The Life of a Disciple

A compilation SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

A disciple walks with Jesus, follows Jesus, and lives with Jesus! This is the difference between casual Christianity and discipleship.—David Berg

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It’s not that I’ve already reached the goal or have already completed the course. But I run to win that which Jesus Christ has already won for me. Brothers and sisters, I can’t consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don’t look back, I lengthen my stride, and I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 3:7–14

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Discipleship is not only a willingness to forsake your belongings or your ministry or your job, but it is a forsaking of self and pride. Lay these down before Me and come with nothing in your hands. I will hold you and I will not let you fall. I will take you up into My arms and I will reward you many times over for this sacrifice and your yieldedness to Me. It will not be a loss, but rather you will gain and flourish and reflect the tenderness of My Spirit upon others.

Others will find comfort in the comfort that you have found. You cannot see it now, but through your yieldedness and forsaking of your own ways and thoughts I will shape you into a vessel used by Me and most dearly cherished by others. So hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take your crown. Know that I will not fail you, but I will fulfill My promises unto you. Fear not, only believe, and accept My words of love. Not one thing that I have promised will fail.—Jesus, speaking in prophecy

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You are to be a living ensample of the truth. You preach it in the greatest way by living it. It's true that when it comes to the final showdown that only the miracle-working power of the Holy Spirit of God Himself can really do the job of winning their hearts—but they need to see Him living in us. They need to see this miracle-working power at work in our lives, as a genuine living sample and proof that Jesus is real. (John 14:8–9)

Jesus not only preached His message, but He lived it! He was not only the living Word, the sermon, but He was also the living work, the sample. For He said He had not only “spoken unto them,” but He also had “done the works that none other man did.” (John 15:22,24.)

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However we may understand the details, there can be no doubt, on the biblical picture of human life, that we were meant to be inhabited by God and to live by a power beyond ourselves. … Only constant students of Jesus will be given adequate power to fulfill their calling to be God’s person for their time and their place in this world. They are the only ones who develop the character which makes it safe to have such power. ...

The mission naturally flows from the life. It is not an afterthought or something we might overlook or omit as we live the life. The eternal life, from which many profound and glorious effects flow, is interactive relationship with God and His special son, Jesus, within the abiding ambience of the Holy Spirit. Eternal life is the Kingdom Walk, where, in seamless unity we “Do love, justice, kindness, and walk carefully with our God.” We learn to walk this way through apprenticeship to Jesus. His school is always in session.—Dallas Willard
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THE POWER OF POSITIVE PRAISE IS TERRIFIC!

Get positive! Count your blessings! Thank God for all He has done and just chase the Devil away, all his shades of night by letting the light in, God's positive light of Scripture, the Word, prayer, praise, songs!--Anything you can do to occupy your mind completely with positive thinking! "Whatsoever things are true, good, pure and of good report, think on these things" (Phil.4:8).


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