STUDIES FROM BRETHREN IN CHRIST

10/15/2017 ~ Disciple

⛑   Disciples.mp3 (46m 01s)   Disciples2.mp3 (41m 39s) Second version presented 1/3/21   Disciples.pptx Darkness surrenders to gloom. He calls us to be disciples, that is students, with increasing understanding, on our climb in Him. Without His knowledge we are crippled in knowing God’s will for us. To be a disciple one must possess the desire to acquire His truths. Disciples care for one another in honor of Him. "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." ~ Luke 14:26 It is about putting God above all things including family and self, which in turn then improves all relationships. Many of us can recall weeping over the fears for our parents own death, as youths. With time, rebellion over control inevitably leads to resentment, and those frustrations are encountered by many as they grow toward adulthood. Disgust over one’s own behavior is a sign of repentance and increases the deepening matrimonial bonds all are challenged with. To come to Christ is to humbly and honestly surrender your heart to Him past all of one’s past failings. → His is the success of all living. God above all does not want us to deceive ourselves, but to live in honesty with self and others. "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." ~ Luke 14:27 What life has delivered, to each of us, is unique, yet we all have this in common, suffering. It is natural to desire an escape from pain, but in how we do it defines the character of our spirit. We all have seen many famous financial wealthy individuals unable to bear the weight of their miseries; substance abuses mask passing out (escaping) from reality. In Christ He lifts us past those impossible heart aching weights, none can carry, as His eternal light puts the temporary in perspective. The love He renders is an easy yoke in its’ simple lifting truth. To seek Him is to pray to Him. "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." ~ Luke 14:33 It is a question of desire. Are things and the lust for them more valuable than one single breath of life? Purpose is what tracks our paths in life. And this life, if it is only a shell to impulsively satisfy, is one missing the sense something eternally much more? Each step at times can be grueling, in view of the losses life exposes, which brings about an almost universal, in common, pain that needles all of our hearts; deaths door. "... take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." ~ Matthew 16:24-25 To find Christ in the bottom of one’s heart allows Him to be that foundation, the rock that lifts the whole world and more. Truly, without surrendering to Him there is no pleasure in carrying death all alone, whereas He turns the other side of the coin to life over death. To find Christ is to find that which is greater than the world. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ~ Galatians 5:24 If lusting desires remain in the lower carnal, without a maturing to spiritual contemplations, the shallow remains over the depth a true soul was created to know. The heights of heaven are higher than the bowels of the earth where mortal life originates. One cannot come to God unless all desires for earthly considerations are secondary. ... "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." ~ Luke 9:23 In finding purpose in following Christ, it becomes an upward path, even though each of us bears that baggage that hinders us from plowing on. Purpose never loses sight of that destination and so it is daily in our lives as true Christians. An unceasing awareness. ... "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." ~ John 8:31-32 Are you looking through the window of a disciple? Disciples peer though His word to achieve clarity of thought. Abiding in it is to accept and tolerate what has been commanded. Striving to be better is hard work with rewards of spirit. Let us not blame God for what man devises in lies against Him or in diluting His significance. "... By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." ~ John 13:34-35 In love there is no contempt. Sorrow too often evolves into anger where delusions ruin a pure heart from knowing the simplest of truths; His love for us. When love supports a heart, its’ bottom is not left helpless to bear agony alone. Thank God His Spirit rest upon us all, believers and unbelievers alike. He bears the load as we arrive. Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, ... ~ Ephesians 5:1-2 That innocence of childhood lost is where God wants us to return with wisdom intact. Gleaming in the rainbows of life's approach are the dreams of children. The innocence of childlike love is a light floating far above the heights of the sky. Life is a choice to embrace it, life, over death, as Christ said, let the dead bury the dead. Life is for the living, and best had, enjoying real deepest love over impulsive selfish desires. When it becomes more about others the blossom of truth opens. We must open our hearts and love one another, for without this we know not God but only self delusions. True life is learning how to die to live. Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. ~ 1st Corinthians 11:1 Those examples in His Word lead us to know how to be for the best we can be. "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, ..." ~ Matthew 10:24-25 What one seeks is what one learns. To practice evil is to not return, to the goodness He calls out for, in all of our actions. To know His heart of truth sets true eternal freedom upon a soul. A disciple has a life in pursuit of worship in and of Him, and not simply disregarding that which can be an inconvenient nuance. One regards the commands He demands. Blatant disregard for His truth is what crushes peoples and decays civilizations from prospering. Is division a blessing? It is not, but holds the seed of Satan’s desire for the destruction of souls. Is God the master or something devised in an isolated deceived heart? Hate is something done all alone though in crowds we all gather. ... "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." ~ Luke 9:57-58 Do you really follow Jesus? Bags of wind are a dime a dozen. ...Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father. ... ~ Luke 9:59-60 The dead can not go anywhere. We are called to live in His light announcing His kingdom of life, not death. “Woe is me” has destroyed an innumerable count. He calls us to be fearless in His delivered living truths. Many search for the living in the cemeteries of their mind. And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." ... ~ Luke 9:61-62 "But they all with one accord began to make excuses. ... ~ Luke 14:18-20 In order to love as God would have us to live is to look forward releasing the past. Misery and agony live in the past, where a greater love always lives ahead. God wants us to be optimistic in our approach to heaven. Lack of resolve leads to excuses skirting responsibility to worship the Creator, our Lord God. Excuses skirt responsibility to worship the Creator   ● PROPERTY / HOME     ● BUSINESS / JOB   ● FAMILY / PEOPLE "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." ~ Matthew 6:24 To serve God one has to lose the desires for the world and embrace the Spirit. "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. ..." ~ John 12:26 A disciple is one who follows as a servant. "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. ..." ~ John 15:8-10 It is a commandment to keep His commandments. Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, ... ~ 1st Timothy 1:5 To arrive in Him is where a sincere faith cleanses the conscience in the purity of thought. ... Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; ... ~ Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus Himself calls out for all to become disciples, and upon our understanding of His message, of salvation, to actively surrender to Him immersed in His truth. The promise of eternity should be a welcoming event. ... things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ~ 2nd Timothy 2:2 Many loyal have come before, where an enormous amount of sacrifices have made His word available, to all. These sacrifices are where man does not oppress man, and cruelty does not deny a quest for honest living. The message of God is life, not death. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ... ~ 1st Peter 2:21 Follow in a life living for God. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. ~ Acts 2:42 To be a disciple one must remain steadfast in what His Word has taught with all one’s might. Godly imitation flatters the Spirit ● One must be ready to abandon all for Christ ● One must bear one’s cross & come after Christ ● Whoever does not forsake all cannot be My disciple ● Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it ● Disciples crucify the flesh with its passions/desires ● If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed ● All will know you are My disciples if you have love ● Be imitators of God as dear children & walk in love ● No one looking back is fit for the kingdom of God ● No one can serve two masters ● If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me in honor ● To glorify God bear much fruit as My disciples ● Go make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them Disciples follow the ways of God. Darkness has no anchor.