DISCIPLE

 DISCIPLE

"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

"It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher,

and a servant like his master.

Matthew 10:24-25a

A description of a disciple with an acrostic

A DISCIPLE is one:

Who has: D – Decided To Deny Self and Follow  Jesus

Who has:  I – Intimacy with Immanuel

Who is a:  S – Submissive Servant

Who is: C – Called and Commissioned

Who stands: I – In-the-Gap as an Intercessor

Who is: P – Pentecost Powered

Who is a: L – Learning Leader

And an: E – Enduring Evangelist

D – Decide To Deny Self and

Follow Jesus

 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, 

let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Matthew 16:24

 When you spend time at the cross of JESUS, you will find your own cross there. Don't forget to take it up each day and follow JESUS!

 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, 

He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; 

for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, 

"Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 

They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 

When He had gone a little farther from there, 

He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, 

who also were in the boat mending their nets. 

And immediately He called them, 

and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, 

and went after Him.

Mark 1:16-20

Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, 

"Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, 

"Let the dead bury their own dead, 

but you go and preach the kingdom of God."

Luke 9:59-60

"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, 

wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, 

and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14:26

We must let go of profession and family and selfish ambitions to follow JESUS.

Let us die to self so that JESUS can live through us and be glorified through us!

• Make the Decision 

•  Be Disciplined 

•  Be Determined

I – Intimacy with Immanuel

 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us,

 that we should be called children of God! 

Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
1 John 3:1

 I am the vine, you are the branches. 

He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; 

for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:5

Our Heavenly Father loves us and the LORD JESUS desires to have an intimate relationship with us. HE reaches out to us and we need to respond to HIS love. Our relationship with HIM should be vibrant and growing. The following human relationships reflect our connection with the LORD.

 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13    Father _ Child

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.
Isaiah 49:15      Mother _ Child

 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

John 15:15    Master _  Servant,   Friend _ Friend

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
John 10:14, 27    Shepherd _ Sheep

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
Ephesians 5:25-27    Husband _ Wife

 

This relationship is developed through the reading of GOD'S Word and a life of obedience to HIS Spirit in our lives.

Our relationship with our LORD JESUS is our lifeline. May we value it above all else and grow in it. Thus we will also grow in our love for one another in Him.

 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 

  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, 

just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 

  These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, 

and that your joy may be full. 

  This is My commandment, 

that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:9-12

S – Submissive Servant

 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' 

shall enter the kingdom of heaven, 

but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 

Many will say to Me in that day, 

'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, 

cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 

And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; 

depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Matthew 7:21-23

Let us follow our Master in serving in submission to Scriptural authority and humility.

 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, 

but the will of Him who sent Me.
John 6:38

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. 

Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
1 Peter 5:5

Let us diligently take instruction from GOD's Word and serve Him being sensitive and obedient to the Holy Spirit. Let us also submit to one another in the fear of GOD.

C – Called and Commissioned

 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him 

those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. 

Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him 

and that He might send them out to preach, 

and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:

Mark 3:13-15

 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 

"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son 

and of the Holy Spirit, 

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; 

and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Matthew 28:18-20

The LORD has called each one of us by name! He has a specific calling for each one of us in the work of His Kingdom.

 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, 

And He who formed you, O Israel: 

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; 

I have called you by your name; 

You are Mine.
Isaiah 43:1

We must constantly come to the LORD, enter into His rest, receive His instruction, receive His Spirit and let His love flow through us as we serve.

 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, 

for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30

On the last day, that great day of the feast, 

Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 

"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 

out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
John 7:37-38

May we be prepared to respond to the last call to be with JESUS our Savior forever!

 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" 

And let him who hears say, "Come!" 

And let him who thirsts come. 

Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Revelation 22:17

I – In-the-Gap Intercessor

 The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, 

and mistreated the poor and needy; 

and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. 

So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, 

and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, 

that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. 

Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; 

I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; 

and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads," 

says the Lord God.
Ezekiel 22:29-31

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 

for kings and all who are in authority, 

that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life 

in all godliness and reverence. 

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 

who desires all men to be saved 

and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1-4

GOD is looking for men and women who will stand in the gap and plead for His mercy in the name of CHRIST, so that He may withhold judgement for a season and give people time to repent and turn from their wicked ways.

The LORD JESUS is our model Intercessor as described in Isaiah 53. 

 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, 

And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, 

Because He poured out His soul unto death, 

And He was numbered with the transgressors, 

And He bore the sin of many, 

And made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:12

Our LORD JESUS continues to intercede for his own before GOD the Father.

Satan is the accuser of the brethren, as opposed to JESUS. Revelations 12:10

But He, because He continues forever, 

has an unchangeable priesthood. 

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost 

those who come to God through Him, 

since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:24-25

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, 

and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, 

who also makes intercession for us.
Romans 8:34

Our LORD JESUS took all the punishment for the sin of all mankind on Himself. May we repent of our sins, receive His forgiveness so that we may also freely release forgiveness to others and stand interceding for them.

 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! 

As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." 

And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them,

 "Receive the Holy Spirit.

 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; 

if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

John 20:21-23

P – Pentecost Powered

Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; 

but tarry in the city of Jerusalem 

until you are endued with power from on high."
Luke 24:49

 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; 

and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea 

and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Acts 1:8

 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, 

they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 2:1

When we as His children seek the LORD humbly and walk in unity, we position ourselves to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

We need the baptism of the Spirit to be effective witnesses for the LORD and also to edify the Body of CHRIST through the operation of the gifts of the Spirit.

 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, 

let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

1 Corinthians 14:12

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, 

how much more will your heavenly Father 

give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
Luke 11:13

Let us therefore ask, receive and live in the power of the Holy Spirit to be profitable in His Kingdom.

'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, 

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; 

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, 

Your young men shall see visions, 

Your old men shall dream dreams. 

And on My menservants and on My maidservants 

I will pour out My Spirit in those days; 

And they shall prophesy.
Acts 2:17-18

L – Learning Leader

 Great multitudes followed Him-

-from Galilee, and from Decapolis, 

Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
Matthew 4:25

 Then He said to them, 

"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Matthew 4:19

The LORD JESUS was a great Leader and multitudes followed Him while He walked on this earth.

When we follow JESUS, others will follow us and we become leaders. It is then necessary that we point them to JESUS, like John the Baptist did. 

 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 

  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, 

"Behold the Lamb of God!" 

  The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
John 1:35-37

Even when we are leading, it is important that we continue to follow the LORD JESUS and keep learning from Him. Let us continue to grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Shepherd and Leader.

 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, 

and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 

  if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:10-11

You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, 

beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, 

being led away with the error of the wicked; 

  but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
2 Peter 3:17-18

E – Enduring Evangelist

But you be watchful in all things, 

endure afflictions, 

do the work of an evangelist, 

fulfill your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:5

Our LORD JESUS began His ministry by preaching the Gospel of His Kingdom. 

 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, 

preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, 

"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.

 Repent, and believe in the gospel."
Mark 1:14-15

Now, we have been commissioned to share this good news with all the people of the world.  

Now all things are of God, 

who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, 

and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 

that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, 

not imputing their trespasses to them, 

and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, 

as though God were pleading through us: 

we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, 

that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21

The LORD sends us out with His authority and His very presence for this task. May we endure every hardship and continue to win souls to the Kingdom. 

Let our faith work through love until the end.

 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 

  Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, 

and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 

  And then many will be offended, will betray one another, 

and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up 

and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, 

the love of many will grow cold. 

  But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 

  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world 

as a witness to all the nations, 

and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:8-14