Day 9 – Prayer & Fasting

Follow Jesus: The Disciple Maker

16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:16-20

18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” 20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” 21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” 22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” 

John 21:18-22

If we will successfully make disciples as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28 right before His departure from earth, the only way we will ever do that is to follow the Master at making disciples Himself. In Matthew 4, Jesus called four men individually, who themselves brought their family members to Jesus. These initial small band of men increased to twelve in a short space of time. They were called to be apprentices and members of His ministry team. Over a space of three years Jesus modelled what He taught them. He kept His promise and as we see they became the very founding apostolic core of the early church. Peter’s sermon backed by what I call the battery power pack of 119 other disciples on the day of Pentecost routed 3,000 souls from darkness to light.

The purpose of discipleship is to multiply followers for Jesus. Essentially Disciples are growing and becoming more like Jesus while non disciples stay stuck in a rut. The concept is dependent on one person first following Jesus in such a manner that others upon invitation are magnetized to follow Jesus as well. Peter was at one time overtly concerned about another disciples future and Jesus simply told him “you follow me.” The apostle Paul captured the concept so well in his letter to the church at Corinth,

And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1

Jesus forgives sins and brings us into a relationship with God. He seeks to help us grow in that relationship and for us to help others too. Could it just be that discipleship suffers for the very reason that we may be doing it our own way? It makes perfect sense to follow Jesus the Disciple Maker if we are going to do a good job of disciple making. “Follow Jesus.”

Prayer Points

1. Praise God for the privileged calling to make disciples unto Him
2. Ask Jesus to make you a disciple maker. It is not a bad idea to make one every 1 to 2 years. Matthew 4:19
3. Pray for the grace at JFC to multiply disciples. Acts 14:21
4. Pray for love, wisdom and patience in locating and helping people walk in prayer, purpose and power. John 14:15
5. Pray for people to grow into committed and core local church members who love Jesus not just attendees. Ask God to move over our hearts to become willing conduits of grace. Luke 8:1-3
6. Declare that we will follow Jesus in 2020 as individuals. John 21:18-22

Re-Listen to Today’s Prayer Calls

Morning

Evening

Will be uploaded after the call