From “Discipleship and Discipline”, by William H. Hicks, copyright March, 2005:

“The Responsibilities of Disciples

In Matthew 5: 16, Our Lord says, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  My pastor, W. McKinley Holloway, Jr., often points out that we disciples of Christ are the wicks, God’s Word is the spark that lights our fire, and the Holy Spirit is the fuel, the oil that keeps us burning.  Paul, in his writings to his spiritual son, Timothy, delineated the responsibilities of disciples of Christ.  The first responsibility we agree to accept is prayerful intercession.  I Timothy 2: 1 – 4 says, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  Thus, prayerful intercession is an essential ingredient in the process of being and making disciples.  Disciples are charged to “pray for those who persecute you, in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven;” (Matthew 5: 44b – 45a), and to “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5: 17).”