A Closer Look at Disciples: full transcript and answers

▶ 0:00 Last week we showed you that the apostles had five attributes that caused them to be conquerors to behave like full-grown men but they had a sixth. Attribute. The apostles were sent now this is not necessarily to every believer. But in Matthew 10:5 these twelve apostles Jesus sent to preach the kingdom of heaven one number two to heal the sick number three to cleanse the leper number four to raise the dead and to cast out devils these guys that didn’t even have their understanding open yet could cast out devils they had the authority to cast out devils heal the sick raise the dead do miracles and preach the gospel where people responded and God said okay because they were sent and Jesus equipped them before he sent them the Bible says first he brought them unto himself then he sent them out and folks you’re not going to be worth five cents out there unless you first come to Jesus and let him mature you and train you and equip you could that be an amen alleluia now in

▶ 1:31 Romans it says how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard that’s why we got to get the word out you can assume and you better not assume that people know what you know because it’s just not true. So how are they going to hear without a preacher without somebody speaking and teaching and how are they going to preach except they be what what. Sent. Sent. Commissioned for a mission hey that’s good [unclear] commission for a mission and the only way you can do that is you got to come to Christ and he does that in you are you with me and he did it to these twelve apostles all right now the apostles not only was sent to preach the kingdom of heaven [unclear] and heal the sick cleanse the lepers raise the dead and cast out devils but they were also sent.

▶ 2:35 To what make disciples. Make disciples all right. Now that is a big sent because he’s talking about these apostles of working with knuckleheads like us make disciples they had the task of making disciples. Okay in Matthew 28:18 all authority Jesus says has been given unto me in heaven and earth how much authority all. That means America’s in his hands he has authority over the government’s he has authority over the principalities and powers of darkness he has authority over the church he has authority over the families he has authority over the business world the economic world he has authority over everything.

▶ 3:27 Sicknesses diseases health he has all the authority and he says for this reason I. Want you to go and make disciples of all people. Baptizing them so the first thing about a disciple is what they get what baptized. Are you out there and I know there’s a group in America that teaches you don’t have to be baptized. That is totally anti-Bible. They’re not disciples you’re not a disciple if you’re not baptized because he says make disciples and what baptize them they have a personal encounter they understand that God is going to work and finish the good work in them but they got a what as a disciple they got to be taught and observe all things that Jesus commanded did Jesus command to get baptized.

▶ 4:34 Did he say to get baptized in the Holy Ghost yes he did not just water baptism okay. So disciples are people that learn and obey God’s word. They are pupils they are being taught. Amen how many of y’all can raise your hand and say I’m a disciple. Yeah if you are giving your time to learn and respond and observe God’s word you are a disciple. So he goes on to say I’m with you always even to the end of the age wow that’s very encouraging. When I’m down he’s with me when I’m up he’s with me when I’m going through trials he’s with me when I don’t think he’s with me he’s with me and I right and these people that teach that the spirit will be taken away this pre-tribulation rapture thing totally against Bible he is with us to the end of what the age the world the end of time he’s with us.

▶ 5:56 He’d have to deny this scripture to leave us in a seven-year period where the Holy Spirit wasn’t around so. Let’s take a closer look at a disciple fair enough. In the first chapter of Acts verse 15 Peter stood in the midst of the disciples and the number of those disciples was 120 how many 120 they were all filled with the Holy Ghost how many was filled with the Holy Ghost was speaking in tongues the mighty works of God 120. 108 of them were not apostles. They were disciples. So a disciple can be filled with the Holy Spirit now let’s continue we go over to acts chapter 6 the number of disciples and what’s a disciple one who learns and obeys God’s word all right.

▶ 7:07 and multiplied all kinds of disciples learning and they’re applying the word of God in verse 3 seven of these disciples were chosen to serve tables for widows. Okay they’re going to serve food for widows and let me remind you that in the New Testament the church never gave alms to unbeliever. Only to believers and that’s widows who qualify and orphans who they had to qualify. These that were chosen had to meet specific. Qualifications but it wasn’t the office of an apostle prophet evangelist pastor or teacher or miracle worker that was not one of the qualifications.

▶ 8:09 Okay the qualifications is they had to be a disciple and a disciple is what learning and obeying God’s word all right. Qualification number one is found in the third attribute that we gave you at the beginning they had to have an honest report from without that means they went through their neighbors their friends their family and they said what kind of life is this guy living is he doing. What he’s supposed to be doing a man so what it that’s connected with the third the character see they change their attitude their beliefs their thinking and their speech they actually possessed it.

▶ 9:03 Amen they taught right I mean they spoke right they thought right they behaved right a qualification just to give food to the widows my good we’re not talking about teaching Sunday school teaching youth or playing your instrument in the worship we’re talking about just getting in and cleaning tables and setting up tables and distributing food and listen to all these widows complain about how life is. Because they were complaining that’s why I brought it up [unclear] so the apostles are taking care of the issue. Are you with me see these seven weren’t just learning they were what possessing.

▶ 9:56 What they learn their character was solid. The next qualification they had to be full of wisdom that’s the fourth of the attributes that we gave you earlier he opened their understanding that they might understand the scriptures and the wisdom of understanding the scriptures is to obey the scriptures do what it says. Amen. So they had to be filled with wisdom and they had to be filled with the Holy Ghost. These are the qualifications to serve tables they called him deacons deacon is just another word for servant did you know that.

▶ 10:51 It’s another word for minister well minister so and so what does that mean servant he’s serving people are she’s serving people ministers server minister deacon bishop it’s all the same thing server. God. Deliver us from titles could that be an amen we need more action than titles we need to be serving whether it’s taking care of the widows or cleaning the toilet or whatever we need to be serving. Full of the Holy Ghost now if Holy Ghost as we showed you is a power to be witnesses unto Christ a light to this world with good work supernatural ability to live a life of character.

▶ 11:44 They already had the ability to heal the sick raise the dead cast out demons and so on. But Peter sure lacked in character when he denied Christ didn’t he yeah when he cut off the guy’s ear was that a lack of character yeah. But you see when God came and opened his understanding and filled him with the Holy Ghost he didn’t act like that anymore he got character he got changed. Now. The Holy Ghost has fruits and gifts and in us Pentecostal charismatic circles we like the gifts early especially a gift of healing if God uses me so people can see how great spiritual I am. Yeah I’ll speak in tongues so people can see how spiritual I am.

▶ 12:41 The gifts were given to develop the church to edify exhort to make the church strong the gifts are important but let me tell you the gifts without the fruit are worthless. The fruit of the spirit is what love love does nothing to hurt their neighbor joy that no man can take away I don’t care what situation you’re in you have joy peace you’re not not in conflict with anybody or anything. You’re not at war with the Catholics you’re not at war with the Muslims you’re not at war. With your brother that don’t like you ok you have peace are you with me no conflict now we are at war with principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places ain’t that right yeah and the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but they’re mighty through God to the tearing down of strongholds love joy peace long-suffering patience patience boy I’ve seen so many tongue talkers they didn’t have patience of a snail.

▶ 13:54 Geez they lash out self-control is one they lash out they got no control over their tongue got no control over their anger their temper and then they come into their [unclear] and then they go back home and it’s shot man. Are you with me. Alleluia. The fruit is. What. Paul says we need it if we speak in tongues of men and of angels we prophesy we have understanding of everything the mysteries we have faith to move mountains and we help the poor and we offer ourselves to be a martyr but if we don’t have love and what’s the first fruit of the spirit love.

▶ 14:54 We’re nothing it profits us nothing and we’re like a sounding gong and a clanging cymbal [unclear] like a dripping faucet okay just drives you nuts are. You there alleluia now the Holy Spirit without character and without spiritual understanding listen to me leads to destruction and the misuse of scripture and the misuse of the Holy Spirit gifts. Why because I don’t have understanding of the Bible how to use them and they don’t have the character that. Leads to destruction and I’ve seen a lot of it growing up in pentecostal charismatic circles and you fundamentalist that don’t believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost with speaking in tongues and all that shame on you you should get it.

▶ 15:57 and I’d rather make a mistake riding my bicycle and learn how to ride one than sit back and say well it’s not for today. Are you with me. Hallelujah. Head knowledge of scripture the Bible says puffs one up and they think they are right but they lack character and the power to be a witness to Christ they can just quote scripture and they can tell you what all the theologians say in everything and they have a life of bad character and no power to influence people to become a champion a man a full-grown spiritual man in God does that make sense.

▶ 16:52 Character and I’ve met a lot of these. Tremendous character without scriptural understanding and without the Holy Ghost divine enablement to be a witness unto him. Hinders leading others to the fullness of Christ. How are they going to tell anybody they don’t know they don’t they don’t know scriptures so they can’t share scripture. But they’re good people have you ever met him I know quite a few I mean oh we can’t just take one of these attributes we need them all could that be an amen yes. Now going on Stephen not an apostle yet a powerful disciple Acts 6:5 through 8 Stephen was a man full of faith full of grace divine enablement and power supernatural ability and Stephen did great wonders and miracles among the people and he is just a disciple.

▶ 18:03 Amen how many of you are disciples now. Well I didn’t have half the hands went up that went up early if you are a disciple learning and working on obeying God’s word you’re a candidate. To do these things. Ain’t that something yeah his disputers were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit which he spoke so here we have four gifts of the spirit that Stephen a disciple was working in and there’s really actually more because if you heard his sermon he knew he had knowledge of the Bible didn’t he yeah. And he had discerning of spirits and so the point is disciples can be very what powerful people but it’s all up to God and what he wants to do with us.

▶ 19:02 Let’s take a look at another disciple that is sent by God to minister to a future apostle. This is just a disciple a learner of the Bible and follow the Bible not an apostle not a prophet not an evangelist not a pastor not a teacher he’s just a disciple. Acts 9:10 there was a certain disciple at Damascus the Lord said in a vision there is the tenth gift of the Holy Spirit how many know the Bible says in the last days he’ll pour out his spirit on all flesh your sons and daughters shall prophesy. your young men will see visions your old men will see visions and dreams prophecy is part of the ability of a Holy Ghost to use people to build his church so God said Ananias and Ananias.

▶ 20:02 Answered here I am Lord this disciple had visions of what God wanted to do he said go lay hands on Paul that he might receive his sight I blinded him and I want to open his eyes both spiritually naturally and so I want you to go and lay hands I mean oh God follows his procedure laying on of hands other ministers we need one another [unclear] Paul couldn’t deliver himself he needed someone a nobody Ananias was a nobody you don’t hear of him before you don’t hear about him afterward just another disciple which we learned were multiplied in many right yes. So Ananias went and prayed and Paul received his sight and was filled with the Holy Ghost and as we follow Paul multitudes were saved and come to Christ churches were established throughout the hostile corrupt roman empire in all right persecuting Christians and everything else yet Ananias a disciple went and prayed for this future apostle and God used this future apostle.

▶ 21:16 To build churches and bring multitudes to Christ in a corrupt and hostile nation can the church grow in America in this hostile corrupt environment that we have today let’s go to another certain disciple in Acts 9:36 named Dorcas she was full of good works all right she had the character didn’t she yeah she had been converted she had been changed into good character and alms deeds she made clothing for people that were cold [unclear] and protect them she did things like that so here’s a good woman a good follower of Christ and it came to pass that she got sick and died now when I grew up in Pentecost they said man if you believe you won’t get sick and if you do get sick you don’t need medicine if you take medicine that’s unbelief I.

▶ 22:23 Mean oh Jesus said they that are sick need a physician. You know physicians are okay and God can still heal you supernaturally a man. And. There’s a lot of accounts where kids died because their parents would not give them medicine. Yeah I grew up to this stuff. We need the whole counsel of God not extremism. So what’s the point good things bad things happen to good people relax. You haven’t necessarily sin because he got sick so Peter comes in in verse 40 he kneels down.

▶ 23:17 Now when I kneel I’m obeying scripture and that is what. Spiritual warfare he kneeled down and he prayed okay he talked to God prayer is talking to God he’s talking to God alright when he prayed is he doing spiritual warfare yeah because the scripture says to kneel and pray kneel before the Lord your God your maker. Alright then he got connected with God he turned to Dorcas who’s dead as a doornail and said Dorcas arise. She opened her eyes. That’s spooky. And. Then she saw Peter so evidently there was a little time period there where she was focusing in and she saw Peter.

▶ 24:18 and she sat up wow. Man I like that. Many believed in the Lord when she come walking out of that room many believed in the Lord alleluia and God used a good disciple to bring many to the Lord alleluia even in the bad it worked out for good. That’s good stuff folks and they’re just disciples all right Acts 11:19 those scattered after Stephen’s persecution traveled as far as Antioch they stoned Stephen and they were persecuting Christians so they scattered and they were obeying the scripture Jesus said when they persecute you in this city flee to another yeah flee don’t say no oh I’m going to stand for God here God’s gonna you know if they’re going to persecute you need to make an adjustment you got families to raise and you got kids to care for and all the rest are you with me I mean oh there’s a time to run.

▶ 25:40 And alleluia. But but but he says you know he says nothing shall come nigh thy dwelling nothing shall harm me well yeah he did say that but if you don’t run you’re going to get harmed. Are you with me so you need the whole counsel of God alleluia and so they went as far as Antioch which is over where Turkey is right now and they what preach the word to Jews only it’s shocking that many today never get out of their social group their cultural group the race group or the religious group and a lot of people in America today are just talking to the same people that they agree with what’s going to grow you and make you search and make you strong and God is talking to people who don’t agree with you and you got to have answers for alleluia I’ll just ignore them ignoring them ain’t going to help them and if you’re wrong it ain’t going to help you and how many know you could be wrong yeah.

▶ 26:53 Are you with me don’t be like that. The hand of the Lord was with these guys a great number of people believed and turned to Jesus and they assembled with the church in Antioch these disciples started a church. Without an apostle without a prophet without an evangelist without a pastor or without a teacher these disciples grew to a place where they possess the ability to lead people to Christ and get a church organized and going powerful. Amen. Wow. No miracles no gifts of the spirit operating just preaching.

▶ 27:52 There’s no record of them speaking in tongues and interpreting of a prophecy on or anything they’re just sharing the good news of Jesus and multitudes turned to him and they they had a church-going they had a church service going and then. The apostles are going to come down now let me remind you these guys were scattered for persecution but let me tell you something that will strengthen your faith these disciples also knew the teachings of Jesus about the abomination of desolation spoken.

▶ 28:31 Of in Daniel all right they knew that teaching they knew the teaching of Jesus to run when persecution come all right they knew the teaching of Jesus that there were going to be a time when Jerusalem was surrounded by armies and they were going to destroy Jerusalem and the temple and so [unclear] came along with an army and attacked Judah and they were out to get the temple because they wanted to destroy the Jewish religion well the Jews fought and they defeated the first roman army did you know that and these were radical Jews you heard a radical islam well these were radical Jews you ought to read the story in the historians very radical and boy they really thought [unclear] and then we’re going to keep this city So Titus comes along now in the meantime all the Christians left Judah.

▶ 29:35 Jerusalem and Judah and went to the east side of Jordan. Because they understood that this was the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel and God was going to destroy that temple and stop the sacrifices and so they fled and the historians. Eusebius and the other historian these are secular historians that wrote no Christian was found in Jerusalem or Judah. They all left. Why because they understood they were disciples they understood Jesus’s teaching and they’ve responded ain’t that something.

▶ 30:28 God had secular historians to record it powerful. Is it important to be a disciple to understand and obey God’s word yes. Very important the apostles came afterward and the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch so this is it these disciples scattered from persecution started a church at Antioch and the apostles came and confirmed it and that church is the one that sent the apostle Paul and Silas out on the missionary trip that turn the world upside down that church. In closing. Acts 16:1 a certain disciple here’s another one and one of many Timothy.

▶ 31:23 Son of a certain Jewish woman who believed but his father was a greek now here’s a woman that was a Jew [unclear] she got converted. To believe in Jesus but her husband was a greek greeks were into intellectual knowledge philosophy that’s what the Bible says the greeks you know knowledge you know it’s like the atheists today in the scientist. The big bang the big bang did it and every time we’re wrong we just add another billion years to the creation and solve the problem. I say that because when I was young the earth was a million years old but as knowledge kept increasing the earth got older and older and older so that these scientists could fit in their error.

▶ 32:25 Corrected are you with me [unclear] so he his father’s a greek and his mother is a believer in other words we got a disruptive home here. In America today half the homes are divorced am I right in America today half the homes are dysfunctional. The kids are just in a mess in a lot of these homes. And. God took Timothy in this kind of situation all right father was an atheist in 1st Timothy 4:12 let no one despise your youth this is an adolescent guy like Anthony back there how old are you Anthony 15 maybe a little older now all right Timothy is an adolescent he’s a young boy and yet he is a disciple.

▶ 33:25 he’s learning and obeying God’s word working on obeying it amen. Don’t let anyone despise your youth Timothy but be an example and see young people they can’t really get into the ministry and these churches that put young people into ministry are fools the Bible plainly says not a novice lest he be lifted up with pride there has to be some physical growth and spiritual growth are you hearing me you put a young man or woman up front and you treat them like they can minister you got big problems on your hand and I seen that growing up through pentecostal circles and I seen the destruction of those youth when they later realize they were nothing but just another human being.

▶ 34:22 Are you guys oblivious to this stuff [unclear] that one is good. Alright so what does he tell Timothy to go prophesied or go heal the sick and raise the dead [unclear] no he tells him be an example. But learning the word you follow it you you be an example in word and conduct and love and spirit and faith and purity give attention to what reading the Bible listening to edification and exhortation and comfort in the church by prophecy tongues interpretation and these things that come by the spirit to edify the church and to doctrine the teaching the preaching can I hear an amen he said you’re at a place or you be an example you follow the word and you read that Bible and you get into Bible studies and you learn that book and one day there will be a transition now he didn’t say that but we’re going to see there’s a transition.

▶ 35:27 First Thessalonians 3:2 we sent Timothy our brother and fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ to establish and comfort you concerning your faith now Timothy has grown up he’s growing up as a man and he’s grown up spiritually and Paul sent him to the Thessalonica church to establish and comfort that church amen ain’t that powerful yeah and he started as an adolescent. And when Paul first met him everybody around said this this guy has a good report. Just like Stephen the good man good boy good young men not only that but in Philippians 2:19 I’ll send Timothy to you to the Philippian church for I have no one like minded who will naturally care for your state.

▶ 36:25 I’ve got no one like Timothy he’s concerned for the church he’s concerned for the young believer the baby believer. For all seek their own and not the things which are Jesus Christ. Isn’t it sad that most Christians are like that in America they really don’t care about the condition of the church. The babies the messed-up. Homes and the messed-up life. They just want to come to church and do their thing and go home no compassion no concern don’t want to give any time to teach this kid that the public schools is teaching him wrong.

▶ 37:20 Jesus is real and the Bible is a book of truth amen. Hallelujah in the summer camp we had kids that talked about committing suicide during our summer camp they. Don’t we need compassion for that kind of situation. Hallelujah and Timothy had it as a young man he read he studied he got into Bible studies and he developed we saw Timothy grow from a disciple stage of learning. And observing. Watching. To a stage of caring and serving. And all right he didn’t just stay a pupil.

▶ 38:19 He continued being a pupil because that’s what you do you you keep reminding yourself of truth and all that but he possessed the Bible promises and he cared for the condition of the church and he served the church and he wasn’t an apostle he wasn’t a prophet he wasn’t an evangelist he wasn’t a pastor or a teacher he was just a disciple who grew into servanthood if Jesus can do that. Using his disciples that grew to servanthood. He can change America he can change the church in America the unlearned church members he can educate the unbelievers he can convert.

▶ 39:16 Through committed. Serving disciples is that a true statement. Us no bodies can’t wait for the big guns to come we got to allow God to use us ourselves. And. It starts with you and I. And no matter how bad off you think the church world is or the American government is and Jesus is still building a church a glorious church that the gates of hell cannot prevail against amen. He still is in control of everything in this world and he can turn America around and he can give us righteous leaders but we got to humble ourselves and pray and turn from our wicked ways.

▶ 40:13 Become better disciples get good character then the Bible says he will hear from heaven and what. Heal our land the key to America is in the church if the church just responds and gets honest with God God can heal America just like that [unclear] overnight.