DISCIPLESHIP – OVERCOMING OBSTACLES by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson
Introduction: Two years ago, Nicole and I decided to take our health seriously and started working out. Talk about obstacles! We both love to eat. We had to discipline ourselves in what we ate and how much we ate. Then, it was our busy schedules. We had to discipline ourselves to turn off the TV and head to bed on time. Then, it was waking up early in the morning. We had to discipline ourselves to get out of bed when the alarm went off and plan ahead on how to get the kids to school. Bottom line: Without proper discipline, it would have been impossible to take charge of our health and work out. So also, when it comes to discipleship, there are obstacles. To overcome these obstacles, we need certain disciplines. Without proper disciplines, discipleship is impossible.
Matthew 28 18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go 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, 20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, evento the end of the age.” Amen.
Question: What obstacles are keeping you from becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ? Are you willing to discipline yourself? Are you a disciple? Are you saved?
Context: As you know, we created the acronym WATERto represent the goal of discipleship – WITNESSES + ACCOUNTABILITY + TOGETHERNESS + ESTABLISHED IN THE WORD + REPRODUCING. When all 5 of these work in tandem, we are the disciples Jesus called us to be. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. There are obstacles under each element and it requires certain disciplines to overcome them. Here are 5 disciplines that are absolutely essential to overcome the obstacles in becoming disciples:
1. Discipline of Evangelism.
Acts 1:8“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnessesto Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”2 things here: First, when Jesus told his disciples to be witnesses, he was referring to the fact that they had seen his death, burial, and resurrection.If you claim to be a disciple of Jesus, you are also a witness to him. You may not be an eye-witnesses to the events 2000 years but you are an eye-witnesses to the impact of those events in your life today.You should be able to tell others 3 things – 1. What was life like before you met Jesus. 2. What happened that changed your life, how Jesus saved you by his death, burial, and resurrection. 3. What is your life like since Jesus saved you. Second, when Jesus said “you shall be witnesses to me,”it was not a suggestion. It was a command. It was not optional.
Most Christians do not witness for one reason or another – some are too busy; some are too scared; some don’t feel like it. some don’t believe that this is the only way; some don’t believe that it works. Listen to what Charles Spurgeon said, “If I never won souls, I would sigh till I did. I would break my heart over them if I could not break their hearts. Though I understand the possibility of an earnest sower never reaping, I cannot understand the possibility of an earnest sower being content not to reap.”
Here’s the point – Witnessing is a discipline. If you truly believe that people are lost and headed to hell without Christ, then you will make it a practice to witness regularly.
2. Discipline of Confession.
Matthew 26 36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”…40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?41Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation…” Let me clarify: Yes, Jesus needed the support of his inner circle but the temptation to sin was for them, not him. If you claim to be a disciple of Jesus, you will have godly, mature, and trustworthy people in your life who will question your bad behaviors and encourage your good behaviors and pray for you on a regular basis.
Many Christians fall into horrible sins because they are isolated and think that they can handle their struggles on their own. They feel that they don’t need any help. James 5:16“Confessyourtrespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” By the way, this does not mean that you have to go into gory details or share things that are private between you and your spouse. That’s foolish.
Here’s the point: Set aside your pride. Ask God to send the right person/people in your life to help you stay accountable and practice the discipline of confession.
3. Discipline of Church Attendance
Luke 4:16 “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was,He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.”The early church continued this custom albeit on Sunday and to hear the apostle’s doctrine. Acts 2 42And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrineand fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers…44Now all who believed were together…47…And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”If you claim to be a disciple of Jesus, you will understand the importance of hearing the preaching of the word. You will understand the importance of worshipping with other believers. And, you will understand the importance of fellowshipping with other believers.
Many Christians stop doing and loving because they fail to heed what the writer ofHebrewssaid in 10 24“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, asisthe manner of some, but exhortingone another,and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Here’s the point: Make it a discipline to attend church on a regular basis for the word, worship, and fellowship.
4. Discipline of Daily Bible Intake.
John 8 31 “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word,you are My disciples indeed.’” John 15:7 “If you abide in Me,and My words abide in you,you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”If you claim to be a disciple of Jesus, you have to abide in his words. You have to be established in his Word. That’s not just the 4 gospels. It’s the whole Bible. It’s his instructional manual for every serious disciple. We have to be in it daily. D.L. Moody once said, “A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future than he can eat enough for the next six months or take sufficient air into his lungs at one time to sustain life for a week. We must draw upon God’s boundless store of grace from day to day as we need it.”
Many Christians struggle with discipleship because they think that they don’t need to read and meditate upon the Word of God daily.
Here’s the point: Make up your mind today that with the help of God, you will daily seek to read, meditate upon, and memorize the Word of God. It will help you understand what it means to live in the kingdom of God. That’s what Jesus taught his disciples. As one Chinese Christian used to say – “No Bible, no breakfast.”
5. Discipline of Discipling.
18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciplesof all the nations…” To be a disciple of Jesus, you have to believe that the Great Commission by Jesus was not just for the first 11 disciples, it’s for all disciples through the ages. If you claim to be a disciple of Jesus, you have to reproduce disciples. In fact, reproducing disciples is the ultimate test of our discipleship. I’m here because Nicole’s dad discipled me.
Many Christians struggle with discipleship because they look at it as just about themselves when it’s about teaching others to follow Christ.
Here’s the solution: Remove yourself as the center of your Christian walk and start focusing on others. Start saying with Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1“Imitate me, just as I alsoimitateChrist.”You don’t have to be perfect to do this. Just obedient.
In closing, there may be many other obstacles in becoming a disciple of Jesus, just remember – You and I need discipline to overcome these obstacles. Without discipline, discipleship is impossible.
Are you a disciplined? Are you a disciple? Are you saved?
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