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What is a Disciple of Jesus:

‘Every disciple is a believer, not every believer is necessarily a disciple.’ ~Greg Laurie

Requirements of Discipleship:

(Luke 14:26-27) “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

A disciple does not only come to see the Lord’s miracles and get a free meal but to take up the Cross of Jesus and give it all he has to the spread the good news. Today if you were to be asked by a coworker if you were a Disciple of Jesus, what would you say?

Whether you’ve called yourself a Christian since childhood, or all of this is new to you, Jesus clearly defines what kind of relationship he wants to have with you.  He tells you exactly what it means to follow him. It may seem that there are many followers of Jesus, but if they were honestly to define the relationship they have with him it might not be accurate to describe them as followers. It seems to me that there is a more suitable word to describe them. They are not followers of Jesus. They are fans of Jesus. Admirers maybe, sometimes enthusiastic, but followers when the going gets tough, probably not.

Jesus clearly says there are a few requirements to following Him.

Requirement #1: Love Him More Than Anyone Else
Jesus does not want us to hate our family, freinds, or ourselves but to love Him above everything else.

(Luke 9:59-62) He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Requirement #2: Deny Yourself and Take up the Cross
We have obsessive tendencies to think about ourselves above others or God. C.S. Lewis once wrote, “The real test of being in the presence of God is that you either forget about yourself altogether or you see yourself as a small,  dirty object. It is better to forget about yourself altogether.”

(Luke 9:24) For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
The word “life” here is pointing to our souls – literally our will, ambition, goals, and desires.  We need to give that up so that we can conformed to the image of Jesus and His plan and purpose for our life.

Requirement #3: Count the Cost

(Luke 14:28) For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it

Billy Graham has said, “Salvation is free, but discipleship costs everything we have.”

What are the Benefits of Being a Disciple?
1. God will reveal himself to His disciples.
2. Every day is fresh opportunity to walk with God and experience His presence.
3. A Disciple has a definite purpose and direction and life is abundant.
4. A Disciple does not miss out on the blessings from being in close relationships with the Lord.

So what are you? A Fan or a Follower? Have you counted the cost of Discipleship? It’s going to cost you either way. it’s going to cost being a discipleship or it’s going to cost you for not being His disciple.

  • Ask God today to give you the strength to follow Him more closely. That God would give you a heart to follow no matter the cost.

  • Pray that God would show Himself powerful in worship this weekend. Pray for Pastor Gerald for God’s anointing and provision for Easter Sunday.