Posted by Combining Christ-like Character with the Foundations of Christ’s Commands Transforms Disciples into Mighty Servants of God!
Jesus’ last command to His followers was to make disciples of all the nations. This is still His commission to anyone who wants to follow Him in obedience. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”
Did you notice that the basis of discipleship is teaching all the commands of Jesus? Discipleship can no longer be an elective of the church program, it must be the church program! Jesus spent three years giving all His commands to His followers, and if you are busy building your congregation, but failing to make disciples you are missing your calling and purpose for the church.
If you neglect Christ’s commands you will produce problems! Many commands Jesus gave were to a specific individual [Peter to walk on water, etc]. But, if you remove these and go through the gospels there are about 49 specific commands for all Christians to obey.
The first one helps us to humble ourselves and repent. The next one establishes priorities for our lives. The third command gives us the secret to overcome discouragement when we face trials and persecution. All the commands teach us how to live out a practical Christian lifestyle, which if ignored will create problems, defeat and discouragement.
Therefore, we all must learn what these commands are! Grow in grace through the Word of God!
| 1. | Matthew 4:17 | Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand | Humility |
| 2. | Matthew 4:19 | Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men | Meekness |
| 3. | Matthew 5:12 | Rejoice when you are reviled and persecuted | Joyfulness |
| 4. | Matthew 5:16 | Let your light shine before men so that they will glorify God | Generosity |
| 5. | Matthew 5:17-18 | Honor God’s Law until heaven and earth pass away | Love |
| 6. | Matthew 5:24-25 | First be reconciled to your brother, then offer your gift | Responsibility |
| 7. | Matthew 5:29-30 | Conquer lust to stop mental adultery | Self-Control |
| 8. | Matthew 5:37 | Keep your promises, for any deception comes from evil | Truthfulness |
| 9. | Matthew 5:39 | Do not resist evil; go the second mile | Deference |
| 10. | Matthew 5:44 | Love your enemies; bless those who curse you | Creativity |
| 11. | Matthew 5:48 | Be perfect as Your heavenly Father is perfect | Sincerity |
| 12. | Matthew 6:1-18 | Give, pray and fast secretly to receive open rewards | Faith |
| 13. | Matthew 6: 19-20 | Lay up treasures in heaven, not on earth | Thriftiness |
| 14. | Matthew 6:33 | Seek God’s kingdom first and all else | Initiative |
| 15. | Matthew 7:1 | Judge not in order to avoid being judged | Discernment |
| 16. | Matthew 7:6 | Do not cast your pearls before swine | Discretion |
| 17. | Matthew 7:7 | Ask and it shall be given to you, then seek and knock | Resourcefulness |
| 18. | Matthew 7:12 | Do to others what you want them to do to you | Sensitivity |
| 19. | Matthew 7:13 | Enter in at the straight gate rather than the wide | Decisiveness |
| 20. | Matthew 7:15 | Beware of false prophets, who appear like sheep | Alertness |
| 21. | Matthew 9:38 | Pray that the Lord will send forth laborers | Compassion |
| 22. | Matthew 10:16 | Be wise as serpents, harmless as doves | Wisdom |
| 23. | Matthew 10:28 | Do not fear those who can only kill the body, fear God | Boldness |
| 24. | Matthew 11:15 | Listen to God’s truth with spiritual ears | Attentiveness |
| 25. | Matthew 11:29 | Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me | Obedience |
| 26. | Matthew 15:4 | Honor your father and mother | Honor/Reverence |
| 27. | Matthew 16:6 | Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees | Virtue |
| 28. | Luke 9:23 | Deny yourself, take up your cross daily, follow Jesus | Determination |
| 29. | Matthew 18:10 | Despise not one of these little ones | Tolerance |
| 30. | Matthew 18:15 | Go to your offender and tell him his fault | Justice |
| 31. | Luke 12:15 | Take heed, and beware of covetousness | Contentment |
| 32. | Matthew 18:21-22 | Forgive your offender seventy times seven | Forgiveness |
| 33. | Matthew 19:6 | What God joins together, let no man put asunder | Loyalty |
| 34. | Matthew 20:26 | Whoever will be great, let him be a servant | Availability |
| 35. | Matthew 21:12 | Make My house a house of prayer | Persuasiveness |
| 36. | Matthew 21:21-22 | Whatever you ask, ask in faith, believing you will receive | Patience |
| 37. | Luke 14:12-13 | When you make a feast, invite the poor | Hospitality |
| 38. | Matthew 22:19-21 | Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s | Gratefulness |
| 39. | Matthew 22:37 | Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind | Enthusiasm |
| 40. | Matthew 22:39 | You shall love your neighbor as yourself | Gentleness |
| 41. | Matthew 23:3 | Obey the Pharisees’ ordinances, but do not copy their works | Cautiousness |
| 42. | Matthew 24:42-44 | Watch and be ready for the Lord’s return | Punctuality |
| 43. | Matthew 26:26-27 | Examine yourself, then partake of communion | Thoroughness |
| 44. | John 14:1 | Let not your heart be troubled; believe in Me | Security |
| 45. | John 14:15 | If you love Me, keep my commandments | Diligence |
| 46. | John 15:7 | Abide in Me, and let My words abide in you | Dependability |
| 47. | Matthew 26:41 | Watch and pray, that you do not enter into temptation | Endurance |
| 48. | Matthew 28:19-20 | Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations | Flexibility |
| 49. | John 20:22 | Receive the Holy Ghost, and be filled with power. | Orderliness |
There are serious problems in our churches today. Terrible immorality among members or leaders is no longer a shocking surprise. The divorce rate is higher in the church than the world. Contentions and church splits are routine!
Bigger churches are just bigger problems! Much of the world resists the church as ineffective, hypocritical, and a cheap copy of worldly entertainment.
Rewards of Discipleship
- God promises to reveal Himself
“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest [reveal] Myself to him.” John 14:21
- God will answer our prayers
“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” 1 John 3:22
- We will experience God’s constant love
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” John 15:10
- Love, not conflict, will prevail in our church
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.” 1 John 5:2