Bother Michel Lankford
Becoming a Disciple of YHWH in Messiah Can Seem Overwhelming
- 40 authors
- 66 books
- 1,189 chapters
- About 2000 Commandments depending on how you combine or divide particular verses
- 7, 487 Promises from YHWH to humankind.
When you look at a Bible and consider being a disciple of YHWH and of Messiah who lives by the Word, it can seem like a pretty daunting task. However, when you think about it, being a disciple who lives by the Word is not really that overwhelming, (Deuteronomy 30:11-14). First, if your goal is to be an authentic disciple remember that YHWH provided His Son and the Holy Spirit with the expressed purpose that you would succeed, and that you would not fail.
Don’t try to do YHWH’s Job. Don’t Expect YHWH to Automatically Do the Things That He Says Are Your Job
If I had to summarize authentic discipleship in one principle, it would basically come down to this. Authentic discipleship comes down to learning to be obedient and faithful to the things that YHWH says are your responsibility; learn to be faithful in the things that you can do, and then trust YHWH to work in you and in your circumstances to accomplish the things that you honestly cannot do. Trust YHWH to do His job, while you faithfully learn to practice and do your job in the relationship. If you do that, you will succeed. You literally cannot do the Father’s job, and while the Father will help you to do your part, He will not entirely do the part of the relationship that He says is YOUR responsibility.
Learn to Master What you can Control. Trust YHWH to manage what you can’t Control. That is a Key To Discipleship.
In the broad categories, this is all that we can really control. This is what we are responsible for:
You Can Learn to Pray About EVERYTHING (Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 7:7-8; 1 Thes. 5:16-18; Phil. 4:6-8).
You Can Gradually and Progressively Learn the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:14-17; Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 119:11; Joshua 1:7-9).
You can Practice OBEYING Scripture (Psalm 119:9; James 1: 22-25; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 5:2-3; Romans 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:1-12).
You Can Learn to Persevere in Doing the Word (2 Thessalonians 3:13; Romans 5:1-5; James 1:2-4, 12; Hebrews 12:1-2; Galatians 6:7-10; 2 Thes. 1:4-5; 2 Peter 1:3-11; Rev. 2:2-3).
You can Practice Trusting YHWH for the things that you can not control, (Proverbs 3:1-6; Isaiah 43:1; Psalm 37:3-5; Psalm 25:3; Isaiah 49:23; Joel 2:27).
Beloved, I can promise you without fear of contradiction that if you will place your concerted effort and time into developing these five crucial habits which are entirely in your control, then you are absolutely GUARANTEED to succeed as a disciple. If you find that you are not succeeding as a disciple, then the extreme likelihood is that one of these five CRUCIAL habits is either weak or may be lacking entirely from your life.
So, are you progressing and thriving as a disciple, or are you struggling? Of these five habits which are your responsibility and are under your control, which is your strongest? Which of these habits can you see as your weakest, and the one that you need to improve the most?
May Abba YHWH richly bless you as you diligently push yourself to be faithful to grow in your responsibilities, even while you trust YHWH to do His Part.
Shabbat Shalom.
Brother R Michel Lankford