Post by Zac Loh on Sept 5, 2009 1:21:15 GMT -5
What Are Disciples, Really?
Acts 14:20-23
However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:20-22; underline mine)
Each of these three verses above has the word `disciples’. A disciple is, simply put, a follower and learner of Jesus.
In those days, a student follows the teacher closely …observing, absorbing, assimilating and embracing what the teacher did and said …much different from classroom teaching and lecture hall sessions we have today which are impersonal and distant.
Through the Holy Spirit in the church age, Jesus becomes accessible and personal …without limits …to each and everyone who is willing to follow and learn.
So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (Acts 14:23)
It seems quite clear to me at this stage reading through the book of Acts, that there were three levels of Christians: believers, disciples and elders.
The elders were chosen from among the disciples. As such, the elders had to be the utmost followers and most ardent learners of Christ.
Risk sounding here like a broken record, let me ask: “how many is reading and studying the Bible?” “How many had missed so much of what God wants to say to them, because they are not reading the Bible themselves?”
The cause of errors today, and I am referring to the true legitimate church, can be attributed to both preachers/teachers and listeners. If listeners read their Bible as they should, not many preachers/teachers can get away with lopsided, tilted, unscriptural messages.
There won’t be supply if there isn’t a demand. There won’t be much scratching if there aren’t many itchy ears. Shallowness won’t be the only thing around, if there is enough call for more depth.
There were Bible writers who were inspired and taken by the Holy Spirit, who were shepherds, fishermen and a tax collector.
Paul lovingly reminded the brethren that not many of them were intelligent in order that they might boast only in the Lord.
It doesn’t take much intellectual capability or academic pedigree for the Holy Spirit to speak and teach you through the Bible. The Spirit gives life, the letter alone kills. But the Spirit does give life to the letter.
You, the average regular Joe …You, the homebound housewife …You, can have such powerful explosive revelations from the Bible that will blow your mind!
I am talking at the top of my voice. I am shouting from the roof top. I am screaming my lungs out. I am blaring in the church internet streets. I am writing to exhort every Christian to read the Bible systematically.
strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22; underline mine)
“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
I feel as though the devil has been using a spiritual scissors to cut out such scriptures from our sight …we somehow missed it!
To exhort doesn’t mean painting a rosy picture and saying all the nice things. To exhort means telling you the truth …not missing anything pertaining to the truth, including the beautiful, the good, the bad and the ugly.
To exhort means to tell you …ONE HUNDRED PERCENT that you are more than conquerors through Him who LOVED YOU ...in the positive and in the negative.
Acts 14:20-23
However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:20-22; underline mine)
Each of these three verses above has the word `disciples’. A disciple is, simply put, a follower and learner of Jesus.
In those days, a student follows the teacher closely …observing, absorbing, assimilating and embracing what the teacher did and said …much different from classroom teaching and lecture hall sessions we have today which are impersonal and distant.
Through the Holy Spirit in the church age, Jesus becomes accessible and personal …without limits …to each and everyone who is willing to follow and learn.
So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (Acts 14:23)
It seems quite clear to me at this stage reading through the book of Acts, that there were three levels of Christians: believers, disciples and elders.
The elders were chosen from among the disciples. As such, the elders had to be the utmost followers and most ardent learners of Christ.
Risk sounding here like a broken record, let me ask: “how many is reading and studying the Bible?” “How many had missed so much of what God wants to say to them, because they are not reading the Bible themselves?”
The cause of errors today, and I am referring to the true legitimate church, can be attributed to both preachers/teachers and listeners. If listeners read their Bible as they should, not many preachers/teachers can get away with lopsided, tilted, unscriptural messages.
There won’t be supply if there isn’t a demand. There won’t be much scratching if there aren’t many itchy ears. Shallowness won’t be the only thing around, if there is enough call for more depth.
There were Bible writers who were inspired and taken by the Holy Spirit, who were shepherds, fishermen and a tax collector.
Paul lovingly reminded the brethren that not many of them were intelligent in order that they might boast only in the Lord.
It doesn’t take much intellectual capability or academic pedigree for the Holy Spirit to speak and teach you through the Bible. The Spirit gives life, the letter alone kills. But the Spirit does give life to the letter.
You, the average regular Joe …You, the homebound housewife …You, can have such powerful explosive revelations from the Bible that will blow your mind!
I am talking at the top of my voice. I am shouting from the roof top. I am screaming my lungs out. I am blaring in the church internet streets. I am writing to exhort every Christian to read the Bible systematically.
strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22; underline mine)
“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
I feel as though the devil has been using a spiritual scissors to cut out such scriptures from our sight …we somehow missed it!
To exhort doesn’t mean painting a rosy picture and saying all the nice things. To exhort means telling you the truth …not missing anything pertaining to the truth, including the beautiful, the good, the bad and the ugly.
To exhort means to tell you …ONE HUNDRED PERCENT that you are more than conquerors through Him who LOVED YOU ...in the positive and in the negative.