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Isaiah 55:1 NKJV

1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.

Giving

Proverbs 3:9 NKJV

9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

Today’s Text

Luke 1:39–45 NKJV

39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

“The Power of Discipleship”

1) Discipleship is about Relationships

Luke 1:36 NKJV

36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.

Andrew and Peter where brothers

James is the son of Zebedee

John is the Brother of James

Bartholomew Friend Of Phillip

James son of Alphaeus

Timothy had a faith that was Grand mother and mother.

2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV

5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

Timothy was a spiritual son of Paul.

1 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV

17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

1 Timothy 1:2 NKJV

2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Timothy 1:18 NKJV

18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

2 Timothy 1:2 NKJV

2 To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Titus was a son in the Faith.

Titus 1:4–5 NKJV

4 To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. 5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—

2 Corinthians 7:14 NKJV

14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true.

What does this have to do with Mary and Elizabeth?

I am so glad you asked!

Luke 1:39–40 NKJV

39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

Mary and Elizabeth had relationship!

Discipleship is not merely about biblical knowledge for the sake there of.

to be sure it includes that, but that is not the whole.

2. Those relationships sustain us in trouble times.

Proverbs 17:17 NKJV

17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

1 Corinthians 12:18 NKJV

18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.

Ephesians 4:16 NKJV

16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

The problem with the modern Church is that we truly don’t realize who’s Church it is!

Matthew 16:18 NKJV

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

notice the phrase “my Church” it’s Christ Church!

He sets leadership in where He sets it in.

He deals with leadership how he deals with them.

you did not choose your natural family.

you wont chose your spiritual family either.

God the father put them in your life.

the problem with us is we quit on people to easy.

we don’t let Iron sharpen Iron.

Proverbs 27:17 NKJV

17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

the Minute sparks start to fly in our lives, we run for the hills.

it is often conflict which leads to the welding of relationships.

if we spend all our time running we will never be fortified.

we wont be able to be used in the way that I might be.

3. These relationships are there for purpose.

Luke 1:41–45 NKJV

41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

when purpose meets purpose real fellowship occurs.

encouragement can only truly occur where real fellowship is.

to be sure, a stranger can speak words of encouragement.

but when some body who knows you, really knows you, speaks truth over your life it points to Jesus!