2021.04.21 - Customs - Discipleship

Discipleship

I. Discipleship is biblical
A. Discipleship is the process God chose to mature Christians

1. Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. KJV

2. 1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.KJV

II. Protection from past mistakes A. Knowledge is power . . .

1. To not repeat mistakes
   I. Proverbs 23:12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and

   thine ears to the words of knowledge. KJV
   II. Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those

   things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus KJV

   III. Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. KJV

2. No longer vulnerable to ignorance
   I. Proverbs 22:28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which

   thy fathers have set. KJV
   II. Job 12:12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of

   days understanding. KJV

III. Accountability
A. Knowing that others are watching and you will give an answer

1. 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. KJV

B. Safety in advice from others
1. Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but

he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. KJV

Advantages of Discipleship

     

2. Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. KJV

IV. Discipline
A. Actions and decisions have consequences

1. Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked : for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. KJV

I. Discipline will be discussed more in later lessons

Integrity and Transparency

• Discipleship is about relationships. About discipline. About growing

  and allowing God to change us from the inside out. Old things

  passing away and Christ being formed inside us.

• Samson from the Old Testament was not in any sort of accountability

  relationship and without that relationship it was easier for him to fall

  into sin

• Samson engaged in immorality after a period of time and did not even

  realize that the anointing of God had left him

o It is possible for people within leadership, within the church to

function on their gifts even after the anointing of God has been removed from their lives

• ▪  A good singer may still be able to sing, but may not be anointed by God

• ▪  A good teacher may still be able to deliver amazing lectures and teach – but without the Holy Spirit’s empowerment there will likely be precious little lasting fruit

o Discipleship provides opportunities for both transparency and accountability, making it more difficult for people to operate in their giftings without the anointing

o Satan is another leader who remains very gifted and continues to “lead” while no longer operating in the anointing of God
▪ Satan, while having great gifts, was unbroken and

unyielding to God • Anointing VS Gifting

o Anointing
▪ Submits to others

▪ Operates in brokenness
▪ Is yielded to The Lord
▪ Operates in and promotes peace, less tension

o Giftings

       

▪ Focues on self or my ministry ▪ Self assertion into a situation ▪ Self promotion

• Isaiah 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart , I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. KJV

o I, I, I, I, I!!! Me, Me, Me!

Mentoring And Discipleship

1. Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. KJV

   • Without leadership and submission to leadership people will go their own way, doing “what is right in their own eyes”

   • There is an old saying “divide and conquer”
     o When we have no covering, no accountability and no one to

     speak into or over our lives, we can become “separated from the

     herd” and singled out for spiritual slaughter

2. 1 Corinthians 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
   17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. KJV

a. I teach you, you teach them, they teach others i. We have a greater anointing together

2. Do you remember who taught you to tie your shoes? Who taught you any number of basic life lesson? You may or may not remember the name of your kindergarten teacher though that person laid a foundation for you for the rest of your life. Though that foundation was important, you aren’t likely to call them up and ask them advise on who to marry, how to rid sin from your life or confess if you are struggling. That is what Paul was speaking to. Instructors are good –spiritual fathers are better.

3. Paul was also saying that he wanted others to follow him (Paul) and so he was sending Timothy for them to imitate.

 

1. Follow Paul, but following Timothy

2. Paul trusted Timothy, – God trusts us to make disciples

3. Paul on more than one occasion had something to say or set in order and instead of going himself, he sent Timothy. When you saw Timothy, you saw Paul.

   1. Christ echoed this in the following passage . . .

a. John 14:9 he that hath seen me hath seen the

Father KJV

Wisdom

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. KJV

James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace- loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. NIV

• Wisdom from above is o Pure

o Peacable
o Gentle
o Open to reason (listens AND hears) o Full of mercy
o Has good fruits
o Is not a respecter of person
o Is without hypocrisy