A Disciple’s Character

Lk 6:40, “The disciple is not above his master: but everyone that is perfect shall be as his master”.  So, a disciple is going to be like Jesus Christ.  With a disciple’s character:

He’ll Have The Right Attitude, 37-38

He’s not a judger.  Jesus said in Jn 12:47, “I came not to judge the world, but to save the world”.  Today is the day of salvation.  The day of judgment comes later.  Save them, don’t judge them.

When you judge, Matt 7:1-2, you’ll be judged by the same judgment you judge.  Rom 2:1-2, wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doeth the same things.  1 Cor 4:3-5 ultimately God has to judge these things.  Now 1 Cor 5:3 some things are clearly stated in the scripture by which the Lord does want us to judge for the sake of the body.

He’s not a condemner.  Jn 3:17, “God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved”.  If you condemn those who are not like you, then you won’t try to reach them with the gospel.  Rom 2:3 you won’t escape the judgment of God when you condemn others.

He’s a forgiver.  Jesus said on the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”, Lk 23:34.  Stephen said, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge”, Acts 7:60.  Eph 4:32 we are to forgive because we have been forgiven already.

He’s a giver.  Jesus gave himself.  This principle has been proven many times by those who are faithful to give.  There are many verses like this, Prov 11:24-25; 13:7; 19:17, to name a few.

Notice, God uses men to give to you.  He measures by the same measure you use when he directs men to give to you in a time of need.  And he out-gives you because he presses it down, shakes it together, and lets it run over before you receive it.  God doesn’t intend for us to be reservoirs.  He intends for us to be streams.

He Won’t Be Blind, 39

Can the blind lead the blind? No.  Shall they not both fall into the ditch? Yes.  This was the problem with the Pharisees, Matt 15:14.  They could not see that Jesus was the Son of God.  They led the people to call for Jesus’s crucifixion.  In the end, the Pharisees and those that followed them were destroyed.  Disciples, on the other hand, are not blind.  They have godly vision.  They know Jesus is the Son of God.

He’ll See Clearly, 41-42

Before a disciple attempts to help a brother remove a mote (a small particle, a speck) in his eye, he will examine his own eye and remove the beam in it so that he can see clearly to pull out the mote.  He understands that what he can see in his brother’s life is more of a problem in his own life and so he deals with himself first.  This is the disciple’s humility.

He’ll Bring Forth Good Fruit, 43-45

There is a principal seen in nature.  Every tree is known by his fruit.  Good trees don’t bring forth corrupt fruit and corrupt trees don’t bring forth good fruit.  Thorns don’t produce figs and brambles don’t produce grapes.

Likewise, a good man out of a good heart brings forth that which is good.  And an evil man out of an evil heart brings forth that which is evil.  How can you tell?  “For of the abundance of his heart his mouth speaketh”.  Listen carefully to him.

He’ll Do What Jesus Says, 46-49

Jesus asks, “why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say”?  Calling him Lord doesn’t make you a disciple, Matt 7:21-23.  It doesn’t matter that you call him Lord and do many wonderful works.  If you don’t do the will of God, you’re not his disciple.

Jesus’s disciple hears and does what Jesus says.  He is like a man who builds his house on a deep rock.  When the flood arises and the stream beats vehemently upon it, the stream can’t shake it.  His house stands because it’s built on a solid rock.

The man who hears and doesn’t do what Jesus says is like a man who builds his house on the earth without a foundation.  When the stream beats vehemently upon it, it falls, and the ruin of that house is great.

Conclusion: The rising flood and vehement stream will come one day and your house will only stand if you, as a disciple, will hear and do what Jesus says.  You need a disciple’s character to stand.  A disciple’s character includes the right attitude, clear vision, humility, good fruit, and obedience.

To study the previous lesson, see Children of the Highest.