Do you believe?

Do you believe?

Jesus came to reveal the Father.  He did not conceal his identity or the purpose of his mission. He declared it publicly to all who came to him.  To all who believed he gave them power to become Sons of God.  Those who believed were called to be his disciples. His call to discipleship was not just to be a follower of him but to understand what was involved in being his disciple. The word “disciple” means a learner who puts into practice what he or she is being taught. The word “believe” means “by your life.”  It involves more than a mental acceptance of what Jesus taught and what he accomplished through his death and resurrection. It is to live your life by the principles and practices Jesus taught and demonstrated.

Today among Christians there is a lack of understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

James Emery White in his blog, “Church and Culture” gave the results of a survey that reinforces the idea that being a disciple of Jesus is not understood by many in the church today.

A recent survey by Barna Group and Summit Ministries of practicing Christians was, to say the least, enlightening. By “practicing Christians,” the study included those who self-identify as Christians, attend church at least once every month, and say their faith is very important in their lives.

 They were asked to rate their agreement or disagreement with various statements.

 Nearly 1 in 3 practicing Christians agreed with the idea that “if you do good, you will receive good, and if you do bad, you will receive bad.” In other words, the idea of karma.

 28% believe that “all people pray to the same god or spirit, no matter what name they use for that spiritual being.” Welcome to New Age thinking.

 27% believe that “meaning and purpose come from becoming one with all that is.” Can you say Hinduism?

 1 in 5 believe that “meaning and purpose come from working hard to earn as much as possible so you can make the most of life.” Can there be a clearer statement espousing raw materialism?

 23% believe that “what is morally right or wrong depends on what an individual believes.” Yes, that is raw postmodern relativism.

 Overall, the study conducted by Barna Group and Summit Ministries claims:

• 61% agree with ideas rooted in New Spirituality
• 54% resonate with postmodernist views
• 36% accept ideas associated with Marxism
• 29% believe ideas based on secularism

It is evident that these people do not understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.  When I think of a true disciple there are three things that are very important to understand and live out in our lives.  The three things are: Our Complete Commitment, Willingness to Count Cost, and The Challenge to believe and live a supernatural life.

The first thing required to be a disciple is making a commitment to believe exclusively in Jesus as the only and sufficient Savior.  There is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). No other religion can meet the requirements of God for the salvation of man.  The idea that all believe in the same God or that works can save man is totally false and are lies from the devil to distract people and lead them down the wrong path that leads to their destruction.  A disciple must be committed to the truth that Jesus proclaimed and give themselves in heart, mind, soul and strength to live in obedience to the teachings of Jesus.  A disciple has to be “all in”.  There is no other option.

There is a story of a leader, Abu Taber, who was going to be attack by a King who had a vast army and had conquered many nations.  The king sent a messenger to Abu Taber to ask him to surrender and avoid bloodshed.  Abu Taber called two of his soldiers and told the first one to take his knife and stab himself in the chest and the soldier immediately did it.  The next soldier the leader told him to run and jump off the cliff and the soldier immediately did it to his death.  The leader then turned to the messenger and said “Tell your master thatI have 500 more men like them and I will have him chained with the dogs by the end of the day.”  Abu Taber defeated the king and chained him with the dogs as he promised. He was not willing to surrender to the opposing army.  His soldiers were completely committed to him and to their cause.  They were “all in.”

A true disciple is 100% committed to Jesus and is willing to do whatever he asks of them.  Many Christians today are convenience Christians not committed Christians.  Attending church is optional and involvement in any discipleship activities is not part of their lifestyle.  A lukewarm lifestyle is not appealing to God or to others.  Mahatma Gandhi the great leader of India said he would become a Christian if he saw them act like Jesus. True disciples commit themselves to be like Jesus.

The second aspect of a disciple is they are willing to count the cost.  Jesus made demands of his disciples that many could not accept.  He called his disciples to be willing to leave their families, fortunes, future to follow Him.  The disciples left their families or were completely rejected by them because they were disciples of Jesus.  Many left businesses as fishermen, tax collectors, zealots and other occupations to dedicate themselves to Jesus.  There was also a cost involved in the persecution they would encounter.  Jesus made it clear that if he was rejected, they too would be rejected.  Persecution would come at the hands of religious people as well as the government. The cost would possibly be laying down their lives for what they believed to be truth.  We read of many believers in Muslim and Hindu dominated countries who are under persecution for their faith.  I watched the film”Silence” which was a story of Catholic missionaries who went to Japan to rescue one of their missionaries who had renounce his faith in Jesus.  The Japanese government was demanding worship of the Emperor and denouncing belief in Jesus.  Those who were Christians were given the choice of denying Jesus or death if they chose to continue to declare their faith.  Those who would not recant their faith  were tied to a cross and place by the shore of the ocean where they would drown when the tide rose.  The priest who denied his faith asked for forgiveness twice but continued to deny his faith when placed under questioning. I don’t know if the story depicted was based on true events but similar stories are happening today.  The cost is great and Jesus wanted his disciples to know what they were potentially going to experience.  The ultimate cost is laying down our lives but the other cost is that we are willing to surrender all of our possessions to him.  Our lives and our possessions belong to God. We have to give complete control of all we have to him, holding nothing in reserve. Raymond Lull was a very wealthy businessman.  Jesus appeared to him 3 times in dreams calling him to take up Christ’s cross which meant to leave all his wealth and go to N. Africa to reach the Muslim people.  He obeyed and gave his life as a martyr for Christ.

The third aspect of being a disciple is the challenge we have to truly believe what Jesus has said we could do and do what his disciples experienced. Jesus did not call his disciples to become realists, he called them to live a supernatural life.  He modeled the supernatural through the miracles, healings, control over nature and natural laws, and by delivering demonically controlled people. He told his disciples that they would do greater things than he did.  Did they believe him? Do you believe you can do greater things?  Jesus challenged them regarding their faith. Even just a small amount of faith could move a mountain.  Is that possible? When the disciples were asked to feed the 5,000 plus people, Jesus expected them to do it.  When they were sent out to proclaim the gospel signs and wonders and healings were performed. He taught them to pray believing they had received it not hoping they would receive what they were asking for. He challenged them to pray in his name and if they did they would receive what they asked for. He called them to do supernatural ministry. Jesus’ final words to his disciples found in Mark 16:15 describe supernatural things that they should expect to be able to do.  Do you believe you can do these things on a regular basis? 

The early church disciples experience the supernatural power of God working through them. We read of the incidences in the book of Acts

Peter and John saw a lame man rise and walk. Acts 3

The apostle performed many signs and wonders. Acts 5.12

Phillip performed signs and miracle among the Samaritans.  Act 8:6-7

Phillip was supernaturally transported Acts 8:39,40

Peter healed a paralytic, Acts 9:33,34

Agabus received supernatural revelation regarding a famine; Acts 11:28

Peter was miraculously released from prison by and angel; Acts 12:6-10

Paul confronted Elymas who was demonic and caused blindness to afflict him; Acts 13:11

Paul was raised from the dead or miraculously healed from being stoned; Acts 14:19,20

Paul cast out the demon controlling the young girl; Acts 16:18

Paul and Silas miraculously released from prison; Acts 16:26

Paul did extraordinary miracles in Ephesus; Acts 19:11

Paul resurrected the dead young man Eutycus: Acts 20:10

Paul because of his experiences and faith in God wrote great words of encouragement to the churches regarding the supernatural life that they should expect.

Rom 15:18  For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed,

Rom 15:19  by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;

1 Cor 12-14 Supernatural gifts of the Spirit

2Co 10:4  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

Eph 1:19  and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might

Eph 1:20  that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

Eph 3:20  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

Php 4:13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me

Col 1:11  May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,

Col 1:12  giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Col 1:29  For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

As disciples of Christ we can expect the supernatural to be our life.  Jesus did not call us to live ordinary lives but supernatural lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Discipleship in the church today must reflect what Jesus taught and expected of his disciples. He has called us to be his disciples who are fully committed to him, who have counted the cost and who have accepted the challenge to live a supernatural life. Do we believe that we can truly be everything Jesus said we could be and do and everything he and his disciples did?