ARTICLE: Discipleship Of Ones Self

[NSMinistries]

By R. Adam Quigley

How does discipleship become a way of life in today’s world? Can God actually expect me to live a perfect life like Jesus did? Shouldn’t giving my life to Jesus be enough of a sacrifice? We learn fast after becoming a Christian that just inviting God into our lives isn’t the last step to living a Christian life. It doesn’t just happen over night. Becoming a follower is a life time pursuit. There can be many roads traveled before seeing the light but only one road can keep you on the path with God.



Luke 14:27
And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Christ never promised a easy go, happy day, party type life. Christ was ridiculed; beaten and even abandoned bringing the salvation God’s love gave us. His heart was put to the test and no matter the trials it prevailed. Christ’s obedience to God and His words were his only defense and comfort. If that was to show us it could be done then maybe our lives can share that experience.

Deut 6:5-6
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.

God’s love and Christ sacrifice on the cross proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that we can make it in any circumstance. It is one thing to go on and live life much as it was before we accepted Christ but it is not choosing a life that was set a side for us that keeps us from becoming what we can be.

1 John 2:4-6
The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Luke 6:46

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

Our lives are not our own. Let that sentence set in for a minute. Once we give up our life we can become truly free to do what our life on this earth was meant to do. That determination and drive is to follow the Lord and his commandments.


Luke 9:23-24

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

You mean this isn’t a Sunday thing only? Being a Christian isn’t a one day a week thing. It starts every morning when the world has been made fresh with the glory of the Lord setting a new day upon our path. Starting the day with the Lord is as liberating and strengthening as eating a good breakfast and starting our physical day off right. What better way to start off the day with your bowl of wheaties and coffee than having time to be with God and His word. The Bible has the answers to all questions when they need answers; it has laughter, tears and guidance when we need it. It has the vary words spoken to bring life that surrounds us. In the Beginning… For Go so loved the world…

Ps 1:2-3
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

Ps 119:130
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.

Feeding the stomach is just like feeding the heart. What we put in it is what comes out of it. Good stuff in and we are rewarded with health and good life styles. On the opposite side of that coin you can see the destruction of our very lives. Bad food and thoughts can slow us down and bring on the worries of bad health and stress.

Mark 7:20-22

He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' 21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.

We have to watch what we eat so we have to also watch what we put in our hearts and minds. Doing what is right and following God’s commands can ease our racing hearts of things such as Sin and foolishness.

James 4:7

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Prov 3:5-8

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.

How do I live like this? Can it really be all that I have hopes and dreams for? Well first think of how you asked Christ into your heart. The key here was you asked. It just didn’t happen. You never made that a goal to achieve. It was a choice and you had to come by it by asking. If you want it ask for it. He is waiting there beckoning for you to ask how he can bless you and love you.

Ps 25:4-5

Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

God yearns for us to be with Him. Through out His word he calls for us to depend on Him, learn from Him, and be loved by him. Think of the guidance He can give us. A direction through out our lives leading us through the battlefields of our days.

Matt 11:28-30

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Ps 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.

Ps 37:4-5
Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

Just let Him know what it is you may need. He is the God of all things. If we are in need He is there to care for us and give us what we need. Our lives do not need to be battered and aimless for He is there to guide us and bring us through.


Phil 4:5-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Ps 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Following Jesus may never be easy but knowing we can do what God wants brings to mind the love He has for us. Personal discipleship grows the faith to overcome any adversity. Faith to move mountains, faith to know we are in His hands. Once you understand and obey these patterns of life His commands seem less and less like rules and laws but something we would want to do to please our Lord and Savoir.

1 John 5:3-5

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Ps 106:1
Praise the LORD.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.


John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.


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[NSMinistries]

What no thoughts....




anyone?

[mrsnacks]

I can truly say i have been turned around recently by a Dallas Willard seminar on exactly what you are talking about. I have read his books and they are a hard read, but I recommend you see him or listen to him speak. What a world of a difference. He has such a gentleness and concern and it shows. A man with his credentials , I didn't expect he would be as humble and patient as he was. He appears to walk his talk.

His whole seminar was dealing with how to be a disciple. That the christian life is unliveable if you try to live it- you will fail miserably.

Before I was a christian - the church told me all the goodies. God wants you and He loves you. He has a wonderful plan for your life. He wants to give you peace , love , and joy and etc. Then as soon as you enter in- out comes the rule book. There was plenty of grace before salvation but where did it go after that ? Now the do's and don'ts come up. You can't do this and you should do that . Don't forget to tithe. If you don't God won't bless you. You better study and get in the Word-- the devil is lurking around.

I believe was that this is not the way Christ wants us to live. It's not works righteousness. And change, I should say transformation, can only come from Christ. You have to desire this transformation. You have to be honest and ask yourself - do you want to be a disciple ? Do you want transformation to take place ? You see so much of christianity is -I have to change, or stop doing this . I need to get closer to God and etc. It won't work. It may out of God's mercy and grace , but I didn't find that it worked for me.

So I prayed differently . I took to what Dallas was teaching and applied it to my life in a few areas. I was transformed in these areas. It was amazing . I just submitted my will to Him for starters . You have to ask yourself questions and dig deeper with God's help.

It would take to long to get into specifics of the changes in my life and how it came about. The first key is dying to ourselves. We have read that scripture many times. Do we honestly and sincerely want to die. I mean we can say all kind of things - but do we mean it. You see the areas of the soul are hidden from others . We can wear a false face. We can say things that we know we don't really mean but are pleasing to others. In other words we can fool others but not God. Our soul is open to God. He sees all and understands all. The prayer- Lord help me to die to this or that doesn't really work either. It doesn't work because you don't really want to die in that area. God is not a cosmic bellhop. We treat Him taht way many times. God give me this , help me with that and etc.

An example concerning my point of change is a certain well off man has had a problem of having bursts of anger or a hot temper. He blows up at his wife and kids at home constantly. He has prayed about it and says he can't help it- "may God help me, "he says.

I come along and say to him and his family -I have got the solution.I can cure him. Here it is. Everytime this outburst of anger happens you let me know. I want the wife, kids, family members or whoever to call me. For everytime he blows up I am allowed to take $5000 out of his bank account and put it into mine. The second violation the price goes up to $6000 and the third another added $1000 and so forth. I am willing to bet - he won't have as many outbursts. He probably has great control of his temper in front of his boss. He doesn't do it at work.

You see a person to become a disciple must really want that discipleship . If he wants that change in his life-- it will happen . If they can only see that the way Christ wants us to live is the best thing for us. I call it The Kingdom of God living. I hope this helps.

[elysian]

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
John 5:6-9 (NIV)

Do we want to be made well or are we content to wallow in sin? We cannot simply "straighten up." Our best efforts will only turn us into stiff, legalistic "whitewashed tombs." We have to want to be transformed, and be willing to surrender to Jesus and let Him transform us to conform to His will. (Romans 12:1-2)

[mrsnacks]

Exactly ! So what i have found out is many brothers and sisters don't know how to let Christ transform . What would you say ?

Let's say a brother came up to you and said they struggle and have struggled with a certain sin. They have tried but kept getting caught up in that sin. How would you respond ?
The mass church would say : You got to do this or that . In other words it's on you . What would you say to that situation. I will share how I would respond afterwards.

[NSMinistries]

Exactly ! So what i have found out is many brothers and sisters don't know how to let Christ transform . What would you say ?

Let's say a brother came up to you and said they struggle and have struggled with a certain sin. They have tried but kept getting caught up in that sin. How would you respond ?
The mass church would say : You got to do this or that . In other words it's on you . What would you say to that situation. I will share how I would respond afterwards.I like to find someone for that person to talk with who has had the same problem. If not I learn about the problem and work with them that way.