Why God Wants You Discipled
by Larry Reese

". . . But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides (permanently) in you; (so) then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him (being rooted in Him, knit to Him), just as (His anointing) has taught you (to do)." I John 2:27

"....But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, says the Lord, I will put My law within them, and on their hearts will I write it; .....A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them." Jeremiah 32:33, Ezekiel 36:26, 27

"....But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name (in My place) to represent Me and act (on My behalf), He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you." John 16:26

"....If you live in Me (abide vitally united to Me) and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you." John 15:7

First of all, I want to be really careful to say this: I am not against higher levels of learning, which include Seminary, Bible College, Technical Schools, or any form of colleges—and I never have been. I am, however, against things or (people) who indoctrinate God's people, causing them to fit into a (mold). That's what the Pharisees did to God's people. They controlled them and exercised religious activity over them. As a result, the people were in bondage to (men), thinking that God wanted them in this bondage. God wants people to experience joy, life, victory, and the relationship that comes with true discipleship! I realize that there are different types of discipleship, but only one kind is needed to follow Christ, and that is (MAKE DISCIPLES) according to the way Jesus did it. A disciple is someone who begins as a follower—a follower of a teacher. In this case, we are talking about Jesus. Jesus taught His followers how to do the work of the ministry; first by example. He did not tell them to do things without them first having (seen) or believing that He could do it. That was one of the things that motivated the twelve. They saw Jesus perform things that no one else had done. Plus, they were given insight into the things of 'heaven' that others were not. But greater insight comes to those who are 'seeking' God, and not things for themselves.

Many men in our churches today will tell you: "Be careful about always being led by the Holy Spirit. You can go off the deep end following the Spirit, and people will say that you are crazy. Be wary of those charismatics!"

Then others say: "Watch out not to get so FULL of the Bible (Scriptures) where you cannot hear the Spirit speak. Be careful of those denominational folk who always promote the Bible only, and never give any regards to the Spirit."

Both of these people who say things like this are terribly wrong. If the Lord has given us a sound mind by His Spirit, then why can't we be able to learn things (that are of Him—by the same Spirit who gives the sound mind) and follow Him as He leads us? I have walked with God for many years. I am well educated, but my education does not stand in the way of my hearing the Holy Spirit's voice—Who leads me into the TRUTHS of God. Be careful, young Christian that you do not get caught up in (confining) God within the four corners of the Bible. He is much bigger than a book. The Bible is a book. The difference is that it is Holy, and is inspired by God. But, if you confine God to the Bible, then you will not be able to experience His freshness or walk with Him. Your life will become a regimen—boring, dull, lifeless, and you will find yourself living under the pressure of: "Don't do this! Don't do that," which brings you right back under the "confines of the law."

It is true that everything God tells you will always be found within the context of the Scripture—ALWAYS! God will not go against His word to do anything. But be careful that (as you study the scriptures), that you allow the Holy Spirit to give you insight into what God means. That way you will also have God's wisdom in doing what He instructs you to do. God's people need to be discipled for several reasons by (strong, healthy Christians) If you notice in the Scriptures, disciples were made by those who had followed (walked) with Christ. They knew Him, and could instruct people in the way of God. That was why the church was so strong in its beginning stages. People knew God by (HIS SPIRIT); prophetic unctions were powerful. The church was hearing from God on a regular basis, and not from men with their opinions of what God wanted done. The Holy Spirit—who gives us the mind of God (Who brings the word of God into perspective) and alive, works with us to accomplish the work of God in this present day! Unless we have the Holy Spirit (bringing the word of God) out of the four walls of the Bible, all we have is a 'dry' message, having little effect, if any, on the lives of those we try to reach. First of all, a disciple must learn to:

1. Follow. He must be willing to turn over his life and accept the life of his Master, Jesus Christ. If he does, he will go through much pain, as he loses his identity with this world and becomes acquainted with his identity in Christ, which the Father knew before he was born.
   
   
2. He must be willing to hear God. A proven discipler, is one who can hear God clearly. In some ways, the discipler becomes a spiritual parent (having close relationship with the disciple, leading him into the things of God). Even Paul said: "Follow me as I follow Christ." Once an individual begins to hear God, he is challenged to do things God's way, and the grip to conform to religion begins to lose its power over him. Christian, when you hear 'FREE' in Christ, it does not mean FREE to do whatever you want to do, but FREE to do what Christ have given you to do by the Spirit within you. The Holy Spirit does not promote or gives us a license to do whatever we want (in the name of FREEDOM), but what will produce FRUIT in the kingdom of God. (In fact, Spirit led people are some of the most practical, loving, down-to-earth, sensible, intelligent, educated, having a low tolerance for spiritual foolishness, group of people that I know). It will not always make sense to our natural minds, (what God tells us), but a person being discipled will begin to readily accept the wisdom of God, if he is also being acquainted with the Holy Spirit's power. The Holy Spirit is not limited to 'witnessing to people,' but giving you a 'witness' to what is within them. The most powerful witness and productive witness comes from 'knowing' an individual (especially a (spiritually) lost) person by the Holy Spirit. He will give you insight into a person's life, and the (ability through Holy Spirit wisdom) to speak the word of God (appropriated) for that person at the right time. This keeps you from speaking empty words, hoping that what you've said has had an effect. (Remember, the Holy spirit is a Person, and will give you absolute assurance (by His voice and communication with you), that you have (witnessed accurately and precisely, the Words that He gave you. That is why if you do not know the Holy Spirit, you do not have a strong, vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ)! The Holy Spirit gives POWER to the word. That is why the CHURCH needs to walk in the power of the Spirit, and not only the knowledge of the word. Knowledge alone will never accomplish the work of God. It must be revelation (as given by the Holy Spirit) to have success—God's way.
   
   
3. The disciple must be willing to go against the normal—or what seems to be normal. When a man becomes God's child, he loses the rights to his own life. Sadly, we never understand that a person who gives his life to Christ, really exchanges death for life. I have lived with Jesus for some years now, and am still a young man. Life comes from knowing God, and His word through the power of the Holy Spirit.

I am not promoting all spirit—and no word. Not at all. I'm promoting following Jesus and His methods. The methods of man will never work. Many say they want revival. But revival does not come without repentance, and recognizing our need for Jesus. Another thing. Revival does not come without the Holy Spirit's intervention, and every time REVIVAL came in the scriptures, the WORD of God was spoken by the unction of the Holy Spirit.

Are you being discipled?