Have you taken to heart the great commandment: to love God with everything within you and to do the same with your neighbor and yourself?
37 Jesus said, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.'
38 This is the most important, the first on any list.
39 But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.'
40 These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them." Matthew 22:37-40 (MSG)
Many of those who call themselves disciples of Jesus Christ have found a safe place in the rut of relationship--just going through the motions. Is that all you want in your relationship with the Lord? Perhaps this song and video will be an encouragement to you to pursue your relationship with the Lord with a renewed zeal.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
The Marks Of A Disciple Of Jesus Christ
Have you ever wondered if you were exhibiting the marks of a disciple of Jesus Christ? What does a disciple look like? John's Gospel gives us a three-fold perspective of those who followed Jesus Christ and what they were doing as they were following Him. May this study not just be about gaining more information, but a prayer for rich personal application.
The Marks Of A Disciple Of Jesus Christ: A Three-Fold Prayer Request
1: A Disciple of Jesus Christ Lives In The Word of God—“Lord Jesus, Help Me Be A Disciple Who Lives In Your Word”
28 So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. 29 "And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him." 30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. 31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:28-32 (NASB95)
The Cause: Belief in Him (vs. 30)
The Effect:
1. Continuance in the Word (vs. 31)
2. The Affirmation and Confirmation of our relationship with Him (vs. 31)
3. The Knowledge of the truth and the freedom this entails (vs. 32)
Some things to ponder upon and then pray about…
What does it mean for me to “continue” or “remain” in God’s Word? What do I need to do in my life in order to make God’s Word a greater priority?
What does it mean for me to be called a disciple of Jesus Christ?
Would I consider my life as one marked by freedom or is there something that binds me up? What “truth” can set me free if I embrace it today?
2: A Disciple of Jesus Christ Is Known By the Quality of Love He Expresses To Other Believers—“Lord Jesus, Help Me Be A Disciple Who Loves Your People”
34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35 (NASB95)
The Cause:
1. Jesus loves us (vs. 34)
2. A new commandment has been given to us (vs. 34)
The Effect:
1. Obedience to this command is possible because Jesus has already modeled it and shown us how to love one another (vs. 34)
2. Our love for Him and allegiance to Him will be known to “all men,” including those outside the faith, IF we are loving other believers (vs. 35)
Some things to ponder upon and then pray about…
Is my love for others based upon an obligation (what is in it for me) or upon a burden of truly caring (what is in it for them)?
In a court of law, would my witness of love be sufficient enough to convict me of being a disciple of Jesus?
In my inner circle of relationships, who do I need to focus upon and to express my love more? What kind of loving acts does this person (s) need from me?
3: A Disciple of Jesus Christ Is Fruitful: He Bears Fruit, Abundant Fruit, Lasting Fruit—“Lord Jesus, Help Me Be A Disciple Who Makes A Difference and Bears Spiritual Fruit”
1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. 12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14 "You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17 "This I command you, that you love one another. John 15:1-17 (NASB95)
The Cause: Abiding in Jesus / Abiding in His Word (vs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10)
The Effect:
1. Bearing Fruit (vs. 4, 5)
2. Answered Prayer (vs. 7)
3. Bringing Glory to the Father (vs. 8)
4. Bearing Abundant Fruit (vs. 8)
5. Proving the Validity of One’s Discipleship with Jesus (vs. 8)
6. Obedience to Jesus (vs. 10)
7. A Life Marked with Great Joy (vs. 11)
8. A Recipient and Giver of Sacrificial Love (vs. 12-13)
9. A Friendship, a Unique Relationship with Jesus (vs. 14-15)
10. A Divine Purpose (vs. 16)
11. A Lasting Fruit (vs. 16)
Some things to ponder upon and then pray about…
What is it in my life that others who know me best would consider to be “fruitful?”
What can I do in my life that will make me become a better friend to Jesus?
What is my divine purpose? What has God put me on earth to do? Am I doing it?
The Marks Of A Disciple Of Jesus Christ: A Three-Fold Prayer Request
1: A Disciple of Jesus Christ Lives In The Word of God—“Lord Jesus, Help Me Be A Disciple Who Lives In Your Word”
28 So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. 29 "And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him." 30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. 31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:28-32 (NASB95)
The Cause: Belief in Him (vs. 30)
The Effect:
1. Continuance in the Word (vs. 31)
2. The Affirmation and Confirmation of our relationship with Him (vs. 31)
3. The Knowledge of the truth and the freedom this entails (vs. 32)
Some things to ponder upon and then pray about…
What does it mean for me to “continue” or “remain” in God’s Word? What do I need to do in my life in order to make God’s Word a greater priority?
What does it mean for me to be called a disciple of Jesus Christ?
Would I consider my life as one marked by freedom or is there something that binds me up? What “truth” can set me free if I embrace it today?
2: A Disciple of Jesus Christ Is Known By the Quality of Love He Expresses To Other Believers—“Lord Jesus, Help Me Be A Disciple Who Loves Your People”
34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35 (NASB95)
The Cause:
1. Jesus loves us (vs. 34)
2. A new commandment has been given to us (vs. 34)
The Effect:
1. Obedience to this command is possible because Jesus has already modeled it and shown us how to love one another (vs. 34)
2. Our love for Him and allegiance to Him will be known to “all men,” including those outside the faith, IF we are loving other believers (vs. 35)
Some things to ponder upon and then pray about…
Is my love for others based upon an obligation (what is in it for me) or upon a burden of truly caring (what is in it for them)?
In a court of law, would my witness of love be sufficient enough to convict me of being a disciple of Jesus?
In my inner circle of relationships, who do I need to focus upon and to express my love more? What kind of loving acts does this person (s) need from me?
3: A Disciple of Jesus Christ Is Fruitful: He Bears Fruit, Abundant Fruit, Lasting Fruit—“Lord Jesus, Help Me Be A Disciple Who Makes A Difference and Bears Spiritual Fruit”
1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. 12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14 "You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17 "This I command you, that you love one another. John 15:1-17 (NASB95)
The Cause: Abiding in Jesus / Abiding in His Word (vs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10)
The Effect:
1. Bearing Fruit (vs. 4, 5)
2. Answered Prayer (vs. 7)
3. Bringing Glory to the Father (vs. 8)
4. Bearing Abundant Fruit (vs. 8)
5. Proving the Validity of One’s Discipleship with Jesus (vs. 8)
6. Obedience to Jesus (vs. 10)
7. A Life Marked with Great Joy (vs. 11)
8. A Recipient and Giver of Sacrificial Love (vs. 12-13)
9. A Friendship, a Unique Relationship with Jesus (vs. 14-15)
10. A Divine Purpose (vs. 16)
11. A Lasting Fruit (vs. 16)
Some things to ponder upon and then pray about…
What is it in my life that others who know me best would consider to be “fruitful?”
What can I do in my life that will make me become a better friend to Jesus?
What is my divine purpose? What has God put me on earth to do? Am I doing it?
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