Discipleship

Who is a Disciple?

A disciple is one who follows his master closely. The Gk. word used in the New Testament for the word ‘disciple’ is mathetes which means a ‘learner’, ‘a pupil.’ The word matheo in Gk. means ‘to learn’, ‘to understand.’ The fact we are Christians does not necessarily mean we are His disciples, even though we are members of His kingdom. Following Christ means, acknowledging Him as Lord, it means serving (obeying) Him as a slave.

JESUS IS LORD

"And why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say?" Lk 6:46

We have an interesting problem in Spanish with the word Lord. Lord is Senor, the same word is used for ‘Mr.’ We say Senor Smith, Senor Williams and Senor Jesus. It's as if in English you were to say, Mr. Smith, Mr. Williaims and Mr. Jesus. The result is that in Spanish and so also in a few other languages, we have lost the "Lord" concept. To call Jesus the Lord, Senor, doesn't really say anything very strongly.

The word Lord doesn't mean the same thing today as what it meant when Jesus was here 2000 years ago. Back then it meant one with the maximum authority, the first one, the one above everything else, the sovereign one. The Gk. word kurios "lord" in small letters was, how slaves addressed their masters, but if the word was in capitals, it referred to only one person in the whole Roman Empire. Caesar of Rome, was the Lord. As a matter of fact, when public employees and soldiers met in the street, they had to greet each other saying, "Caesar is Lord" and the standard response was, "Yes, the Lord is Caesar." So the Christians had a problem. When they were greeted with "Caesar is Lord”, they answered, "No, Jesus Christ is Lord." That got them into trouble and they were persecuted.

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM

The Gospel which we have in the Bible is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. It presents Jesus as King, as Lord, as the Highest Authority. Jesus is at the very centre. The Gospel of the Kingdom is a Christ-centered Gospel.

Paul says in Rm 10:9, "If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you shall be saved." He is the Lord. He is much more than a Saviour.

Jesus commanded us not to kill.
Jesus commanded us to love our neighbour.
Jesus commanded us to sell our possessions and give it to the poor.

Who has the right to decide which commandments are compulsory and which are optional? A disciple is one who keeps all the commandments. Jesus commanded, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be yours as well." But today, if some Non-Christian would see how Christians live, he would think that Jesus had said something like this: "Seek ye first what you are going to eat, what you are going to wear, which house you are going to buy, who you are going to marry and then, if any time is left, and if it's not too uncomfortable, please do something for the Kingdom of God."

If I were to ask you," Why do you work?" "Well, I work because I have to eat. If I don't work I don't eat.” "Well, why do you eat?" "So I will have strength to work." "And why do you work again?" "Well, I work again to eat again to work to be able to eat.” That’s not life. There is no purpose to it. My purpose is to extend the Kingdom of Jesus. So, inch by inch, I must recover the things that belong to God. To do that I have to eat, to eat, I have to work. But the purpose of it all is, to extend the Kingdom of my Lord. That means my values have to change. I don't work in a particular Company to earn my livelihood. I work there because God needs that spot on this earth. He needs one of His soldiers to conquer it for Him. And my boss happens to support my conquest, but my real Lord is Jesus Christ. Or else I should stop using the word ‘Lord.’ Because Jesus asks, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say?"

SERVANTS OF THE KINGDOM

"Will any one of you, who has a servant ploughing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down at table'? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink, and afterward you shall eat and drink.' Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?" Lk 17:7-9

Let us see what a servant is. Jesus was talking to people who knew the real meaning of the word slave. We don't have such persons today. The closest comparison is the servant or maid who works for wages, has a firm contract in advance, and enjoys certain privileges. But a servant in the first century was a genuine slave. A slave (Gk doulos) is one who had lost everything in this world, his liberty, freedom, his will, even his name was gone. He had been sold in the market as an animal. A price tag had been hung around his neck and people had bargained for him. Someone had eventually bought him, taken him home and bored a hole in his ear, so he could wear a ring with his master's name on it. He had thereby lost his name. He was no longer John or Peter but the slave of Mr. Paul or Mr. Dom. He was paid nothing for his work. No freedom. No choice. Nothing.

We may not like to hear it, but it is true, we are the slaves of Jesus Christ. We are bought by the Lord. Paul understood this entirely when he wrote, "None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord, so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living." Rm14:7-9

In Lk 1:38 Mary calls herself the handmaid of the Lord. The Gk. word used is doule which means female slave.

In Titus 1:1, James 1:1, II Pet 1:1, the apostles call themselves ‘servant of God.’ the Gk. word used is doulos which means slave.

We were lost, before we were found by our owner. We were heading for eternal damnation, Jesus intervened. But listen to another truth. We are still lost but in the hands of Jesus. Many people think salvation means to be made free. Made free from what? Well, "Having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness." Rm 6:18.

There are two kingdoms, in the new kingdom you cannot do whatever you like. He is King, He rules. We live according to His wants, we do whatever God says. He is the Lord of the Kingdom.

Jn 15:2-5 Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Jesus talks of 4 stages of fruit bearing.

No fruit - verse 2
Bearing fruit - verse 2
More fruit - verse 2
Much fruit - verse 5

Scriptural definition of discipleship: Disciples are called to be in the fourth stage of fruit bearing. A disciple is one who bears much fruit and glorifies the Father, Jn 15:8.

20 MARKS OF A DISCIPLE

1. WILLING TO SERVE

Jn 13:3-5 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside His garments, and girded Himself with a towel. Then He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

Jesus knew He came from God and He was going to God, He knew He was God yet, He became humble and washed the feet of His disciples. This was a job of a slave, yet, He took this work upon Himself, did menial jobs and teaches us to do the same for one another. Jesus took the attitude of a slave. Love is the motive behind humble service.

Lk 22:24-27 A dispute also arose among them, which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For which is the greater, one who sits at table, or one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you as one who serves.”

The question: Who is the greatest? The world's standard of greatness is to be served, to receive. God's standard of greatness is to serve, to give and in so doing, to humble oneself. Failure to follow God's standard, disqualifies us as a disciple.

Mk 10:43-45 But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

2. LEARNING TO LISTEN

Mt 3:16-17 And when Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on Him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Mk 1:10 And when He came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.

Jesus was presented to the crowd.

In Mt17:5, Mk 9:7 and Lk 9:35 At the transfiguration of Jesus at the mountain, where Elijah and Moses appeared to Peter, James and John, a cloud overshadowed the disciples and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son, listen to Him". The disciples were given a command from the Father to listen to Jesus and follow Him. As a disciple, you and I are called to listen to Jesus and follow Him.

3. WILLING TO LEARN

We must be willing to learn from God (knowing God's will). Jesus came on the earth to do the Father's will, to go to the cross and in so doing, restore all things to man, which man had lost.

Lk 4:5-8 And the devil took Him up, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to Him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it shall all be yours." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.' "

Mt 4:8-10 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; and he said to Him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Begone, Satan! For it is written, 'you shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.' "

Satan was offering Jesus a shortcut, to fall down and worship him and he would give all the kingdoms to Jesus. This was a temptation, Jesus did not give in to the enemy, instead, He defeated the enemy using God's word.

Mt 16:21-23 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to You." But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a hindrance to Me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men."

Jesus told His disciples of going to Jerusalem to suffer and die on the cross and rise on the third day, Peter resisted and Jesus at once recognised the enemy and so rebuked the enemy. Jesus discerned the enemy. We need to recognise the enemy and pray for the gift of discernment. Satan seeks to take us away from the way of God, make us turn back from the hard way of God and seeks to make human desires take the place of Divine commands. We must learn God's will and do it.

4. TEACHABLE

Mt 18:15 If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

A disciple must be willing to learn to accept correction in love and grow. Corrections must be given with great love. If correction is not given in love, we can lose a disciple. A disciple who does not accept correction can go the wrong way and so lose the path of Christ.

5. SUBMISSIVE

I Thess 5:12-13 "But we beseech you brethren to respect those who labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their works."

The Gk. word for ‘over’ is proistemi meaning ‘to be at the head’ (leader). The Gk. word for ‘very highly’ is perissos meaning ‘beyond measure.’

I Cor 12:27-28 In the Church, God has put above us apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues.

Eph 4:11-13 God has placed in the Church, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers whose work is to equip the saints for building up the Body of Christ.

We must respect our leaders. We should not gossip or slander against them, but pray for them, that they be strengthened and filled with love.

Heb13:17 Says the leaders keep a watch over our souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully and not sadly. We must obey our leaders and submit to them. Obedience is not to satisfy the leader or increase their prestige, but that the leader may feel that no soul is lost. The real joy of a leader is when no souls are lost and real sorrow of a leader is when souls go away from faith.

Heb13:7 Consider the testimony of the leader, consider his way of life and imitate his faith.

6. WILLING TO SHARE FAITH WITH OTHERS

I Jn1:1-3 We should share with others what we have seen, heard and experienced of Jesus. We must first experience and then share. Evangelism is a mark of a disciple. Remember the following points when you evangelise.

1. God loves you.
2. Jesus died on the cross.
3. Man is sinful.
4. Repent and believe.

We should be prepared with teachings on the above topics to give to anyone, whom we meet.

7. LEARNING HUMILITY

Phil 2:6-8 Jesus the second person of the Trinity to whom all authority was bestowed, the world was created through Him and for Him (Jn 1:1 ff), Jesus humbles Himself and goes seven steps down.

1. Jesus put aside His divinity, power, authority, position and status, He did not count equality with God.
2. He emptied Himself.
3. Took the form of a servant.
4. Born in the likeness of men.
5. In the human form He humbled Himself.
6. Became obedient unto death.
7. The death on a cross, the worst type of death. Gal 3:13 "Cursed be everyone who hangs on the tree.” Jesus became a curse for man.

Phil 2:9-11 Because Jesus went seven steps down, God raised Him seven steps up.

1. God exalted Him highly.
2. God gave Him a name above every name.
3. At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow.
4. All creatures in heaven shall bow at the name of Jesus.
5. All creatures on earth shall bow at the name of Jesus.
6. All creatures under the earth shall bow at the name of Jesus.
7. Every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father.

Phil 2:3-4 Count others better than yourself, be humble.

Mt 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Deut 34:10-12 says that there was none like Moses in working miracles. He had great power.

Nums 12:3 says that Moses was the humblest man on the earth.

Power can be lost through pride.

Lk 10:18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

8. EXAMINES HIS OWN LIFE

Mt 7:1-5 "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”

Do not keep judging others or examining other's lives. Examine your own life.

James 1:22-24 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

The word of God is a mirror. It shows us our defects and our faults.

Rm 2:6 For He will render to every man according to his works.

Rm 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.

Gal 6:7-8 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh, will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit, will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

What you sow, you will reap.

9. KNOWS HIS OWN WEAKNESS

II Cor 12:7-10 And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

The word ‘harass’ in Gk. kolaphizo which means ‘to give a box in the ear.’ The messenger of Satan will keep boxing your ear through persecution, insult, criticism, slander. Receive the blows with joy for they are to strengthen us, for when I am weak then I am strong.

II Cor 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one. I am talking like a madman with far greater labours, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.

Paul talks of his sufferings. Every Christian will go through suffering.

James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials,

In our suffering (weakness), count it joy and ask for God's wisdom. A disciple is one who suffers with joy.

10. NOT A PERFECTIONIST

I Jn 1:8-10 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.

We must not give an excuse for our sins, blame others or situations. There is always room for correction. Acknowledge your weakness, admit your sin and walk with the Lord.

11. FORGIVING

Mt 6:12 If you do not forgive your enemies your heavenly Father will not forgive you of your sins.

Mk 11:25 If you have anything against your brother, forgive.

Mt 5:23-24 So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Mt 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

We have to give and receive forgiveness. Jesus says not only to forgive but to love and pray for your enemies.

How many times to forgive?

Mt 18:21-22 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.”

Parable of the unforgiving servant.

Mt 18:23-35 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

Two best examples of forgiveness in the Bible

Jesus

Lk 23:34 And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

Stephen

Acts 7:59-60 And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Jn 13:34 Jesus said, "A new commandment I give you, love one another as I have loved you".

We find the same commandment in :

Lev 19:18 You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the LORD.

The newness in Jesus' commandment is to love as Jesus loved, to the extent of dying.

12. PERSEVERING

Mt 5:10-12 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ”Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

You will be persecuted for being righteous. People will talk evil against you. Do not give up. Persevere.

Mt 10:22 And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

Jesus talks about enduring to the end in times of persecution.

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Persecution is the testing of faith. Do not run away from persecution, but embrace every persecution that comes.

II Cor 4:8-11 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

II Cor 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day.

13. TRUSTWORTHY

I Cor 4:2 Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

The word ‘steward’ in the Gk. is oikonomos which means ‘manager.’ We are not owners, but managers of God's gifts.

Lk 16:10-12 "He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?”

We have to be faithful in every little way, in every responsibility that is entrusted to us.

Prov 11:3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

Prov 13:17 A bad messenger plunges men into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.

Prov 14:5 A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.

Prov 25:13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him, he refreshes the spirit of his masters.

Heb 3:2 He was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in God's house.

14. DOES THINGS WELL

Col 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Col 3:23 Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men.

Whatever be our job, whomever we work for, work with all your heart, mind and soul as serving the Lord and not men, so do your best.

15. USES TIME WISELY

Eph 5:16-17 Making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Use time wisely and not foolishly, for foolishness is sin. Make the best use of your time, discerning His will and serving Him.

Col 4:5 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.

Make maximum use of the time in His service, to behave with wisdom towards those outside the Church. Be a missionary, be careful of the time that you waste. You have to give an account for wasted time. Take every opportunity possible to work for Christ and to serve men.

Practical lesson: Make an inventory of your time, the twenty-four hours of the day and look into how it is used for God's kingdom and make changes where necessary.

16. AIMS TO PLEASE GOD

Gal 1:10 Am I now seeking the favour of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

I have to please God in all circumstances and not men. If I am trying to please men, then I should not be a servant of Christ. Faith is demanded of us in order to please God.

Heb 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Eph 6:5-7 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ; not in the way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to men,

I Thess 2:4 But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but to please God who tests our hearts.

I Jn 3:22 And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His Commandments and do what pleases Him.

Col 3:22 Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord.

17. HAS FAITH IN GOD

Mk 11:22 And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.

Heb 11:1 Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Heb 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Rm 10:17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ.

Eph 6:16 Besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one.

I Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Do not give up, fight the good fight of faith (keep exercising your faith in your daily walk with Christ).

18. QUICK TO OBEY

Lk 5:4-6 And when He had ceased speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at Your Word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking,

Peter's quick obedience to the Lord brought him blessing (huge catch of fish). Instant obedience to Christ is demanded of every disciple.

II Thess 3:14 If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.

I Sam 15:22 Obedience is better than sacrifice.

19. CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF HIS PRIORITIES

Acts 6:2 And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the Word of God to serve tables.

Let us hear God's calling clearly, know His will for our lives. What is He asking of us? Do not mix up your priorities.

20. WILLING TO FOLLOW THE SPIRIT'S LEADING

Lk 4:1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit

After Jesus was baptised in the river Jordan, He was led by the Spirit into the desert to fast for forty days and then His ministry began. God has a plan, listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, do what He tells you and you will have a powerful ministry. Every disciple must have a ministry according to God's plan.

Acts 16:6-10 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing beseeching him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Paul and Silas are forbidden by the Spirit to speak the word in Asia and were guided to go to Macedonia where they preached the gospel.

In the service of the Lord it is important to follow the promptings of the Spirit. To do God’s work and not just good work.