Revival to Discipleship

Revival to Discipleship

“And the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:7.

Revivals have come and gone down through the years, but the revival to discipleship continues. There is a world of difference between a disciple of Jesus and the usual religious person. Religious people mostly come to Jesus to ask for forgiveness for the sins they commit daily, for their disobedience, and for their unfaithfulness. They also pray for healing when they are sick. However, they continue to live according to their lusts and for their own pleasure.

A disciple comes to Jesus to be with Him and to learn from Him in order to become like Him. He can mold and form only such people into His image.

Jesus’ clear words about the condition for becoming His disciple are written in Luke 14:26, 27, and 33. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple . . . .” “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

The greatest thing a person can be here on earth is a disciple of Jesus. He receives the most excellent instruction, and he teaches others the best things they could possibly learn. Those who keep Jesus’ words and teach others to observe them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 5:19.

God’s Word is always on the increase among a flock of disciples. A large number of priests, who were probably God-fearing according to the laws and commandments of the old covenant, were apprehended of becoming disciples and followers of Jesus by being obedient to the faith. Jesus became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Heb. 5:9.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40. We can do nothing of ourselves and have to learn everything from our heavenly Master. He loves His disciples more than anyone else here on earth, and He has promised to be with them all the days, even until the end of the age. This applies to those who have become disciples themselves and keep His Word, and to those who make others disciples by baptizing them and teaching them to observe everything Jesus has commanded them.

The usual thing in our days is to study theology or go to a Bible school, then without becoming disciples themselves according to the condition in Luke 14, they go out and preach the forgiveness of sins, baptize those who get converted, and then put their names on a membership list of some denomination so that they can be good members who tithe regularly and put money in the collection. To keep everything Jesus has commanded and teach others to observe everything Jesus has commanded is quite foreign to the usual religious preaching. The result is only a flock of religious people who can never be one as the Father and Son are one. The preacher strives to keep them together and is afraid to offend them with God’s Word. We met one preacher who simply could not do it any more. He had to deliver polished messages that went over the heads of all his listeners so that they would not feel offended and insulted and leave. In such an assembly it is considered a great loss if a rich man leaves, with the result that they no longer receive his tithes and contributions in the collections. On the other hand, it is considered a great advantage among Jesus’ disciples if all those who do not love the way of the cross in Jesus’ steps with all their heart leave as quickly as possible, so that they do not have a bad influence on the others. In the church of the living God Jesus is a stumbling stone and a rock of offense. It is a waste of words even to mention tithing to a disciple of Jesus, because he has given himself with everything that he has; he does everything of his own free will and with joy.

Only among disciples can an exalted, eternal, and glorious brotherhood in perfect unity be built. We can become one only if the Word becomes life and glory in us. John 17:22.

Jesus did not think of gathering many people, but only disciples who had forsaken everything in order to follow Him. He did not run after the rich young ruler when he went away. When the seventy disciples left Him, He asked the twelve if they also wanted to go away, but Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” This is also the answer given by all true disciples of Jesus. They have made a choice for life to sanctify themselves for the sake of the eternal words of life.

May the revival to discipleship spread at the same time as God’s Word increases abundantly among us. The mark of true disciples is that they love one another. The flock of disciples is grounded on Mount Zion where Jesus will come to fetch His bride. This will be the gathering of the flock of disciples with Him; a glorious and eternally happy flock.