Are You A Disciple Of Jesus?

 

According to https://www.gordonconwell.edu/, there are about 2.6 billion Christians in this world and now over 8 billion people on this planet, and that equates to 32.5% of the earths population! So if all these people are really Christian, shouldn't we be seeing evidence of great unity, love, peace, health and prosperity? 

That's what we read in scripture isn't it? The disciples were all together and had everything in common, giving to each one who had need, eating together, serving together, loving each other, and holding to the teachings of the apostles, who were taught by Jesus Himself.

Acts 2:40-47

"And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."

Why don't we see the signs and wonders being done by God amongst the people through His chosen vessels? Don't people still need healing and deliverance? Why don't we see the 2.6 billion believers together with ALL things in common? 

Let me tell you why! Because those believers are not being made disciples of Jesus and they are not being baptized with the Holy Spirit! If they were, then the whole world would be hearing about the great works of God every single day on CNN and every news network on the planet!

Anybody can say they are a Christian, but can you say I am a disciple of Jesus? I have been born from above by the Spirit of God and the Kingdom of God is within me? That's what Jesus said must and would happen to those who took up there cross and followed Him.

It's easy to say 'I'm a Christian', 'I believe in God', but it's extremely difficult to be a disciple of Jesus, to hate your life in this world, to deny yourself daily, and to come out of this world and be separate. That's what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. 

Luke 9:23

"Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

The word Disciple implies a devoted allegiance to the teachings of one chosen as a master. (Merriam Webster)

Disciple: lit., "a learner" (from manthano, "to learn," from a root math--, indicating thought accompanied by endeavor), in contrast to didaskalos, "a teacher;" hence it denotes "one who follows one's teaching," as the "disciples" of John, Mat 9:14; of the Pharisees, Mat 22:16; of Moses, Jhn 9:28; it is used of the "disciples" of Jesus (Vines Expository Dictionary)

John 8:31-32

"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

So you see, Jesus didn't make Christians, or those who follow Him, He called people and made them Disciples. Those who left everything behind and followed Him, those who changed their lifestyle, their old way of thinking about themselves, others, and the world. 

Christian: a word formed after the Roman style, signifying an adherent of Jesus, was first applied to such by the Gentiles and is found in Act 11:26; 26:28; 1Pe 4:16.

Though the word rendered "were called" in Act 11:26 (see under CALL) might be used of a name adopted by oneself or given by others, the "Christians" do not seem to have adopted it for themselves in the times of the Apostles. In 1Pe 4:16, the Apostle is speaking from the point of view of the persecutor; cp. "as a thief," "as a murderer." Nor is it likely that the appellation was given by Jews. As applied by Gentiles there was no doubt an implication of scorn, as in Agrippa's statement in Act 26:28. Tacitus, writing near the end of the first century, says, "The vulgar call them Christians. The author or origin of this denomination, Christus, had, in the reign of Tiberius, been executed by the Procurator, Pontius Pilate" (Annals xv. 44). From the second century onward the term was accepted by believers as a title of honor. (Vines Expository Dictionary)

The International Church Of Christ was founded by Kip Mckean around 1979 to 1980, he was mentored by a man named Chuck Lucas who led a campus ministry with a vision of making disciples. The ICOC was an offshoot of the Church of Christ and at one point had a membership of 125,000. I myself was a member of the ICOC for a number of years and was baptized in water confessing Jesus as my Lord, but one vital thing was lacking, I was never baptized in the Holy Spirit! 

And therein lies the problem with anything started by man, they tend to leave out the supernatural part of being a disciple of Jesus. In the case of the ICOC, Kip Mckean believes the baptism of the Holy Spirit was only for the first century believers and the apostles, which is a cessantionist belief. And when you do something by the flesh, ultimately it will fail, but if it be of God, it will not be overthrown or overcome unless it's God's express will or to fulfill His word.

I have learned that being a Disciple of Jesus is very different from being a Christian, they are essentially two different words with different meanings. Which one are you? A Disciple or a Christian?

I am a Disciple.

Abiding In His Word,

Tyrone

What Is A Christian?

To answer this question let’s take a look at the Greek definition of the word for ‘Christian’.

5546. Christianos khris-tee-an-os' from 5547; a Christian, i.e. follower of Christ:--Christian.

So a Christian is one who follows Christ.

The word ‘Disciple’ means:

3101. mathetes math-ay-tes' from 3129; a learner, i.e. pupil:--disciple.

Acts 11:25-26

“Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

A Disciple or Christian is one who is a learner and follower of Jesus Christ.

Jesus gave everyone conditions to meet in order to be His disciple. Let’s take a look at them.

Mark 8:34-38

“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

A condition we must meet if we desire to follow Jesus is to deny ourselves, and what does it mean to deny yourself?

It means to disown your very life and surrender it to Jesus. And taking your cross means to willingly die to self, to sacrifice and give up your life everyday to follow Jesus and do the will of God, not your own.

Luke 9:23-26

“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”

To follow Jesus requires a daily sacrifice of your life, time, and resources.

Luke 14:25-33

“Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “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. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

Another condition that we must meet in order to be a disciple of Jesus is not to put anyone or anything above Him.

The word ‘hate’ used in the above scriptures means:

3404. miseo mis-eh'-o from a primary misos (hatred); to detest (especially to persecute); by extension, to love less:--hate(-ful).

If we do not abandon, let go of, and forsake every possession we own in this life we cannot be His disciple.

Matthew 10:34:39

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

John 14:21,23

"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me."

Jesus made it absolutely clear what a Christian is, and if we don’t meet His conditions and keep His commandments, then we cannot follow Him, we do not love Him, we will not be worthy of Him, and in the end we will lose our very souls.

Here is a link to an excellent message that goes even deeper into what it means to deny yourself and take up your cross.

http://www.buildinghishouse.org/articles/denyself.shtml

With Love,
Tyrone