Whose Disciple Are You?
May 16th, 2007 by Patricia Bishop
This sounds like a very strange question but one that all of us need to ask ourselves. Of course, each of us that claim to know the Lord Jesus would certainly answer that we are His disciples. Perhaps I will be able to raise a few questions and points that will help us to examine ourselves more closely.
“Come to Me… Learn of Me” (Matthew 11:28,29ff).
Can you see the difference between coming to Jesus and learning of Him, versus coming to someone else and learning about Him?
The difference is like night and day. For the majority of Christians, they don’t know a thing in the world directly from Jesus, they only know what they have heard about Him.
They know what they’ve heard the church say, what brother so-and-so said, what sister so-and-so said, some book, some article, some tape they got off of the Internet or off the television set.
They don’t have a clue who the Lord is for themselves! This is because they have no personal, intimate, experiential, knowledge of Him because they have never come to HIM to learn
of Him.
They go everywhere else but to Jesus to learn about Him, but they never come to Jesus to learn from Jesus. And that’s what being a disciple of Jesus is all about. If you go anywhere else you are their
disciple, you are not the disciple of Jesus.
The following scripture tells us that people obviously seek out different sources for knowledge but read what Timothy said;
(2Timothy 3:7) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
What is the truth?
(John 14:6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
How do we gain knowledge of Jesus?
(Matthew 11:29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
(John 7:37) In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
(1Corinthians 1:5-9) That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Matthew 4:19) And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
(Matthew 16:24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
(Luke 9:23) And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
(John 10:27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
(John 12:26) If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.
(1Peter 2:21) For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
(John 10:1-16) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Folks, I hope this has aroused a hunger and thirst in you to seek out and develop a close, personal relationship with Jesus for yourself. I don’t know about you but I figure eternity is a very long time and the importance of my souls destination for a length of time such as eternity is worth me hearing from the Lord for myself.
There are a lot of good people out there and then there are some that are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Be very careful what you allow yourself to read, watch, hear. Always take what you are told and see if it lines up to God’s word. (Matthew 7:15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Also watch that it is not a private interpretation of scripture but that it holds to the true meaning of Gods Holy word. My advice is to read the entire passage that a particular scripture comes out from so that you can clearly see the setting and what it is pertaining too. Satan is very well versed in scripture but he will twist and wrest scripture to change its meaning to deceive you. Read about where satan came tempting Jesus and trying to use the scriptures against Jesus and note how Jesus answered him in Matthew chapter 4.
(2Peter 1:20-21) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
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Note in the scripture above a statement was made until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts; this day star is the same as the morning star and we know from scripture that this is Jesus.
(Revelation 22:16) I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
(Revelation 2:28) And I will give him the morning star.
(2Peter 3:16-18) As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.
We need to seek the Lord through prayer and reading His word. God does use people to speak to us sometimes by the Holy Ghost but we should not depend upon that as a replacement for our own “hearing” from God. When you begin to seek out other people to hear from God for you if you are not careful you will rely upon them instead of relying upon the Lord. To me that reduces our relationship with Jesus and puts it on the same level as going to a soothsayer and consulting their crystal ball. I’ve heard so many Christians say they needed to talk to brother or sister so and so and see what they think or need help in getting a hold of the Lord. I have even seen people rearrange their schedules and drive many miles to go and hear a so-called prophet in hopes that they would have a “word” from the Lord for them. This is very dangerous and a risk that I myself am not willing to take.
Be watchful over your own soul, it is the greatest possession that you have. Learn the voice of your Chief Shepherd and follow Him and only Him and then you will know with assurance “whose disciple you are”.
(Matthew 24:5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
(Luke 21:8) And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
(Ephesians 4:14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Patty Bishop
servant of Jesus Christ continuing my journey with Him