CHARGE TO DISCIPLES

 

FAITHFULNESS

2 Timothy 2:1

1Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

1.              The word “faithful” is not talking about those that maintain their attendance, tithing, and fellowship with the brothers during all seasons – though that’s a good thing

2.              This isn’t talking about being dependable and trustworthy though faithful men should be both

3.              This is talking about “fruitfully faithful men”

4.              These are those that will take what is taught and represent it in life and  accurately reproduce it in others

5.              I have a mandate to teach faithful men of this order but I’ve no tolerance for the one who will not take the precious things of the Kingdom to heart and then forward them in others

6.              The man with the one talent that only maintained what the Lord had given him was stripped of his talent and cast into outer darkness as a slothful and wicked servant

 

YOU MUST BELIEVE

Proverbs 20:12  The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

John 10:4 - 5 (KJV) 4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 

 

Isaiah 50:4    The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

 

The Almighty LORD will teach me what to say, so I will know how to encourage weary people.   Morning after morning he will wake me to listen like a student.(GWT)

He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.(NASB)

He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.(NIV)

 

1.              Much of the Church has been dumbed down believing they cannot truly know the Lord intimately.

2.              Most believers are satisfied to relate to the Lord through their religious environment/meetings/services/etc.

3.              Many “christians” don’t even believe they can hear the Lord.

4.              Good News:  You can know the Lord and you can discern his voice

5.              First you must believe that God has given you a “hearing ear” and a “seeing eye”

6.              “6But without faith it is impossible to please him:” Hebrews 11:6a

a.      If you do not believe you hear the Lord then…You will not hear the Lord.  Not because the “Lord” isn’t speaking but because you don’t have faith to discern His VOICE

b.     Occasionally God will break this rule when He sovereignly intrudes on us like Balaam or Saul of Tarsus

7.              If the Lord has called you He has also promised you the ability to see, recognize, and understand the things of the Spirit, the Word, and the Gifts of Ephesians 4:11

8.              He has promised that you will be able hear His voice and know it from others

9.              As a matter of fact we need to believe that He, “WAKES OUR EAR UP EVERY DAY” to hear Him

10.         HE fills us with discretion to know when and how to represent Him to others

11.         No excuses disciples – the Just shall live by faith!!  What do you believe about yourself??

 

Declare

These Words over Your Life

 

Ø     God has given me a hearing ear and a seeing eye. 

Ø     I am able to see, recognize, and understand the things of the Spirit and the Word.

Ø     I am teachable and receive the instruction, and correction of the Spirit, the Word, of those that are sent to me

Ø     According to John 10, I know your voice Jesus.  I discern its sound and distinguish it from any imposters, even including voices of my own mind!!! 

Ø     You open my ears Lord Jesus every morning to listen and hear as a disciple. 

Ø     You oh Lord fill me with discretion to know when to speak and what to say to help encourage others. 

Ø     I am and will be fruitfully faithful in the things you have taught me Jesus. 

 

What does the Voice of the Lord Sound Like?

 

We get better at what we practice!

Don’t forget the “scripture”.  The scripture is an immediate reference into the mind and ways of the Lord.  Even if the scripture doesn’t directly speak to your situation it equips you to discern the voice of the Lord.  A God given thought or unction will never contradict the scripture.

 

KJV: 2 Timothy 3:16

16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

TMSG:

16Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. 17Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

 

Psalm 119:130

130       The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

 

1.              When the Word of God comes to us it fills our minds with light. 

2.              The word opens our minds to the ways of God.

3.              Everything we need to know to deal with life….. is found in God

4.              His word fills us with “aha” moments of understanding concerning things before not understood. 

5.              The word of the Lord is the remedy for silly, seducible, naïve’ folk.

 

MEDITATE

Psalm 63:1

1    O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

2    To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

3    Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

4    Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

5    My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

6    When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

7    Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

8    My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

 

1.              Determine to live your life in desperate need of the Lord. 

2.              Praise Him, bless Him, lift your hands to Him, praise Him with Joy.

3.              Use your memory of Gods goodness. 

4.              Fasten your thoughts on the Lord and His goodness. 

 

KNOW THE SOURCE

John 5:30 KJV

30I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

 I am able to do nothing from Myself[independently, of My own accord-but only as I am taught by God and as I get his orders].  Even as I hear, I judge [I decide as I am bidden to decide.  As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision], and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will [I Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me. (Amp)

 

1.              Independence from God is the great enemy of mankind

2.              Independence from God caused the sin of Adam and Eve

3.              Jesus didn’t live in independence

4.              Jesus didn’t speak, work, or do things by desire, impulse, or even individual incentive

5.              Jesus declared, He could, “DO NOTHING” apart from God

6.              Jesus lived his life by ongoing “COMMUNICATION WITH GOD”

7.              Jesus didn’t consider His, “OWN WILL” in decision making

8.              He submitted to THE REVEALED WILL OF THE FATHER even to the point of death

9.              He said in the “garden of Gethsemane” “NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE”

10.         However this choosing the will of the Father didn’t begin in Gethsemane it was the way Jesus conducted ever day of His life

11.         If our Lord conducted His life in this manner shouldn’t this be our pattern

 

PRIDE IS POISON

1 Corinthians 8:1

 1Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

1Now let’s talk about food that has been sacrificed to idols. You think that everyone should agree with your perfect knowledge. While knowledge may make us feel important, it is love that really builds up the church. 2Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. 3But the person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for. (NLT)

1.                 Pride is the poison of Gods people

2.                 God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble

3.                 Your head can be full of information and yet your spiritual life be a failure

4.                 Pride of knowledge is really a manifestation of ignorance.

5.                 We must always be humble and teachable

6.                 Loving and building up others is demonstrating the “Life of God” within us

 

WE REPRODUCE WHAT WE ARE

1 Thessalonians 1:1

5For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

 

9For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you,

2:7but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.(NIV)

 

·        Our lives are to be lived so that upon examination we are found to be genuine followers of the Lord in every way and in every thing.