Hope Builders Ministry @ HimAfrica
By Brother Jeff Hawkins
Definition of a Disciple : one who professes to have learned certain principles from another and maintains them on that persons authority.
Prerequisites to becoming a Disciple of Jesus Christ
1A. Be born again (You have to believe first!)
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Truly, truly, I say to you, except a person be born again, he can not enter into the Kingdom of God.
John 3:16 For God so loved the whole world that HE gave His only Son (to die for your sins), so that anyone who believes in HIM (Jesus Christ the Son of God), would not perish (in the Lake of Fire) but have eternal life. VS 36 The person who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life,; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Acts 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Titus 3:5 God saves us, not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration ( being born again ), and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
2A. Identify publicly with a local Bible focused Church by being Baptized in water
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore, and make disciples all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:41 So those who accepted ( believed ) his message ( the Gospel of Jesus Christ ) were baptized, and that day about 3000 people were added to them ( the Church ).
Acts 9:26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe he was a disciple.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
3A. Be taught the teachings of Jesus and follow their example of obeying the teachings of Christ.
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe ( obey, do ) all that I have commanded you.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul said, Follow me, as I follow Christ.
Attributes of a Disciple
1A. Imitate Christ
Ephesians 5:1 Therefore, you be followers (imitators) of God, as dear children;
Matthew 10:24-25 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple to be like his master, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Acts 11:26 And the disciples were called Christians (little Christs) first in Antioch.
2A. Doers of the Word
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, If you continue in my word, then you are really my disciples.
3A. Make other Disciples
John 15:8 This is how my Father glorified, by you bearing much fruit; THEN you will be my disciples.
Matthew 28:19 In your going therefore make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and knowthis, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Acts 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many (Lit. Made many disciples), they returned again to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch,
4A. Total Commitment
Luke 14:26-27 If anybody comes to me, and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, and yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross (of suffering), and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33 And so, any of you that does not forsake (abandon) all that he has, cannot be my disciple.
Romans 12:1 Therefore I beg you Brothers and Sisters, by the mercies of God, to you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, unto God. This is your reasonable sacrifice. And do not be like everyone else in the world, but transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.
Definition of a Disciple of Christ
A disciple of Jesus Christ is any person who believes HE is God in the Flesh who died for all sins and rose from the dead, who having believed in Him obeys His Word, imitating Him in word and deed by the power of the Holy Spirit, having abandoned everything else so as to be totally dependent upon the grace of God in his life and is discipling others to do the same.
ARE you just a believer OR are you a REAL disciple of Jesus Christ?
Just get me to heaven
Just get me baptized
Just let me join the church
Just let my life be better
OR
WILL YOU forsake everything, including yourselfe for Jesus, and build Christs life into other believers by being a disciple maker?
Be a true disciple of Jesus.
Disciples are to be trained for ministry, because all Believers are
- Created for ministry Eph. 2:102.
- Saved for ministry 2 Tim. 1:9
- Called into ministry 1 Peter 2:9-10
- Gifted for ministry 1 Peter 4:10
- Authorized for ministry Matt. 28:18-20
- Commanded for ministry Matt. 20:26-28
- To Be Prepared for ministry Eph. 4:11-12
- Needed for ministry 1 Cor. 12:27
- Accountable for ministry Colossians 3:23-24
- Rewarded for ministry 1 Corinthians 3:8
THE CHARGE:
BE DISCIPLES AND MAKE DISCIPLES!