What is the Main Sign Of A Disciple of Jesus?

"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.'" (John 8:31)

It is very clear from these Words of Jesus that what makes a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ is not my preaching, witnessing, worshiping, praying, missions, doing good works.  What determines who is and who is not a disciple of Jesus Christ is, "If you abide in My Word."  Jesus then tells us that, "the truth shall make you free."  This passage is often quoted not only by Followers of Jesus, but also even humanists.  What most Believers and unbelievers fail to see, however, is that the, "truth," which, "make[s] you free," can only come by, "If you abide in My Word."

The conversation recorded in John 8 is between Jesus and the Jewish unbelievers as well as the believers.  Notice that from verse 31 on, however, the conversation is with, "those Jews who believed Him."  At one point, though, Jesus has to say to, "those Jews who believed Him,.."You are of your father the devil."  The reason for this is, again, found in our text.  These "believer" were not abiding in Jesus' Word.  The more Jesus spoke, "My word," the less they, "believed Him."

It is a cause for, "the fear of the Lord," to realize that a person can claim, "born again," status, yet find himself aligned with, "the devil."  The way to escape this trap is found in today's text, "If you abide," viz., live, obey, "in My Word."  If "discipleship training" classes are not a study of, "the Word of God," they are not discipleship training in the way of Jesus.  If you and I want the truth which not only, "makes you free," but makes us disciples of Jesus, Jesus makes it very clear, "....Abide in My Word."

Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me in Your Word.  I have no other safety.  Amen.
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Berlin Mission:  October 2016

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"If Anyone Thirsts, Let Him Come To Me" (Jesus)

"....If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living waters."
(John 7:37b, 38)

My question for you today is, What void, what emptiness has never been filled?  Who disappointed you, rejected you, deserted you?  Who was it from whom you wanted approval, but you received nothing but indifference?  The world is full of "Samaritans-at-the-well."  They come to that well knowing that they will have to keep coming back, again and again, day after day after day, while all the time they refuse to accept The, "Water," which springs, "up to Eternal Life."

It is obvious to me that our text is a direct reference to the theme of Jesus' dialogue with the Samaritan woman.  Jesus spoke to her by that well of a water which would spring, "up into eternal life," a water which would just keep flowing, keep satisfying, sustaining.  Jesus told her that the water for which she would come every day, day after day, would never satisfy her deepest longings.  Obviously, her life was a pursuit to satisfy that thirst, to fill the emptiness, the void which had developed into a very lonely existence.  The water from that well kept her body alive.  Inside, however, she was slowly dying of thirst.

She discovered that day what/Whom you and I "discovered," that there is no other name, no other person, none other theology, philosophy, religion who/which can do what Jesus does.  Jesus suffered, Jesus shed His Blood, Jesus died on the Cross and Jesus rose from the grave so that you and I, that all humanity can have the water, "springing up to Eternal Life,...as the Scripture has said, out of his heart (yours, mine) will flow rivers of living water.  But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive...."  O, the glorious reality, Jesus in the Holy Spirit in you and me, "flow[ing] rivers of living water."

Father, in Jesus' Name, it is beyond any comprehension I have, but I so thank You for You in me.  Amen.

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* "The Tragic State Of American Jewry"---- Read at:   jhs58.blogspot.com
* Berlin Mission: October, 2016

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"I Am With You, Even.................."

"And Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life.  He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.'"  (John 6:35)

When I used to make pastoral calls in homes, whether of Believers or unbelievers, this passage I probably read more than any other.  It is a "classic" for both Believers and unbelievers, for Global Humanity.

At least 23 times, just in the Gospel of John alone, Jesus says, "In me," not "in church," or "in marriage," or "in family," or "in work, recreation, nights out."  These all can be a part of life, but one can live without any of them.  Just think of the millions over the centuries who have suffered imprisonment, sent into exile, experienced a broken-hearted rejection by not only family, but also Christendom in many cases.  They survived because of, "I am the Bread of life.  He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.  No other pursuit, people or things, can fulfill that promise in you and me, in anyone. 

John was apparently selected by the Godhead to pass on to you and me the great, "I Am," claims of Jesus.  As far as I know, no religion of the world, "great" or otherwise, has such a leader or teaching which make such outrageous claims as, "Before Abraham was, I Am....I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life....I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."

In one of the Psalms I read this morning, the writer said, "By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother's womb."  In Psalm 22, David says, "I was cast upon You from birth.  From my mother's womb You have been My God."  That settles it, my friend.  We just cannot get away from the Blessed, Living Triune God. "Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them."  This is here something of the, "I Am," mystery, perhaps a little further revelation of before, during, and after sustenance, provision, care. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for Being my, "I Am."  Amen.
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Look with whom "Black Lives Matter" has allied themselves.  Read at:    jhs58.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"So The Man Believed...And Went His Way"

"Jesus said to him, 'Go your way; your son lives.'  So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way."  (John 4:50)

If you desire to, "go your way," with any peace, comfort, and confidence today, we can do so only when, "....the man believed the word that Jesus spoke...." 

Many of you have been spared the unbelief, the doubt, the questioning of higher education.  Now I am thankful for the enlarging of my world view of which the university and grad school were a part.  I can tell you, however, that there was an underlying spirit whose attempt was to cast doubt on, "the Word," e.g., the origin, the authenticity, the "accuracy."  The questions concerning when, "the Word," was written, by whom, the editing and reliability of the ancient texts, etc., did more to give modern Christendom not only the pastors in many local congregations, but also the bishops, the superintendents, etc.  But we cannot lay the blame solely on leadership.  Man has a very real proclivity to believe what he wants to believe, "Has God said...?" was the question to our first "parents."  They did not have any evidence to the contrary; they just chose to disbelieve, which is really disobey, "the word that Jesus spoke to [them]...."

Nothing has changed.  Even though the Dead Sea Scrolls have substantiated rather than cast more doubt on the "reliability" of the Bible, people still, and not only in academia, but also at the water cooler, give their uneducated opinions about the Bible.  Notice that of all the, "Blessed," in Matthew 5, it is of those who are, "the pure in heart," that Jesus says, "will see God."  The man in our text believed, "the Word Jesus spoke to him," and "[saw] God."  I don't know how we "get" that.  The fearful thing to me is that one either has it, or one does not.  There is something very real in believing, accepting, obeying, "the Word that Jesus spoke.., and a, "pure heart...."  David asked, "Create in me a clean heart, O God...."  Such a prayer is not only for forgiveness, but also for "seeing."  If I read correctly, "seeing" is not from the mind, but the heart. 

Others see and hear much of what we do, but they do not, "....see God."  When anyone reads or hears, "the Word of God," proclaimed, only, "the pure in heart...see God."  When we go to our places of business, our schools, when one feels swamped in a political season, or any endeavor in life, nothing changes.  Only, "the pure in heart...see God," at work, fulfilling his Word. 

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* The article on our Blog today reveals the deteriorating situation in Germany.  We have received contributions which have enabled us to purchase our airline tickets, and all we need now is to secure our housing.  We are still a "go."  Please pray with us in the coming months for provision and wisdom concerning this Fall's Mission in Berlin.  Read the article at:   jhs58.blogspot.com    

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2