Dear Brethren:

Greetings in the name of Jesus!  As I prayed last night on what our next expository study should be, I was impressed by the Lord to bring to you several items on discipleship.  A disciple is a learner, a pupil of a teacher, who is motivated and occupied by a certain order of business.  It goes with saying that any believer that will not be teachable cannot be a disciple.  We know that Jesus does not as much want converts as He does disciples.  He knows that much less will be accomplished by a convert than a disciple.  This is why I have been so concerned that the thrusts of our churches today appear to be more on size and programs than on discipleship of the people.  We host a Bible study at our home on Sundays which emphasis is on teaching Christian character, and the discipleship of believers in their callings, gifts, and ministries.  Every believer is a minister, and I am of the theory that much of the church is crying out today to be discipled, delivered, and raised up.  I believe that is the awesome challenge of a pastor and his staff.  The more success that a pastor has in raising up the five-fold ministry within his church, the stronger will be his local body, and the more will be the operation of the power and glory of God within it.

Let us know look at some prerequisites for disciples.

 

Matthew 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny <533> himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

We observe that Jesus commands His disciples to “Follow Him” in the above scripture.  He chose this word very carefully.  This particular injunction appears 77 times in the New Testament.  In actuality the word “follow” is defined as a union in traveling the same road.  It is a oneness with the pattern of Jesus’ life, His ministry, and even of His death, if necessary.  This is why the apostle Paul said, “Be a mimic of me, even as I am also a mimic of Christ ”as found in 1 Corinthians 11:1  Be ye followers <3402> of me, even as I also am of Christ. 

 

Secondly, is the concept of “denial”.  This is our “once and for all confession” that we have no connection with ourselves and our interests outside of those of Christ.  Matthew 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny <533> himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.   

     Matthew 26:34  Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny <533> me thrice.  Look at the illustration of Peter’s denial of Jesus in comparison to Jesus’ command to deny ourselves.  As you will notice, it is exactly the same word!  Can you imagine how vehemently Peter with every fiber and atom in his body angrily disavowed that he knew, or had any relationship with the Master?  This should be our same attitude in denying ourselves for the sake of our Lord?

 

Thirdly is the notion of “forsaking”.  This is the act of our biding farewell to, and renouncing all that will not glorify God.  Next, please turn your attention to the three scriptures below.  Once again you will observe that they are all from the identical Greek word,  Strong’s # 657.  Please meditate on them and get a sense for what Jesus proposal of “forsaking all” really means.

Luke 14:33  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh <657> not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 9:61  And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell <657>, which are at home at my house.

Mark 6:46  And when he had sent <657> them away <657>, he departed into a mountain to pray.

 

Fourth is the notion of “our ability to be a disciple”.

  Luke 14:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot <1410> be my disciple.

Luke 14:27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot <1410> be my disciple.

Luke 14:33  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot <1410> be my disciple.

    If you notice, I highlighted the word “cannot”, Strong’s # 1410.  The root of this word is the word “dunamis”.  We all know that dunamis is the dynamite power of God, that we as believers seek to obtain.  In addition dunamis is an enabling power.  God’s dunamis enables the casting out of demons and the operation of spiritual gifts.  These scriptures inform us that the Christian who does not bear the cross, forsake all that he has, and put his family and his life behind the Lord, will not have the “dunamis “ or the enabling power to be a disciple of our Lord.  The inherent power that He needs to change will not be there. The “cannot” is also constructed in a fancy grammatical phrase called an “absolute negative”.  Simply expressed it tells us that “under no circumstances”, or, “Never”, or, “it is impossible” for the Christian who is not willing to to do these things to ever be disciple of Jesus. Whew!!  I have included two other scriptures with the same Strong’s #1410 for your further understanding and feeling of this word.

Romans 16:25  Now to him that is of power <1410> to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Philippians 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able <1410>  even to subdue all things unto himself.

 

In conclusion, then what are some of the “up sides” of being a disciple of Jesus? 

·        I believe that “hope of our calling” will only be realized, and will only be truly effective within disciples.

Matthew 9:37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

·        The culmination of God’s power is only given to disciples.

Matthew 10:1  And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

·        The culmination of ministry belongs to disciples.

Matthew 14:19  And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

·        Completion in maturity and character is only found in disciples.

Luke 6:40  The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

·        The place of intimacy with the Lord is only given to disciples.

John 21:20  Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee

 

God Bless You,

Jose Alverez