True Disciples

 

TRUE DISCIPLES

 

God created the Earth to be His vineyard. God created humans to be the fruit of His vineyard.

 

Man was created from the dust of the Earth. Man is the fruit of the Earth.

 

James 5:7 Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.

 

• To understand your life, you must understand why God created human beings.
• To understand God, you must understand that He is a Father and He has a Son whom He loves dearly.
• To understand the Bible, you must know that the Holy Scriptures tell the story of God the Father creating everything that exists in Heaven and Earth through His Son and for His Son. That is the entire story. That is why everything and everyone exists.
• From everything that exists, from everything God created for His Son, His Son delighted in the sons of Men. Humans.

 

Proverbs 8:22-36 Yahuah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.  When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of Yahuah. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

 

The verses above say: “whoso findeth me findeth life”.

 

Yahusha said, “John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.“

 

Then again in John 14:6 Yahusha says that He is the life.

 

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

These two verses prove that the scriptures in Proverbs above are talking about the Son of God.

 

Psalms 2:7-12 I will declare the decree: Yahuah hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve Yahuah with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

 

You and I and everyone else exist only because the Son of God delights in the sons of men.

 

EVERYONE WHOM YAHUSHA CALLED WAS CALLED TO FOLLOW HIM, TO BE HIS DISCIPLE.

• Yahusha left everything He had in Heaven to come to Earth and be born as a human being.
• When the time came for Yahusha to fulfill His Father’s will for His life on Earth, Yahusha left everything He had on Earth to do His Father’s will.
• We are called to follow Him. He is our Lord, leader, Shepherd, and example.
• Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Yahusha preached to multitudes of people. Yahusha healed multitudes of people. Yahusha declared the Kingdom of God has come near to you this day. Yahusha rebuked the false teachers. Yahusha taught the multitudes how to conduct their personal lives and how to treat one another. Yahusha spoke the secrets of the Kingdom of God in parables and said unto His DISCIPLES: Luke 8:10  Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

 

For many are called, but few are chosen.

If you have read the previous 16 articles in this section, I have covered the subject of election many times. The apostle Paul explains it plainly in Romans chapter 9.

 

People struggle to understand this subject because of their preoccupation with what they believe is free will. The gospel teachers have done a disservice to the elect by not putting the subject of free will to rest. The concept of free will in today’s society is not Biblical.

 

If you believe your future is whatever you decide, pray that God will mold you into a vessel of honor and not into a vessel of dishonor. That would be the proper use of today’s concept of free will.

 

Ephesians 1:3-11 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

 

If you still think you are in charge of anything, you do not understand the gospel.  You and I are clay. God is the potter. The potter has power over the clay. The potter can shape the clay into anything he wants.

 

Here is what we can do:

Hebrews 3:12-14 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Matthew 18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Mark 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

 

We should humble ourselves and submit to the will of God not seeking our own free will, but His.

 

The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith and we receive grace for grace.  Romans 1:17 as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 

 

Faith is a gift from God. Grace is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

As I said before, pray that God will mold you into a vessel of honor and not into a vessel of dishonor. That would be the proper use of today’s concept of free will.

 

 

Walk humbly before God knowing that He is in charge of everyone and everything. Believe in the goodness of God, in the love of God, in the mercy of God, in the justice of God, and the wisdom of God. Our thoughts are not His thoughts and our ways are not His ways.

 

The tragedies that befall us in this life appear to be callous and unjustifiable events that no good, loving, merciful, and just God could permit. When tragedy comes we question God, His existence, His goodness, His love, His compassion, His wisdom, His will, everything about Him.

 

No parent should have to watch their child be maimed or killed. No one should have to watch the person they love most in this world slowly, painfully, suffer and waste away in disease. Whether it happens to others or ourselves, the horrors that can occur in this life go beyond our ability to reason.

 

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Yahuah.

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

In times of trial and tragedy, we either persevere through faith or we are scarred for life. To follow Him as He has called us to do, we must humble ourselves, our minds, and our lives, and walk by faith with Him through it all to the end.

 

Let us have compassion toward each other. In this world, we suffer. None of us can know the depth of the suffering another person has endured or is enduring. But every one of us knows that this life is not easy.

 

 

The Cost of Discipleship

 

I am appalled at some of the teachings prevalent in today’s churches. This teaching of worldly prosperity by serving God is the polar opposite of what Yahusha taught. Yahusha taught about the cost of following Him.

 

These few verses in Luke sum it up well.

 

Luke 14:25 through 33.  And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold 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, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

 

A disciple of Yahusha must forsake ALL the things of this world.

 

Many well-known pastors here in the U.S. sport big houses, private airplanes, expensive cars, and abundant gold jewelry stating that God has blessed them, setting that example for the people who sit under their teaching.

 

Yahusha said “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” -Matthew 6:24

 

The apostle John said “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” -1 John 2:15

 

The prosperity teachings are covetousness plain and simple. They teach people to covet the things of this world. 

 

Yahusha said  “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” –Matthew 6:25-34

 

Yahusha said “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” –Matthew 6:19-21

 

This is the New Covenant. These are the teachings of Yahusha.

 

Luke 12:33-34  Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 

Being a disciple means following Yahusha. Every disciple Yahusha called heard the same two words, “follow me”.

 

As I have written in previous posts, teachers always talk about how Yahusha left everything He had in heaven to come to Earth as a man. They fail to tell you that when the time came for Him to do the work His Father sent Him here to do, Yahusha left everything He had on Earth to do His Father’s will.

 

Yahusha had a life in Nazareth. He lived with his mother and brothers and worked as a carpenter. Joseph has passed away, and Yahusha, as the eldest son, is responsible for the household. When the time came for Yahusha to begin His ministry, he left Nazareth, took His mother and his brothers to Capernaum, and began His final year-plus on this Earth. He left everything behind to do His Father’s will. Here are some verses to support what I have written.

 

In the Gospel of John, chapters 1 and 2, Yahusha has been baptized by John. As cited in other Gospels, immediately after His baptism Yahusha was driven by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness of Judea for forty days of prayer and fasting and afterward, He was hungry. This is when the devil comes to tempt Him. After the temptations, Yahusha returns from the wilderness of Judea in the power of the Holy Spirit. As He is leaving the wilderness of Judea He is walking north toward the sea of Galilee and He passes by where John the Baptist is baptizing.

 

John 1:19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

John 1:26-30. John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

John 1:35-43 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

 

John chapter 1 ends on this day, with the calling of Philip and Nathanael. So from John 1:29 to the end of the chapter is two days. John 1:29 and 1:35 are talking about the same day. Then John 1:43 through verse 51 is the following day which ends chapter 1.  John 2:1 is the very next verse:

 

John 2:1-12 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.

 

To put these events in order for you here is what has transpired. Immediately after returning from the wilderness of Judea and the temptations of Satan, Yahusha walks north toward Galilee. He passes by John the Baptist at Bethabara. This is the day after John the Baptist “stood” being examined by the priests and Levites sent from Jerusalem to question his authority to baptize and teach. In a short time after this John will be arrested. However, from John 1:19 through 2:12 is an account of the day of his examination and the events of the three days following.

 

The two disciples of John the Baptist that heard John say “Behold the Lamb of God!” , were Andrew and probably John the brother of James. Then Andrew runs to find his brother Simon (Peter) and tells him he has found the Messiah. Andrew and Simon ask to spend the evening with Yahusha and He agrees. What is not told but can be understood by harmonizing the four gospels is that Andrew and Simon return to the Sea of Galilee either that night or early the next morning because Yahusha encounters them fishing in the Sea of Galilee the next day.

 

Matthew 4:18-22 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

 

As you see in Matthew 4 above, on that day Yahusha called Andrew, Simon, James, and John. That same day Yahusha would find Philip and call him as told in John 1:43 above. Also that same day Yahusha would call Nathanael, Philip’s friend.

 

To summarize, after being tempted by Satan in the wilderness of Judea, on His journey back to Nazareth, Yahusha encounters John the Baptist at Bethabara. Within the next 3 days, Yahusha calls at least 6 of His 12 disciples, packs up His family, and moves from Nazareth to Capernaum.

 

Yahusha lives out His teachings. He leads by example.

 

Here are a couple more verses of Yahusha calling people to follow Him.

 

Matthew 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Mark 2:14  And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

Matthew 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

 

When He called His disciples He called them to follow Him. He did not tell them to liquidate everything, but He did teach them to leave the pursuit of everything this world offers and follow Him. Andrew and Peter lived together in a house in Bethsaida along with Peter’s wife and mother-in-law. Later, after the resurrection and ascension of Yahusha, we know that Peter ministered in Jerusalem with the early Church and then went on missionary journeys to Joppa, Caesarea, and possibly Antioch. Finally, tradition places him in Rome, where he was martyred. According to 1 Corinthians 9:5, Paul makes reference to Peter (Cephas) and other apostles taking their wives along on missionary journeys.

 

As scriptural proof that they left all to follow Yahusha we have Luke 18:28 where Peter says “Lo, we have left all, and followed thee” referring to himself and the other disciples.

 

As scriptural proof that Yahusha left all to do His Father’s will we have Luke 9 verses 57 and 58. And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Yahusha had even given up his residence. He advised the man of the cost of following him whithersoever he goest.

 

 

With those two verses in mind, I want to take this opportunity to talk about the 144,000 men who will be sealed during the reign of the AntiChrist.

 

If you have read the sixteen previous posts in this section, you know I have previously referred to them as ‘true disciples’. Let’s take a look at some of the scriptures concerning them in the book of Revelation and I will explain my reasoning.

 

Revelation 7:1-4 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

 

The Day of Yahuah is about to begin. The opening of the 6th seal in the previous chapter released all of the prophetic signs of the Day of Yahuah. The Day of Yahuah is the judgment of God on all the nations of the Earth including Israel. The Day of Yahuah is the second worldwide judgment of God upon humanity. The first worldwide judgment of God was the flood. The Day of Yahuah is the judgment of the Gentiles, i.e. the judgment of the nations of the Earth. This judgment of God will result in the end of the rule of godless nations and usher in the rule of the Kingdom of God through the final remnant of Israel.

 

Before these judgments are released on the Earth and the seas, the SERVANTS OF GOD must be sealed in their foreheads with the seal of the Holy Spirit of God. The forehead represents the center of a person’s will. These men’s wills are completely centered on serving Yahusha Ha Mashiach no matter what the cost.

 

Yahusha said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.“-John 12:24 and 26

 

As you will see in the following verses, these men will follow Yahusha Ha Mashiach whithersoever He goeth as mentioned in Luke 9:58 and 59 above. These men will die in the service of the Messiah. These men will be called the firstfruits of the Earth. 

 

Revelation 14:1-5. And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

 

These are true disciples. They will follow Yahusha anywhere at any cost including their own lives. There is absolutely nothing in the scriptures that would make you think their journey is easy, comfortable, or prosperous. The cost to truly follow Yahusha never is.

 

Yahusha said, “If the world hates you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” –John 15:18-20

 

 

True disciples are called, chosen, and faithful.

 

Does this apply to every believer or just some?

 

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

 

In the Book of Revelation chapters 2 and 3, Yahusha sent seven messages to the seven churches in Asia: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. At the end of each message, He said the same thing…He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

That is churches, plural. It is one message to all churches, one message to all believers. Seven messages to seven churches make up one message to all believers.

 

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.