The Heart of Discipleship

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The Heart of Discipleship
The Art of Following Jesus
Isaiah 504-9
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Our Goals for Today

• Be a faithful disciple of Jesus
• Be a good discipler.
• Learn some practical tools.

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Isaiah 504-5
The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of
disciples, That I may know how to sustain the
weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by
morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a
disciple. The Lord GOD has opened My ear And I
was not disobedient, Nor did I turn back.
(Isaiah 504-5, NASB).

• A Servant Song
• Study Christs example
• Lived like ourselves

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4 Points to be a Good Discipler

• A.) The Training of the Disciple A disciple
  is a learner.
• B.) The Purpose of the Disciple A disciple
  serves others.
• C.) The Discipline of the Disciple A disciple
  regularly communes with God.
• D.) The Attention of the Disciple A disciple
  attentively listens and obeys God

Each point is from one section of Isaiah 504.
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A.) The Training of the Disciple
The Lord God has given me the tongue of
disciples.

• Yahweh God has given me the tongue of
  learners. (literal)
• The Lord God has given me an instructed
  tongue. (NIV)
• an expert tongue.
• the tongue of disciples (NASB)

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A.) The Training of the Disciple
The Lord God has given me the tongue of
disciples.

• Two possible meanings
• 1) He is learning like a disciple
• 2) He has learned like a discipler
• Both are correct

The best teacher is the best learner!
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A.) The Training of the Disciple
The Lord God has given me the tongue of
disciples.

• Discipleship occurs all the time before God.
• Discipleship focuses on knowing God.
• Disciplers learn from experiencing Gods grace

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A.) The Training of the Disciple
Application

• A Discipler must regularly meet with God
• Ask questions
• Attitude of learning

The Lord God has given me the tongue of
disciples.
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B.) The Purpose of the Disciple
The Lord God has given me the tongue of
disciples that I may know how to sustain the
weary one with a word.

• That introduces purpose clauses.
• Christs purpose to meet with God was to
  better sustain the weary one with a word.
• Christ got His words from God.
• God in turn sustained the weary one.

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B.) The Purpose of the Disciple
That I may know how to sustain the weary one
with a word.

• A disciple serves others.
• His life purpose is to serve.
• His motivation for training is service.
• We focus on strengthening weak ones.

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B.) The Purpose of the Disciple
Application

• Purpose of training such as college become
  mission focused
• Time with God to understand how to serve
• Willing to suffer if necessary (Isaiah 53)

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C.) The Discipline of the Disciple
He awakens me morning by morning.

• A disciple early each day communes with God.
• (1) Guided by my Fathers purpose
• (2) Anticipation of my Fathers ways
• (3) Consistency in knowing my Fathers will

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C.) The Discipline of the Disciple
Application

• Has He awoken you?
• How do you spend your late hours?
• What do you expect from devotions?
• How consistent is your time with God?

He awakens me morning by morning.
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D.) The Attention of a Disciple
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

• A disciple attentively listens to and obeys
  God.
• Hearing - in hearing range
• Listening - in heart range

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D.) The Attention of a Disciple
Ideas to help immediately yield to His will.

• 1) God always gives us what we need to do His
  will.
• 2) God always has the greatest goals in mind in
  asking us to do something.
• 3) God never makes mistakes.
• 4) Once God has defined what He wants, any other
  response than what He requested becomes sin.

He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
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D.) The Attention of a Disciple
Application

• 1) Hearing - are you close enough to hear?
• 2) Listening - are you loyal enough to obey?

He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
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E.) The Resolve of a DiscipleIsaiah 505-9
A disciple withstands difficulties to please His
Master (Isaiah 505-9)

• 1. Our Heart Commitment (505)
• 2. Our Choice to Serve (Isaiah 506)
• 3. Our Trust in God (507)
• 4. Our Victory over Bitterness (Isaiah 508-9)

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E.) The Resolve of a Disciple
1. Our Heart Commitment (505)
The Lord GOD has opened My ear And I was not
disobedient, Nor did I turn back.

• Awakening and opening the ear
• God Yahweh broke the door of resistance
• This is a battle, and the evil one wants to
  cause us to come up short. (2 Chr 2035)

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E.) The Resolve of a Disciple
2. Our Choice to Serve (Isaiah 506)
(1) I gave My back to those who strike Me.(2)
I gave My cheeks to those who pluck out the
beard.(3) I did not cover My face from
humiliation and spitting.

• Our choice
• God is in control (John 1910-11)
• Not ashamed

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E.) The Resolve of a Disciple
3. Our Trust in God (507)
For the Lord GOD helps Me, Therefore, I am not
disgraced Therefore, I have set My face like
flint, And I know that I shall not be ashamed.

• Pain hurts
• Comfort in the way Yahweh helps
• Pauls weaknesses
• My weaknesses

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E.) The Resolve of a Disciple
4. Our Victory over Bitterness (Isaiah 508-9)
He who vindicates Me is near Who will contend
with Me? Let us stand up to each other Who has a
case against Me? Let him draw near to Me.

• Not seeking revenge
• Not blind to injustice
• Evil is not the same as His judgment
• Gods judgment is coming soon

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E.) The Resolve of a DiscipleIsaiah 505-9
A disciple withstands difficulties to please His
Master (Isaiah 505-9)

• 1. Our Heart Commitment (505)
• 2. Our Choice to Serve (Isaiah 506)
• 3. Our Trust in God (507)
• 4. Our Victory over Bitterness (Isaiah 508-9)

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5 Points to be a Good Discipler

• A.) The Training of the Disciple A disciple
  is a learner.
• B.) The Purpose of the Disciple A disciple
  serves others.
• C.) The Discipline of the Disciple A disciple
  regularly communes with God.
• D.) The Attention of the Disciple A disciple
  attentively listens and obeys God.
• E.) The Resolve of the Disciple A
  disciple withstands difficulties to please His
  Master.

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Summary of Isaiah 504-9
God preoccupies the life of a good disciple. The
disciple is shaped by God to carry out Gods will
on earth.
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Still afraid of Discipling?

• We are not perfect models but we get to be more
  like our Father as we go along in life.
• We get to be more like Him when we spend
  quality time with Him and share His purposes.

The best teacher is the best learner!