists several things that can be accomplished only by the supreme authority that sounds renown and preeminence in three worlds (earth, hell, and heaven). He is the Lord High Advocate General of the Church.

There’s another Great Promise that is ours to claim and receive. It is found in our Lord’s farewell remarks on the Mount of Ascension. Luke recorded His






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promise to us as he closes out his Gospel in Chapter 24. This is Luke’s version of the Great Commission. Jesus extends to us a great promise. He said,

“I am sending forth the promise of My Father unto you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Then in the Acts of the Apostles, he quotes Jesus as saying,

“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses...” (Ac.1:8).

This is the great Pentecostal promise of the Holy Spirit. For our continued progress in world evangelization we have two great promises, The Promise of His Presence, and The Promise of His Power.

What we need is loyalty that underlies what John Wesley said, “Give me 12 men who love nothing but God and hate nothing but sin, and I’ll take the world for Christ.” The question to all disciples is this, “What do we love and what do we hate”?

XXI. THE DISCIPLE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION In these days of increased technology, it is vastly important for disciples to lend themselves to continuing education, both in the secular and the Christian realm. Only by increased knowledge, understanding and wisdom can the perfect Will of God be accomplished in our lives. To maintain a balanced life, we must use the principles of God’s Word that we have learned and put them into action. These principles must govern us in our secular and religious activities, such as our responsibilities on a national, state, local and personal level within our own homes and families. God’s Word is always the standard in which all of our activities should be weighed. In some cultures today, continuing education is a high priority. They have a philosophy of education from the “cradle to the grave”. This can be described as a process of learning from birth to old age. The concept that no one is ever too young or too old to learn is a major truth. Two modern clichés are that, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste” and that “Education is the world’s best friend.” Biblical principles require that we “train up” our children by teaching them the Word of God. Yet another passage speaks to us regardless of our age saying, “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2Ti.2:15) Obviously, this Scripture looks upon ignorance as a shameful thing. The mind is the tool that pilots us into the future. With modem technologies, a good






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education is not only essential, it is mandatory. The old practice of “on the job training” may have worked in yesterday’s circumstances but is no longer acceptable in our modern environment. In yesterday’s environment, a good education was necessary if you wanted a good paying job. Today you need a good education just to get a real job. This is not to mention the necessity of career change as a result of the shifting economy. A company in business today may be history tomorrow, as with the technology boom. The answer to all the above is continued education. Educators are being confronted with new problems educationally as a result of the returning adult. Today’s adults have varying levels of education and training. Educators must meet the adult on the level he or she is at and bring them up to modern standards. Many of those involved in continuing their education are faced with a time element. How does one keep a full time job, maintain a family and educate himself for career change or enhancement? Educators must teach via correspondence, part time classes, the Internet or whatever other tools they find available to meet the growing demand of continuing education for adults. As a result of the part-time adult student challenge, curriculum must be designed to meet the needs of voluntary students. These students are much more aggressive about learning than the younger generation. Being responsible for their own education and learning, they are less likely to endure lethargic lecturing. Even in Church circles, congregations are demanding educated Pastors. As a result of all the above, the Church is beginning to step up its “Discipleship” programs. This is a timely and a necessary phase in keeping abreast with the Will of God. From a limited perspective, Discipleship means telling someone about Jesus. However, Discipleship means much more than just Evangelism. Bringing a soul to Christ should be the most fundamental level of discipleship. The term “disciple” implies someone who has sought out a “father-figure” from which to learn. This “Father” should be a man of wisdom and not a novice. He should be a person who is full of discernment and well educated in Biblical principles. The ultimate Biblical goal is that God be reproduced in man. Adam was created in the likeness and image of God and was given a cultural mandate. That mandate was to develop a culture that sought to emulate God. By this we intend nothing “super spiritual”. It is just that God’s character was reproduced in His Son, Jesus, for the purpose of demonstrating “Son-ship” as well as being the Redeemer. Our responsibility as disciples is to imitate the role model given us by our Lord. This will occur through the vehicle of men and women who disciple us as “fathers.” Man reproduces himself, in his children, in both a positive and negative way. Man’s quest in life is therefore, continued education. A wise man never stops learning or growing in the school of life. Men of real wisdom seek to pass all of their learning on to their “Sons.” They do not just do this because they want their sons to be well educated; they feel that it is imperative to do so. Today’s society is the result of this educational






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process. Men have shared their life’s education with younger generations who will do the same thing in future generations. The cycle continues and further develops civilization. Modern civilization is the result of wisdom handed down from one generation to the next. Take for instance the “trades”. Many years ago, one master builder did it all. He laid the block and cut the timber and so on until the building was built. Today the “trades” are highly advanced and require specialty skills and education. Even the apprenticeship programs are a result of the Biblical mandate to teach our children. Continued education and discipleship form the necessary background for completion of the original mandate given Adam, “...subdue the earth and fill it.” Without the wisdom and education of previous generations, transmitted to younger generations, it would be impossible to accomplish this task. The same is true of the commission given to the Disciples. As a result of biblical examples and the experience of previous missionaries, we are more readily equipped and more adequately prepared than ever before. All of this is the result of continued education and discipleship. By passing our wisdom on to our sons, we fulfill the “Law of Reproduction” in more than one way. We do not just procreate for the continuation of our species. We reproduce for the advancement of society. The “Law of Reproduction” entails more than just creating a living being. It also involves developing the minds of our children. We want our children to have it better and easier than we had it. We also want them to benefit from our life’s experiences and education. Our experiences, transmitted via education and discipleship, break down yokes of ignorance, poverty and deprivation. When we use the term “Father”, we are not confined to the strictest sense of the word. The “Father” of a child can be a teacher or mentor and gender need not apply. Such seems to be the case with Shem, who “Fathered” the children of Eber. Biblical people were some of the best educators and best educated in history. The Book of Daniel speaks of the Babylonians and the Jews, whose educational systems were highly advanced. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The technology behind their construction is unequaled to this very day. However, the Babylonians were equally impressed with the Jews. Daniel records that the Babylonians were in no way superior in their education and wisdom to the Jews. High levels of education always mark great civilizations. The biblical people undertook the education of their children for the primary purpose of teaching them the ways of God. Because the Hebrews had the written Word of God, they taught their children to read and write. They studied their Bible and developed hermeneutic principles unequalled by modern scholars and theologians. However, the Jews were not just Biblical scholars. Their level of understanding of the “sciences” is also recorded in the Book of Daniel. Again, they were in no way inferior to the contemporaries of their day. The Greeks were also great thinkers and highly educated. It is said that they had one of






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the world greatest libraries. The librarian was determined to fill the library with books from all over the known world. This is reportedly one of the reasons for tile Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament. Is education important? The Dark Ages quickly answers this question. The people who faired the best during this dark period were the educated. Those who were educated in the Biblical system of hygiene and diet were rarely affected by the plagues and disease that killed millions. Education is the moral and civil obligation of parents to their children. Think for a moment about the moral conditions of our society today, the corruption, the rebellion, the drugs, the abuse and violence in families (abuse of wives, children, and yes, even of husbands), the pornography, the anti-authority mentality, the fraud and deception and lack of integrity and scandals even among the leaders of our nation, and the list goes on. But just thirty years ago, while there was a measure of crime, drugs, abuse, etc., conditions then, and the years prior, were tame and minor by comparison to the present. What has created the differences and the decline that we see today? Obviously, there are many factors, but the primary factor is the way this nation has turned away from its Biblical moorings. In the early sixties, prayer was taken out of the schools. Then it was determined it was unlawful to have a copy of the Ten Commandments displayed in our schools. Abortion was made legal. But equally important is the lack of education. Children are graduating public schools with increasing levels of illiteracy. We cannot afford to waste the lives of our children, Sometime just after World War II, abuses in the home began to skyrocket. As a result of Government involvement, discipline in the home began to decline. However, the pendulum began to swing in the opposite direction. The lack of legitimate discipline, in the home, brought the degradation of the family. The family unit became fragmented and disjointed. Abuse is absolutely unacceptable on any level. However, discipline must be maintained if we are to have an orderly society. The Bible makes this fact very clear in the Book of Proverbs by saying, “He that spares the rod hates his son.” (Pr.13:24) An interesting point is found also in the Book of Proverbs, chapter three, where it says that wisdom is connected to correction. God is pictured as a loving Father correcting His children. The result of this correction is wisdom. Undisciplined fathers lead to undisciplined children. From the home, this discipline problem shifted to the Church. It has affected every level of the Church and is a growing problem today. From the Church, it has progressed into the Secular Educational system. Teachers are left with no means to correct and discipline increasingly rebellious children. In the words of Proverbs, “...without discipline there can be no wisdom.” Look at the mighty men of the Bible from any era and we will see that education is important. One of the Laws of Reproduction is that we reproduce ourselves. This is not just in the act of physical procreation. We will reproduce ourselves in those we disciple. If we are educators, we will produce educators. Nothing could be more important than






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passing along the wisdom, which we have received over the years, through our labor of Love for God, Jesus gathered to Himself twelve Disciples. What happened to these men? Jesus was reproduced within them. In the Book of Acts, this fact was so prevalent that others actually noticed it. However, Discipleship is not just the reproduction of one’s self. It is the process of giving others our wisdom to build upon. Discipleship is to continue the educational process. Fundamental education has then taken place. Discipleship is helping others develop their potential. We will best develop others who have similar skills and abilities. It would be ludicrous for a musician to try to develop educators and visa versa. We must remember this simple fact when we begin to Disciple. Discipleship is teaching others to do the same thing we do with their skills on an expanded level. However, we want them to go beyond our abilities. We want them to realize that the foundation we have laid can be built upon. This will only work if we are rightly and well educated. The “ad hoc” level of ministry and Church education has to come to an end. There are those who have opposed solid Christian education believing that the true spiritual abilities and qualities are compromised with “head knowledge.” Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Holy Spirit can speak through even donkeys, but who wants to associate with them? The Holy Spirit would much rather have wells of living Word to draw from. The old joke that refers to the Seminary as the “Cemetery” is archaic thinking. The Five-Fold ministry has a task at hand, the maturing of the Saints (Ep.4:11-16). How can these men bring men and women to maturity without educating them in the Words and ways of God? It is time to fulfill the words of Paul that were written to Timothy, “Study to show yourself approved...” Great men of the Bible had great teachers who helped develop their skills. Anyone who has ever glanced at the Talmud (a Jewish Commentary) is certain of this fact. The Disciples of the great academies went on to be the leaders of academies themselves. In some cases, the students exceeded their masters in their level of education and wisdom. In the Book of John, the Disciples asked Jesus “What must we do that we might work the works of God?” (Jn.6:28) The amazement is not in the answer, but in the fact that the Disciples thought that they could do what Jesus did. What ever gave them that idea? It must have been Jesus. He never treated them as substandard or inferior. He instilled within them the belief that they could do the things that He did. What a coincidence! Jesus did not think it robbery to be equal with God (Php.2:5) In this Jesus demonstrated the purpose and goal of the Educator and Discipler. The person who disciples must instill within his student the belief, that they can achieve and surpass their own level of potential. Knowing this, he is capable of leading the Disciple to his goal. The one who disciples must likewise, be able to see his Disciple’s potential and possess the wisdom to bring it to maturity. Education follows one basic pattern- everyone will begin on the fundamental level. From this level, we progress to the next level of greater complexity. The school years






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repeat this process until a specific standard of education is achieved. College follows this same pattern on a much more intense level until the person reaches Doctorate level. However, in Discipleship, the process is not finished until we reach the goal of Messiah. It is the determined Will and purpose of God, the Father, to conform us to the image of His Son (Ro.8:28-29) It will take men and women of great knowledge, understanding and wisdom to lead the disciple to this goal. XXII. CONCLUSION In concluding this study, we might leave these parting principles for each disciple:

A. Study

Make careful study (set your mind to) to present yourself to God as One approved, a workman that does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (2Ti.2:15, NIV).

And that you may always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope you live in (1Pe.3:15, AMP).

As you study God’s Word be sure to remain in a perpetual state of prayer and meditation (Ps.1:2). Prayer will moisten, feed and cultivate the seed already rooted in our heart.

B. Pray

Prayer is the very life blood of our relationship with God. It is our communication with the Almighty. Each day should begin with us having spent time with Him, before we embark on any task or project during that day. Martin Luther said, “I have so much to do today, if I don’t have at least 3 hours of prayer I don’t think I will make it.” John Wesley said, “God does nothing but in answer to pray.” These giants could not live without it. Jesus prayed all night in many of the times alone with His Father. Our Savior saw the dire necessity of intimacy with God the Father, and we need to catch that same vision. If nothing else is said that we remember from this study, be sure to find the Secret Place: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the of the Almighty Whose power no foe can withstand)” (Ps.91:1, AMP). All the giants who were men of spiritual stature across history have been individuals who found the Secret Place, and sought solace there, regardless of their circumstances. Our discipleship and our continued success as an Equipper will depend on how long and how often we linger in the place of prayer.






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C. Be Obedient

Be a doer of God’s Word (Ja.1:22), and not just one who simply sits and listens. “If we just listen to the Word and never do what it says, we will betray ourselves by a deception contrary to the truth” (Ja.1:22, AMP). Many people sit under the preaching and teaching of the Holy Scriptures every week, and have done so for years. Yet they remain ignorant of the Truth of God’s Word, for they are not obedient to it. They did not do what God said and, therefore, fell into deception.

Most people know to do more than they are actually doing. They need to put into practice what they have already heard (He.2:1; Ro.10:17). When they do it, they own it, it becomes their very own. This leaves them no reason to be deceived by it. When an individual obeys God, he taps on to an electrifying force and source that bears witness to God’s power and faithfulness.

Notice how the Apostle Paul explained this to the Christians at Colossae (2:6-8).

As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him. Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving. See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men's ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah). (AMP)

Our mind is filled with philosophy and vain deceit if we have not saved our mind by renewing it in the Word of God. We are held captive to the traditions of men, their intellectualism and the elementary principles of this corrupt world. In the church, tradition becomes dead and chaotic, merely religion. Intellectualism is the enemy’s shrewd and deceptive way of explaining-away Christian redemption and its eternal truths. Elementary and rudimentary principles are the philosophies of un-holy spirits that are projected to fill our minds, rather than filling it with the teachings and principles of Jesus Christ.

James tells us that Abraham’s faith was perfected by his works (2:22). It could also be interpreted to mean that Abraham believed, and therefore, obeyed God. Obedience to God’s Word will always help any disciple in his faith walk.






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D. Set Your Goal

We should set our aim high and keep it focused on God’s high call through Christ Jesus to the life He has set before us and has called us to. Always remember, we do not have to live on the level of the world around us (Php.3:14). We were born from above by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit Who makes us holy, and we are destined for the skies. The Queen of Sweden was asked on one occasion why she raised her daughter by such strict disciplines. Her reply was, “Because she is in training for the throne.” So are we. We must make sure “...run with patience the race that is set before you, and lay aside every weight and sin that so easily side-tracks you” (He.12:1). “Run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize” (Php.3:14, TEV).

E. Stay on Course

God expects us to hang around long enough to get established. Many people get restless and decide to move on to what they might call “greener pastures.” This type individual will never make it as a growing Christian or as a minister of Christ. God has many, many things He desires to do in our lives, but He cannot do them if we are continually running off somewhere else. In discipling young Timothy, guiding him in his faith walk and training for the ministry, the Apostle Paul spoke directly. It is good advice for us to meditate on every phrase of his advice to Timothy:

You must go on steadily in those things you have learned and which you know are true. Remember from whom your knowledge has come, and how from early childhood your mind has been familiar with the holy scriptures, which can open the mind to the salvation which comes through believing in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error, for resetting the direction of a man’s life and training him for living. The scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God, and fit him fully for all branches of his work (2Ti.3:14-17, Phillips).

As we digest the above admonition of St. Paul to Timothy, we should allow a previously quoted Scripture (Co.2:7, AMP), to dominate our thinking. Let us explore it.

“Have the roots [of your being] firm and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith...”

Purposely we have emphasized the things we definitely need to grasp: 1) be firmly and deeply planted in Jesus (stay long enough to put down roots); 2) be






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continually built up in Jesus (in a perpetual up-building program and always building up self in Jesus; 3) as we live and move and have our being in Christ, be increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith.

God wants us to hang around long enough for Him to do in our lives exactly what He desires. God plays for keeps and He is looking for a few good men and women who are in it for the long haul. He does not need migrants and refugees who would rather move on and settle down rather than stay around and settle up. There is a great deal of unfinished business we need to settle with God before we move on to other places. For the greatest benefit, to self and the Kingdom, remain an emigrant long enough to become a citizen.

The Open Bible, in its attempt to help the Christian live an aggressive and outreaching life, shares a section known as “A Guide to Christian Workers.” This section is introduced by a challenge to the sincere Christian disciple which is called: “Commission”. It follows:

COMMISSION

Give us a watchword for the hour, A thrilling word, a word of power;

A battle cry, a flaming breath, A call to conquest or to death;

A word to rouse the Church from rest,

To heed the Master’s high behest.

The call is given, ye hosts arise, The watchword is EVANGELIZE!

To dying men, a dying race

Make know the gift of Gospel grace.

The world that now in darkness lies, O Church of Christ, EVANGELIZE!

May God continue to bless and use us as we linger in His garden, lean on His breast, learn in His yoke, labor in His vineyard, and live and grow in His likeness.






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RESOURCE MATERIALS AND BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WORKS CITED

Am, Win & Charles. The Master’s Plan For Making Disciples: How Every Christian can be an

Effective Witness Through an Enabling Church. Pasadena, CA: Christian Growth Press, 1982.

Anderson, Neal T. The Steps To Freedom In Christ. USA: Gospel Light, 1996. p. 9. Ayres, Francis 0. The Ministry of the Laity: A Biblical Exposition. Evanston: IL, General Board

of the Laity, The United Methodist Church, MCMLXII Baptist Hymnal. The Way of the Cross Leads Home, Covington Press, Nashville.

1956. Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1972. Bright, Bill. A Handbook for Christian Maturity: A Practical, Easy to Follow Guide to Exciting

Adventure of Joyful Christian Living. San Bernardino, CA: Campus Crusade for Christ International, 1982.

Carver, Estelle C. Newness of Life: Practical Steps in Spiritual Growth. Woman’s Division of

Christian Service. The Methodist Church. Chamber, Oswald. Christian Discipline, Vol. 1, Fort Washington, PA: Christian Literature

Crusade, 1976. Coleman, Robert E. The Master Plan of Evangelism. Westwood, NJ: Fleming H. Revell

Company Publishers. 1963. Day, Albert Edward. Discipline and Discovery. The Parthenon Press, Nashville. 1947. Derstine, Gerald. Destined to Mature. Springdale, Pa: Whitaker, 1984. Edman, V. Raymond. The Disciplines of Life. Minneapolis: World Wide Publications, 1948. Eilelen, Frederick Carl. Abingdon Bible Commentary, Abingdon Press, New York and

Nashville, 1920. Eims, LeRoy. What Every Christian Should Know About Growing: Basic Steps to

Discipleship. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. 1976. English, Donald. Christian Discipleship: The Hard Way. London: Methodist Publishing

House, 1977. Foster, Richard. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. London: Hodder &

Stroughton, 1984.






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Galloway, Dale. Leading With Vision. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1999. pp. 51- 52.

Griswold, Frank T., Bishop. Baptism and the Journey of Growing up into Christ,

Episcopal Life. Vol. 12, No. 5, 1st in series. May, 2001, p.14 Hanks, Dr. Billie, Jr. & Shell, William A., Dr. Discipleship: Great Insights from the Most

Experienced Disciple Makers. Grand Rapids Ml: Zondervan Pub., 1991. Harper, Albert F., Gen. Ed. The Wesley Bible: A Personal Study Bible for Holy Living.

Thomas Nelson, Nashville. 1990. Harpers Bible Dictionary, Achtemeier, Paul J., General Editor, San Francisco, California:

Harper and Row Publisher, 1985. Henrichsen, Walter A. Disciples are Made — Not Born: Making Disciples out of Christians.

Wheaton: Victor Books, 1974. Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry’s Commentary of the Whole Bible in One Volume.

Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon. p.1362. Holy Bible, Amplified Expanded Edition, KJV, Zondervan Corporation and Lockman

Foundation, 1987. Holy Bible, Dake's Annotated Reference Bible, KJV, Finis Jennings Dake, Lawrenceville,

Georgia: Dake Bible Sales, Incorporated, 1985. Holy Bible, Full Life Study Bible, NIV, Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan Corporation, 1992 Holy Bible, KJV, Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Publisher, 1989. Holy Bible, The Message Bible, Eugene H. Peterson, Colorado Springs, Colorado: Nave

Press, 1995. Holy Bible, Thompson Chain Reference, Frank Charles Thompson D.D., Ph.D., Indianapolis,

Indiana, B.B. Kirkbride Bible Company, Johtam, Christian Arnold. Seventy Times Seven, The Power of Forgiveness

Farmington, The Plough Publishing House, l997. p.6. Krallmann, Gunter, Mentoring For Mission: A Handbook on Leadership Principles

Exemplified by Jesus Christ. Wesel, Germany: Jensco Limited, 1992. Lampman, Lisa Barnes, ed. Helping Neighbors In Crisis. Wheaton: Tyndale House

Publishers, I997. p. 25.






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Lugenbeel, Barbara Derrick. Your Spiritual Growth Handbook: A Five Week Program for Personal Renewal. Wilton, Connecticut: Morehouse Barlow, Inc., 1985.

Murray, Andrew. Abide In Christ. New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Company. pp. 28-

29. Nee, Watchman. The Spiritual Man. Christian Fellowship Publishing, New York.

1968. Neighbour, Ralph, The Journey Into Discipleship: The Journey Into Lifestyle Evangelism and

Ministry. Memphis: The Brotherhood Commission of the SBC, 1974. New Living Translation Bible, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60189. Online Bible, Version 6.0, Copyright 1992. Woodside Baptist Fellowship, Oct. 1992. Open Bible, The, Expanded Edition. A Guide to Christian Workers. Thomas Nelson

Pub., Nashville. 1985. p.1391. Orr, James, MA, DD, Gen. Editor. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.

Copyright, 1939. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (public domain) Ortiz, Juan Carlos. Disciple. Carol Stream, IL: Creation House, 1975. Pfiffeir, Charles F. (O.T.) & Everett F. Harrison (N.T.), The Wycliffe Bible

Commentary. The Southern Company, Nashville, 1962. Phillips, Keith, The Making of a Disciple. Los Angeles: World Impact, Inc. 1981. Radmacher, Earl D. Gen. Ed., H. Wayne House, N.T. Ed. The Nelson Study Bible.

Thomas Nelson Publishing, Nashville. 1997. Rouse, Bertist, Dr. The Little Foxes: Things Christians do NOT Have to Do.

Brentwood Christian Press, Columbus, Georgia. 1994. Sanctification- Its Necessity, Present Truth, February, 1975, p.19 Smedes, Louis B. Forgive and Forget. San Francisco: Harper, 1984. p.160. Smith, Malcolm, Follow Me: The Apprenticing of Disciples. Plainfield, NJ.: Logos

International, 1976. Stanley, Paul D.& Clinton, J, Robert. Connecting: The Mentoring Relationships You Need to

Succeed in Life. Colorado Springs, CO: Navpress, 1992. Staton, Knofel. Grow, Christian, Grow. Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing, 1977. Strong's Concordance, James Strong, L.L.D., S.T.D. Nelson Publishers, 1995.






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Taylor, Richard S. The Disciplined Life. Minneapolis: Bethany House Pub, 1962. Tuttle, Robert G. Jr. Sanctity Without Starch: A Lay Person’s Guide to a Wesleyan

Theology of Grace. Bristol Books, Lexington, KY, 1992. Vincent, Marvin R. Word Studies in the New Testament. Vol. IV, Peabody, Mass.

Hendrickson Publishers, 1888. Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, W.E. Vines, Merrill

F. Unger, William White, 1985. Webster's Dictionary of the American Language, College Edition, Cleveland and New York:

World Publishing Company, 1960. Westfall, John F. Coloring Outside the Lines: Discipleship for the ‘Undisciplined. San

Francisco: Harper Collins, 1991. Winter, Ralph D. & Hawthorne Steven C., (Eds). Perspectives on the World Christian

Movement, A Reader, Third Edition. Article: Everyone’s Question: What is God Trying to Do? Ellisen, Stanley A. William Carey Library, Pasadena, CA.

www.cookministries.com/discipleship/index.cfm?department_ID=6&topic_value=Disci pleship&Subtopic_value=Who%20We%20Are






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Course Work Recognition

COURSE RESEARCHED AND DEVELOPED: Rouse, Bertist , Th.D., 2002 COURSE CONTRIBUTORS Beasley, Herbert

Brown, Eddy, D.D. Fackler, David Farmer, Steve Graham, James, Th.D. Hall, Leo, D.Min., D.D. Malone, Bill & Pam Mott, Wesley Price, Roger, D.R.E., Th.D., Ph.D., D.D. Thompson, Verda, Ph.D., D.R.E., D.C.C., Th.D., D.D., 2009

MSBT PASTORAL ADVISORS: Braswell, Dick, Th.D. Burden, Wendell, D.Div. Chapman, Del, Th.D.

Hall, Leo, D. Div., D. Min. AMT-MSBT BOARD MEMBERS & STAFF: Baldock, Michael, Th. D. Price, Roger, Ph.D., D.R.E., Th.D., D.Div. Brown, Eddy, D.Div. Sansfacon, Mario, A.Min. Burden, Wendell, Th.D. Sansfacon, Teresa, B.Min., D.Div. Carr, Mary, D. Min., D. Div. Shepard, Sally D.Min., D.Div. Craig, David, D.Div. Thompson, Verda, Ph.D., D.R.E., D.C.C., Th.D., D.Div. Cunningham, Kay, D.Div. Vance, David R., A.C.S. Goneau, Dean, M.A. Wootten, Charles A., Th.D., D.Div. Hall, Leo, D.Div., D.Min. Wootten, Margaret S. D.Div. Kisner, Brian, D.Div.






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THANK YOU

Information for Midwest Seminary of Bible Theology (MSBT) courses has been researched and compiled by many members in the Body of Christ. Gifted brothers and sisters from many areas of ministry have blessed us.

We graciously thank those who have helped to research and compile courses for our curriculum. We gratefully thank all those in five-fold ministry, helps and lay ministry that have labored with us. A special thank you is extended to authors of various books, as well as Academic leaders from other Bible Colleges who have been so giving and gracious to us. It is not possible to name everyone; however, God’s laborers with MSBT have compiled over 100 courses. For this endeavor, "To God be the glory!"

CHRISTIANS ARE CO-LABORERS

"Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

I Corinthians 3:5-11

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