Discipleship

Rev Dr. Tan Soo In of Graceworks, a Publishing and Training Consultancy

Even though I'm in Singapore, I'm actually from Penang so I'm back almost every month. My mother is here. It's a privilege to be here so thank you for inviting.

This morning I want to talk about discipleship. Some of you, you will remember evangelism of the past. It's like at the end of the sermon, the preacher will ask "if you die today what happens to you?" You get scared. Evangelism talks about what happens when you die and not about how you live for the Lord.

Everyone who is saved and assured of heaven is a convert. The rest who is serious about God are disciples. These two tiers have weakened the church. One have the insurance of heaven and the other are the crazy ones who memorises 500 verses. This has weakened the church.

Recent times, the church have revisited the meaning of discipleship.

Matthew 28:16

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.

Every time a revelation is revealed at the mountains it seems to be significant. Like Moses at Mount Sinai. God can reveal anywhere but at the mountains it seems to be a more significant revelation.

The disciples are a bunch of 11 Jews who were worshiping a man of 33 years old. Only one God they have worshiped but why are they worshiping Jesus. Because he died and rose again. It was a unique proof and claim. Tell me of another who have died and rose again. It is not blind believe. God gave evidence of Jesus' death and resurrection.

Following Christ is not the most easy or convenient religion. I follow Christ because it's the truth. My parents were Christians and I'm the only son. Following Christ at that time did not cost me anything. I've never suffered from following Christ but to give up my dentistry to follow Christ suddenly, was finally going to cost me something.

Matthew 28:17

When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

We may go to church because our parents are Christians but there will come a point of time where you have to ask yourself, is it true? And will I follow? The 11 disciples believed and followed him.

The truth is that some doubted and that's the truth. In the big picture they believed but still have doubts. There was no unbelievers, but they still had doubts. We should give room for questions even regarding Christianity.  Questions should be welcomed and not jumped on.

Matthew 28:18

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

All the men deserted him except the ladies who stood by him. But after he resurrected they believed again. If I was Jesus, I'd say wah, why you deserted me? But the grace of God showed how Jesus approached them.

But we have to come back to the Lord. Peter did but Judas didn't. Jesus came back and gave them fresh instructions on what to do. Things God has wanted you to do but you didn't. Jesus is here with open arms for fresh instructions.

All authority in heaven and earth. Who can that be? Only God for the Jews. It's everything. No area not under his lordship. Continue to trust in God. Satan promised Jesus all authority on earth but Jesus said all authority in heaven and earth. All.

Do you really believe that Jesus is God and has all authority? I know now when you obey him. When you acknowledge his lordship. Instructions are coming.

Matthew 28:19

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,

Make disciples not convert. We may not know what a disciple actually means. At that time a disciple is an apprentice. If you want to be a carpenter, you'll go to a master carpenter and ask him to be a sifu. You'll probably move in and observe him. Then he'll give you simple tasks and after a time has passed you'll qualify. A disciple is a student or apprentice. We learn from Jesus.

A disciple involves all of us. You cannot say you don't want to be baptise because you are not mature yet. That's wrong. Baptism is the beginning. It's the beginning of a journey. It shows that you've taken the plunge to follow Jesus. Baptism is not a mark of maturity but a mark of beginning.

It's like learning to drive, you get an "L" plate, a learner. At Form 5 I did that. My instructor was a man called lau Lim. With his broken English. The first time we were out, when he gave me instructions it was hard to understand. But over time I understood him. Then I passed without paying bribe. I was lau Lim's disciple and learnt to drive.

We don't loose when we obey God's Commandments.

Matthew 28:19

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,

If I was an English teacher I'd say it's bad English. The verse said the name yet there are three being addressed. God is only one yet three persons. The true God has a community among himself. Cannot explain. I'll just kneel down and worship.

It says all nations. I think the last sin to die is racism. God's love is for all people. There's no second class in God's Kingdom. All are equally loved. That's why we are to make disciples of all nations. It's reaching everyone.

Matthew 28:20

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.

Not just to teach them but to teach them to obey. Not just teach them to pass exams like our education system. We learn things without responsibility. We are trained to learn and invite education with no responsibility. That's not what the Bible says. It's to learn and obey. The test of the word is what kind of life you live. That is the authority of God over you.

If you read this, it's a very high calling. It's a tough calling. To make disciples. But God will give you the power to do it. He is there to back you up to do it. Like when God called Moses. He said I will be with you. He called Moses to free the Israelites from the most powerful army in the world. God was with Moses. We don't go with our own strength. He gave us the calling and power.

So what is the Holy Spirit saying to some of us? Maybe it's to rededicate our life as a disciple. Not a convert but a disciple since we are all disciples. It is a year that we grow up. At 60 I'm still growing. I used to read large letter edition but now my bible is giant print! So paiseh (shy). There's a programme that can calculate how much time you have left based on you answering some questions. People like me are nearing the end but as a disciple, we need to be dedicated to him.

It's not just about being a convert or disciple but being a mature or less mature disciples. It's a time to rededicate ourselves, young or old.

Some days, you may find following Christ to be difficult. God says I'll be with you. He'll anoint you to be like Jesus, that's what the Holy Spirit does.

Or you are struggling with the feeling of failure. God say come to me and I'll give you a fresh start. It is harder to renovate the heart than the church.

When the Bible says I stand at the heart and knock, it's not evangelism. It's God wanting to give you a spiritual revelation. Time passes in supersonic speed. What does God wants of you now? To shine as light in a very dark world.