Discipleship

Discipleship in a nutshell:  Say NO to yourself daily, that is, deny sinful and righteous self, forsake ungodliness and worldly lusts, and trust to and follow Jesus in your thoughts, attitude, and behavior. *Luke 9:23*  The chief business of a child of God is to deny self and follow Christ, in spirit and in deed. Human nature longs for worldly wealth, honor, and pleasure.  The Christians must give up those fleshly habit which gratify the flesh.  Keep thyself pure; let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof; make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof; abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul; grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.

Ask God for more grace daily to take up your cross in order to make Jesus known to this lost and dying world. Cheerfully receive and patiently bear reproach, trouble, shame, sneers, ridicule, difficulties, affliction and persecution (quietly submit and carry your own cross for Jesus' sake).  The disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above his Lord.  No cross, no crown.  Follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.  Follow the Lord fully with purpose of heart, and out of gratitude follow His lead. Avow yourself as a true follower of the Crucified Creator.  The worldling avoids the company of those who come out decidedly on the Lord Jesus Christ's side.  It is better to lose your sins than lose your soul; it is better to give up everything else than give up eternal life in Christ Jesus.  For some their cross may be poverty or ill health.  Following Jesus is not a popular thing to do today.  My sins trouble and distress me every day and drive me to Jesus and His Cross.

Long to be corrected – be teachable, apt to learn.  Beware of self-will, never trust yourself.  Cleave to Christ.  Honor the Lord.  Be good and kind to God, for He is so very kind to you.  You are very weak; seek God’s strength.  Give God all the glory.  Fear and acknowledge God alway.  Make yourself of no reputation.  Break off the habits and hinder prayer and fellowship with God, and spiritual growth. Sin-loving worldlings will cut your acquaintance, put you out, and scowl at you because of your friendship with Jesus. In order to be Christ's true disciple, you must bear your cross for Him; many before you have carried heavier crosses than you; God will give you grace to bear your cross; honor Jesus by taking up your cross and following Him faithfully through it all; the cross will soon be exchanged for a crown of glory at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Give yourself wholly to Christ and His work.  Sin is voluntary.  Resist bitterness and resentment.  If you can take correction, you can do better; if you can’t receive correction, your life will only get worse.  Be willing to learn and do better.  Deny yourself, die to self, take up your cross, search the scriptures, exhort one another, teach and preach Jesus Christ DAILY.  Comply to God’s will, and submit silently without protest; yield quietly and agree with God.  Most are disciples of the church, others are disciples of the minister, others are followers of their own thoughts, but few are disciples of the Lord Jesus Himself.

Meekly submit to God’s will and providence.  Let Jesus be your constant companion. Heartily acquiesce and rejoice in the will and good pleasure of the Lord.  Calm resignation and conformity to the divine will.  Do the Lord’s will cheerfully, immediately, fervently, constantly, completely, spiritually, intensely, practically.  Respectful and courteous submission, and yielding to the will of Another is the way of peace.  Willingly carry out the wishes of the Spirit.  Keep ever low before the Lord Jesus Christ at the Cross.  Humble submission and complete deference to God’s will.  The stable Christian seeks to learn of Jesus Himself (Matthew 11:28-29), taking His words as Truth, believing what He taught, and following what He commands.

Rest in Christ Jesus' finished work satisfied, rest in Him without opposition. Quietly acquiescent at the foot of the Cross. God is so good, so kind, so loving. Unquestioning acquiescence.  Live in perfect resignation.  Cheerful submission.  Devout submission to whatever the Lord appoints.  Submit to all the chastisements of God. It is the Lord, let Him do what seemeth Him good.  Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.  Resigned, acquiescent, content, and grateful.  True disciples sit at the feet of Jesus and learn of Him.  Resolve to always avow yourself Jesus' disciple and become His faithful follower.

Love the cause of Christ and defend it.  Yield yourself to the working and motions of the Holy Spirit.  Make haste and delay not to keep Christ’s commandments. Keep in touch with Jesus.  Have a desire for spiritual improvement.  Let the Bible read you.  Be willing to take correction and change for Christ’s sake.  Get the thing right that the Holy Spirit is trying to correct you about.  Maintain a warm, vital friendship with Christ.  Cultivate a desire for godliness and righteousness.  Sweetly yield to God.  Submission to the infallible authority of the Holy Scriptures is essential.  Childlike faith in Jesus' atoning blood saves the soul instantly. Be honest with God, and honest with others.  God is wise and good; Jesus is right, and I am wrong.

Yield to all God does to you in His rough providences. Complete resignation to the divine will.   Lord, teach me to do Thy will, not mine.  Help me to do as your word bids me.  Hand yourself over to be Christ’s.  Courteous respect and regard for other’s feelings.  Yield both active obedience and passive acquiescence with softness and tenderness before God.  Perfect consciousness of full forgiveness. Consecrated - Sincerely, deeply committed to the Lord’s service and glory. Be a strong, caring and courageous Christian. My LORD knows the way through the wilderness; all I have to do is follow.

The will of the Lord should be done in spirit and in truth, constantly without failure, completely without exception, instantly without hesitation, joyfully without weariness, right humbly.  High esteem of Christ and His word.  Confidence in the promises of God.  Quicken me, strengthen me, help me to maintain purity, obey your words, give us divine aid to obey.

Cultivate an obedient heart, yielding spirit, submissive mind, acquiescence to the divine will – these are the elements of joy and happiness. Acquiescing in trouble, and rejoicing in tribulations. Instantly repentant and apologetic, do works meet for repentance.   Patience and joy in sickness.  Gentle, peaceful, resigned to the divine will.  Joyful submission to the will of God.  Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.  Resolved to trust Him and praise His name.  Submit and rejoice that you are counted worthy to suffer for the Lord.  Willing to anything or nothing as the Lord would have it for the gospel’s sake.

Follow Jesus willingly, joyfully, practically, trustingly.  Take afflictions from the hand of God with all patience and resignation.  Calm resignation, quiet joy, gracious submission, holy calmness.  Patience and resignation in suffering.  Subjection to the divine will and resignation to the eternal purpose.  Perfect resignation of yourself into God’s hands, intense confidence in God’s love and presence, hearty love to God, you will be anything or do anything for God.

Look with resignation upon penury, loss, disease, and death. Fixedness of resignation – be prepared for the most evil tidings for they could come at anytime. Perfect resignation from wealth to penury, abundance to meagerness. Cheerful readiness, promptness, liveliness, eagerness, willingness, joyous activity, Spirit-filled zeal, alacrity. Care more for the world to come, make the invisible precious to you.  The habit of resignation is the root of peace.  Maintain patience and resignation to God’s will.  Live godly in Christ Jesus. *Luke 9:23*