Pt. 3 - The Cost Of Discipleship - Pt. 2

The Biblical Foundation of Discipleship (John 8:31-32)

• Textual Basis: The primary text is John 8:31-32: "Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him, if you continue in my word… then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

• The Conditional Nature of Discipleship: Verses 31 and 32 are inseparable. Freedom is not an automatic right/state but a result of knowing the truth, which is a result of continuing in the word.

• Definitions of "Continuing":

  • One translation says to "obey my teachings."

  • The Amplified Bible says to "hold fast and live in accordance" with them.

• Knowledge Through Action: True learning is not merely "book" or "mind" knowledge; it is learned by "doing."

  • The Driving Metaphor: A person may learn about driving from a book, but reality begins when getting behind the wheel.

    • Specific nuance: You cannot see the center line from the driver's seat; such nuances only click through performance.

  • The Result Principle: It is only the "doers" who get results and experience miracles based on their confession: "I'm a doer."

The Nature and Identity of a Disciple

• Core Meanings:

  • Learner: One who acquires information.

  • Follower: One who imitates the leader.

  • The Vine’s Definition: A disciple is not just a pupil but one who imitates the master.

• The Ultimate Goal (Luke 6:40): Jesus stated, "The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfected [completed in development and training] shall be as his master."

  • Implication: Believers can and should think, pray, believe, operate, and minister exactly like Jesus.

  • Greater Works (John 14): Jesus promised that those who believe on Him will do the same works and "greater works than these," specifically in multitude and magnitude, because He returned to the Father and works through us.

• Believer vs. Disciple: Becoming a disciple is not automatic upon belief. John 8:31 specifies that those who already believe must continue to become "disciples indeed."

The Metaphors of Discipleship: Athletes and Soldiers

• The Athlete (1 Corinthians 9:25):

  • Strict Training: Athletes in the games go into "strict training" for a crown that does not last (a wreath). We do so for an eternal crown.

  • Self-Denial: To win the contest, one must deny oneself many things that hinder performance.

  • Hebrews Comparison: We must lay aside every weight and the sin that easily besets us to run the race.

• The Soldier (2 Timothy 2):

  • Strength in Grace: Verse 1 commands to "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."

  • Enduring Hardness: Verse 3 commands to "endure hardness [not easiness] as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."

  • Functional Duty: A soldier does not quit because of discomfort (e.g., getting up at $0500$ hours or operating a tank in $-20$ degree weather).

  • Separation from Entanglements: A soldier does not entangle himself with the "affairs of this life" so that he may please the one who chose him.

Discipline Over Feelings

• Indicators of Weakness: The primary phrase identifying a weak/undisciplined life is "I feel."

  • Strong disciples have feelings but are not ruled by them.

  • Repentance vs. Feeling: If the Bible says God has forgiven you, saying "I just don’t feel forgiven" is effectively calling God a liar.

• Case Studies in Duty:

  • Kenneth and Aretha Hagin: Example of serving in their $80s$.

  • Anecdote: Traveling on a plane at $1:30$ AM - $2:00$ AM, flying at $41,000$ feet at $500$ miles per hour while eating pepperoni pizza. Doctors said most people that age were dead, but they had a "sense of duty."

  • Commitment to Service: Even when weary, they would "brace themselves," dress their best (using "toothpicks to prop up the corners of the mouth" if necessary to smile), and start the service by faith. The anointing would then strengthen them.

The Theology of Suffering in Discipleship

• Defining Suffering: To endure pain, discomfort, or unpleasantness.

• The Marathon Runner Analogy: Runners in China (Olympics) push through searing pain and "hip/ankle/toe/lung" discomfort to reach the gold. They do not view themselves as victims because the goal is worth the price.

• Biblical Distinction on Suffering:

  • Redemption from the Curse: Believers are redeemed from the curse of the law (sickness and poverty).

  • Suffering for the Gospel: Sickness does not help the church or glorify God; it hurts the church by removing laborers and draining finances.

  • True Suffering: Persecution, discomfort, and "enduring hardness" for Christ’s sake or the elect’s sake.

• Romans 8:17-18: "If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed."

The Reality of Persecution

• The Universal Law of Persecution (2 Timothy 3:12): "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

  • The Litmus Test: If a believer never experiences persecution, it suggests they are living too much like the world and are not identified enough with Christ.

• Apostle Paul’s Example (2 Corinthians 11):

  • $5$ times received $40$ stripes save one ($39$ lashes).

  • $3$ times beaten with rods.

  • $1$ time stoned (and notably got up and went back into the town to preach with bloodshot, swollen eyes).

  • $3$ times suffered shipwreck; a night and a day in the deep.

  • Perils: Waters, robbers, countrymen, heathen, city, wilderness, sea, false brethren.

  • Other hardships: Weariness, painfulness, hunger, thirst, fastings, cold, nakedness, and the "care of all the churches."

  • Observation: Disease and sickness are absent from Paul's list of sufferings; he needed physical strength to survive these ordeals.

• Identification with Christ (John 15:18-20):

  • "If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you."

  • The world loves its own. If Christ was persecuted, His true disciples will be too.

  • Modern Application: Suffering might involve standing in the cold with a flashlight in the parking lot or staying up late to serve, rather than just romanticized notions of martyrdom.

The Sovereignty of Service

• Direct Accountability to God: Service to the church is actually service to the Master.

• Anecdote on Commitment: A man told Keith Moore he was led by the Lord to help in a specific area, only to quit shortly after because he didn't "feel" like it. The Lord told Moore: "Just because you said it was okay [for him to quit] doesn't mean I said it's okay."

• Elijah and Elisha: Elisha refused to stay behind even when Elijah gave him the option to rest. He was committed because he had a call on his life, regardless of how tired he was.