A TRUE DISCIPLE

I’m coming here to speak about a pet peeve of mine…but first this disclaimer…

What I’m about to talk about…I am NOT saying that you should agree with me….

But I am asking that you at least hear me out.

Especially here in Africa but also coming from North America there are so many evangelist… And pastors….Giving themselves the title of…”Apostle”.

Before they became apostles, they were first disciples….

So, let’s look at what the Bible describes as far as a DISCIPLE…A TRUE DISCIPLE…And then let’s see if they fit the description of Apostle

 Let’s see if we see any evidence to back up the claims of these self-proclaimed people.

Enjoy the teaching

A TRUE DISCIPLE

” For God gave us a spirit who produces not timidity, but Power, love and self-discipline. So don’t be ashamed of bearing testimony to our Lord or to me, his prisoner. On the contrary accept your share in suffering disgrace for the sake of the good news. God will give you strength for it,”

2nd Timothy 1:7-8

In our discipleship for Messiah, we can expect persecution and suffering, which frequently cannot be made sense of by human logic. In Acts 14, Paul accompanied by Barnabas, supernaturally heals a man in Lystra crippled from birth. In a euphoric response, the crowd tries to exalt Paul and Barnabas as gods come down to earth, but they adamantly resisted, and urged the people to turn from idolatry to the one true G-d who made Heaven and Earth.

Jews from Antioch and Iconium came down and vehemently opposed Paul, swaying the crowd over to them. The pendulum suddenly swung from hailing Paul and Barnabas as gods to wanting to kill them!! Paul being the spokesperson, was viciously stoned and left for dead. When he regained consciousness, he did not head out of Lystra, but went back into the city presumably taking refuge in Timothy’s home. Battered bruised and swollen, Paul wanted to know, ” Timothy, would you still like to be a disciple? “

We need to realize true discipleship is not a Sentimental Journey of Faith…but a denying of oneself to the purposes of Yeshua Hamashiach. Yeshua said to His disciples, ” if they persecuted me, they will persecute you also!!!!” John chapter 15 verse 20…Yeshua warns that as His disciples, we cannot expect a life free of opposition and persecution. He tells His disciples, ” I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble” John chapter 16 verse 33. This is not a ” maybe occurrence!!!!!,” but trouble is a certainty we need to be prepared for!!!!! Just as the world hated Yeshua without reason John chapter 15 verse 25, it will oppose those whose lives exude the presence of Messiah!!

In many parts of the world where there is no freedom of religion or speech, there are still Christians imprisoned and persecuted for their faith.  Never before in history have so many been martyred then in the last 10 years.

 In Paul’s case he was scourged beaten and imprisoned, but it was the indwelling life of Messiah that was his strength and motivation to keep going. As seen throughout the history of the Ecclesia, persecution has proven to expand the growth of Hashem’s Kingdom rather than diminish it.  We can see this happening right now in Iran and China.

In our Western world freedom of religion is widely accepted, but that is changing…the cost of discipleship comes in more covert forms of disadvantages and unfair treatments in society, within our workplaces, families and even within the congregation or Ecclesia of Yeshua Messiah …and lately we are even seeing a type of persecution on Facebook. But as Yeshua also said to His disciples, ” Take heart!! I have overcome the world!! ” John chapter 16 verse 33   this is the heart and soul of a true disciple!! They are already on the side of victory, and with Messiah as their strength, they live with eternity in mind, regardless of consequences to themselves!!!!

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father in the name of Yeshua Hamashiach Adonai help me commit to being a true disciple…regardless of consequences to myself!! I also pray for your peace and strength to deeply indwell the hearts of those presently being persecuted for their faith!!!  Thank you, Adonai Amein,

Baruch Hashem Shalom MISHPACHAH