YOU ARE COMMANDED BY JESUS TO MAKE DISCIPLES!
YOU ARE COMMANDED BY JESUS TO MAKE DISCIPLES!
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. —Luke 24:45-49
We cannot understand God’s Word unless He opens our minds. People can read God’s Word, memorize God’s Word, but to understand God’s Word He has to enable us. This is what Jesus did for them as mentioned in the verses above. He helped them understand: 1- That the Christ should suffer 2- That the Christ would rise from the dead the 3rd day 3- That repentance and forgiveness of sin should be proclaimed to all nations. They were to start in Jerusalem and in Acts 1:8 they were told to continue to Judea, to Samaria and to the ends of the earth. They were witnesses and Jesus was sending them the promised Holy Spirit to empower them to carry out His will (Acts 1:8).
If we understand God’s Word then we understand that we are to be about His will today. We are witness of these things. We are to disciple the nations. So how are we doing in discipling others? Are you discipling somebody? Have you been discipled? Are you a disciple? Someone has said, “You cannot disciple someone else unless you are a disciple yourself.” Discipling others is not an option, it is a command— “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). As we are going through life we are to make disciples. Are we? Are you? When a person becomes a disciple we are to baptize them. Have you a disciple that has been baptized? Then we are to teach them to OBEY everything that I have taught you. Who are you/am I teaching to OBEY what Jesus taught you/me? Jesus has commanded that we make disciples. What is a disciple? It is one that has been taught to OBEY Jesus. Are you/am I OBEYING Jesus? Are you/am I discipling others to OBEY Jesus who are teaching others to OBEYJesus who are teaching others to OBEY Jesus… If not, then the question is- are you/am I being obedient to Jesus? If you and I are not discipling others, then we are not being obedient.
So what will we do about it? Let us seek to be obedient and carry out the responsibility our Lord has given us. Not discipling someone? How about beginning to pray and ask God who he wants you to disciple. Then when He shows you teach that person to OBEY what our Lord has taught you that they would do the same in other people’s lives. Oh, that we would be obedient in this most important foundation truth of God’s Word. Dear Father may it be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit given us to make disciples in the authority of Jesus. Thank You that we do not do this alone for He has promised to be with us to the end of the age. Thank you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yBzIt_z8oY