7th Lesson: Discipleship according to God's own heart.

Whose servant are we??

Objectives?  

1- Who is truly our master?

2- God has called you to make a difference in this world.

3- We were called Ambassadors of the Heavenly Kingdom, therefore let us honor our Lord Jesus; by doing so. 

I would like to encourage all of us to exercise influence over our neighbor, and this influence may or may not succeed. Likewise, this influence can be positive or negative. Many times, we do not realize the fact that there is someone watching us, copying our actions, gestures, thoughts; trying to construct their way of conduct based on what they observed in us. Many people in David’s time watched his behavior. What did they see? A man after God’s own heart. 

There are many leaders in this world, and somehow each of us is a leader for someone who is in touch with us at some time. "If someone follows our example, for this person we serve as leader, for the fact that they adapted what they saw in us." Even our relatives and friends, neighbors who always live with us; are we influential to them as well? Certainly. In the future, they might comment to others what the conviviality (living together with you) meant to them.

Question nº2: Do you remember an occasion where someone came to thank you for the example you have been for them?

We ought to evaluate our entire conduct according to the heart of God in our life. We can only lead others on the ‘Way’, which is ‘Jesus’, if we are on that ‘way’ in the first place. 

A human being always reflects who is in charge of his heart. What and whom do we follow? It might be philosophies, thoughts, desires, or people who have influenced us. When we look up to someone like our hero, we usually follow in the footsteps of that character. 

 Who commands your heart, do you know? 

 Who is the master of your life? 

 Is the master of your life your own ego? 

 Based on what do you make your decisions? 

 Who or what gives the final word in your actions and decisions?

The Word of God tells us in Romans 6:16-18: "Do you not know that to whom you are presented as servants to obey Him, you are servants to Him whom you obey, or from sin to death, or obedience to righteousness? But thanks be to God, having been servants of sin, you have obeyed from the heart the form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And being freed from sin you became servants of righteousness." 

Let us make a difference in this world. We are called to be the light of this world and the salt of the world. Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV) “14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

True or false: It makes a difference in this world if we are the light of this world and let it shine before men, that they may see it and glorify the Father in heaven. 

God calls us to become servants of righteousness, and that is how our light shines; by obeying God. Most people do not even realize who actually gives the last word inside of them. According to the teachings in psychology, we always have the conduct according to whom and what we follow. 

Ask yourself: ‘Has your light been shining lately’?

Adam and Eve believed that they followed completely what their Creator had said. But, one day only, they went after a suggestion given to them and used their own understanding after that. What was the result of the fact that one day only they followed that simple suggestion? The verse we just quoted from Romans tells us that: Once we were made servants of righteousness, it shows us that Jesus Christ is Lord in our life. Only Jesus makes us servants of righteousness; therefore we reflect it as such. We want to have a course or a route in our lifestyle that is worth observing. Our aim and goal should be to "reflect the heart of God, just as Jesus reflected His Father who is in heaven." 

Journal nº3: Look in the mirror (God’s Word) … whom do you see in the mirror? Describe please and be honest about it. We ought to reflect whom if we serve the Lord Jesus?

This reminds me of the passage in 2 Corinthians 5:20: “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” "Ambassadors for whom? And we will surely lead our followers according to whom we follow.

The Bible tells us that God is love, and whoever is in love is in God, and God in him. We want to lead each one to reach the stature of the person who acts integrally in leadership according to the heart of God, in such a way that in this sense we reach Gods’ expectation. 

Perhaps you will come to reason with me saying, oh, but I am no political leader and not a king like David. Neither am I any leader in the local church and nowhere else. Therefore, this subject is not for me. I want to leave a little challenge for you, if the above describtion is as you think about the subject. Read the lessons, and if after reading them you will continue to think in the same way, then may God bless you in your walk, so that He can assert you as He did with David; 

"Behold ________________________, a person after my own heart." (Put your name in the blank).

I believe, however, that the Holy Spirit will convince you that He has called you to make a difference on this earth to lead when Jesus said, "As My Father has sent Me, I send you." With this sending, Jesus gave the leadership here on earth to His Church, and He leads us to do our work, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit; therefore… You and I are included in this command. 

We have this promise in the Word of God, Jer. 3:15. "And I will give you pastors according to my heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." 

This word is given to us through the prophet Jeremiah; at a time when God's people had completely departed from God. I believe that God is carrying out the training by the Holy Spirit in each one of us who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives. Jesus chose the twelve apostles, these were the first who were according to the heart of God in the age of grace; Glory to God for this. I want to be faithful, as David and the apostles were. 

Yes, we are humans and make mistakes; but God helps us through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to make it right again with Him. I want to be one of the shepherds after the heart of God, and to feed with wisdom and knowledge those whom God brings to Jesus through me. I want to be a daughter according to the heart of God in my walk, and I desire the same for you.

Homework = Scripture memory: 

Be sure to commit this passage to memory before moving on to the next lesson. , Then, practice reciting it repeatedly throughout this course. Jeremiah 17:10 (NKJV) “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.”     Matthew 12:30 (NKJV) “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”  

Personal goal:  Make a commitment with the Lord. My suggestion is to ask Him to make of you a Disciple according to His own heart.

Blessings on to you all. 

Antonina Penner.

A. PENNER PUBLISHING.

 Discipleship according the heart of God

ISBN NUMBER:  978-0-9881063-2-1

6th Lesson: Discipleship according to God's own heart.

Evaluating our entire conduct according to the heart of God.

Are we Vessels for Honor or for dishonor?  We have an option to make it right.






Objectives:
1 We ought to examine ourselves, according to the Word of God.
Are we vessels for honor or for dishonor?
2 How can I become a vessel of honor again?
How can I know if I am qualified to lead someone to Christ?
3 God has called you to make a difference in this world.


Vessels for Honor or for dishonor.
Each and every one of us needs to learn to trust in the Lord with all our heart, and lean not on our own understanding. In all our ways acknowledging our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave His life in order that we can live and by doing so, He directs our paths. Not one single person is a good leader because of what the person is in itself. We are a good leader if we are a vessel for noble purposes in God’s hands as the Apostle Paul explains to Timothy.
2 Timothy 2:20 “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.”

Now to the Romans the apostle Paul addresses it like this: Romans 9:21 (NKJV) “Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?”

We need to realize and understand that we are clay in the potters’ hand. But, it depends on how we behave, act and live that will describe what kind of vessel we are. Jeremiah describes something very similar to this. God sent the prophet to the potters’ house, and asked him to watch him as he was making the vessels.

Jeremiah 18:1-6:  ‘The Potter and the Clay’
“The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: 2 “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” 3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord.”
We can have this confidence that once we came to the Lord Jesus to receive Him as Lord and Savior, He does not only have the power to change us from sinners to saints as you already have studied; but also from a lump of clay, that was for dishonor into a vessel for honor. Hallelujah, Amen!!!
Honoring God means we do it as He commanded it. And that settles it!! We learn on constant bases with our Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit that dwells in us always teaches us. So, we are equipped to do the good work. Amen, praise the Almighty God and our Lord Jesus.
Discipleship is the fact that we exercise influence over our neighbors and with all whom we get in contact with; and this influence may or may not achieve its success. Similarly, our influence can be positive or negative. Often we do not realize the fact that there is someone watching us by copying our actions, gestures, thoughts; seeking to build their behavior or conduct based on what they observe in us. Let us put it this way, if I am a vessel for dishonor then I do not achieve it to be a good influence. But, a vessel for honor will achieve a good influence on the person that is with us.
There are many leaders in this world, and somehow each of us, is a leader to someone who is living with us at some time in our life. "If someone follows our example, for this person we serve as a leader at that particular moment". Are we an influence to our family and friends, neighbors who always live with us? Certainly. In the future they might comment with others what living with us meant for them.
So, is the end result going to show that we were a good disciple maker or not?
Journal nº 3:  Have you ever watched a pastor or a leader in church and made your remarks about him or her?  Was the person a good influence for you or not?  What would you tell that person that needs to be changed and based on what?


According to your answer to journal above look at yourself in the mirror (God’s Word) how does it reflect you? What does the neighbor see in you?

Jeremiah 17:10 (NKJV) “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.”
2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV) “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.”

The above verses show us a pattern how we are an influence on our neighbors, because it reflects the fruit of our doings, as stated in the verse.
God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah and through Paul to His people:
- “I, the Lord, search the heart.
- I test the mind.
- To give every person according to his ways.
- According to the fruit of his doings.”
-  “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.
-  Test yourselves.
-  Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified.”

Scripture tells us to examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith. It challenges us to test ourselves. God gives us according to our ways and according to the fruit of our doings. We have no excuse for not receiving different than what God has given us. We receive according to what we do…
As we have studied so far, in the first three lessons; we can know who is qualified to lead others to Jesus by the following:
- If you examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith or not,
- Testing yourselves, you will be able to know if Jesus Christ is in you or not.
- Do you not know yourselves?
- You know whether you invited Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and you know if you are in fellowship with Him… And if not then…
-   — unless indeed you are disqualified.

This is how I understand the above verse.
A disciple seeks Jesus with all his heart and with all his soul. Actions, conduct and speech need to be all lined up with the Word of God. We as Christians can say the verse in Deuteronomy 4:29 this way:  “But from the day when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I decided to seek the Lord my God, and I find Him every time I seek Him with all my heart and with all my soul.”
-  We need to serve with a loyal heart and a willing mind.
-  Know the God of your father.
-  Serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind.
-  The Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts.
-  If I seek Him, I will be find Jesus… always.
-  But if I forsake Him, He will cast me off forever.
-  When I will call upon Jesus and go and pray to Him, He will listen to me.
-  If I will seek Jesus, I will find Him, when I search for Jesus with all my heart.

People that live around us and with us see it if we truly walk with the Lord. That this will be the pattern as described in the above verses, and they will get a hunger and a desire to have the same. If God and His love is in us, it will be evidenced and people around us will see it. So, are we then willing to lead our neighbor to the Lord as well? If we bring someone to know Jesus and his Word; for this person we are a leader, because we were used to show him how to get to the salvation in Christ Jesus.

True fellowship with Jesus and the body of Christ. In 1 John 1:6-8 (NKJV) we read that: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  As it is stated in this verse, all of us need to walk in the light and have fellowship with Jesus and walk in the light, because Jesus is the light.

To many people that call themselves Christians do not realize the fact that is described in this passage. Let’s evaluate ourselves according to this passage. Choose one of the three, which one describes you. Be honest before God.
-  If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
-  But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
-  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

Take a stand: (Now remember, this is what Jesus said)
-  Either we are for Jesus or against Him.
-  Either we gather with Him or we spoil.
-  So… am I for Him and gather with Him, or am I against Him and spoil… There is not such thing as being for Him, yet spoiling…

Task nº1:  In your next prayer please try the following:

Pray:  “Lord do I say that I have fellowship with You? Help me practice it. Have you seen me walk in darkness or am I truly walking in the light with you? Lord Jesus, I do not want to lie, but I want to practice the truth. Help me Lord to walk in the light as You are in the light, so that I can have fellowship with You and other fellow believers, and that your blood Lord Jesus Christ might cleanse me from all my sins.  If I say that I have no sin, I deceive myself, and the truth is not in me. I do not want to be against you dear Lord, but with you; so that I can gather with you. I want to walk in the light with you. I do not want to spoil and be a hindrance to others. Thank you Lord. Amen.


Read Matthew 12:30 (NKJV) “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”  In our life with Jesus, there are only 2 options… either you are a disciple that follows Him and lives according to the calling He gives us; or we are against Him, meaning His opponent.

I honestly want to learn to practice to live according to what the Bible teaches us, so that I truly can evaluate my conduct according to the same.
How many people have received the same description in the Bible, which David won? The minority. Many served God, but not everyone gained this remark about his leadership and ministry, as David did. There was a special reason why the anointing of God was upon David, who grew in his journey and his way of acting according to God’s heart. He was a human being, and he made mistakes like you and I do; but, every time God confronted him, he humbled himself and made it right with God. I encourage you to read the Psalms that David wrote and evaluate it how he longed to be a man after God’s heart.


Homework = Scripture memory:
Be sure to commit this passage to memory before moving on to the next lesson. , Then, practice reciting it repeatedly throughout this course. Jeremiah 17:10 (NKJV) “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.”     Matthew 12:30 (NKJV) “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”
Personal goal:  Make a commitment with the Lord. My suggestion is to ask Him to make of you a Disciple according to His own heart.

Blessings on to you all. 

Antonina Penner.

A. PENNER PUBLISHING.

 Discipleship according the heart of God

ISBN NUMBER:  978-0-9881063-2-1

5th Lesson: Discipleship according to God's own heart.

Learning to engage in the conduct with God.

 

The second thing that we must do. We are taught to make disciples, encourage people to follow Jesus and to become His disciple; and teach them to do the same. For this to happen we need to have the longing in us, to want to call upon His Name; and to seek Him and search for Jesus with all our heart. We ought to mean it and truly want it. This is what we need to convey in our message with tender loving care.

There is not a lack of leadership in this world; but which percentage of it receives from God a description equal to the one David got? Who is fit to lead in the kingdom of God? Who should lead and how, or why? Do you believe that David at age 17 years old saw himself as the future king of Israel? 

The same way as David did not know, the disciples did not either. They had no idea what they would be in the future. They did not know that Jesus would lay the foundation of His church based on their testimony and the witnesses they would be proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He is the Messiah; promised to them in the Old Testament. You and I do not know it either what God will do with us in the future.

Scripture teaches us that we are qualified if we are born again according to the Word of God, and if we truly are following the Lord as He called us to do. If we bring someone to know Jesus and His Word, for that person we are a leader, because we were used to show him = ‘The Way, the Truth and the Life’ = how to reach salvation in Christ Jesus. The reason why we encourage everyone to study Faith Foundation first is to be able to know how to pass on what we have learned.

In John 1:43-46  we read about Philip and Nathanael how they found Jesus… and followed Him.  “43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Jesus calls Philip and he follows Jesus, and right away, he says to Nathanael: We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Amazing how he right away, was concerned to lead his friend to Jesus as well. That is a sign of a true born again Christian. We want others to find the true life with Jesus. Making disciples is everyone’s work, and not only the leaders’ job. 

Journal no 2:  Check out your life, and evaluate how you are standing in this matter. Are you concerned about your friends and relatives that they also find Jesus? Are you as excited as Philip was to go and make this known to your neighbor/friend? Are you telling them that you found Jesus just as Phillip did? 

Does the Bible teach us how every disciple should work in the Church of God? Does God use only the leadership of the Church or each member in it?  The Word of God certainly gives us guidelines in this regard. The Word of God is the answer to all these questions. Glory to God, for he never leaves us without guidance and answers; and we will try to study each one of these.  

If we attempt to search in the Bible to see how many people received the same description that David received, we would see that it is the minority. Many served God, but not all were described likewise, in their leadership and ministry. There was a special reason why the anointing of God was upon David, who grew up in his journey and in his way of proceeding. David sought the Lord with all his heart and all his understanding, leaning on God in all his decisions. And, when he sinned and was confronted by God, he repented earnestly. Reading the Psalms that David wrote, we can identify in him the fact of true repentance before his God. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” 

Reading this verse in Proverbs, we can tell that David taught his son well. Solomon had learnt the right way, and he followed it for many years and God chose him as the next king after David. 

True or false: I can be a great and awesome leader in church throwing in some good thoughts of my own, as I believe it should be done. 

Vessels for Honor or for dishonor. 

Each and every one of us needs to learn to trust in the Lord with all our heart, and lean not on our own understanding. In all our ways acknowledging our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave His life in order that we can live and by doing so, He directs our paths. Not one single person is a good leader because of what the person is in itself. We are a good leader if we are a vessel for noble purposes in God’s hands as the Apostle Paul explains to Timothy.  

2 Timothy 2:20 “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.”

Select one of the multiple choice.  Since I am a vessel in a great house, that is God´s House, I want to be a vessel of:

a. Gold or silver. 

b. Wood or clay.

c. For honor. 

d. For dishonor.

e. A and C.

f. B and D.

Now to the Romans the apostle Paul addresses it like this: Romans 9:21 (NKJV) “Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?" 

Please also visit page Four Spiritual lays: 

http://highestperspective.blogspot.ca/p/four-spiritual-laws.html

Blessings on to you all. 

Antonina Penner.

A. PENNER PUBLISHING.

 Discipleship according the heart of God

ISBN NUMBER:  978-0-9881063-2-1