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.

An Exhortation to Pray

The revivalists of history-- both, great and small-- and their people would spend two hours a day in prayer during  their fruitful lives, a little-known fact. That type of commitment to God from His children is what it will take for America to experience a much-needed revival and awakening. This is one of the keys to revival. We must be so connected with the Father that His works follow us wherever we go!

I want to empower the prayer warriors, intercessors and prophetic voices in this hour to double down in prayer and warfare.
Though we do not like to admit weakness, there are times when we can grow weary in praying and interceding. Whether it be for family members, our region, our nation or the nations of the earth, every issue matters to the Lord. As we press in to God and partner with the Lord in prayer and intercession in bombarding the kingdom of darkness, things can seem to intensify and to worsen in the natural. It can seem as if our prayers are agitating the atmosphere, and they are, because we are agitating the darkness with the hosts of heaven and the presence of God. While the darkness appears to be thickening and gaining momentum, we should not shy away because it is in that time we are to double down in our prayer and intercession.

"My face is set like flint. I will not be moved." This is what double down means. Merriam Webster defines double down as, "to become more tenacious, zealous or resolute in a position or undertaking."

Much of the church prays with microwave expectations; we give up after a few "travailing" minutes. Prayer meetings are not exciting to the flesh and sadly, because of this, they are vacant of fleshly bodies. There is an unspoken rhetoric among believers that someone else will pray. I would dare say that most believers are of the mindset that prayer is boring.

If prayer and intercession are boring, you are doing it wrong.
Jesus withdrew from His disciples and the crowds to pray and to intercede. It was a facet of His relationship with the Father(Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34).

Jesus has provided a blueprint for you and me as co-heirs with Him. We are to be a praying people, a royal priesthood. Priests pray! Priests stand in the gap as tears soak their faces and His fiery Spirit captures their tongues to loose the declarations in accordance with the Word of God. Intercessors do not come off of their post and their decrees until they see the manifestation of their prayers. Time does not move them off the promises of God, and when the devil raises the stakes, prayer warriors double down.

Prayer is not unspoken. The devil would love nothing better than to downplay prayer and strip it of its power. Prayer is an arsenal all by itself. Ephesians 6 assures us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
The Lord is encouraging His intercessors and prophets to not only engage in prayer and warfare, but to double down on what we are declaring by faith. Refuse to come off the wall, and refuse to be silent. Get louder with your prayers and your warfare as the darkness tries to intensify. Double down on lost family members and seemingly hopeless situations, and do not give in or give up. Get excited about prayer, set your face like flint, and tell the devil, "I ain't budging!"

The author of this exerpt is unknown.

Spurgeon On Intercessory Prayer

The memory of Charles Haddon Spurgeon has been cherished among evangelical Christians for over the past 100 years. Many Christian leaders consider him to be the greatest preacher ever. He is commonly hailed as the "Prince of Preachers". Over 63 volumes of published sermons still bear witness to the richness and success of C. H. Spurgeon's ministry. Though he is known as a great preacher, it was not preaching that made Spurgeon great. It was prayer. Spurgeon himself repeatedl attributed his success to he and his congregation's faithful prayers.

It has often been remarked that the whole church helped produce Spurgeon. When visitors would come to Spurgeon's church he would take them to the basement prayer-room where people were always on their knees interceding. Then Spurgeon would declare, "Here is the powerhouse of this church."

In a sermon delivered on August 11, 1861 titled “Intercessory Prayer” , Spurgeon says:

First, then, by way of commending the exercise, let me remind you that intercessory prayer has been practiced by all the best of God's saints. We may not find instances of it appended to every saint's name, but beyond a doubt, there has never been a man or woman eminent for piety personally, who has not always been pre-eminent in his anxious desires for the good of others, and in his prayers for that end.But further, while we might commend this duty by quoting innumerable examples from the lives of eminent saints, it is enough for the disciple of Christ if we say that Christ in His holy gospel has made it your duty and your privilege to intercede for others.

When he taught us to pray, he said, "Our Father," and the expressions w hich follow are not in the singular but in the plural—"Give us this day our daily bread." "Forgive us our debts"; "Lead us not into temptation"; evidently intending to set forth that none of us are to pray for ourselves alone, that while we may have sometimes prayers so bitter that they must be personal like the Saviour's own—"Father, if
it be possible, let this cup pass from me"; yet, as a rule, our prayers should be public prayers, though offered in private; and even in secret we should not forget the church of the living God.

Intercessory prayer has stayed plagues. It removed the darkness which rested over Egypt; it drove away the frogs which leaped upon the land; it scattered the lice and locusts which plagued the inhabitants of
Zoar; it removed the murrain, and the hunder, and the lightning; it stayed all the ravages whic God's avenging handdid upon Pharaoh and his eople
. Intercessory prayer has healed diseases; —we know it did in the early church. We have evidence of it in old Mosaic times. When Miriam was smitten with leprosy, Moses prayed, and the leprosy was removed. It has resored withered limbs. When the king's arm was withered, he said to the prophet, "Pray for me," and his arm was restored as it was before. Intercessory prayer has raised the dead, for Elias stretched himself
upon the child seven times, and the child sneezed, and the child's soul returned.
As to ho many souls intercessory prayer has instrumentally saved, recording angel, thou canst tell! Eternity, thou shalt reveal!

There is nothing which intercessory prayer cannot do. Oh! believer, you have a mighty engine in your hand, use it well, use it constantly, use it now with faith, and thou shalt surely prevail.
And, O God, lend us thy strength now, that this duty may come forcibly home to our conscience, and we may at once engage in this exercise!

Brethren, I have to exhort you to pray for others. Before I do it, I will ask you a personal question. Do you always pray for others? Guilty or not guilty, here? Do you think you have taken the case of your children, your church, your neighbourhood, and the ungodly world before God as you ought to have done? If you have, I have not. For I stand here a chief
culprit before the aster to make confession of the sin; and while I shall exhort you to practice what is undoubtedly a noble privilege I shall be most of all exhorting myself."

 Let's make an effort to intercede for others. It is our secret weapon to seeing the miracles, the salvations, the transformations, the peace, blessings, and goodness of God in the lives of others around you!

ACTS Prayer Process

How often do we sit down to pray, and this happens: we think of our family; we pray for our family; we think of all we have to do that day; we pray God would bless all we do; we sit some more, and then we say 'Amen'. Our prayer life should be more than a laundry list of prayer requests. This prayer plan gives us more structure and more holistic themes for prayer.

ADORATION
Revere and Exalt, Approaching a Holy God
...Sets the tone for the entire prayer
...Reminds us of God's identity and inclination
...Can purify the one who is praying
...God is worthy of adoration
...Thank God for his specific attributes, character, or personality

Scriptures

...God is love
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
1 John 4:8-10

...God is merciful
“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.”
Titus 3:5

“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.”
Ephesians 2:4-5

...God is our Creator
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by Your will they were created and have their being.”
Revelation 4:11

...God is faithful
“Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23

“Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.”
Psalms 117

...God is holy (perfect, sinless, altogether ‘other’)
“Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come.’”
Revelation 4:8

“Let them praise Your great and awesome name - He is holy. Extol the Lord our God and worship at His footstool; He is holy.”
Psalms 99:3,5

CONFESSION
Naming Your Faults
...Try not to lump them together, but confess them specifically
...Then pray, “Please give me your strength to put this sin behind me and live more righteously.”

Scriptures

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
1 John 1:9

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."
Psalms 103:12

THANKSGIVING
Expressing Gratitude
...There are four kinds of blessings to thank God for:
......Answered prayers
......Spiritual blessings
......Relational blessings
......Material blessings
...Look at Luke 17:11-19, where Jesus heals the lepers. All of those who were healed were undoubtedly grateful to Jesus, but only one came back and directly thanked him.

Scriptures

"Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits"
Psalms 103:2

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thes 5:18

SUPPLICATION 
Asking for Help
...Areas of supplication:
......People: authorities, the lost, the sick, etc.
......Family: parents, siblings, household issues or decisions, marriage, children, etc.
......Personal: character growth, fruit of the Spirit, personal needs, direction, purpose, etc.
......Ministry: the things God wants you to do or people to invest in, your church, your Christian fellowship, etc.

Scriptures

"You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God."
James 4:2

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7

To start, try spending 3 minutes in each of the four sections. Notice which sections were easiest and most difficult for you. With practice, each area will become easier and more natural.