WBS.008
FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE
Psalm 34:1 I will bless IAUE at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Discipleship---What is it? How do you know it when you see it? A genuine disciple of anything/anyone is
someone who studies what they teach, learns it to the best of their abilities,
endeavors to reproduce in their own lives what they see and admire in their “master,”
and attempts to pass on the joy of their relationship and experience with their
master to others. It changes the way
they talk.
Consider anyone you have ever known
who has become truly enamored with someone or something. It is all they watch, study, learn, and talk
about. Sometimes you wish they would
just shut up or at least talk about something else for a change. The problem is, they have given themselves
wholly to that thing or person, and it has become all consuming. They would find discussing almost anything
else a matter of insignificance, and even find it perplexing that you are not equally
fascinated.
A boy with his first girlfriend talks
of nothing else but her. All of his life’s
experiences are now seen as through her eyes.
A techno-nerd with the latest “gizmo” or the next advance in computer
technology is consumed by it and it is all he can talk about. Both of them have a new vocabulary that
distinguishes them from the “ordinary” person, and unless you are one of the “extraordinary,”
their speech only demonstrates to you something you do not have.
A disciple of Messiah is wholly given
to Him. He esteems every word from his
lips. He watches the way the Master
moves, the way he acts, the way he reacts, the things he does, the things he
doesn’t do, in order to evaluate and understand the nature of his life in action,
in order to learn and to absorb every single bit of it; and he cannot keep from
speaking of it. It pours out like an
over-filled glass. “His cup runneth
over.”
You can tell a lot about the measure
of a person’s discipleship to Yahushua by the words he/she speaks. Worldly speech and common emotion-driven
reactions to things in life only reveal that they have nothing different than
you have and clearly are not learning from the one who is meek and lowly in
heart. It is when the words do not match
the person’s experience that something beyond the ordinary is revealed; and
which demonstrates the distinguishing mark of genuine discipleship. When insults, abuse, mistreatment, burdens,
hardships, afflictions, wrongful attitudes assail and the words from your mouth
are blessing and praise to IAUE (not through gritted teeth), your life demands
others to take note that you have been with Elohim. Remember Paul and Silas in jail in Philippi,
having had their backs opened with stripes?
At midnight they sang and gave praise to Elohim. The manifestation of the life of the Master
within them was responsible for the divine rescue of the jailer and his entire
household (Acts 16).
When one blesses IAUE at all times;
and His praise is continually in his mouth, there is no opportunity to speak
evil of another, to criticize or to complain, or to “speak one’s mind” about
something that is deemed insulting or demeaning. When even in those circumstances, blessing
and praise comes out of the mouth, genuine discipleship is revealed; and the fragrance
of the joy of the Kingdom of Elohim disseminates like bait to a world of fishes.
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of Elohim, and
not of us.
What flows out of our lives naturally
by the Spirit is perceived by the world as something extra-human. Our lives, the way we live them, are expected
to be understood as manifesting something of the divine. Our lives are not supposed to be lived just
like everyone else’s, and the only difference between us and those without the
Master is what we believe; and one of the most “sure-fired” ways for this to be
evident is when blessing and praise of IAUE are continually in our mouth.
It is fairly easy to implement this as
a matter of practice; because it is something you can “do” as opposed to
something you must “be.” Remember the
law could regulate only the outward behavior---something you could do. It could not regulate the inner man of the
heart---something you must be. It is
appropriate to implement into our lives something we have learned while still
in pursuit of the “revelation” of that truth…to behave in accordance with
doctrine learned while awaiting the revelation of the Spirit that makes such behavior
the natural manifestation of the life borne within.
In other words, practice this. Become mentally conscious of your words. When occasion arises (and it will,
frequently) to speak negatively about someone, to criticize someone, to
complain about your job, your car, your finances, your spouse, your children,
your friends, your life in general, praise IAUE instead. Give no occasion for flesh-driven speech to
pass through your lips. This is
something you can consciously do. At
first, you may see it as just an experiment on your part; but the longer you
regulate your speech in this manner, the more revelation will come to you
bringing you life, such that blessing and praise will become natural to express
what the Master has done on the inside of you.
1 Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore
glorify Elohim in your body, and
in your spirit, which are Elohim’s.
We have been bought with a price. We
are no longer our own. One died for us
so that we who live would no longer live for ourselves; but would live for the
one who died for us. That is the great
exchange of the disciple’s life.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are
just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things.
It is critical that we understand that
as a disciple, we do not have the liberty of exercising even our own thought
life as we please. We are completely and
utterly the Master’s possession.
Thoughts that wander off into fleshly regions, whether that be of “the
lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16),
or thoughts of resentment, anger, frustration, haughtiness, etc., are
unacceptable to the Master. Such
thoughts are symptoms of subversion.
Yes, allowing such a thought life to exist, to contemplate our own
plans, our own attitudes, our own objectives, is to develop rebellion against
the King and his kingdom. No man can
serve two masters.
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of Elohim,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Messiah;
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against Elohim: for it is not subject to the law of Elohim, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please Elohim.
A mind that is not brought into
captivity to the obedience to the Master is a mind that is an enemy to the
kingdom; because, ultimately, it does not recognize the authority of the King,
nor his right to rule over you. It is imperative that “believers” realize that
they have not simply received a free gift and are awaiting the date upon which
it may be collected…pie in the sky bye and bye.
If we have “accepted” Messiah, we have embraced a King; and if a King,
then we become His servant in every meaning of the word.
Like “the Lists” in a previous lesson,
endeavoring to bless IAUE at all times; and letting His praise continually be
in our mouths, will be very self-revealing.
It will demonstrate to ourselves how much of our heart really belongs to the
Master, and how thoroughly (or not) our knee is bowed to his authority. These are important lessons to be learned
early in our adventure as disciples of Yahushua Messiah.
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