Fishers of Men: A Journey of Discipleship

 Have you ever wondered what the process of discipleship (making disciples) looks like? You are in good company, as I would like to share my leanings on discipleship as it applies in a Christian faith setting.

The first set of questions I would like to pose here is: Who is responsible for winning/making disciples? What are some of the foundational practices for this goal? Are you you comfortable with praying, reading the Bible, and being ready to share teachings with others?

I learned that as a fisher of men, my focus should be on achieving a complete transformation that shifts my mindset to truly understand God's word. This work is challenging, so I must pray and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as I engage in this mission. To find disciples, I should look out for opportunities, remain curious, and be open-minded about approaching family members, friends, and colleagues. This task is not for the faint-heated.

 

New Identity: Groundbreaking Discoveries

The identity question is based on knowing who I am, who God is, and who God is not. I learned that I was created for a purpose (Jeremiah 29:11). That purpose involves realizing that I have hope and a future in God, and that God wants to have a relationship with me. My relationship with God is what defines my identity. Contrary to many beliefs, God is not there to police us, catch us when we are wrong, demand compliance, or "lord" it over us. No, no, no. Through prayer, reading the Bible, and remaining inquisitive, we can start understanding who we are and who God is. To me, God is overwhelmingly loving and gracious.

It is mind-boggling to learn that the God who created and owns everything (Psalm 24:1) wants to have a relationship with me! Why would a mighty God want to have a relationship with His own creation? This remains a question in my human mind that I am honestly seeking revelation for. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). My prayer is that this mystery may be revealed to me. My current reaction is one of surprise and humility.

If the above is true, and I believe it is, then why do I feel distanced from God? Why am I full of doubt and unbelief? God is gracious and has given me free will to choose. This free will has resulted in my rebellion and consequently being alienated from my Maker. I have many questions and challenges that I have tried to address with my own understanding and solutions, which have often been inadequate. This has consequently led me to sin. My rebellion has been manifested by questioning the so-called "man of God," relying on my own understanding, and even stopping going to church altogether.

I am relieved to learn that God has a solution for my identity crisis and unbelief. The Bible in 

John 10:10 reminds me that I have life in full. This full life is a gift that gives me the power to stand and live a purposeful, fulfilling life. The only condition is that I need to accept it. I must accept this gift because God has given me the free will and power to make this important decision. To reinforce this, I will look to Christ, the perfecter of my faith, rather than to humans. I will also pray for revelation and keep asking clarifying questions. I need to stop, pray, listen to God, and trust Him.

I will believe what God says I am. In John 1:12, I learn that I am a child of God. I have been redeemed, and all my sins are forgiven. Therefore, there is no more condemnation; I am free. I am confident that my work will be perfected.

 

Encountering God

I learned that God has created various ways through which He communicates with us. One way is through prayer, where I can speak directly to God. I can present my requests, supplications, and thanksgivings to Him. It is equally important to learn to listen to God by remaining still and alert to His voice. This requires much discipline on my part.

Creation itself speaks volumes about God’s majesty. I am amazed by the sky, the stars, the galaxy system, the oceans and seas, the separation of day and night, and the diversity of species. All of this fills me with awe.

By staying alert to the circumstances in my life, I can hear from God. I will start introspecting and reflecting on the events of the previous day to discern what God is saying to me. God also sends fellow believers and Christians to guide, teach, and open my eyes to new insights. Through my discipleship groups and Fearless Action groups, I learn that I can connect and partner in prayer with others. Ecclesiastes 4:9 reminds me that I can accomplish more when I partner with others. Therefore, I join a community, attend gatherings, and participate in fearless summits.

The Bible is not just a book; it is the very word of God. By reading, reflecting, and living out the word of God, I can hear what He is saying to me. I am expected to remain committed and obey what God says without reservation.

I also learned how to pray. Prayers should be regular, meaning they should be part of my daily quiet time. I should also pray in private, alone with God. Lastly, my prayers should be genuine and honest before God.

I learned the value of daily quiet time. This is a regularly allocated time for uninterrupted listening to God, which fosters regular communication with Him. To make this time productive, I can use the acronym WRAP: Worship, Read the Word, Apply, and Pray. By approaching quiet time with worship, reading the Bible, reflecting on how I can apply what I hear, and praying for commitment and obedience to follow through, I can make the most of this time. Additionally, I learned the importance of having a prayer journal, where I can write down my commitments to later share with friends or use as a personal reminder. As I apply WRAP, I should allow God to meet me as I read His word, with readiness to surrender and meditate on a specific passage that is speaking to me.

While praying, I should model my prayers using the acronym ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. This is the recipe for our prayers.

Fasting and half-day prayers were also discussed. This is my area of greatest weakness; I may struggle to pray, but I completely fail when it comes to fasting—I simply do not fast. However, I learned that when I fast, I should not make it obvious to others or show off that I am fasting. I will start gradually by missing a meal or staying away from my gadgets. I should ask God to strengthen me in this area and enable me to grow. I am committed to improving my prayer life, starting gradually with half-hour prayers and gradually increasing as I grow. This is my commitment.

I learned that Jesus died for me, so instead of me dying, He died, and I get to live (Galatians 2:20). Therefore, I am alive because of Him, and I should honor Him by submitting to Him. I am a subject of His kingdom, and by obeying His will, I am spiritually dead to my desires, even though I physically live.

I am encouraged to totally surrender to Him in my life. I should repent and give up my opposition. This is an area of struggle for me. I have many logical questions that have not been addressed, yet I am required to give up my opposition. Wow! The prayer during this lesson is genuine, and my sincere prayer is for God to teach me this week how to surrender every area of my life, including my finances.

 

Becoming a Christ Follower

There is a huge cost implication for following Jesus. There will be times when things will not be going well, and yet I will be expected to follow Him. There are times when I would rather be somewhere else enjoying with my friends, but that deferment is the cost of following Jesus. I was also challenged to follow Him on an as-is-where-is basis. I learned that there is no condition that should come first before I follow. The ultimate cost is surrendering my ambitions and desires for Him. I learned that even though it seems like a high cost, the alternative cost is more expensive—I will lose my soul. Another area of struggle for me, being a person with many questions, is that I like to hold my cards very close to my chest. I like to remain in control due to the belief that I am best placed to take care of myself. While this might be true in the commercial world or workplace, it is not true with God. Just like the wealthy young man, I would probably struggle with "selling" everything and being left with nothing. I am honest about that.

Due to these natural struggles, God in His grace has created a path for me. God can truly take care of me. He is willing and able to do exactly that. God creates a path by reminding me in His word that I should seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and then all these other things (provisions) will be given to me. Wow!

I learned the significance of one word: "hope." "...But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength…” (Isaiah 40:31). I learned that He will give me His resources and open new perspectives for me, allowing me to rely more on His willingness and abilities. This is the hardest task for me.

I realized that submission is not just an event but a lifetime process. This is comforting to know. I also learned that repentance is a lifestyle that should never stop.

As the Lord promised in Jeremiah 29:11, He has a good plan for me, to give me hope and as the Lord promised in Jeremiah 29:11, He has a good plan for me, to give me hope and a future. All I need to do is continue repenting and aligning myself with His ways, and He will make a path for me. This process will not be comfortable, but it will build my character. This life I am living is not about me; I just need to obey. By obeying God, I will begin to see His power in my life’s circumstances, and the Holy Spirit will help me.

This journey is one of transformation—a lifetime process that requires my obedience day by day. The phrase “I am not yet what I’d like to be, but I’m surely not what I used to be” will become true in my own life.