Mike Breen – How To Be A Disciple That Makes Disciples

Numbers chapter 11 reminds me how hard the life of a disciple really can be. Even when we fall into temptation to complain, God can take it personally if the complaining is directed to Him. Remember the people were complaining about how hard life was and they were so discouraged. Little did they know that God was listening and He sent fire to consume parts of their community. Very shortly thereafter they started complaining about the lack of meat. It was not just a complaint of something they wanted, it was the rejection of the manna that God had provided. So God gave them the desire of their heart and while the meat was still between their teeth God struck them with a plague. They buried many that day that complained.

If I am going to grow as a disciple and get past the basic grumbling of life and live above the natural and move in the spiritual I am going to have to be discipled. Many of you already are here and so you will need to be doing the discipling. Then there are others, who are called to make disciples and need to be invited to use their gifts to walk alongside others to bring them into a deeper walk with Jesus.

I believe Paul discipled Timothy for quite a few years – possibly 18 years. I love it when God calls me to take the love language of time and give it away to disciple others. I have done that more with individuals than groups, but I like groups too.

I love stories like that of Lydia, in Acts chapter 16, who became involved differently by using her resources and gift of hospitality to provide a base for Paul to make disciples at the place of prayer. Reminds me to keep in prayer how God would want to use my gifts when it comes to making disciples.

It would seem that Paul’s strategy for sharing the gospel was to go to places where others would be at a higher level of readiness to hear it. I do not believe I have such a place but I do know that I can create such a place.

So instead of complaining about life, I can take a lesson from Timothy. His name literally means “honouring God” or “precious to God.” Two great takeaways to what kind of attitude a disciple should have in their life. Then I can go and share and disciple others to look like Jesus.

Interesting look at what a discipling life looks like. A life-style of a disciple may seem static or even implying that there is a lack of freedom. It may imply that others are determining or appreciating ‘our style.’ At least it can be seen as passive, simply responding to life that is not in our control. Even when individuals talk about my ‘vocation’ can imply that my task is driven from outside of myself and that I have to accept it as something I have to do or even has been imposed on me. Here is a more positive view and it is how I look at being a disciple – it is the image of walking along a ‘road’ and it implies we are moving, forward-looking, and can choose where our foot falls next.

She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” – Acts 16:17