WHY DISCIPLESHIP?

The Jewish people have survived for thousands of years because discipleship has been an integral part of their lifestyle. We read of its importance in the “The Shema.”   “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.  And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.  And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deut. 6:4-9 NLV)

In the Torah, we are instructed to talk about loving God over and over again with our families.  We are also told to talk about God’s commandments both in and outside the home.  We are instructed to let everyone see our love for God, and our commitment to His Word and ways.

As Messianic believers, Yeshua gave us all another commandment, found in Matthew 28:18-20. “Yeshua came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

So, not only are we to love God with everything we’ve got, we’re also to help others do the same. That’s what making disciples is all about.  And why is discipleship important? Without it we miss out on the abundance, satisfaction and joy of God’s design for us.  Our greatest joy comes from being in God’s wondrous Presence. “In Your presence is fullness of joy.” (Psalm 16:11) When did Yeshua promise to be with us?  When we are making disciples.

Without discipleship we are in danger of getting caught up in the monotonous routine of religion that produces no fruit.  We’ll waste our lives like that.  If we don’t disciple, the cost for the lost in this world will be great. The people in our communities, in our cities, and people groups around the world will go around without the Gospel, because we’re content not making disciples of all the nations. In our casual approach to our faith in the Messiah, without discipleship we’ll leave people stranded on a road that leads them right to hell.

Many erroneously believe it’s the congregational leader’s job to disciple.  No.  The leader’s “…responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the Messianic Community, the body of Messiah.” (Ephesians 4:12)  What is the work that builds up the Messianic Community?  It’s discipleship.

When we truly love God, it is reflected in the choices that we make in our lives.  We make choices based on what pleases God, as found in His Word.   We turn from choices that just please ourselves, or others.

Discipleship is God’s desire and plan for each of us.  We each need to be in discipleship relationships, both where we are receiving, and giving.

In Southern Israel there’s a large body of water called the Dead Sea.  It’s called that because nothing lives in it. Nothing grows there. There are no sea weeds or plants, no fish either. The Jordan river and some small canals drain into it. But, unlike other seas or lakes, no river originates from the Dead Sea. Because of this, the water has become salty and the high concentration of salt makes plant or animal life impossible.

If we look at our spiritual lives using the analogy of the Dead Sea, if nothing is flowing out of us in discipleship relationships, nothing will grow in us either. We will be dead spiritually, and our lives will bear no fruit.   God’s true disciples bear much fruit.

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” (John 15:5-8)

Going back to “The Shema,” discipleship involves talking about what it means to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and strength. It involves helping people learn how to apply God’s commandments to their lives, and live in peace with their God, and Creator.  It requires being in non-superficial relationships with each other and not shying away from deep, meaningful and sometimes challenging conversations that test our self imposed methods of loving God, and loving each other.

In this technological age of television/movies, the internet, Facebook, Pintrest, Instagram and a host of other entertainment outlets, we are all being discipled by something, whether we like it or not. Discipleship will be most fruitful when it’s done with intentionality. Mission Discipleship is a resource that will help you be and make disciples right from the comfort of your own home.

Congratulations!  You’re on the path of going and making disciples!

 

YOUR MOST IMPORTANT DECISION

THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION YOU’LL EVER MAKE!

If you’re Jewish and reading this, please let what the Tanakh (Torah, Neviim, Ketuvim – the Holy Scriptures) says about Messiah and our need for atonement define your belief before you negate what’s written below based on what you’ve learned traditionally. We’ve included Scripture references from the Brit Hachadasha (New Covenant), as that too is the Word of God, based on the seamlessness of the contents in relationship to the Tanakh – See Jer. 31:31-34 and Matt. 15:21-24.

We’re born into this world as three part beings. We have a body, a soul (mind, will, and emotions) and a spirit. Unfortunately, our spirits are dead to the things of God and the truths about His Kingdom, because of our sin nature. Sin is something we’re born with. It manifests as selfishness, pride, disobedience, rebelliousness, etc.. (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

Our Creator, God, is King of all the universe. His Kingdom is an eternal Kingdom. He has a right to rule in our lives, but in our pride we exalt ourselves as King. This pride is one example of sin (imperfection) and sin separates us from God – who is perfect. By faith (trust, belief) God puts His Holy Spirit into our spirit and makes it come alive. (Romans 8:11) Having life in our spirit is what enables us to recognize and understand the truth about God’s Kingdom. It enables us to communicate with God and turn from our sin and live righteous and holy lives. The healing and cleansing that follows brings life and vitality to our lives. (Acts 3:19) This doesn’t happen automatically though.

God sent a manifestation of Himself/the Messiah to the earth. He and the Messiah were One. (John 10:25-30) This manifestation wasn’t the first time God had come to earth! See these scriptures for more examples: (Genesis 11:4-7; Genesis 32:24-30) Messiah, Yeshua/Jesus came to teach us about the Kingdom of God and to die on the cross so the sins of humanity could be forgiven (Matthew 1:21.)

Just as medicine prescribed by a doctor will not heal a sick person unless it’s taken, we too must believe in and ask the Messiah’s sacrifice to cover our sin. The sacrifical system that God gave to the ancient children of Israel was a foreshadow of God’s redemptive plan for all humanity. There is supernatural power in Messiah’s shed blood. (Luke 22:20) When we confess our faith in Messiah and spiritually appropriate His blood (Leviticus 17:11) to our lives this is called receiving Yeshua, Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. Making this choice causes us to be ‘born again’ (John 3: 5-7) by the Spirit and our spirits come alive to God and the truths about His Kingdom.

God has given us all free will and our decision to follow Messiah in this way is the only way to for us to have eternal life with God in heaven. To know Him is to know God (John 8:19; 14:7); to see Him is to see God (John 12:45; 14:9); to believe in Him is to believe in God (John 12:44); to receive Him is to receive God (Mark 9:37); to hate Him is to hate God (John 15:23); and to honor Him is to honor God (John 5:23).

We know there’s real power in the sacrifice and the blood of Yeshua/ Jesus because though He was crucified and died, He rose from the dead. Hundreds of people saw Him alive. (Acts 1:3) This proved that He conquered sin and death forever. The great healings that took place while Yeshua lived on earth also showed us the great compassion of God toward us, and the power of His Kingdom. (Matthew 4:23-25)

Many people say many things about eternity and how many lives we live etc…but the Bible says we live only once and then we will be judged. (Hebrews 9:27) If we have ever lied, stolen, coveted, or gone against any of the other 10 Commandments in God’s law, we will be condemned to eternal separation from God and will spend eternity in torment. (Daniel 12:2) (Matthew 13:49-50)

When we accept the forgiveness of the Messiah by believing in Him, and place our trust and hope in Him and what He can do in our lives, God breathes His own life to our spirit, giving us great joy and peace. It’s then that we are assured that our eternal destination and home is with our Heavenly Father, God, and that His Kingdom (a place of great joy and love) exists both here on earth, and in Heaven. (John 3:16)

By proclaiming and living the truth that Yeshua, Jesus is Lord we come into right alignment with the Kingdom of God and reap all the benefits that God, the Creator of the universe has to offer us.

As we study and apply His instructions as found in His Word, our lives become fulfilled and we begin to live out the unique destinies that we each were created for. It doesn’t mean that we won’t have problems or hardships, but we are assured that when we walk in God’s ways of living, as outlined in the Bible and when we apply ourselves to know God more (through prayer and Bible study) we begin to live lives of fulfillment and abundance no matter what life brings our way. (John 10:10)

If you’ve never prayed to receive Messiah Yeshua/Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior read this prayer and as you do, mean it in your heart. (Prayer is simply speaking and listening to God.):

Lord, God, my imperfection is called sin.
You are perfect God and I understand that You came to earth in the form of the man
Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus Christ, to die, as payment for my sin.
I believe that You were raised from the dead and I have a hope that through my faith
You can set my life on a better path. Forgive me of my sins.
Come into my heart. Cleanse me. Turn my life around and guide me.
Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, Your Ruach HaKodesh.
Help me to walk in Your ways. Prepare me for my eternal home in heaven.
Use me on this earth now for Your glory, Your honor
and the furtherance of Your Kingdom on earth. Thank you for saving me.
It’s in Yeshua, Jesus’ name that I pray.

Amen.

If you prayed that prayer for the first time, or if you have questions, we want to hear from you. Please contact us so we can pray for and encourage you. This is the most important decision you’ll ever made in your life. God has wonderful and marvelous things in store for you.

*Jesus’ Hebrew name, Yeshua, actually means “God is salvation.”
What a beautiful picture of the truth of what God has done for humanity through His Son,Yeshua/Jesus!