To Make a Deposit!
Discipleship is: taking what Jesus Christ taught us and depositing it into the lives of other believers.
How rare it is to find a man or woman whose heart is completely given over to God.
“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”2 Chronicles 16:9
Basics of Discipleship?
Isn’t it interesting that Jesus Christ never said to make disciples by taking them to church—or to a Bible study group, for that matter.
Not that these activities aren’t an integral part of a disciple’s growth, but the Lord has something much more Personal in mind.
” And ENTRUST what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to TEACH others as well”.
[The] word entrust, (above in 2 Timothy 2:2) was a first-century banking term that literally meant “to make a deposit.”
Paul is saying in our text, “You have learned things from me, Timothy; now I want you to take that truth and personally deposit it into the lives of other disciples.”
*When you teach a child something about Christ, you are making a deposit into his heart;
*when you share Scripture or prayer with another believer, you are making a life-on-life deposit that Christ would define as true discipleship.
Discipleship is: taking what Jesus Christ taught us and depositing it into the lives of other believers.
Three components that define true discipleship.
The first is TOUCH.
*You can’t disciple at a distance. The only way iron can sharpen iron is through “Personal Connection”.
This is the touch that invests when others withdraw; it perseveres when others disappear.
Second, you must make the commitment of TIME.
*You won’t be able to reproduce your life and passion for Christ in a day. You didn’t grow overnight—we humans aren’t like Jack’s beanstalk! We’re more like apple trees that need a lot of time to grow before fruit begins to appear.
The third component is TRUTH:
The Truth of God’s Word. This keeps the discipleship process on track, rather than one opinion contradicting another. Without TRUTH, discipleship of any kind—coaching a team, tutoring a student, teaching an instrument—will not have permanence.
The center of spiritual discipleship is the TRUTH of Scripture.
The goal is more than information… it’s
Transformation:
*To make more disciples. The better we are at being disciples, the better we will be at making them. We make a stronger impression by what we DO than by what we say.
Let us recollect the great and dreadful day of account, and not be afraid to show men that we love Christ, and want them to know and love Him also.
Let these encouragements be treasured up in the hearts of all who labor in Christ’s cause, whatever their position may be.
*The Lord knows their trials, and has spoken these things for their comfort. *He cares for all His believing people, but for none so much as those who work for His cause, and try to DO good. May we seek to be of that number.
Every believer may do something if he tries. There is always something for every one to do. May we each have an eye to see it, and a will to do it.
See Matthew 10:23-24
To love God means continually choosing to obey His Word rather than our own thoughts, desires, and emotions.
“For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching is light; and reproofs for discipline are the way of life…”
Proverbs 6:23
* The real win in ministry is discipling people who will in turn disciple others. That is the big deal.
I need to keep reminding myself that its not about a crowd, or great music,or Numbers,
*IT IS ALL about making disciples who can make disciples. If this can happen, then the church body will rise and become the glorious bride that Jesus intended it to be. Make disciples!
Jesus Said: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, TEACHING them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19,20
Lord Jesus I pray that you would give us the grace to make disciples. Help us in our personal life of ministry to make disciples, who can make more disciples. Lord keep giving us all more: Humility. “Humility comes before honor” (Pr 15:33 NIV),
More Wisdom, So Instead of praying only for the advancement of our own political agenda, help us ask You God to give us sound judgment and make wise decisions.
And Lord More Courage. David said: “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart” (Ps 27:14). Lord In the face of global terrorism, war, financial upheaval and a climate of fear, I pray that You God will give US and our leaders the strength of character to do what’s right, instead of what’s popular.
Lord, help me to be who You’re making me to be, not what other’s want me to be. I trust in You and look forward to what You’ll do in our life next!
“I LOVE YOU LORD. AMEN!”