Sunday, September 6, 2015

Are You His Disciple? Go!

Jesus came and told His disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 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." Matthew 28:18-20 NLT
 
So who is a disciple? Someone who follows—in this case, follows Jesus. A pupil or learner who imitates his leader—imitates Jesus. Here are some examples that Jesus used for those who cannot be His disciples. Find these scriptures in your Bible and read them in the context in which they were written.
·         If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:26
·         Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:27
·         So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. Luke 14:33
Jesus was very specific in His instructions to His disciples before He ascended into Heaven.
·         Make disciples in all nations.
·         Baptize these new disciples in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
·         Teach the new disciples to be obedient in following Jesus commandments.
·         Remember that He is with us always.
Jesus went to Heaven so that the Heavenly Father could send the Holy Spirit—the Comforter or Helper. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26. He is with us always. Always is a long time—even to the end of the age. That may be sooner rather than later. No one, except the Heavenly Father, knows just when the “age will end” or when Jesus will return. Jesus told Peter, James, John and Andrew…But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Mark 13:32. We don’t know…people can guess, but they don’t really know. What we do know is that Jesus told His disciples to go out into the world, tell others about Him, making them His disciples, too. They are to be baptized and taught what Jesus said to do—His commands. That may seem simple—but it is only with the help of the Holy Spirit that we can even do that. So are you His disciple? Are you telling others about Jesus, making them His disciples?
 
Prayer ~ Holy Spirit, please continue to remind us of Jesus’ commands and of His presence with us always. Guide us in all we do and say that we would make disciples of others for Jesus—teaching them about our Lord and Savior, the Messiah; about You—our Helper and Comforter; and about our Heavenly Father. Praise be to God.
 
© 2015 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

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