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How
do you know you are a disciple?
The
answer to the question is easy you know you are a disciple if you are a
born again believer with both the discipline and a willing attitude to
be Jesus’ disciple. Be forewarned the life of a disciple will be
fruitful but at times the life of a disciple difficult.
Think about the first disciples and all that was done through
them by God and to them by those opposed to Christ and God.
When
you think about Peter, James, John, and all the rest of the disciples
and the life they lived you can see why disciples must have discipline.
There are times it will seem like everyone is against you and
nothing you are doing is working. These
are the times that you must show discipline and put your faith in God to
move on.
Also
being a disciple takes a willing attitude, because you must be open to
being led by God no matter where He takes you or how hard a task He
calls you to do. It is
often said that it is the difficult times that shape a person into the
person they are to become. This is because if we can make it over or
through the difficult times it makes the good times that much sweeter.
I think it is the difficult times that God uses to show us just
how much we need Him and how far we can go when we rely on Him.
The difficult times also show us as disciples how much sweeter
Heaven will be when get there because we will know that we truly gave
all we had for the Lord.
This
is the life of a disciple
If
you feel that you meet those two qualifications then you have what it
takes to be a disciple of Christ.
Take
the time to pray to God right now and ask to give you a willing heart
and correct attitude for you life ahead as a disciple.
The
purpose for which you were called
It
is sad to say that some people who are called to be disciples do not
recognize there calling and fail to love up to the life God ahs called
them to.
Read
Matthew 23:37
In
this verse Jesus is speaking out against whom?
Jesus
here is speaking out against Jerusalem because the city was not willing
to receive Him and live up to the purpose God had called them for back
in the Old Testament
Also
what does this verse have to do with you and your life as a disciple?
Here
we have God’s chose people the Israelites.
They should have seen Jesus for who He is, the Messiah.
Instead they abandoned their calling and turned their backs on
God in the flesh. Israel
was to be the nation that would show us God and teach us to repent.
What
does this mean for you? Do
not be like Israel and turn your back on God.
If you are a Christian it means recognizing the fact that you
need to get up and go out and tell first your neighborhood if called to
so, then your city and if called the ends of the earth.
As disciples you are also to share your knowledge with fellow
believers.
Read
Matthew 26:40-41
In
these verses Jesus confronts His disciples. Why?
The
answer is for being weak. A
disciple will have times of weakness where they give in to certain
desires. Jesus reprimands
His disciples for giving into their weakness.
It is not always easy to do but we must at all times try to
follow through with God’s plans, not our own.
.
Read
Luke 22:39-44
What
is Jesus doing in these verses?
What
is Jesus’ prayer request to God?
Jesus
prays, “Not my will but thine be done”, but being a disciple means
accepting what God has set before and doing God’s will.
It’s a challenge for all believers and all must face it.
He hardest thing to do is give up control and accept someone
else’s guidance.
So
in the end it boils down to one job qualification that leads to all the
rest, willingness
1.
You must
have a willing spirit
2.
You must
be willing to be willing to let God make a disciple of you
3.
You must
be willing to let go of the controls
4.
You must
be will to pray “not my will but yours Lord”
5.
You must
be willing to change the things in your life that need to changed
6.
You must
be willing to change your attitude
7.
You must
be will to accept whatever comes your way, laughing, criticism etc.
8.
You must
be a follower of Christ
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