006 – Virtual Study, Molding Stones – Disciples

Molding Stones, Part 1

Disciples

 

Welcome to Virtual Study With .US. This is session six of a series on some of the basics of congregational living. We live in an age in which I believe we are seeing the Kingdom of God overtaking the church age. The Body of Christ needs to come out of Laodicea and into living the life of love as taught in the Book of Ephesians.

 

 

Previous Sessions

  • Session One – The Timeline of Anoka Awakening
  • Session Two – Christ Jesus, The Cornerstone
  • Session Three – Apostles and Prophets, The Foundation
  • Session Four – Believers, The Living Stones
  • Session Five – Stones Becoming Walls

 

 

In order to fulfill the commission to make disciples of all nations, we must know what disciples are and what they do as disciples. This session, though not an exhaustive study on the subject, will give us a good idea of what is to be a disciple and what being a disciple requires one to do.

 

What is it to be a disciple?

  • John 10:27
  • Do I hear His voice?
  • Am I walking in obedience?

The religious are disciples of Moses

  • John 9:28
  • Moses: the Law

 

How do we measure up?

Disciples of Jesus …

1) Relationship, Intimacy

  • Are intimate with Jesus (most important item on the list)
    • Matthew 12:49; John 13:25
  • Spend time with Jesus
    • Matthew 5:1, 9:10
  • Pray with Jesus
    • Matthew 9:37-38, 26:41; Luke 11:1
  • Stand close to Jesus
    • Matthew 17:1-8, 20:17, 26:46
  • Know the peace of Jesus
    • John 20:19
  • Understand Jesus
    • Matthew 13:16-17, 17:13; Mark 4:34; John 20:8, 21:24
  • Desire more and more of Jesus
    • John 21:7
  • Gain, and walk in, the authority of Jesus
    • Matthew 10:1

2) Behavior, Obedience

  • Serve Jesus
    • John 19:38
  • Follow the instructions of Jesus
    • Matthew 21:2, 26:17-19; John 19:26-27
  • Go where they are sent by Jesus
    • Matthew 14:22, 21:1, 28:16; Acts 9:10-18
  • Seek to do what Jesus did
    • John 4:1-2, 13:14-15, 14:12
  • Recall and meditate upon the word of God
    • John 2:17, 2:22, 8:31, 12:16; 2 Peter 3:2
  • Accept correction from Jesus
    • Matthew 16:23, 26:6-13

3) Others

  • Love one another
    • Matthew 14:12; John 13:35, 15:12; Acts 11:29
  • Live sacrificially for others
    • Matthew 16:24; Luke 14:27; Romans 12:1-2
  • Encourage one another
    • Acts 11:26, 14:22, 18:23, 18:27
  • Spend time with one another
    • Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 14:28
  • Do not create stumbling blocks
    • Romans 14:18-23
  • Make disciples
    • Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 6:13, 14:21, 16:1-3

4) Views

  • Are in awe of Jesus
    • John 6:68-69
  • Are astonished by Jesus
    • Matthew 19:25, 22:33; Mark 10:24; Luke 9:43; John 4:27
  • Put spiritual above physical, unseen above seen
    • Matthew 9:14-17
  • Understand eternal rewards from Jesus
    • Matthew 10:40 – 11:1; Revelation letters to the 7 churches for the ones who overcome or conquer
  • Keep the end goal in sight
    • 1 Corinthians 9:26; Philippians 1:6; Revelation 3:11

5) Act on Beliefs

  • Come to Jesus
    • John 1:35-37, 1:42
  • Worship Jesus
    • Matthew 14:33, 28:9; Acts 2:47
  • Follow Jesus
    • Matthew 8:23, 9:19; Mark 6:1; John 18:15
  • Leave everything behind for Jesus
    • Matthew 8:21-22; Luke 14:26, 14:33
  • Rejoice in the Lord
    • Luke 19:37-38; Acts 2:47
  • Do not deny Jesus, even unto death
    • Matthew 26:33; John 11:16; Acts 7:54-60
  • Act like Jesus
    • 1 Corinthians 11:1
  • Choose Jesus over religion and tradition; spiritual practices, not religion
    • Matthew 15:2-3
  • Practice deeds of kindness
    • Acts 9:36
  • Testify to the things of God
    • Matthew 16:16
  • Practice hospitality
    • Acts 2:46, 21:16
  • Heed the warnings of Jesus
    • Luke 20:45-47
  • Praise God Joyfully
    • Luke 19:37-38; Acts 13:52
  • Watch for their Lord
    • Matthew 24:42-44
  • Become like Jesus
    • Matthew 10:24-25; Luke 6:40

6) Questions

  • Accept questions from Jesus
    • Matthew 16:14; Mark 8:27
  • Ask questions of Jesus
    • Matthew 13:10, 13:36, 15:12, 17:10, 17:19, 18:33; Mark 5:31, 18:1; John 9:2

 

Disciples’ Priorities

  1. Intimacy in Relationship with Jesus
  2. Behavior of Obedience in Love
  3. Loving One Another
  4. Developing Godly Views and Beliefs
  5. Acting Appropriately on Beliefs
  6. Gaining more Knowledge and Understanding

All ongoing and intermingled

  • Practice the presence of God at all times
  • Visualize the truth and reality of God’s word and promises in daily life
  • Develop a constant attitude of thanksgiving

 

“Cannot be My disciple”

  • Luke 14:26-33
    • Verses 26, 27, 33
  • The cost of discipleship

 

Is every believer a disciple?

Is every disciple an overcomer?

  • Can all?
  • Are all capable?
  • Are all called?

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” -Matthew 22:14

  • Many: not all?
  • Called: invited or appointed
  • Few: smaller number
  • Chosen: accept and comply

 

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” -Romans 10:13

  • All, it seems, in the end are invited

 

“Jews first, then the Gentiles” -Romans 1:16

  • Jews first: Jesus in Matthew
  • Then the Gentiles: Paul in Romans

 

Faith and Action

A progression through our sanctification?

  • Sanctification: God working out actual righteousness in our lives

 

  • Hearer of the Word
    • Faith produced
  • Believer in Christ
    • Accepted truth
  • Surrender to Christ
    • Step of faith
    • Profession of faith
  • Follower of Christ
    • Gain knowledge
    • Gain understanding
  • Disciple of Christ
    • Sacrificial commitment
  • Overcomer with Christ
    • Faith and faithfulness
    • Unwavering dedication

 

“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection!” -Revelation 20:6

  • Priests of God and of Christ
  • Reign with Him

 

  • First Resurrection
    • Overcomers with Christ
  • Second Resurrection
    • Others
    • After a thousand years

 

Disciples Occupy

  • The parable of the ten minas -Luke 19:11-27
    • “Engage in business until I come.” -vs. 13
      • Disciples are to be about Kingdom business until Christ returns
        • Changing the atmosphere
          • Let there be light (order in chaos) -Genesis 1:3
        • Taking and holding the land -Joshua 1:3

 

  • Ekklesia: an assembly; a congregation
    • Roman times – a governmental group
    • Disciples: God’s governmental group?
      • The function of the Ekklesia
      • Spiritual: warfare?
      • Physical: impacting society?

 

  • Preach the Word and teach -1 Timothy 4:1-8
    • Be an overcomer

 

  • Doing what is right and being ready for the return of the Lord -Matthew 24:43-51
    • Blessed is the faithful servant -vss. 45-47
    • Blessed is the one who stays awake -Revelation 16:15
    • Building upon the foundation -1 Corinthians 3:10
    • Lives of holiness and godliness -2 Peter 3
      • Holiness: living stones
      • Waiting for and hastening the day of God -vs. 12
    • Proclaim the gospel to the whole creation -Mark 16:15
      • The creation: waiting, longing, groaning -Romans 8:19-23

 

  • Living a proper Christian life -Romans 12
    • Be a living sacrifice -vss. 1-2
    • Using the gifts of grace -vss. 3-8
      • “Given to us, let us use them” -vs. 6
    • Marks of true believers -vss. 9-21
      • “Overcome evil with good” -vs. 21
        • OVERCOME
      • “Love one another” -vs. 10
        • LOVE
      • Learn to ask God about everything
      • Seek wisdom

 

  • Hang onto what we have worked for -2 John 8-9
    • Abide in Christ

 

  • There is no retirement
    • There is no end, or, “I’ve done my part”
      • There are no bleachers from which to watch
    • OVERCOME!

 

Rome > Using Ekklesia

  • Having a Kingdom mindset
  • Influence upon the culture
    • Today:
      • Mockingbird media
      • Liberal education system
      • Political correctness
      • Deception

 

  • Taking the message into the city
    • The light into the darkness

 

  • The Ekklesia was governmental
    • Not a religious institution
    • Developed by the Greeks, used by the Romans
    • Was in every city
    • A ruling assembly with authority
    • Activate and enforce customs and laws
      • Duplicate Rome in appearance and behavior

 

  • Do we express our beliefs and stand firm?
  • Do we have any impact on society?

 

Christ > using Ekklesia

  • “I will build My Ekklesia” -Matthew 16:18
    • My (Jesus Christ), as opposed to Rome’s
    • Given the keys (authority) of the Kingdom of Heaven -vs. 19
      • Given to disciples

 

  • On earth as in heaven
    • Do we believe our own prayers?
    • The Kingdom of God, lived out on earth
    • Influencing the city and the culture
    • Spiritual rule with Christ
    • Taking the light of the gospel of the Kingdom into the darkness
  • The Ekklesia has the keys and is commissioned to use them

 

Disciples are to be Conformed to Christ

  • Conformed to resemble and represent -Romans 8:29
    • To do so in the Ekklesia
    • The many brethren to the First Born

 

  • How much do we resemble Christ?
    • Thought, action, appearance to others

 

  • How well do we represent Christ?
    • Behavior in word and deed
    • As a disciple
      • In function: holiness
      • In attitude: beliefs
      • In presenting Christ to others
    • Just talking the talk, or walking the walk?

 

  • How do I become more like Christ?

 

Let There be Light (order in chaos) -Genesis 1:3

  • Bringing the order of the Kingdom of God to the chaos of the world systems and ways
    • Light into the darkness
    • Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven -Matthew 6:10
    • Hastening the day -2 Peter 3:12
    • Making His enemies a footstool for His feet -Hebrews 10:13
  • The function of the Ekklesia

 

  • Occupation is not a passive occurrence, it is an activity
    • Activity: state of being active

 

To Occupy and to Work for the Kingdom

  • Hebrews 11:6
    • We must walk in belief and faith
    • Without faith it is impossible to please God

 

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12
    • Being fruitful
      • Christ is glorified in the saints
      • The name of the Lord Jesus is glorified in us

 

  • Hebrew word, “shama”, equals “to hear” and “to obey”
    • If one does not hear, how can one obey?
    • If one does not obey, was there really hearing?

 

  • Hebrews 11:6 plus 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12 equals Christ Glorified
  • Obedience plus Belief and Faith equals Christ Glorified

 

  • Obedience > to obey > James 2:17 – works
  • Belief and faith > to hear > Romans 10:17 > faith

 

  • We are to be fruitful in the Kingdom
    • Abide in Christ – John 15:5
    • God produces the fruit – Ephesians 2:10; John 6:44
      • Our job is to walk in obedience in love

 

  • Jesus Christ > Glorified
    • Disciples > Multiplies
      • Making Disciples – Becoming Disciples
        • Glorifying Jesus Christ

 

“I am with you.”

  • Haggai 1:13, 2:4
    • Rebuilding the temple
  • Exodus 3:12
    • Delivering the people
  • Jeremiah 1:8
    • Called to be a prophet
  • Matthew 28:20
    • Jesus to His disciples
  • Word for us 05/25/19
    • “The Lord will direct”

 

  • Believers
    • We rely on God in all and for all things
    • Apart from God we can do nothing -John 15:5

 

  • Disciples
    • We are God’s possession and He is refining us -Malachi 3:3
  • Overcomers
    • We are His treasured possession, as His sons (who serve Him) -Malachi 3:17
  • Romans 12:1
    • A living sacrifice
    • Pleasing to God
    • Spiritual worship

 

  • Believers rely upon God for all things
  • Disciples give all things to and for God

 

  • Overcomers – preparing for 1,000-year reign

 

  • Almighty God is the possessor of all

 

Anoka Awakening = Ekklesia?

 

 

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