Disciple

What is a disciple? 

Acts 16:1-5 

"Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. [2] Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, [3] so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek. [4] Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. [5] So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day."

Disciples are the soldiers of Christ’s Kingdom. 

Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)"Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. [19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. [20] Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

• Attributes of a Disciple-

• Recognized Lordship- “I have been given all authority...” A disciple is not a visitor, casual bystander, or someone who “knows a lot.” 
• A disciple is someone who has surrendered their life at the Cross, in the waters of Baptism, and to the full deliverance of Christ from all demonic strongholds.
• What have you not let go of to be a true Disciple of Christ? 
• Until you submit to a leader you will not be able to move forward into real discipleship.
• Soldiers have to give up things to gain what they are after. 
• Some of you are “under” someone but have never submitted to them because of pride, stubbornness, or bitterness. (I’ve been hurt before so I’m never gonna submit to anyone again).
• A disciple is formed, not found. 
• Go and MAKE disciples...a disciple is someone who has been made and not someone who has just appeared in the right format.
• Everyone has things to learn in the Kingdom of God. 
• What have you refused to learn?
• What are continually learning over and over again because you refuse to change?
• A disciple has been taught, not caught- “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands...” 
• A disciple is someone who learns the commands and sticks with orders. 
• Teach what? 
• The bible! 
• Not my own thoughts.
• A disciple is NOT someone who cuts corners and waits on authority to catch them in order to be put back on track.
• Backed by Heaven- a soldier is backed by an army. 
• When you are a disciple then you have backup from heaven. 
• You’re not alone!
• Back up comes through submission to leaders, submission to others, and submission to the mission.

Matthew 26:53 (NLT)"Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?"

• Lessons of a Disciple
• It’s all about others- Jesus told Peter and crew right up front that their whole goal was to become fishers of men. 
• Being a disciple is not about you but about how you can be formed into a person that “goes and forms disciples.” 

Matthew 4:19-20 (NLT)

"Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" [20] And they left their nets at once and followed Him."

1. It takes great sacrifice- Jesus demanded that His disciples give up everything for His sake. 

2. He promised them persecution by family, by courts, and even death at the hand of those who thought they were doing God a service. 

Matthew 19:29-30 (NLT)

"And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. [30] But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then."

3. It takes humility- if your looking to be the greatest or get a promotion then discipleship is not about you. 

• God wants to use you to do the impossible but refuses to use you because your being impossible. 
• How can you lead well when you have never followed well? 
• Yet you still have all of the answers.
• Ananias was used mightily by the Lord in his simple obedience to make a house call on a maniac! 
• A killer named Saul.

Acts 9:10 (NLT)

"Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord!" he replied."

4. It takes persistence- could Judas have come back from what he did? 

• You better believe it! 
• Peter came back after all that he did.
• Anyone can become the person the Lord has foreseen them to be if they will simply just KEEP GOING! 

Matthew 26:75 (NLT)

"Suddenly, Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me." And he went away, weeping bitterly."

• Peter changes.

Matthew 27:1-5 (NLT)

"Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death. [2] Then they bound him, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor. [3] When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. [4] "I have sinned," he declared, "for I have betrayed an innocent man." "What do we care?" they retorted. "That's your problem." [5] Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself."

• Judas refuses to change. 
• A refusal to change will destroy you.

5. It takes passion- Lord, if that is you then call to me and I will come. 

• Peter didn’t just want to be apart of Jesus’ staff.
• He wanted to be and DO anything that Jesus would allow. 

Matthew 14:28-29 (NLT)

"Then Peter called to him, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water." [29] "Yes, come," Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus."

6. It takes willingness to change.

Acts 16:1-5 (NLT)

Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. [2] Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, [3] so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek. [4] Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. [5] So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day."

• Timothy was willing to be circumcised in order to travel with Paul. 
• What simple order is keeping you from being the protégé God’s called you to be? 
• Many are complaining that they have no Paul but they have not yet committed as Timothy!
• God let us be willing to grow, learn, be disciplined into the soul winners you have called us to be.