There’s no way to sneak up on the subject of my letter this month, so I’m just going to hit it head-on. I want to talk to you about discipleship. I know this isn’t always a favorite topic, but that’s because it’s often misunderstood. Yet it’s really what the body of Christ needs. We need to become disciples, learners of Jesus. If believers could understand this, I guarantee it would transform their lives. If they were disciples, they wouldn’t be having the problems they’re having. There are people trying to receive from God and get set free in some area, yet they aren’t disciples.
Look at John 8:31-32:
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; [32] And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.Right there, Jesus said that there are people who believe on Him but aren’t disciples. To be a disciple “indeed,” or a true disciple, Jesus said that you have to continue in His Word. And then He talked about knowing the truth. You’ll often hear people say that the truth will make you free, but it’s only the truth you know that makes you free. And it’s only when you continue in the Word that you become a disciple.
Matthew 28:19-20 contains the Great Commission, some of the last words that Jesus spoke before He was caught up into heaven:
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. [Emphasis mine]
But you know what? You received knowledge through that discipline. And that knowledge empowered you. It did then and it does now. Knowledge gives you the ability to do things that you couldn’t do if you didn’t know the truth. It’s what actually sets you free. So, if you’re sick, poor, scared, depressed, or discouraged, you have a knowledge problem. You are not a disciple. Discipleship frees you.
I know this may be offensive to some, but if there is some area of your life where you aren’t free, it’s because you haven’t truly learned the right things about the Father. For instance, 2 Peter 1:2 says,
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.
Everything I’m saying is scripture, yet most Christians don’t know this because they aren’t disciples. They spend all their time asking God to bless, heal, and prosper them when He’s already done it. They do this because they haven’t shown up for class. They haven’t renewed their minds.
New thoughts and attitudes are not just downloaded when we are born again. Although our spirits are born of God, our minds have to be reprogrammed, which is the process of discipleship. Romans 12:2 says, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Because many believers aren’t disciples and haven’t renewed their minds, they still have values and attitudes that are of the devil. As a result, they have trouble receiving from God and getting set free.
That brings me to another point, which I’ve made before: the reason the church has not made the impact that it should be making is that we’ve put the importance on getting people born again and not on making disciples. Because of this, very few people come to understand the true things of God. Very few people continue in the Word until they get free. But Jesus told us to go make disciples, “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:20). Teaching a person all the things that Jesus commanded is just as important as telling them about their initial salvation. That’s a radical statement, but it is absolutely true.
I’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg in this letter. This is huge! God wants us to grow up. He wants us to be disciples. I expound on this in my brand-new teaching called Discipleship: The Path to Freedom. It is part of our Destiny Package, which includes The Complete Discipleship Evangelism 48-Lesson Course study guide, Destiny Stories, Volume 1 and Volume 2 DVDs, and the Grace Encounters DVD. You can get this by going to our website: www.awme.net, calling our Helpline: +44 (0)1922 473 300, or returning the enclosed order form.
Jamie and I love you, and we desire for you to know the truth, because the truth really will set you free!

Discipleship: The Path To Freedom
Andrew shares what it takes to become a disciple, what abiding in the Word looks like, how to triumph through hardship, and much more!
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