Beloved, I am glad to share with you today on a very important theme, that of disciples of Jesus, or winners of souls.
It is worth recalling the context in which the Lord Jesus began his ministry at thirty. Indeed, he lived his first thirty years in almost complete discretion with his father Joseph the carpenter, because the Lord had wanted it so. It was when he came out of the waters of baptism that he went from the simple son of a carpenter to the Son of God. For the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove, and a voice was heard from heaven to announce that he is the beloved son of God. Then, when the devil approached him to tempt him, being already filled with the Holy Spirit, he opposed the Word of God by reminding him every time “it is written”.
So the only time he did anything divine at the age of twelve was when he went to Jerusalem with his parents, he left them for the temple where he showed the doctors of law an exceptional intelligence for three days. Moreover, his response to his parents’ worries was “didn’t you know that I had to take care of my father’s business?” The heavenly Father certainly wanted to say that the jeune Jesus was not just a carpenter’s son. Those who were to accompany him in his ministry should be available, humble, obedient and give up everything.
And when he met his first disciples, he was walking along the sea of Galilee. They were two brothers, Simon, called Peter, and Andrew, who were throwing a net into the sea, because they were fishermen. The Bible teaches us in Matthew 4.19: “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
But what can we understand by disciple? He is a person who has followed the teaching of a teacher like John the Baptist. Christians are often called disciples. And beyond the twelve that he had called, all who believe in Jesus are his disciples (Acts 6: 7, 11:26).
Following someone means that you are leaving what you were doing to focus on something new and under the direction of the person you are following.
A – So, the second question is what are the conditions for becoming disciple: the Bible tells us five main ones:
- to deny oneself and to take up one’s cross: Matthew 16.24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
- to give up everything: Luke 14.26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.”
- to quit everything : Luke 14.33 So whoever among you does not give up all that he has, cannot be my disciple.
- to be firm and constant: John 8.31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples”.
- to bear fruit: John 15.8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
B- The characteristics of the service rendered by the disciples:
- they bring people without recourse to Christ: Mark 2.3 People came to him, bringing a paralytic carried by four men.
- they earn Christ the members of their own family: John 1: 41-42 It was he who first met his brother Simon, and he said to him, We have found the Messiah (which means Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. When Jesus looked at him, he said, “You are Simon, son of Jonah; you will be called Cephas (which means Peter).
- they recommend their friends to Christ: John 1.45 And Philip met Nathanael, and said unto him, We have found him of whom Moses wrote in the law, and of whom the prophets spoke, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph:
- they inspire the other disciples: Acts 11.25-26 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; 26 And finding him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they gathered at church assemblies, and they taught many people. It was at Antioch that for the first time the disciples were called Christians.
This means that the disciple is invited to submit to God’s will, despite the rejection or persecution that may arise from the proclamation of the gospel in a hostile world. This is why the disciples must renounce themselves and load up their cross, an instrument of suffering, opprobrium and death, and follow the Lord in obedience and abasement. Of course, they must be willing to give each other the most humble services of dedication and love, just as the Lord Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.
C- Their works are tested:
- Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- Luke 10.37 He is the one who showed mercy to him, answered the doctor of the law. And Jesus said to him, Go, and you, do the same.
- John 5:46 For I have a testimony greater than that of John; for the works that the Father has given me to do, the very works that I do, testify to me that it is the Father who sent me.
- James 2:18 But somebody will say, You have faith; and I have the works. Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works.
- 1 Peter 2.12 Have good men in the midst of the Gentiles, that even where they slander you as evil-doers, they will observe your good works, and glorify God, in the day that he visits them.
This means that the disciple is invited to submit to God’s will, despite the rejection or persecution that may arise from the proclamation of the gospel in a hostile world. This is why the disciples must renounce themselves and take up their cross, an instrument of suffering, opprobrium and death, and follow the Lord in obedience and abasement. Of course, they must be willing to give each other the most humble services of dedication and love, just as the Lord Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.
C – But what particular references must all those who are winners of souls or disciples ?
- they must show the greatest wisdom: Proverbs 11.30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the wise man seizes souls.
- they are formed by Christ for a new calling: Matthew 18:15 If your brother sinned, go and reprove him between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. Luke 5.10 It was the same with James and John, the sons of Zebedee, the associates of Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, Fear not; henceforth you will be a fisherman of men.
D- But what particular references must all those who are winners of souls or disciples:
- they must show the greatest wisdom: Proverbs 11.30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the wise man seizes souls.
- they are formed by Christ for a new calling: Matthew 18:15 If your brother sinned, go and reprove him between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. Luke 5.10 It was the same with James and John, the sons of Zebedee, the associates of Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, Fear not; henceforth you will be a fisherman of men.
E – What happens to Jesus’ disciples
- they receive eternal life: Mark 10.29-30 Jesus answered, Truly I say to you, There is no one who, having left for his sake, and because of the good news, his house, or his brethren, or his sisters, or his mother, or his father, or his children, or his lands, 30 receive a hundredfold, presently in this century, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands with persecutions, and in the next century eternal life.
- Jesus teaches them: Luke 11: 2-4 And he said to them, When you pray, say, Father! Hallowed be thy name; may your kingdom come. 3 Give us daily our daily bread; 4 forgive us our sins, for we also forgive anyone who offends us; and do not induce us into temptation.
- Jesus recognizes them before his Father: Matthew 10.32 Therefore whoever confesses me before men, I will confess him also before my Father who is in heaven;
- they are called Christians: Acts 11:26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they gathered at church assemblies, and they taught many people. It was at Antioch that for the first time the disciples were called Christians.
- they may suffer: John 15:20 Remember the word which I said to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they kept my word, they will keep yours too.
2 Timothy 3.12 And all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. they may know rejection.
Matthew 10.22 You will be hated by all because of my name; but he who perseveres to the end will be saved.
John 15:18, 21 If the world hates you, know that it hated me before you. 21 But they will do all these things to you because of my name, because they do not know him who sent me;
John 17:14 I have given them your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world.
- They needed to strengthen themselves.
Acts 14: 21-22 When they evangelized this city and made a number of disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the spirit of the disciples, exhorting them to persevere in the world. faith, and saying that it is by many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God.
Acts 18.23 And when he had passed some time in Antioch, Paul set out, and went through Galatia and Phrygia one by one, strengthening all the disciples.
Thus, the work accomplished by the apostles of Jesus made it possible to constitute the primitive Church wherever they went to preach the good news and where thousands of people believed in it and converted. Admittedly, this attracted them various troubles. But today, this Church is spread through the announcement of the Gospel, the main mission of the apostles. For it should be remembered that there was no Bible like today, to facilitate their work, and they were able to testify and perform miracles in the name of Jesus through the Holy Spirit that had been promised by the Savior and since then the Lord Jesus Christ has risen and now sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven.
Kindly note that Apostle Paul was a spiritual father of the early church, given the large number of themes he wrote and taught through his letters and epistles, to proclaim the gospel in various churches in Asia and Europe, driven by the Holy Spirit after meeting the Lord. There were other servants of the Lord, whose name was also changed as Abram in Abraham, Sarai in Sara, and Jacob in Israel, changes that changed their lives after meeting the Lord.
Nevertheless; it should be noted that there was no Bible like today to facilitate their work, but they could testify and perform miracles in the name of the risen Jesus and now seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven.
God has so much loved us that he did not hesitate to sacrifice his only Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. And by believing in Jesus Christ, we become his disciples and we also have eternal life. This is an opportunity to seize that is offered to us all. Finally, to follow Jesus Christ assures us, beyond suffering and relief, deliverance, prosperity, salvation, rest, peace, and above all eternal life. That’s why every soul gained makes a lot of joy in the sky. Let’s accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior so as to look forward to seeing changes in our lives. Our prayers strengthen you in your efforts in getting there, in Jesus’ mighty name.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows :
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all adoration, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to revert on your queries and comments as necessary, before sharing with you next week on the sermon on the mountain.
May the Almighty God bless you in abundance.
David Feze, Servant of the Lord of hosts.