Biblical Discipleship Pt. 5 True Discipleship & Gospel Ministry

We have been exploring things that concern our Pastors because those should also be things that we care about. 

First, we noted their worry about watered down gospel teaching and the fact that so many "pastors" are compromising the truth in order to appeal to a mass audience. 

Second, we noted their concern about our culture being militantly secularized. We noted that parents must train up their children in the ways of God.

Third, we noted a great concern over believers new and old, not being discipled in their faith. We looked at the Old Testament and found that discipleship begins in our homes, continues in both large and small groups and that God has always had leaders designated to teach the people of God. 

This led us to the New Testament to see how Jesus taught His disciples.

Discipleship is preparation for kingdom ministry. 

Matthew 10:1  And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. 

This text begins with Jesus calling the twelve disciples to Him. "He had called" them. The word "call" means that Jesus summoned them to His side. God calls the people of the world to Himself through gospel preaching. Jesus calls preachers of the gospel to Himself in order to entrust the high calling of gospel preaching to each Pastor, teacher, or evangelist. 

"He gave them power" is the next act that Jesus took after calling His disciples. He gave them specific powers to heal all sickness and disease and to cast out unclean spirits. 

As I consider this text, I am always struck by the fact that when our Lord Jesus Christ lived here as a God robed in a human body, there was so much demonic activity going on.

The apostles also warned us that as Christ's return draws nearer there will be a similar increase in demonic activity (See 2 Thessalonians 1 & 2; 2 Timothy 3:1-9).  Certainly, some of the illogical thinking, the disregard for life and explosions of unbridled hatred we see erupting around us, may be indicators of such activity.

So, Jesus called His disciples and He empowered them. I believe Christ does the same thing today through the ministry of His Spirit. Now, He is not going to give us the ability to work miracles, do wonders or work signs, because that type of manifestation belonged to the period of Jesus' earthly ministry and to the apostolic age. 

The mission of the disciples is divided into three sections. The first part (Matthew10:5-15) contains directions for the brief and temporary mission on which they were now going forth, with respect to the places they were to go to, the works they were to do, the message they were to bear, and the manner in which they were to conduct themselves. 

The second part (Matthew 10:16-23) opens out into the permanent exercise of the Gospel ministry. The third part (Matthew10:24-42) is of wider application still, reaching not only to the ministry of the Gospel in every age, but to the service of Christ in the widest sense. 

It is a strong confirmation of this threefold division, that each part closes with the words, “Verily I Say Unto You” (Matthew 10:15, Matthew 10:23, Matthew 10:42).

Discipleship means obeying Christ's commands. 

Matthew 10:5-7  These twelve Jesus sent forth and commanded them saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6) But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7) And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The "twelve Jesus sent forth." So far in this narrative, Jesus called the disciples and He empowered them.  Then, He sent them away to an appointed place with specific instructions. A kingdom ministry targeting God's chosen people, Israel was the mission Christ gave His disciples to complete. 

They were to publicly announce that the kingdom of heaven was at hand to the Jewish people. We know of course, that Christ was rejected by Israel as part of God's predetermined plan of salvation (See Acts 2:14-41). 

Discipleship means trusting God will provide needed resources.

Matthew 10:8-11  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. 9) Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10)  Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. 11) And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. 

Jesus commanded His disciples to heal those who were sick, to cleanse lepers from their leprosy, to raise the dead back to life and to cast out devils. The twelve disciples could do none of those things themselves so they were dependent upon the Lord Jesus Christ to work through them with His power.

Jesus told them not to take any money or extra clothing because those physical needs would be provided for. Again, they had to depend upon God for food, clothing and shelter as the ministered to Israel.

Discipleship means preparing for persecution & division.

Matthew 10:16-20  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17)  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18) And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19) But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20) For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21) And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 

Christ's disciples were to be left exposed and vulnerable like sheep exposed to wolves. This picture of discipleship is startling enough, but that Christ sent His disciples (the sheep) among the wolves was a very striking illustration. No decent shepherd would ever expose his sheep to ravaging wolves. No wonder this announcement begins with the exclamation, “Behold.”

The idea is that the twelve disciples of Jesus were to go forth in His wisdom and with calm faith in Christ.

As Jesus taught the twelve, He also looked forward to the founding of the church after the cross and His ascension to the Father. This took place on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1 & 2). His disciples (called Apostles by that time) were constantly harassed and persecuted by the Jewish religious leaders who rejected and crucified Christ. 

Jesus told His disciples that when they were arrested and brought before those same rulers and kings to give account for their actions, the Spirit of God would speak through them. 

Jesus taught His disciples about the power of the gospel and the cost of discipleship. Preaching the gospel will cause divisions within families and children will betray their parents to death or parents will betray their children to death. Siblings will betray each other to death (See Matthew 24). 

Discipleship can be costly and can result in ruptured family relationships. This happens frequently when one family member hears the gospel and is born again.

Discipleship means sharing the gospel & confessing Christ.

Matthew 10:24; 26-27  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 26)  Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27) What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 

Matthew 10:32,33  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33) But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Discipleship drives away fear and doubt as it instills confidence in our King and Savior, Jesus Christ. If the crowds hated Jesus they would hate the disciples. If they listened to His preaching and obeyed, they would hear and heed what the disciples would preach. 

Jesus told His disciples not to be afraid of those who opposed them. Rather, they were to clearly preach the gospel like a messenger bringing important news to a city that was waiting for news.

The word "confess" means to agree with what God says about His son, Jesus Christ. It also means agreeing with what God says about our sin, His offer salvation through repentant faith in Christ, and new life in Christ. In many respects the word "confess" means telling others about what God did for us through the words, works and person of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is bearing a witness that what God says is right and true. 

Public confession of Christ is one of the traits of a born again believer. Genuine believers who are born again will want to confess their faith in Christ publicly and Jesus will acknowledge all who do so in heaven before His Father. 

Denying faith in Christ publicly is an indicator of a false profession of faith. Those who profess to be believers but fail to confess Christ publicly will be denied by Christ at the Father's throne. 

Discipleship faithfully lived out will be rewarded.

Matthew 10:40-42  He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 41) He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42) And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. 

Jesus taught His disciples that any person who received them is receiving Him because they are His authorized messengers. Jesus demonstrated His great interest in the gospel work of His disciples. Not every person can be a prophet or pastor called by God but those who help God's appointed servants share in his reward.  

Matthew 11:1  And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 

After teaching them and preparing them for going out to preach the gospel, Jesus sent them on their way. He went in a different direction to preach so that their efforts did no overlap. Jesus wanted the disciples to go and do exactly what He had commanded so that they would be first hand witnesses of the power of God at work in men's lives. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

True discipleship begins with the call of God upon your life. We must be saved before we can learn and serve. 

Pastor's must faithfully preach the cross so that the way of salvation is always heard from the pulpit by the individuals and families who gather to worship. 

Parents must faithfully teach their children about sin, condemnation, the cross, salvation and eternal life, so that their offspring see Jesus lifted up in the home. 

True discipleship for all of us is preparation for kingdom ministry whether it be in our homes, our communities, or our place of employment. 

True discipleship for all of us is obeying Christ's command, whether a Pastor, a parishioner, a peasant or a prince, whether young or old. 

True discipleship for all of us and Pastors in particular, is trusting God to provide the necessary resources that facilitate kingdom ministry. 

True discipleship for all of us prepares us for push back and persecution because if the world hated Christ, it will hate Christians. Truth discipleship prepares us to endure divisions and strife because sinners do not like having their sins exposed and our enemy does not want them to hear saving truth.

True discipleship for all of us means publicly confessing our faith in Christ by sharing the gospel and not having fear of man distract us from our mission.

I pray that these truths will sink into our hearts and that we will recognize that we are left here for the purpose of making disciples of Christ one at a time. May our Great God and Savior mold each one of us into faithful disciples of our Lord, for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom.

Bob