discipleship | TRUE DISCIPLESHIP NETWORK

This is a brief reflection in response to those who are seeking direction to the call of God to mission. Today, Becky asked me a question about lessons on the call of God from Luke 5:1-11 and the material below is the summary of my response to her. I believe it will bless your life too.

“…Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him” (Lk 5:10b-11).

Hello Becky, the above passage reveals to us the Love of God and why Jesus calls his disciples to follow him. From the passage the writer clearly shows us how Peter and his friends cherished their finishing business and how much they labour for the food that is not eternal. However, when they met with Jesus their lives and business dramatically changed, especially when they obeyed the instruction of Jesus (Lk 5:5). However, it was at the height of their successes and achievements that they left all and followed Jesus. I like such immediate obedience. This suggests that Jesus has the right/authority to call any man/woman anytime for his specific assignment. Don’t you think so?

Therefore, meditating farther and gleaning from Peter’s encounter and the nature of his call in this story (Lk 5:1-11), I want to observe and share the following salient truth about God’s call to Missions with you. I hope it will add to what you already know about God’s blessings and calling upon those he loves:
1.      God does not call people to destruction, condemnation or shame as so many people think of God. God has best plans and a great future for those who obey and follow him. According to prophet Jeremiah, ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope’ (Jer 29:11NIV)
2.      Although God does not call people to lazy outings or purposeless hangouts, yet there is no amount of hard work can get us any farther without God at work in our lives. Jesus told his disciples, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5).
3.      God’s call is a call to God’s purpose. From Genesis to Revelation we see God unfolding his purpose for humankind in and through man. The dynamic list of the heroes of faith who had walk through this earth in the past, remind us that God is up to something and only those who discern, discover and step out by faith share part of the amazing stories of God.
4.      God’s call is a call to divine love. God is first inviting us into intimate love relationship with Jesus. Having drink deep into Christ’ Love we are then send out by and with Christ to share and show his love with others.
5.      God’s call is a call to a personal discipleship walk and work with Jesus. As we daily seize the opportunities that come our way by his grace beware that it requires a disciples to abide. Hence the need for quick obedience.
6.      God’s call is a call to demonstrate the Lordship and power of God in our personal and public life. This reminds me that God is behind all our success, breakthrough, miracles, rewards, awards, accomplishments, promotions, career etc. But I like Peter’s response. At the peak of great achievement in his fishing business, career or profession he decided to surrender all and answer God’s call upon his life. Peter caught fish on that day to the extent that his net broke, he had to call for another whole crew and boat to help and both boats were filled up and even began to sink (Lk 5:6-7). What a success! But he did not allow that to deter him from answering the call to follow Jesus.
7.      God’s call is a call to sincere confession of sin, disobedience and unbelief. We always feel reluctant to obey God. In our calling, Jesus is inviting us to confess our fears (Lk 5:9-10) and confusion; and confess his glorious Lordship over our lives (Lk 5:5).
8.      God’s call is a call to “catch men” alive or to catch men for life and bring them to Jesus (Jude 22-23; Acts 9:15; Proverbs 11:30).
9.      God’s call is call for radical decision and absolute dedication to God in the business of Christ Kingdom.
10. God’s call is a call to follow Jesus. We are not call to be it or do it alone. Christ promised to be with us (Mt 28:19-20). We can do nothing with Jesus (Jn 15:1-8). Jesus is the Master we are his disciples and Lord of the harvest. He leads the way his disciples follow him.

Finally, Jesus told Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will catch people instead of fish.” Simon and his partners brought the boats to shore, left everything, and followed Jesus (Luke 5:10-11 GW).

Please Becky you may join me to meditate on these passages too. John 15:16; Luke 9:23; 14:26, 33; John 12:26; Matthew 4:19. Thanks very much. You are amazing and great. May we answer the call of God instead of trying to fix our lives by ourselves.

God poured out his Holy Spirit upon all flesh (Acts 1:8, 2:1ff). Today, the Holy Spirit is raising a new generation of believers that can say like Paul that their lives are poured out in service because of their love for God and their compassion for the lost -unreached peoples. Hear how Paul said it to the Philippian believers: “But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy” (Phil 2:17).In another instance, he turned to his spiritual son, Timothy, and said, “You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting—God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming (2 Tim 4:6).

Over the years I have enjoyed the confession and prayer of the young African disciple whose life was poured out in Africa, may be Zimbabwe. After he was martyred, these profound words of prayer and confession were found among his notes, papers and books. The words of this prayer have changed many lives and bless others. Please, I would like you to pause and take time to carefully reflect on this confession and examine your own life too. I pray that God will bless you too. I will like to title this confession as “the fellowship of the unashamed.” See it below.

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE UNASHAMED

According to this true disciple of Christ: I’m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His and I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I’m done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.

My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear. I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He’ll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear! -Source Unknown

THE JESUS WAY

I like the words of Jesus to his disciples. Hear what he told them about life in different contexts:

1. First, he told Nicodemus, “Don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again‘ (Jn 3:7). This is very necessary because spiritual things are spiritually discern. Apostle Paul puts it this way, “people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means” ( 1Cor 2:14). And to so do, one must be regenerated in the heart.

2. Jesus warn against greed and anxiety. He instructed his followers to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all things will be added to them (Mt 6:33).

3. In a different context, Jesus told his disciples that, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I’m leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels. This isn’t, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God” (Lk 9:23 msg).

4. He went further in a different situation and said, “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains [just one grain; it never becomes more but lives] by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest.Anyone who loves his life loses it, but anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. [Whoever has no love for, no concern for, no regard for his life here on earth, but despises it, preserves his life forever and ever.] If anyone serves Me, he must continue to follow Me to cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying] and wherever I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him” (Jn 12:24-26 Amp).