Discipleship and Discipline - Part 3

SERMON TOPIC: Discipleship and Discipline - Part 3

Speaker: Ken Paynter

Language: ENGLISH

Date: 29 July 2012

Topic Groups: DISCIPLINE, DISCIPLESHIP

Sermon synopsis: Being disciplined with your time.
Take inventory of your activities.
24Hr’s a day.
Sleep 8.
Work 9.
Meals 2.
Total 19.
How do you use the remaining 5 hours?
How do you use the time you have on the week-end?
To properly use the time we all have, it is vital that we establish priorities or else we will waste time on secondary things.

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Discipleship part 3.

Discipleship.

2 Peter 1:3-11. Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Discipleship.

2 Peter 1:8-15.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

YEAR

EVANGELIST

DISCIPLER

1

365

2

2

730

4

3

1095

8

4

1460

16

5

1825

32

6

2190

64

7

2555

128

8

2920

256

9

3285

512

10

3650

1024

11

4015

2048

12

4380

4096

13

4745

8192

14

5110

16384

15

5475

32768

16

5840

65536

17

6205

131072

YEAR

EVANGELIST

DISCIPLER

18

6570

262144

19

6935

524288

20

7300

1048576

21

7665

2097152

22

8030

4194304

23

8395

8388608

24

8760

16777216

25

9125

33554432

26

9490

67108864

27

9855

134217728

28

10220

268435456

29

10585

536870912

30

10950

1073741824

31

11315

2147483648

32

11680

4294967296

33

12045

8589934592

Discipleship.

In only 33 years and starting with only 1 person we can theoretically disciple the whole population on earth. (after 33 years, the person who started, only has to disciple 33 people, spending a full year with each one)

Unfortunately many Christians remain spiritual babies who can’t look after themselves let alone disciple and look after others.

Discipline.

From “Cry of the Human heart”

Now we have something very sad in the church today. Too many of the called-out people do not behave like called-out people. Often they behave almost the same as when they were in the kingdom of darkness – the kingdom they were supposed to leave behind. In the Church under the surface we find jealousy, quarrelling, competition, resentment, lack of love apathy and selfishness. The lack of love in the Church, the lack of fruit for God, the lack of spiritual power, is not because believers are rebellious. They are not bad, or wrong or naughty. It is simply that they are underdeveloped. They are babes. They cannot do more or love more: they cannot give more or evangelize more, not because they are rebels, but because they are babies. That is the complaint of the apostles about the Christians in the early Church.

Discipline.

Hebrews 5:11-14.

…You have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone one who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

1 Corinthians 3:1-2.

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able….

Discipline.

What tells us that we are really babes? First of all, our dependency on others rather than on God. We are always asking for prayers, always needing pastoral visits, always needing comfort. We are always looking for someone to take care of us. This is dependence. In seminary Pastors are trained in Pastoral Theology to maintain people as babes. One must visit them and keep them entertained. But the purpose of believers is not to be entertained in the congregations until they die in the grace of God! We must grow up and develop and become ministers ourselves. Pastors are to prepare the saints for the work of ministry, not to entertain them. They are not caretakers of a brick pile, but builders of a building!

Discipline.

If we continue our traditional type of visiting and counselling, we won’t change the situation. Our religious institutions often look more like a hospital than an army. The pastor has to go from bed to bed asking, “How are you, brother? How do you feel? That’s nice!”

When I was a little boy, a preacher came to our Church who had a nice long beard. Beards were not common in those days and I fell in love with the beard. So in the secret of my heart, I started to pray & fast for a beard like his. I was only eight years old. One day while I was fasting, my mother said, “ Aren’t you going to eat, Johnny?”

“No, Mommy, I am fasting,”

“What is the son?”

“It’s a secret prayer to the Lord”

“I didn’t tell the reason for my fast, but the beard did not come. When I was sixteen, the beard came without fasting.

I grew up, that’s all. Often what we lack can only come by growth!

Babies need to be disciplined sometimes not pacified.

Discipleship.

Maturity is the 1st goal of discipleship training, the 2nd is multiplication.

Levels of training.

Big group.

(Economical but not efficient as there is no individual contact)

Mark 10:1.

Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.

Discipleship.

Small group (eg: Home cell)

(Relationships can be developed, but there is no intimacy. Biblical examples of Home Churches.

Pricilla and Aquila.

Romans 16:3-5.

Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house.

1 Corinthians 16:9.

The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.

Discipleship.

Biblical examples of Home Churches.

Archippus.

Philemon v 2.

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

to Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:

Nympha .

Colossians 4:15.

Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

Paul taught in a house for 2 years.

Acts 28:30-31.

For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance!

Discipleship.

One to one training.

(This is flexible with regards to time and allows intimacy)

Moses and Joshua.

Numbers 11:28.

Paul and Barnabas.

Acts 9:26-27.

Paul and Titus.

Galatians 2:1.

Paul and Timothy.

2 Timothy 2:1-2.

Discipleship.

Qualities of a Discipler / Teacher.

Be an example.

Strong in God’s grace. (It’s not the absence of sin in our lives that makes us an example, but knowing how to handle sin in a Godly way)

A love for people.

A Father’s heart.

A servant attitude.

A person of the Word.

A person of prayer.

A person of discipline.

A person with leadership qualities.

A person who is totally committed.

Discipleship.

Paul’s commitment to Titus.

2 Corinthians 2:12,13.

Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.

Qualities needed in a Disciple candidate.

A love for Jesus.

Spiritual hunger.

Teachable (not gullible)

Faithfulness.

Willingness to make sacrifices.

Discipline.

We need discipline in all these areas.

Proverbs 25:28.A man without self control is like a city without walls.

TIME

FOOD

SLEEP

MONEY

THOUGHTS

TONGUE

PRAYER

BODY

DRIVING

EMOTIONS

WORK

FAMILY

Discipline.

Being disciplined with your time.

Take inventory of your activities.

24Hr’s a day

Sleep 8

Work 9

Meals 2

19

How do you use the remaining 5 hours?

How do you use the time you have on the week-end?

To properly use the time we all have, it is vital that we establish priorities or else we will waste time on secondary things.

Discipline.

Matthew 6:25-34.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Discipleship.

Establishing priorities.

People use the phrase (especially Pentecostals) “I’ll do it when The Spirit leads me to” and it is just an excuse to lead a sloppy undisciplined life governed by emotions and whims.

God a God of order.

1 Corinthians 14:40.

Let all things be done decently and in order.

2 Timothy 1:7.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (Time wasted cannot be regained)

John 9:4.

As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.

Discipleship.

The Parable of the Ten Minas (We are all given 24 hours a day)

Luke 19:11-27.

A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. Put this money to work, he said, until I come back. ……He was made king….. and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

The first one came and said, Sir, your mina has earned ten more. Well done, my good servant! his master replied. Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.

The second came and said, Sir, your mina has earned five more. His master answered, You take charge of five cities.

Then another servant came and said, Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow. His master replied, I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest? Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas. Sir, they said, he already has ten! He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.

Discipleship.

A guide to priorities.

1st priority must be your personal relationship with the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7:29-34.

What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. I would like you to be free from concern.

An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world how he can please his wife and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Discipline.

Your family (Wife first or Husband)

1 Tim 5:4-8.

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Gen 2:18-24.

The Lord God said, It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man. That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Discipline.

Your Ministry.

Col 4v17.

Tell Archippus: See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.

2 Timothy 1-5.

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Discipline.

Your Job.

Eph 6:5-7.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favouritism with him.

Colossians 3:17.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Discipline.

Others.

Col 4:5.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity (redeeming the time).

Hebrews.13:1-3.

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Are we too busy to help those in need?

Discipleship.

Don’t let urgent determine your time but the important.

A need does not constitute a call.

Luke 5:15,16.

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Don’t feel guilty about resting.

Mark 6:30,31.

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Discipleship.

Work out a schedule.

Ps 90:12.

You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death they are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning it springs up new, We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Don’t rush, Jesus never hurried there is always time to do the will of God. God does not give us goals we cannot achieve, unfortunately we often mistake our own desires as God’s will.

We’ve only a short life that will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.

Discipleship.

Establishing a disciplined quiet time.

In our busy lives it is necessary to carve out time for relationships that are important, there is no substitute for time.

You need to spend quality time with your husband/ wife, with your children and above all with the Lord.

Luke 10:25-28.

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. Teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life? What is written in the Law? he replied. How do you read it? He answered, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbour as yourself. You have answered correctly, Jesus replied. Do this and you will live.

Discipleship.

Why have a quiet time every day?

Because we love the Lord.

For fellowship. (We were created for this Revelation 4:11)

John 14:23.

Jesus replied, Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

We renew our strength.

Isaiah 40:28-31.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Discipleship.

Why have a quiet time every day?

We are equipped to face trials and tests.

Matthew 26:40-41.

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour? he asked Peter. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

We get direction.

Matthew 7:7,8. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

James 1:5,6. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,

Discipleship.

Practical hints for planning an effective quiet time.

Choose a definite place.

(A quiet place where you can meet with God undisturbed.)

Matthew 6:5.

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Discipleship.

Choose a definite time.

(Don’t try find the time, make time)

Daniel 6:10.

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

If anyone can set us an example of he importance of prayer it is Daniel, a man who had a high office and stood out above everyone else that his behaviour impacted a heathen king.

Discipleship.

Quality is more important than quantity. (but don’t be pressurized by time, God is not moved by casual or superficial prayer)

Jeremiah 29:11-14.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord,

Discipleship.

Remember prayer is not just talking, it is listening. (quieting your heart, getting rid of distractions and casting your cares upon the Lord so that you can hear His voice)

Philippians 4:6,7.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Discipleship.

Prayer

I knelt to pray but not for long, I had too much to do. I had to hurry and get to work or bills would soon be due. So I knelt and said a hurried prayer, And jumped up off my knees. My Christian duty was now done My soul could rest at ease. All day long I had no time To spread a word of cheer. No time to speak of Christ to friends, They'd laugh at me I'd fear. No time, no time, too much to do, That was my constant cry, No time to give to souls in need But at last the time, the time to die. I went before the Lord, I came, I stood with downcast eyes. For in his hands God held a book; It was the book of life. God looked into his book and said "Your name I cannot find. I once was going to write it down... But never found the time"

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