DISCIPLESHIP
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Discipleship is the act or process undertaken in order to reproduce or implant the life of the master into the apprentice. This involves the transformation of the total man. According to a Christian writer GBILE AKANNI, discipleship also means the “SHIP” that brings the willing pupil (disciple) across the ocean of the natural lifestyle, the gulf of the fallen nature into the new spiritual lifestyle. On the other hand, discipleship is GOD’s means of breeding His children, across the Nations of the world, into the very image and full stature of His dear son, JESUS CHRIST. Scripturally, all who believe in CHRIST JESUS, irrespective of race, colour, personality or popularity, affluence, age and other achievements are called and referred to as HEIRS OF GOD and HEIRS with CHRIST (Rom. 8:15-17). It is also the way out of all the mess, shame and disgrace caused and being caused by many today who called themselves Christians all over the places across the nations of the world. To be like Christ will lay all and the above to rest and our testimonies will remain undefiled and will act as a catalyst to affect our generation.WHO IS A DISCIPLE? A disciple is a follower and at the same time a learner. A disciple is like an egg that passes through the incubator in order to hatch into a life chick. For the interest of this study, a disciple is a believer, a follower of Jesus Christ who has decided to learn the way and manner of the life of Jesus Christ as his or her Master and to uphold it. It is equally clear from the scripture that Jesus Christ came for a mission to reproduce HIMSELF into His followers which is known as DISCIPLESHIP; hence He commanded in Matt. 28:19, “Therefore go and make Disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (NLT). THE NEED FOR DISCIPLESHIP
It is obvious that in every sphere of life, there is the need for training if the best qualified and seasoned personalities will be produced to serve the people. In the military, soldiers are trained to become combatant, in the medical field, Doctors are trained to become specialists. In the same vane, Christians are trained to become DISCIPLES. Discipleship as it were, is a training programme or process that has aims and objectives which stand as the need for it. In light of the above description we shall consider the following aims and objectives that will make one conform to the image of the Master.1. To teach and prepare the disciple for the continuity of the work. Luke 19:13, John 14:12.2. To teach the skill of disciplining. Matt. 10:6-12.3. To mould and fashion the trainee after the lifestyle of the Master. Matt. 10:25, 1 John 4:17, 1 Peter 1:15-16.4. To learn and imbibe the unalloyed faith that is in Christ Jesus. Matt 11:29, John 16:28; 14:6; 13:15-17, Mk. 2:7-9 John 10:36-385. To teach and inculcate in the disciple the spirit of perseverance. Heb. 2:10; 12:2, Isaiah 53:3-8; 1Peter 4:12-16.6. To educate the trainee on the value and placement of prayer. Luke 18:1; 21:36, Rom. 12:12; John 15:5; Eph. 6:18.7. To inculcate the spirit of self-denial. Phil. 2:5-8, Matt. 16:24-25; Heb. 5:8.8. To teach the trainee (Disciple) about sacrificial love. John 15:12-13; 13:34-35; Rom. 12:13, Acts 2:44-47, James 2:15-16; 1 John 3:16-18.9. To teach and inculcate the spirit of Kingdom values. John 6:10-15, 25-27; 18:33-36, Matt. 26:47-54; Lk. 12:16-31; Rom. 14:17-21.10. To prepare the trainee for the Master’s use. II Tim. 2:15-16, 21-25, II Cor. 6:1-10, 14-17; 7:1; Acts 1:3-5, 8; Eph. 5:1; Heb. 6:11-12; I Pet. 2:20-23. METHOD OF DISCIPLESHIP
1. QUESTION – METHOD:
This is one of the ways of imparting knowledge through questioning. It is a system whereby the teacher through question wants the trainee to contribute to the answer. It is a way to measure or test the knowledge of the trainee based on the subject – matter. Matt. 16:13-17; 17:24-27; 12:47-50; Luke 10:30-37. 2. TEACHING – METHOD:
Teaching as one of the ways of imparting knowledge involves the teacher fully or clearly explaining to the students, the topic under consideration in order to dissolve every complexity that would have affected negatively, the understanding of the student or trainee. The method allows question from the student or trainee for clarity. It sometimes involve the use of parables with explanation. Luke 8:4-15; Matt. 5:1-16; 6:5-15; 6:16-18. 3. LECTURE METHOD:
It is a way of imparting knowledge to the student or apprentice but is not as detailed as the teaching method. Jesus’ parables without explanations are lecture methods of imparting knowledge to the disciples. It requires the trainee or student to put in more of personal effort in order to fully understand the message passed to him. Matt. 13:1-14; 21:33-45; 22:1-14. 4. INSTRUCTION – METHOD:
This is a way of imparting knowledge whereby guidelines or terms of reference are given as regards what to be done. Luke 9:1-6; 10:1-11; 22:7-18; John 2:1-9. 5. EXEMPLARY – METHOD:
It is a method of training the apprentice (disciple) by example; it involves the participation of the trainer (teacher) and the trainee (student or disciple) during the training. It is more of a practical approach of imparting knowledge to the trainee. John 13:3-17; Judges 7:15-23; John 2:13-17. 6. DISCUSSION – METHOD:
This is another method of training that involves interaction or dialogue between the Master and the servant (Teacher and Student). John 16:16-22; 4:6-26. Besides, there are other methods of imparting knowledge such as play-way, narrative and comparative methods. THE PRICE OF DISCIPLESHIP
In any meaningful venture that man engages in under the sun, price or cost is involved. Jesus Christ our supreme Master knew this and spoke about it saying, “For which of you intending to build a tower sitteth not down and counted the cost whether he has sufficient to finish it? Lest (perhaps) after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him saying, this man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first and consulted whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else while the other is yet a great way off he sendeth an embassy and desireth conditions of peace. So, likewise, whosoever is he of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, cannot be my disciple. “And he said to them all, if any man come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 14:28-33; 9:23. From the above statements of our Lord Jesus Christ, price can be defined as something one has to relinquish, surrender, forgo or give up as well as something one has to do (actions) in order to be a disciple. From the saying of our Jesus Christ in Luke 9:23 a disciple must:1. Deny himself2. Carry his cross daily3. Follow his master dailyAll the above are part of the cost. DENY HIMSELF
According to GBILE AKANNI in his book, understanding the concept and conditions for Discipleship, the meaning of the word “DENY” from different versions of the Bible as follows: “forget self, say “NO” to yourself, disown yourself, loose sight of yourself and your own interest, refuse and give up yourself, renounce yourself, leave yourself behind, give up all rights to yourself, disregard yourself, put aside and ignore yourself”. a. FORGET SELF: Isaiah 53:7, 1Pet. 2:23; Matt. 27:12-14. In 1Peter 2:23, it was stated that when He was reviled, reviled not again, that is to say that Jesus forgot all about Himself and what He was capable of doing. He did not threaten back nor strike back but resigned His will to Him that judges righteously. How do you react when you are cheated or insulted? Jesus was insulted and had a painful death, yet He did not fight back. So, denying oneself means swallowing insults and all forms of humiliation as a disciple or our Lord Jesus Christ.b. DISOWN AND GIVE UP ALL RIGHTS TO ONESELF: Heb. 11:23-27; Gen. 13:7-11; 1Cor. 9:3-6; 12-15. Abraham by right and by all standards was supposed to choose before LOT who was an adopted son (Nephew) to Abraham, but disown and gave up all rights for the interest of peace. Moses denied himself of all the pleasures and the glory from the palace of Pharaoh. But chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of GOD, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. Paul an apostle of Christ had the right and opportunity to enjoy what other preachers of his time had but gave up all those rights for the kingdom sake.c. DANGERS OF NOT DENYING SELF: The issue of promoting ones selfish ambition and all that has to do with total elevation of the ego in man, abound in the scriptures as can be seen below.1. Satan: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of GOD: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdom; that made the world a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? All kings of the nations, even all abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcass trodden under feet. Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned” Isaiah 14:12-20. Satan coveted the throne and position of GOD out of self elevation. He was finally rejected and cast out of GOD’s presence. He became the first (number one) rebel. 2. GEHAZI: “But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold my Master has spared Na-a-man this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought but as the LORD liveth I will run after him and take something of him. So Gehazi followed after Na-a-man. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well? And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophet: give them I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. And Na-a-man said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him. And when he came to the tower he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed. But he went in, and stood before his Master. And Elisha said unto him, whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, thy servant went no whither. And he said unto him, went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money and to receive garments, and olive yards, and vineyards, and sheep and oxen, and menservants and maidservants? The leprosy therefore of Na-a-man shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed forever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow. 2Kings 5:20-27.3. ACHAN: “So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken. And he brought the family of Judah; and took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken. And he brought his household man by man; and A-chan, the son of carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah was taken. And Joshua said unto A-chan, my son, give I pray thee, glory to the LORD GOD of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. And A-chan answered Joshua and said, indeed, I have sinned against the LORD GOD of Israel and thus and thus have I done: when I saw among the spoils a goodly Bab-y-lo-nish garment, and two hundred She-kels of silver and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD. And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took A-chan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons and his daughters and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent6, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of A-chor. And Joshua said, why hast thou troubles us? The LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones”. Joshua 7:16-25. From the above passage, A-chan was covetous, full of selfish, ambition that motivated him to steal the accursed things. As a result, himself and all his belongings including his family members were stoned to death and burnt with fire.4. JONAH: “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah, the son of A-mitai, saying, Arise, go to Nin-e-veh, that great city and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tar-shish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Ta-shish. So he paid the fare thereof and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. Then the Mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay and was fast asleep. So the shipmasters came to him, and said unto him, what meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy GOD, if so be that GOD will think upon us, that we perish not. And they said everyone to his fellow, come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. Then said they unto him, tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; what is thine occupation? And whence comest thou? What is thy country? And of what people are thou? And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the GOD of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. Then said they unto him, what shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? For the sea was wrought and tempestuous. And he said unto them, take me up, and cast me forth into the sea, so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought and was tempestuous against them. Wherefore, they cried unto the LORD, and said, we beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows. Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was this not my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore: I fled before unto Tar-shish, for I knew that thou are a gracious GOD and merciful, slow to anger, and of a great kindness and repentest thee of evil. Therefore now, O LORD, take I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. Jonah 1:1-17; 4:1-3. Jonah was selfish and wanted his idea to override and overshadow GOD’s principle of salvation. He wanted to dictate for GOD who and who not to save hence his disobedience to GOD’s instruction.5. ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA: “But a certain man named An-a-nias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And kept back part of the price his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, An-a-nias, why has Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it thine own? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto GOD. And An-a-nias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. and the young men arose, wound him up and carried him out and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. and Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the LORD? Behold the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her forth, buried her by her husband”. Acts 5:1-10. They were not only life partners, but partners in sin, in that they agreed to tell lies and stole part of the sales made, meant to be submitted at the apostles’ feet.6. DEMAS: “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world and is departed unto Thess-a-lo-ni-ca;” II Tim. 4:10. Demas’ mind was lured away from the living GOD and His mind was lured away from the living God and His service (work) by the riches and cares of this world, hence one can conclude that the love of the father was not rooted in him. BENEFITS IN DISCIPLESHIP
A disciple is as a trained soldiers. And there are lots of benefits that follow the training. The life of a Christian who is a disciple of Christ is equipped with the knowledge of defence against his or her enemy. He or she is disciplined and has control over SELF and all CARNAL DESIRES. His or her training teaches him or her to trust and obey his or her master always which automatically places him or her under the favour and protection of the Master. A disciple enjoys peace, joy and GOD’s presence always. Last of all but not the least, he or she has a place in GOD’s eternal kingdom. John 14:27, 16:33; 14:1-3; 12:26. CONCLUSION:
From the statement of our Master JESUS CHRIST in Matthew chapter 28:19, which says “Go then and make disciples of all nations, giving them baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (BEV), it becomes obvious that the ultimate in the Christian race is to be a disciple and not a convert. A disciple follows the Master’s lifestyle and will always be and remain a true ambassador of the Master anywhere and anytime. Jesus answered them, “My father worketh hitherto and I work. John 5:17. Therefore, a disciple must work because his or her master Works. All converts (young Christians) therefore, should aspired to become disciples of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. GOD BLESS YOU!
