ROHO MTAKATIFU NDIYE MSAADA WETU: TUWE WANAFUNZI WA KWELI
MARKO 3:14-15
14 Akaweka watu kumi na wawili, wapate kuwa pamoja naye, na kwamba awatume kuhubiri,
15 tena wawe na amri ya kutoa pepo.
Haja kubwa ya Kanisa la sasa ni kuwa na wanafunzi wengi ili kuitenda kazi ya Kristo Yesu aliyolituma kanisa. Na ukichunguza, moja ya sababu kwa nini Kanisa limeshindwa kuimiliki dunia ni kwamba, badala ya kuwa na wanafunzi, kanisa limekuwa na wafuasi wengi sana.
Kuna tofauti kubwa sana katiya hawa wawili; wafuasi na wanafunzi!
Wafuasi ni wale watu waliobadilisha mtazamo wao kuhusu mitazamo ya dini na kukuukubali mtazamo mmoja, na kusema kuwa wanaamini. Lakini baada ya kusema wanaamini, huja kanisani kama kawaida ya Jumapili, lakini hawana mpango wa kufanya chochote juu ya kazi ambayo Yesu Kristo amelituma kanisa (Marko 16:15-18). Hawafai kabisa kwa kazi hiyo. Watu hawa hutumia muda mwingi kusoma magazeti, kuangalia luninga, wakifanya kazi nyingi za kidunia hata kukosa muda wao wenyewe; kuliko, kusoma neno, au wakiomba, au kuwahubiri watu wamjue Yesu!
Wito wa Mungu ni dhahiri, anaonya wote wale walio vuguvugu waamue sasa na kujiunga na jeshi lake analoliongoza kuleta ufalme wake hapa duniani!
Anaowatafuta ni wale walio wanafunzi, yaani wale ambao wamemwamini na kumkubali Yesu Kristo na kujitoa kuitenda kazi yake pote walipo. Kama wewe ni mwanafunzi, basi ujue kuwa Mungu anataka uuone ulimwengu jinsi anavyouona Yeye, na upanue mtazamo wako juu ya mahitaji ya Kanisa lake na upanue mtazamo wako juu ya majukumu uliyonayo ndani ya kanisa.
Neno linasema katika Marko 3:14 kuwa, Mungu anataka wanafunzi wake waendelee kuwa naye wakati wote, akiwatuma....si waonekane kuwa wake wakati mzuri tu, bali wakati wote. Anataka wewe uliye mwanafunzi uwe naye ndani ya akili yako, ndani ya moyo wako na kwa nguvu zako zote; usipunguze hamu ya kuwa naye wakati wowote. Ili kuzifanya kazi za Mungu, lazima ukubali kuwa naye wakati wote.
Wale walio wanafunzi huwa na tabia zifuatazo, nazo huwa ni dhahiri:
- Wana Upendo (Marko 12:30; Yohana 13:34-35)
- Watiifu (Yohana 14:21)
- Waaminifu (Yohana 15:5,8)
- Wenye bidii katika kumtafuta Bwana (1Nya 16:11, Yohana 8:31)
- Wenye Unyenyekevu (2 Kor 3:5)
- Wamejitoa kabisa kwa Bwana (Mat 10:37; Luka 14:33)
- Wameamua kuubeba msalaba wa Yesu (Gal 2:20; 5:24)
Mungu anakutaka wewe uwe mwanafunzi wake, Yeye hajali mapungufu au madhaifu yako ya kibinaadamu. Umejaliwa kusoma ujumbe huu kwa kuwa amekuchagua, Yeye hakuoni kama ulivyo sasa, bali anakuona jinsi utakavyokuwa, jinsi atakavyokubadilisha. Jitoe sasa akubadilishe anavyotaka Yeye mwenyewe.
HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR HELPER: WE NEED TO BE TRUE DISCIPLES
MARK 3:14-15
14 He appointed twelve[a] that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.
Footnotes:
- Mark 3:14 Some manuscripts twelve—designating them apostles—
The biggest need of our church today is for the people to become disciples of Jesus Christ. If you consider the position of the church today, one of the main reasons why the church has not taken the world is because we have produced converts rather than disciples!
There is a big difference between the two! Converts are people who have changed their minds concerning their religious concepts. They say they believe, they sit in our pews as bench warmers, useless to the true work of Jesus! These people spend more time reading newspapers, watching television, doing all circular works than they spend time reading the word, in prayer or winning lost souls.
I cannot say it too strongly, but God is calling the sideline straddlers to get off the fence. God is calling for His committed believers to stand up and be counted! He is after disciples. Disciples are those who believe in, accept and take it upon themselves to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever they are. As a disciple, God wants you to see the world through His eyes. He wants you to expand you vision of the world and the needs of His Church, and to expand the vision of your role in it.
The scripture at Mark 3:14, says He wanted them to continually be with Him, not only during fair weather, but all the time; ceaselessly! To work the works of God you must be with Him continually, in your heart, in your mind, and with all your strength. A disciple is one who does not rest in his or her fervency for our Lord. The one who is a true disciple can be distinguished from a convert by the following; as explained in the scripture:
- Love (Mark 12:30, John 13:34-35)
- Obedience (John 14:21
- Faithfulness (John 15:5,8)
- Perseverance (1 Chronicles 16:11, John 8:31)
- Humility (2 Corinthians 3:5)
- Total Surrender (Mat. 10:37, Luke 14:33)
- Bearing the Cross (Gal 2:20, 5:24)
God is calling you to take your place as a disciple, commissioning you despite your human nature and weaknesses and failures. He has chosen you because when He looks at you He does not see what you are, but what He can make of you when you yield yourself to Him.
