Concept Discipleship

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 50

in it also becomes crucified, dead, rendered useless to him. He

loses taste for the world and all that is in it. ;

2. What the cross is not.

a) The cross is not a sickness, a deformity or an infirmity. 1 Cor.

1:18, Num. 21 -.5-9, 3Jn. 2.

God does not give people sickness as their cross. Rather, all

these terminate at the cross.

b) The cross is not a physical ornament for decorating the body,

nor a symbol for ceremonial purpose. ICor. 1:18-23 using it this way

only robs the cross of its power.

3. Daily Application of the cross (Lk. 9:23)
(a) Why must we take up our cross daily?
i. We are not of the world. (Though we are in the World).
Applying the cross daily in our lives distinguishes us from
the people of the world. Jn. 15:18-21, Gal. 6:17.
ii. We are still in the world and we encounter the world

daily. Even though our lives have changed inside, the

world has not. Jn. 17:14-17, Un 2:15-16, Rom. 12:2.
Therefore we need the power of the cross in order to

overcome the world and its norms daily. Without applying
the cross, the world will influence, squeeze us into its mould
and standards and overcome us. It is only as we apply the
cross to our lives that we experience daily victory over the
world system.
iii. Daily application of the cross in our lives reminds us of the

death of the flesh everyday, in order to be free everyday to

serve God. Rom. 6:6-7, 14, 19., 2Cor. 5:15, 17.

(b) How to apply and experience the cross daily. i. The power
of the cross is made manifest only in someone who has seen
the rottenness of himself and has become tired of himself.
Rom. 7:8-15, 24, ICor. 15:31.

ii. Reckon yourself dead... Rom. 6:7,11,14, 2Cor. 5:14 Col.
3:3a We were in Him when He was crucified; therefore His
death became your death and my death. It is credited to my
account and yours. Count your self dead. You are dead. That

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 51

is the truth. Not that you will die. Your flesh, your human
n.iture has been done away with and rendered impotent, Self
shall no longer be your maister. Its grip over you is broken.
You can freely walk out of that sepulcher now, living the
resurrection life!

iii. Declare it daily in your dealings with the world. Gal.6:14,
17, Heb. 13:13, Rom. 6:7.

Don't keep quiet about it. Be bold and walk in the
consciousness of the power that the cross exerts on your life.
Anytime temptation conmes your way, God is only giving you
an opportunity to prove that you are dead. Just as a dead man in
the hospital, has to be certified dead before he is said to be dead
in the world, even though you have died by the instrumentality
of the cross, you have to be proven and certified dead by the
world before you are said to be dead. Therefore when
temptations and provocations come your way, God does not
expect you to fall, but to prove the death of the old man. What
kind of temptations and provocations are likely to come your
way after now? Discuss how you intend to overcome them.

iv. Prove the life of Christ within. Gal. 2:20, ICor. 16:19-20,
Col. 3:4, Phil. 1:20-21 (GNB)

Proving that you are dead, is not enough. You must
practically manifest the life of Christ, the' New Creation life'
within. v. Set your mind on things above. Rom. 8:5,
Col.3-.l-2, Un.2-.15-16, Rom. 12:2 , Phil. 3:7-8. (GNB, LB,
Philips).

Since your desire now is to do what the Holy Spirit tells
you to, set your mind on things above, things that the Holy
Spirit wants. Devalue the things of the flesh and of the world
as Paul did. Put the highest value on spiritual things and set
(tune) your mind on desiring such things.

vi. Live only for Jesus henceforth, . 2Cor.5-.15, Rom.6:13-14.
Rom. 14:7-9, Rom. 7:5-6, Col.3-.14.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 52

There is no vacuum in nature. As you stop living for the flesh, a
vacuum is created. If you do not immediately start living for Jesus, the
flesh and its lusts will creep back into your life. The right thing to do
is to replace the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. As the
flesh is evacuated, fill your mind with God's word.

vii. He (Christ) must be magnified in us at any cost. Phil. 1:20-21
(GNB).

Be willing to allow Christ to be magnified in you whether by life
or by death.

Conclusion
The cross is God's wisdom for dealing with the flesh (the enemy

within) and the devil (the enemy without). By the cross, the power
and the hold of the SELF life over us is broken. By it also, Satan and
the principalities and powers have been rendered powerless. God did
all these for us in order that we might be free to serve him in spirit and
in truth. He delivered us from the hands of our enemies (within and
without) that we might serve Him without fear in holiness and
righteousness all the days of our lives.

Henceforth, going to school or doing any work must no longer

be just to earn a living but as a way of services to the LORD. No more

fear of death or of the future. Alive or dead, we are the Lord's

property. Can a dead man earn a salary? He who lives in you now

does all these things you are claiming now. Do not rob Him of your

body, your thoughts, your money, your soul, which are legally His

own. He bought you with a price.

We have no other duty here on earth other than to bring glory
and honour to Christ except we have been deluded. Any job you are
doing here where Christ cannot be honoured and where you cannot
boldly live for Christ is a CHEAT! It is an illegal private practice.
You must arise at once and live only for Jesus henceforth.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 53

1. In what practical ways has the cross been
at work in you, to release the INNER life,
as it terminates your old self-life, since this
study?

2. What definite victory has your carrying
of your cross daily brought to you from the
world system and it's standards? Give vivid
examples and instances.

3. Were you able to apply this study to deal
with sickness, oppression or any

such thing in your life? What is your experience? Share a definite
case.

4. Share practically, how has your walk with the LORD (in the Spirit)
been since you went through this study. Have you experienced any
difficulty or conflict along the way? Give a practical example.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 54

"...AND FOLLOW ME

Introduction
"And he said to them all, if any man will come after
me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily
and follow me." (Lk.9-.23).

God has set the Lord Jesus Christ as a standard and pattern of
life and service for every one to take cue from. So when He
declared that if anyone will come after Him, he should deny
himself and take up his cross daily and follow Him, He
meant that everyman desiring His glory must follow the path
He trod and embrace His pattern of life and service without
any option. This is the need for this study on following Jesus.
It is a crucial part of the conditions we must fulfil in order to
become disciples, learning of the Master: May you not be
found wanting even at this point in Jesus' name.

1. "...AND FOLLOW ME." Lk .9:23

(a) Why must we follow Jesus?
(i) We are lost. Rom.3:10-18, 23,Isa.53:6,Eph.2-.H-12,

Prov. 14:12, Gen. 3:8-9.
Sin has led us astray since the days of Adam. We are

lost and have gone astray from the presence of God. Sin

has blinded us so much that we do not know the way back

into God's presence any longer. And for us to know our

way back to God, we need a help, a guide, an a visual aid.

Jesus is the one; He is all we need.

(ii) God has testified of Jesus and has commanded us to
follow Him. Matt. 17:5, lPet.2:21,Heb.1:1-4
God Himself spoke all the way from heaven bearing

testimony about His Son Jesus Christ. He is the express

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 55

image of His person. The image of God lost in Adam is found in
Christ and God has commanded us to follow in His steps if we must
find our way back into His presence and regain the lost glory. He is
the Pattern set for us by God to pattern our lives after. No other man
must be our pattern. If we follow men, we must only follow them as
long as they follow Jesus. God said, "This is My beloved Son in
whom I Am. well pleased..." not "These are my beloved sons..."

Though there were great men of God, great prophets in the
scriptures, they are not the 'pattern* given us by God. We can only
follow their lifestyles as long as it conforms to the life of Christ.
Where their lives differ from that of Christ, we must look away
from them and follow Jesus. God spoke in time past to the fathers
by the prophets, but He has in these last days spoken to us by His
Son whom He has appointed heir of all things. If you must please
this same God, you must, in obedience to Him, learn to follow
Jesus.

(iii) John the Baptist's testimony about Jesus. John 1:20,29-3 7; Matt.
3:11-12
The reason why John was raised and why he came baptizing
was to testify about Jesus and show Him to men so that they could
follow Jesus. And he did. He did it to a point that two of his
disciples left him and followed Jesus. Will you not also leave all
others to follow Jesus? God testified about Him; John also did. Out
of the mouth of two or three witnesses, every truth is established
(2Cor.l3:l). May God help you to heed the call to follow Jesus.

(iv) Jesus' testimony about Himself and His mission. Jn.
14:6-7,Lk.l9:10, Matt.ll:28-30,Matt.4:19
He is the way not a way; He is the truth, not a truth; He is the life.
The way to God's presence, the way into abundant living, into the
holiness power and the grace of God is Christ Himself. If you
follow Him and His lifestyle, you will never miss it. He is the
truth: His word and lifestyle is the truth about everything. When
you believe and follow Him, you are

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 56

sure to stand every storm of life. He is the life. Outside Christ, you
will only enter into, and experience death | everywhere.

(v) Others' testimony about Jesus. Jn.4-.29, Matt. 2 7:54, Matt 16:15-16.
You can also be a witness unto Christ and your life can bear a

powerful testimony about Him if you believe and follow Him as some
of us have done and are learning to do everyday. Saying 'no' to self is
not enough; coming under the power of the cross is not enough; you
must ensure that you follow Jesus every step of the way.

(b) Discuss what the phrase "follow me" generally means.

(c) What does Jesus mean by saying "...and follow Me?" Lk. 9:23
(KJV,AMP,LB); Jnl3:15,Rom8:14,Jn 15:14,Jn.8:31
"Then he said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after
me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow
me." Lk. 9:2 3 NKJV. "Then he said to all, anyone who wants to
follow me must put aside his own desires and conveniences and
carry his, cross with him everyday and keep close to me!"LB:
"And He said to all. If any person wills to come after Me, let him
deny himself-that is, disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself
and his own interests, refuse and give up himself-and take up his
cross daily, and follow Me [that is, cleave steadfastly to Me,
conform wholly to My example, in living and if need be in dying
also." AMP.
Following Jesus is not something to be assumed. It involves
action. It means "keep close to me, cleave steadfastly to Me..." that
means, do nothing without Me. Don't separate yourself from Me.
Walk in the Spirit.' You need a lot of diligence to ensure that you not
only follow in His direction and walk in His steps, but you must also
ensure

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 57

that there is no gap between you and Jesus. No gap of relationship, no
hidden agenda nothing between. It means living in accordance with
the word of God. It means being led of the Holy Spirit always in all
situations.

"...conform wholly to my example in living and if need be, in
dying also."

That involves not only being ready to conform to Jesus'
example and pattern but you must actually conform and walk in His
steps. You must be CONVERTED from your former way of life in
order to be FORMED in His own way. You must be ready to change
and be conformed not PARTIALLY but WHOLLY to His example.
And that is not only in living but if need be, in dying also.

Are you willing, or do you still want to stick to your own way
of life?

(d) Discuss what could make this step of following Jesus a hard
thing both from Biblical examples and from your own
experience. Lk. 9:24-26,57-62; Matt. 10:37-38, Mk. 10:21-23.
How can we overcome these?
Shame, desire to save one's life (future security) because of fear
of the future, possessions, children, father, mother, ambition etc, are
all things that could hinder, delay, distract or terminate a man from
following Jesus. It all depends on who or what has gained control
over your life. When you realize the high value of possessing Jesus
and the Excellency of His knowledge, all other things and people will
be to you as refuse, as it was unto Paul.
What is that thing and who is that person in your own life that
you know is capable of making it hard for you to follow Jesus? That
thing (or person) must not overcome you. You must overcome it.

(e) What are the necessary preconditions unto following Jesus
meaningfully? Lk.9-.23, Gal.5:16-17.
i. Leave your 'SELF' behind, with your own interests together with
whatever work you are doing, which you cannot

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 58

truly say it was Jesus that led you into. Matt.4:19-St Matt. 9:9, Mk
10:28, Lk.9:57-62, Acts 16:1-3, Acts9:l-6.

Surrender your life and everything of self to Jesus wait on Him
and for Him to instruct you on what He have you do. If He now tells
you to go on doing the job were doing before for him (and no longer
for yourself), t do it (e.g. Luke the Physician in Col. 14:14, Erastus the
treasurer in Rom. 16:23). But if He tells you what He -w Peter,
Matthew, Paul etc, be ready to follow Him. Allow Hit to change your
life, lifestyle, your career and your all. Whatever He tells you to do,
do it.

This has been dealt with earlier on but it cannot be
overemphasized. And one who is not willing to take this step, is not
yet ready to follow Jesus. If you brush aside this requirement now,
thinking you can bypass it and go on that is a deceit. Any day you
seriously desire to be committee unto following Jesus, you will still
meet this hurdle. Rather than try to avoid it, it is better to surrender
and make use of the grace (the divine ability) of God to obey and fulfil
this requirement.

ii. Take up your cross daily. Gal.5:16-17, Gal.6-.14, Rom.6-.ll,
Heb.13:12-13

Live victoriously over the flesh, the world and the devil daily as
you walk in the consciousness of what Christ did for us by the cross.
Identify with Christ in every matter and over every issue, bearing His
reproach even if all were to forsake you. Be happy to stand alone.
Take up your cross daily. It is a necessary pre-condition that must be
fulfilled in order for you to meaningfully, faithfully and fruitfully
follow the Lord.

What is your experience in this? What are your difficulties?

(f) Discuss the dangers of trying to follow Jesus without
fulfilling the above conditions Matt. 9:16-17, Rom. 8:6-8, Isa
64-.6Heb9-.27, lCor.3-.H-15.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 59

It is not possible to please God on our own terms but on HIS.
Whatever you do (for God) without fulfilling these conditions is like
filthy rags before Him. You cannot please God that way You will face
the danger of perishing or at best have all your works burnt on the day
of judgment. That is too costly an experiment to make with your life.
"He that overcomes..."(Read Rev.2:7,11,17,26;Rev.3:5,12,21).
There is a glorious reward for overcomers.

If there is no battle to fight, the Lord would not have talked to
us about overcomers. We must overcome the flesh, the world and the
devil while here in the world by the enabling grace of God. The
choice is yours. May God grant you understanding.

(g) Discuss God's purpose in asking us to follow Jesus.
Rom.8:29,Heb.2:l 0-11, Matt. 11 -.28 30,Matt.4:19,Jn. 10:4,5,14,
Jer.29-.ll.

It is for our good, not for evil. It is for our good shepherding.
It is not to make life difficult for us but to make us co-heirs indeed
with Jesus. God's purpose for instructing us to follow Jesus is to make
us to be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, something
which cannot happen otherwise. Since there are no two creation men
in heaven but only the New Creation Man, we cannot live the old
creation life (the natural life) and hope to inherit the Kingdom of God
with Jesus Christ.

We can only be joint heirs with Christ not just by faith
confession but by faith action. May the Lord enable you to pattern
your life after Christ and to follow in His foot steps, not for one year
or two, but throughout your lifetime in Jesus' name.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 60

(1) From this study following Jesus is not
passive. It is a definite action: In what
ways would you honestly say you have
been following Jesus?

(2.a) What personal conflicts and
difficulties have you encountered in your
desire to follow Jesus.

b) What are the hindrances?

(3) give a brief run-down of your
'following Jesus" in the past two years.
Highlight
specific points of definite experience of victories and failures and
what lessons did you learn from such experiences?

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 61

STEPS UNTO FOLLOWING JESUS

A understanding His mind (Prov.23:7,Phil.2:5).
This is the first step we must take in order to follow Jesus

and walk in His steps. There is need for us to understand His
mind, what is behind His action, what made Him to do what He
did, how He looks at situations. Our steps in following Jesus
will be arbitrary, meaningless and unnecessarily difficult
unless we understand the thoughts behind His actions. This is
necessary because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

(i) Discuss the mind Jesus had that made Him to take the steps He
took. Phll.2:5-ll(KJV, LB); Heb.l2-.2-4, Un.3-.16; Rom. 5:7-8,
Heb.2-.17,Lk.23-.34; 1 Cor. 1:27-29,

"Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus
Christ, who though he was God, did not demand and cling to
his rights as God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory,
taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. And he
humbled himself even further, going so far as actually to die
a criminal's death on a cross." Phil 2:5-8; LB.
What attitude do you discover in Christ here? It is that of
humility, that of meekness. Even though he was God, he did not cling
to His right as God. That is meekness. You can confirm this in
Lk.9:53-56, Jn.l8-.10-H, Lk.23-,35-39, Matt 27:12-14. He never used
His right as God to defend SELF. Even to come down to the earth in
human form He had to put aside His rights AS God. He willingly laid
it aside and did not cling to His right as God even up to the time He
was being crucified. You cannot continue to cling to your right and
think you are following Jesus.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 62

You have rights ... But at every point and in every situation, you
must be willing to release your right in order for the will of God to
be done. Men may cheat you and deny you your right. You will do
well and be like Jesus by releasing and refusing to cling to your
right.

It was humility of heart that made Jesus to lay aside His glory
and power and take upon Himself the form of a man. He bent down to
serve men (even though He was God). And He went further in
humility to allow ordinary human beings to crucify Him though he
was without sin. He could have shown them His power and punish
them in revenge. But he did not. God would have counted that as
pride if He did. Could you be manifesting your authority and power to
revenge and defend yourself in the face of provocation and still think
you are a follower of Jesus? How will God's purpose for your life be
fulfilled that way? That will render your salt tasteless and hinder you
from being effective in serving God.

It is necessary to understand and cultivate this mind, this
attitude of meekness and humility and let it be rooted in us if we must
follow Jesus effectively.

You can also see an attitude of love, longsuffering, forgiveness,
mercy, faithfulness lowliness of mind exhibited by the Lord Jesus,
Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus. Then following
Jesus will be easy and His burden light. Look at His lowliness of mind
in the following instances:
(a) The way through which He came into the world. Lk.1:26-27, Matt.
13:55, Lk.2:8-5.

He did not come through the family of the king or the high
priest but through an ordinary virgin espoused to a carpenter. His
birth was announced not to politicians or high class people but to
shepherds. He identified with the lowly in His birth(Rom. 12:16).
(b) His fore-runner, John the Baptist, was rugged and simple.
Lk.3:7-9, Mk. 1:6-8.

He did not choose orators or men of high taste. He was lowly in
His choice.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 63

(c) He chose ordinary fishermen (Barbarians) as His disciples, not
Pharisees or Scribes.

Are you lowly? Look at your friends, your choice of materials
to use and people you work and walk with. Are you lowly?

(ii) Discuss His life goal in order to understand His mind.
Ps.40-.6-8, Heb. 10:6-9, Jn.4:32-34.

He came with the attitude of obedience. His mind and His
delight is to do the will of God, not to fulfill any selfish ambition.

You cannot insist on satisfying your own pleasure and think
you can follow Jesus. Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ
Jesus, the mind to always do the will of God even when it hurts.

(iii) What understanding of His mind can you discover from His
pattern of life leadership and service? Matt.20:25-28, Jn.l3-.4-5,
12-17; Phil 2:7, Isa.53-.l-9.

His life pattern is that of humility and no reputation. He
would not make a big name for himself. Contrary to the world's
principles, for Jesus, leadership means service and the way into
Spiritual Leadership is to bend down and serve. He had a mind of
servant-hood. There is need to cultivate the same.

(iv) Jesus never depended on Himself or want independence ;
though at His disposal. Jn. 5:19,30-32; Jn. 8:28-29, Heb5:5-8

He did not seek His own glory but God's glory. He did nothing
of Himself but whatever God wanted Him to do. He knew that in man,
there is nothing good. This mind must also I be in you if you must
follow Jesus meaningfully.

(B) Unsetting the 'Settings' of the Old Mind
The way our old mind is set is the basis of our action and

behaviour. Hence the need to examine the old natural mind in the
light of God's word in order to unset it.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 64

(i) Discuss the practical implications of a mind that is set.
Rom8:5, Col.3-.l-3, 10-12, 15-16; Phil 3:15-16; lPet.4-.l-2,

Anything a man sets his mind upon is what he thinks about and
what he aims at achieving. When you set your mind for example, on
the belief that you cannot be influential unless you are rich, that is
what will control your mind and that is what your mind will aim at
achieving.

If forms the bedrock of your understanding and behaviour in
order to achieve that purpose. If you set your mind on pleasing the
Lord at all cost, that is what you will keep thinking about and always
aim at achieving. Your desire will be towards the things of the Lord
and your behaviour will be to please Him. Just as the radio or
television programs you receive depends on the frequency you set
your radio or television to receive, you cannot set or tune your mind
on the things of the earth and receive the things of the Spirit. Before
you can set your mind on the things above, you have to undo the
setting of your cid mind. This is necessary before your mind can be
renewed successfully with the word of God.

(ii) What is the mode of life and conduct that the old mind was set
upon? Rom.8-.4-8, Eph4:l 7-20, PM3;17-19, Jas 4:4-5, Un.2-.15-l 7.

It is clear that the old mind was set on what the human nature
wants, not what God wants and no matter how you try to serve God
with that mind, it will only achieve what the human nature wants. It
was a futile mind that works all uncleanness with greediness. It was a
mind set on earthly things.

Look inside; what are the things you have set your mind to
achieve in life or even in your marriage? Don't rush over this. Bring
them out sincerely one by one and see whether they are things on the
earth or things above. That will help you to cry to God and unset
those things as a preparation for setting your mind on things above.

(iii) For example, discuss the already set understanding of the
world system (the old mind) about the following concepts:

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 65

(a) Prosperity and success
(b) Beauty.
Compare this with the biblical (or spiritual) understanding of the
same concept. Gen.39.-3, 21; Josh. 1:8; lPet.3:3-5(GNB)
What did you discover?
In the world, prosperity or success is synonymous with wealth,
popularity, power, position. But in God's own perspective, none of
those things makes a man prosperous. A prosperous man is someone
who has God on his side. Joseph was a slave and later a prisoner; yet
he was described a prosperous man because the Lord was with him.
What would make Joshua prosperous, and have good success was not
money or popularity; it was as he walked closely with God, studying
and meditating on His word day and night.
In the world, someone is said to be beautiful depending on her
external appearance. But in God's sight, even though someone may
look beautiful in appearance, she is not beautiful in God's sight unless
she has a meek and quiet spirit. That is the set spiritual understanding
of beauty.
Before you can successfully have your mind set on things
above, there is need to carefully unset the settings of the old mind and
have your mind renewed and set on heavenly things. Your
understanding of things must change and be in line with God's own
understanding of such things so that your desires can become right.

C. Cultivating the mind of Christ
Cultivation requires clearing off, breaking up the ground and

planting of a new seed followed by proper weeding and watering.
Discuss how we can cultivate the mind of Christ taking the following
steps:

(i) Clear off the old mind. Jn.3-.3-7, Eph.4:l 7-22, Ezek 36:25-27,
Ps.51-.10.

There is need for a saving encounter with. the Lord, a
supernatural removal of the natural heart by God as you surrender to
Christ to save you. It cannot be done by the energy

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 66

of the flesh; the natural heart cannot be improved upon; it I to be
removed and replaced.

Thereafter the settings of your old mind have to identified
and put off deliberately.

(ii) Break up your fallow ground
Jer 4:3, Hos.l0-.12, Joel 2:13, Ps 34:18

What does that mean and how can we achieve this?
Be concerned about the fallowness of your heart. Mourn over
your situation. Let it touch your heart and not just your face. When
you understand what you stand to lose if you continue with thorns and
thistles in your heart, you will cry out. You will pray. A broken and a
contrite heart God does not overlook. It is a necessary preparation for
receiving heavenly seed, heavenly understanding on the soil of your
heart.

(iii) Cleanse and renew your mind.
Eph. 4:22-23, Rom.l2-.l-2, Jas 4:8,Eph5:26. Ps.ll9-.9-ll.

While the blood of Jesus washes and cleanses the heart from sin
and its guilt, the word of God is God's instrument for cleansing and
renewing the mind. There is need for constant, daily, regular reading
and studying of God's word for this purpose. You cannot be lazy at
studying the word of God and hope to be renewed. The mind of Christ
is embedded in the word of God. It only becomes yours as the word of
God gets engrafted inside of you.

(iv) Feed and fill your mind with the word of God.
lPet.2:2, Col.3-.16, Josh.l:8, Ps.ll9-.ll, Isa 5:13-14

A sparing sowing of God's word in your mind is not enough.
Any little space or aspect of your life not filled with the word of God
will soon grow weeds, the weeds of the natural mind. It will also
become the loophole through which hell (the devil) creeps in to
trouble you. Rather let the word of God dwell in you richly in all
wisdom. Make no room (Provision) for the flesh.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 67

(v) What is the attitude and goal of a renewed mind? Phil 1
-.20-21, Phil 3:7, Heb. 10:5-7

Set your heart, mind and body to know and to please the Lord at
nil cost. Let that be your goal, your only goal in life. Let I he your life
pursuit. Then it will not be difficult to follow Jesus.

Conclusion
The Lord Jesus Christ has perfectly won God's approval over

His life. Anyone who wants to walk with God and please Him must
diligently cultivate His mind and follow the path Jesus trod. He must
embrace Jesus' pattern of life and service. The steps He took, the
focus He had, His manner of doing things must become the standard
for anyone who desires to please God.

Jesus Himself declared: 'I am the way'; that means He is the
method the path, the strategy and pattern of living and service for
mankind to follow. But no one can follow Him without having denied
himself and taken up his cross daily.

What is your response in all these?

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 68

1. You cannot follow Jesus, except you
understand the mind behind his actions:
What personally strikes you about the
mind of Christ? What definite difference
do you notice between His mind and
yours?

2. (a) What are the settings of your old
mind, which has affected,

(i) Your walk with God
in life generally,

(ii) Your marriage?
(iii) Your ambition?
Discuss this practically and sincerely; giving instances.

(b) How much changes have you experienced since our studies on
self, victory over self; the daily cross etc? Illustrate with definite
examples.

3. What practical steps are you taking daily to reset and offset the
settings of the old mind?

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 69

FOLLOWING IN HIS STEPS

Introduction

"And He said to them all, if any man will come after me, let
him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow
me." (Lk. 9:23).
Following Jesus is an important requirement in being the Lord's
disciple. You are a disciple of him whom you obey and follow. If we
must become what God saved us to be, we are commanded to follow
in His steps.
So far, we have tried to understand why God instructed us to
follow Jesus, and the preconditions and steps unto following Him.
Here we shall look carefully into certain dimensions in which we are
expected to follow Jesus. Let the Lord be pleased to enlighten our
understanding so much that we shall not be able to do otherwise than
to follow Him in every aspect of our lives in Jesus' name Amen.

1. What does the word *steps* mean? Lk.9:23 AMP,
What a man does, the path he treads, his way of life, his

manner of doing things all form his steps.

2. Discuss what it means to 'follow in His steps' and the
implications of that instruction. Lk.9:23(AMP), Matt 17:5
"...conform wholly to my example in living, and If need be,
in dying also.

Jesus Christ is the visual aid, the Specimen, the pattern Man that God
has given us to show us what the 'man' He created at the beginning in
His image looks like. God spoke to our fathers in times past by the
prophets, to show them how to live

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and please God. They preached and described the way, but there was
no understanding. Then He decided to send His only begotten Son
Jesus Christ to come and not only preach to us but live the life that;
pleases God in order for us to see and pattern our lives after Him. God
the Father is well pleased with him; therefore He commands us to
follow in His steps. That means we can safely follow whatever steps
He took in life, the way He lived and walked with God, His manner of
doing things, and we will not be lost but we will please God. That
again implies that we need to diligently and carefully study His
lifestyle; His way of doing things, as much as we can in order to gain
insight and place our feet where He put His own. We must be ready to
make prompt changes in our lives whenever we find it running
contrary to Jesus' manner of doing things.

This is a challenge for all those who want to follow the Lord.
May you not insist on your own way.

3. Outline some of His 'footsteps', His 'way of life' (lifestyle), His
way of doing things, that we are commanded to follow and
conform wholly to.

His prayer lifestyle, eating lifestyle, His leadership style,
sleeping habit, the way he related with women, with government
rules, the way He related with God the father and the Holy Spirit, etc,
are all part of His footsteps we are commanded to follow. Please note
that these are just part of, and not all that we need to study about the
lifestyle of Jesus Christ.

There is a lot to study about the life of Jesus and it is necessary
to face it squarely if we must indeed follow in His steps.

We shall now briefly look at some of these, praying that God
will grant us insight for our own lives.

(a) His prayer lifestyle
(i) Discover His attitude to prayer. Lk.11:1-2, Matt. 6:5-6,
Jn. 11:41-42,

For our Lord Jesus Christ, prayer is a must in life. It is the
connecting life wire between the Father and the Son, through
which worship, requests, blessings and answers to life needs

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 71

flow. That was why He instructed His disciples saying 'when you
pray...' and not 'If you pray...' the first indicates that it is a necessity
to pray, while the second indicates a probability, a liberty to choose
whether to pray or not.

We also see Jesus thanking God (in Jn 11:41-42) that He hears
him always. That also indicates that prayer was a regular feature in
His life. It was more important to Him than food and sleep. If we must
walk in His steps and become like Him, there is need for us also
develop His kind of attitude to prayer. Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus...

(ii) He prayed more in the secret, alone with God than in the -' public.
Mk 1:35, Lk 5:15-16; Matt 6:6-8

As busy as the Lord Jesus was, He never forgot to withdraw
Himself even from His disciples and the multitudes seeking His help
in order to go into a lonely place too pray.

What can you learn from this, and what changes must you now
make in order for your prayer life to be conformed to His?

(iii) He prayed at any time of the day. Mk. 1:35, Lk 6:12, Jn. 12:25-29
Jn. 11:41-42.

Jesus prayed very early in the morning, a great while before
day; He prayed all night, He prayed in the day time. There was no
time He could not pray and there is no time God cannot listen and
answer us. From your own experience, is there any time of the day
you cannot pray? For everyone who desires to allow Jesus, every
manner of life contrary to that of the Lord must give way in order
for proper learning to walk in His steps to take place.

(iv) He prayed in all situations. Lk.6:12-15, Matt.14:23, Matt
.26:36-39; Matt.27-.46, Jn 12:25-29, Lk11:1-13.

There is no matter or situation too small or too big for Jesus to
pray about. He knew His limitations as a man; so He rayed all night
to God who knows all men, before He chose His disciples. He
prayed after performing miracles. He did not allow success to enter
His head (make him proud) and hinder him

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frorn praying dependently on God. He prayed before facing that cruel
cross; He prayed while on the cross. And He taught us to pray for
everything and in every situation.

There are some people who believe in their own common sense
and wisdom so much that they don't see why they should pray for
little' things that they can use their common sense to decide and do.
But you must not forget that our human sense has been corrupted by
the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil eaten by Adam
and Eve. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God.

How much do you measure on this scale of Jesus' prayer life?

(v) He prayed for His disciples and His enemies. Jn.l7-.l-3, Lk.23-.34.
Your children, wife/husband, colleagues, neighbours, disciples

and all those whom you relate with, must be objects of your prayer.
Even those who oppose you, and appear as your enemies, pray for
them. Jesus did it. Don't keep quiet. Pray. You would have been
walking in His steps by so doing.

(vi) He taught men to pray. Matt 6:5-8, Lk.ll-.l-2.
Apart from praying, Jesus taught us to pray. You should also

not only pray but find a way of teaching people to pray. We must walk
in His steps.

You have an opportunity to check your life as you look into the
life of Christ through the divine mirror (the word of God), see the
difference and make corrections in your life. You will be blessed in
your deeds.

(b) His Eating Lifestyle (His attitude towards food).
(i) Jesus knew the right use and value of food. Mk 6:31,
Jn.21-.9-13, lCor.6-.13b
Food is important for the body and the Lord Jesus Christ

arranged often times for His disciples to eat when there is time and
opportunity, but not at the expense of fulfilling God's call on His life.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 73

(b) He used food but never allowed food to use Him. He was not
controlled by food. Jn.4-.31-34, Matt. 4:4, Rom.l4-.17, Eccl.lO:17,Jn
6:27.

Though hungry and tired, He suspended food in order to save
the Samaritan woman. When He was faced with a choice to choose
between eating and ministering to a soul in need, He chose the later.
To Him, food was secondary. Food must be eaten for strength and not
for gluttony (pleasure). The kingdom of God is not meat and drink but
righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

What place do you give food in your life and your
consideration? Are you addicted to any particular kind of food that
you find difficult to stop? Do you eat for pleasure? Do you find
yourself putting priority on food and your stomach when there is a
work to do for God? Is food quietly becoming an idol in your heart?

Here is a divine opportunity to change your attitude towards
food and make your life right. And now is the time, as you stand
before the mirror (God's word).

(ii) He knew and followed divine timing for eating. Lk 5:33-35 There
is a time to eat and a time to fast. Jesus followed divine timing for
eating. We must also follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in this
regard.

(iii) His eating does not always agree with tradition of men. Matt.
12:1- 7, Matt. 15:2,20.

Where possible and when not contrary to God's will, Jesus
followed traditions in eating (Lk. 7:36). But they did not Him. He was
not bound by the philosophies of men concerning food. When
possible, He washed hands before eating but where not possible, he
was not bound.

Norms and traditions are made for man; man is not made for
them. Read Col. 2:8,20-22 (NIV,GNB,LB)

(iv) He ate with different kinds of people: the rich, the poor, sinners
and saints. Lk.7-.36, Mk 2:15-16, Jn 12:1-2.

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Are you class conscious in selecting the people your eat with?
Some will not eat with poor, dirty, village people, while others are too
timid to eat with the rich. For Jesus, He could eat with anybody
especially for the sake of the gospel. We must follow in His steps.

(v) He had liberty to eat anything set before Him and taught us to do
the same. Lk.l0-.7-8, Mk. 16:18,1 Cor. 10:25-29.

Discuss the implication of this in our lives as we seek to please
the Lord and preach the gospel.

Do you have exceptions concerning the kind of food or meat
you eat? How will you not have conflicts in preaching the gospel if
you continue that way? Will you not surrender your taste and appetite
for the sake of following the Lord and for the sake of the gospel?
After all even if you eat anything poisonous, it will not harm you.
Christ left us an example that we should follow in His steps.

(vi) He used invitations to eat as opportunities to preach.
Lk 7:34-37,40-43;Jnl2:l-9, Mk.2-.15-l 7.
What about you? Have you been wasting divine opportunities

of preaching that comes to you in form of invitations for a meal?

(vii) He used food to restore fellowship and foster relationships.
LK.24-.36-43, Jnl2:l -2.
Food must be eaten not for the sake of eating but for the

fulfillment of God's purpose.

(viii) He never laboured to look for food to eat. He rather laboured to
fulfill His call and He did not lack food to eat. Lk.l0:7, Matt.l6-.6-ll,
Jn.6-.27, Jn21:5,9 Lk.l2-.23.

Look at how Jesus handled the matter of food. He knew how
valuable He is to God, and He did not use His precious life to look for
good. He knew God's provision to meet our feeding needs. We must
have this same mind which was in Christ Jesus. To labour in life in
order to get food to eat is a misuse of our lives and a diversion of
divine resources.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 75

Jesus laid clear examples for us even in His eating habit. His
life is clear enough for us to know how God wants us to handle food.
It is your responsibility to walk in His foot steps.

(C) His Sleeping Habit
(i) Jesus slept whenever there was time and opportunity.
Mk. 4:35-38, Mk.l-.35.
He slept inside the boat while traveling across the sea;
He slept after a hard day's labour, having attended to everyone who
came to Him for help. Sleep brings physical refreshing to the body; so
He slept when He could.

(ii) But He gave no priority to sleep. To Him, sleep is secondary even
in the face of tiredness, if there was something to be done for God. He
was not controlled by sleep. He controlled His sleep. Mk. 1:32-35,
Lk.22:46,Prov.20:13.

When there is a burden to pray or a service to render to God,
Jesus pushed off sleep.

(iii) Jesus recognized divine timing even for sleeping: a time to sleep
and a time to wake up and work. Mk. 14,37-41, Mk. 1:35, 1 Thess.
5:7, Prov. 10:5.

Anyone who desires to follow Jesus and fulfill God's purpose
for his life must recognize divine timing for him to sleep and the time
to wake up and work. A man who sleeps at a time the heavens expect
him to work will soon come to poverty and be put to shame. Peter
slept when he was supposed to pray; no wonder he entered into
temptation and fell, denying Jesus three times.

(iv) He rebuked His disciples for sleeping when they were supposed
to pray. Lk. 9:32-35, Matt.26-.40-41.

So will He rebuke you if you sleep when He expects you to do
something else. Sleep must not become an idol in your heart, taking
priority of your time and attention.

(v) Further Biblical instructions about sleep. Ps. 127:2, Eccl.5-.12,
Prov.24-,30-34. What lessons can you learn from these?

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 76

Iit is the Lord that gives sleep. But he gives sleep only to His
beloved. When you are a lover of God, you don't struggle to sleep. He
gives you sound mind and sound sleep. But when you are a lover of
something else: a lover of money, riches, popularity, position etc,
sleep becomes difficult to find.

Now look at the definite effect of lack of self control over the
affairs of those who love excessive sleep. It brings shame and
poverty. Their work is always undone or halfway done. They do
incomplete jobs, which often spoil and bring them to physical or
spiritual poverty.

Self control is part of the fruit of the Spirit. There is need to
insist on controlling your sleep and not allow sleep to control you.

Conclusion
When Jesus said "...and follow me" it means putting your feet

where He put His own, treading the path He has trod. Even if you do
not understand what Christian life is all about, if you simply pattern
your life after His own and imitate His lifestyle, you will not be wrong
at all. He himself is the way- the right way of life.

Examine yourself and your habits and lifestyle in the light of
His own. How do you fair on this heavenly scale?

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1. This study helped us t
explore and examine the
"foot steps" of Jesus in
different aspect of life... In
what aspects of your life are
your own steps in life not
"in His steps"? Discuss
these as honestly as possible.
Outline it one by one.

2. (a) What definite action
have you taken to retrace
your own steps since this
study and in which area of
your life?

(b) What are the difficulties you have encountered in actually
following in His footsteps?

3. What further study of His life and character have you embarked
upon, since we left this study?

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 78

EXAMPLES OF DISCIPLESHIP
RELATIONSHIPS IN THE BIBLE

Introduction
We discover from the scriptures that discipleship is the only

means designed by God to bring His children into the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ, which is the eternal purpose of God
for saving us. It is the home-training method in the Household of God.
Anyone who runs away from being a disciple is a bastard who would
never grow to inherit anything in the kingdom of God.

Discipleship, as we have seen, is a life-long process by which
God makes His children to become like Jesus. The process is personal
and unique for every child of God. It is a definite process through
which every believer who desires to fulfill God's purpose for his life
needs to pass. It is not a classroom course but a relationship.

Discipleship is not a phenomenon in the New Testament only.
Whether in the old or New Testament, it has always been the method
God uses to raise vessels for His use.

In this study, we shall look into a few examples of discipleship
relationships in the scriptures. We shall endeavor to look into lessons
we can learn from the lives of people who have gone before us, so as
to know what steps to take in our discipleship relationship with the
Master.

Please pray and concentrate as you study along. May God grant
you revelation in Jesus' name - Amen.

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A. General Preamble
(1) It has been discovered from scriptures that God's method for
raising disciples could be both direct and indirect. Gen. 12; 1 -3, Mk.
3:13-15, 2Tim 2:1 -2.

He could bring up a disciple, training him either by directly
relating with him or indirectly relating with him through another
human vessel who trains and watches over that life for God.

In each case however the Lord is the overall Master and the
conditions and principles are the same. It is richer when both methods
are concurrently employed in raising a man for God.

Abraham is an example of a man directly discipled by God.
Enoch and Noah were others, where no human vessels were available.

When God looks and finds no mature hands to bring up a soul
for Him in discipleship, He could do it by Himself alone. But that is
not God's normal way of achieving His purpose here on earth. Read
Ps.ll5-.16.
'The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lords; but the earth He has
given to the children of men".

Therefore God normally seeks to do whatever He wants to do
here on earth through and in partnership with human vessels,
including the task of raising disciples. And even in this, He seeks
continuous intimate, direct personal relationship with the disciple.

(2) Discipleship relationship is a task that must be done if we must
obey and please the Lord. It is the main assignment given to us by the
Lord Jesus Christ in the Great Commission. We are to make
'disciples' and not just ordinary 'converts or believers.' Matt.28:19
(NIV) Eph 4:11-12.

(3) You cannot give what you do not have. You will have no moral
right or divine ability and personal experience to make

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 80

disciples if you are not a disciple yourself. Rom.2:21, Matt 7:3-5,
Matt 28:16-19.

The commission to make disciples of all nations was given to
those who were already disciples. You will be a hypocrite to subject
others to the rigorous training of discipleship when you yourself have
neither become one nor subjected yourself under the discipleship
training of another man. Please watch out! Take heed to your life!

B. Abraham in Discipleship Relationship with God
1. Look at Abram's life background before he started walking with
God in discipleship relationship. Through it was not called by the
word 'discipleship', you will soon discover that it is a discipleship
relationship essentially.

Abraham was a human being like any of us before he started
walking with God. Gen 11:22-32. Discuss this, applying your
discovery to our situation today.

You will discover that Abraham was born by his parents just as
we were born. He was a child of old age, and the firstborn child of his
parents, loaded with many responsibilities. Yet he left all to walk with
God.

He was faced with peculiar problems naturally as any of us. He
got married but had a problem with childbearing as it happens today
to many also. In addition, he had to take care of his nephew, Lot,
whose father Haran (Abram's younger brother) died.

If Abraham could answer the call unto discipleship with all
these life troubles, and go through it, we have no excuse.

2. Discuss Abraham's first encounter with God. Gen. 12:1-5.
Compare this with Mk. 11:28-29, Matt 4:19-20 and the

conditions for discipleship in Lk. 14:26-27,33.
What lessons can you learn from this? Discover that when

Abraham encountered the Lord, the instruction God gave him was a
call unto discipleship. In order to follow the

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Lord, he was asked to leave his country, kindred and father's house to
an unknown destination, with a promise of what God was going to
make him to become. That sounds like Jesus' instruction to Peter and
Andrew, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

But there were conditions to fulfill. He was to deny himself.
The self for him was embodied in his love and attachment to his
country, kindred and father's house. He was to take up his cross, and
he did, bearing the reproach of following an invisible God to an
unknown destination with a promise that is naturally unrealistic. Yet
he did. When he did, he entered into a discipleship relationship with
God. We cannot do less and satisfy God's desire.

3(a) Discipleship is not without trials. Just as examinations are to
students, so are trials to a disciple. Discuss the trials that Abraham
faced in Gen 12:8-20.

We discussed earlier on that discipleship is a
‘Master-Apprentice’ or ‘Teacher-Pupil’ kind of relationship. And
as a student or pupil, there are certain examinations or tests you must
pass before you are promoted to the next class in your training. So
also it happens to disciples. God sometimes allows certain trials to
come our way in our discipleship walk with him in order to prove us
and approve us for the next stage of our training if we pass this test. If
not, we repeat the class. Many of us have found ourselves repeating
the same lesson over and over again and receiving heavenly rebukes
each time. That definitely hinders our progress in our walk with God
and that is what normally makes many that are first to be last.

Abraham was faced with the trial of famine though he was in
the will of God, in the land of promise. The fact that you are in the
will of God, where God wants you to be, does not mean there could
be no famine there.

(b) What was his reaction to these trials? Gen. 12:16; 16:1. Instead of
calling on the Lord whom he followed into that

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land when faced with that trial, we are not told he prayed. There he
went down into Egypt and traded his wife for food, telling lies. There
he received a rebuke from the unbelieving king of Egypt, and there
the devil posted an Egyptian maid servant into his family, who later
became an alternative to Sarah and to God's promise for him (Gen.
12:16, Gen. 16:1).

We have an enemy who always wants us to trade our birthright
for a spoon of pottage. When such temptations come, it is not
compulsory for us to fall, but rather to see the way of escape
graciously provided for us in that temptation and stand for the Lord.

(c) How did God deliver him out of that trial? Gen. 12:17, 20;
Ps. 34:19, 1 Cor. 10:13.

First God saw the submission and innocence of Sarai, and
probably her trust in God (IPet. 3:5-6). He plagued Pharaoh's house,
not because of Abraham but because of Sarai, Abram's wife. That is a
lesson for wives. God then provided a way of escape for Abram in
order to deliver him from that problem. He moved Pharaoh to send
him away out of Egypt. Thank God Abraham agreed to get out. He
would have been lost forever out of the plan and purpose of God.

In times of temptation, always watch out for the way of
escape, and escape for your life.

(4) What did, Abram do after this in order to restore his relationship
with God? Gen. 13:1-4 (NIV), Ezek. 33:13.

When a righteous man, who has been righteous all his life, falls
into sin, all his righteousness will be forgotten. That is the principle of
the scriptures. You go back to the zero level and begin again. Abram
had to go back to Bethel where he made an altar to God at the
beginning and start afresh. Even with that, the way back to Bethel
from Egypt was no longer straightforward. He had to go from Egypt
to the Neger and then to Bethel, whereas from the land of promise to
Egypt was an expressway. He went straight down to Egypt

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 83

The way unto restoration is always more difficult than the way
unto backsliding. Nevertheless, it is better to pass through it and get
restored as Abram did than to continue in backsliding and lose all.
May God grant you understanding.

(5) Discuss the role played by Lot in Abram's life and relationship
with God. Gen. 12:5, Gen.l3:l, 5-11; Gen 14:8-14.

God called Abram and Lot went with him. That was an'
opportunity for Lot to learn the life and relationship of Abram with
God and partake in the blessings of Abram. But he would not. He
lilted up his eyes in pride (against his uncle Abraham), choosing lands
before his uncle chose, and ended up choosing wrongly.

But Abram grew in conformity to God's character. He
peaceably and meekly resolved the matter with Lot and Lot chose to
separate himself from Abram.

Discipleship involves spiritual growth. As we walk with the
Lord or with our human masters (disciplers), we must use the
challenges that we face there to develop our character in conformity
to the image of the Lord Jesus. We must grow not only in service but
in character.

Have you been following Jesus and your character has not
changed from that of your old self? Then you are not growing and
your inheritance, (the purpose of God for your life) may be delayed
from getting into your hands.

(6) There is room for growth in discipleship. Discuss Abram's growth
in his relationship with God and consequently in his vision. Gen.
13:7-9, Gen. 14:8-14, 21-24.

Discover his growth in vision as you compare Gen. 12:2-3 with
Gen. 13:14-18.

As said earlier, we can see Abram's growth in character from
the way he related with Lot. He was humble, meek, peaceable and
kind. He showed kindness in going with his soldiers to deliver Lot,
and did not revenge. He consequently

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 84

grew in vision. When you grow in conformity to the character of
lifestyle of the Lord Jesus, God enlarges your scope and adds to His
promise for your life. His blessings increase over your life. But if you
keep marking time over the same wrong habit or behaviour that God
has been warning you about, you will also not progress in vision. God
does not release all His promise and anointing upon a life at once. He
does so in stages, depending on your growth in life and character.

7.(a) Discuss how Abram handled the trial of barrenness that
confronted him. Gen. 15:1-4, Jas. 1:2-4.

His problem of barrenness dominated his mind so much that he
could no longer see the value of possessing God. (God Himself
becoming his exceeding great reward). Rather he complained.

In our lives' journey, we keep facing one trial or the other but
our attitude as we follow the Lord must be Phil 4:6-7. Complaining
will land us into more trouble as it happened to Abram and to the
children of Israel in the wilderness. Rather than worry and complain,
learn to pray and give thanks. Even though weeping endures all
through the night, surely joy is coming in the morning.

(b) How did Hagar come into Abram's life? Gen. 12:16, Gen. 16:1-2.
She was one of the items in the bride price given to Abram by

Pharaoh in exchange for Sarai his wife. However when his wife was
restored to him, instead of restituting by returning the bride price, he
went away with everything. And he went away with trouble that has
become the trouble of the whole world today: the Ishmaelites that
came from the womb of Hagar the Egyptian.

Are there things you did against another person while an
unbeliever or a backslider? For your record to be clean with God both
now and in the future there is need to restitute.

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It is part of Christian life. Zacchaeus did it and Jesus abide in
his house. You must not dodge it.

(c) Discuss the effect of Hagar's life on Abraham's 11. n 11. his
discipleship with God. Gen. 16:1-6, 15-16; Gen. I /. i 19. How was he
restored? What lessons can we learn from here?

Hagar became an alternative to Sarai, a stumbling block to the
man of God, Abram. He went in to her and so went into the devil's
trap. Hagar conceived and quarrels started in the house of the man of
God. He became a polygamous man and the presence of God departed
from him for 13 years. No prayer, no building of any altar; he was in
darkness.

In Gen. 17:1, God had to come back and introduce Himself
afresh to Abram as if he was an unbeliever who never knew God. He
had to start afresh to learn how to walk with God. Because of the
stubbornness of his flesh, causing him to fall into sin often, he had to
be wounded; through circumcision;
he had to bleed. God had to renew His covenant with Abram and
changed his name to Abraham.

Despite this, Abraham's passion and tenacity to having a child
was so much that he argued with God and pleaded for Ishmael to live.
May be God would have finished with Ishmael forever, but he
pleaded for his Ishmael, the fruit of his sinful nature to live.

That is a great lesson for those of us desiring to follow Jesus.
Don't pray for your "Ishmael to live. Let God deal with him as He
wills. We must watch our lives, our steps and be surrendered to the
will of God at all cost.

8. After those thirteen years of backsliding, Abraham became restored
(though with pains) and he grew on again in his relationship with
God. Gen. 18:1-8, Gen. 18:17-19, Gen. 18:23-25. He grew in
character; he grew in hospitality. God had a good testimony about
Abraham, and Abraham knew God's

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character also in a deeper way (Gen. 18:23-25). In discipleship
relationship, the disciple grows to know the discipler better and the
discipler does the same.

9. God's promise to give Abraham a son became fulfilled after 25
years of waiting. Gen 21:1-5 Lam. 3:25-26.

God is ever faithful to His promises. The Lord is good unto
them that wait for Him; to the soul that seeks Him; it is good that a
man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. It
is painful to note, however, that the wasted 13 out of those 25 years
were caused by Abraham's carelessness, not by God's delay. My God
grant you understanding.

10. (a) Abraham was faced with yet another trial. Gen.22-.l-3, Heb.
11:17-19.

Discuss the implication of this trial and Abraham's attitude to
the trial this time around.

Isaac was becoming an idol in Abraham's heart. And God does
not tolerate rivals. That brought another trial, in order to prove
Abraham. God instructed him to go and sacrifice his only son Isaac,
the one he loves. That means he was to become childless again. It was
a great trial. But Abraham has learnt his lesson. He believed God that
God was able to raise him from the dead. He obeyed God and proved
his unequalled love for the Lord.

What is your own 'Isaac' that is creeping into your heart and
trying to become an idol in your heart? For God to commit Himself to
you in a greater dimension, you must prove your unrivalled love for
Him. You must sacrifice that ‘Isaac’ to the Lord.

(b) Also note that God did not respond to provide a way of escape
until Abraham actually took the knife to slaughter Isaac. In his heart,
Isaac was already dead. Every 'Isaac' in our lives must be sacrificed
to the Lord.

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(c) Discuss the reward of Abraham's obedience in this scripture.
Gen.22-.15-18, Gal. 6:6-9.

Abraham received a greater blessing for his obedience. He
sowed to the spirit and reaped life. Where do you throw your
allegiance? Whom do you obey? The Spirit or your human nature?

11. Abraham sojourned in the land of promise as he was commanded
by the Lord, until he died. Gen. 25:5-19. Discuss what this teaches us
about:

a) What our attitude should be towards God's promises. (His word to
us) 2Cor.l-.20, Heb. 6:12-15.

b) The duration of our discipleship relationship with the Lord. Lk.
1:74-75.

Abraham stayed, lived and died in the land of promise. He
stayed within the promise of God for his life, without looking back or
returning to the land where he came from. And God fulfilled His
promise. He never fails. His promises are in Christ, yea, and in Him,
Amen. Though it tarries wait for it. It will surely come.

Abraham walked with God in discipleship relationship till he
died. Discipleship is a life-long process. For how long will you walk
with God?

Conclusion
God raised Abraham by a direct discipleship relationship. The

relationship had a definite starting point and Abraham voluntarily
yielded his life to follow the Master despite the fact that he did not
know where he was going. He grew on, learning under God; he also
grew in vision. He faced many troubles and trials as part of his
training process to become what God wanted him to be. He failed in
some instances and his inability to wait patiently for God's promise

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of the child, led to the birth of Ishmael, for which cause the whole
world is suffering today. He was however quick in learning his
lessons and at last, he emerged victorious and became the father of
faith. The doubter became the father of faith; the barren became the
father of many nations. Jesus says 'follow me, I will make you....' He
can also make you if you follow Him.

Abraham did not graduate from being a disciple until his death.
Discipleship is a life long training between a believer and the Lord
Jesus. The moment you seek to be independent from Christ and His
principles, you cease to be His disciple.

Commitment and submission are the watchwords of a disciple,
not minding the instrument He chooses to use to hammer you to the
desired shape.

Abraham showed us an example with his life, so that where he
fell, we shall not fall; and where he followed the Lord, we shall do
likewise.

Look into your life once again. Can you truly say a discipleship
relationship has started between you and the Lord? What is your goal
in life?

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1. Each one of us ought to be in direct
discipleship relationship with the LORD
Jesus (even as Abraham walked with
God): (This does not negate our
relationship with human disciplers God
posted on our path...) In the light of this
study,

(a) Give a vivid outline of your
discipleship relationship with the LORD
since you met Him? (Indicate how,
when, where and specific instances of each step or segment in your
walk with the Lord.)

b) What condition would you say you fulfilled at the on-set?

2. (a) What are the trials in your own walk with the LORD?
b) Discuss your own 'ups' and 'downs'. Your 'blackouts' and
what caused them. How long did each last. How did you get restored?

3. (a) What personal lessons did your learn from God directly, hen
and how?

b) What effect has these created on your life?

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EXAMPLES Or DISCIPLESHIP RELATIONSHIPS
IN THE BIBLE WITH HUMAN DISCIPLERS

Introduction
As we said in the last study, God desires to raise men for

Himself and for His use through concerted discipleship. However, He
seek to do this both by His direct encounter with the man and by
exposing him to another trusted man or, woman He had made, to
bring up the disciple for Him. This human delegate is what we call
"discipler" who labours under God and on His behalf to help nurture,
train and trim the younger disciple in the image of the LORD and for
the Lord's purpose.

We shall examine examples of such discipleship relationship in
the scripture and see how we can safely remain under the hand of
human disciplers and yet walk so intimately' with the LORD directly.

Moses and Joshua in Discipleship Relationship
(1) Moses was an Israelite, properly born into the family of God's
people and anointed by God to deliver the children of Israel from
bondage in Egypt and to take them to the Promised Land. Before he
was anointed for that service, he was brought up and trained
(discipled) by the Lord first under his mother and then under Jethro,
his father-in-law. Heb.l 1:24-28, Ex. 3:1:12.

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As he continued serving the Lord this way, he had a close
relationship with a young man called Joshua, who was also an
Israelite. Joshua was referred to in the Bible as Moses' servant. In
other words, he agreed to become a servant to the man of God, Moses,
and so learnt under him as an apprentice (a disciple). We can see from
here that unless you have personally experienced discipleship, you
cannot disciple others effectively. What you do not have you cannot
give.

(2) Joshua was an Israelite, also born into the family of God's people
as Moses was. Num 13:8,16; Jn 3:3,6.

He was also enlisted in the army of God's people Ex. 17:9-10,
Lk. 14:31-32. What is the significance of these two steps in
discipleship?

As we saw earlier, the new birth is a fundamental prerequisite
in discipleship. A lizard cannot be discipled to become a crocodile.
You must have the right 'gene'. You must be of the same stock as
Jesus before you can be discipled to become like Him. A natural
human being cannot be discipled to become a spiritual person, to
become like Jesus. Your nature must be changed to His nature. You
must be born into God's family; you must be born again.

At this point let me ask you again; Are you born again? Have
you experienced the miracle of the new birth in Christ Jesus?

Secondly, Joshua became eligible to be enlisted in God's army.
Only disciples will God appoint to fight His battles. Whenever He
looks for people to use, God picks from among those who have
surrendered to Him and are committed to Him in discipleship
relationship.

3(a) Joshua walked in close relationship with Moses. Discuss the
relevance of this in understanding what our relationship with the Lord
and with our earthly disciplers should be! Ex.24:12-13,18; lPet2:21,
Lk.l6:l.

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Joshua was called Moses' servant in Exodus 24:13. What is the
implication of that? He dropped his life ambition and his personality
to become an ordinary servant of a man, though a man of God, so that
he can be properly linked with God. He agreed to become Moses'
servant, not God's servant. He esteemed the knowledge of God and
his walk with God of a greater value than his personal ambition. So he
humbled himself to become an ordinary servant of a man so as to get
closer to God. This is a challenge. I wonder whether you can take
such a step if you are the one. Yet this is a crucial step in disciple ship.
Most of the time God puts people who have submitted to Him in
discipleship, under one of His servants as a human 'discipler'. Then
God Himself sits down to watch your progress under your earthly
'discipler' and at the end, He uses that to evaluate you and see
whether you are qualified to hold any trust for Him or not. As such,
the Lord said in Luke 16:12,

"And if ye have not been faithful in that which is
another man's, who shall give you that which is your
own?"
Joshua walked with Moses closely as his servant. In
Ex.24:12-13, God called Moses to come up to the mount and be there.
But when Moses rose up to go to the mount as God commanded him,
Joshua also rose up and went with him even though God did not ask
him to come. He did not know how long they would stay there, and
what they would eat while there. He just went with his master without
questioning. He was a committed and faithful servant. He walked in
the steps of his master.
When Moses got to the mount and God communed with him,
Joshua waited there quietly. God did not turn him back. He was
fulfilling God's desire. God did not speak a word to Joshua all through
their stay on the mount for forty days and forty nights, yet Joshua
never grew impatient. He did not interrupt their discussion. We need
to learn a lesson from the

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life of this man Joshua and be wise. Joshua endured all the hardships
there on the mount with no food, no water, no bed to sleep on and
nobody to talk to for all those days. Are you willing to do likewise?
Are you willing to submit to an earthly master as a servant and endure
whatever hardships come your way like Joshua? Joshua did it and he
became a great vessel in God's hands.

(b) What did he forsake in order to become a disciple, a servant of
Moses? Lk. 14:26-27.

4. He learnt under Moses as a pupil or an apprentice. Ex.32:17-18,
Num 11:28-30.
(a) Who is an apprentice? What is the relevance of being an
apprentice in discipleship? Matt. 11 -.28-29, Lk. 6:40, Mk. 10:15.

An apprentice is a learner. Unless we humble ourselves
recognizing our ignorance in the matters of the kingdom and be ready
to learn not only from the Lord but also from our disciplers,
discipleship relationship will be difficult and ineffective.

(b) Examine Joshua's level of understanding in these scriptures and
his submission and willingness to learn. Ex. 32; 17-18,Num. 11
-.28-30.

After forty days when God finished talking with Moses on the
mount, he started coming down with Joshua towards the camp. Then
they heard some noise from the camp and "Joshua said to Moses,
there is a noise of war in the camp." But Moses corrected him saying,
"It is not the voice of them who shout for mastery, neither is it the
voice of them who cry for being overcome; but the noise of them
who sing do I hear" (Ex. 32:17, 18).

Joshua was still a learner. He was yet to know how to
distinguish between different noises properly and he needed to be
trained in that as a man of war. When he heard the

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 94

noise, he thought it was that of war. But he was wrong. It was a
different noise as was later confirmed in Exodus 32:19, And
Joshua was corrected for that error by his master Moses. He was
also corrected for making another mistake in Numbers 11:28-30.
Joshua recognized himself as a servant, an ordinary apprentice,
and he was not ashamed to make mistakes and for his ignorance
to be discovered. He opened up his life to his master. He was not
afraid of being wrong, knowing that his master is near. That is
what is expected of a disciple. There is no child who learns how
to walk without falling down in the process, and as he falls, he
also takes courage and rises up. The Lord is near you all the time
as His disciple. You also need to walk close to Him as He trains
you for His purpose. He is always near to correct, to rebuke and
to build you up through your earthly discipler. How do you take
rebukes from those who watch over your life? Do you take it with
joy and gratitude?

(c) Compare Joshua's learning attitude here with the Lord's
demand in Matt. 11:29. What did you discover?

God's demand for discipleship is the same both in the Old
and New Testaments. Every disciple must have a learning
attitude. He or she must be teachable; otherwise his training may
not be thorough and effective.

Are you teachable? Or do you have an argumentative
heart? The Lord resists the proud but gives grace to the humble,

(5) Discuss Joshua's personal relationship with God in the course
of his discipleship relationship with his master, Moses. Ex.
24:13-18, Ex. 33:11, Num 27:18.

When Joshua followed Moses to the mount to receive the
Ten Commandments, he also experienced the glory of God with
Moses. He was there all through the six days when the glory of
the Lord covered the mount like a devouring fire.

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What others in the camp did not know concerning God, he experience
it and embraced it. He did not run away to stay afar off like the others.
He had a special personal experience of God even though God did not
speak to him.

Also in Ex.33:ll, after God spoke to Moses in the tabernacle,
Moses went back into the camp but his servant Joshua departed not
out of the tabernacle. We were not told what he was doing there, or
whether God spoke to him there, but he stayed there. He abode with
God. He had a personal relationship with God. He was not living in
sin; hence he was able to stay boldly in God's presence.

As a disciple, of the Lord Jesus, God expects you to have a
personal experience with Him even though you are under a human
discipler. He expects you to abide in Him and learn of Him. He is
willing to reveal Himself to you and show you His glory only if you
will abide and turn away from every unrighteousness. For He will not
reveal Himself to truants, who have one leg in and one leg out of
God's presence and God's program for their lives. God expects you to
have a personal testimony of your own concerning your experience
with Him so that when it is time for Him to give you a work to do for
Him; you would have known this God with whom you have to deal.
How is your personal relationship with God? Do you
know God, and does God know you as He testified of Joshua in

Num.27?

(6) Joshua grew in discipleship. He was later ordained to succeed
Moses when the need arose. Num.27; 15-21, Duet 1:37-

38, Duet 34:9.
Joshua walked in close discipleship with God and with Moses

his master. And so God testified of him in Numbers 27:18 that
Joshua was a man in whom the Spirit is. Can you see that? Look at
that testimony, that the Spirit of the Lord is abiding in him, working
in him, directing him. Can God testify

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT AND CONDITIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Page 96

of you like that, or you keep grieving the Spirit of grace in your life?
Not only that, one would wonder when the Spirit of the Lord came
upon Joshua. It was not recorded in the scriptures but it must have
been during one of those times he experienced God personally. He
had the anointing of God upon his life and so God spotted him out as
the one to succeed Moses in ministry. And having learnt under
Moses, such a responsibility would not be a strange thing in his life.
He was faithful under his earthly master and 'discipler' so God
committed into his hands the things that belonged to him (Joshua). He
succeeded Moses and led the children of Israel into the land of
promise as God commanded him (Joshua 4:10).

You have seen the life of Joshua; how he humbled himself and
bowed down to serve under a man. His life and programs were
controlled by that man Moses. He dropped his own life projects only
to follow a man as it were, in discipleship relationship. He was
faithful and God promoted him.

May be you have been praying that God should reveal to you
His purpose for your life, and cause you to fulfill it. But so far, have
you been faithful to the Spirit of God in you? Are you faithful to the
people whom God placed in positions of authority over you, or do
you think you owe your allegiance only to God and not to any man?
The Bible says that if you have not been faithful in that which is
another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

Paul and Timothy in Discipleship Relationship

It is evident from scriptures that Timothy was brought up as a
disciple under Paul. We shall look at their relationship in order to
gain insight for our lives and satisfy God's expectations over us as
disciples.

1. The first thing we must note is that Paul (called Saul rt Tarsus)
was born again. Not just that, he was brought up as a disciple by
Barnabas. Acts.9-.l-6, Acts 9:26-27, Acts 11:25-26.

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What does that teach us if we must "...make disciples of all
nations" as the Lord commanded us?

The work of disciple-making throws on us the challenge to be
disciple ourselves. You will be a hypocrite to be a disciple-maker who
has never submitted his life under another person's discipling hand.
Paul had the courage and experience needed to disciple Timothy not
only because he was a believer but because he was also a disciple. Are
you a disciple?

(2a) Study Timothy's life background and discuss what he had to
forsake in order to become a disciple under Paul.
Acts 16:1-3,Lk.l4:25-27

Timothy, though born again and already a disciple of the Lord
Jesus Christ, had to submit his life and career under Paul in
discipleship in order to become what God wanted him to be. He left
his father and mother, his Greek heritage and tradition, his personal
and parental plans concerning his career in life, friends and relatives.
It was not part of Greek tradition to be circumcised but since his
discipler Paul (not Jesus) wanted it, he agreed to be circumcised,
forsaking his father's Greek background. And he was circumcised not
as a baby but as an adult (a painful experience).

Jesus says anyone who does not forsake all that he has, cannot
be His disciple. There is nothing too big to be forsaken for the sake of
the Lord Jesus. Even Jesus had to forsake all and go through the
painful death on the cross, hiving seen the joy that was set before
Him.

What do you suppose it will cost you to submit yourself to a
human discipler? It is nothing compared with the joy that is set before
you.

b) Discuss the intimate relationship between Paul and Timothy in
Acts 26:4-7.
Timothy followed Paul everywhere he went not to preach II to
learn. He learnt quietly seeing how Paul followed the Spirit's leading
all the way. He saw how the Holy Spirit

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did not permit them to preach in some places while He allowed them
to preach in Macedonia and other places. That was not a classroom
teaching but an apprenticeship. Such a lesson is normally difficult to
impact in a classroom situation. Therefore, for discipleship to be
effective there is need for a regular if not daily close interaction
between a disciple and his discipler.

3. Discipleship is not without suffering. How did Timothy learn this
lesson from the life of Paul? Acts 16:18, 22-23; Phil. 1:29.

As Timothy followed Paul and Silas about, they encountered a
severe persecution in Philippi. Paul and Silas were beaten and cast
into prison for casting out a demon. I wonder where Timothy was at
that time that he was not persecuted and kept in prison with them.
Maybe he dodged and hid himself, we were not told. But that was a
hard lesson for him. Many people today think Christianity is without
suffering, and that if you see yourself suffering, something is wrong
with you. But we know from Phil. 1:29 that is has been given to us not
only to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ but also to suffer with him.
Discipleship involves suffering for the sake of Christ. Are you ready
for such an experience?

(4) Timothy grew on in experience. Acts 17:14, Acts 19:22. (a) Note
the new disciple in the team (Erastus). What was the expected
responsibility of Timothy over Erastus in the team?

First, you will discover that Paul left Timothy with Silas in
Berea to probably follow up the believers there. He was being
exposed to the ministry of Paul's partner Silas for more learning. He
could not yet stand alone to minister at that point. But in Acts 19:22,
we see Paul sending a newly recruited disciple in the team (Erastus)
to follow Timothy to Macedonia for ministry. Timothy had grown to
such an extent now that the ministry of God's word could be
committed to him, and he could also now teach a younger disciple.
There is need for

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growth in discipleship. As you grow in discipleship, you can then
begin to also disciple others while you remain under your own
discipler.

(b) What do you think Timothy and Erastus were to do in
Macedonia? Acts 16:10,30-34; lThess3:2. Discuss the growth
that had taken place in the life of timothy at this stage. What is
the purpose of discipleship that you can discover here? Eph.
4:13-14, Gal. 4:1-2, 2Cor.3-.18.

As earlier said, Timothy grew as a disciple. He was sent to teach the
new converts in places where they had preached in Macedonia and
establish them in the faith. And he was to do that with Erastus. He
had grown to such an extent that another disciple could be entrusted
to him.

Discipleship is a process. It involves the growth of a disciple
from one stage to another, from one degree of glory to another in
becoming like Jesus. Every disciple must therefore be prepared to
grow and face challenges of growth in order for the goal of
discipleship to be realized.

5(a) There are stages of growth in discipleship. Discuss the stage
reached by Timothy in 1Tim.1:2-3, 2Tim.4:9,21, , Phil. 2:19-22
compare with Gen. 2:8.

Timothy's discipleship relationship with Paul was like that
between a son and his father. They related very closely together. Even
when Timothy had grown to become a preacher himself, Paul still had
liberty to send for him anytime Timothy's help was needed. He did
not grow beyond discipleship. Discipleship is a relationship; not just a
program. Paul and Timothy related so closely that Paul trusted in him,
handed ministry over to him and wrote a letter of recommendation to
the Philippians about him. He had a good report, from his discipler.
He had becomed 'formed'. Christ was formed in him.

May the relationship of Timothy with Paul be a .challenge to
you in Jesus' name Amen