what discipleship is and who can be called one

Messages for July 2018: Our Month of Excellence

Message for Sunday 1^st July, 2018

Theme: Understanding the Benefits of Discipleship

Topic: what discipleship is and who can be called one

Introduction: Every day, He arose a great while before day light and went on to a nearby park to spend some time alone with God. Anyone who observed him would be impressed by His consistency. He never failed to keep this date with His invisible friend who He referred to as His Father. This is the secret of the powerful ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ and the unusual wisdom and mastery He displayed as a leader. He stayed in intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit and never did nor say anything except what the father modeled to Him and told Him to say. This month, in our theme, we are going to be looking at the advantages of living this way and we encourage everyone to enlist in this great boat called discipleship.

What is discipleship? Discipleship is -

1.     The state if being a disciple – Jn.8:31

2.     This is the state of being a follower of the doctrines and precepts of another. In our case; it is the follower of the doctrines and lifestyle of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jn.8:31

3.     A disciple bears fruit for God through Jesus Christ. The fruit is called the fruit of the spirit. When they do, the lost is attracted to them to become saved. See Jn.15:1-5, 8 and Mt.5:14-16

Who can be called a disciple of Jesus Christ?

1.     One who has met the demand of Jesus Christ in Lk.9:23 – this demand was to deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow the Lord. To deny self is to refuse to please one’s self when pleasing yourself will displease the Lord. Instead, you please the Lord. For instance, a rich man came to Jesus to be saved and the Lord told him to go sell all he had and give to the poor and come and follow him. The man went away sorrowful and did not receive the Lord as at then. No account of him was seen after that. This goes to show that converts are expected to grow to become disciples. Mk.10:17-22 

2.     One who follows Jesus Christ so that he or she can become a fisher of men. A fisher of men is someone who wins souls to Christ. This is one of the wisest thing anyone can do for themselves because the bible tells us that a soul winner is wise. See Prov.11:30; Dan.12:3 and Mt.4:19

3.     One who bears the fruit of the Spirit. This is the fruit that the Lord said we shall be identified by to prove that we are His own. The book of Gal.5:21-22 lists them for us. Also we can see more on this in Mt.7:15-20.

4.     One who has embraced self-denial so that he or she can follow the Lord. Apostle Paul exemplifies this lifestyle to us when he said in Philippians 3:7-9 that he has counted all things dung for the excellency of Christ Jesus our Lord so that he could gain Christ. This is the language of a true disciple and he did his best to live up to it to the point that he asked the Church to follow him as he follows Christ. See Philippians 3:17-20.

More would be said on this by God’s grace in subsequent services. Meanwhile, this message is a message to believers who want to walk more closely with God. For all men, this is the desire of God for mankind. If you desire this, the first step is that you must belong to God’s family through the new birth experience. If you want to take advantage of this opportunity to belong to God’s family, you can do so right away by saying the following prayer out loud in faith and you will be saved:

Heavenly Father,

Have mercy on me a sinner. Today, I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised Him from the dead for my Justification. I therefore declare that Jesus Christ is my Saviour and Lord and from today, I renounce the fatherhood of Satan and embrace Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord. Thank you for this father in Jesus’ name! Amen.

Congratulations! For more information and resources that would help you grow in this new life, please visit our website at www.kingdomheirsministries.org and our blogs at www.flourishinggirl.blogspot.com and follow us on twitter at alero_nanna and on face book on www.facebook.com/flourishinggirl www.facebook.com/khmii2015; www.facebook.com/thewellbeingcenter. Or www.facebook.com/kingdomjointheirsfamily email:  jointheirsfamily@gmail.com.