During 2014 I was studying the words of Christ while here on earth. Three of them really stood out to me. It seemed to me to be the marching orders for a Christian. I was led by the Lord to write a book entitled “Three Crucial Commands of Christ, with a Promise”. Dr. John Tolson (The Tolson Group) wrote the Foreword. He is a dear friend and has been committed to discipling men for several decades. The Spirit encouraged me to write these few paragraphs to remind me and to challenge you of our most significant work in Christ.
The three commands are these, in this order.
- 1st-“Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand” Mt. 4.17b.
- 2nd-“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” Mt. 4.19.
- 3rd-“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you” Mt. 28. 19, 20a.
When Christ called his disciples, these commands were critical for their engagement in what lay ahead for them. Repent, follow Me, make disciples! Go is actually, as you are going. It implies to me that discipleship happens as you’re going through your life. It’s not something you, so to speak, carve out. It should be like breathing in and breathing out. Dr. Tolson describes a disciple this way.
- Learner: True learning, Biblically speaking, only takes place when it changes the way you live.
- Follower: Someone who “sticks to” the person who is leading and teaching them.
- Reproducer: Someone who duplicates themselves in others.
Dr. Ramesh Richard, Founder and President of RREACH, developed the Global Proclamation Academy in Dallas, TX. Each year 25 pastors from across the world are invited to attend a three-week intensive training program in conjunction with Dallas Theological Seminary where he is a professor. They are trained, challenged, ordained and sent back to their countries to pastor their people. But equally important is their call to reproduce (multiply) themselves in the lives of other men inside their country. True discipleship!
Discipleship then is the act or process of learning about the teachings of another, internalizing them and then acting upon them. Christian discipleship would necessarily focus on the teachings of Jesus Christ. And a disciple maker is one who teaches and leads someone.
Jesus discipled 12 men, one of which fell away, and then eventually the apostle Paul. The promise that Jesus made to them is so critical in our discipleship. The promise is this. “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” Mt. 28. 18b, 20b.How could he say this if he was going away, back to his Father? Fact is, God does not miss a trick. Jesus spent three years discipling and showing them what it was all about. And then he sent his Holy Spirit to work in and through them to accomplish his commands. Countless billions have been discipled over the last 2,000 years beginning with these Apostles and the Holy Spirit working through them and others. And now, you and I have the privilege and the responsibility to continue the work. No greater joy!!
“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” Jn. 14. 25, 26.
Just say, “yes, use me, Lord!” He will do the rest.