-Discipline for Life
One can readily realize that the disciple’s training and maturing could turn out to be difficult to accomplish. Without God’s grace and the support of the Holy Spirit, one cannot succeed even at the preparatory stage. Let us underline that the principles and patterns one learns at the preparatory stage should remain constant factors in the disciple’s life and ministry. DISCIPLINE must never be looked upon as something preliminary or circumstantial because it constitutes the basis of all effective ministries. Meditation of God’s word, comprehensive and comparative study of Scriptures, fervent prayer and fasting, teaching, fellowship with the saints, praise and worship and good deeds are important activities which will contribute to help shaping, maintaining and to strengthening the disciple spiritually. Thusly trained, he will be ready to assume God’s assignment and accomplish God’s foreordained plan (1Cor.9:23-27; Rom.12:1-2; Heb.10:25; 2Cor.3:18).
C – DEALING WITH SATANIC OPPOSITION
Adversities and Persecutions orchestrated and released by Satan are direct results of all true commitment and real dedication to God’s service (John 16:33; 2Tim.3:12; Acts 9:15-16). One should remember that opposition and persecution from the enemy manifest themselves in different ways, especially through humans who are controlled and influenced by unclean or evil spirits (Job 1; 2Cor.12:7). Often enough, persecution will begin at home, in the midst of the disciple own family and close friends (Matt.10:32-38; John 7:2-7; 2Tim.3:8-12; 2Cor.4:1-18; 2Cor.11:23-33; 1Cor.15:30-32; 1Pet.4:16; 1Pet.5:8-10).
- The Good Fight of Faith
The disciples, whose lives and ministries glorify God, constitute prime targets for Satan’s persecution, which aims at stopping God’s testimony through these believers (1John 5:5-12). From sickness to fear of death, from doubt to dementia, from condemnation to persecution, Satan will try anything to achieve his goal, which is to destroy faith in the heart of the disciple. Since faith is God’s means to victory, the Devil’s strategy is a very clever and efficient one. This is why Christ’s disciple needs to be aware of the enemy’s schemes and must learn how to protect and hold on to his faith no matter what.
Though disciples are not fighting against flesh and blood, nonetheless they are in a real fight, called Spiritual Warfare or the Fight of Faith. It involves invisible spirit beings, which must be dealt with according to faith based upon God’s word (Eph.6:10-18; Lk.10:19).
When facing humiliation and shame, danger and harm, failure and calamity and all forms of persecution and affliction, the disciple must take courage and persevere in fulfilling God’s plan. He must focus on Jesus and his heart is to hold fast to God’s love manifested in his Son’s death on Calvary (2Cor.4:1-18; Jn.16:33; Mt.10:39; Lk.14:27-35; 2Tim.8-10; 1Cor.10:23-24; 1Pet.5:8-10; Rom.5:5-9; 5:17; Rom.8:37-39).
D-COURAGE, LONG SUFFERING, PATIENCE: Prerequisites for Discipleship
Courage is an important part of a disciple character. It takes courage to accept the new way of life in Christ. One has to reject what others cherish and discard what is important to family and close friends. Abstaining from idol worship, praying to the saints, or calling spirits will offend others, who consider these acts as being godly and beneficial. In addition, people get offended as believers abstain from activities considered normal by them (having sex and living together without marriage (fornication), drinking of alcohol (liquors), cigarette or pot smoking, drugs, party, etc). Opposing the world life style requires courage of the disciple (1Pet 3:13-17).
-Faithfulness in Training and in All Things
In ministry, the disciple labors daily before enjoying the fruit of his work. Longsuffering is a must and patience is needed to endure sorrows and pains, which could have been repressed. The faculty to suffer long without fainting enables God’s servant to hold on when most would be giving up saying: “that’s of no use, let’s quit”, as failure and bankruptcy seem certain (2Cor.11:23-28). If it is true that God establishes the ministry of those who are really faithful in their training, it’s also true that the crown of righteousness (God’s reward for service) will be presented to those who have been faithful in executing their godly assignment (1Tim.1:12; 2Tim.4:7-8; Heb.12:1-3; Heb.3:1-6; Phil.2:8-16; Gal.6:9-10). Keep in mind that this crown is neither given for quantity of works nor is it obtained by popularity contest. Faithfulness is the only basis for rewards.
Taking up the cross is in fact the ultimate reason for being Christ’s disciple (Mt.5:1-16). In taking the cross one becomes worthy of his master and of God’s Kingdom (Mt.10:38; Lk.9:62; Matt.11:32-33). Thusly, Christ is manifested and is able to convince others of his resurrection.
E – THE MARTYRS’ CALL: CARRYING THE CROSS, EVEN UNTO DEATH
It is important to note that in God’s service, physical death is at times an eventuality for a disciple. Many Christians have been killed and continue to be killed as a direct consequence of preaching the Gospel and for keeping their faith in Christ. If one dies because of his call, his death honors God and constitutes a cause for eternal glory (Matt.23:34; John 21:17-19). Numerous Christians gave their lives according to God’s will for the Gospel. Those martyrs made the ultimate sacrifice by choosing to be witnesses of Christ rather than denying their faith in him. They entered death not because of vainglory but because of love for God and their commitment to their King, the Lord Jesus Christ and to the Kingdom of God.
At the beginning of Christianity, believers experienced fierce persecutions mostly from the Jews, led by zealous Pharisees as Paul of Tarsus. Steven the first martyr of the Faith was stoned to death. Since then, many followed him in martyrdom. Apart from John the Revelator, history reports that all of the apostles of the Lamb, as well as Paul, died as martyrs. They held fast to their faith in Christ, even in the face of atrocious and painful death (1Cor.13:1-4; Acts 21:7-14; John 15:12-14; Phil.2:3-8).
At the time when the Roman Empire ruled the world, countless Christians perished simply because of their allegiance and faith in the person and the Gospel of Christ. In this pagan world and polytheistic society, disciples were viewed as deviants and outlaws regarding religion. Some were killed by the sword and others were eaten alive by wild beasts like tigers and lions in sporting events. Several were burned as human torch and many were offered up as holocausts to false Roman gods and goddesses.
