MARKS OF A TRUE DISCIPLE
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 49-50
TOPIC: MARKS OF A TRUE DISCIPLE
FIRE SCRIPTURE: John 8:31-36
Luke 14:26- “`”If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”“`
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE: A surrendered life that is characterised by humility is the mark of a genuine disciple.
PRAISE WORSHIP: Take a worship song as led by the Holy Spirit
WORD FOR TODAY:
HEAVEN WILL GIVE YOU THE UNDENIABLE REWARDS OF A TRUE DISCIPLE OF CHRIST, IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
The MESSAGE:
Many Christians believe that once they give their lives to Christ and are called Christians, they have fulfilled all they are required to do.
This is wrong! Salvation is the first and major step into a lifelong walk with God and a relationship that continues in eternity.
Having become a Christian, you are expected to move into a deeper relationship with Christ, your Saviour, by becoming His disciple.
This is a marked difference between being a Christian and being a disciple of Christ.
The focus of the church should be not only to win souls but to raise disciples for our Royal Master. Let us examine some of the marks of a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
The first mark of a true disciple of Jesus is spelt out in our Memory Verse for today: “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). What the Bible means here is that for you to be a true disciple of Jesus, He must occupy the supreme place in your life.
He must become your first love. You must choose Him above your parents, spouse, children and all your other interests. Does Christ have pre-eminence in your life? If He does not, you need to change so that you will qualify to be His true disciple.
The second mark of a true disciple of Jesus Christ is cross-bearing. Luke 14:27 says, “And whosoever doth not beat his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Christ was very clear and emphatic about His point here.
What does bearing His cross mean? It means sharing His reproach, suffering and persecution for His sake. The cross is a symbol of shame and pain.
Jesus foretold His disciples that they would be hated, persecuted, misunderstood and so on.
Jesus Himself went through all these. He was falsely accused, condemned to death and crucified. The sinless and guiltless was hated, misunderstood and killed!
Beloved, a disciple is not greater than his master! I pray that God will give you the grace to be Christ’s true disciple, in the name of Jesus.
PRAYER POINTS:
MORNING
1. Father, help me to make Jesus Christ to occupy the supreme place in my life, in the name of Jesus.
2. Anything contending for God’s place of pre-eminence in my life, die, in the name of Jesus.
3. Father, give me the grace to bear my cross and go after Christ without looking back, in the name of Jesus.
EVENING
4. Father, make me a true disciple of Christ, in the name of Jesus.
5. I receive the grace to serve the Master worthily to the end, in the name of Jesus.
6. Father, help me to walk by faith in Your word, in the name of Jesus.
7. The grace and blessings of God that I have received will not be in vain, in the name of Jesus.
©2021 _MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries Worldwide)_