The Power of Discipleship III

Rev Peter Tsukahira
24-08-2019

This last session is about the power of discipleship.

Faith begins by asking the question, "Who is God?" This is the basic of discipleship. "What are the scriptures? How to worship?"

The next question is "Who does God say that I am?"

We want our faith to lead us to Him. If God created everything and me, then what is the plan? Who am I to Him?

Once you've settled the identity issue, then the power begins to grow. The problems are not part of your plan and identify. You are not responsible.

As soon as we walk that road, we find ourselves coming out of the crowd like the Apostles did. And you will realise that you are different from everybody else because you are absolutely unique. Never be afraid to do it different or be different from anyone else. Embrace your own uniqueness before God. No one else is going to be able to answer God for you and you cannot live someone else's life for them. In the end, you are going to give account for your life and you want to be an example for someone else.

Genesis 12:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
2 And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so [a]you shall be a blessing;

The initial call for Abraham was to be completely unique. He accepted it. And he had to walk alone. From him came a nation. And Israel has had that unique calling, alone.

Romans 11:28-29 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
28 [a]From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but [b]from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

In obedience or disobedience, God doesn't change His love for Israel. In obedience they became a shining light. In disobedience they were chastised but still became an example. God has kept His promise and has never withdrawn His gifts.

The Nobel prize is awarded annually to recognise human achievements. Since 1895, Jewish people have won over 20 percent of the prize. That's 11,000 percent above average based on size of population.

When we accept the path of God's choosing and serve our Creator who designed us before we were born, we must be rooted in God's identity and embrace it. Then you have power and authority. You become the head and not the tail. The end result is we bring the kingdom of God to the world. As spiritual leaders, we need to look into the eye of the people in our sphere of influence to equip them and make them fruitful. We become a factory that produces quality output - and this quality output is discipled lives. We win the battle by the grace of God.

Start with one. Then each one makes another one. Mass evangelism doesn't change the world. But if you start deliberately making disciples, you end up numerically strong and they continue making disciples.

Genesis 37:2-5 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
2 These are the records of the generations of Jacob.

Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a [a]varicolored tunic. 4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him [b]on friendly terms.

5 Then Joseph [c]had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.

Joseph was Jacob's favourite son. He was one of the youngest. His brothers were years older than him. In his own eyes, his brothers were heroes. His family was his life. He wanted them to treat him as an equal. That's why he told them the dream. And they hated him. They responded with resentment and hatred. It wasn't "Oh Joseph, that's so cool!" They sold him to traders and this chosen young man became a stranger in a strange land and a slave. He lost his rights.

We give to Jesus our rights. We want His opinion, His thought, His desire. We become a servant of the Lord. We come to the cross.

Joseph became a slave in an unjust place. That's where his calling and gift began to emerge. This young man had the gift of administration. He became the head of Potiphar's entire household. Potiphar's wife made advances. But there's something about God's DNA in him. He ran from her. She falsely accused him and he went to prison as a sexual offender. There's no way out now for him. 

But God has chosen Joseph. The chief of the prison put him in charge of all the prisoners. He was 17 when he was betrayed by his brothers. He was 30 when he faced the Pharaoh. He learned to serve. He learned humility. He learned to love justice. He learned to seek mercy. He learned the value of hope. He passed it on to people he spent time with. He was called to be a disciple to run an empire. God chose him to be a biblical example to every one of us. In Joseph's case, it was administration. He also knew how to interpret dreams. And the Hebrew slave interpreted the Pharaoh's dreams. He's a disciple by the time he stood before the Pharaoh.

Genesis 41 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Pharaoh’s Dream
41 Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile. 2 And lo, from the Nile there came up seven cows, sleek and [a]fat; and they grazed in the marsh grass. 3 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and [b]gaunt, and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 The ugly and [c]gaunt cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke. 5 He fell asleep and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven ears of grain came up on a single stalk, plump and good. 6 Then behold, seven ears, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. 7 The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 Now in the morning his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the [d]magicians of Egypt, and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his [e]dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

9 Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, “I would make mention today of my own [f]offenses. 10 Pharaoh was furious with his servants, and he put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, both me and the chief baker. 11 We had a dream [g]on the same night, [h]he and I; each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. 12 Now a Hebrew youth was with us there, a servant of the captain of the bodyguard, and we related them to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us. To each one he interpreted according to his own dream. 13 And just as he interpreted for us, so it happened; he restored me in my [i]office, but he hanged him.”

Joseph Interprets
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came to Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it; and I have heard [j]it said about you, that [k]when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, “[l]It is not in me; God will [m]give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” 17 So Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, “In my dream, behold, I was standing on the bank of the Nile; 18 and behold, seven cows, [n]fat and sleek came up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the marsh grass. 19 Lo, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and [o]gaunt, such as I had never seen for [p]ugliness in all the land of Egypt; 20 and the lean and [q]ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows. 21 Yet when they had [r]devoured them, it could not be [s]detected that they had [t]devoured them, [u]for they were just as ugly as [v]before. Then I awoke. 22 I saw also in my dream, and behold, seven ears, full and good, came up on a single stalk; 23 and lo, seven ears, withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them; 24 and the thin ears swallowed the seven good ears. Then I told it to the [w]magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

25 Now Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s [x]dreams are one and the same; God has told to Pharaoh what He is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years; the [y]dreams are one and the same. 27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind will be seven years of famine. 28 [z]It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh: God has shown to Pharaoh what He is about to do. 29 Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming in all the land of Egypt; 30 and after them seven years of famine will [aa]come, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine will [ab]ravage the land. 31 So the abundance will be unknown in the land because of that subsequent famine; for it will be very severe. 32 Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about. 33 Now let Pharaoh look for a man discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh take action to appoint overseers [ac]in charge of the land, and let him exact a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance. 35 Then let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh’s authority, and let them guard it. 36 Let the food become as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land will not perish during the famine.”

37 Now the [ad]proposal seemed good [ae]to Pharaoh and [af]to all his servants.

Joseph Is Made a Ruler of Egypt
38 Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?” 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and according to your [ag]command all my people shall [ah]do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you.” 41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put the gold necklace around his neck. 43 He had him ride in [ai]his second chariot; and they proclaimed before him, “[aj]Bow the knee!” And he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Though I am Pharaoh, yet without [ak]your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 Then Pharaoh named Joseph [al]Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of [am]On, as his wife. And Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt.

46 Now Joseph was thirty years old when he [an]stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven years of plenty the land brought forth [ao]abundantly. 48 So he gathered all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt and placed the food in the cities; he placed in every city the food from its own surrounding fields. 49 Thus Joseph stored up grain [ap]in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until he stopped [aq]measuring it, for it was [ar]beyond measure.

Genesis 45 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Joseph Deals Kindly with His Brothers
45 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried, “Have everyone go out from me.” So there [a]was no man with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 He [b]wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard of it. 3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come [c]closer to me.” And they came [d]closer. And he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 Now do not be grieved or angry [e]with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great [f]deliverance. 8 Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. 10 You shall [g]live in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children and your flocks and your herds and all that you have. 11 There I will also provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, and you and your household and all that you have would be impoverished.”’ 12 Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth which is speaking to you. 13 Now you must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt, and all that you have seen; and you must hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 He kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him.

16 Now when the [h]news was heard in Pharaoh’s house [i]that Joseph’s brothers had come, it [j]pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and [k]go to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you the [l]best of the land of Egypt and you will eat the fat of the land.’ 19 Now you are ordered, ‘Do this: [m]take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come. 20 Do not [n]concern yourselves with your goods, for the [o]best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons according to the [p]command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To [q]each of them he gave changes of garments, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. 23 To his father he sent [r]as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the [s]best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and sustenance for his father [t]on the journey.

24 So he sent his brothers away, and [u]as they departed, he said to them, “Do not [v]quarrel on the journey.” 25 Then they went up from Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. 26 They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” But [w]he was stunned, for he did not believe them. 27 When they told him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 Then Israel said, “It is enough; my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Joseph understood he was chosen for this. This was always God's plan and he had to ensure that it went forward.

We have to learn to use the gift to achieve the goals that God has for our lives. As men and women of integrity, God causes all things to work for good to those who love him and called according to His purposes. Now is the time for the church to disciple and to send. If we send them as disciples, we can change the world. We have the calling to be disciples and make disciples. When that happens, there will never be a lack of good people coming in.

RELATED:
BLINK THEOLOGY (ROMANS 9-11)

THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP (I)

THE PATH TO DISCIPLESHIP (II)

THE POWER OF DISCIPLESHIP (III)

THE SHAPE OF THE MOVEMENT OF GOD AND THE FOUNDATIONAL NATURE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD 

FINDING YOUR GIFT AND DESTINY IN GOD'S KINGDOM