TOPIC: The True Disciples (Mountain Of Fire And Miracle Ministries Monday, 27 August 2018)
FIRE SCRIPTURE: Mark 8:34-37
MEMORY VERSE: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” – 2 Timothy 3:12
The MESSAGE:
A disciple is someone who diligently follows and studies the steps and life of his master in order to be like him. The mission of the master is that he should be reproduced in his disciples.
Jesus laid down three conditions for true discipleship: (1) We must surrender ourselves completely to Him; (2) We must identify with Him in suffering and death, and (3) We must follow Him obediently, wherever He leads. If we live for ourselves, we will lose ourselves, but if we lose ourselves for His sake and the Gospel’s, we will find ourselves. Denying self is not the same as self-denial. We practise self-denial when, for a good purpose, we occasionally give up things or activities. But we deny self when we surrender ourselves to Christ and determine to obey His will. This once-for-all dedication is followed by a daily ‘dying to self’ as we take up our cross and follow Him. From the human point of view, we are losing ourselves, but from the divine perspective, we are finding ourselves. When we live for Christ, we become more like Him, and this brings out our own unique individuality. To lose yourself is not an act of desperation; it is an act of devotion. But we do not stop there: personal devotion should lead to practical duty; that is, the sharing of the Gospel with a lost world. ‘For My sake’ could lead to selfish religious separation from the world, so it must be balanced with ‘and for the Gospel’s sake’. Because we live for Him, we live for others. Discipleship is a matter of profit and loss, a question of whether we will waste our lives or invest our lives. Note the severe warning Jesus gives us here: once we have spent our lives, we cannot buy them back. Remember, He was instructing His disciples, men who had already confessed Him as the Son of God. He was not telling them how to be saved and go to heaven but how to save their lives and make the most of their opportunities on earth. ‘Losing your soul’ is the equivalent of wasting your life, missing the great opportunities God gives you to make your life count. You may ‘gain the whole world’ and be a success in the eyes of men, and yet have nothing to show for your life when you stand before God. If that happens, though you did own the whole world, it would not be a sufficient price to give to God to buy another chance at life (Mark 8:27 – 9:13). Is there any reward for the person who is a true disciple? Yes, there is: he becomes more like Jesus Christ and one day shares in His glory. The devil promises you glory, but in the end, you receive suffering and pain. God promises you suffering, but in the end, that suffering is transformed into glory. If we acknowledge Christ and live for Him, He will one day acknowledge us and share His glory with us. Paul suffered for Christ, but he had a wonderful testimony that he fought the good fight of faith and finished his course. Are you a true disciple of Jesus Christ?
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
DENYING SELF IS NOT THE SAME AS SELF-DENIAL.
PROPHETIC WORD:
You will be a success in the eyes of both God and man.
PRAYER POINTS:
MORNING
1. You spirit of Judas, the Lord rebuke you, come out of my life and die, in the name of Jesus.
2. Spirit of self-deception, I bind and cast you out of my life, in the name of Jesus.
3. O Lord, break me and remould me to conform to Your image, in the name of Jesus.
EVENING
4. You spirit of Demas, you will not destroy my ministry, catch fire and burn to ashes, in the name of Jesus.
5. Holy Spirit, empower me to fight the good fight of faith, in the name of Jesus.
6. I surrender all my life to Jesus, O Lord, use me for Your glory, in the name of Jesus.
7. Enemies of my soul, you are a failure, be frustrated and die, in the name of Jesus.
“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional HERE
MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)
Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
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