30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 14 25-33 The cost of discipleship 17 Life of Jesus to manifest through us
📖 Luke 14:25-33
08Jan2020 - *Life of Jesus to manifest through us* _Luke 14:25-33_ - Bible reading: _Luke 4:18-19_
We need a constant reminder that we cannot be Christ’ disciples by our own strength. We will fail miserably if we try to do so. Discipleship is a walk in the Holy Spirit.
We understood the first requirement to be a disciple of Christ, when Jesus said that we have to hate our loved ones. We then looked at the second requirement, which is to hate our life. The third requirement to be a disciple of Jesus is to deny the self. The fourth is to take up our cross daily. The fifth is to follow Him. The sixth requirement is to abide in Him or in His word. The seventh requirement is to bear much fruit. The eighth requirement to be a disciple of Jesus is to *love one another as He has loved us*.
Yesterday, we said that loving people is serving people, which is what Jesus demonstrated or manifested for us. How can we manifest the life of Jesus in and through us? _II Corinthians 4:10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body._
The secret is to always carry about in our body the death of Jesus. Be identified with Him in His death. We are being crucified with Christ, we no longer live. It is then that the miracle happens and the resurrected Jesus, lives from within us.
This is not only an individual experience but this is the very culture of the Church. _Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works._ Imagine the Church, as a whole, living out the life of Jesus.
The Nazarene manifesto is the mission of the Church. We can fulfil the manifesto because we have learnt the secret of loving people. _Luke 4:18-19 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR; HE HAS SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED; (19) TO PROCLAIM THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”_
Loving people is the basis for forgiving people. Forgiving people is an area that we struggle with. When we are experiencing the secret of loving people, (because we are always carrying about in our body the death of Jesus, so that His life manifests from us), we are able to forgive people. _Matthew 18:33-35 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' (34) And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. (35) "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."_
Ultimately, each of us, as His disciples, must be pouring our life into the life of His body, which is the Church. _Colossians 1:24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,_
*Thought to ponder*
```We, the Church, must repent that we have not loved and served people, to the extent to which, Jesus had made possible for us.```