The Disciples We Should Make and How We Should Make Them: Christian Life Series, #9

By Al Danks

Jesus taught his disciples, guided them into truth, and showed them what they should do.

 

When Jesus ascended to heaven, he asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit to take his place: teach his disciples, guide them into truth, and show them what they should do.

 

The departure of the teacher is a critical time in the life of a disciple. Who are they to follow when the teacher leaves? It is also a problem for those who make disciples. Who are the new disciples to follow?

 

The Holy Spirit is God's solution to the problem of Jesus leaving. Disciples are to follow the Holy Spirit and make new disciples who also follow the Holy Spirit.

 

This book will look at

 

• disciples
• the problems when the master departs
• God's solution to the problem of Jesus leaving
• the disciples we should be
• how to make the disciples we should make

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alton Danks
• Release date: Feb 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9781948081832

Al Danks

I am the author of the web site perfectingprayer.com. I am also the author of the books The Guiding Into Truth Work of the Holy Spirit, Effective Prayer, Ceased From Sin: Living To Do God's Will, Spiritual Warfare: Sowing, The Truth About Eternal Life, and Go the Way You Should Go.

Book preview

Introduction

Jesus taught his disciples, guided them into truth, and showed them what they should do.

When Jesus ascended to heaven, he asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit to take his place: teach his disciples, guide them into truth, and show them what they should do.

The departure of the teacher is a critical time in the life of a disciple. Who are they to follow when the teacher leaves? It is also a problem for those who make disciples. Who are the new disciples to follow?

The Holy Spirit is God's solution to the problem of Jesus leaving. Disciples are to follow the Holy Spirit and make new disciples who also follow the Holy Spirit.

This book will look at

disciples

the problems when the master departs

God’s solution to the problem of Jesus leaving

the disciples we should be

how to make the disciples we should make

1: Disciples

A disciple is a person who actively hears, studies, trusts, follows, and adheres to the will, words, ways, works, teaching, and guidance of another person or group of people.

The common use of the term disciple was not upon learning, or being a pupil, but upon adherence to a master.¹ A disciple is a member of a fellowship which arises under a goal which is directed by an individual, but towards which all who participate are equally striving.²

The relationship between a disciple and his rabbi was very close: not only did the disciple learn fact, reasoning processes, and how to perform religious practices from his rabbi, but he regarded him as an example to be imitated in conduct and character.³

A disciple relies on (trusts) their master, not their own understanding. They follow what their master claims is true and they discern truth the way the master says to discern truth. A disciple does what their master says they should do and they discern what they should do the way the master says they should discern it.

A disciple seeks to gain perception, discernment, understanding, ability, skill, power, or authority from their master. They typically do this to increase present or future shalom, or their idea of what shalom is, for themselves or others.

In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight - a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Savior opens doors and welcomes creatures in whom he delights.⁴

Shalom includes health, prosperity, love, trust, joy, peace, contentment, and thanksgiving. It is long life with good days.

2: God’s solution to the problems of succession

The problems of succession

The departure of the master creates five problems for the master and the disciples.

The personal relationship between the master and disciples ends.

The disciples no longer have the master to guide them into truth and tell them what they should do.

The flow of perception, discernment, understanding, ability, skill, power, and authority from the master to the disciples ceases.

The disciples are left with their records of the master's will, words, ways, works, teaching, and guidance.

The first of a potential chain of successions begins.

Our solutions to the problems of succession

Before the master departs, he may appoint one or more successors. Naming a successor gives the master an opportunity to influence the continuation of the master's teaching and guidance.⁵ By naming a successor, the master tells the disciples who should guide them into truth and tell them what to do when the master departs: who they should follow.

Usually, the master can only appoint a successor for the first of the potential chain of successions.

A successor is limited to their own perception, discernment, understanding, ability, skill, power, and authority. These things now flow from the successor to the disciples instead of from the master to the disciples.

Disciples are similarly limited and typically draw from their records to propagate the master's will, words, ways, works, teaching, and guidance.

A school is frequently formed to propagate the cause of the master.⁶

God’s solution to the problems of succession

Jesus named his successor.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever -- the Spirit of truth. (John 14:16,17)

The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you. (John 14:26)

When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father – he will testify about Me. (John 15:26)

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears. (John 16:13)

Jesus appointed the Holy Spirit, also called the Spirit of Truth, to be his successor in ministry on the earth.

Jesus' appointment of the Holy Spirit as his successor does six things.

The personal relationship between Jesus and the disciples does not end. Jesus maintains that relationship through his and the disciples' relationships with the Holy Spirit.

The disciples have Jesus guiding them into truth and telling them what to do through the Holy Spirit.

The flow of perception, discernment, understanding, ability, skill, power, and authority from the master to the disciples continues through the Holy Spirit. It does not cease, and it is not limited to the understanding of a human successor. The disciples may be continuous partakers of the flow of God’s perception, discernment, understanding, ability, skill, power, and authority through the Holy Spirit.

The disciples are not limited to drawing from their records to propagate the master's will, words, ways, works, teaching, and guidance. The Holy Spirit reminds the disciples of what Jesus taught them and the works they witnessed. He guides them into the truth of Jesus' words and teaching. He empowers them to propagate Jesus' teaching through their own works.

Since the Holy Spirit is not subject to death, appointing the Holy Spirit as successor eliminates the need for any future successions. We can see how important this is by looking at the succession problems recorded in Judges, 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles.

In addition to all of this, the Holy Spirit is omnipresent: he can guide and teach all disciples simultaneously everywhere in the world.

In Exodus 18, the people came to Moses from morning until evening seeking God's guidance. This arrangement was wearing out Moses and the people. Moses' father-in-law advised Moses, "You should represent the people before