Discipleship

Over the past week or so I have been hearing the word discipleship tossed around A LOT. "I am disciple" "I want to disciple people." I've realized we don't have a clue what it means to be a disciple. Disciple-(according to the Bible dictionary) is one who (1) believes his doctrine, (2) rests on his sacrifice, (3) imbibes his spirit, and (4) imitates his example (Matt. 10:24; Luke 14:26, 27, 33; John 6:69). I see a lot of people that rest of his sacrifice. They definitely believe Jesus died and gave His life for them and the accept that. BUT the problem is imitating Christ. He said we would do the things he did and GREATER..He said those who love Jesus must DO the things he did (1 John), they must "walk as Jesus did." That is just a wake up call for me. It never said if you are my disciple you will read the bible "X" amount of hours. If you are my disciple you will pray "X" amount of hours (we should do those things out of love but not out of legalism). It said we would be like Jesus, and do the things HE did. It said that we would love one another and JESUS' kind of love PRODUCED action..it produced death on the cross. If we are truly HIS disciples we will be carriers of His presence. The signs should follow..Raising the dead, casting out demons, miracles, signs and wonders. It's not happening and there is reason and it's bugging me. Maybe we need to look and ask for revelation of what a disciple truly is because I speak for myself in saying I'm not doing the things Jesus did, not on a regular basis. If God is calling me to disciple girls, future children, and future members of His body, I better KNOW what He means by discipleship and teach them to follow Jesus. I am really struggling with this..I really don't understand why I am not being a true disciple and why the Church (atleast the American Church as a whole) doesn't even BELIEVE that the things Jesus did are still happening..much less doing them. I'm grieved. But on the encouraging Side my Friend Jamie got to experience the Holy Spirit in a student led prayer meeting last night (I wasn't there and had no clue that other people shared my beliefs here) However it just proved to her that I'm not crazy and the only person who believes that the Holy Spirit comes and demonstrates His power today. I am SOOO encouraged about this!!! Thank you Jesus for breakthrough!! Show us how to be a TRUE Disciple..even when we're persecuted!