discipleship

Blog for Podcast #258 (Come out of her My people) [Great Commission] Part 3

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Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Until further notice the messages that accompany this notice will be part of the “Come out of her my people” series. They will be harsh. They will cause people to get upset. This is as it should be. They must question the way they think and live. So, they can seek to follow Christ and not the world.

Discussion

In the third and final blog post that I was led to write about leading people to discipleship I will review those that looked at this post first. A total of 1383 people looked at it. It had 248 reactions. 175 likes, 67 loves, 5 laughs, 1 crying.

It had 15 comments. Again mostly “amen.” But again, the tirade by those that deny there is a God. .007% shared this final message.

Overall, there were 5092 views of all three posts. But a sad 49 shares making a grand .009% of the people shared.

Now we will cover the next lesson to becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ:

In the first part of these special posts, it was shown through the Bible that we are:

1) Called to make disciples not just save people. Just saving them will actually result in them ending up no longer saved, but damned.

2) That to be a True Disciple of Jesus Christ and thus a True “Christian” we must follow the command given to the young rich man in three different gospels because this is mandatory if we truly wish to be a disciple of Jesus Christ:

Mark 10:21 NKJV – Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

In the second part of these special posts, it was shown through the Word of God that we are to teach the True Word of God and Gospel. This will result in those doing so being hated by not only those that deny God and in turn His Son Jesus Christ. However, we must also become hated by those within the religious communities. For they do as those that deny God do. They seek after mammon and as disciples we are called to remove as much mammon as possible from our lives to be as pointed out living a needs-only lifestyle. This would result in those that are True Disciples to be hated to the point that they would become repugnant to all for teaching the True Gospel.

In today’s special post we continue this part of the same lesson. At the end of the last lesson, we saw a list of those that were killed for preaching the Truth. Starting with Jesus who then rose from the dead on the third day. Then the list of all the apostles except John, and many of the disciples called to follow Christ in the first hundred years after Jesus ascended into heaven.

They died not only because they were teaching to heathens, but they also died because they taught to those that called themselves followers of God, but what they really worshiped was themselves and their mammon.

People don’t want to hear that they are living in sin within the religious community. Especially those that believe with all their hearts they are going to heaven. When they are actually going to hell. This obviously upsets them. Because how they wish to live, and think is more important than God. This was played out as I posted these special posts. I received tons of likes and shares for the first post. But the second post received hardly any.

There were plenty of responses. Mainly from those either denying God and Jesus. However, there were those that wish to impose their ideas on how to be a disciple. In other words, they wish to add to the Word of God.

Deuteronomy 4:2 NKJV – You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

In these posts you will see nothing added to the Word of God nor will you see anything taken away from the Truth.

To be a True disciple of God per Jesus Christ Himself we MUST live a needs-only lifestyle and spread the Word of God as well as help those in need.

Per Jesus Christ Himself it is either God or mammon. Mammon is an Aramaic word and was used and kept within the Word of God on purpose because it means many things all at once.

Mammon is riches which is jewelry and fancy clothes which we are not to seek after, because this is something the world seeks after, and anything form the world is from Satan.

2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT – Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

1 John 2:15-16 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

Mammon is money. Therefore, any that horde their earthly wealth is like the rich man in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16. In Luke 16 this is also stated by Jesus Christ:

Luke 16:13-17 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

Before we talk about the word “esteem,” we will continue to define the word mammon,

Mammon is possessions like all the junk throughout people’s houses that do nothing but gather dust in rooms that aren’t even used every day as well as multiple and expensive vehicles. Vehicles are cars, trucks, boats, RVs, motorcycles, jet skis etc.

Mammon is property like a huge house or multiples houses (RVs qualify as a house) and land filled with nothing. One small house is all we need to live in. The purchase of anything else is a waste of money that is to be used to spread the Word of God and to help those in need. Thus, those that call themselves “snowbirds” and have a house in a northern state and another in a southern state are more accurately described a “hellbirds” for that is where they are heading: to hell.

Jesus made it clear it is God or mammon. For the world esteems those that have an abondance of mammon. For it shows they are fully committed to worshipping the world and not God as well as worshipping themselves.

James 4:4 NKJV – Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Those that wish to truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ are to give up all that is earthly for what is holy. They are to place God first above all else and to place others before themselves (Matthew 22:37-40). This cannot be accomplished when keeping mammon that goes beyond our needs.

A need clothes us till tomorrow, not a huge closet filled with tons of clothes that gather dust from never being worn.  A need feeds us till tomorrow. A need shelters us to tomorrow. This is a small house, a cheap vehicle and cheap clothing to cover our nakedness. All else is mammon and what the world esteems.

All else is an abomination in the sight of God and thus equal to the antichrist and worthy of being call damnable and a curse. Therefore, all that pursue them are not going to an eternal life in the service of God. They are the lukewarm and have been vomited out of the Body of Christ for they are headed to the lake of fire for they have rejected becoming a True Disciple of God through Jesus Christ. Thus, are not worthy of the title “Christian.”

All that was stated in this last post IS the True Gospel. It has a bitter taste. It makes people uncomfortable. Well, I am going to make those listening even more uncomfortable.

I know for a matter of fact that if I was invited into a building called a “church” to teach the Truth I would either be stopped in mid-speech or else those in the pews would get up and leave.

Because, they don’t want to hear what has been said. They will be upset because they are dressed up in fancy clothes that cost hundreds of dollars, which is sin.

They will be upset that they arrived in BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, and Tesla. All sin.

They will get angry that they live in a large house filled with expensive furniture. All because their status amongst others is more important than their eternal status with God. Again sin.

Most that call themselves “Christian” are only that in name alone. An insult to God. Making God a mockery and thus causing many to turn against God. All due to these people living in earthly wealth and caring for none but themselves.

These people sing songs to God and praise Christ, yet they are all fakes and phonies. Destine not to walk hand in hand with Jesus Christ, but in eternal agony of their own making.

For they have placed themselves before God. Worshiping themselves and no others, especially God through Jesus Christ.

They must repent NOW! They must downsize quickly and at a loss. Seeking no profit for they have sought earthly profit over loyalty to God whose Son make it clear. It is either God or mammon.

God or mammon

None can have both.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast #257 (Come out of her My people) [Great Commission] Part 2

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Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Until further notice the messages that accompany this notice will be part of the “Come out of her my people” series. They will be harsh. They will cause people to get upset. This is as it should be. They must question the way they think and live. So, they can seek to follow Christ and not the world.

Discussion

Jesus Christ through the “Great Commission” commands us to make disciples, not just save people. Last week I showed that at the core of seeking to be a True Disciple of Jesus Christ is Christ’s command to pick God over mammon. Simply to downsize. Now I will post the second part of the blog posts I made. However, before that I wish to show the response to this part of the message that it received. This post received 265 reactions. 179 likes. 77 loves. 6 caring. 3 laughs. This time only 3 comments all “amen.” This time it had 1092 views, but only 7 shares. Only .006%. Extremely sad.

So, here is the post:

Earlier this week I began these special posts about seeking after to becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ per the Word of God. In the first post I showed per the Bible itself that the core of discipleship is self-sacrifice and the requirement to downsize.

Luke 14:33 NKJV – So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Now. I wish to key in on the second major element of becoming a True disciple to Jesus Christ.

Luke 14:27 NKJV – And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Most do not fully understand the importance and the true meaning behind this verse. Yet it is extremely key to being a True disciple to Christ. Again, Jesus Christ Himself tried to explain this to help those that truly sought to be a True and complete “Christian” to come to understand. For you don’t listen. You cannot be a disciple and so in turn you are not truly “Christian.” Jesus tried to explain that there must be separation from the “world.”

Luke 9:57-62 NKJV – Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

When accepting to become a True disciple of Jesus Christ. A True “Christian.” We are not to look back at our past or how we lived our earthly lives. Most never do this and so in Truth are not “Christian.” For we are not a “Christian” until we become a disciple.

The True cost of taking up the cross is rejection from the world and the religious community. For the latter was and still is filled with those that seek after what is esteemed by the world and understanding that the laws are still in effect.

Luke 16:13-17 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

For when you teach the True Gospel you are not making people happy in how they now live, but you make them uncomfortable, and they will hate you just as they hated Jesus Christ and hung Him upon a cross.

You must accept and become something that will cause you to be laughed at. Called names and ridiculed just as the apostles, and the prophets were.

 Matthew 5:10-20 NKJV – Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Salt is bitter. So, then the Truth is bitter.

If what you are listening to is sweet. It is people pleasing and is twice cursed for those that speak it.

Galatians 1:6-10 NKJV – I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

The True cost of carrying the cross:

Jesus Christ: wiped brutally, and crown of thrones forced onto His head and then hung upon the very cross he was forced to carry.

Peter: crucified upside down.

Matthew: while preaching the True Gospel in Ethiopia was killed with by the sword.

James the lesser: thrown from atop the temple, which didn’t kill him and then was beaten to death with a club.

James the great: placed on trial by the religious community of Jerusalem and beheaded.

Bartholomew also known as Nathaniel was taken in what is present day Turkey had his entire body whipped till he had no skin left.

Andrew: crucified in Greece.

Thomas: was stabbed with a spear in India.

Jude also known as Thaddeous: was killed by arrows when he refused to deny his faith.

Phillip: was also peaching in the lands known as present day Turkey and was beheaded.

Simon the zealot: was sawn in half in Persia.

Matthias, the false apostle: was stoned and beheaded.

Paul: beheaded

Mark: tied to a team of horses and dragged through the streets of Alexandria, Egypt.

Luke: hanged in his homeland of Greece.

Stephen: stoned to death

John: boiled in oil yet lived. Then banished to Patmos and the only Apostle not to suffer martyrdom.

This is the cost of carrying the True cross and teaching the True Gospel.

However, how many actually teach it now in these last days? How many in the buildings called “churches” get angry and upset for hearing the Truth. Hearing that they are most likely not going to be in the service of God?

This is how the Truth works. It is not sweet. It is not people pleasing. The True Gospel is salt. It is bitter.

Those that share parts of verses that inspire and empower those that read it are again people pleasing. What does the Bible teach about pleasing people:

Galatians 1:6-10 NKJV – I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

Those that teach this are twice cursed. This is the True Gospel. Therefore, those encouraging you are cursed. Why? Because it doesn’t lead you away from sin but causes you to remain in sin.

Understand. Happy, happy, joy, joy. As well as “you are all powerful through Christ.” These types of messages will result in damnation not salvation.

What is required to be a disciple is as Christ taught over and over. Our rewards are not here, not now. Our service to God is now. This is why we are not to be focused upon ourselves but God.

We are only living a mere one hundred years. Our service to God begins now. For the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior we are His and no longer our own.

Our calling is to lead others to discipleship. To get them baptized. To spread the Word of God. The True Word of God. Which means self-sacrifice and persecution.

Our joy comes through pain. Knowing that when we live for billions upon billions upon billions of year we will never cry or suffer ever again. That is where our rewards are to come from.

Matthew 16:24-27 NKJV – Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

The life referred to here is eternal life. To save someone’s eternal life they must abandon their earthly life.

This is the calling of True Discipleship. This is why Christ Jesus made it clear. It is God or mammon. For mammon brings in darkness and blinds us to God through His Son our Savior.

Seek True Discipleship now. Stop trying to have a pleasant life here on earth. For our perfection comes when we dawn our eternal body.

God Bless

Blog for podcast #256 (Come out of her My people)[The Great Commission]

bible, Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, , , , , , , Leave a comment

Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Until further notice the messages that accompany this notice will be part of the “Come out of her my people” series. They will be harsh. They will cause people to get upset. This is as it should be. They must question the way they think and live. So, they can seek to follow Christ and not the world.

Discussion

How to “come out of her My people,” can only be accomplished by knowing how to come out. The best place to start is through the “Great Commission.”

Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV – And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of Jesus Christ, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

God led me to change the theme of these teaches a few weeks back. First, he had me make just plain blog posts, Now that they are done. He has led me to not only make them into podcast but also use the results as a guide in how to present these podcasts.

Therefore, let us begin this journey in how to become True Disciples to Jesus Christ. Starting with the first blog post:

Forty days after Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He left this temporal existence to return to where His Father our Creator can be found. As He left, He gave us what has been called the “Great Commission.”

Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV – And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of Jesus Christ, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”

I am making these special posts to do just that. Teach people that are willing to hear the Truth to become True Disciples of God through Jesus Christ.

Most that now profess to being “Christian” truly are not. Many may never have been, and those that were truly saved have turned away from God because they do not wish to become a disciple.

Jesus made it clear what is required to become a true disciple.

Luke 14:25-35 NKJV – Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Most that now profess to being “Christian” have not counted the cost. They have built a foundation and then run out of spiritual money to build the tower of discipleship. They have become salt without flavor. Good only to be thrown out into the trash to be burned. Burned in the lake of fire for billions upon billions upon billions of years.

Jesus made the cost very clear:

Luke 14:33 NKJV – So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

This is reenforced here:

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NKJV – Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

“And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”

This is the core of discipleship. It is from here that is the beginning of truly being called “Christian.” For it is made clear that nothing of this world is from God and so is evil.

1 John 2:15-17 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Jesus Christ Himself taught this lesson on the Sermon on the Mount:

Matthew 6:19-24 NKJV – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Because most refuse to downsize their eyes are filled with darkness. To bring light into their eyes they must remove from them earthly mammon.

Mammon is defined as riches (jewelry and fancy clothes), money, possessions (objects that gather dust and vehicles [which include luxury cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles, boats, jet skis etc.]) and property (owning huge houses and/or multiple houses [RVs count as a house] as well as land filled with nothing useful to those in need).

This must start immediately if you truly profess to being a follower of Jesus Christ. For as mentioned before it is the core of showing you are a follower of God through Christ and must start right this moment. This is not me saying this. This as shown came from the Word of God itself and is required now. For time is quickly running out.

Yet are people hearing this? Do you see or hear of a trend of a large amount of those that profess to being “Christian” downsizing?

The answer is no. It is not required of them; they say in their minds.

In all this first post received 639 reactions: 485 likes, 140 loves, 9 caring, and 5 laughs. It also received 42 total comments. Most of which were “Amen.” However, there were those that either wished to inject their opinions on how to be a disciple or they were denying God and Jesus Christ through a written tirade. The saddest thing of all. This post was only shared 31 times. You see 2598 people looked at it. But only .01% shared this message.

This message is the True core to being a follower of Jesus Christ. For Jesus does not just want people to follow Him he only wants Disciples. All this special post showed was this:

 Luke 14:25-27 NKJV – Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

And how many responded originally?

Twelve from a great multitude, and of that twelve one turned away once again to mammon. So, in reality eleven.

This has played out in this “last days” call to discipleship. Yes, this truly is a call to Truly seek after following Jesus Christ. Yet will people listen?

I have my doubts, but I will do as I am called to do.

Very shortly people will no longer have a choice in the matter. They will literally be forced into a choice. It is better to willingly choose than to be forced into the choice.

Christ traveled throughout the region surrounding Jerusalem. Never again did He have a home on this earth once He began His ministry. For he was chased out of Nazareth when He made it clear He was the Messiah. Why should we seek a home on this earth? Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are no longer citizens of earth, but of heaven. That is until God descends in New Jerusalem to dwell amongst us and then our home will be within that Holy city.

Multiple times Jesus made it clear that it is God or mammon. Especially if you wish to be His Disciple which ALL are called to be. We are not called to be saved. We are called to discipleship. That is made clear in the “Great Commission” Therefore, I will restate it once again since people have issue with that.

Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV – And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of Jesus Christ, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying…… Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations and baptizing them in the name of Jesus Christ, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you.”

So, who is saying this since I am quoting from the Word of God?

Is it me? In no way is it me. Then it is the Holy Spirit guiding me. And what is the Name of the Holy Ghost?

Jesus Christ.

Then it is Jesus Christ using this disciple to spread His Holy Command.

Repent, Downsize and spread the True Gospel.

God Bless

Call to Discipleship per the Word of God (part 3)

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In the first part of these special posts, it was shown through the Bible that we are:

  1. Called to make disciples not just save people. Just saving them will actually result in them ending up no longer saved, but damned.
  2. That to be a True Disciple of Jesus Christ and thus a True “Christian” we must follow the command given to the young rich man in three different gospels because this is mandatory if we truly wish to be a disciple of Jesus Christ:

Mark 10:21 NKJV – Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

In the second part of these special posts, it was shown through the Word of God that we are to teach the True Word of God and Gospel. This will result in those doing so being hated by not only those that deny God and in turn His Son Jesus Christ. However, we must also become hated by those within the religious communities. For they do as those that deny God do. They seek after mammon and as disciples we are called to remove as much mammon as possible from our lives to the point of living a needs-only lifestyle. This would result in those that are True Disciples to be hated to the point that they would become repugnant to all for teaching the True Gospel.

In today’s special post we continue this part of the same lesson. At the end of the last lesson, we saw a list of those that were killed for preaching the Truth. Starting with Jesus who then rose from the dead on the third day. Then the list of all the apostles except John, and many of the disciples called to follow Christ in the first hundred years after Jesus ascended into heaven.

They died not only because they were teaching to heathens, but they also died because they taught to those that called themselves followers of God, but what they really worshipped was themselves and their mammon.

People don’t want to hear that they are living in sin within the religious community. Especially those that believe with all their hearts they are going to heaven. When they are actually going to hell. This obviously upsets them. Because how they wish to live, and think is more important than God. This was played out as I posted these special posts. I received tons of likes and shares for the first post. But the second post received hardly any.

There were plenty of responses. Mainly from those either denying God and Jesus. However, there were those that wish to impose their ideas on how to be a disciple. In other words, they wish to add to the Word of God.

Deuteronomy 4:2 NKJV – You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

In these posts you will see nothing added to the Word of God nor will you see anything taken away from the Truth.

To be a True disciple of God per Jesus Christ Himself we MUST live a needs-only lifestyle and spread the Word of God as well as help those in need.

Per Jesus Christ Himself it is either God or mammon. Mammon is an Aramaic word and was used and kept within the Word of God on purpose because it means many things all at once.

Mammon is riches which is jewelry and fancy clothes which we are not to seek after, because this is something the world seeks after, and anything form the world is from Satan.

2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT – Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

1 John 2:15-16 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

Mammon is money. Therefore, any that horde their earthly wealth is like the rich man in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16. In Luke 16 this is also stated by Jesus Christ:

Luke 16:13-17 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

Before we talk about the word “esteem,” we will continue to define the word mammon,

Mammon is possessions like all the junk throughout people’s houses that do nothing but gather dust in rooms that aren’t even used every day as well as multiple and expensive vehicles. Vehicles are cars, trucks, boats, RVs, jet skis etc.

Mammon is property like a huge house or multiples houses (RVs qualify as a house) and land filled with nothing. One small house is all we need to live in. The purchase of anything else is a waste of money that is to be used to spread the Word of God and to help those in need. Thus, those that call themselves “snowbirds” and have a house in a northern state and another in a southern state are more accurately described as “hellbirds” for that is where they are heading: to hell.

Jesus made it clear it is God or mammon. For the world esteems those that have an abondance of mammon. For it shows they are fully committed to worshipping the world and not God as well as worshipping themselves.

James 4:4 NKJV – Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Those that wish to truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ are to give up all that is earthly for what is holy. They are to place God first above all else and to place others before themselves (Matthew 22:37-40). This cannot be accomplished when keeping mammon that goes beyond our needs.

A need clothes us till tomorrow, not a huge closet filled with tons of clothes that gather dust from never being worn.  A need feeds us till tomorrow. A need shelters us to tomorrow. This is a small house, a cheap vehicle and cheap clothing to cover our nakedness. All else is mammon and what the world esteems.

All else is an abomination in the sight of God and thus equal to the antichrist and worthy of being call damnable and a curse. Therefore, all that pursue them are not going to an eternal life in the service of God. They are the lukewarm and have been vomited out of the Body of Christ for they are headed to the lake of fire for they have rejected to becoming a True Disciple of God through Jesus Christ. Thus, are not worthy of the title “Christian.”

Call to Discipleship per the Word of God (part 2)

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Earlier this week I began these special posts about seeking after to becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ per the Word of God. In the first post I showed per the Bible itself that the core of discipleship is self-sacrifice and the requirement to downsize.

Luke 14:33 NKJV – So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Now. I wish to key in on the second major element of becoming a True disciple to Jesus Christ.

Luke 14:27 NKJV – And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Most do not fully understand the importance and the true meaning behind this verse. Yet it is extremely key to being a True disciple to Christ. Again, Jesus Christ Himself tried to explain this to help those that truly sought to be a True and complete “Christian” to come to understand. For you don’t listen. You can not be a disciple and so in turn you are not truly “Christian.”

Luke 9:57-62 NKJV – Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

When accepting to become a True disciple of Jesus Christ. A True “Christian.” We are not to look back at our past or how we lived our earthly lives. Most never do this and so in Truth are not “Christian.” For we are not a “Christian” until we become a disciple.

The True cost of taking up the cross is rejection from the world and the religious community. For the latter was  and still is filled with those that seek after what is esteemed by the world and understanding that the laws are still in effect.

Luke 16:13-17 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

For when you teach the True Gospel you are not making people happy in how they now live, but you make them uncomfortable, and they will hate you just as they hated Jesus Christ and hung Him upon a cross.

You must accept and become something that will cause you to be laughed at. Called names and ridiculed just as the apostles, and the prophets were.

 Matthew 5:10-20 NKJV  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Salt is bitter. So, then the Truth is bitter.

If what you are listening to is sweet. It is people pleasing and is twice cursed for those that speak it.

Galatians 1:6-10 NKJV  I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

The True cost of carrying the cross:

Jesus Christ: wiped brutally, and crown of thrones forced onto His head and then hung upon the very cross he was forced to carry.

Peter: crucified upside down.

Matthew: while preaching the True Gospel in Ethiopia was killed with by the sword.

James the lesser: thrown from atop the temple, which didn’t kill him and then was beaten to death with a club.

James the great: placed on trial by the religious community of Jerusalem and beheaded.

Bartholomew also known as Nathaniel was taken in what is present day Turkey had his entire body whipped till he had no skin left.

Andrew: crucified in Greece.

Thomas: was stabbed with a spear in India.

Jude also known as Thaddeous: was killed by arrows when he refused to deny his faith.

Phillip: was also peaching in the lands known as present day Turkey and was beheaded.

Simon the zealot: was sawn in half in Persia.

Matthias the false apostle: was stoned and beheaded.

Paul: beheaded

Mark: tied to a team of horses and dragged through the streets of Alexandria, Egypt.

Luke: hanged in his homeland of Greece.

Stephen: stoned to death

John: boiled in oil yet lived. Then banished to Patmos and the only Apostle not to suffer martyrdom.

This is the cost of carrying the True cross and teaching the True Gospel.

Call to Discipleship per the Word of God

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Forty days after Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He left this temporal existence to return to where His Father our Creator can be found. As He left, He gave us what has been called the “Great Commission.”

Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV – And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”

I am making these special posts to do just that. Teach people that are willing to hear the Truth to become True Disciples of God through Jesus Christ.

Most that now profess to being “Christian” truly are not. Many may never have been, and those that were truly saved have turned away from God because they do not wish to become a disciple.

Jesus made it clear what is required to become a true disciple.

Luke 14:25-35 NKJV – Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Most that now profess to being “Christian” have not counted the cost. They have built a foundation and then run out of spiritual money to build the tower of discipleship. They have become salt without flavor. Good only to be thrown out into the trash to be burned. Burned in the lake of fire for billions upon billions upon billions of years.

Jesus made the cost very clear:

Luke 14:33 NKJV – So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

This is reenforced here:

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NKJV – Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

“And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”

This is the core of discipleship. It is from here that is the beginning of truly being called “Christian.” For it is made clear that nothing of this world is from God and so is evil.

1 John 2:15-17 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Jesus Christ Himself taught this lesson on the Sermon on the Mount:

Matthew 6:19-24 NKJV – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Because most refuse to downsize their eyes are filled with darkness. To bring light into their eyes they must remove from them earthly mammon.

Mammon is defined as riches (jewelry and fancy clothes), money, possessions (objects that gather dust and vehicles) and property (owning huge houses and/or multiple houses as well as land filled with nothing useful to those in need).

This must start immediately if you truly profess to being a follower of Jesus Christ. For as mentioned before it is the core of showing you are a follower of God through Christ and must start right this moment. This is not me saying this. This as shown came from the Word of God itself and is required now. For time is quickly running out.

Blog for Podcast special (Come out of her My people) [We are to make disciples not just save people]

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Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Until further notice the messages that accompany this notice will be part of the “Come out of her my people” series. They will be harsh. They will cause people to get upset. This is as it should be. They must question the way they think and live. So, they can seek to follow Christ and not the world.

Discussion

The other day I had an encounter with someone that insisted that our great commission was to save people and that is all we need to do. Well let’s look at the great commission:

Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV – And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of Jesus Christ, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of Jesus Christ, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.”

Christ makes it clear that baptism is a major requirement:

John 3:5 NKJV – Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

However, if you note the verses of the great commission, baptism is not the core of the sentence given by Jesus Christ. Let us for the moment remove the baptism and examine the core of the sentence:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations teachings them to observe all things that I have commanded you.”

It is here that is the core of today’s study. For it is extremely easy to become saved yet it is difficult to be a disciple.

John 3:16 NKJV – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Acts 16:31 NKJV – So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Yet all this does is make babes in the woods. Woods filled with wolves seeking easy prey. For this is their fate:

2 Peter 2:20-22 NKJV – For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

This is what happens when all people do is save people and not turn them into disciples.

What is the requirement to become a true disciple of Christ?

Luke 14:25-33 NKJV – Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

The two key statements in these verses:

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

And

“So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

This goes all the way back to the sermon on the mount when Jesus Christ says this:

Matthew 6:19-24 NKJV – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Mammon is define as riches (jewelry and fancy clothes), money, possessions (objects that gather dust and vehicles), and property (huge houses and multiple house and large areas of land filled with nothing.)

This is why this statement is made by Jesus in Luke chapter fourteen:

Luke 14:33 NKJV – So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

This is verified here:

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NKJV – Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

As will as the story of the young rich man found in three gospels:

Mark 10:17-21 NKJV – Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,’ ‘DO NOT MURDER,’ ‘DO NOT STEAL,’ ‘DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.'” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

“One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

Earlier I showed Christ’s teaching about living a needs-only lifestyle. However, there was much more taught at the Sermon on the Mount. Key elements like I will show here. Things that we are commanded by Jesus at the great commission to teach.

Give in secret:

Matthew 6:1-4 NKJV – “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

Pray in secret:

Matthew 6:5-7 NKJV – “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Fast in secret:

Matthew 6:16-18 NKJV – “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Therefore, from these commands by Jesus Christ we learn this.

That most that go into the buildings called “churches” are not following a true discipleship.

Why is this said?

Many make a show of giving. Especially in church. Thus, it is a sin. Everyone prays in churches. Yet we are told not to pray in churches but to pray at home in total privacy. Away from any to hear or see you.

I know of people who make a big deal about the fact that they are fasting. Again, a sin.

Therefore, churches do more to lead people to damnation than salvation and it is damnation that is worse for them then to have gone to it without first coming to know Jesus Christ as mentioned in 2 Peter. Which, I actually believe is the true purpose. Which is an open deviance against the great commission and shows that those that do not teach Ture discipleship do not teach the Word of God at all.

Which explains that when the person I first mentioned at the beginning of this podcast started to call me names. Thus, giving further verification to this teaching. For what does the Word of God say about this:

Matthew 5:10-12 NKJV – Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast #62 (Discipleship)

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Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

Discipleship

Per Dictionary.com it is defined as this:

The condition or situation of being a disciple, a follower, or a student of some philosophy, especially a follower of Christ.

To many out there that call themselves “Christian” don’t seem to realize one important fact. That when they asked Jesus Christ to be their Savior. They too at that very moment became a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I know without a doubt that this statement I just made is true. I encounter those that make statements like: “this is only for the disciples.”

Those that make statements like this do not consider themselves disciples. Yet, they say they are Christian. This is a very sad testimony for those that say things like this. Very sad indeed.

True discipleship takes great courage and sacrifice. This was shown by the twelve and then Paul. And yes, I do include Judas Iscariot. For if you say he was not. You dimmish not only Jesus Christ, but His Father as well. Judas was the ultimate example that we have a part in our salvation. He was accepted by Jesus Christ and thus you can say saved. He rejected this salvation and then not only rejected the Son of God, but also betrayed Him, for the love of money.

Now as was just said all know that there were the original twelve disciples. However how many were given the opportunity?

For that we must turn to the book of Luke:

Luke 14:25-33 – A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 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.

First and most importantly it is not a literal “hate” it is a distancing of oneself form those that chose not to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Not truly hating, for Jesus on more than one occasion made it clear that we are to love all and especially our enemies.

Jesus does make it clear that we are to be a light unto the world. Living our lives per the teachings of the Bible. Stiving not to sin and showing that all that chose to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ seek nothing but peace and wellbeing for all. This “hate” I feel being referred to is a life filled with sin. Being without the love and blessing of God through His Son Jesus Christ.

Back on the main topic: Discipleship.

A large crowd was following Jesus, so He offered them to be His disciples. Only twelve accepted what was asked of them. I believe all understood the cost. Only twelve rejected the world. The rest chose their lives here on earth. They chose their earthly comforts, their earthly desire, their earthly wants and lusts over eternity.

Now there are many demands made upon those that can become a disciple of Jesus Christ, of God. In the olden days in certain factions, certain sects. They decided willingly to subject themselves to hardships. Many would say they went too far; others would say they didn’t go far enough.

In one of these sects was a certain man who sacrificed a lot. Yet, he never felt it was enough in the way things were arranged by those in power. His name was Martin Luther. Due to his devotion and discipleship, it caused the birth of the protestants.

Now look at those in today’s churches. Millions ask Jesus Christ to be their Savior. How many truly chose to follow the true Christ? How many weight the true cost required? How many truly seek to pay that cost? How many have foundations but not walls to their buildings? As those that reject God and His Son set outside laughing at them.

I can not answer these questions. They can only be answered by the individual. Yet, there is one individual we can turn too. That has been one example that appears within the Bible. Yet how many truly investigate this one example?

Mark 10:17-31 – As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” 21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” 28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. 29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”

The key element of this conversations is surrendering those things of the world for those things which come solely from God. Multiple times Christ refers to treasures. How we are to place the treasures of heaven before the treasures and comforts of this world. (Matthew 6:19-21; 1 Timothy 6:10, 6:17-19; Mark 12:41-44; James 2:2-9)

How many truly understand this message? From my point of view. Very few.

We are to seek after those things which further God not ourselves.

Matthew 6:25-34 – “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Many see verse thirty-three as receiving worldly wealth. Yet if you pay attention to these verses that go with this one verse. That is not what Jesus is inferring. Christ is referring to what we need.

What is a need? It is a condition requiring supply or relief.

Since we are to seek after God’s plans and desires. We are told to seek after heavenly treasures not earthly ones. When those that seek after earthly treasures do so. They are acting contrary to the will of God and so as such are sinning. This is not me saying this. This is what Jesus taught and stated clearly. How someone wishes to confirm or deny is up to them.

Myself? I have been reducing my worldly profile. All I wish to do is serve God through Jesus Christ. My calling is to teach. So, I will do so.

I will end this with these words of how to be a disciple of Jesus Christ:

Romans 12:1-21 – And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. 9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! 17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. 19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD. 20 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” 21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

God Bless