The Call to be a Disciple of Messiah Yahshua…

 

In our first segment on Real Discipleship we covered the Authority of Our Call. We uncovered a myth in Christianity concerning the alleged authority that the enemy possesses today. For either, “all authority” means “all” or Messiah has sent us on false pretense.

 

And we further unveiled that the term “authority” has in it’s meaning the legal right and jurisdiction upon which we have been commissioned to “go and make disciples of all nations or “ethnos” or “non-Jewish people groups” according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance G1484. Told to the Jewish followers of Messiah to fulfill their role in the nations.

 

However; that teaching is for another day…

 

As we move into the call to discipleship, we will look into the lives of the 1st disciples and we will apply this to our lives today. In Micah 4:5 we read, “For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of Yahweh our Elohim (the LORD our God) for ever and ever.” Literally “l’olam v’ad” meaning “continually without end.”

In the Hebraic culture this is called our “halakah” or our daily walk. It literally implies walking or going for we were not created as the trees or rocks that are stationary. No we have been given the ability and the authority to move about freely upon the earth in order. We are all going somewhere. The question is are we simply wandering aimlessly or are our steps ordered and purposed as we go?

Messiah gives us a warning concerning who we are following in Luke 6:39-40. A parallel passage to the Sermon on the Mount, yet not recorded in Matthew’s account. Messiah begins another parable and asks, “Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but everyone that is perfect shall be as his master.”

He then continues His teaching on removing what is obstructing our vision before we can remove the small splinter from our brother’s vision. As well as His teaching on good and bad trees or ways of living.

There are many men in history that have rallied people around themselves. Many who have led the masses into lives of blind discipleship. Many today still do the same. And all who follow them will find themselves in the ditch or pit together. Our call is to open the eyes of the blind! (Isaiah 42:7)

And we have been given warning upon warning about the false prophets who will be “on the scene” and we are not to follow them. (Deut 13:1-4, Jer 23:14-16) Even Messiah in Matthew 24 3 times warns of us not being deceived; verses 4-5, 11, and 24. This is paralleled in Mark 13:21-23.

The writers of the Brit Chadashah or New Testament continue to warn us to beware of who it is that we are following! Read Rom 16:17-18; Eph 5:6-11; Col 2:8-9 & 18-19; Heb 13:9; 2 Pet 2:1-3; and 1 Jn 4:1-4. These warnings should cause us to ask several questions.

Who are we following? Why are we following them? Where are they leading us? We must know the answer to these questions or we are like those who begin to build without first considering the costs. (Luke 14:28)

The same is true of our key characters in this teaching.

Andrew and another disciple of John the Baptist, perhaps John the beloved, were present as Messiah was declared to be the Lamb of God. (Jn 1:35-42) They knew who they were following, John the Baptist, the voice of one crying in the wilderness. And his testimony of Messiah was what compelled these 2 disciples to follow Yahshua.

But He had not called them yet. This is why He asked them, “what seek ye?” in verse 38. There answer was not to become your followers. No. They simply answered, “Where dwellest thou?”  They only wanted to know where He lived. His reply was, “Come and see.”

It was about 4 PM and they “abode with Him that day.” They did not begin following Him. They were not called to follow Him at that time. But during this time they were able to begin to learn about Him.

In fact, Andrew, we are told went and found his brother Simon Peter and told him that they had found the long awaited Messiah! Surely they were going to drop everything and follow Him right then and there. 

It is here that Messiah changes Simon’s name to “Cephas” or a stone. Still, they were mere “lookers” and not called to be Messiah’s Talmidim or disciples. Let’s take a look at Mark 1:14-20.

John the Baptist is placed into prison. Messiah begins to preach, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of Elohim (God) is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” In verse 16 Messiah is walking by the sea of Galilee and there He calls Simon and Andrew then He calls James and John (the beloved).

Their call is also recorded in Mt 4:18-22. And it is in Matthew’s gospel that their call is made clear, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Many people followed Messiah throughout His journeys as He walked upon the earth. Even as Messiah declared in Mt 20:16 and 22:!4, “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

There is a call for all men everywhere to repent. There is a call to repentance from dead works to serving the 1 True Living God! There was a time when Abba winked at man’s ignorance; but now He commands all men everywhere to repent. Yet there are few that  are chosen.

Chosen to life everlasting. Chosen to fulfill His purposes in this generation. Called from their mother’s womb and chosen or set apart for the work of the kingdom of God. Called out of darkness as a chosen vessel for His glory and honor.

Have you heard about this Messiah from another even as Andrew did from John the Baptist? Have you looked with curiosity upon the One Who is called Messiah? Have you, like Andrew and Simon simply returned to “life as you know it” without answering the call unto salvation?

The convicting power of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Ghost) right now is again calling you to repent and believe the Gospel! (Mk 1:15) He is calling you to repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out! Come unto Him and rest in the finished work of Messiah.

Even Messiah tells us in John 10:1-5 and 26-27 that His sheep hear His voice, and they follow Him. Has He called you? Are you following Him or another man? His ways or man’s tradition or religion? If He has called you, He tells us that those He calls follow Him.

The call to salvation brings about a radical, miraculous change in our lives. It is not gradual as many are teaching today. The Bible says, “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature or creation, old things are (not will be) passed away; behold or look and take notice, ALL things are become new. Literally all new things have come into being.

We will continue to look at Real Discipleship in the coming days and weeks. As we do, it is my prayer that we will all "walk even and He walked" knowing that we have been given such a high calling from the King of kings! This will lead us to the point of decision and commitment...so prepare your hearts and life for the harvest is truly plentiful and the laborers are few!

In Simple Obedience…We Go!
Evangelist Larry Walters
Apostle to the Peoples of India

Acts 26:16-18