Partnership – Essential for Spiritual Renewal
What does partnership have to do with spiritual renewal?
Spiritual renewal is both an individual and a group experience. Following Jesus is never a solo experience. Biblically, we do this together. This is demonstrated repeatedly in God’s Word. Jesus had his disciples partner with one another. Paul partnered with Barnabas, then Silas, Timothy and others.
Discipleship is accomplished in the context of partnership – working together. And being a disciple embraces the other elements we have previously discussed that are essential to spiritual renewal.
This work starts here
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)
Here is our great calling – our commission!
What is a disciple?
A disciple is a learner. A life of learning how we are to live is the basis for our spiritual growth. A disciple in this context is a follower of Jesus, which means we are striving to be like our teacher in every way. We are committed to the work, teaching and lifestyle of Jesus. It means we are showing compassion, proclaiming the teaching of the Kingdom of God and making new disciples.
Our commission, what Jesus told us to do, then is two-fold: to be a disciple – continually and to make disciples.
The building of our partnership – discipleship
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:10–15 (ESV)
The foundation of discipleship is the gospel of Jesus Christ – his death and resurrection and repentance for eternal life.
The building of discipleship is the teaching of Jesus and the Apostles. So we pay attention to all Jesus taught, the word of God as recorded in the Old and New Testaments. It even extends to the word of God as revealed through the prophetic voice. But we must be very careful here!
How we are building is very important!
The disciple’s life
The call
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:18–20 (ESV)
Jesus repeated this call many times during his ministry. The call is simple and can be understood by anyone. It is profound – far reaching, encompassing every aspect of our lives. The call is also costly (keep reading), universal, that is, it’s for everyone. Above all, it is transformational. It totally changes the lives of those who answer the call and the lives of those around them.
The cost
It is foolish to consider the call to be a disciple without regard to the cost of being a disciple. Jesus was very explicit about the cost. And we must be as well.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:23–26 (ESV)
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57–60 (ESV)
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:37 (ESV)
The cost, then, is a daily death to self, willingness to do without, denial of family attachment and the absolute supremacy of Jesus in daily life.
To die to self means simply to stop putting ourselves first in our decisions and attitudes and actions. We must be willing to do without the comforts of life if that is what is required. Family attachments, too, must be severed if they keep us from following Jesus. This seems like a high cost.
But the reward
Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. Mark 10:29–30 (ESV)
Whatever we seem to lose in following Jesus is rewarded with a hundredfold reward in this life – and eternal life! Persecutions are included.
A warning
We pause here to consider a word of rebuke.
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food. Hebrews 5:11–12 (ESV)
Every rebuke in God’s Word must be taken very seriously
We have a major problem in the church today – very shallow believers! This means we have many who fall away. We haven’t discipled well, and we haven’t lived well! How we live our lives is an essential part of effective discipleship.
How are we to live?
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42 (ESV)
One characteristic – they devoted themselves – put everything else aside – made this the priority of their lives. There were four emphases or activities: the apostles teaching, fellowship – biblically consisting of spiritual conversations – something we struggle with, breaking of bread (worship or fellowship or both) and prayer.
We need to evaluate our lives to see how we measure up to this high standard.
Two levels of discipleship
Because of how God works in the world we can experience two levels of discipleship. First, individually, by Jesus. This is something we should all continually participate in. We do this through prayer and the word. This passage is a good reminder.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)
As we read and study the Bible, we must remember that we are to be experiencing what God has for us: teaching us, rebuking us for contrary thoughts and behaviors, correcting our misconceptions and mistakes and training in righteousness – how we are to practically live out God’s will.
The second way we are discipled is by another believer, either individually or in a group. Everyone of us should continually participate in this, both as a disciple and a disciple maker. This can be done formally or informally. It happens in a teaching environment and also in daily life.
Four basics of partnership
We disciple in partnership by example. Our lives are on display for others to emulate. How do we live? Are our lives worthy to be followed? It is essential that we are following Jesus closely for this to make a difference.
We disciple intentionally. Discipleship is not accidental or random. It is essential that we be engaged as a matter of lifestyle, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
We begin discipleship in our own families. Partnering with spouse, siblings, children we are to encourage one another to follow Jesus.
We disciple with two goals. The first goal is to make disciples who can make disciples (2 Timothy 2:2). The second goal is a personal goal, for example a specific person or group God has called you to.
Three essential elements of discipleship
There are three essentials that become part of a comprehensive partnership in spiritual growth. The first essential is to teach. Teaching includes prayer, Bible reading and study. This time of devotion powers spiritual renewal and growth.
The second element is the live like Jesus. Paul said:
I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 1 Corinthians 4:16 (ESV)
We are to live like Jesus and we ought to be able to say the same thing as he did. Our Christlike lives reflect the powerful, gracious work of God in our lives.
The third element is to share. When we receive insights and hear prophetic words, we share them with one another. These things are then tested by those who are discerning to confirm them as coming from God. He guides us in this exercise.
Three essential disciplines of discipleship
Now, we summarize. There are three important disciplines.
First, daily prayer. We continually surrender in prayer, ask for insight transformation and power.
Second, we spend much time in God’s word. One thing I have found useful for occasional renewal of love for God’s word is to buy a new Bible. When you open your Bible, read it, study it, meditate on it – don’t rush your Bible time!
Third, we must worship. Our worship is daily and weekly; it is alone with God and in company with God’s family. Jesus told us that we must worship in spirit and in truth.
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