Radical Disciples – A Remnant Revolution

In the disciples life there must come a day, when like Matthew we leave the table from which the world has defined us. Like Peter we must drop the nets from which our source has come from and turn completely in the direction which points us to follow Christ, having left everything else behind.

Many are not able to make this turn, for they are fearful to leave behind what was, lacking the faith to fully trust that the Lord can completely take care of them. Like the passenger going on a long journey and told they can but bring one carry on bag they bring several and when they are refused entrance at the gate they turn and walk away.

We must be willing to lay down every aspect of our lives – our family, friends, work, heart and soul in order to be a true disciples of Christ for if we do not we can not take one step on the journey of discipleship. Jesus never once asked those He called to follow, to take the time to finish what they were doing or to wait till their house was in order. No His call to follow demanded an immediate & radical decision.

Many today wonder what is going wrong in their walk with the Lord yet in all honesty it has yet to begin, because they refuse to renounce the things of the past and come to Jesus just as they are with nothing else in hand. Some may have been called to follow Jesus having been a musician and they can not picture themselves as anything else so they attempt to start their journey as a musician and never get one foot on the road as a disciple because Jesus has called them to be His disciple and nothing else. The same can be said of a teacher, construction worker, doctor and the list goes on.

Now I am not saying one must quit their profession to follow the Lord but they must forget their identity as such for their identity now belongs to the Lord. He may well call us to stop doing what we are doing, to quit our profession but if we are unable to trust Him we can never begin the journey as a true disciples of the Lord.

In the same way we may be known as a drunk, an unfaithful husband, a thief or an un-trust worthy individual. Again we must lay down what was, in order to truly follow Christ. I am reminded of my favorite part in the movie “The passion of Christ” where Jesus has fallen and the cross comes crashing down on His head. His mother runs to His aid and He looks at her with and says with a mouth full of blood “Mother, look I make all things New”. He can not do this in our lives if we hold onto what our lives have been, unwilling to surrender that identity.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (1 Cor 5:17)

Many today still find their identity in who they were – an angry person, an unforgiving person etc. and this identity sticks to them like mud on a pig because they are unwilling to accept the Word of God as truth. But O glory to the Lord to those who can, for the blood of the Lamb washes the mud a way and indeed they become a new creation.

Our biggest enemy in this battle is not the Devil, it is our minds and heart which are unwilling to step in faith and instead reside in the valley of doubt. This is something I see so often and when I questioned Holy Ghost about it He said it is because they have yet to meet the real Jesus. They have been bombarded with a false gospel which portray as god with a magic wand, who simple zaps people and wham they are completely obedient and holy.

Yet this is not the Gospel of the Bible, for the Gospel of the Bible speaks of us making the step towards Christ having had our heats pricked by Holy Spirit to a place of surrender, of faith and a desire to turn from the old things and follow Christ that He may indeed make all things new. It is about surrendering our will to be subject to His will and His will alone. It is a process in which we must be willing to allow Holy Ghost to put to death the old man that we having been baptized in Christ death, be rising a new creation. (Rom 6:3-6)

To sum it all up We must count the cost of following Jesus in order to become an authentic or true disciple of Jesus Christ. The cost of being an authentic disciple is forsaking everything to follow Jesus Christ in whole-hearted obedience. This is made very clear in the passage Luke 14:25-33, with Jesus ending with the words in verse 33 “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

In order to be genuine disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ we must be willing to die to our self, with our sinful fleshly nature, in order to follow and obey Him. Our lives can no longer be lived according to our fleshly desires, selfishness, and self centered ways. As authentic disciples we must learn to surrender all and yield everything in our lives to Him as the Lord of our lives. We must remember He is Lord of our hearts and rules over everything in our lives; otherwise He is not truly Lord of our lives.

The journey of discipleship following Christ will cost us everything yet at the same time it is a journey which ends not simply with a crown, it ends with an eternity of being with Jesus. Just being with Jesus is a reward that no price can be put on. Once you see the true Jesus, such love for Him will make everything else pale in comparison.

If you have yet to enjoy to fruit of being a true disciple of Christ, if you have not experienced such a close relationship with Him I challenge you to get on your face before the Lord and cry out to be truly saved and do not get up until He answers you. And trust me you will now because that peace that passes all worldly understanding will wash over you like the ocean.