The Power For Discipleship Series

Discipleship 101 Part 6

The Power for Discipleship

Luke 24:44-53

Introduction: When I had originally laid out my plans for this series of messages on Discipleship it was my intent to conclude with last weeks message on the prize of discipleship to be the final one in the series. The Lord impressed upon me however, one more aspect of being dedicated disciples from Gospel of Luke. So if you would, please turn to the final chapter of Luke, Luke 24.

Today our theme is: The Power for Discipleship. I believe that the power for discipleship is found in the person and work of the Holy Spirit and in the last chapter of Luke’s Gospel we see the Jesus, risen from the dead, helping His disciples begin to understand what He had promised His them in the Upper Room. If you will remember, Jesus had said that He would send another to help them, and here in our text today we will hear Him remind them of that promise. So, let’s go to the final chapter of Luke’s gospel, chapter 24, and we are going to be reading from verse 44 to the end of the book.

Text: Luke 24:44-53

Throughout this study we have seen that "discipleship" is tied to "Lordship." And that until we as Christians are willing to genuinely acknowledge the "Lordship" of Christ in our lives we will never be dedicated disciples. Tonight I want us to focus on one more aspect of discipleship that is crucial to living a life of faith: the power for discipleship. Before we get into our study let me quickly remind you of what we have covered so far...

Proof of Discipleship--Obedience to the instructions of Jesus

Priority of Discipleship--Willing to go wherever and do whatever Jesus asks

Path of Discipleship--We need to carry our own cross to identify with Jesus

Price of Discipleship--Understanding that while salvation is free discipleship is not

Prize of Discipleship--Rewards are partial here, and full in heaven

Today’s emphasis is on the practicality of being a dedicated disciple--in other words, "How can we be who Christ has called us to be?" The answer is "WE" can’t, but "HE" can in us through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Let me share with you some very practical thoughts about the importance of the Holy Spirit enabling us to be dedicated disciples. What we see Jesus help His disciples do here in our text is what the Holy Spirit can help us do on a day by day basis as Christ’s disciples today.

Look at verse 49 with me. Jesus told His disciples that He would fulfill His promise to give them the POWER they needed to be His disciple. Which points us to our first application of how the Holy Spirit can help us:

1. The Holy Spirit can Help Us by...PROVIDING Us With POWER (49)

49And look, I am sending you what My Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high."

Being a dedicated disciple is dependent on us receiving the power that the Holy Spirit provides to those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus had promised His disciples in the Upper Room that He would send the Holy Spirit to them, and now He is reminding them of that promise.

John 14:15 - 18 (HCSB)

15"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.

In the Book of Acts Luke expands on Jesus’ final words to His disciples:

Acts 1:7-8 (HCSB)

7He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Power alone is not enough. The power the Holy Spirit gives needs to be properly focused which leads us to the second help that the Holy Spirit can provide in enabling us to become dedicated disciples...

2. The Holy Spirit can Help Us by...TEACHING Us the TRUTH (44-46)

44Then He told them, "These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you--that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled." 45Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46He also said to them, "This is what is written: the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day,