DISCIPLESHIP AND DISCIPLINE

BLOG ENTRY #7 January 27, 2012

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

“Now we must observe even more closely.  Once Rebekah has told her family about what has happened, the chief servant is invited into their home to partake of the family’s hospitality.  Rebekah’s relatives have taken care of the camels and brought water for Eliezer and his companions to wash their feet and refresh themselves (Gen. 24: 31 – 32).  It was in this manner that people showed that a person was welcome and indeed was held to be an honored guest in their house. Besides, this guy was obviously loaded.  They counted the camels in his caravan.  They saw the gifts he had given Rebekah! (Gen. 24: 30).  But the chief servant does a curious thing.  He says, “I will not eat until I have told my business.”  (Gen. 24: 33)

Most of us, if we had just spent all the time it took to travel halfway around the world to find this woman- the larger portion of that time spent bumping up and down on the back of a smelly, uncomfortable camel- we’ve found her, and now her family is going to throw a feast?!– We would have jumped at a home-cooked meal of some roast lamb with couscous and fresh baked pita bread!  In modern day terms, it’s as if we are on a business trip for the company and we have the company credit card.  We’ve just gotten off the plane after a seven hour flight across the country.  We can check into the very best hotel, into the nicest room, draw a hot bath, order room service and pamper ourselves.  Most of us would do- and have done- just that!  What does this hold for those of us who are well off, lacking no material thing?  It holds this: DISCIPLESHIP IS FOR THE RICH, TOO.  THEY JUST HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS WITH WHICH TO WRESTLE IN FULFILLING THEIR CALL TO BEING DISCIPLES.  IT ALL GETS BACK TO DENIAL OF SELF.  ⁹But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; ¹⁰and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. ¹¹For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.  James 1: 9 – 11.

The chief servant does not “do just that”. He recounts his mission to Rebekah’s family, the charge he received from his master, Abraham.  In verse 49, the chief servant says, “So now if you are going to deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, let me know, that I may turn to the right hand or the left.”  Notice that he says, “deal kindly and truly with my master”, not “with me”.  That observation shows two of the important characteristics or attributes of a disciple, devotion to one’s master and the discipline to delay gratification.  FOOTNOTE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED, M. SCOTT PECK, MD. The family’s response is to acknowledge that the matter is from the Lord, and they agree, saying “Behold, Rebekah is before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken. (v. 51)”   Once he has the family’s blessing, the chief servant brings out more gifts for Rebekah and her family; then he and his companions accept the hospitality of the house.”

BLOG ENTRY #6 DATE: January 27, 2012

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

“In Genesis 22, Abraham’s faith had been tested by God.  He directs Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on the mountains of Moriah.  Recall that Isaac is not Abraham’s only son.  Ishmael is Abraham’s son by Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant; yet, God has promised to “bless all nations” through Abraham’s son by Sarah, his wife (Genesis 17: 19, 21).  Upon hearing this promise, Abraham actually falls down and laughs (Genesis 17: 17) because of his circumstances- he and Sarah are old and Sarah is well beyond her fertile years.  Why didn’t Abraham attempt to substitute Ishmael for Isaac when he was commanded to sacrifice his son?   In Genesis 17: 18, Abraham had sought God’s blessings on Ishmael, so he obviously loved this son, too.  Why Isaac?  First, God specifically called for the sacrifice of Isaac, not Ishmael.  Second, Abraham had faith to follow God’s instructions and he believed that God could raise Isaac from the dead.  His (Abraham’s) task was obedience. The same value, the same standard of behavior demonstrated by Abraham is required of any disciple.  Obedience evidences that desire, that heartfelt adherence to one’s Teacher and His teaching that must characterize each of Christ’s disciples.  “Then I said, “Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me; I delight to do Thy will, O my God; Thy law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:7 – 8)”

In Genesis 24, Abraham is positioning himself to receive all God’s blessing.  Abraham charges his chief servant to return to the landof Abraham’s birth to find a wife for Isaac from among Abraham’s people.  Abraham does not want Isaac to marry a woman from among those in the midst of whom he is living.  The chief servant recognizes what an awesome responsibility he is being asked to assume. So, initially, he says, ‘suppose the woman doesn’t want to come back here to Canaanwith me’. ‘How about if I take Isaac with me’.  There are a few things going on here.  On one level, the chief servant may be implying, “Let me take Isaac along.  I don’t want to be responsible if I bring this woman back and Isaac thinks she’s a dog!”   On another level he may be thinking, suppose the woman says, “I’m not going anywhere with you to marry some guy I have never seen, I don’t care how rich you say he is!”   Abraham counters all these arguments by saying the landof Canaanon which they are living has been promised to Abraham and his descendants.  If Isaac leaves and goes back “home”, to the land of his father’s family, he may not return.  His relatives may convince Isaac that ‘he should be here among his own people’.  And, ultimately, Abraham calls upon his Teacher, El Shaddai, by saying to his servant, “the Lord will send His angel to assure the success of your mission on my behalf”.

Now, in those days, they had a curious way of sealing a covenant.  Abraham sat, presumably in some place symbolic of his authority, and the chief servant is asked to put his hand under Abraham’s thigh and swear to fulfill the mission.  Thus, discipleship is a choice.  Devotion is a conscious decision.  Dedication is a decisive act.  The chief servant was not coerced into this mission (“Please place your hand under my thigh”).  It was described to him in full.  He was aware of the risks (“If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”Luke 9: 23 NAS).  The chief servant took ten camels, some servants and some really nice gifts.  He set off on a journey half-way around the then-known world. When he got to the town ofNahor, he prayed to God, asking God to divinely identify His choice of a mate for Isaac.

Oh, if only we disciples would do the same thing!!  His prayer bears close examination: “Oh Lord, God of my master Abraham (and, by implication and because I am praying this prayer to You, my God, too!) give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.”  Success for the disciple/chief servant is the extension of God’s lovingkindness to his master, not to himself personally!  Abraham’s chief servant then outlines a procedure by which he asks God to certify the woman He has chosen for Isaac.  Of course, the Scripture reveals that Rebekah, a “very beautiful virgin” was identified as that one whom God had chosen, by her response to the chief servant’s request for a drink of water. (Who else comes to mind as asking a woman at a well for a drink of water?)  The chief servant asks Rebekah about her family, ascertaining that she is a distant relative of Abraham (the granddaughter of Abraham’s father’s brother).  He then bows low and worships God, thanking Him for His “kindness and faithfulness to his master Abraham” and for His guidance to him (the chief servant) in his mission.”

BLOG ENTRY #5  January 26, 2012

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

“In Genesis 24, we find that Abraham is now old and has been blessed by the Lord in every way.  Abraham now concerns himself with finding a wife for Isaac, his son by Sarah, his wife.  (It is important here to note God’s verification of the sanctity of marriage and its use as the vehicle for translation of the blessings promised to Abraham and through him to future generations.  However, a full exposition of this subject requires another book!)  He commissions his chief servant, “who had charge of all that he (Abraham) had”, to go back to Abraham’s people in the land of Ur to find a wife for Isaac.  This chief servant, who goes unnamed in the text, accepts the task, prays for divine guidance, goes to Abraham’s birth country, is shown Rebekah by divine guidance, successfully petitions Rebekah’s family to allow her to return with him so that she can marry Isaac, and brings her back to Isaac. Rebekah and Isaac wed.  Note that the name of the disciple is not important in this context (we find out in another context that his name is Eliezer).  The Scriptures focus on WHAT THE DISCIPLE DOES AND HOW HE DOES IT.  Thus, we may deduce that the WAY of a disciple is part and parcel of his/her reputation AS a disciple. It is what he does that sets this individual apart. The Scriptures also imply the disciple’s humility as an aspect of his character.  A disciple neither needs nor craves recognition for his efforts on behalf of his Master.  Being a disciple is not merely a designation!  ‘Disciple’ is not a “title” to be coveted.  And, as we shall see, this disciple’s WAY is defined exclusively and completely by the will of his master.

Upon closer examination, the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in choosing this example, or paradigm, to demonstrate discipleship is made clear.  The object of our study is not Abraham, but his unnamed chief servant. The fact that the chief servant is the chief servant of Abraham is important in that Abraham is the first step in the means by which God provided access to the household of faith for all believers.  Romans 4: 16 – 17 says: “For this reason it is by faith that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be certain to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,  (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the sight of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.”

For those of you who have discovered this blog, welcome in the Name of the Lord! This is a journey, so “leave your worries behind”- and your baggage, too! Please read the entries to date and especially study Genesis 24, all, three times. You’ll know why as we go forward. You will refer back to this Chapter many times along the way to verify confirmation of what the Holy Spirit has/is saying.

BLOG ENTRY #4 DATE TBA

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

“READ AND STUDY GENESIS CHAPTER 24, ALL, THREE TIMES”

This is MOST IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL, ELSE GOING FORWARD WILL NOT MAKE SENSE.

END OF BLOG ENTRY #4

BLOG ENTRY #3 DATE  JAN 10 2012

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

“In Matthew 28: 18-20. the Word of God says this:  “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying,  “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

We are commissioned by our Lord Jesus to go and make disciples, which is accomplished in three steps.  First we go.  Where?  To all the nations.  Second, we baptize them- we cause them to identify with/define themselves as belonging to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit- the Triune God.  Third, we teach them to observe all that God the Son commanded us.  The question arises, “Who are `we’?”  Who/what are these disciples and how can we know one when we meet one?  If we are charged to make disciples of all the nations, then we must presuppose that we are disciples ourselves, that we know what a disciple is, and how to help a person to transform so that we can be certain that the end result meets the standard and criteria established by our Lord.  A definition of “disciple” is in order.

The greek word for “disciple” is mathetes, meaning pupil or learner. “It means an adherer who accepts the instruction given to him and makes it his rule of conduct.” Footnote: Spiros Zodhiates HEBREW GREEK KEY STUDY BIBLE Lexical Aids to the NT #3101, 3129.  It also means learning by putting into experience that which one has learned.  At the heart of the ancients’ understanding of this concept was a desire to learn, an urge to “cause oneself to know with a moral bearing and responsibility”, i. e., to endeavor to learn so that what is learned will become the motivation and means for living one’s life, the standard and manifestation of one’s highest values and thus the foundation of one’s conduct.  Thus, the leb– the heart and the will- is integrally involved in any effort and attempt at discipling- as manifested on the part of the disciple in seeking such status and also as evidence thereof sought by the teacher as to the disciple’s sincerity.   Moreover, the teacher had to desire also to “replicate him/her self”, having himself been made to conform to the image of Christ.  The teacher’s desire is to have the same transformation occur in his/her disciple.

We will begin this study by identifying an example of a disciple in order to examine the attributes and conduct of such an individual.  The Holy Spirit has directed that we study Genesis chapter 24.  I was curious as to why He chose to use as a paradigm for discipleship someone from the Old Testament.  Usually, when we think of disciples, we think almost exclusively in New Testament contexts- the Lord Jesus’ Twelve Disciples, the disciples of John the Baptist, the self-described ‘disciples of Moses’-the Pharisees and Sadducees.   However, the Holy Spirit specifically directed me toGenesis 24 as the example of discipleship He wanted to use for purposes of this study.  I expected Joseph or one of the other patriarchs.  I thought it might be one of the major prophets, or David the King, or at least one of the minor prophets.  I also was curious as to why He chose the example we will study.  His choice will become clear as we go further into His Word.”