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The Christian Life Works Best
                                                                       When	
  We	
  Follow	
  God’s	
  Instructions	
  	
  

The operating instructions, for how to live for Christ in any culture, any country, and any
time period in history: is given by God in His Word. The	
  Owner’s	
  Manual	
  that	
  shows	
  how	
  
to assemble, operate, repair, maintain, and best utilize our grace enabled spiritual life, is
the Bible.

The	
  Christian	
  Life	
  Works	
  Best	
  When	
  We	
  Follow	
  God’s	
  Instructions	
  	
  

Peter told us near the end of his life that all things needed for living for Christ in this world
are in God's Word. Peter said that all things that pertain to life (that means how to operate
in every day life in a dark and warped world); and that pertain to godliness (that means
how to please God by growing conformity to His plan for us) have been given in the Bible.
(2 Peter 1:3-4).
“As	
  His	
  divine	
  power	
  has	
  given	
  to	
  us	
  all	
  things	
  that	
  pertain	
  to	
  life	
  and	
  godliness,	
  
   through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been
   given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be
   partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world
   through	
  lust	
  (NKJV).”

The essence of the life of a believer in the New Testament was how to live out Christ in the
world, by being anchored to His Word, in the context of the church, the Body of Christ, the
fellowship of others also in Christ.

Isolation From Nurturing Relationships is Bad

The norm for the New Testament believer is not isolation it is community.

The danger of anonymity and isolation is that it effectively insulates a believer from other
Spirit-filled believers.
God's Word warns us about the deadening results of the absence of other Spirit-filled
believers exhorting, admonishing, and encouraging my life. That is the context of the
Hebrews 10:22-25 passage. Look there with me:

    “Let	
  us	
  draw	
  near	
  with	
  a	
  true	
  heart	
  in	
  full	
  assurance	
  of	
  faith,	
  having	
  our	
  hearts	
  
    sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us
    hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
    24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not
    forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting
    one another, and so much	
  the	
  more	
  as	
  you	
  see	
  the	
  Day	
  approaching	
  (NKJV).”

Discipleship is Personal, Long-term Change Counseling

God is asking each of us to live in such a way that our life can become a pattern of His grace
that	
  can	
  be	
  used	
  to	
  mentor,	
  encourage,	
  coach,	
  tutor,	
  teach,	
  train	
  and	
  guide	
  another’s	
  life	
  
towards Him.
There is nothing greater in life than to be useful for God!

Christ's church was born into a sin-warped, sin-darkened world of mixed-up marriages,
sin-scarred lives, and confused families.

But men and women who were gloriously saved did not automatically become great wives
and mothers, or husbands and fathers. When they came to Christ and were forgiven, God
graciously gave them everything they needed to become godly wives, mothers, husbands,
and fathers. But, they needed something else.

These new believers needed coaching, training, modeling, and encouraging in a one-on-one
relationship. Godly behavior is a series of choices; and those men and women had to be
nurtured in daily skills that would lead to loving marriages and families.
Christ's method for the training of these new converts was two-fold. They gathered for a
group session as an entire church body. The Scriptures were faithfully taught, and they
were fed healthy doctrine for spiritual growth. That group teaching of the gathered church
was vitally performed by the called and gifted pastors of Christ's church; but side-by-side
with that didactic teaching of God's Word that fed Christ's flock weekly, was another
equally vital ministry which we find captured for us in the New Testament

Discipleship & Counseling means Mentoring Believers in Truth

This month is the start of transitioning from principles of counseling to the Discipleship &
Counseling	
  format	
  that	
  we’ll	
  see	
  for	
  most	
  of	
  the	
  rest	
  of	
  the	
  class. The key to all spiritual
growth is our co-operation with the mortification side of sanctification. Like Roundup
applied	
  to	
  weeds	
  is	
  the	
  Spirit	
  of	
  God	
  applied	
  to	
  our	
  “besetting	
  sins”.	
  Any	
  that	
  we	
  allow	
  the	
  
Spirit of God to mortify become mortally wounded and never again have the same hold on
us as they had.
What are some of the weeds that can blow into the yards of our life and start growing; and
all spiritual weeds need Spiritual Round Up applied to them regularly?
This	
  week’s	
  lesson	
  starting	
  on	
  page	
  70	
  begins	
  a	
  list	
  of	
  the	
  eight	
  most	
  common	
  forms	
  of	
  
besetting sins. Most of us will be surprised by this list. In modern American culture these
are spoken of as virtues, whereas God calls them vices that eat at our soul, and sap us of
genuine spiritual life and power.

Join me on p. 70 and listen to Psalm 115:1:

    “Not	
  unto	
  us,	
  O	
  Lord,	
  not	
  unto	
  us,
 But to Your name give glory,
 Because of Your
    mercy,
 Because	
  of	
  Your	
  truth	
  (NKJV)”.
Pleasing God Means Resisting Human Philosophies

This	
  verse	
  is	
  the	
  heart’s	
  cry	
  of	
  the	
  follower	
  after	
  Jesus	
  Christ.	
  We	
  want	
  to	
  praise	
  to	
  come	
  to	
  
us, we want God to be all in all, we want Him to increase and us to decrease. Turn to BCF,
the bottom of p. 70, and p. 71. Here are the eight lies of the world that can spring up in the
minds	
  of	
  a	
  believer	
  and	
  cause	
  the	
  weeds	
  of	
  Satan’s	
  lies	
  to	
  cloud	
  our	
  spiritual	
  thinking:
  1. The error of trusting	
  in	
  the	
  world’s	
  definition	
  of	
  	
  “self-worth”. Because we were
    born sinners we only deserve death. Our true self-worth is actually negative; it is
    actually a debt. We are debtors to God because of our sin from birth onward. We do not
    deserve, merit, or	
  have	
  a	
  right	
  to	
  God’s	
  favor	
  or	
  attention.	
  It	
  is	
  only	
  His	
  grace	
  that	
  
    shined in our hearts (Eph. 2:8-9).
  2. The	
  error	
  of	
  trusting	
  in	
  the	
  world’s	
  definition	
  of	
  	
  “self-assurance”. Only the Lord
    gives anything that is good or perfect, and it is a gift from above (James 1). A gift means
    unearned, unmerited, and undeserved. What assures us is the character of the Giver,
    His mercy, love, grace, and kindness. We seek as we follow Him, to be more and more
    dependent upon Him, rather than upon ourselves, our possessions and abilities.
3.       The	
  error	
  of	
  trusting	
  in	
  the	
  world’s	
  definition	
  of	
  	
  “self-love”.
  4.       The	
  error	
  of	
  trusting	
  in	
  the	
  world’s	
  definition	
  of	
  	
  “self-assertiveness”.
  5.       The	
  error	
  of	
  trusting	
  in	
  the	
  world’s	
  definition	
  of	
  	
  “self-confidence”.
  6.       The error of trusting in the world’s	
  definition	
  of	
  	
  “self-esteem”.
  7.       The	
  error	
  of	
  trusting	
  in	
  the	
  world’s	
  definition	
  of	
  	
  “self-righteousness”.
  8.       The	
  error	
  of	
  trusting	
  in	
  the	
  world’s	
  definition	
  of	
  	
  “self-exaltation”.

Following Jesus is the call of every believer. As the Apostle John was inspired to say, it is
also	
  the	
  test	
  of	
  true	
  salvation.	
  Listen	
  to	
  him	
  in	
  his	
  first	
  letter:	
  “Whoever	
  claims	
  to	
  live	
  in	
  
him	
  must	
  walk	
  as	
  Jesus	
  did.”	
  (1	
  John	
  2:6)
Discipleship is Learning to Follow Jesus

Although the word discipleship is a common term used constantly	
  in	
  many	
  churches,	
  we	
  don’t	
  
seem to see Christ-like people developing as readily as it is talked about? We live in a land
where millions of born again Christians are suffering from acute biblical illiteracy; and many
of them are enslaved to culture-accommodating lifestyles. It is a critical time to reassess how
God's Word says to train people to be true followers of our Lord Jesus.

            “Perhaps	
  the	
  greatest	
  single	
  weakness	
  of	
  the	
  contemporary	
  Christian	
  Church	
  is	
  that	
  
            millions of supposed members are not really involved at all and, what is worse, do not
            think it strange that they are not.

            As	
  soon	
  as	
  we	
  recognize	
  Christ’s	
  intention	
  to	
  make	
  His	
  Church	
  a	
  militant	
  company	
  we	
  
            understand at once that the conventional arrangement cannot suffice. There is no real
            chance of victory in a campaign if ninety per cent of the soldiers are untrained and
            uninvolved,	
  but	
  that	
  is	
  exactly	
  where	
  we	
  stand	
  now.”1
1   Elton Trueblood, The Company of the Committed, NY, NY: Harper, 1961, p. 38.
In analyzing the Gospels we find that Jesus ministered to the multitudes no less than 17
times; but His small group sessions recorded number no less than 46.

Although this is just an observation, we could conclude that Christ's plan was to offer a mix
of 25% public training (large group sessions) and 75% small group nurturing
(discipleship, hands on demonstrations and accountability). John Wesley wrote:

             “I	
  am	
  more	
  and	
  more	
  convinced	
  that	
  the	
  devil	
  himself	
  desires	
  nothing	
  more	
  than	
  this,	
  
             that the people of any place should be half-awakened and then left to themselves to fall
             asleep	
  again.”2




2   John Wesley, The Journal of John Wesley, entry dated Sunday March 13, 1743; vol. 1 (10.14.1735 to 11.17.1746), London: J. Kenshaw, 1827, p. 398.
So, in 1743 John Wesley organized a society.

               “Such	
  a	
  society	
  is	
  no	
  other	
  than	
  a	
  company	
  of	
  men	
  having	
  the	
  form	
  and	
  seeking	
  the	
  
               power of godliness, united in order to pray together, to receive the word of exhortation,
               and to watch over one another in love, that they may help each other to work out their
               own	
  salvation.”3

The	
  rest	
  is	
  history.	
  From	
  Wesley’s	
  ministry	
  the	
  Methodist	
  Church	
  began	
  and	
  spread	
  across	
  
the	
  world	
  in	
  evangelism	
  and	
  missionary	
  work.	
  The	
  results	
  were	
  astounding.	
  England’s	
  
culture was shaken to the core. Churches grew everywhere, and British missions spanned
the globe. But as with most other great movements, these types of ministries in Britain
have all but stopped.




3   Richard Watson, A Biblical and Theological Dictionary,	
  article	
  entitled	
  “Methodists”,	
  Waugh	
  &	
  Mason,	
  Ny,	
  NY:	
  1832,	
  p.	
  641.
What has happened to the church of the 21st century?

Christians that were baptized into the hope of both eternal life and newness of life are
often not successful in living Christ out in practical, every day ways.

This	
  most	
  likely	
  because	
  the	
  Biblical	
  concept	
  of	
  “teaching”	
  is	
  becoming	
  more	
  of	
  a	
  “telling”	
  
or	
  “pointing”	
  to	
  available	
  resources, rather than the prescribed, life-style demonstration
that God had Paul initiate for all of the churches in the immensely vital Titus 2:1-7 passage.
This lack of discipleship was also warned about in Hebrews.

    “We	
  have	
  much	
  to	
  say	
  about	
  this,	
  but	
  it	
  is	
  hard to explain because you are slow to learn.
    In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you
    the	
  elementary	
  truths	
  of	
  God’s	
  Word	
  all	
  over	
  again.	
  You	
  need	
  milk,	
  not	
  solid	
  food!	
  
    Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching
    about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained
    themselves	
  to	
  distinguish	
  good	
  from	
  evil.”	
  (Heb.	
  5:11-14)
The sad truth is that:

No Discipleship Produces Spiritual Immaturity

What are the common signs of the un-discipled believer? They are often along these lines:

     1.   Marginal	
  desire	
  for	
  God's	
  Word	
  (virtually	
  “Biblically	
  illiterate”).
     2.   Walks in the flesh; does not know the difference between walking in the flesh
          and walking in the Spirit.
     3.   Few	
  “works	
  of	
  faith”,	
  i.e.,	
  no	
  evidence	
  of	
  being	
  filled	
  with	
  God’s	
  love	
  to	
  serve	
  
          others, giving, etc.
     4.   Easily swayed or deceived by false doctrines.
     5.   Stuck in the basics, experiencing no growth.
     6.   Limited desire for fellowship with other believers.
     7.   Strong desire for worldly possessions, and showing selfish ambitions and a spirit
          of competition.
8.              Difficulty in repenting/forgiving others.
                   9.              Lacking compassion for the lost.
                   10.             Not actively assisting in the spiritual development of others.
                   11.             Limited sense of God, His character or His will.
                   12.             Life filled with fear, anxiety, and the absence of peace.
                   13.             Often covetous, boastful, prideful, manipulative, etc.
                   14.             Ongoing financial difficulties (living far beyond means...in debt).
                   15.             Seekers of pleasure.
                   16.             Lives marked by lack of discipline (physically, mentally, and spiritually).
                   17.             Only partial victory over sin.
                   18.             Non-existent or lackluster prayer life.
                   19.             Little or no time or sincere interest in true worship.
                   20.             Not accountable to anyone for anything. 4



4   Doug	
  Morrell,	
  Wesley’s	
  3-Strand Discipleship, May 18, 2005; http://www.corediscipleship.org/index.html
Christ's first words, to His first disciples, should be our first priority as His disciples today.
“Follow	
  Me”	
  is	
  still	
  the	
  essence	
  of	
  Biblical	
  Christianity.	
  

Which	
  leads	
  us	
  to	
  our	
  final	
  element	
  in	
  tonight’s	
  lesson:

Resisting the Wrongs Ways to See Change in People
BCF p. 74: BASIC APPROACHES TO SOLVE PERSONAL PROBLEMS (Isaiah 55:7-9)
                                MAN’S  WAY  (Proverbs  14:12;;  1  Corinthians  3:19-20; Colossians 2:8                           GOD’S  WAY  (John  10:9-10; Romans 11:33-36)
                      Instinctual               Behavioral              Positive Potential                 Spiritist           Heart Transformation (Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 36:26;
                                                                                                                                                        Acts 15:6-9)
              Driven by instincts (i.e.  Behavior is conditioned Intrinsically good – has Helpless before all sprits         Sinner – Saint (Romans 5:12, 19; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18,
 BASIC VIEW   instinctively does things: or  “programmed”            everything necessary                                    21)
   OF MAN     fight, flight, seek food                               within self to solve own
              and gratification)                                     problems
              Instincts are thwarted by Wrongly influenced by        Mind blocked by             Committed to or under       Rebellion (Romans 1:20-21)
  CAUSE OF    society, family, and       environment and             negative thinking or        control of spirits, demons, Unbelief (John 3:16-18, 5:38-40)
  PROBLEMS    upbringing                 circumstances               influences                  ancestors                   Disobedience (Ephesians 2:1-2, 5:6; Titus 3:3)
                                                                                                                             Denial  of  God’s  power  (Hebrews  2:14-15; 1 John 3:8)
              Follow Instincts           Recondition or              Release potential within Appease ancestors;             Be saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and in
                                         “reprogram”                 self                        Appease or cast out         loving obedience to God (Romans 6:16-19) be matured in
     CURE
                                                                                                 demons, sprits;             Christ (Ephesians 4:13) through the power of the Holy Spirit
                                                                                                 Discover your spirit guide (Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:18)
              Psychoanalysis             Manipulation of             Reflection of thoughts      Potions, charms, amulets, Listen (Proverbs 18:2, 13, 17;
              (interpretation of         behavior by use of          and feelings;               fetishes;                   Reprove, rebuke, exhort (2 Timothy 4:2);
              irrational thoughts,       positive and negative       No presentation of          Curses on enemy;            Encourage (Hebrews 3:13);
              analysis of dreams);       stimuli;                    answers – draw answer Curse nullification;              Admonish (Romans 15:14; Colossians 1:28);
COUNSELING
              Hypnosis therapy;          Train to respond to         out  of  counselee’s  own   Ritual offerings;           Stimulate (Hebrews 10:24);
 TECHNIQUE
              Psychodrama;               reward and punishment inner resources;                  Communion with spirits;     Strengthen (Hebrews 12:12);
              Re-socialization;                                      Positive thinking           Mantras, chants;            Restore (Galatians 6:1-2, 5);
              Personality testing and                                                            Horoscopes;                 Teach (Romans 6:17-18; Colossians 3:16);
              analysis                                                                           “Visualization”             Train (2 Timothy 2:2)
              Ego, Id, Drives, Libido,   Stimulus,                   Inner potential,            Curses; god within;         Sin (Romans 3:23)
              Conscious and              Conditioning,               Inherent goodness,          Higher power;               Put off practices of the old self and put on practices of the
              Subconscious,              Automatic response,         Self-assertion              Appeasal of spirits;        new self (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:5-17);
COUNSELOR’S  
              Neurosis/Psychosis,        Positive/negative           Self-esteem                 Binding of demons;          Self-denial (Luke 9:23-25);
  THEOLOGY
              Phobia, Mania, Catharsis, reinforcement,               Self-worth                  Generational sins;          Judge self (Matthew 7:1-5);
              Self-Actualization, Free   Self-fulfillment,                                       Demons or spirits of        Godliness (1 Timothy 4:7-8);
              Association                Self-improvement                                        anger, fear. Lust, etc.     Do the Word (James 1:22-25)
              Liberate self (contrary to Improve self (contrary      Elevate self (contrary      Release self from           Deny self (Luke 9:23-23);
              Ezekiel 18:20-21;          to John 15:4-5;             to Psalm 62:9; Romans bondage (contrary to              Please God (2 Corinthians 5:9; Colossians 1:10) and bless
COUNSELING
              Philippians 2:3-4)         Romans 1:18-32;             3:10-18, 23, 7:18)          John 15:4-5; 2              others (1 Peter 3:8-9) through ministry (1 Peter 4:10) and
    FOCUS
                                         James 4:10)                                             Thessalonians 3:3; 1 John service (Matthew 20:25-28)
                                                                                                 5:4-5)

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BC&D-12: The Christian Life Works Best When We Follow God’s Instructions

  • 1. The Christian Life Works Best When  We  Follow  God’s  Instructions     The operating instructions, for how to live for Christ in any culture, any country, and any time period in history: is given by God in His Word. The  Owner’s  Manual  that  shows  how   to assemble, operate, repair, maintain, and best utilize our grace enabled spiritual life, is the Bible. The  Christian  Life  Works  Best  When  We  Follow  God’s  Instructions     Peter told us near the end of his life that all things needed for living for Christ in this world are in God's Word. Peter said that all things that pertain to life (that means how to operate in every day life in a dark and warped world); and that pertain to godliness (that means how to please God by growing conformity to His plan for us) have been given in the Bible. (2 Peter 1:3-4).
  • 2. “As  His  divine  power  has  given  to  us  all  things  that  pertain  to  life  and  godliness,   through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through  lust  (NKJV).” The essence of the life of a believer in the New Testament was how to live out Christ in the world, by being anchored to His Word, in the context of the church, the Body of Christ, the fellowship of others also in Christ. Isolation From Nurturing Relationships is Bad The norm for the New Testament believer is not isolation it is community. The danger of anonymity and isolation is that it effectively insulates a believer from other Spirit-filled believers.
  • 3. God's Word warns us about the deadening results of the absence of other Spirit-filled believers exhorting, admonishing, and encouraging my life. That is the context of the Hebrews 10:22-25 passage. Look there with me: “Let  us  draw  near  with  a  true  heart  in  full  assurance  of  faith,  having  our  hearts   sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much  the  more  as  you  see  the  Day  approaching  (NKJV).” Discipleship is Personal, Long-term Change Counseling God is asking each of us to live in such a way that our life can become a pattern of His grace that  can  be  used  to  mentor,  encourage,  coach,  tutor,  teach,  train  and  guide  another’s  life   towards Him.
  • 4. There is nothing greater in life than to be useful for God! Christ's church was born into a sin-warped, sin-darkened world of mixed-up marriages, sin-scarred lives, and confused families. But men and women who were gloriously saved did not automatically become great wives and mothers, or husbands and fathers. When they came to Christ and were forgiven, God graciously gave them everything they needed to become godly wives, mothers, husbands, and fathers. But, they needed something else. These new believers needed coaching, training, modeling, and encouraging in a one-on-one relationship. Godly behavior is a series of choices; and those men and women had to be nurtured in daily skills that would lead to loving marriages and families.
  • 5. Christ's method for the training of these new converts was two-fold. They gathered for a group session as an entire church body. The Scriptures were faithfully taught, and they were fed healthy doctrine for spiritual growth. That group teaching of the gathered church was vitally performed by the called and gifted pastors of Christ's church; but side-by-side with that didactic teaching of God's Word that fed Christ's flock weekly, was another equally vital ministry which we find captured for us in the New Testament Discipleship & Counseling means Mentoring Believers in Truth This month is the start of transitioning from principles of counseling to the Discipleship & Counseling  format  that  we’ll  see  for  most  of  the  rest  of  the  class. The key to all spiritual growth is our co-operation with the mortification side of sanctification. Like Roundup applied  to  weeds  is  the  Spirit  of  God  applied  to  our  “besetting  sins”.  Any  that  we  allow  the   Spirit of God to mortify become mortally wounded and never again have the same hold on us as they had.
  • 6. What are some of the weeds that can blow into the yards of our life and start growing; and all spiritual weeds need Spiritual Round Up applied to them regularly? This  week’s  lesson  starting  on  page  70  begins  a  list  of  the  eight  most  common  forms  of   besetting sins. Most of us will be surprised by this list. In modern American culture these are spoken of as virtues, whereas God calls them vices that eat at our soul, and sap us of genuine spiritual life and power. Join me on p. 70 and listen to Psalm 115:1: “Not  unto  us,  O  Lord,  not  unto  us,
 But to Your name give glory,
 Because of Your mercy,
 Because  of  Your  truth  (NKJV)”.
  • 7. Pleasing God Means Resisting Human Philosophies This  verse  is  the  heart’s  cry  of  the  follower  after  Jesus  Christ.  We  want  to  praise  to  come  to   us, we want God to be all in all, we want Him to increase and us to decrease. Turn to BCF, the bottom of p. 70, and p. 71. Here are the eight lies of the world that can spring up in the minds  of  a  believer  and  cause  the  weeds  of  Satan’s  lies  to  cloud  our  spiritual  thinking: 1. The error of trusting  in  the  world’s  definition  of    “self-worth”. Because we were born sinners we only deserve death. Our true self-worth is actually negative; it is actually a debt. We are debtors to God because of our sin from birth onward. We do not deserve, merit, or  have  a  right  to  God’s  favor  or  attention.  It  is  only  His  grace  that   shined in our hearts (Eph. 2:8-9). 2. The  error  of  trusting  in  the  world’s  definition  of    “self-assurance”. Only the Lord gives anything that is good or perfect, and it is a gift from above (James 1). A gift means unearned, unmerited, and undeserved. What assures us is the character of the Giver, His mercy, love, grace, and kindness. We seek as we follow Him, to be more and more dependent upon Him, rather than upon ourselves, our possessions and abilities.
  • 8. 3. The  error  of  trusting  in  the  world’s  definition  of    “self-love”. 4. The  error  of  trusting  in  the  world’s  definition  of    “self-assertiveness”. 5. The  error  of  trusting  in  the  world’s  definition  of    “self-confidence”. 6. The error of trusting in the world’s  definition  of    “self-esteem”. 7. The  error  of  trusting  in  the  world’s  definition  of    “self-righteousness”. 8. The  error  of  trusting  in  the  world’s  definition  of    “self-exaltation”. Following Jesus is the call of every believer. As the Apostle John was inspired to say, it is also  the  test  of  true  salvation.  Listen  to  him  in  his  first  letter:  “Whoever  claims  to  live  in   him  must  walk  as  Jesus  did.”  (1  John  2:6)
  • 9. Discipleship is Learning to Follow Jesus Although the word discipleship is a common term used constantly  in  many  churches,  we  don’t   seem to see Christ-like people developing as readily as it is talked about? We live in a land where millions of born again Christians are suffering from acute biblical illiteracy; and many of them are enslaved to culture-accommodating lifestyles. It is a critical time to reassess how God's Word says to train people to be true followers of our Lord Jesus. “Perhaps  the  greatest  single  weakness  of  the  contemporary  Christian  Church  is  that   millions of supposed members are not really involved at all and, what is worse, do not think it strange that they are not. As  soon  as  we  recognize  Christ’s  intention  to  make  His  Church  a  militant  company  we   understand at once that the conventional arrangement cannot suffice. There is no real chance of victory in a campaign if ninety per cent of the soldiers are untrained and uninvolved,  but  that  is  exactly  where  we  stand  now.”1 1 Elton Trueblood, The Company of the Committed, NY, NY: Harper, 1961, p. 38.
  • 10. In analyzing the Gospels we find that Jesus ministered to the multitudes no less than 17 times; but His small group sessions recorded number no less than 46. Although this is just an observation, we could conclude that Christ's plan was to offer a mix of 25% public training (large group sessions) and 75% small group nurturing (discipleship, hands on demonstrations and accountability). John Wesley wrote: “I  am  more  and  more  convinced  that  the  devil  himself  desires  nothing  more  than  this,   that the people of any place should be half-awakened and then left to themselves to fall asleep  again.”2 2 John Wesley, The Journal of John Wesley, entry dated Sunday March 13, 1743; vol. 1 (10.14.1735 to 11.17.1746), London: J. Kenshaw, 1827, p. 398.
  • 11. So, in 1743 John Wesley organized a society. “Such  a  society  is  no  other  than  a  company  of  men  having  the  form  and  seeking  the   power of godliness, united in order to pray together, to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they may help each other to work out their own  salvation.”3 The  rest  is  history.  From  Wesley’s  ministry  the  Methodist  Church  began  and  spread  across   the  world  in  evangelism  and  missionary  work.  The  results  were  astounding.  England’s   culture was shaken to the core. Churches grew everywhere, and British missions spanned the globe. But as with most other great movements, these types of ministries in Britain have all but stopped. 3 Richard Watson, A Biblical and Theological Dictionary,  article  entitled  “Methodists”,  Waugh  &  Mason,  Ny,  NY:  1832,  p.  641.
  • 12. What has happened to the church of the 21st century? Christians that were baptized into the hope of both eternal life and newness of life are often not successful in living Christ out in practical, every day ways. This  most  likely  because  the  Biblical  concept  of  “teaching”  is  becoming  more  of  a  “telling”   or  “pointing”  to  available  resources, rather than the prescribed, life-style demonstration that God had Paul initiate for all of the churches in the immensely vital Titus 2:1-7 passage. This lack of discipleship was also warned about in Hebrews. “We  have  much  to  say  about  this,  but  it  is  hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the  elementary  truths  of  God’s  Word  all  over  again.  You  need  milk,  not  solid  food!   Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves  to  distinguish  good  from  evil.”  (Heb.  5:11-14)
  • 13. The sad truth is that: No Discipleship Produces Spiritual Immaturity What are the common signs of the un-discipled believer? They are often along these lines: 1. Marginal  desire  for  God's  Word  (virtually  “Biblically  illiterate”). 2. Walks in the flesh; does not know the difference between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit. 3. Few  “works  of  faith”,  i.e.,  no  evidence  of  being  filled  with  God’s  love  to  serve   others, giving, etc. 4. Easily swayed or deceived by false doctrines. 5. Stuck in the basics, experiencing no growth. 6. Limited desire for fellowship with other believers. 7. Strong desire for worldly possessions, and showing selfish ambitions and a spirit of competition.
  • 14. 8. Difficulty in repenting/forgiving others. 9. Lacking compassion for the lost. 10. Not actively assisting in the spiritual development of others. 11. Limited sense of God, His character or His will. 12. Life filled with fear, anxiety, and the absence of peace. 13. Often covetous, boastful, prideful, manipulative, etc. 14. Ongoing financial difficulties (living far beyond means...in debt). 15. Seekers of pleasure. 16. Lives marked by lack of discipline (physically, mentally, and spiritually). 17. Only partial victory over sin. 18. Non-existent or lackluster prayer life. 19. Little or no time or sincere interest in true worship. 20. Not accountable to anyone for anything. 4 4 Doug  Morrell,  Wesley’s  3-Strand Discipleship, May 18, 2005; http://www.corediscipleship.org/index.html
  • 15. Christ's first words, to His first disciples, should be our first priority as His disciples today. “Follow  Me”  is  still  the  essence  of  Biblical  Christianity.   Which  leads  us  to  our  final  element  in  tonight’s  lesson: Resisting the Wrongs Ways to See Change in People
  • 16. BCF p. 74: BASIC APPROACHES TO SOLVE PERSONAL PROBLEMS (Isaiah 55:7-9) MAN’S  WAY  (Proverbs  14:12;;  1  Corinthians  3:19-20; Colossians 2:8 GOD’S  WAY  (John  10:9-10; Romans 11:33-36) Instinctual Behavioral Positive Potential Spiritist Heart Transformation (Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 36:26; Acts 15:6-9) Driven by instincts (i.e. Behavior is conditioned Intrinsically good – has Helpless before all sprits Sinner – Saint (Romans 5:12, 19; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18, BASIC VIEW instinctively does things: or  “programmed” everything necessary 21) OF MAN fight, flight, seek food within self to solve own and gratification) problems Instincts are thwarted by Wrongly influenced by Mind blocked by Committed to or under Rebellion (Romans 1:20-21) CAUSE OF society, family, and environment and negative thinking or control of spirits, demons, Unbelief (John 3:16-18, 5:38-40) PROBLEMS upbringing circumstances influences ancestors Disobedience (Ephesians 2:1-2, 5:6; Titus 3:3) Denial  of  God’s  power  (Hebrews  2:14-15; 1 John 3:8) Follow Instincts Recondition or Release potential within Appease ancestors; Be saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and in “reprogram” self Appease or cast out loving obedience to God (Romans 6:16-19) be matured in CURE demons, sprits; Christ (Ephesians 4:13) through the power of the Holy Spirit Discover your spirit guide (Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:18) Psychoanalysis Manipulation of Reflection of thoughts Potions, charms, amulets, Listen (Proverbs 18:2, 13, 17; (interpretation of behavior by use of and feelings; fetishes; Reprove, rebuke, exhort (2 Timothy 4:2); irrational thoughts, positive and negative No presentation of Curses on enemy; Encourage (Hebrews 3:13); analysis of dreams); stimuli; answers – draw answer Curse nullification; Admonish (Romans 15:14; Colossians 1:28); COUNSELING Hypnosis therapy; Train to respond to out  of  counselee’s  own   Ritual offerings; Stimulate (Hebrews 10:24); TECHNIQUE Psychodrama; reward and punishment inner resources; Communion with spirits; Strengthen (Hebrews 12:12); Re-socialization; Positive thinking Mantras, chants; Restore (Galatians 6:1-2, 5); Personality testing and Horoscopes; Teach (Romans 6:17-18; Colossians 3:16); analysis “Visualization” Train (2 Timothy 2:2) Ego, Id, Drives, Libido, Stimulus, Inner potential, Curses; god within; Sin (Romans 3:23) Conscious and Conditioning, Inherent goodness, Higher power; Put off practices of the old self and put on practices of the Subconscious, Automatic response, Self-assertion Appeasal of spirits; new self (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:5-17); COUNSELOR’S   Neurosis/Psychosis, Positive/negative Self-esteem Binding of demons; Self-denial (Luke 9:23-25); THEOLOGY Phobia, Mania, Catharsis, reinforcement, Self-worth Generational sins; Judge self (Matthew 7:1-5); Self-Actualization, Free Self-fulfillment, Demons or spirits of Godliness (1 Timothy 4:7-8); Association Self-improvement anger, fear. Lust, etc. Do the Word (James 1:22-25) Liberate self (contrary to Improve self (contrary Elevate self (contrary Release self from Deny self (Luke 9:23-23); Ezekiel 18:20-21; to John 15:4-5; to Psalm 62:9; Romans bondage (contrary to Please God (2 Corinthians 5:9; Colossians 1:10) and bless COUNSELING Philippians 2:3-4) Romans 1:18-32; 3:10-18, 23, 7:18) John 15:4-5; 2 others (1 Peter 3:8-9) through ministry (1 Peter 4:10) and FOCUS James 4:10) Thessalonians 3:3; 1 John service (Matthew 20:25-28) 5:4-5)