Well, it’s not always that simple. While on this earth we will still have mountain and valley experiences that will be part of the journey as we learn to become more like Jesus Christ. To reach the goal set there are three Ps you are going to need: Let’s look at them each a little closer.
What will it take to get you there? We often want to go the easiest route possible. Sometimes we want Jesus to be like a genie and poof, we are mature disciples.Three Principles
Discipleship: Preparation, Process & People
Discipleship: Preparation
- It is better to prepare than to repair.
- Preparation today gives confidence for tomorrow.
- Preparation today gives success tomorrow.
Discipleship: Process
God wants you to grow up. See Ephesians 4:15: “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
Sadly, millions of Christians grow older but never grow up. Spiritual growth is not automatic. It takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing.
Discipleship (the process of becoming like Christ) always begins with a decision. Nothing shapes your life more than the commitments you choose to make. Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you, but either way, they will define you.
Every choice has eternal consequences, so you’d better choose wisely. See 2 Peter 3:11: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,”
Christlikeness comes from making Christ-like commitments. A great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will make you a great Christian. Once you decide to get serious about becoming like Christ, you must begin to act in new ways. You’ll need to let go of some old routines, develop some new habits, and intentionally change the way you think. See Philippians 2:12:
- Philippians 2:12: “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
This verse, written to believers, is not about how to be saved, but how to grow. It does not say “work for” your salvation.
Today, many assume that spiritual maturity is measured by how much Biblical knowledge and doctrine you know. The Christian life is far more than creeds and convictions; it includes conduct and character. Our deeds must be consistent with our creeds and our beliefs must be backed up with Christ-like behavior. Christianity is not a philosophy, but a relationship and a life.
Discipleship: People
This one is pretty self-explanatory. What you surround yourself with is what you become.
Seven Challenges for Disciples
Read and Study the Word of Jesus
How can people claim to love the Lord and be so busy doing churchianity things, yet never read and study and do what Jesus says?
Read and Study the Word of Jesus
See John 10:27: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” If Jesus said that His sheep know His voice and listen to His voice; and if He said that the Holy Spirit speaks to those who believe in Him, then should we not make it a major priority to get to know the voice of the Holy Spirit?
Practice Repentance and Renew the Mind
See Luke 13:1: “There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.”
- However, the real battleground is the battleground of the mind.
- We are brainwashed by our society’s values.
- Tolerance (tolerance that is, of anything except absolutes.
Loyalty
See Matthew 22:37-38: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
Walk in the Spirit
Those who attempt to characterize the work of the Holy Spirit as a “takeover” or “possession” by the Spirit are wrong. The Scriptures never indicate in any way that the Holy Spirit overpowers our will. The context of experiencing the work of the Holy Spirit is always “receive” or “surrender.” We must submit and choose the work of the Holy Spirit before we can experience His indwelling empowerment.
Walking in the Spirit is progressive sanctification. If we are walking in the Spirit, we do not become disobedient. We become disobedient because we choose to not walk in the Spirit, but to walk after the flesh, which regretfully, happens more often than walking in the Spirit does.
But it does not have to be that way. We can learn to walk in the Spirit more and more consistently. It has to do with hungering and thirsting for righteousness, don’t you think? See Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Do the Works of Jesus Christ
See John 9:4: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”
We will discuss this more when we cover ministry principles at another time.
Make Worship a Lifestyle
- Be a worshipper all the time, rather than an occasional groupie.
- Not Sunday only.
- This is another one of those subjects we’ll be covering more on.
As you begin the preparation – process – people journey, consider the thoughts and questions below. May you become the man or woman God has called you to be.
Embrace the journey!
Questions for Disciples Ask
- How do I believe I should use my time? At work, at home, on weekends, and holidays, etc.
- Am I honest? If I were my own employer, would I trust me?
- Am I truthful? Can people rely upon my word?
- Am I a servant? Or am I self-centered?
- Do I worship God in all I do? Or are there other things that I am giving more attention to and importance than Him?
Another one: If I were arrested for being one of His disciples, would there be enough evidence (from my lifestyle) to convict me of my professed faith in Him? Truthfully, would I plead guilty to the charges because I really have made Him Lord of my life?
Additional Bible Verses on Discipleship
A disciple has surrendered himself to His Lordship! See Romans 8:28-32, 12, Galatians 2:20-21, Philippians 3:1-10, and 1 Peter 4:2:
- Romans 8:28-32: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
- Romans 12
- Galatians 2:20-21: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
- Philippians 3:1-10: “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”
- 1 Peter 4:2: “That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.”
A disciple is honest with God and others! See 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
A disciple knows his abilities, gifts, and talents! See Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12-14, and 1 Peter 4:10: “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
A disciple is willing to submit to Authority! See 1 Peter 2:13-15: “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:”
A disciple is discerning! See Proverbs 20:25, Ephesians 6:10-20, 1 Peter 5:8-9, and James 4:7:
- Proverbs 20:25: “It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.”
- Ephesians 6:10-20: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
- 1 Peter 5:8-9: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
- James 4:7: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
A disciple loves people and the lost! See Micah 6:8, Philippians 2:7, Hebrews 10:24-25, and 2 Peter 3:9:
- Micah 6:8: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
- Philippians 2:7: “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”
- Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
- 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
A disciple is a person who forgives! See Matthew 5:46, John 17:20-23, Ephesians 4:1-2, 32:
- Matthew 5:46: “For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?”
- John 17:20-23: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
- Ephesians 4:1-2, 32: “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
A disciple is faithful! See Matthew 25:29 and Luke 16:10-12:
- Matthew 25:29: “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”
- Luke 16:10-12: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?”
Discipleship is a lifestyle!
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