Many people who give their lives to Jesus have a spiritual desire to serve Him well, but don’t know how to start. And others who start out well give up along the way ... all because they lack an understanding on what the Bible teaches about discipleship. That’s what SPIRIT-FILLED DISCIPLESHIP: HOW GOD CALLS CHRISTLIKE DISCIPLES is all about. Authored by Dr. David Fleming, a Spirit-filled minister who has experienced the life changing dynamics of discipleship in his own life, will help you discover the principles and power of Biblical discipleship and how being a disciple of Jesus will transform your life.
The fact that God has called all disciples of Jesus to represent the life and ministry of Jesus is foundational to understanding true Biblical discipleship and is the approach taken in the Spirit-filled Disciples Series (3 books). The series was written to help the reader gain insight into how God calls, prepares, and reveals Christlike disciples. The Full-Gospel tone of the series sets it apart from other discipleship study books.
The author uses the mentoring relationship between Elijah and Elisha to teach how disciples learn how to follow Jesus as disciples today.
The "Pause & Reflect" questions following each sub-section promote personal involvement with that which is taught in the series. The questions make the book perfect for personal Bible study as well as group discipleship classes.
Satisfied With The Familiar?
In the last chapter it was mentioned that the “company of the LORD’s prophets” were active in ministry at the time of Elijah. Although scripture does not directly indicate who their leader was, Elijah would most likely have been considered the head prophet among them. He certainly would have had input into their lives. In fact, Elijah’s close relationship with them is seen in that he visited each group before he was taken to Heaven. Unfortunately, although the company of prophets knew that the Lord was about to do something tremendous, they were satisfied to be onlookers instead of active participants. Only one person had enough hunger for God to stay with Elijah until the end, and that was Elisha.
In the same way there are those today who have great knowledge of the Lord and His work. Yet, it’s never enough for the Church to know about the Lord and what He is doing. The Lord wants His disciples to be active participants in what He is doing! That was one of the main differences between Elisha and the company of prophets. They both had knowledge, but Elisha’s spiritual hunger for God drove him to step out of the familiar to receive all that the Lord had for him.
It was that type of spiritual hunger that I believe gave Peter the desire to step out of the boat into the water to follow Jesus.
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. (Matthew 14:28–29, NIV)
Peter could have stayed in the boat with familiar surroundings. Yet, seeing Jesus walking on the water revealed to Peter that there was more of Jesus that he was not experiencing. He wanted to be a part of everything Jesus was doing. He wasn’t satisfied to see Jesus walk on water, he wanted to do it with Him! Peter’s hunger drove him out of the boat onto unfamiliar territory and took him closer to Jesus! Peter would have stayed in the boat had Jesus told him to, but thank God, Jesus said, “Come”. The Lord is telling disciples once more to step out of their familiar surroundings and walk with Him in the miraculous! That is part of your calling. That is your destiny. You have been called to minister in the power and authority of the Holy Spirit just like Jesus! But, first you must hunger for more of God like Elisha did. You can’t be satisfied with the familiar. You have to be willing to step out of your comfort zone just like Peter did. You have to have such a spiritual hunger for more of Jesus that you’re willing to do whatever is necessary to receive! It is this type of spiritual hunger that will be the propelling force in those who will be used by God in these last days; a hunger for more of Jesus that calls you beyond the familiar into true Christlike ministry with signs and wonders following. Such a hunger will always be open to “new wine”.
Pause & Reflect
(1) The “company of the Lord’s prophets” most likely looked at Elijah as their leader, but they did not have the same type of relationship with him that Elisha did. How did Elisha differ from the “company of the Lord’s prophets” in his relationship with Elijah?
(2) In 2 Kings 2:5 we are told that the company of prophets knew something tremendous was about to happen to Elijah, yet they were satisfied to be onlookers instead of active participants. Only one person had enough hunger for God to stay with Elijah until the end, and that was Elisha. Evaluate your life; are you like Elisha who was receiving all that God was giving him or are you more like the company of prophets who “stood at a distance”? (2 Kings 2:7)
(3) In what way did Peter reveal in Matthew 14:28-29 that he wanted to experience life with Jesus to the fullest?
(4) In what way(s) are you answering the call of Jesus to step out of your comfort zone and walk with Him in the miraculous?