Your Second Step Of Discipleship

In 'Your First Step' of discipleship, you made the choice to commit to developing a "personal, passionate devotion to a Person— our Lord Jesus Christ...to be a devoted bondservant motivated by love for the Lord Jesus". In addition, you made the choice to genuinely put this commitment before all other interests and desires including love of family, work and even your own life.

These are the clear and unmistakeable terms Jesus has given us for becoming his disciples.

To what extent are you pondering: "I want to be a disciple, but how on earth am I going to fulfill Jesus' terms?"

That answer is Your Second Step Of Discipleship, and is given to us, in part, through the following Bible verses:

John 14: 25-26: “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you".

Acts 1: 4-9: "On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”

Acts 8: 15-18: "When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."

Select 'Successful' when you are finished reading the verses.

Jesus says of the Holy Spirit:

a) "the gift my Father promised"
b) "will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you"
c) "you will receive power"
d) "you will be my witnesses"
e) "Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit"

The Holy Spirt is the third person of the Trinity. He is a gift that we receive from God the Father. When we receive this gift we are given knowledge of Jesus-we can understand his word and hear his voice. Finally, we are given the power to love and obey Jesus. It is only from the power and love given to us through the Holy Spirit that we are able to become witnesses and disciples of Jesus Christ.

In general, how aligned are you with this basic description of the Holy Spirit?

Oswald Chambers states:

"No one on earth has this passionate love for the Lord Jesus unless the Holy Spirit has given it to him. We may admire, respect, and revere Him, but we cannot love Him on our own. The only One who truly loves the Lord Jesus is the Holy Spirit, and it is He who has “poured out in our hearts” the very “love of God” (Romans 5:5). Whenever the Holy Spirit sees an opportunity to glorify Jesus through you, He will take your entire being and set you ablaze with glowing devotion to Jesus Christ." (Note: to read more of Oswald Chambers observations on the Holy Spirit, go to 'DOCUMENTS').

It's now time to put this information into practice. Would you like to ask the Holy Spirit to give you an opportunity to glorify Jesus right now?

When you are ready, get quiet and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one action that will bring you closer to being a disciple of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Write down any revelation you receive in the space provided.

If you heard from the Hoy Spirit, select 'Successful', then SKIP FOWARD to Step 8.

If you did not hear from the Holy Spirit and/or are not sure that you have received him, select 'Unsuccessful' and proceed to Step 7. For those who truly want to receive the Holy Spirt, Step 7 will offer some guidance.

While the Bible offers no clear formula for receiving the Holy Spirit, here are a few practical suggestions:

a) Ask your friends in Christ if they have received the Holy Spirit. If they have, and you trust them, ask them to get together with you and pray that you receive Him.
b) Go to 'DOCUMENTS' and read Oswald Chambers insights on the Holy Spirit.
c) Find a church that believes in the baptism of the Holy Spirit and ask the pastor to pray with you.
d) If you're ready, pray and ask God to baptize you in the Holy Spirit right now.

In Jeremiah 29:13 God tells us: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Give yourself time to pursue and receive Him. You will find Him; the only condition is that you seek Him with all your heart.

Because receiving the Holy Spirt is essential to becoming a disciple, we suggest following through on this Step, then return to this course after you have received him.

Select 'Willing' if you are committed to doing this Step, then click the 'Save and Continue' button to save your responses.

Choose one friend in Christ and tell them the action you chose in Step 5. Also, give them a clear timeframe when you will complete that action.

Select 'Successful' after you have chosen the action and the person.

(Note: you can use the 'SHARE' feature to connect privately with your friend.)

Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to give you the strength, wisdom and fortitude to complete your task.

Select 'Successful' when you have finished your prayer.

Tomorrow, 'Your Third Step' of discipleship will appear on your Day Plan.

See you back on the Trail then!