WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A DISCIPLE

“I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with my tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews.”
Acts 20:19 (NLT)

• Paul relegated self to do God’s work. He did the work humbly.

• He did not shrink from telling them, the Ephesians, the truth.
  “I never shrank back from telling you what you need to hear, either publicly or in your homes.”
  Acts 20:20 (NLT)
• Working for God may entail difficulties, it may be hard; there may be challenges, but one has to endure trials (2 Timothy 2:3).
• Jesus was unequivocal, clear, about what it takes to be His disciple. He did not mince words; He was down-to-earth about it (Luke 14:25-33).

1. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
2. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
3. “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost…
4. “… whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”
   Luke 14:26-28,33 (NKJV)

• Jesus did not want whoever making the decision of following Him, becoming His disciple, do it impulsively. He wanted the person to know what it takes to be a disciple, be convinced about it, and made up his mind about it.
• Being a disciple, learning of Christ and working for Him, is a decision one has to deliberately make.
• Paul said he did the work with many tears, and He endured trials (Acts 20:19; 1 Corinthians 4:11-13; 2 Corinthians 4:8-12; 11:23-28; 2 Timothy 3:10-12).

• If you are a Christian, Jesus’ disciple, you have a responsibility to tell others about Christ. And much more if you are called fully to do the work of ministry, you have to do it without looking back.

• If there is any benefit in being born again, then you have to tell others.
• You are saved to serve, God called you to call others.
• God saved you to be an instrument of salvation for others. Nobody’s blood should be on you for not declaring the gospel to them (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).

1. “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent [clean] of the blood of all men.
2. “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”Acts 20:26,27 (NKJV)

• The whole counsel of God

• The whole counsel of God is about telling others the truth—the Word of God.
• It is the truth of the Word of God that sets free (John 8:32).
• Every leader should endeavor to teach the truth, the undiluted Word of God, to those under his or her leadership. A leader should not shy away from sharing the Word, the truth (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 4:15,16; 2 Timothy 4:2-4).

1. “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and teaching.
2. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers.
3. and THEY WILL TURN THEIR EARS AWAY FROM THE TRUTH and be turned aside to fables.”
   2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NKJV)

• Everybody is a leader in his or her own right. The people you have influence over directly or indirectly are the ones under your leadership.

• Use you influence positively. Use your position in the family [both in your nuclear and extended family], place of work, school 🏫, and the neighborhood where you live; to influence people for God positively.
• Teach the Word of God through your conduct.
• God will hold you responsible for the people you have opportunities to influence for Him, but you failed to.
• Use your life and all you have to expand God’s kingdom on earth.
• There is a reward in working for the expansion of God’s kingdom on earth 🌎 (Luke 12:31).
• Nothing you achieve on earth matters to God as what you do for His kingdom (Mark 8:36).
• Let your stand for Christ be known wherever you found yourself.

• Paul said, his life worth nothing if he uses it not for Jesus Christ.
“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”
Acts 20:24 (NLT)

• What are you doing for Jesus Christ? He gave His life for you, died, and resurrected that you may be justified—what will you do for Him?
• You reciprocate Jesus’ gesture by surrendering your life to Him and working to bring other people to embrace the salvation God has made available in Christ Jesus.

• True Disciples

• A true disciple of Christ bears testimony of Him—witnesses for Him (Acts 1:8; 4:20; Mark 16:15-18).
• A disciple lives according to the dictates of the Bible—the Word of God (James 1:21,22).
• He prays consistently (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
• Such does not give up in his or her faith, does not consider the negative, and he or she keep progressing in spiritual principles (Romans 4:18-22).
• A true disciple builds a strong fellowship with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-20; 6:18; Jude 20).

• Love of many is waxing cold, and evil is increasing in the world, nonetheless you can take your stand for God.

• The issue of pandemic shows the whole world that man has no solution to every problem.
• Can God count on you? Can He rely on you?

• Note: working for God in ministry, standing to live as a true disciple, may attract persecution but it worth it (2 Timothy 3:12).

1. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
2. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
3. while we do not look at the things which area seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
   2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NKJV)

• God’s investment in you shall not be a waste in Jesus’ name.
PEACE!