WIN: Discipleship

Win 1

Discipleship 

by Daniel Carandang

written by Ashley Petallano

School has begun once again. We've said our goodbyes to our beds, the refrigerator that fed us for three months and our beach memories have been kept in boxes. No longer are we professional bums; we've become students once again!

Back in the campus where identities are formed and social groups are established, you can't help but wonder: WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR? The jungle life in school can be so energized, busy and a tad confusing that we find ourselves lost. What is your purpose in life as a student? To be popular? To be the most-liked, macho-gwapito stud? To be the brightest student who gets nothing but perfect scores? Get those latest running shoes to enhance your athletic skills?

In the Bible, King Solomon commented on money, pleasure, ventures and relationships. You know what he called them?

MEANINGLESS.

Everything in this world can be meaningless.There is no doubt that one day, all of these (fame, money, relationships) will fade...become forgotten memories of the past. It's like hearing stories about your great great grandmother. Sure, you hear them now but let's be honest, it's meaningless to you. It's the same with the things we cling on as a student. We hold unto them now but one day...they will become meaningless.

You have a higher purpose, dear student. Don't forget!

We should not be living for any temporal earthly purpose that will fade away. We should not invest our lives in something that will not last. We should pour out every second of our life in something that will last forever—a purpose that is eternal—we should live our lives for God and His purpose! More than just earning high grades, getting involved in extra-curricular activities, & preparing for a future career, God has a higher purpose for each and everyone of us in the campus. That in the limited time we have as students, He would use us to reach out to others, share the Gospel to them, and disciple them.

Our mission is stated here:

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 Matthew 28:18-20

Who is a DISCIPLE?

A disciple is not a mystical person who performs magic- it is someone who puts his/her faith in Christ and decides to dedicate his/her life in servitude of Him. Disciples are God's helpers in spreading the Word about Christ in this world. There are still thousands of people who do not know about Christ, therefore, as His disciples, it is our mission to proclaim His name.

God is calling us to reach out and WIN each and every people group in this planet! Not just the tribes, but first and foremost the people around us, closest to us--our family, and schoolmates! It’s time to step up and fulfill our call to go and make disciples in our respective campuses.

So, how do we begin?

1. To make disciples, you have to be a disciple.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go

Matthew 28:16

Before you can go you first need someone to disciple you. It's vital to have someone mentor you about Christ and His Word before you set yourself in teaching others as well. Jesus invested His life in mentoring his disciples. He taught them about Scripture, the importance of prayer, how to overcome sin and basically, how to believe. We need people who will also invest in our lives and teach us how to face the world with Christ as our shield. 

Remember: disciples are not born...they are MADE.

Discipleship is the process of leading someone to Christ, and helping that person grow in their relationship with Him! God desires to use you to reach our and disciple others! But step one is for you to make disciples.

2. God's will for His disciples is for them to make disciples.

Want to know what God's will is? Primary source is the Bible.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,..”

Matthew 28:18-20a

Making disciples is Jesus' command. The problem is we don't live a life of obedience because we don't have a clear understanding of Who Jesus is. Some of us do not know Him well at all. Our wrong interpretation of Him could lead to us treating Him differently.

Jesus is described here as having all authority in heaven and earth! No one is above Him, more powerful than Him--most "powerful" person on earth: NOTHING. There is NOTHING He can’t do, He has no plan He can’t accomplish—no one and nothing can stand in His way and prevail. That is why we must have  a HIGH & PROPER view of Jesus.

Our view of Jesus impacts the way we respond to Him. Our responses to discipleship is really an issue of Lordship.

WHO is The Lord of your life? Is it Jesus..or yourself? WHOSE WILL has priority? God's or yours?

A lot of us are fans of musical bands. One Direction, All Time Low, Super Junior...you name it! Some of us are even super fans: every day we stalk our favorite personalities on Facebook, follow updates and tweet them endlessly till we get a response! That is a solid FAN! However, Jesus does not desire fans (or stalkers). He wants FOLLOWERS.

Are you just a fan? Or are you a follower? IF you are really a follower,  WHY are you not making disciples? If there's something hindering you..what are you doing about it?

If we see this as mere religious obligation, then we're missing the point. We're not just workers for Him, we are lovers as well.

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 

Matthew 9:35, 36

The Jewish society was very religious and followed strict rules implemented by Law-intellectual Pharisees. They gave 300 rules for the Jews to follow. That's like having 300 rules in your classrooms. It was all about the law rather than what really mattered the most.

Jesus was burdened about the spiritual state of the crowds..it was what consumed His heart. And so as a response to the condition of the multitudes, after commanding His disciples to pray for more workers, Jesus empowered them to reach out!

ARE YOU INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED WITH GOD'S HEART?

When we are in love, we're willing to go the distance for our loved ones. The same should apply with the Lord and His great commission. We should bear compassion and responsibility for our disciples. God knows that the ONLY way for a person to be changed is for a person to be discipled.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you..” 

Matthew 28:19, 20a 

Baptism is an outward declaration of a person offering his life to the Lord. It is assumed that the Gospel has already been shared to the person. Also, the verse talks about teaching our disciples to obey in the Lord and in His will. People need to be discipled because of our sinful natures. No seminar, livelihood program, or wellness conference can change a person's life. These are good, but will always fall short.

Discipleship is God's strategy & solution for genuine transformation!

Jesus was so passionate about this, that of all possible things He would leave His people to do before He ascended to heaven, He asked them to go and make disciples. That is why we should GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES.

3. God promises to be with us as we make disciples.

“..And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:20b

One of the reasons why we don’t make disciples: FEAR.

Discipleship is a matter of faith. Jesus promised to be with us until the task is finished in the end of the age. He isn't like us: we break our promises. The Lord does not. If He says He'll be with us, He will be. 

“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

Paul had a weakness, a “thorn in the flesh”, and was pleading for God to take his weakness away. But God said, instead of taking away Paul's weakness, He will give His grace so that Paul will depend on Him and His power will become very very real. Same applies to us. We say we are weak, unfit, not for the job but God promises that He will be with us.

God can do this on His own..but He has given us the privilege to partner with Him and be His hands and feet in reaching the world and reconciling the world to Himself. If you're a follower of Christ, God’s Word for you is…GO and make disciples!