Make Disciples!

By Pastor Bill Taylor

A publication of My Father's House, inc. Volume 10/ Issue 10

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I’ve commanded you; (Mt28:19-20) The word disciple comes from the same root as discipline; so a disciple is one who’s being disciplined. The word “chasten” is also synonymous with “discipline.” And you’ve forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, don’t despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you’re rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father doesn’t chasten? But if you’re without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you’re illegitimate and not sons. (Heb12:5-8) He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly. (Pr13:24) Of course God loves His sons and disciplines them promptly. Paul also says, I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, having preached to others, I’d be a castaway. (1Cor9:27) A disciple then is one who disciplines himself and accepts discipline from his master as a son accepts chastening from his father. Accepting discipline or chastening is the only way you can qualify as a disciple or a son. But if you’re without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you’re illegitimate and not sons. (Heb12:8)

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It’s enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher. (Mt10:24-25) As a disciple your principle goal is to be conformed to the image of Christ. For whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Rom8:29) Those God foreknew He predestined to become disciples so they could be made just like Christ their teacher. Now what makes a disciple different from a believer? How can we distinguish whether you’re merely a “believer” or you’re really a disciple? How many of you here consider yourselves to be disciples? (about half of the church raised their hands.) The rest of you don’t? Shame on you! How can you “believe” in Jesus and not be a disciple? How can Jesus say, “Go into all the world and make disciples” and you obey Him if you’re not a disciple yourself? If you think you can be “saved” and be “believing” without being a disciple you don’t know anything yet as you ought to know! I just showed you from the scriptures that if you don’t accept chastening or discipline you’re illegitimate and not sons. (Heb12:8) And so you must be a disciple to be legitimate and yet half of you can’t commit to being disciples? This proves how superficial and foolish most “christians” are today that they don’t think discipleship is necessary to salvation. You think all you have to do is “believe.” Now let this sink down into your hearts. You aren’t believing correctly if you aren’t a disciple. God has called the “believers” to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom8:29) It’s enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. (Mt10:25) What does that tell you about being a believer except only a disciple can be conformed to the master because the purpose of being a disciple is to be made like your master! So the true believer is learning how to be like his master by being a disciple! As a believer what are you doing? Is being conformed to the image of Christ your purpose? Is that your goal? To do that you must be a disciple! Nobody but a disciple can become like Jesus! It’s a lie to think you can be “saved” just because you believe Jesus is the Son of God when you aren’t seriously involved in becoming like Jesus. Yet that’s the kind of “believing” going on in most so-called “churches” today. Such “believers” aren’t saved!

What’s the purpose of your baptism? In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,  buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (Col 2:11-12) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we’ve been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. (Rom6:3-5) United to His death! United to His resurrection! Everything in the Epistles points to the believers being conformed to Christ’s image and coming to perfection in Christ. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ. (Col 1:28) Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (Eph4:13) Nobody but a disciple can do this. But the perverted doctrines and heretical theology of most so-called “churches” today cause people to think all they need to do is “believe” in Jesus to be saved and they don’t think they need to be a disciple or be conformed to the image of Christ to go to heaven. Yet that’s completely contrary to what the Bible says about salvation. God requires us to be conformed to Christ. (Rom8:29) We’ve been given apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to help us to attain to that. (Eph4:11-13) We’re to be working together to help each other to attain to that. Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one Spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. (Phil 1:27) Anyone who holds to the idea that “I’m a believer but not a disciple” is completely deceived! Such people don’t understand salvation. The beginning of salvation is repentance and water baptism into Christ in which you died with Him and are raised with Him into the new Christ-life. (Col 2:12) After baptism you’re to be transformed, becoming like Jesus by the renewing of your mind. (Rom12:1-2) I just asked, “How many of you consider yourselves disciples?” and half of you couldn’t answer! Obviously you don’t have any real understanding of salvation. If you understood to be “saved” you must become a disciple then you’d examine yourselves to see if you’re behaving the way disciples are to behave.

What should a disciple be doing that other people aren’t doing?  If you enroll in college to become a doctor or lawyer etc. you must first become a student. What does a student do that other people don’t do? Go to class is the most important thing. Now God called “My Father’s House” to meet everyday. “Churches” around us think you don’t need to go to class that often. How often did Jesus’ disciples go to class? Everyday! They were with Him everyday, and even after His resurrection: So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart. (Act2:46) Is it possible to be a disciple if something else in your life is more important to you than discipleship? When it comes to priorities discipleship has to be at the top of your list. What you’re aiming to accomplish by being a disciple is the most important thing in your life. In the world of art if you aren’t laying your life down to become an “artist” they’ll call you a “dilettante.” They mock you when they say that, meaning you just play around with art. You’re not a real artist because your heart isn’t really in it. Likewise if you’re to be a disciple of Jesus you need to lay your life down and make Him more important than anything else in your life; He who loves father or mother more than Me isn’t worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me isn’t worthy of Me. (Mt10:37) Jesus must be more important even than your spouse, or your closest relatives.

If Jesus is first in your heart you’ll be increasingly hearing God. There should be a distinctive “hearing of faith” (Gal 3:2) in you. You’ll have a daily testimony of the Holy Spirit working in your life. For example, in my night watch this morning God showed me a definite 444. It was a distinct warning from the Spirit. (As 666 is the number of the “beast,” man’s flesh, so 444 represents judgment.) So I prayed for God to prepare me for what was coming. We’ve had problems with our lawn sprinklers for several days. The pump failed recently. We’ve had low pressure in our well, not being able to get good sprinkler coverage out of the 1½ horse pump that broke down so I had it replaced with a 2 horse. The larger pump is more expensive and it only runs on 220 volt. So they had to rewire to get the 220 to it. It cost more money; it took a long time. And when the installers finally finished putting it all together it didn’t work any better than the previous pump. That was my test! I just smiled and said “Thanks fellows, you worked hard. You did what you knew to do. The problem must not have been the pump.” So I paid them, treated them good, and didn’t get upset over it. (In the following weeks we had to dig up the well line to check for leaks and eventually drill a new well since the problem turned out to be the old well was failing to supply enough water. And in all of this I exercised the patience of Christ, rejoicing always, (1Th5:16) in everything giving thanks, (v18) and praying without ceasing. (v17)) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7) The Bible shows us how to deal with temporal problems by not letting them vex or distract us from Spiritual things. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (Rom8:5) If you’re distracted with temporal things it will make you unfruitful. The ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they’ve heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. (Lk8:14)

God gives us the good instruction in His Word so we can keep ourselves, (1Jn5:18) but when the tests actually come do you obey?  Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I’ll liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and doesn’t do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. (Mt7:24-27) By being a doer of God’s Word I didn’t let the sprinkler problems upset me. I was prepared for them. But who prepared me? The Spirit! Very early in the morning the Spirit was showing me, “There’ll be problems today.” What do I do in response? I’m not sure what’s coming. I don’t know exactly where or when the problems will occur. But I’m praying, “Lord, You know I’ll need Your special grace today. Help me that when the problems come I’ll be ready for them.” Unlike Peter who presumptuously thought he could handle Jesus’ betrayal, I’m obeying Christ and praying for grace “not to enter into temptation.” (Lk22:33,40,61) Because when the Spirit shows me 444 it’s not a curse, but it’s a warning. And a warning is a blessing. A warning let’s you prepare. And the best preparation you can make is to call upon the Lord for help. So in my prayer watch the Lord showed me something was coming I needed to prepare for and I prayed for His help and when the time came God gave me grace and I didn’t say something I shouldn’t have or treat someone badly, in an unChrist-like manner. When the tests came, the Lord kept me. Now to Him who’s able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. (Jude24) It wasn’t me that kept me; it was Christ in me! His grace prepared me for the tests, warned me, and kept me from stumbling. We know whoever’s born of God doesn’t sin; but he who’s been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one doesn’t touch him. (1Jn5:18) Now that’s real Christianity! A real Christian is never unprepared for the “unexpected.” The Spirit showed me I needed to keep myself and I prayed for God to help me prepare, so when the time came I kept myself and God kept me. When the time came I actually saw the problems I was thinking, “Thank you Lord for warning and preparing me. Even if I don’t see it yet, I know there’ll be a good solution to these problems because God works all things together for good to those who love Him...” (Rom8:28) Everything that breaks in our house ends up fixed in a way that’s better than before. It’s not that we don’t have to deal with temporal problems, but when we do we do it God’s way, in His timing and we don’t let these things interfere with the work of the Lord. So while the sprinkler problems were continuing the Glory of His Grace was still getting out. The preaching at church continued without interruption. The other things we do for God weren’t impacted. (And when the sprinkler problem eventually was fixed I had a new 2 horse pump that runs on 220, costs me less electricity, covers more territory; and made it much easier to keep the lawn green in the hot summers. We had to drill a new well but the new completed system can now do the whole lawn at once whereas the previous system required switching four times to cover all the lawn. So the new system is much quicker, easier, more efficient and peaceable. It leaves me even more time to serve God.) If you keep your faith through temporal problems God will always take you on to something better though you may have to overcome some things by faith to get there. (Ps18:16-19)

Are you going on to perfection or do you just want to stay the same, making no progress, not increasing in faith? How could you stand staying the same? Worse than that how could you stand to go backwards? But we’re not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (Heb10:39) Disciples aren’t moving backwards! Discipleship means you’ve committed yourself to become conformed to your Master, so you must be making progress in becoming Christ-like! As a disciple you’re committed to complete obedience to Christ and you’re willing to put everything else aside whenever you have an opportunity to draw nearer to Jesus. There’s no salvation apart from discipleship. And though it seems strange we have to say it, real disciples of Jesus are different than non-disciples. This is an area where we have much conflict with false believers who aren’t disciples. Often they know they’re not disciples and they don’t behave like disciples and yet they think they’re saved anyway. They think they don’t have to be different than they are to be saved because they believe salvation is found in a mere intellectual assent to the lordship of Christ whether they obey Him as Lord or not! And because we’re doing so much more than they do, they accuse us of being “holier than thou!” – WE ARE DISCIPLES! BY GOD’S GRACE WE’RE DIFFERENT THAN THEM – WE ARE HOLIER! WE ARE CLOSER TO GOD! WE’RE DOING THE THINGS THEY DON’T DO BUT SHOULD! AND CHRIST IS DOING THINGS WITH US THAT THESE FALSE BELIEVERS NEVER GET TO BE A PART OF! The Scriptures show disciples get to be a party to many things Jesus does which others, even so-called believers, don’t see or participate in. The disciples are Christ’s true followers. They’re intimate with Him. They can ask Jesus questions and have special fellowship with Him and He’s very near to them and often gives specific individual instructions to them. He also assigns special missions to them because the disciples are committed to Him and He to them, as in “called, chosen and faithful.” (Rev17:14)

The saints who come with Jesus when He defeats the antichrist, satan and the false prophet are His disciples as in “called, chosen and faithful.” (Rev17:14) They’re not mere “believers” because those who are with Him at His appearance have to be chosen. And concerning the first resurrection, who’ll be chosen? Not believers. Disciples! That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I’ve already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (Phil 3:10-12) This isn’t the language of a mere “believer.” It’s the full commitment of a disciple to His Master. And without this mind (of a disciple) in you, you won’t attain to the resurrection. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree we’ve already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. (Phil 3:15-16) Mere believers will still be in their graves when the disciples are raised. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1Th4:17) Most so-called believers don’t draw near to Christ because they have “better” things to do. That’s their problem! Drawing close to Jesus isn’t the thing they prefer to do with their lives. They just want to be “saved.” My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you. (Gal 4:19) A “believer” must be conformed to Christ to be saved! To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. (Col 1:27-28) Only a disciple can be conformed to Christ. The work of conforming you to your master can only take place in a disciple relationship with Christ! To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. (Col 1:29) To be conformed to Christ you must go to class. You must be where the Master is, where His teachers are, and where His Spirit is working. You must obey Him or you can’t be conformed to Him.

Today the Spirit is giving you Truth you can use to expose the false “believers” and yet some of you are under conviction because you’ve never seen what it means to be a disciple yourself. Where have you been? Where is your Spirituality? What kind of Christian are you that you don’t know these things? Is this doctrine too advanced, too strong for you? This is basic Christianity! First grade! Anybody in “My Father’s House” should have understood from the beginning that you’re here as a disciple: to be taught of God! Your heart should be set on being a good disciple of Jesus Christ! It’s not enough to be a mere “believer.” You won’t make it to heaven or to the resurrection by being a mere “believer.” In fact, the Scriptures show many of Jesus’ “disciples” didn’t make it. From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. (Jn6:66) Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world. (2Tim4:10) We’re not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (Heb10:39) It’s not even enough to be a “disciple” but you have to be a faithful disciple. For we’ve become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. (Heb3:14) The unfaithful ones were disciples until Jesus said something that was too hard for them (Jn6:60) then they stopped following Him. Demas found something in this world more attractive than Christ! In one way or another they all decided discipleship was too hard. We’ve experienced many like that around here. It’s not a strange thing that people may decide to become a disciple for selfish or personal interests. But Jesus said the only acceptable reason is “the Father draws you.” (Jn6:44) If you come to Christ because the Father draws you, you won’t walk away when things get rough. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (Jn6:67-68)  But some come for other reasons. Jesus says, It’s written in the prophets, “And they’ll all be taught by God.” Therefore everyone who’s heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. (Jn6:45) Then those who left Him weren’t taught of God; they each had personal reasons for wanting to be a disciple and it wasn’t because of their relationship with the Father. So most “christians” today presumptuously think they’re saved on the basis of merely “believing” in Christ, but they fail the test of discipleship. That’s easy to demonstrate when you know what a disciple should be. And if you show these false “believers” what a true disciple’s behavior is in pursuing Christ-likeness, they’d realize, “I’m not a disciple, just a believer!” But the Scriptures prove the only kind of “believers” who are saved are those who are also disciples. Your salvation is bogus if you’re basing it on the fact that you’re a “believer” but not a disciple.

If anyone comes to Me and doesn’t hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be My disciple. And whoever doesn’t bear his cross and come after Me can’t be My disciple. (Lk14:26-27) Jesus commands us to count the cost of discipleship; “So likewise, whoever of you doesn’t forsake all that he has can’t be My disciple.” (v33) The price of discipleship is If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Mt16:24,25) But this is also the price of salvation. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (Jn12:25) It’s the same price for both. So discipleship is the same as salvation; they’re synonymous.

Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My disciples. (Is8:16) A disciple will know the Lord better than other people because he’s chosen to draw closer to the Lord than other people. Why would Jesus “seal” the law to anyone but His disciples? To be “sealed” in the law means to have a firm grasp and clear understanding of it. It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus. (Lk1:3) The Father has called the disciples unto Christ because they want to be taught of God and God has given them to Christ to continue their education. Those You’ve given Me are Yours and Mine are Yours and Yours are Mine. (Jn17:9,10) Jesus is discipling (teaching) God’s children for the Father so they can grow up to be son’s of God. Also among the “disciples” Jesus has chosen some to be apostles who’ll be even closer to Him than the others. Generally the disciples go everywhere Jesus goes, but the apostles are called to be even more intimate with Him than the other disciples. The disciples for example don’t always get to eat with Jesus at His table as the apostles do. And even among the apostles Jesus has chosen three that are even closer than the other apostles; Peter, John, and James. Their closeness means they’ll learn more, see more, and understand more. It also means they’ll be used by Him in greater ways than the others. It’s inconceivable to think God will give the same level of wisdom, understanding and faith to a mere “believer” that He’ll give to an apostle or a disciple. The purpose of their drawing near to Him is they want to know Him better to receive a greater wisdom and faith from Him. And Jesus won’t disappoint them. But those who don’t draw near can’t get what the disciples get! In a family, the wife should have a greater intimacy with her husband than the children. She should know him better and be able to understand him and the things he does more than anyone else. In government concerning the president, the people in his cabinet and his advisors will know more about what’s going on than the people outside. Every place it works this way. Yet there are foolish false “christians” who think all believers are equal because God isn’t partial. The truth that God isn’t partial is something they’ve misinterpreted into believing every “christian” has the same rights and will get the same rewards. Whereas His impartiality means everyone has the equal right to draw near to God if they want to. Discipleship is voluntary. But God will reward each according to his works. (Rom2:6) But without faith it’s impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He’s a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb11:6) Those who aren’t diligent to seek the Lord or draw near to Him, won’t be rewarded.

Communism isn’t what was in the first century church where the believers had all things in common. (Act2:44) Communist “equality” where everyone receives an equal share no matter what they do is a wicked aberration in which lazy people are fed by working people. Communism’s a sin because God says if people don’t work they shouldn’t eat. (2Th3:10) God isn’t impartial in the way that everyone receives an equal share no matter what they do or don’t do. People who don’t draw near to God and sow to the Spirit won’t reap what those who do reap. Don’t be deceived, God isn’t mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he’ll also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (Gal 6:7-8) But this I say: “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2Cor9:6) These are basic spiritual truths and yet many people who falsely claim to be “christians” are so wicked that even though they have no desire to draw nearer to God themselves they’re in resentment of anyone who’s closer to God than they are. They say such things as, “Who do you think you are having church six-seven days a week? Do you think that you’re better than us?” Our answer is “Do you think you can sow little and reap much? Do you call God a liar when He says, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully?” (2Cor9:6) How little such people know about the God they claim to believe in and yet in every place where they meet someone who has a real Christianity, or who really loves God and is drawing near to Him these wicked believers feel so threatened that they speak against us. Much of the so-called “church” is as damned as the world. They’re filled with antichrist spirits. They have no Godly wisdom. They don’t know the Word of God and what little they think they know of God’s Word they twist against God, against real Christians, and against Christ’s real Church! (2Pt3:16)

Bind up the testimony and seal the law among whom? My disciples. (Is8:16) Christ’s disciples are those who really understand the law (the Scriptures) not mere “believers” but “My disciples.” It’s obvious Catholics aren’t disciples of Jesus. At best they’re disciples of their “church’s” man-made traditions and even doctrines of demons. (1Tim4:1-3) Baptists aren’t disciples of Jesus. They’re disciples only of their “church’s” twisted doctrines and damnable heresies! (2Pt3:16) The Catholic heresies such as the worship of Mary (1Tm2:5) and the Baptist heresies of “Once Saved/Always Saved” are well known and abominable to true Christians. (See our Glory of His Grace book “What The Bible Says About Once Saved/Always Saved.”) These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (Mt15:8-9) Jesus often pointed out to the scribes and Pharisees that they didn’t know God. They claimed to be disciples of Moses but in the day of judgment Jesus said even Moses would denounce them. Don’t think that I’ll accuse you to the Father; there’s one who accuses you-- Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you’d believe Me; for he wrote about Me. (Jn5:45,46) Likewise many “christians” today falsely claim they’re trusting in Jesus. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” (Mt7:22) To whom Jesus will say in the day of judgment, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (v23) In this blind presumption the Pharisees accost a man “healed” by Jesus. He answered them, “I told you already, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His (Jesus’) disciples?” Then they reviled him and said, “You’re His disciple, but we’re Moses’ disciples. We know God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we don’t know where He’s from.” The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you don’t know where He’s from; yet He’s opened my eyes! Now we know God doesn’t hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.” (Jn9:27-31) The Pharisees are claiming to be Moses’ disciples but they’re lying because Moses wrote about Jesus and if they were really Moses’ disciples they’d have listened to what Moses said and would have received Christ. For if you believed Moses, you’d believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe My words? (Jn5:46-47) For Moses truly said to the fathers, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who won’t hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.” (Act3:22-23) (Dt18:15,18,19) The Pharisees are using Moses as a figure head to disguise what they’re really doing which is advancing their own selfish interests for power and prestige by promoting man’s traditions.

And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. (Gal 1:14) This is similar to what baptists and others like them are doing today. If you want to become a Rabbi you must become a scholar not of the scriptures but of the writings of other Rabbis. If you want to be a “baptist preacher” you don’t study the scriptures but the commentaries of “famous” baptist theologians. And when you’re done you won’t know what the Bible says, but you’ll know what the baptists say the Bible says. And, as a Rabbi when you’re done studying the other Rabbis you’ll be so confused you won’t know up from down because they disagree with each other on so many subjects. So what you end up being is a person who says, “Maybe this and maybe that,” and you’ll be double-minded. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose he’ll receive anything from the Lord; he’s a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (Jms1:6-8)

Most theologians today aren’t disciples of Christ and His Word but of the commentaries and doctrines of their denomination or churches. They’ve become experts in the arguments their particular churches use to support their favorite heresies. But they don’t listen to Jesus. They don’t rightly divide the Word. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. (2Tim2:15) They never get to know God. Whereas to be a real Christian you must have a communion with Christ where you actually hear Him. I hear Him! That’s why I came into the service this Sunday knowing what to preach, knowing I’d prophesy, having rich things to share because I’ve met with Jesus and He’s able to reveal things to me because I’ve learned to recognize His voice. So again this morning in my night-watch, I heard Him. And He gave me a warning so I was able to call upon Him to prepare for the coming test! And by His grace I was prepared when the problems arose; because if you’re a true believer the Spirit shows you things to come. (Jn16:13) He does that so you’ll not be made to stumble. Now to Him who’s able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. (Jude24) They’re not of Christ who think they’re saved because they give some intellectual agreement to Jesus being Lord when they don’t follow Him, don’t commune with Him and aren’t led by His Spirit, nor know what He’s doing. And such aren’t growing more and more like Him because they don’t even understand the simplest things in God’s Word, like the need to be a disciple, whereas the real disciples Beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2Cor3:18)

But what I do, I’ll also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. (2Cor11:12) These false “christians” who don’t hear God want to be considered equal to the real Christians when real Christians actually do hear God. Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. (Mt10:27) Real Christians actually obey and keep Jesus’ words. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience. (1Pt1:2) Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and doesn’t keep His commandments is a liar, and the Truth isn’t in him. But whoever keeps His Word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know we’re in Him. (1Jn2:3-5) Real Christians have actually crucified their flesh. I’ve been crucified with Christ; it’s no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Gal 2:20) Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Gal 5:24) Real Christians actually know Jesus and are led by His Spirit. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You’ve sent. (Jn17:3) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Rom8:14) Real Christians have the “hearing of faith.” This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (Gal 3:2,5) And real Christians are first and foremost DISCIPLES! The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. (Act11:26) If your Christianity is authentic, you’ll be demonstrating Jesus isn’t an abstract idea to you; He’s a real person who’s richly involved in your life.

So the Spirit warned me there’d be unexpected problems today. Normally I run my business errands in the afternoon but today I was led to take care of the needful things in the morning. As it turned out when the problems began to manifest in the p.m. I wouldn’t have had time to take care of any other business. Dealing with the repair men had me very much occupied. But people without a true relationship with Jesus can’t change their plans because their “Lord” doesn’t warn them of things to come. They often enter into severe conflicts. They have their usual things going on but then the unexpected shows up and takes them by surprise. So being overwhelmed by the unexpected they go through much trouble and turmoil from which the Godly escape because Christ shows us things to come so we can arrange to deal with them. As today I changed my schedule by the leading of the Spirit and things worked out peaceably because God’s really in my life, showing me to do things in a different way than usual. That should be the testimony of every real Christian; our lives are blessed in many ways people who don’t know God never experience. So false christians and unbelievers suffer many vexations, failures and interruptions that we can smoothly sail through because of the grace of God who’s with us. And the ungodly get upset over things that don’t upset true Christians. They often fall into sin and do mean things they shouldn’t do just because things aren’t “going their way.” So even though they claim to believe in God their behavior proves they don’t know God and aren’t like Jesus. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. (Tit1:16)

Most so-called “christians” today don’t even think it’s important to be like Jesus. They’re racing towards God’s judgment with many sins still hanging on them. They’re spotted and blemished, consorts of demons, because they’ve never learned the importance of really getting to know God. They never counted it as though there’s any blessing in drawing near to Him. Some think more God in their lives would get in the way of their fun. But the truth is God’s the one who knows how everything works and how to make things work rightly. He’s life! Without Him you won’t do anything worth while. And there’s no way you can lose by drawing near to God. With God you can only win. These false “christians” who slander us, calling us names because we “disciples” are more serious about serving God than they are, calling us a cult because we go to church more often than they do, they don’t really believe in God. If they truly believed how could they possibly think more God is bad for you? What they think of as God is a fiction as though we’re supposed to pretend God is real in our speech but behave as though He’s not real. To them if you get too serious about God it messes up your life. They have to keep religion in its proper place; don’t talk religion with people, it’s impolite. Keep your “faith” in a very private place so it can’t interfere with anything important. So many “believers” these days give lip service to God, while their actions show that they don’t consider Him real. They behave like God’s a figment of man’s imagination. They’re nothing like disciples!

Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among My disciples. Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me! We’re for signs and wonders in Israel. (Is8:16,18) Jesus says, “I’ve manifested Your name to the men whom You’ve given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they’ve kept Your Word.” (Jn17:6) And concerning “signs and wonders” He says, “Most assuredly,” I say to you, “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he’ll do also; and greater works than these he’ll do, because I go to My Father.” (Jn14:12) So if you’re a disciple God’s law must be “sealed” to you and “signs and wonders” should be common place in your life. Under the New Covenant The law the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. (Rom8:2) As disciples the law of the Spirit of life is what Christ has sealed unto us. And the law of Spirit of life means we’re led by the Spirit of God, by the “hearing of faith.” This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (Gal 3:2) Disciples have a faith that asks God to lead, expects God to lead and actually receives the leading of the Spirit. If we’re led by the Spirit, we’re the sons of God. (Rom8:14) Having the Holy Spirit is perceptible. If you’re led by the Spirit you know He’s leading you, and can prove He’s with you. The Spirit makes a dramatic difference in the life of a true believer. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit and Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. And they weren’t able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. (Act6:5a,8,10) If the Holy Spirit is in you His wisdom and power will prove He’s there! I came to church today knowing I’d prophesy. It’s impossible for me to deny the Spirit is in me. I could handle the problems this afternoon because this morning the Spirit prepared me. It’s by the Spirit I’m bringing you this message and can recognize the importance of this message to the church. It’s through the Spirit I’ve a relationship with the Living Christ that defines real Christianity. John says we know we abide in Christ because of His Spirit. (1Jn4:13) If we don’t have His Spirit we’re none of His. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he’s not His. (Rom8:9) Where’s the Spirit in your life? Are you conscious of His leading? Do you acknowledge His presence often? Are you asking for His guidance continually and receiving it? If you’re asking in faith and actually receiving the leading of the Spirit, you should also be thankfully acknowledging Him and His helps. Don’t take the Spirit for granted or you’ll get to where you don’t even know if He’s there. You should be consciously asking for His help and recognizing Him when He comes and thanking Him for coming and giving credit to Him for all He’s doing. You need to build up your relationship with Him, increasing in your ability to recognize his presence, becoming more and more dependant upon Him and utilizing His assistance in everything. A true disciple is sealed unto the law of God; sealed unto being led by the Spirit. We’ve a new Lord, Christ Jesus. We’re not led by the law or man’s traditions, or human reasonings. We’re led by Christ who shows us how to keep the Spirit of the law. That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who don’t walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Rom8:4)

Although the Spirit often uses the Word of God to confirm what He shows us (Jn15:7) and it’s very needful we know the Word to rightly understand the Spirit’s leading, still we’re not led by the letter of the law but by the Spirit! Having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. (Rom7:6b) So I’m not only expecting the Spirit to lead, I’m depending upon Him. The Spirit helps me deal with things pertaining to my home and family. And He helps me with the things pertaining to the church. The Spirit is able to put in good order all the various things I must do so I can serve Him and the brethren well at church and yet take good care of my family and deal with the needful things at home too. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Gal 6:10) But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he’s denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1Tim5:8) It’s said of Jesus, He does all things well! (Mk7:37) All things! And that “all things well” is in you too if Christ’s Spirit is in you.

Are you a disciple? If so you’re created for signs and wonders. There’s a world that needs to be saved and for the most part doesn’t know it and there’s a false church that thinks it’s saved and isn’t. Jesus has come to save the elect, but in order to save them He must get their attention. He must cause them to see their need whether they’re lost in the world or deceived in the false church. Do you see how Jesus got the people’s attention on the day of Pentecost? (Act2:7-8) Shortly after that He got their attention by doing a miracle at the Gate Beautiful. (Act3:9-10) Every time God does a miracle He gets people’s attention. Whether it’s judgment or mercy, whenever one of Christ’s disciples does a sign or wonder it causes people to fear God and believe. (Act5:10-11) Has God stopped doing miracles or have the “believers” stopped being disciples? Has God stopped calling His children to be for signs and wonders, or have the children stopped being the kind of children they ought to be? Have “believers” stopped “believing” in the power of God? (2Tim3:5)

As believers it’s important we be good disciples. You aren’t saved if you don’t become a disciple. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled. (Mt5:6) No one can be a disciple unless they hunger and thirst for righteousness because the very essence of discipleship is to attain to the righteousness of Christ. To be like your Master you must be brought into union with the Master’s righteousness. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I’ve suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. (Phil 3:8-9) Jesus teaches the disciple isn’t above his Master; it’s enough that he be like his Master. (Mt10:24-25) The true disciple comes to the Master asking, “Lord, teach me to be like you.” He’s hungering for the righteousness of his Master. Discipleship is common in oriental martial arts and such and those who desire to learn well are often required to give up everything and come live with their master; being completely submitted unto his instruction. In the western world such were called apprentices. Apprentices would often leave their family to live with their master. In order to learn their trade they’d become servants and start out at a very low level doing the mundane things until they proved themselves faithful and could be trusted with more. You can see how that applies in Christianity. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he’ll have abundance. (Mt25:29) If you desire to be like Jesus, if you’re hungering and thirsting for His righteousness, then you must go to the place where you can find the things you need to know; where you can learn those things. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. (Jn12:26)

Where the carcass (prey they’ve killed to eat) is, there the eagles will be gathered. (Mt24:28) This means you’ll find football players at a football field; you’ll find hamburger eaters at McDonalds. Whatever people like you’ll find those people where the thing they desire is. You’ll find gamblers in Las Vegas. Swimmers at the pool. Shoppers at the mall! “But you’ll find My disciples,” Jesus is saying, “Where I am.” This parable has a very clear meaning and Jesus uses it for that reason. “You’ll find My disciples where I am. They eat of Me! I’m the Bread of Life. (Jn6:35) Where that bread is being served that’s where My disciples will be gathered.” So you’ll find the true disciples of Christ only in places (churches) where there’s a real work of the Spirit going on. It’s the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are Spirit, and they are life. (Jn6:63)

 We know we abide in Him because we have His Spirit. (1Jn3:24) You mustn’t presumptuously believe you abide in Christ. To know you’re abiding you must know you have His Spirit. What proves you have the Spirit is the things He does in your life. If you really have Him then everyday you’ll see evidences of His operations, especially His guidance and instruction. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He’ll teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (Jn14:26) A disciple must be taught of God and the Holy Spirit is “God our Teacher.” (Jn6:45) If you’re really a disciple abiding in Christ then His Spirit will be teaching and the instructions you’re receiving from the Spirit won’t be completely dependant upon the pastor, for example, or even other “believers.” If all you’re getting is what you get from other people you don’t have Jesus in you, you’re not abiding in Him because if you were the Spirit would be causing you to see things yourself, things additional to what the pastor or brethren are sharing. And because the Spirit is showing you new things you’ll have things you can share with the church for the edification of the brethren. Even as the Spirit shows me things to share with you, you should be seeing things to share with each other. That’s what church is for! And He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,  for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the Truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who’s the Head -- Christ -- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Eph4:11-16) I’m teaching you to hear God so you can receive what you need from God to do your part to edify your brethren. The proof you’re abiding in Christ is you have His Spirit working in you and we can see that in the fruit you bring forth to help your brethren grow up in Christ.

It’s a shameful thing that half the church didn’t even understand “believers” must be disciples. Awake to righteousness, and don’t sin; for some don’t have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. (1Cor15:34) This is something you should have settled long ago. And the disciples were first called “Christians” in Antioch. (Act11:26) How could a “Christian” be anything but a disciple? You had to be a disciple first before you could be called a “Christian.” How often does the word “disciple” show up concerning believers in the New Testament? The word “believer(s)” occurs only twice. (Act5:14;1Tim4:12) The word Christian(s)” only three times. (Act11:26;26:28; 1Pt4:16) The word “disciple(s)” occurs over 260 times. “Disciple” is the Bible word for a “believer.” Disciple is the Bible word meaning “Christian.” How could you read your Bible and not know these things?

Discipline has the same root word as disciple and to be “saved” you must be disciplined! Have you forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, don’t despise the chastening (discipline) of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you’re rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens (disciplines), and scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father doesn’t chasten (discipline)? But if you’re without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you’re illegitimate and not sons. (Heb12:5-8) If you’re not disciples, you’re not saved! Nevertheless, to the degree that we’ve already attained, let’s walk by the same rule, let’s be of the same mind. (Phil 3:16) If you were actually led by the Holy Spirit He’d have us all on the same playing field; not half of you in the bleachers and half of you on the field. You’re called to be conformed to Christ. (2Cor3:18) As a disciple you must devote your life to attaining the purpose of your discipleship. And the main purpose is to become just like your master. Are you consciously aspiring to this purpose? As a member of Christ’s “body” are you also helping your brethren attain to that purpose? Jesus is “the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom8:29) and as members of His church we’re expected to grow up to the fullness of the stature of Christ! (Eph4:13) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they’ll be filled. (Mt5:6) Hungering for righteousness is the first mark of a disciple. Do you see how “hungering and thirsting for righteousness” would cause you to go to Christ’s school of righteousness and to go to Christ’s school you must become His disciple? See how Paul expresses his hunger for righteousness in I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I’ve suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. (Phil 3:8-9) As a true disciple Paul is putting everything aside so he can attain to the righteousness that comes from Christ. This is discipleship! That I may gain Christ. (Phil 3:8) To gain Christ means to be in complete unity with Christ; to be just like Him. That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (Jn17:21)

What did Jesus offer the rich young ruler? If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor, and you’ll have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. (Mt19:21) Jesus offered him perfection through discipleship! And what was required of him? That he forsake (sell) all! So likewise, whoever of you doesn’t forsake all he has can’t be My disciple. (Lk14:33) That’s what Paul says he’s done. “But what things were gain to me, these I’ve counted loss for Christ.” (Phil 3:7) “I’ve paid my tuition. I’ve given up everything in this world. I count them rubbish that I may gain Christ.” “And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;” (v9) It’s only after that he says, “if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (v11) We’ll attain to the resurrection if we attain to Christ’s righteousness first!

These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He’s Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful. (Rev17:14) Those with Him are the ones He raises in the first resurrection. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who’d been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God, who hadn’t worshiped the beast or his image, and hadn’t received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead didn’t live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Rev20:4-6) Only those who prove themselves faithful disciples will be called and chosen and raised to reign with Christ during the millennium.  In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You’ve hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.” (Lk10:21) The proud intellectuals and theologians think and think, yet they can’t understand these simple truths. All they’re able to do is twist, confuse and complicate things.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I’ll give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me. (Mt11:28-29) What is this if not a call to discipleship; “learn from Me?” Some in the “churches” think this verse is an excuse to be lazy. Christianity must be easy because Jesus says, “My yoke is easy!” (v30) They forget Jesus also warns. Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Mt7:13,14) His “yoke is easy” doesn’t mean there’s no yoke. Those who follow the “easy believism” anything goes “gospel” have never received Jesus’ yoke at all! Although His yoke is easy, getting into His yoke isn’t. There’s a yoke. And a true disciple is under the yoke because he has a Master, and that yoke means he’s obedient to his Master. Jesus is telling us if we come under His yoke He’ll help us and with His help the burden will be light. But to be under His yoke means you must enter into the discipline of Christ; submit to the authority of Christ and be led by His Spirit. Carnal, worldly, independent “christians” doing their own thing are by no means “disciples” under Christ’s yoke! They wrongly believe Christianity makes no demands upon them except to give lip service to Jesus. They erroneously think their salvation is complete and secure! Yet, Paul says, “I’m counting all things loss so I can attain to the resurrection!” (Phil 3:7-9) How can these simpletons think they already have what Paul is still striving to attain? (Phil 3:11) The blindness in most so-called christians today is mind boggling! But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that’s in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! (Mt6:23) To call yourself a Christian today is virtually equivalent to calling yourself a devil! Contemporary “christianity” has been so corrupted that many of the most demonized and foolish people in the world are those who claim to be christians. But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there’ll be false teachers among you, who’ll secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of Truth will be blasphemed. (2Pt2:1-2) But if you call yourself a disciple of Jesus that puts a whole new light upon the New Covenant faith. Most false christians make no pretence of being a “disciple.” These “easy believism” pretenders claim to be christians solely because they confess Jesus is the Son of God and that’s the only criteria they use for salvation. They know they aren’t serious enough about following Jesus to be a “disciple.” Only if you’re really seeking to learn Christ’s ways and you’re really obedient to the Master and He’s really your Head can you consider yourself a disciple! On the basis of discipleship you can separate the true Christians from the false! Are you a Christian? “I’m not just a Christian, I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ!” As a disciple my life is devoted to learning how to think like Jesus; to behave like Him; to abide in Him and let Him live in me.

We’ve had our share of apostates, (John calls them antichrists) who’ve left “My Father’s House” to follow their own ways. Little children, it’s the last hour; and as you’ve heard the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it’s the last hour. They went out from us, but they weren’t of us; for if they’d been of us, they’d have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. (1Jn2:18-19) Some of these wicked slanderously accused you of being followers of Bill Taylor as though they’re following Jesus when they leave but you’re following me not Jesus because you stay. They’re much like the Pharisees who said, “You’re His disciple, but we’re Moses’ disciples. We know God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we don’t know where He’s from.” (Jn9:28-29) whereas Moses spoke of Christ, For Moses truly said to the fathers, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who won’t hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.” (Act3:22-23) In rejecting Jesus the Pharisees prove they aren’t following Moses either. But Jesus also speaks of sending His servants. Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you’ll kill and crucify, and some of them you’ll scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city. (Mt23:34) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I’m with you always, even to the end of the age. (Mt28:19-20)

In order to make disciples and teach them, those Jesus sends must have authority! For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed. (2Cor10:8) Those Jesus sends have a purpose; And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. (Eph4:11-12) And they in a sense “stand in” for Christ! As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. (Jn17:18) He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. (Mt10:40) Remember the Word that I said to you, “A servant is not greater than his master.” If they persecuted Me, they’ll also persecute you. If they kept My Word, they’ll keep yours also. (Jn15:20) He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me. (Lk10:16)

John the Baptist made disciples but John led his disciples (like Andrew and John) to Jesus. (Jn1:35-40) John wasn’t keeping his disciples for himself. He was raising them up for Christ. Paul also raised up disciples for Christ, and in so doing he said, Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (1Cor11:1) There’s nothing unusual about Christian disciples being under the authority of an apostle, pastor or teacher sent by Christ. When Jesus sent His apostles out He said, “Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations.” (Mt28:19) So what am I doing if not fulfilling the “Great Commission?” I’m making disciples. I’m not making mere “believers” as so many false preachers today, but I’m making disciples by “Teaching them to observe all things that I’ve (Jesus) commanded you.” (v20) So Jesus sends His “junior” disciples to disciple others. And what these “little antichrists” who say, “You’re following Bill Taylor” really mean is “We don’t want to be disciples!” I’m discipling you and my purpose in discipling you is to fulfill the “Great Commission” and obey what Jesus told me to do. I’m making disciples who are conformed to Christ just as Paul is discipling the people who’ll receive him and Peter is discipling the people who’ll submit to him. These fools who think they’re above being discipled will see in the judgment who actually makes it to the Kingdom. Do Bill Taylor’s disciples make it or the ones who refuse to be discipled because they despise authority (2Pt2:10) and arrogantly think they can disciple themselves? He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me. (Lk10:16) These proud little antichrists reject Jesus when they refuse to submit to a godly pastor or teacher. When Jesus left He sent His disciples to disciple others. And the way you become a disciple is by submitting yourself to be taught by a more experienced disciple and listening to and learning from him. That’s how you grow up in Christ and become a mature disciple yourself because that’s the way Jesus says to do it. Jesus commanded His disciples, “Go and make disciples, teaching them to observe everything I’ve commanded you.” Am I doing that? Then you’re being obedient to Jesus in becoming a disciple of Bill Taylor because Bill Taylor is a true disciple of Christ and he’s teaching you to be a true disciple of Christ.

The arrogant independence in most contemporary “christians” is such that they think you can serve God your way and I can serve God my way and we’re both “saved” and we’ll both make it to heaven. But that’s a lie! The U.S. government, to protect religious freedom must permit each of us to worship our own way, but when it comes to being found worthy of God’s Kingdom there’s no “my way” or “your way,” there’s only Jesus’ way. One Lord, one faith, one baptism! (Eph4:5) When false brethren wickedly accuse me of serving God “my way” they lie. I’m not serving God my way but His way; the way Jesus is teaching all His true disciples. “Who will remind you of my ways in Christ as I teach everywhere in every church.” (1Cor4:17) The haughty little antichrists are indeed doing things their way and not Christ’s way. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. (Rom10:3) By refusing to submit to one sent by Christ they’ll perish in their prideful independence. He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me. (Lk10:16) You’re going to disciple yourself? How do you teach yourself what you don’t know? Is it a sin for you to follow Bill Taylor? Is it a sin to follow Paul? “Well Bill Taylor isn’t Paul.” Like Paul, Bill Taylor’s been called of God; and appointed by God. He’s a real man of God. His fruit proves it. (Mt7:16-18) It’s not a sin to follow a real man of God because he’s leading you to God and God sent him to do that. If you want to be a true Christian you better consider whether you’re being discipled by a true man of God, who’s a real disciple himself. How many “christians” do you know who are being discipled at all let alone by a real disciple? It’s no wonder the state of contemporary “christianity” is so pathetic because Christianity was always meant to be discipleship. Jesus didn’t say, “Go and make believers” He said, “Go and make disciples.” (Mt28:19) The disciples were first called “Christians” at Antioch. (Act11:26) In the real church, the early apostolic church you had to be a disciple first before you could be worthy of the name Christian. Today, “believers” falsely call themselves “christians” when they’re not disciples. They think to be a disciple is to be something special above ordinary Christianity and they don’t have to be disciples to be “saved.” What’s stupid about that is unbelievers gave disciples the name “Christians” but Jesus gave them the name disciples. Which are we? Let unbelievers call us Christians; we call ourselves disciples. Either we’re Jesus’ disciples or we’re nothing! I’m not just a Christian, not just a believer! I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ!

The Bible shows two kinds of “believers.” There are non-disciple believers and disciple-believers. Whenever the scripture talks about believers having eternal life it’s always talking about disciple-believers. For example, Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they didn’t confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praises of men more than the praises of God. (Jn12:42-43) These “believers” can’t have eternal life because Jesus says, For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. (Lk9:26) But in Mark Jesus says, He who believes and is baptized will be saved. (Mk16:16) Now if a believer is truly baptized into Christ he’s become a disciple. Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John. (Jn4:1) As we’ve seen a disciple is one who’s being made like his master. For you’re all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal 3:26-27) Buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (Col 2:12) Remember the rich young ruler? Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you’ll have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it’s hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven.” (Mt19:21-23) This young man “believed” in Jesus but wasn’t willing to become a disciple. Therefore he wasn’t found worthy of the Kingdom. There’s a distinction between non-disciple “believers” and disciple-believers. And the non-disciple believers don’t have eternal life. When you look at the disciple-believers you’ll find they’ve an intimate access to Christ. They can ask Jesus questions concerning things He’s teaching. (Lk8:9) He can send them on special missions. (Lk10:1) They’re often present to see the miracles and other special things He’s doing. The disciples are privy to many things the non-disciple “believers” never get to see or learn. Of course the disciples had to give up their lives, (lose their lives) pick up their cross and follow Jesus to partake of such things. But like the rich young ruler who refused to become a disciple, non-disciple believers are too busy with their own things to seriously pursue the righteousness of Christ. They’re not hungering and thirsting for God’s righteousness so as to give up their worldly lives to follow after Jesus. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. (Mt5:6) Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. (Phil 3:8-9) One man says he “believes” Jesus is the Son of God but then goes on with his own selfish life taking no real action according to his belief. Another man believes Jesus is the Son of God and so gives up his selfish worldly life to follow Jesus and be taught by Him that he may truly become a “son of God.” The latter man’s belief is mixed with faith. The former’s is not. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the Word which they heard didn’t profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. (Heb4:2)

If salvation was found in the mere assent to truth and not the faith that takes action according to God’s Truth why would Paul say such things as “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus?” (Phil 2:5) And after describing Christ’s mind, “But what things were gain to me, these I’ve counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Phil 3:7-8) This is the mind in Paul. “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Phil 3:10-11) By showing us how he thinks, Paul becomes an example of how we must think. He shows us the mind we must have also if we hope to attain to the resurrection of life. “I count all things lost for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ: that I may be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I don’t count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:8-14) Finally he says, “Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind.” (Phil 3:15) This is the mature Christian mind, the mind of a disciple! It’s not the mind that I’m already perfected or I’ve already attained. But it’s the understanding that as a disciple I must do everything possible to reach the goal of being unified to Christ and conformed completely to Him. And as Jesus said I must forsake all to be His disciple. (Lk14:33) So it’s the mind that will forsake all for Christ!

But some say, “I just want to be saved. I don’t want to be a disciple, so I don’t have to forsake all.” Foolish ones! If you don’t have to do these things to attain to the resurrection why does Paul have to? Are you better than him? If Paul says, “Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1Cor9:24-27) Paul has to discipline his body but you don’t have to discipline your body? Disciples are disciplined ones. So how can you, a mere “believer” think you’ve a guarantee of immortality when Paul, the very hard working and fruitful apostle says, “I don’t count myself to have attained?” Why is he saying “I’m pressing on?” You think you can just be a “believer” and you’ve already attained what Paul is still striving to achieve? How can this be? It’s so foolish that “church” people can think, “I have eternal life because I believe Jesus is the Son of God.” While Paul says, “I believe Jesus is the Son of God more than any of you and look what I’m doing because I believe Jesus is the Son of God. I’m giving up everything so I can be perfectly united to Christ and attain to the resurrection!” Now if you have any wisdom, if you’re not an ignorant child, if you have a mature mind you’ll be doing the same things Paul is doing! So Paul isn’t just an apostle but a disciple who disciples others. And in his discipling others he teaches them to be the kind of disciple that he is himself. Imitate me as I imitate Christ. (1Cor11:1) He’s a good disciple who knows what it takes to be a good disciple, therefore he can teach you how to be a good disciple. Join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. (Phil 3:17) Those who so walk include Bill Taylor, Dave Kitchen. Because we walk as Paul walked, we’re a pattern of discipleship to you. Paul holds the office of apostle but he’s also a pattern of discipleship to every real believer. Philippians shows us what Paul does as a disciple to attain to the resurrection and you also need to do these things if you want to attain to immortality. Paul is forsaking all and he’s teaching us to be disciples who forsake all just as Jesus said, “So likewise, whoever of you doesn’t forsake all that he has can’t be My disciple.” (Lk14:33) Still Paul doesn’t count himself to have a guarantee of immortality yet; he’s continuing to strive to attain to it.

Eternal life is a kind of life you can live right now by faith but it isn’t the same as attaining to the resurrection, it doesn’t guarantee immortality. You must get a permanent hold on eternal life! (See our Glory of His Grace book “Eternal Living.”) You can temporarily possess eternal life because it’s a kind of life. It’s like being in a swimming pool; you can get in and you can get out. You can get into eternal life but you can get out of it. You can choose the worldly kind of living; or you can choose the eternal kind of living. The worldly life is a life lived for the world and the things of the world. Eternal life is a life lived for eternity not a life lived for temporary things. Since the Holy Spirit is also the Eternal Spirit, (Heb9:14) anyone who’s walking in the Spirit would be living the eternal kind of life. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He’s given us of His Spirit. (1Jn4:13)

In sanctification of the Spirit. (1Pt1:2) One thing sanctification means is worldly problems don’t vex me. Many things that upset ordinary people don’t bother the true disciple of Christ. I do what I need to do to deal with everyday things but I don’t worry about them. We take care of financial problems etc., as needed but we don’t get anxious. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7) If we’re not living for the temporary, how can such things be important? I can look at things that may have affected me years ago and see how little they affect me today and know, “Lord, Your Holy Spirit is keeping me!” The pressure isn’t getting through. Problems that used to distract me aren’t important anymore. I know the Spirit’s with me. I know He’s sanctifying me. I know He’s keeping me so I can keep my cool when others are losing theirs. This sanctifying presence and peace of the Holy Spirit is a sure evidence that you’re abiding. I know what’s important to me isn’t whether this gets fixed or that gets done in the temporal realm. But what’s important is the message tonight for the church or getting out the next Glory of His Grace book or writing a letter of encouragement or correction to one of our satellite brethren. What’s also important is to be involved deeply in prayer and intercessions and such. That’s where my focus is; on the things of God. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:1-3) The things of God concern me and they must be done well; that’s important to me and to Christ. Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God! (1Cor10:31) For it’s God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Phil 2:13) The important thing is God’s work is getting done. The temporal things are secondary. When they matter to God, He’ll show me what to do about them. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Mt6:33) So if I’m a true disciple earthly things don’t distract me. If you’re not letting such things bother you, what are you doing? You’re reckoning yourself dead to the world, and that’s being made conformable to Christ’s death. Or don’t you know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? (Rom6:3) That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. (Phil 3:10) If you’re busy about the work of God then you’re alive to God. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For the death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom6:4,10,11) This has to do with abiding in Christ which also means being led by the Spirit.

So tell me how a “believer” who isn’t a disciple has already acquired what Paul is still striving to attain? And that striving can also be expressed as pursuing righteousness, faith, holiness without which you’ll not see God. (Heb12:14) But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you’ll be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you’ll never stumble. (2Pet1:5-8,10) But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. (1Tim6:11) True disciples are doing the things God says we must to attain to immortality, and counting everything in our way as something to cast aside. Therefore, since we’re surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let’s lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that’s set before us. (Heb12:1)

In spite of all Paul has accomplished in his service to the Lord, he still says to the Philippian church, “I haven’t attained.” (Phil 3:12) So how lost and deceived are these presumptuous “christians” who think they already have what Paul is still striving for? They claim to believe but Paul shows us it takes a lot more than just saying you believe. First you must believe correctly according to God’s Word, but then you must live according to what you believe. And you must be pursuing perfection in Christ if you truly believe the gospel and hope to be found in Christ at the resurrection. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it hasn’t yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He’s revealed, we’ll be like Him, for we’ll see Him as He is.  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1Jn3:1-3) It’s inconceivable these non-disciple believers are saved because they can’t obtain the things John and Paul tell us we must strive for when they’re not even trying. They’re obviously presumptuous and deceived. And being deceived they can’t be of Christ, for “No lie is of the Truth.” (1Jn2:21) Rather they’re of the devil. You’re of your father the devil… (he) doesn’t stand in the Truth, because there’s no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he’s a liar and the father of it. (Jn8:44) These non-disciple “believers” are deceived to think they already have what Paul doesn’t even profess to have yet. But Paul is striving to attain and therefore will attain while non-disciples aren’t striving so they have no possibility of attaining. Not that I’ve already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I don’t count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:12-14) These non-disciples aren’t counting all things loss. But what things were gain to me, these I’ve counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I’ve suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Phil 3:7-11)

Concerning their salvation these non-disciples are presuming it’s already done while they go about their carnal lives occasionally praying for God to give them a raise or heal their child or whatever. They’re presuming everything’s fine and when the time comes they’ll be raised to go with Christ in the rapture and Jesus will be happy to see them but none of it’s true. It can’t be true if Philippians 3 is true. Only disciples will make it into the Kingdom of God and only good disciples will make it. Judas was a disciple but he’s now in hell! The Son of Man indeed goes just as it’s written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he’d never been born. (Mk14:21) The John 6 crowd were disciples but they turned away from Christ when His Word became too hard for them. Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. (Jn6:60,66) Demas was a disciple but, Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world. (2Tim4:10) which means he’s lost because Don’t love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father isn’t in him. (1Jn2:15) For we’ve become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. (Heb3:14) Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we’re not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (Heb10:38-39)

Jesus said, “No one comes to Me except the Father draws him.” (Jn6:44) You don’t get into Christ’s school unless God calls you. You start in response to the Father. You believe God’s a righteous God so you must also be righteous. Then because Father God wants to save you He sends you to Christ to disciple you in righteousness because only the Son can teach what you need to know to be saved. To save you on behalf of the Father the Son will disciple you and in doing that He’ll also use Godly men. I’ve manifested Your name to the men whom You’ve given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they’ve kept Your Word. I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world but for those whom You’ve given Me, for they’re Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I’m glorified in them. (Jn17:6,9-10) And He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. (Eph4:11-12) What makes you a true disciple is your hunger and thirst for the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and your faith that you can acquire it. That I might be found in Him not having my own righteousness but that which is through faith in Christ. (Phil 3:9) The principle expression of Christ’s righteousness is the “hearing of faith.” (Gal 3:2,5) Such faith is a dependence upon the Lord to lead you and show you what to do. We must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. (Phil 2:12) We all have times when we may feel less than up to par Spiritually. When it happens to me what do I do? My first thought is to call upon the Lord, “Jesus help me! Jesus sanctify me. Jesus strengthen me to overcome these ungodly feelings and make my thoughts captive to Christ! (2Cor10:5) Help me get my heart right.” The first step is seek help from where the real help is. And when I call upon the Lord in a matter of minutes everything falls into place. Soon I’m praying up a storm, revelation is pouring out and everything is coming into Godly order because I did the first thing right. I didn’t try to tough it out on my own. I didn’t let ungodly feelings keep me in a place of uselessness. I recognized the feelings as coming from the enemy and asked Jesus to help me overcome and He did. He never fails! The Lord is rich to all who call upon Him. (Rom10:12) How’s your relationship with Jesus? If you call upon the Lord in faith how could you ever have a bad day? As soon as you see things aren’t right ask Jesus to straighten them out. With Christ as your help you reign in life. (Rom5:17) I’m a disciple of Jesus. One of the most important lessons Jesus teaches His disciples is to be overcomers. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who’s in you is greater than he who’s in the world. (1Jn4:4) For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world – our faith. (1Jn5:4) He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I’ll be his God and he’ll be My son. (Rev21:7) As a disciple whatever the problem is you can ask the Master for help and He’ll show you what to do. And all of that is of His righteousness which is given to those who come to Him in faith.

The first step of discipleship is to hunger and thirst for righteousness. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. (Mt5:6) If you start losing that hunger you better do something about it. Ask Jesus to keep you hungry! You can’t let yourself become complacent, presumptuous. A real disciple needs to be continually hungering for God so God can continually fill you.

After Jesus finished sharing the parable of the sower with the multitudes, the disciples came and said, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” (Mt13:10) The disciples are hungering to know more and because they have an intimacy with Him they can ask Jesus about things other people may not think about. And He answered, (Real disciples get answers from God.) “Because it’s been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven, but to them it hasn’t been given.” (v11) The understanding of heaven’s mysteries is given only to Christ’s true disciples! The multitudes came to Christ. They’ve seen His miracles. They know He’s a prophet. They listen to Him speak but they aren’t given understanding! Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing they don’t hear, nor do they understand. (v13) But concerning the disciples he says, “For whoever has, to him more will be given.” (v12) The disciple is the one who gets more because he’s the one who has a real relationship with Christ. The multitudes don’t have because they spend most of their time following after their own things, living for themselves and not really seeking the Kingdom. Although they “believe” Jesus is of God – they’re really not hungering for His righteousness so they don’t get any more. Even here at “My Father’s House” I’ve often been unpleasantly surprised at how much some of you don’t see. And that means Jesus’ words apply to you; if you have eyes but you don’t see, ears but you don’t hear, He doesn’t consider you a disciple. But if you truly are a disciple, Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear. (v16)

Discipleship is a blessed calling where God is helping you become a worthy recipient of His favor. And it’s a particular blessing concerning the disciples that Jesus opens to them many mysteries which the multitudes will never understand. This doesn’t mean just the unbelieving multitudes, but it includes the “religious” multitudes who claim to believe but don’t pursue. These religious people may go to church and pretend they want to be close to Jesus for a while but then they go home. Whereas the true disciples are living with Christ all the time. Of course the twelve apostles were daily with Jesus but there were many other disciples who followed Him continually. (Act1:21,22) Because of that these disciples were privy to many mysteries the others didn’t get to know about and they were blessed with seeing eyes and hearing ears. And that’s how you must judge yourself. Are you hungering and thirsting for righteousness? Do you desire to be with Jesus all the time? Do you yearn to know Christ as Paul yearns to in the power of His resurrection, the fellowshipping of His sufferings and being made conformable to His death? (Phil 3:10) Are you recognizing the presence of the Holy Spirit leading you and teaching you everyday according to Christ’s promise? But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He’ll teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (Jn14:26) However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He’ll guide you into all Truth (Jn16:13) You know He’s there when you’re seeing new things in God’s Word that aren’t just rehashed religious clichés or what you’ve heard someone else talk about. The Spirit gives us brand new revelations and shows us meaningful new connections between scriptures like we never saw that way before! If you have the Spirit He’ll take you into new depths of understanding. But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. (1Cor2:9-10)

Are you really sanctified? Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit. (1Pt1:2) Can you see your life is blessed of God so you don’t behave as an unbeliever because the Spirit is upholding you in Christ! Are you making wise decisions? Is Jesus your wisdom? “Wisdom is justified of her children.” Are you a child of Christ’s wisdom? Can people look at you and see the wisdom of God in you? Do your eyes see? Do your ears hear? Are you able to recognize what the Spirit is doing in the church? Are you a participant, even a helper in the Spirit’s work? Or are these things passing you by? Discipleship has responsibilities and the responsibilities are great. Your life isn’t yours anymore if you’re a real disciple. (Gal 2:20) But discipleship has great privileges including a true intimacy with Christ; a real understanding of many things others can’t see and don’t comprehend, a comforting presence of the Holy Spirit. Do you have the heart of a disciple; a heart that hungers and thirst to know God? Are you experiencing the blessedness of your discipleship? “Grace and peace be unto you.” If you’re a disciple you’re blessed. Can you see there’s a real difference between your Christianity and that of the multitudes around you who claim to be believers but who don’t see what you see and don’t hear what you hear? Can you see how deceived they are who think they can be “saved” without being a disciple? And if they’re deceived they’re still in darkness! But you, brethren, are not in darkness. You’re all sons of light and sons of the day. We’re not of the night nor of darkness. (1Th5:4a,5) Can you see how deceived they are who think they can be saved when they bring no fruit to perfection? Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they’ve heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. (Lk8:14) Are you proving you’re a branch in the vine by bearing the “much fruit” of a true disciple? I’m the vine, you’re the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you’ll be My disciples. (Jn15:5,8)

 Prophecy: Whom will I call?  Whom will I send? To whom will My voice call out “Go here?” To which of My servants will I say, “Go there? Do this work for Me? Accomplish this task?” Will it be to the multitudes who profess to believe in Me, yet they only come when they feel like it and go when they feel like it? They’re unfaithful and they have no real interest in becoming like Me, knowing Me or representing Me. Would it be to them that I reveal My will? By no means! The only ones who qualify for My works, to be sent by Me, or to represent Me are My disciples. And My people one thing you must have to qualify you for heaven is fruitfulness. And what qualifies you for fruitfulness is discipleship. So only those who are bearing fruit are My disciples. And it’s only My disciples who I can move, guide and send on My fruitful tasks. And I tell you also there’s a difference between My disciples and the multitudes who merely profess to believe in Me. To My disciples I give special gifts. To My disciples I give revelations. I’m able to send My disciples before Me. And to you My disciples today who ask of Me I’ll give you special gifts; ministries and healing works that you may be shown and demonstrated to truly be approved over those who merely profess to believe in Me, thus saith the Lord.

 Prophecy: Haven’t I said if you abide in Me and My Word abides in you you’ll bear much fruit? Haven’t I said by this My Father is glorified? Now how can you claim to abide in Me or how can you claim that My Word abides in you if you’re bearing no fruit? It’s My solemn guarantee that if you stay in My Spirit and hold on to My Word I’ll use you and I’ll make you fruitful. It’s My Word, My everlasting, eternal, infallible Word which says that. So where’s the problem? Is it with My Word? With My Spirit? Or is it with your abiding? I think you know where the problem is. If you’re to be My disciple you must purpose in your heart to abide in Me. You must purpose to learn to know My Word and hold fast to it. And you must purpose to bring forth fruit. You can’t accept anything less than what My Word expects of you if you’re to be My disciples, saith the Lord. (Prophecies delivered at “My Father’s House”)

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