BRANDED DISCIPLES

1. A DISCIPLE is a FOLLOWER learning to become as his Master, “The DISCIPLE IS NOT ABOVE HIS MASTER: but every ONE that is PERFECT SHALL BE AS HIS MASTER” [Luke 6:40] If the leader is not PERFECT, the best of his FOLLOWERS are BRANDED DISCIPLES, labeled after the manner of his IMPERFECTIONS. PERFECTION is synonymous with ETERNAL LIFE, the LIFE of God, as revealed to us in Jesus Christ, “And we know that the SON OF GOD IS COME, and hath GIVEN US AN UNDERSTANDING, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the TRUE GOD, and ETERNAL LIFE” [1 John 5:20] God was manifest in Jesus Christ to REDEEM and RESTORE us to Himself; this is the infallible TRUTH and not a few struggle to comprehend, “To wit, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath COMMITTED UNTO US THE WORD OF RECONCILIATION” [2 Corinthians 5:19] We are not Christ’s FOLLOWERS on account of Church membership, we are His DISCIPLES because we BELIEVE He is the CHRIST, God revealed [Luke 9:20] We have His authority to go all over the world and MAKE DISCIPLES after His LIKENESS “Go therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” [Matthew 28:19 NKJV]

2. In MAKING DISCIPLES we are as a man casting a line and with a BAIT. BAIT here, indicate a PROMISE that provokes an EXPECTATION to draw attention. Undoubtedly, there are as many PROMISES and EXPECTATIONS in the world as there are men but ONE PROMISE swallows all, the PROMISE of God to give ETERNAL LIFE to those who come to Him through Jesus Christ, “And this is the PROMISE THAT HE HATH PROMISED US, even ETERNAL LIFE. These things have I written unto you concerning THEM THAT SEDUCE YOU” [1 John 2:25-26] The GOSPEL we preach is the PROMISE of ETERNAL LIFE and our EXPECTATIONS are way higher and far above what this world offers, “… EYE HATH NOT SEEN, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the THINGS which GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM” [1 Corinthians 2:9] Truth be told, His PROMISE does not preclude us from inconsistencies and instabilities of the present world. Our MASTER, Lord Jesus Christ, “SUFFERED” the same to hand us victory, “Though he were a SON, yet LEARNED HE OBEDIENCE by the things which HE SUFFERED” [Hebrews 5:8] The DISCIPLE is not greater than his MASTER, we cannot attain Christ’s PERFECTION if we deny FELLOWSHIP of His SUFFERING, “That I may KNOW HIM, and the power of HIS RESURRECTION, and the FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS, being made conformable unto his death” [Philippians 3:10]

3. In raising DISCIPLES, it is prudent to balance PROMISE and EXPECTATIONS with inherent CHALLENGES, “And ye shall be HATED OF ALL MEN for my name’s sake: but he that shall ENDURE UNTO THE END, the SAME SHALL BE SAVED” [Mark 13:13] This is more important today than ever, by reason of some who make bold profession of God’s PROMISE with false EXPECTATIONS, “For when they speak great swelling WORDS OF VANITY, they allure through the LUSTS OF THE FLESH, through much wantonness, … While they PROMISE THEM LIBERTY, they themselves are the SERVANTS OF CORRUPTION: for OF WHOM A MAN IS OVERCOME, of the SAME IS HE BROUGHT IN BONDAGE” [2 Peter 2:18-19] They attract FOLLOWERS with PROMISES contrary to PRESENT TRUTH, replacing WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE with WORDS OF VANITY [John 6:68] Those who follow their pernicious WAYS and the WAYS are many, are easily identified; BRANDED replicas of their MASTER’S pretensions, “Ye shall KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” [Matthew 7:16] MASTERS are not hard to find, they are as TREES under which many sit to LEARN and there are many TREES, each one with its distinctive TRADEMARK. Look for the DISCIPLES they nurtured through the years and see how TRADEMARK has turned to FRANCHISE, “… HYPOCRITES! for ye compass sea and land to make one PROSELYTE, and when he is made, ye make him TWOFOLD MORE THE CHILD OF HELL THAN YOURSELVES” [Matthew 23:15]

4. It is no coincidence, there were four bands of BRANDED DISCIPLES in time of Jesus as today. DISCIPLES of SADDUCEES believed there was no resurrection of the dead [Luke 20:27] They spent their time running RAT RACE of earthly riches as some do today, “… destitute of the truth, SUPPOSING THAT GAIN IS GODLINESS: from such withdraw thyself” [1 Timothy 6:5] HERODIANS and their DISCIPLES were politicians in religious robes, same as prayer contractors plying their craft to Governors and Presidents [Acts 13:6-12] PHARISEES and their present-day DISCIPLES make their boast in SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS, “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I FAST twice in the week, I give TITHES of all that I possess” ]Luke 18:11-12] DISCIPLES of John and there are many so BRANDED today are as FOOLISH VIRGINS, unsure WHAT and WHO they BELIEVE, “And JOHN calling unto him two of HIS DISCIPLES sent them to Jesus, saying, ART THOU HE THAT SHOULD COME? or look we for another?” [Luke 7:19] Brethren, the appearance of the Lord is so close, when He shall separate BRANDED DISCIPLES and their MASTERS from His DISCIPLES. I charge every man to examine himself in CONFORMITY with Christ, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that he might be the FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN” [Romans 8:29]