The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this (these things, that I hear), to hear of my children walking in the truth.
3 John 1-4 NASB
Discipling…
Lord God, what a joy and privilege You have given Your children who walk in truth to love one another. Not to love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. Lord may I walk in truth, as You have commanded, in such a way that I demonstrate walking in truth to those I am discipling. I pray that I can teach new disciples to remind others of the way of Christ. God, I pray I will persevere in my labor until Jesus Christ is formed in those I have the privilege to disciple. Lord may I exhort, encourage, and implore these disciples as if they are my own children, that they would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls us into His own kingdom and glory. And God, my hope is to find these I disciple walking in truth, just as I have received commandment to do from You, Father. Use me Lord Jesus to bring glory to Your name. Amen.
1 John 3:18/2 John 4/1 Corinthians 4:14,16-17/Galatians 4:19/1 Thessalonians 2:11-12/2 John 4 NASB
The reason we disciple:
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
1 John 2:1-2 NASB
🌹For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.
1 Corinthians 4:20 NASB
I pray in all respects that you prosper and are in good health, just as your soul prospers. In Jesus name, amen.
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Tag Archive | disciple
1 John 2:7-8
Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.
1 John 2:7-8 NASB
God, Your commandment of old to love one another has been a difficult task as evidenced in Your word. Division, war, deceit have separated Your people from one another and from You. The commandment to love one another diminished to the point of needing renewal mant times.
Now a new commandment has been given to love one another. A love demonstrated my Your Son, Jesus Christ. He was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. We all, Lord God, were formerly darkness, but now we, Your children, are Light in Jesus; because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining!! God, I pray we walk as children of Light so the world will know we are Your disciples because of our love for one another. As we love one another by the love of Christ in us Jesus grows brighter and brighter and the darkness passes away. Help me to love as You love, Jesus, so Your Light shines to a dark and needy world. May Your love abound in me I pray, amen.
John 13:34/John 1:9/Ephesians 5:8/John 13:35 NASB
🌹“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you”.
John 15:12 NASB
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Is My Lamp Still Lit?
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
John 8:12 NASB
Do you have have the Light of Life, Jesus Christ?
Jesus, I no longer want to walk in darkness, I surrender my life to follow You, the Light of my life. Amen.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 NASB
Jesus, You have made Your own a light in this world. Let my life shine in this world in such a way that others may see the true Light and glorify the Father in heaven. For Your glory I ask, amen.
“Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.
Luke 8:16 NASB
Lord God, may I shine the light of salvation to everyone I come in contact with. When my light flickers from fear, embolden me Lord that I may shine even brighter with the light of the gospel so others may know the true Light, Jesus Christ. For Your glory, amen!!
🌹My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
John 15:8 NASB
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Jesus Always Took Time
When the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. Taking them with Him, He withdrew by Himself to a city called Bethsaida. But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.
Luke 9:10-11 NASB
Jesus always finds time for people. Taking His disciples He sought to withdraw with them. . . BUT “the crowds… followed Him”. Did you notice Jesus’s response? He welcomed them and then took the opportunity to tell them about the kingdom of God.
How often do we want to get away? Away from the neighbor who wants to chit chat when you have so much to do, if you ever make it through the front door. Or the hairdresser who talks with her hands so this quick haircut turns out to be longer than you planned. We are always on the run. Go, go, go.
🌹How many missed opportunities have we passed by, ignored, set aside, to share the gospel? To speak of the kingdom of God?
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
A Disciple of Christ
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
John 8:31-32 NASB
Belief in Jesus in not enough. Even the demons believe in Jesus and they shudder (James 2:19).
Jesus instructed “those Jews who had believed” that if they continued in the word, “then you are truly disciples of Mine”.
Why should we stay, continue, in the word? Because Jesus said to but also because “you will know the truth, and it will make you free”.
In this world of so many differing views it is hard to tell truth from fiction. The word of God will set the truth before you and in that there is freedom.
🌹 Are you a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Disciple
When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
Acts 1:13 NASB
After the ascension of Jesus into heaven the disciples gathered together, not unlike gathering after a celebration of life (funeral). Do you wonder what they spoke of? I bet it was Jesus. All that they had experienced, seen and known of Jesus, the Son of God over the past 3 years.
🌹 Are you or have you experienced God in your life? If you have, do you speak of Him? Do others know Him because of you?
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Our Treasure
What does God need from us to fulfill His purpose, His will, His plan?
NOTHING. NOT A THING.
God desires a real and personal relationship with His people. He wants us to surrender our possessions,
So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. Luke 14:33 NASB
Our very life, our will, our all.
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1 NASB
Surrender of our will, our purpose, our way.
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Philippians 3:7 NASB
Self-centered versus God-centered. Worldly minded verses spiritually minded.
🌹 Where is the treasure of your heart buried? In the world or in heaven?
I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. John 17:11, 18 NASB
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Love One Another
By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 NASB
but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here. John 14:31 NASB
This I command you, that you love one another. John 15:17 NASB
Jesus kept the commandments of the Father to show the world His love for the Father. He has commanded His disciples to love one another. By this love for one another all mankind will know we are God’s disciples.
🌹 Are you demonstrating God’s love to the world by obeying His command to love your fellow brothers and sisters?
These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. John 15:11 NASB
Disciple
And they spent a long time with the disciples. Acts 14:28 NASB
From the moment we are born we begin to learn. Learn to eat, walk, talk, etc.
Disciple: A student, learner.
Within 2 years of a child’s life, he learns all the basics that over time are fine tuned. Christians are the same way. For years we have prayed, hoped, and got excited about people coming to know the Lord Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Many have come to that decision and yet our churches are dwindling in numbers. Why?
Could it be that we have left these Christian babies to fend for themselves? We introduce them to the Savior and then expect them to survive in a hostile world with satan who seeks to devour them. They need instruction. They need to be mentored by a mature Christian who can show them the ropes.
Discipling someone is taking the time (long time) to mentor them in how to seek the Lord, teaching them the spiritual disciplines, encouraging them in their walk, listening, answering their questions, being their friend. It costs to disciple. It cost Jesus His life so that we may be discipled by the Holy Spirit. He discipled 12 who could carry on.
🌹Can we disciple one? Is there someone in your life you could disciple? Would you pray for someone that you could disciple? The answer may not come right away, but God has someone for you to disciple or He would not have commanded us to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”.
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Jesus Our Disciple
Jesus. Our example. Our model of the Christian walk. Jesus, in the Old Testament, displaying the faithful disciple.
Isaiah 50:4a
The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples,
— “All your sons will be taught of the Lord;“
Isaiah 54:13a NASB
We are taught through the word of God and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the perfect example of a disciple. He is the Lord and He teaches us to be disciples.
Isaiah 50:4b
That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.
— For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. Psalms 107:9 NASB
— “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6 NASB
— “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:14 NASB
Jesus draws the heart to Himself. God is at work preparing hearts for Himself. Jesus sustains the weary one with His word.
Are you seeing the weary ones, the hungry souls, the thirsty ones around you? Ask God to open your eyes to those who are seeking and then as a disciple lean on the Holy Spirit’s guidance to lead them to the well of water.
Do you want to be like Jesus? Do you want to walk in His footsteps? Then you need to prepare.
Isaiah 50:4c He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
In the morning, O Lord , You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. Psalms 5:3 NASB
Give God your best. Your freshest time of the day to devote to Him in preparation to be the disciple Jesus demonstrated.
Eagerly watch for God’s work in the lives of the lost calling them to salvation. Eagerly watch for brothers and sisters who are in need of repentance, to become thirsty and hungry for righteousness once again.
Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul. Psalms 143:8 NASB
🌹Are you ready to surrender? To trust God to make you the disciple He wants you to be? Who does He want you to pour yourself into? Start praying for them now.
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Continually Seeking Him 