Hello my friends....we are blessed. We really are blessed in so many ways. We have been given the gift of Jesus and the precious community called the Body of Christ.
I was blessed this morning when I had the opportunity to visit with friends I had not seen in over 30+ years. Carolanne and I were a part of the same ministry during our teenage years. Her future husband Billie Hanks came to my church during my college days and was the first person who introduced me to the terms "discipleship" and "making disciples." We have come a long way since then. Many stories of challenge and victory were shared over the breakfast table. We talked shop and we shared the concerns of our heart. Now, more than ever before, we are committed to the task Jesus has given us: to go and make disciples. We cannot do it alone. Being a disciple is not enough: it is only the beginning. It is our hope and prayer that as a disciple of Jesus Christ, you will make a fresh commitment to become a disciple maker for Jesus.
Making disciples with you,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #33
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation, Psalm 18:46
Core Value: Worship
Do you have a contagious worship of God that leads others into His presence too? If we are ever going to make a difference in making disciples who become disciple makers for Jesus, we must all become “worship leaders.” We are not saying anything about singing on a stage in a church building. We are saying our worship of God must be authentic, real and meaningful to us first before we can lead anyone else into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Henry and Richard Blackaby remind us of this truth:
“One of the issues regarding spiritual leadership is whether spiritual leaders can take people to places they themselves have never been. That depends on one’s definition of spiritual leadership. If spiritual leadership is understood as taking people to a location or completing a task, then leaders can lead people to places they have never been. But if the goal of leadership is a relationship, then leaders will never move their people beyond where they have gone themselves. Leaders can lead people to relocate their organization or to build a building or to grow in size without prior experience in these areas. But leaders cannot take their people into a relationship with Christ that goes any deeper than they have gone themselves. Followers may grow deeper spiritually in spite of their spiritually immature leaders, but they will not grow deeper because of such people. Thus, spiritual leaders must continually be growing themselves if they are to lead their people into a mature, intimate relationship with Christ. Leaders will not lead their people to higher levels of prayer unless they have already ascended to those heights themselves. Leaders will not lead others to deeper levels of trust in God unless they have a mature faith themselves.” Spiritual Leadership. Pg. 128
Who are you leading, where are you taking them, and what are they experiencing along the way?
Principle #33 & Personal Application: The quality disciple has a keen awareness of the greatness of God.
• We know our God is great because He lives!
• We know our God is great because He is our Rock!
• We know our God is great because He is the God of our salvation!
• We know our God is great because He is the Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, the sovereign King and Sustainer of the Universe!
• We know our God is great because He really does care for us!
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. 29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:28-31 (NASB95)
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
How will my worship of God be enhanced if I begin to focus upon the Living Savior?
When I begin to meditate upon the greatness of God, what kinds of thoughts fill my mind?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me live in the reality that I am loving and serving a Living Savior. I bless You, for You are my Rock. I exalt You, for You are the God of my salvation. May I become a contagious worship leader so that others may desire to worship You too.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
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