Call to Discipleship, Part 2
Central Thought: The disciple of Christ is to bear much fruit.
Text: Ephesians 1:17-21; Philippians 3:7-10
A disciple of Christ needs the baptism of the Holy Spirit to survive in his walk with God. The Holy Spirit gives the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ to see that the believer’s eyes of understanding is enlightened to know what the future has in store for him, having answered the call to discipleship. The Holy Spirit also reveals to the disciple the greatness of the power of God that is backing him in all present and future assignments. The disciple begins to discover that he is holy and blameless not because of what he has done but because of who he is in Christ. The disciple submits himself to be transformed by the Holy Spirit to conform with the death of Christ and be led to experience His resurrection life. His new life begins to produce visible changes as Christ is formed in him, having been raised up and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 2:6
This position of righteousness, sanctification and redemption for a disciple is the truth which cannot be changed as long as he remains in Christ.
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How should a disciple seek to know Christ and why? Ephesians 1:17
The disciple seeking to know Christ can be likened to one who enrolls in a school he never graduates from, because Christ is so great and sovereign that we can never finish learning about Him. One can only know Christ up to the extent the individual yields himself to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. The following are some of the ways to seek to know Christ:
Through Prayer and Fasting, Mark 6:46:
It is at the place of prayer that a believer gets to know the mind of Christ or issues and by faith appropriate in his own life, what has already been established in Christ. Every disciple should pray daily for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. This gives our spiritual eye understanding, as we receive grace to know the hope in answering the call of God and our inheritance in Christ.
Knowing God’s Word, Joshua 1:8; Proverbs 4:20-22; 2 Timothy 2:15:
The disciple should seek to know Christ through the written Word of God to be able to live a victorious and fulfilled life in Christ Jesus.
Absolute Faith in God, Hebrews 11:1-3:
Christ is known by faith since He is not physically with us but lives in us by His Spirit. Faith is the language of the followers of Christ because faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. By faith a good report can be obtained.
Through Evangelism, Mark 16:15-18:
Evangelism is the practical section of the school of discipleship. Christ as commanded every believer to go and make disciples for Him and when we obey in His Name, signs and wonders will show up as proof of His presence and power. Evangelism opens one up to the dynamics of God’s power, v. 17-18. If we as disciples must experience God’s power and see the power of the enemy overthrown, we must preach Christ and Him crucified. Nothing but the cross must be preached because there lies the believers’ victory.
The above listed ways of knowing Christ are in no way exhaustive.
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Why should a disciple understand the power of Christ’s resurrection?
Personal Transformation:
It is in the knowledge of the power that raised Jesus from the grave that a disciple can be conformed to Christ’s death. Apostle Paul puts it this way in the Amplified version, “[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope].”, Philippians 3:10 AMP
Knowing your Position, Ephesians 1:20-21, 2:6:
A disciple should know the level from where he is operating and with whom he is seated. As disciples, God has connected us with Christ and raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus; this is far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
Personal Experience:
Yieldedness is proven through personal experience in the journey of faith. God will not showcase His power in an unbroken vessel. The self-life in a believer has to give way for the might power of God to be revealed through him. God will lead a disciple through different life situations that will progressively make him no longer live by himself. Jonah was cast to the bottom of the se but was brought out by God’s might hand. Joseph was cast into the pit and later into prison but came out victorious. Apostle Peter, Paul and others went through a lot for the sake of the gospel but through it all, were more than conquerors.
The Way to Glory, 2 Corinthians 4:10-12:
The way to resurrected life is ‘death’. The disciple must cooperate with Christ and endure persecutions, for therein he identifies with Christ in His sufferings and also proves His power. The disciple must be ready to fall like a corn of wheat into the ground daily in order to bear much fruit for the kingdom of God, John 12:24.
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Where is the harvest field of God and how can a disciple apply himself?
The Earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. The world is God’s harvest field. Jesus addressing His disciples, said, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest”, Matthew 9:37-38.
A true disciple cannot see the vast area yet to be reached with the gospel of salvation and remain unperturbed. The disciple has been called to rescue the perishing and care for the dying wherever he or she goes. It could be at work places, like schools, banks, markets, hospitals; to families, Muslims, communities, etc. There are three main areas one can be involved in the Lord’s harvest field; as illustrated below:
Through your Profession:
According to Acts 2:1-4, God has given the Holy Spirit to every believer; this is received by faith. He distributes gifts to every believer according to His own will. A disciple can apply himself to the Father’s business by starting from the area of his talents and gifting. Learn to target the essence of salvation through your profession. As a teacher, your primary assignment should be making time out to evangelize and counsel the should that are under your influence after teaching the basic subject. A Christian doctor should see his medical profession as a tool given to him by God to bring about total healing to the body, soul and spirit of his patients. A disciple should find a way of witnessing through any profession he finds himself.
Intercessory Prayers:
Intercessory prayer is one area that a disciple can reach out and touch various people and places. Your prayers can reach places where you possibly may not reach. A prayer of faith is potent enough to cut chains off those in captivity and even open prison doors as recorded in Acts 12:5-7, “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. . . Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.”
Through Giving:
Taking the Gospel to the unreached people no doubt cost money. One can be a part of God’s work force by being among the “Paying Army”. Money, clothes, food items, medical items/services, education, vehicles and a lot more things can be given for the furtherance of this work of the ministry.
Daily Living Application:
The call to discipleship is a call to rest on Jesus Christ, be focused and attentive to every command or instructions from God. A disciple is called to be about his Master’s business, there is no time to sit aloof doing nothing. There is need for the disciple to have a full knowledge of whose he is and who he is so as not to be mesmerized and rendered impotent by Satan. A disciple should know that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night, 1 Thessalonians 5:2. He should remember to study the word of God daily, and pray regularly as well as depend on and be yielded to the Holy Spirit for direction.
Memory Verse:
John 9:4 – “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.”