Patrick Morley writes, “What is the greatest problem facing men today? It is the same problem that faces the church and men’s ministries. As a whole, the church is not making disciples. We have a great problem in the church today. An executive in a major denomination said one day, "Our churches are not making disciples." But that’s not the real problem. The real problem is - we think we are. So what? Most men only know enough about God to be disappointed with him. They listen to the sermons, they try to do the right things, they have it in their hearts to be faithful Christians, but they don’t have much joy, and certainly lack victory over sinful habits. They feel a sense of shame. That’s because they have never actually been "educated" about what it means to "be" a Christian. They are not disciples.”
From the Greek lexicon based on Thayer’s and Smith’s Bible Dictionary, the term “make disciples” is defined as: 1) to be a disciple of one; to follow his precepts and instructions; or 2) to make a disciple; to teach, instruct.” A disciple is a learner, pupil, a disciple.
The purpose of discipleship is more than the assimilation of knowledge through procedural programs. And though this pursuits may be commendable, many have come to believe that knowledge is the pathway for becoming a disciple. In response to this, the Bible says that we are ever learning, but never coming to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7). The true purpose of discipleship is to know the heart of God in Christ and to know my heart in relationship with Jesus. God wants me to be rooted in Him, not just rooted in my ideas about Him.
Those who are truly His are devoted to Him, and as such, devoted to learning all about Him – Who He is, what He likes and dislikes, what makes Him smile, His expectations, His purpose for me in the earth - to learn His heart and will and way and character - to evaluate my every response not according to what I think I know, but who I am in light of His heart. These are those who have discovered the simplicity of taking up His yoke, learning from Him, and who find soul rest (Mth. 11:29).
Lord Jesus says in Matthew 16:24-26:
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.
For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Those who have seen God in Christ, who have truly developed a living relationship with the risen Savior, lose interest in seeking selfishly after temporal pursuits and throw themselves headlong after things eternal. They are those who now see that the things of this earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace; those who thirst and hunger for righteousness and begin living their lives in such a way through the power of the indwelling presence and power of His Holy Spirit that they no longer are slaves to themselves having recognized that they have been bought with an enormous price – they belong to Jesus. Jesus says in Luke 14:33-35:
"So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?
It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Jesus’ Gospel of the Kingdom is demanding, fulfilling, more holy and more powerful than many of the gospel messages we hear today. Jesus challenges each of us to destroy whatever barrier stands between Him and us; nothing is more important than God Himself (Exodus 20:3). Jesus says:
"And why do you call Me, ’Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
Everyone who comes to Me, and hears My words, and acts upon them, I will show you whom he is like:
he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood rose, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
But the one who has heard, and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house upon the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great" (Luke 6:46-49).
True disciples are devoted to truth and The Living Truth, devoted to doing what God says and not just hearing and hearing again.
The measure of my relationship with Jesus is directly proportional to the time I spend with Him. My relationship is measurably and dramatically deepened as I spend time in His Word, in communion with Him, fellowshipping with Him, and in prayer with Him (Acts 2:42). How can I know Him if I spend more time away from Him than with Him? What I truly treasure is that thing or person that I invest my life. As Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mth. 6:21).
True disciples are those who are devoted to knowing and living the Word of God. Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32).
The Bible makes clear the absolute manifestation of a true disciple. Jesus says, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).
Love is not simply an attribute of God; love is God and the ultimate realization of Christ-likeness for every disciple. Jesus says, "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples” (John 15:8).
Nothing, absolutely nothing must keep us from following Jesus. All barriers standing between Him and us must be utterly destroyed for God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:12-14).
We must fully agree that, "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
We must, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Mth. 22:37).
Because we know that God loves us, we must embrace and truly know that He will take care of us, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ’What shall we eat?’ or ’What shall we drink?’ or ’What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Mth. 6:25-34).
We are to let others know how much He loves them, “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23).
We are to love those who hate us, “You have heard that it was said, ’Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” (Mth. 5:44-47).
We are to seek out those who are most distanced from Him, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4-32).
God must be our first love, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” (Mth. 6:24).
We must understand that our love is evidenced by our obedience, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him" (John 14:21).
We must realize that God loves Jesus His Son, “For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these” (John 5:20) and that Jesus loves God, “but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. "Come now; let us leave” (John 14:31) and that those who refuse Jesus do not have God’s love, “I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?” (John 5:41-44).
We must understand that Jesus loves us just as God loves Jesus, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love” (John 15:9).
We must believe that the proof of Jesus’ love for us is that He died on the Cross so that we could live eternally with Him, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14,15).
We are to love others just as God loves Jesus and as Jesus loves God, “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them" (John 17:21-26).
We are to love one another, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34,35) and to demonstrate that love, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward” (Mth. 10:42).
We must fully realize that God’s love extends to every person, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father - and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:11-15) and that Jesus wants us to love Him through both good and difficult times, “Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: "’I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "This very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same” (Mth. 26:31-35).
As a result, our love toward Jesus and others will be genuine, “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "You know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).
What is keeping you from being Jesus’ disciple?
Grow in grace and truth,
Doug Morrell
CORE Discipleship Group Ministries
http://www.coregroups.org
