Membership definition according to Cambridge.org: is the state of belonging to an organization, or an agreement by which someone joins an organization: We applied for membership in the country club.
Disciple definition: A disciple has been shown to be someone who follows the teachings, life, and aim of another until the person becomes like the master. Discipleship in the Christian sense is the process of making someone become like Christ. The disciple of Christ is to become like Christ in everything.
I have mentioned before that I was sent by the Holy Spirit to go and answer the Great Commission in different countries with the authority of the Holy Spirit, after being part of a small Bible study in NY, accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior, getting baptized by submersion in water and being filled by the Holy Spirit. From the beginning that I was called, my example has been Jesus, who we can learn about in the whole Bible, but more specifically the Gospels or Good News of Jesus found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Although I had heard in the spirit that my call was like Paul’s. At the beginning of becoming a disciple, and student of Jesus I was so struck, challenged, and somewhat upset at the way some places were more focused on gathering people and the fact that they represent more their denomination, which when I am asked I say non-denominational as Jesus, and the disciples didn’t speak about denominations, they spoke about Jesus, cast out demons, spoke about forgiveness, healing, restoration, forgiveness, eternal life and making disciples. They didn’t constantly invite people to a place to hear a message, they focused on growing Christianity and doing as the Lord who came as the man said. Paul even says why do you say you are of these or that when the one that died was Jesus. The call the Lord gave is and was the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:16-20: 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Gathering Members of a place, the terms sounded and sound more like an organization than a body of Christ as described in many of the Bible verses found in the Bible such as 1 Corinthians 12: 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. John 3:16: 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Ephesians 4:11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, of speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
I was led to visit one church a month at the beginning of the call which happened in 2015 thru a retreat of a Christian discipleship organization called YoungLife(Please go to the blog/podcast called: Being called by the Holy Spirit 2015, found in this page Less-of-me-more-of-you.com, to learn more about the call in my life.) It all started with the Homeless, gang members, drug dealers, previously incarcerated, prostitutes, addicts, and LGBTQ. Went to the shelters, jails, streets, parks, and anywhere I was directed to go by the Holy Spirit starting in Yonkers, NY, from 2015-2021, then was called to go out to different countries as led by the Holy Spirit. By faith economically in the Lord, depending on the obedience of others for provisions for everything, from food to clothing, stay, and transportation as he asked me to, which has been a process for me from the beginning as I do not encounter or have encountered too many people living like this. At one point it made me very upset at the churches I would visit as no one was answering the Great Commission, they were more concerned about the logistics such as music, gathering, indoctrinating people into the denomination, and other things and it was making it clear to me as to why the Lord in his wonderful Grace calls people to do as he has taught us in the Bible, which in my case I get questioned a lot because it seems strange in many places not all to be called by the Lord to answer the Great Commission and in many cases, I am either rejected, praised or it challenges those called leaders and attendants to do the will of the Lord the way he has commanded as a relationship, which the Holy Spirit mentioned to me that would happen. I get the question of who is my pastor? I answer God, as he was the one who called me and commissioned me, some people would also say that the Lord sent people in two which it’s true in some cases but not all, as he called many in the Bible by one with his guidance such as Moses, Nehemiah, Joseph and many more, as each person’s call is different. (Read Ephesians 4:11-16 and 1 Corinthians 12,13 and 14)
It is so interesting to me when people call me brave and see this as such an amazing thing, when more and more with time the Holy Spirit has made me understand that this is the way he did it in the Bible. The first book he asked me to read when he called me to read the Bible was Revelations which is such a powerful book as it teaches us everything that we will go thru as believers in Christ, gives hope, and reveals so much. Then he asked me to read the Book of Acts, which the Book of Acts he said was my manual as it talks about and gives examples of what happens when people receive the Holy Spirit and the obedience of those who did receive the Holy Spirit, which serves as an example to us today. I have gone thru many temptations, have fallen thru them, and have been so attacked in many ways, each has been used to make me understand more and more what it says in Ephesians 6:10-18 and how nothing is about us but to minister to others and see that Matthew 5:1-5 are so real. There was a point where I would cry and cry and I asked the Lord why and I would hear: “MY BODY”, the church.
Recently I have been sent to Quito, Ecuador, after Perú and Chile, where it has been so heavy and spiritually oppressive with mental attacks to share the Good News, the principalities and enemies of the souls fight so hard because of how powerful it is when someone becomes a Christian, which is a student of Christ. I would also hear in the town I was placed in Perú when going to visit a local church: the souls, people’s souls, with a lot of sadness as there were so many needs in that community and the people were gathering but not reaching out to others. I sensed visiting a nearby place that gathers people on Sundays and Tuesdays in Quito, Ecuador, close to where the Lord had me stay. I came in at the end of the service as the sign on the internet said the service would start at 10 am, but when I arrived it was ending as I was told that it actually starts at 9 am, to which I told them calmly to check the internet picture and change it so that others can have the right information. A few people came up to me to say hello and welcome me to the gathering and asked if I wanted to stay for the discipleship class I had been so attacked and oppressed spiritually up to that point that I said sure, as I had a need to receive a word and be hugged. When they started the man mentioned that it was the introduction to their 8-week membership class. He started by mentioning scriptures that proved the importance of Membership in the Bible, which more and more the spirit in me jumped and was so troubled. I asked the question of what part did the Holy Spirit have in their denomination? What did they believe the difference between Membership and disciples was?, as many denominations take out the Holy Spirit or do not include him in anything. Also, some denominations believe that the only Apostles called were the ones Jesus called when he was here on earth. The man seemed challenged by the questions I was led to ask as he as many has been indoctrinated more into a denomination or a way of gathering people than being disciples. It talks about these religions and places in Revelations 17 and Matthew 24 and what the consequences are if they do not repent before the coming of the Lord. Then I was led to share my testimony of being called to answer the Great Commission and how then I was led to also give Romans 10:14-15 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”(of the importance of having a relationship with the Holy Spirit VS having a religion.) and 2 Timothy 3:16-17: 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (Encouraging people to read the Bible as their manual) A few people came up to me to thank me for the teaching and asked for my information and I was led to tell them about this discipleship/ testimony page and they were thankful to the Lord. It makes me understand why the Lord rises people to go out into the world to make disciples. At the beginning of the call, I didn’t understand why he would call me as there are so many buildings that are called churches, but as time has gone by I see more places calling the people to the place to gather them with so many humans believes and rules that it discourages many to follow Christ as their Lord and Savior, as it also states in Matthew 23, a whole chapter the Lord wrote to these people. I don’t believe I was led to write this blog post as a criticism of the places that are called churches or people who are calling themselves Christians, as I want to believe more than I can see there must be or there are places that are building disciples and commissioning those who have been called. But it does call my attention to the way the Christian belief has been so subdivided and many are being so indoctrinated into a denomination or religion more than having a relationship with the Holy Spirit. I can not imagine being a none believer or not having a relationship with the Holy Spirit and how confusing it must be for people to see so many subdivisions and places that are called Christians. I understand my/our calling is to answer the Great Commission as directed by the Holy Spirit and not to defend or debate but it still calls my attention as someone who has gotten to know the living God and the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. I often would ask the Lord why so many subdivisions of one belief and one God, why so many people are misrepresenting Christianity, then he leads me to the Bible and to understand his Grace in sending people to do what needs to be done until he comes back as it says in Matthew 24: 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 7:15-20: 15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
The Bible in 1 Corinthians 12, describes the church as the body of Christ, and Christians as members of that body. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:4–5. Also, read 1 Corinthians 12. Discipleship was always intended to be the immovable framework that shapes and defines the believer’s life and practice, with membership being the automatic outcome. Accepting the personal call of Christ makes one a member of His body, not just of an organizational structure. Disciples are those who are not content to watch from the sidelines. Their commitment to the Savior means they are actively engaged in the kingdom even if it is inconvenient, or difficult, or even if they don’t fully understand what Jesus is asking of them. The Lord’s desire from the beginning has been to have a relationship with us, more than anything else. For people to understand what it says in Romans 10:9: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Then as it says in Galatians 5 we get the Fruit of the Spirit, in Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Corinthians 12,13 and 14 we see we get Gifts of the Spirit, we become new creations thru water and spiritual baptism as it says in John 3.
Thanking the Lord for all of you who have prayed and supported this call in any way that you have been led. Also thanking the Lord for those of you who I have had the honor to meet and or speak over the phone and see how you are answering the Great Commission. Always praying that the Lord’s kingdom comes and will is done. Please continue to pray my daughter and I.
How did this blog post speak to you? What do you sense the Lord saying to you with all of this? Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not ask the Lord to help you understand what he needs you to understand and if you have ask him to let you understand what is a disciple and why we come to him. Also, pray about where to gather with others and where. Take the time to read the Bible verse mentioned here, read, share, and subscribe to this blog/podcast. Also take the time to read, listen and share the other blogs/podcasts on this page. May the Lord’s kingdom come and will be done always in our lives and thru our lives in Jesus’ name.
Beautiful song, click to listen: https://youtu.be/SUnrdYlYov0
Gifts of the Spirit document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1by_ZUoAXL7laKroPJFLr5Tmc8vG431U6Ok5pZDNGDJk/edit?usp=sharing
Free Bible app: https://j794q.app.goo.gl/a4XN9imHdq2EMVjv6
Free series: http://www.angel.com/watch/the-chosen
Watch and share, more teachings as led to be recorded by the Holy Spirit, in both English and Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/@lessofmemoreofyoujohn330menosd/videos
Less of me, more of You//Más de Ti, menos de mí 
Leave a comment