Being a Disciple of Jesus...

[Disciple_mike]

its a vast topic . But there comes a point in our lives when we will all be confronted with a cross roads of whether of not we will follow Jesus or follow self . in fact we will be brought to many crossroads on this issue as God works in us his good will and then allows the work he has done to be tested . What is So important to be a disciple of Jesus is that we cannot love ourselves nor anyone or anything more then we love him . so When he asks of us something .. we obey him. but i have experienced that he is so patient and wants us ALWAYS to succeed . not in our own endeavors ,but succeed in obedience .He never asks us beyond what we are able to do . in his graciousness to us as disciples he often trains us in obedience asking of us small things (as a parent would a young child ) .i.e he might ask a 4 yr old to "pick up his toys " but he wont ask that 4 year old to go to the supermarket for him.. he teaches and we learn obedience . we saw this also with his the first 12 disciples . But within only 2 or so years we see them grow from wide eyed observers to practicing apprentices learning by "DOING" making error and learning some more .Then after only 3 years we see them endued with authority by the Holy spirit within and fully released into a sold our life of obedience even unto death. in all this we must ask - How is it that such a bulk number of those claiming to be his disciples are still sitting mostly inactive in buildings on Sundays 5 ,10 and even 20 years later.. ? imo opinion the main reason is we had been taught to be book students learning the information instead of apprentices learning the trade by practicing it .

 

[Carl Emerson]

its a vast topic . But there comes a point in our lives when we will all be confronted with a cross roads of whether of not we will follow Jesus or follow self . in fact we will be brought to many crossroads on this issue as God works in us his good will and then allows the work he has done to be tested . What is So important to be a disciple of Jesus is that we cannot love ourselves nor anyone or anything more then we love him . so When he asks of us something .. we obey him. but i have experienced that he is so patient and wants us ALWAYS to succeed . not in our own endeavors ,but succeed in obedience .He never asks us beyond what we are able to do . in his graciousness to us as disciples he often trains us in obedience asking of us small things (as a parent would a young child ) .i.e he might ask a 4 yr old to "pick up his toys " but he wont ask that 4 year old to go to the supermarket for him.. he teaches and we learn obedience . we saw this also with his the first 12 disciples . But within only 2 or so years we see them grow from wide eyed observers to practicing apprentices learning by "DOING" making error and learning some more .Then after only 3 years we see them endued with authority by the Holy spirit within and fully released into a sold our life of obedience even unto death. in all this we must ask - How is it that such a bulk number of those claiming to be his disciples are still sitting mostly inactive in buildings on Sundays 5 ,10 and even 20 years later.. ? imo opinion the main reason is we had been taught to be book students learning the information instead of apprentices learning the trade by practicing it .

Yep - you are on to something...

 

[aiki]

How is it that such a bulk number of those claiming to be his disciples are still sitting mostly inactive in buildings on Sundays 5 ,10 and even 20 years later.. ? imo opinion the main reason is we had been taught to be book students learning the information instead of apprentices learning the trade by practicing it .

I am a discipler and Elder in a church that has a great many "idlers" (maybe that should be "idolaters") occupying pews on Sunday morning and "worshiping" God, but who are busy fulfilling their own agendas the rest of the week. My understanding of why this is so is, as I've observed and talked with many in the church over the past decade, that they don't realize that obedience to God is not an end in itself, but is merely the doorway through which to pass into joyful fellowship with God. A holy person "sees" God (Hebrews 12:14) and may enjoy Him unhindered by sin (Psalms 66:18; Isaiah 59:2; 1 Peter 3:10-12). Out of this delight in holy communion with God, the most natural and full glorification of God occurs, which is the central purpose of our existence (1 Corinthians 10:31; Matthew 5:14-16).

Too often, though, the believers in my church have stopped short at obedience, focusing upon rule-keeping and service, neglecting entirely joyful, loving fellowship with God out of which their service to Him, in particular, ought to arise. (Matthew 22:36-38) And many of them are so used to this kind of "Christian living" that shifting from it is more trouble than its worth. They don't have the "abundant" life of which Christ spoke, but they aren't utterly miserable, either, so why "rock the boat"? This long-established complacency is incredibly hard to penetrate!

 

[Carl Emerson]

I think in some cases our theology is little more than systematically justifying our 'Christian' lifestyle.

Because of lack of first love in the church we adopt a position that the first 5 Chapters of Acts are not prescriptive.

This also covers for the lack of spiritual gifts operating.

We end up with a professional institution with well controlled formalities to protect the leaders from the congregation.

How bizarre is that?

So for those who have truely encountered Jesus - reading the Word with an open heart and being subject to His nudgings (the Holy Spirit within is not silent) leads to sanctification but also isolation.

Finding real fellowship then means falling back on seeking others who are truely walking the same lonely road.

 

[Disciple_mike]

I think in some cases our theology is little more than systematically justifying our 'Christian' lifestyle.

Because of lack of first love in the church we adopt a position that the first 5 Chapters of Acts are not prescriptive.

This also covers for the lack of spiritual gifts operating.

We end up with a professional institution with well controlled formalities to protect the leaders from the congregation.

How bizarre is that?

So for those who have truely encountered Jesus - reading the Word with an open heart and being subject to His nudgings (the Holy Spirit within is not silent) leads to sanctification but also isolation.

Finding real fellowship then means falling back on seeking others who are truely walking the same lonely road.

many have a weak idea of what fellowship actually is -it is far more , far beyond a back patting get together

 

[ARBITER01]

many have a weak idea of what fellowship actually is -it is far more , far beyond a back patting get together

As I listed in another thread, Christianity is not all that fun if you are truly following Jesus. There will be many times of suffering along the path, but we must endure.