#discipleship
#dna #being #doing #life #deeds
Friday, July 19th, 2024
Podcast link: Listen to the most recent episode of my podcast: 3 Stories of Nduka Emily & Nemesis on Discipleship Life on Life DNA of Discipleship – BEING Vs Doing https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/otakada/episodes/3-Stories-of-Nduka-Emily–Nemesis-on-Discipleship-Life-on-Life-DNA-of-Discipleship—BEING-Vs-Doing-e2m7dmj
YouTube link:
https://youtu.be/Nqslnt7wZyc?si=CYMgwMHhersQlPog
3 Stories of Nduka, Emily and Nemesis on Discipleship Life on Life : DNA of Discipleship – BEING Vs DOING
Friends, whether we like it or not, discipleship life on life is happening even right now, where we are walking, working, sitting, standing and living DAILY!
Make no mistake about this. You are either making disciples for the kingdom of darkness or you are making disciples for the kingdom of light.
Just ask yourself, *”This decision or step am about to make or these thoughts I am entertaining, does this lead to light, which is unconditional love for God is love or does it lead to darkness, which is unconditional hatred, bitterness and exploitation? For the kingdom of darkness which is killing, stealing and destruction?”*
You must realize that any or every decision you make starts a chain ⛓️ reaction. Some, you will have control over, and for some, you will have no control over them. The reason is simple. There are stakeholders, or call them, interested parties that would like to see that the end result benefits their kingdom. Either for the expansion of the kingdom of darkness or for the kingdom of light.
Our motives matter more than the deeds itself. All our deeds originate from the heart ❤️. That is where God looks upon. If the DEED is for self praise or to be seen, we turn out to be hypocrites before we even deploy the DEED.
Hence, not every good deed is rewarded. Not every good deed leads to the expansion of the kingdom. The life that did the DEED matters to the overall outcome. Whether it benefits the cause of the kingdom of God or the cause of the kingdom of darkness.
Our lives matter both in secret and in the open. Both in the heart and in the physical. God does not just look at our good or bad deeds, He looks at our heart, our motives for doing the deed which is the root of our lives . Discipleship is life on life. I am being watched, I am being copied, consciously and subconscious as a leader and also as a follower as well. Everyone has a responsibility as to how we influence the cause of God and the cause of the kingdom of darkness. The fact that we have not sworn allegiance to the kingdom of darkness does not mean we are not part of them. The fact that we have sworn allegiance to the kingdom of God does not automatically qualify us to enter into the kingdom of God.
Let’s look at the sermon of the mountain given by Jesus Himself as recorded in
Matthew 7:13-29 MSG (and take notes!)
[13-14] “Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.
[15-20] “Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
[21-23] “Knowing the correct password—saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance—isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our super-spiritual projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’
[24-25] “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.
[26-27] “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”
[28-29] When Jesus concluded his address, the crowd burst into applause. They had never heard teaching like this. It was apparent that he was living everything he was saying—quite a contrast to their religion teachers! This was the best teaching they had ever heard.
*Question for you.*
What do you make of Jesus writing today and what we have discussed? Do you agree that you are already making disciples for God or for Satan?
What must you do differently going forward?
Your life matters. The way you live your life matters. Discipleship is life on life.
3 stories of Nduka, Emily and Nemesis on Discipleship Life on Life
Let’s look at three stories to drive home the point we are making today on the fact that discipleship is life on life and that it is already happening even as we are writing right now. This story feature Nduka, Emily and Nemesis
*Nduka’s Faithful Deceit*
In a bustling city, there lived a successful businessman named Nduka. He was known for his charm and his ability to make deals that seemed too good to be true. Many people in the city looked up to him as a Christian businessman, and he often spoke about his faith in his advertisements and public appearances.
However, behind the scenes, Nduka was not the man he appeared to be. He was a master manipulator, always looking for ways to increase his profits, even if it meant taking advantage of his customers and employees. He would promise them the world and deliver nothing but empty promises.
Despite his questionable business practices, Nduka’s customers continued to flock to his store. They wanted to support a Christian businessman, and they trusted him to do the right thing. But as time went on, more and more customers began to notice that something was not quite right.
One day, a group of employees decided to speak out against Nduka’s practices. They had been watching him for years, and they knew that he was not the man he pretended to be. They gathered evidence of his manipulation and deception, and they presented it to the public.
The community was shocked and outraged. How could a Christian businessman be engaging in such practices? The employees who had spoken out were ostracized and threatened, but they knew that they had done the right thing.
As the truth about Nduka’s business practices came to light, his customers began to distance themselves from him. His reputation was tarnished, and his business began to suffer.
But even as his empire crumbled, Nduka refused to repent. He continued to claim that he was a Christian, and he continued to use his faith to manipulate those around him.
In the end, Nduka’s story served as a cautionary tale. It showed that even those who appear to be the most pious and righteous can be capable of great deceit. It also showed that true discipleship is not just about professing faith, but about living it out in every aspect of our lives. And that we can be doing the wrong thing and be blindfolded by them.
The unfortunate development to this story was that one of the employee who blew the whistle on his former boss also started his own business and began to replicate the same manipulative practices just like in his former boss’s business. Discipleship was already taking place without them knowing despite the resentment they displayed towards the former boss. Let him who thinks he is standing be careful lest he falls as well.
*Emily favoritism began the beginning of the end of her ministry*
Emily, the pastor of the local church assembly, stood at the pulpit, surveying the congregation before her. She had a reputation for being a fair and just leader, but some members of the church had begun to notice a disturbing trend. Emily seemed to treat her members differently, based on their social status.
The Smiths, one of the wealthiest families in the congregation, were always given preferential treatment. They were seated in the front pew, and Emily made a point to visit with them after every service. She would often invite them to exclusive gatherings and events, and they were always the first to be called upon when the church needed volunteers for important projects.
On the other hand, the Wilsons, a struggling single mother and her children, were often overlooked. They were seated in the back pew, and Emily rarely took the time to speak with them or acknowledge their presence. They were always last to be called upon for volunteer work, and they often felt like they were an afterthought.
As the weeks went by, more and more members of the church began to notice the disparity in treatment. They started to whisper to each other about Emily’s favoritism, and soon enough, the rumors spread throughout the congregation. Some members began to feel uncomfortable and embarrassed to be part of a church that seemed to value wealth and status over compassion and kindness.
One day, a small group of disgruntled members approached Emily after a service. They politely but firmly expressed their concerns, asking her why she seemed to favor certain members over others. Emily was taken aback, and for a moment, she seemed unsure of how to respond. Then, her expression changed, and she launched into a passionate defense of her actions.
“I’m not being unfair,” she insisted. “I’m simply recognizing the important contributions that certain members make to the church. The Smiths are pillars of the community, and they have a deep understanding of the church’s values. They are willing to give their time and resources to help us grow and prosper.”
The members looked at each other in confusion. They had never thought of the church as a business, but Emily seemed to be treating it as such. They left the meeting feeling frustrated and disillusioned, wondering if this was truly the kind of church they wanted to be a part of.
As the weeks went by, more and more members began to leave the church, feeling that Emily’s values were not in line with their own. They started their own churches, replicating the same values and practices that Emily had instilled in the original congregation. And as they did, the church Emily once led began to fade away, a testament to the power of favoritism and the importance of treating all members with kindness and respect. Unknown to Emily, she was already making disciples but on the negative paradigm.
*Nemesis the Christian School Proprietress*
Nemesis was the proprietress of a prestigious Christian school, known for its high standards and commitment to excellence. She was a woman of strong faith and conviction, and she instilled these values in her students and teachers alike. However, behind the scenes, Nemesis had a secret. She believed that excellence was not just about academic achievement, but also about helping her students in any way she could to succeed.
This meant that she often gave her teachers subtle hints and nudges to help their students during examinations. She would remind them of key concepts and formulas, or even provide them with practice questions to review. All of this was done under the guise of “Christian charity” and “modeling Christ-like behavior.”
But not everyone was fooled. Some of the teachers at the school were disgruntled and resentful of Nemesis’ meddling. They felt that she was undermining their authority and putting their jobs at risk. These teachers began to leave the school, one by one, and start their own competing institutions.
As the years went by, Nemesis’ school continued to thrive, but the number of teachers and students began to dwindle. The disgruntled former teachers, now armed with the knowledge and expertise they had gained from Nemesis, began to replicate her methods at their new schools. Soon, they were churning out students who were ill equipped to handle life challenges.
But Nemesis was not deterred. She knew that her true purpose was to help her students and serve the Lord, and she continued to do so, even as her school declined in popularity. And though her methods were unconventional and her motives were often misconstrued, she knew that she had made a difference in the lives of countless young people.
*REFLECTING*
You can see from these 3 stories on Nduka, Emily and Nemesis that discipleship in the name of Christ is happening but from a completely different kingdom.
Reflect again on Jesus message to us today in Matthew 7:13-29 and make a decision to be the light and the salt wherever God places you as you reflect Him life on life in Jesus name Amen. Remember, you are already making disciples whether you like it or not.
Question for you. Why do you think these people observing negative attributes end up replicating what they experienced? Let’s discuss!
Shalom.
Ambassador Monday O. OGBE
God’s Eagle Ministries GEM
Where we are seeding the Nations with God’s words and God is transforming lives through His timeless TRUTH One content at a time. We are One in Christ Jesus Let’s Stay ONE Evangelism Discipleship Counseling Healing Deliverance Restoration and Prayer without WALLS BORDERS and DENOMINATIONS!
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