RESOURCES FOR THE DISCIPLE

Part 1

By David Woodbury

One of the great difficulties the Church faces is that it has portrayed the life of discipleship, of following Jesus, as being a way of life devoid of fun, enjoyment and fulfillment. The world looks on the life of the disciple as being something very sombre and hard to bear. Outside the experience of discipleship, it is very difficult to understand the joy and fulfillment that comes from self-giving. Society generally fails to understand that the way of discipleship is a contradiction to the wisdom of this world. To give yourself completely to God and others is the exact opposite of the way of our civilization. The way our world is to look after number one.

The lifestyle of the called disciple is one of action, but it is not one of endless frenetic activity, it is also a call to reflection and rest. Jesus never offered the life of discipleship without offering the necessary resources to see it through. Throughout the New Testament is this re-occurring theme of ongoing, inner provision.

As demanding as the call to discipleship is we need to bear in mind that when Jesus calls He also provides. This call to discipleship needs to be understood in the totality of Christ’s teaching. Jesus asks nothing of us without giving us the strength to perform it. His commandment never seeks to destroy life, but to foster, strengthen and heal it. (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Jesus very clearly spelt out the cost and conditions of being His disciple and no matter how contemporary Christianity might like to minimize the requirements to appear relevant to a permissive and self-centred world, the words of Jesus are as clear today as they were when he first spoke them. It is a tough call: 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.  28“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ 31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. (Luke 14:27-33 - NLT)

At face value, the call to discipleship would seem beyond the capacity of mere humanity but to the committed disciple of Jesus Christ, there are resources available, which in some ways, are exclusive. Jesus promised much in his teachings. However, the resources promised were not for everyone; they are resources promised only to those who were willing to deny self, take up the cross and follow him. It may well be there are no promised resources available to those who reject the path of discipleship.

THE RESOURCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. (John 14:15-18 - NLT)

25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you.26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. (John 14:25-27 - NLT)

While we acknowledge that God the Holy Spirit is operative in all people, convicting them of sin, the promise of his constant presence, guidance and help is only available to those who have been willing to deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus. It is a promise of a powerful presence that supports, strengthens and comforts those who have chosen, by their own free will, the path of authentic discipleship. Just as those twelve disciples had the constant presence of Jesus, teaching, guiding and comforting them, so does the disciple today.  Jesus was quite clear that this special gift was only for those who had chosen to follow his path of discipleship: the world cannot receive him.

This special promise came to those twelve disciples as a replacement for the physical presence of Jesus and the same promise comes today, to all disciples who have chosen to follow him. His presence, power and guidance are a unique gift, one that the disciple has to treasure and cherish.

4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” 7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:4-8 - NLT)

Note that this gift of the Holy Spirit is not just for personal utilisation; he comes to not only comfort and guide disciples but also to empower them to continue the mission Jesus commenced during his ministry; to be his witnesses to the end of the earth. One of the great mistakes of the contemporary church has been the emphasis on the Holy Spirit for what at times has been somewhat narrow and perhaps, selfish purposes. It needs to be understood that the gift of the Holy Spirit is twofold to:

• support the disciple and (receive power)
• empower them for mission. (witnesses … to the end of the earth)

Both reasons are equally important and crucial in the life of the authentic disciples and an overemphasis on one or the other will rob the disciples of an appropriate focus along their path.

While the Holy Spirit is an ever-present resource in the life of a disciple, what needs to be nurtured and developed is an acute sensitivity and awareness of His presence and guidance.  We dare not assume that because this gift has been bestowed on the disciple there is some sort of auto-pilot in operation that requires little or no input from the disciple. There will always be the essential of listening to, and being obedient to His voice.