40 Indicators of A Spirit-Empowered Disciple

The following is from the Appendix of Alton  Garrison's book A Spirit-Empowered Church: An Acts 2 Ministry Model. All Scriptures are from the NASB.

There has only been one person who loved God with all His heart, soul, and mind and loved His neighbor as Himself, but God wants all of us to keep growing in faith, love, hope, and character. You can use this list of forty indicators as an assessment of strengths and areas that need attention, but always encourage people to see themselves in the process of growth. We will only “arrive” in the new heaven and new earth!

A Spirit-empowered disciple loves the Lord through …

1. Practicing thanksgiving in all things

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving” (Ps. 100:4). “In everything give thanks” (1 Thess. 5:18). “As sorrowful yet always rejoicing” (2 Cor. 6:10).

2. Listening to God for direction and discernment

“Speak LORD, Your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3:9). “She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word” (Luke 10:39). “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do” (Gen. 18:17)? “His anointing teaches you about all things” (1 John 2:27).

3. Experiencing God as He really is through deepened intimacy with Him

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deut. 6:4). “The LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice” (Isa. 30:18). See also John 14:9.

4. Rejoicing regularly in His identity as “His Beloved”

“His banner over me is love” (Song. 2:4). “To the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:6). “He gives to His beloved even in his sleep” (Ps. 127:2).

5. Living with a passionate longing for purity and to please God in all things

“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?… He who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Ps. 24:3–4). “Let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1). “I always do the things that are pleasing to Him” (John 8:29). “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him” (Job 13:15).

6. Consistent practice of self-denial, fasting, and solitude rest

“He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s’ ” (Matt. 16:23). “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face.” (Matt. 6:17). “Cease striving and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10).

7. Entering often into Spirit-led praise and worship

“Bless the LORD O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” (Ps. 103:1). “Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling” (Ps. 2:11). “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth …” (Matt. 11:25).

8. Disciplined, bold, and believing prayer

“Pray at all times in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18). “Call to Me and I will answer you …” (Jer. 33:3)). “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.… We know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him” (1 John 5:14–15).

9. Yielding to the Spirit’s fullness as life in the Spirit brings supernatural intimacy with the Lord, manifestation of divine gifts, and witness of the fruit of the Spirit

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13). “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8). “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7). See also 1 Peter 4:10 and Romans 12:6.

10. Practicing the presence of the Lord; yielding to the Spirit’s work of Christ-likeness

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18). “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after You, O God” (Ps. 42:1).


A Spirit-empowered disciple loves the Word through …

1. Frequently being led by the Spirit into deeper love for the One who wrote the Word

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.… You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22:37–39). “I shall delight in Your commands, which I love.” (Ps. 119:47). “The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold … sweeter also than honey” (Ps. 19:9–10).

2. Being a “living epistle” in reverence and awe as His Word becomes real in my life, vocation, and calling

“You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men” (2 Cor. 3:2). “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). “Husbands, love your wives … having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word” (Eph. 5:26). “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord” (Col. 3:23). See also Titus 2:5.

3. Yielding to the Scripture’s protective cautions and transforming power to bring life change in myself

“From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way” (Ps. 119:104). “May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word” (Ps. 119:9). See also Colossians 3:16–17.

4. Humbly and vulnerably sharing of the Spirit’s transforming work through the Word

“I will speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be ashamed” (Ps. 119:46). “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2).

5. Meditating consistently on more and more of the Word hidden in the heart

“Your Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You” (Ps. 119:11). “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer” (Ps. 19:14).

6. Encountering Jesus in the Word for deepened transformation in Christ-likeness

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18). “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). See also Luke 24:32; Psalm 119:136; and 2 Corinthians 1:20.

7. A life explained as one of “experiencing Scripture”

“This is what was spoken of by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16). “This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me” (Ps. 119:50). “My soul is crushed with longing after Your ordinances at all times” (Ps. 119:20).

8. Living “naturally supernatural” in all of life as His Spirit makes the written Word (logos) the living Word (Rhema)

“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word [Rhema] of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105).

9. Living abundantly “in the present” as His Word brings healing to hurt, anger, guilt, fear, and condemnation—which are heart hindrances to life abundant

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). “I shall run the way of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart” (Ps. 119:32). “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John. 8:32). “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1).

10. Implicit, unwavering trust that His Word will never fail

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isa. 40:8). “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth, it will not return to Me empty” (Isa. 55:11).


A Spirit-empowered disciple loves people through …

1. Living a Spirit-led life of doing good in all of life: relationships and vocation, community and calling

“He went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men” (Luke 6:35). See also Romans 15:2.

2. “Startling people” with loving initiatives to “give first”

“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38). “But Jesus was saying, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing’ ” (Luke 23:34). See also Luke 23:43 and John 19:27.

3. Discerning the relational needs of others with a heart to give of His love

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29). “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). See also Luke 6:30.

4. Seeing people as needing both redemption from sin and intimacy in relationships, addressing both human fallenness and aloneness

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house’ ” (Luke 19:5). See also Mark 8:24 and Genesis 2:18.

5. Ministering His life and love to our nearest ones at home and with family as well as faithful engagement in His body, the church

“You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). See also 1 Peter 3:1 and Psalm 127:3.

6. Expressing the fruit of the Spirit as a lifestyle and identity

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22–23). “With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; he will be satisfied with the product of his lips” (Prov. 18:20).

7. Expecting and demonstrating the supernatural as His spiritual gifts are made manifest and His grace is at work by His Spirit

“In the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ” (Rom. 15:19). “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also” (John 14:12). See also 1 Corinthians 14:1.

8. Taking courageous initiative as a peacemaker, reconciling relationships along life’s journey

“Live in peace with one another” (1 Thess. 5:13). “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall” (Eph. 2:14). “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed” (James 5:16). See also Ephesians 4:31–32.

9. Demonstrating His love to an ever growing network of “others” as He continues to challenge us to love “beyond our comfort zone”

“The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20).

10. Humbly acknowledging to the Lord, ourselves, and others that it is Jesus in and through us who is loving others at their point of need

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29). “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14).


A Spirit-empowered disciple loves His mission through …

1. Imparting the gospel and one’s very life in daily activities and relationships, vocation, and community

“Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thess. 2:8–9). See also Ephesians 6:19.

2. Expressing and extending the kingdom of God as compassion, justice, love, and forgiveness are shared

“I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose” (Luke 4:43). “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world” (John 17:18). “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to you” (Ps. 51:12–13). See also Micah 6:8.

3. Championing Jesus as the only hope of eternal life and abundant living

“There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). See also Acts 4:12; John 10:10 and 14:6.

4. Yielding to the Spirit’s role to convict others as He chooses; resisting expressions of condemnation

“And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). “Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us” (Rom. 8:34). See also Romans 8:1.

5. Ministering His life and love to the “least of these”

“Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me’ ” (Matt. 25:45). “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27).

6. Bearing witness of a confident peace and expectant hope in God’s lordship in all things

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thess. 3:16)! “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Col. 3:15). See also Romans 8:28 and Psalm 146:5.

7. Faithfully sharing of time, talents, gifts, and resources in furthering His mission

“Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God” (Col. 1:25). “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more” (Luke 12:48). See also 1 Corinthians 4:1–2.

8. Attentive listening to others’ stories, vulnerably sharing of our story, and a sensitive witness of Jesus’ story as life’s ultimate hope

“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15). “This son of mine was dead and has come to life again” (Luke 15:24). See also Mark 5:21–42 and John 9:1–35.

9. Pouring our life into others and making disciples who in turn make disciples of others

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19–20). See also 2 Timothy 2:2.

10. Living submissively within His body the church as instruction, encouragement, reproof, and correction are graciously received from faithful disciples

“Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ” (Eph. 5:21). “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). See also Galatians 6:2.