The Eternal Adventure Chapter 18

Macedonia, Greece & Troas

The Four Essentials of Discipleship

Acts Chapter 20

¹ After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he left to go to Macedonia. ² When he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece. ³ And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. ⁴ And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of  Asia. ⁵ But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas. ⁶  We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days.   Acts 20:1-6

 

 

Luke records that Paul was exhorting the disciples as he left Ephesus and traveled through Macedonia. Why would he need to do that?

Exhort in the Greek is the word parakaléō; To aid, help, comfort, encourage, exhort, desire, call for, demand, beseech with a stronger force than aitéō.

aitéō: Ask, request, beg. The seeking by the inferior from the superior

In the New Testament parakaleo is also translated encourage, beseech, comfort, and desire and used 109 times.

Exhortation is listed as one of the supernatural empowerments of the Holy Spirit:

For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, ⁵ so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶ Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; ⁷ if  service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with  liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:4-8

Exhortation seems to be a necessary activity empowered by the Holy Spirit among the Body of Christ.

Why?

It is obvious to me that the strategy of our enemy is to get us off the playing field and keep us in the sidelines so that we will not play our part in God’s plan to reach humanity. C.S. Lewis describes this strategy in his classic The Screwtape Letters, in which a senior demon instructs a junior devil how to influence the thinking of Christians to get them to focus on other’s faults, develop prejudices, and keep their minds off the mission and onto the irritations of those around.

I have experienced the need for exhortation in my own life. I had an English teacher, Lynn Scheu, in high school that would not accept my laziness in my essays, who marked up my papers with lots of red ink, and usually wrote on the top, ”You can do much better than this!” She was right. But I was stubborn and often spoke back to her in class, which resulted in her assigning me to write on the blackboard 100 times “I will not talk back to Mrs Scheu when she corrects me in class.” Eventually she and I became friends when she became the coach of our “In The Know” team, which was a local televised knowledge competition between the Franklin County Ohio high schools. Everything changed. I began listening to her critiques of my writing, and soon there were very few red marks on my papers. When I discovered her son Robert on Facebook a few years ago, I sent Lynn a copy of Echoes Into Eternity, thanking her for her persistence in making me an effective writer.

During my Naval flight training, there was one flight that I did not perform up to my instructor’s standards, and I had to take a check ride with another instructor. He saw my abilities to meet the flight standards and perform all the maneuvers and landings, and strongly encouraged me that I could pass the flight review without any difficulty if I applied myself. During that check ride he kept saying over the intercom, “You can do it. It’s a piece of cake.” He was right. I could.

When I finished Logos School of the Bible at Hope Chapel, our pastor Craig Englert gave me many opportunities to teach the Bible at our Wednesday night Bible Study. He encouraged me that I could become a good Bible teacher. Then I left to go on a mission to Honduras and two weeks turned into two years which turned into 20 plus years, working with a group of indigenous Miskitos who didn’t speak English. Often during that time, whenever I was back on Maui, Craig would say to me “Don’t ignore your gift of teaching. Focus on it and develop it as you can.”

I can’t count how many times Craig said that to me. It was encouragement that became exhortation, and I did take his words to heart. I always had a book that I was reading. I listened to many teaching tapes, and then began my relationship with Randy Smith in Israel which gave me opportunities to study and understand Biblical culture as well as visit most of the Biblical sites.

Here are my personal obstacles that required exhortation from various friends:

Laziness, stubbornness, failure, and distractions.

I find I am not alone in the Body of Christ. Many of us need exhortation, just as Paul, Peters, John, and James’ disciples did in the First Century.

Paul to his disciples in Galatia:

​ You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? Galatians 3:1

To His disciples in Ephesus:

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Ephesians 1:18-19

Peter to his disciples:

 Because of the hope laid up in Heaven for you…

Therefore,  prepare your minds for action,  keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As  obedient children, do not  be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, ¹⁵ but  like the Holy One who called you,  be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; ¹⁶ because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” 1 Peter 1:13-16

John to his disciples.

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. ¹⁷  The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17

James to his disciples

⁷ Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. ⁸  You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. ⁹  Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing  right at the door. James 5:7-9

Exhortation is a necessary commodity among the Kingdom of God. In this life we will have our failures, we will feel shame for things we have done. We will get lazy and attempt to remain in our comfort zones. We often persist in the mindset of doing what is best for ourselves, and are reluctant to change. With all the distraction this world offers, we can focus on good things and forget about the ‘best things’ that God has specifically called us to.

Having dear friends who know us and can come alongside to nudge us is a critical element for the success of the Kingdom.

 

 

Pergamum

 

Paul exhorted many of his disciples in his years with them. Notice the list of Paul’s ministry team.  These are all fruit of Paul’s ministry travels through Asia Minor and Greece. Notice where they are from: Berea, Thessalonica, Derbe, Lystra, and Troas (probably wherever Luke was from).

Paul took seriously Jesus’ Great Commission, and his efforts paid off. These and other converts later made their own disciples, who made more disciples in every successive generation, who eventually became the dominate cultural force in the Roman Empire and transformed Western Civilization during the Middle Ages to become the dominate world culture that has been the most inclusive trans cultural movement in human history.

Do we take the Great Commission seriously? Or is it just for those missionaries among us called to foreign regions to preach the Gospel, plant churches, and build cathedrals?

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the 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.”                Matthew 28:18-20

This is the passage of Scripture that is often called the “Great Commission”.  It is where missionaries have traditionally gotten their marching orders to go to other countries and evangelize unreached people.

 I first heard this message at a Keith Green video concert at the Lahaina Civic Center on Maui which was sponsored by Youth With A Mission, a missionary organization that had bases throughout the world.  Keith was an incredible musician who headed Last Days Ministry along with his wife Melody, and his music still has a profound effect on many. Unfortunately, Keith died in a plane crash in 1982. His last album was a video concert recording called “Jesus Commands Us To Go”. I was inspired by Keith’s performance and message, especially with all the opportunities to serve with YWAM in so many places in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

At the time I was working as a photographer in Lahaina, serving at Hope Chapel, and a student in the Logos School of the Bible. Becoming a missionary to a foreign land seemed like a natural course for me to take, especially with my childhood being spent in Germany and Turkey and studying a year in Europe at the Miami University Luxembourg Campus.

Within a few days of the YWAM event, I was charged up and told my cousin Kean Salzer, who was my mentor at the time, that I wanted to become a missionary and go somewhere to spread the Gospel.

He looked at me, and with a smile asked me: “I’m with you Bags. How would you like to go to an island in the Pacific where less than five percent of the people attend church on Sunday?” 

I responded excitedly: “Let’s go!”.

He calmly said: “You are standing on it!”

I was speechless. “What?”

In the early 1980’s, church attendance on Maui was indeed less than 5%.  I suddenly got the message. Maui was a good place to share the Good News. I didn’t have to “go”.  I was already “there”.

It was a few years later in my studies that I understood why the Great Commission is often misunderstood as a command to pack your bags, leave your home, and go work in a foreign culture. People read the English rendering of this Scripture written in the Greek language and assume that indeed “Jesus commands us to go!”

There are a few words in the famous passage that should be understood in their original context.

The word translated “Go” is the Greek word poreuomai which has the meaning to pursue the journey on which one has entered; to continue on one’s journey; to proceed; to transport oneself, to go from one place to another.

“Therefore” is the Greek word oun which means therefore, accordingly, consequently, or these things being so.

 “Make Disciples” is the key word.  It is matheteuo, means  to be a disciple of one, to follow his precepts and instructions; or to make a disciple; to teach, instruct.

Observe is the word tereo: a warden, guard; To keep an eye on, watch, and hence to guard, keep, obey, observe attentively, keep the eyes fixed upon, fulfill a duty, precept, law, custom, or custom meaning to perform watchfully, vigilantly.

The final significant word often translated “Nations” is Ethnos:  a race, nation, people group.

It’s vitally important to note that of the four verbs in this passage - Go, Make, Teach, Baptize - mathēteuō  is only verb in the Imperative (aorist), command form.  The other three verbs are in the continuous action form.

Putting all these concepts together, and understanding the grammar, we hear Jesus literally saying:

All Authority in the Universe has been given to me. Since these things are so, pursue the journey with me on which you have entered and disciple the races and ethnic people groups that you find yourselves with, teaching them to observe and obey all the things I told you while baptizing them in the names of my Father, the Holy Spirit as well as myself. Remember, I will be with you always as you do this.”

 In essence, the Great Commission says that wherever in the world that we happen to be “going”, Jesus commands us to be about the business of making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them the Word of God and helping them to develop the disciplines to obey Jesus’ commandments. Most of us are already where He has placed us to make disciples. Others of us are being prepared to step out into unfamiliar areas – geographically and relationally- to invite others into the Kingdom of God.

Discipleship means to be a disciple as well as to be involved in making other disciples.  It’s a natural progression for all true believers that we take what God has given us and share it with others. Afterall, the stakes are eternal, and everyone is invited to become part of God’s Family.

Here is how Peter described it.

 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Paul communicated this principle of reproduction to his disciple Timothy.

You have heard me teach many things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others. 2 Timothy 2:2 NLT

There are many “modern formulas” for discipleship. Some involve heavy-handed authoritarian oversight of new converts, while others focus on simply numbers of personal commitments to Christ. These programs often set aside time in the week for “disciple-making activities” that will bring people into the church in a focused, systematic manner.  Building the Kingdom becomes a “program” that if we put in our time, and follow the formula, that will bring “great numbers” into our local churches.

The Biblical record suggests another manner.

We see Jesus noticing people and then spending time with them. Zacchaeus the tax collector in Jericho and the woman at the Samaritan well are two examples. Jesus spends quality time with them and they become disciples.

Jesus spoke to large crowds, and he had his small group that he shared his life with. He served those around him with teaching of God’s Words, healing, feeding, and freeing many from evil spirits. Jesus was often interrupted in his daily schedule which resulted in many coming into His Kingdom. The “legion’ man, the woman with the bleeding issue and Jairus’ daughter are an example of one day of interruptions that resulted in many disciples.

So far in our study of Acts, we have seen the Holy Spirit fill and move among that group of Jesus’ disciples in Jerusalem. We have seen a community form where the disciples were sharing meals together, listening to the apostles teach the Word of God, worshipping and praying together, and giving of their own resources to help any who had a need. The result was organic, natural growth among their neighbors in their cities.

Then we saw the need for personal holiness displayed in the donation of Ananias and Saphirra, the boldness of Stephen as he engaged those around him. We saw how problems resulted in the scattering of the disciples into areas outside their comfort zone after Stephen’s death, and the resulting growth of the church. The Holy Spirit sent Phillip to an Ethiopian, and the church spread from Israel to Africa, and then sent Peter to the Roman centurion Cornelius. Now gentiles are being welcomed into the Kingdom, often at the cost of the apostle’s personal prejudices.

Then some believers end up in Antioch, where they naturally give their testimonies, and the Holy Spirit does his part to draw Greek and Roman men and women into the Kingdom. Barnabas is sent to check things out and realizes they need a good Bible teacher, so he goes to Tarsus and gets Saul / Paul. Indeed, as Jesus said, He would be with us as we did our part to make disciples.

Then Paul and Barnabas are sent out by the Holy Spirit to a mission trip through Asia Minor, speaking to the Jews in the synagogue first and later to the Greeks and Romans. The repeat this pattern and begin to spend quality time with these new converts, helping them understand the Bible, and helping them in their personal walk with the Lord. Now there are disciples in many cities in Greece, Macedonia, Asia, and Israel! Phenomenal growth in only about 30 years from the Resurrection of Jesus! And all through personal relationships, dedicated study and prayer, personal disciplines, modeling the Christian life in their communities and obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Very organic discipleship.

 

Pergamum

 Luke continues:

⁷ On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. ⁸ There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together.                                        Acts 20:7-8

What is the first lesson that we learn from this description of the meeting in Troas of Paul and his disciples that went on all night?

 Question: “What does it mean when a preacher looks at this watch?’

 Answer: “Absolutely nothing!”

Paul met with his friends long into the night. What do you think he spoke to them about? Since he knew most in the room, perhaps he spent time asking them about their life experiences, and how they were walking with the Lord. Maybe he shared all that had happened since their last meeting. That would probably lead to a lengthy discussion and exhortation of the essential elements of Christianity.

What would you include on that list? Here is mine in progressive order:

Experiencing God, Transformation, Service to others and Making Disciples

When we come to the realization that Jesus IS Lord, then our thinking about life changes, because we have had an experience with Him that has been the catalyst for an entire new life within us. This experience often has obvious ramifications.

• One of my friends told me that after her encounter with Jesus, the sky was bluer and the trees greener.
• Suddenly we understand all those things we heard in church that never made any sense.
• Others notice that there is an outside force that is messing with them, causing them to think differently about the issues of life.
• For many, life becomes more dramatic as we start to understand the spiritual world and the cosmic struggle. We find ourselves talking more to God and enjoying the time we spend along with Him. We find emotions being released unlike before.

Many people know about Christ, but don’t know Him. Once you do, you long to experience Him more and more. This often happens when we read His words in the Bible, and the Holy Spirit begins showing us many things about ourselves, and His care and concern for us. We realize that we are in the presence of God Himself as we read his Word.

Since we have the Holy Spirit inside us (Ephesians 1:13), we are now connected to the consciousness of God Himself. We can hear His thoughts, and He can hear ours. So, we spend time talking with Him, often throughout the day. He calms our fears, quenches our anxieties. He restores our hope and gives us direction in the daily events of life.

When we gather for worship, something happens when He shows up as we express our love for Him. We sense so much of His love for us, and His thoughts often fill our minds. We suddenly understand things that we couldn’t before. His presence overwhelms us.

Religious people don’t experience God like this. They focus on keeping the rules and bank on their own righteousness to win God’s approval. They don’t understand the concept of a ‘personal relationship.’

 

Pergamum Theater

 

Experiencing God leads to the next essential element of Christianity: Transformation.

When men and women are “born from above” and get launched into the life of the Kingdom and enter into a love relationship with Christ, change begins. Yes, we cannot remain static if indeed we have an encounter with the Living God.

 What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!            2 Cor 5:17 NLT

 The Greek phrase for “new persons” is “kainos ktisis”. This literally means “a new previously unseen biological creation that is exclusively God’s work”. The end result of this process of transformation is that we will be like God. It sounds strange, but the reality is God is transforming us into mirror reflections of Himself.

Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, and we can't even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 1 John 3:2 NLT                                                                                                                                

Principle: The day we are “born from above”, this process of transformation begins. Salvation is just the first step in a divine progression!

Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.        Phil 2:12-13 NLT

 Principle: God says that through His Holy Spirit, He will give us the desire to make changes in our lives, He will focus our attention on specific issues, and then He will give us the power to make it happen! It is because of our love relationship with Jesus that this is all possible!

 Understanding this dynamic is a key to transformation. Obedience to the commandments without the love relationship with God takes us into the deserts of religious behavior.

Principle: When we come into relationship with God, we must undergo this spiritual renewal.

  Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.                Eph 4:22-23

 

• What parts of your “former way of life” do you see the need to throw off?
• Which are some aspects of your relationships that need to be discarded?
• Are there issues of unforgiveness that need to be left behind?
• What parts of your personal belief system are the result of your experiences and intellect rather than your understanding of the Word of God?
• Are there any “generational issues” that God is dealing with?
• What is the current focus of this spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes?

 How does this process happen? 

Principle: Real Change of heart is produced only by God’s Spirit.

As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more.        2 Cor 3:18 NLT                                                                               

 

                Laura and I were walking around a lake in the mountains of Bavaria near Mittenwald on a rainy day with low overcast clouds. We stopped in a cafe by a lake for a coffee. Suddenly the clouds parted and this mountain appeared. I ran out on the dock and took this photo.

 

 Ezekiel wrote of this change of heart.

 ²⁶ And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. ²⁷ And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command.                                     Ezekiel 36:26-27 NLT

 It is a work of God’s grace in our lives that results in tangible changes in our personalities and behavior.

 I’ve discovered that it is a partnership between God and me that results in more “Christlikeness” and less “Mikelikeness” in my life. However, in this process I often encounter a question.

Faced with the realities of our own condition, our own habits, and our own issues as we interact with the Holy Spirit, we come to the obvious question:  “Do we really want to change?”

 Do we have the desire to leave behind those selfish attitudes, and self-centered lifestyle?  Are we willing to face the issues in our lives and work them out according to God’s ways?

Yes! But sometimes the answer is “Not Now”.

We have chosen to follow Jesus, and place ourselves under his authority, but have you noticed that often there is something that rises up in us that prevents us from whole-heartedly running after Him? It is obvious that we all struggle with this to some extent. 

 There is a story of a missionary to an Alaskan Indian tribe.  One of his recent converts was an old Eskimo man who one day came to him and said,

 “Pastor, ever since that day I invited Jesus into my heart, I have felt like there is a war going on inside me.”

“What do you mean?” asked the missionary.

“Well it’s like there is this white dog and this black dog, and they are fighting inside,” replied the old man.

The pastor asked, “Which one is winning?”

The old Eskimo thought for a moment and then said something very profound: “The one that I feed the most.”

 

Yes, there is a struggle between our new spirit, and our old sinful nature.  The great missionary Paul experienced this himself, and it caused him great despair.

 ¹⁵ I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ But I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things.

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?  I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!  Romans 7:15-17, 24-25 NLT                                                                                                              

 There was a horrible punishment for murder under the Roman legal system.  The killer would have the body of the victim strapped to his body, and he would be placed in a cage for public viewing.  In the course of the next few weeks, the decomposing body would spread gangrene into the murderer’s body, finally killing with it with a massive infection.  This is what Paul is referring to. “I have this body of sin strapped to my body and it is killing me!  Who will save me?  It will only be Jesus my Lord!”

This cutting away of our sinful, self-centered behavior takes place as we spend time in the presence of God and experience Him more and more.

 

 

Pergamum Hall of Justice

 

 This process of transformation leads us to the next essential element: service to others.

When we become less self-centered and more Christlike, we become aware of the needs of others and a desire grows within us to serve their needs rather than our own. Why does this happen? Because others-centeredness is at the heart of God.

After James and John asked for special positions of authority in the Kingdom, which upset the other disciples Jesus responded:

Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. ⁴³ But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; ⁴⁴ and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45

 This echoes what John records in his gospel:

 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:16-17

 The heart of God is for others, not Himself. It is His very nature to be a servant to mankind. So should we be. But our self-centeredness is natural, rooted in our DNA. It only changes through divine transformation, which occurs are we spend more time in the presence of God Himself.

 

When we involve ourselves in service to others, there is a dynamic of transformation that takes place.

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, ¹²  for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the  knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. ¹⁴  As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; Ephesians 4:11-14

 

God has provide many in his family with the giftings:

• Apostles who travel to places to bring the Gospel to particular people groups and situations, and 
• Prophets who speak God's words with God's heart;
• Evangelists who naturally proclaim God's favor and forgiveness into their cultural setting;
• Pastor-Teachers who care for God's people, teaching them God's Word and helping them stay on the path.

Their ultimate goal is participating in the experiencing of God and assisting others in the transformation process by equipping them for 'works of service' which naturally promotes and accelerates maturity in each follower of Jesus.

Principle: Getting involved in serving others leads to greater spiritual maturity

 

Experiencing God leads to transformation, which causes us to become more servant minded toward others. As this process happens, we become natural disciple makers.

Here is how Jesus describes it:

 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; ¹⁵ nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ 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. Matthew 5:13-16

 As we have earlier noted, salt has a special meaning in Biblical culture.

• Salt relationships last forever regardless of offense or resentment.
•  We Christians are to be known as friendly people, loyal friends, people who are good listeners, ones who are ready to help.
•  Its our good deeds, our acts of service toward others that cause them to see Christ in us.
• When that happens, natural conversations take place and the Holy Spirit begins moving in our friendly servant hearted relationships.
• Natural organic discipleship takes place!

 A discussion of these essential elements would probably be well received by Paul’s disciples. However there is often collateral damage from such effective lengthy discussions.

 ⁹ And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. ¹⁰ But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.” ¹¹ When he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left. ¹² They took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted. Acts 20:9-12

 We have all been meeting where we begin to nod off. This is typical disciple behavior. Even Jesus’s disciples could not stay awake during that last night in the Garden of Gethsemane:

And He came and found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ³⁹ Again He went away and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰ And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. Mark 14:37-40

 

Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!

 

Recognizing the Four Essential Elements of Discipleship is the first step to implementing them into your life. Now there is an awareness of God's processes in your inner man, and we have the opportunity to cultivate this process, or resist it.

Principle: Experience will show that clinging on to our own agendas will not bring true life to our daily existence. Its only when we give ourselves to our Lord through our momentary obedience to his will that we begin to realize the profound significance of our relationship with the Living God, This is where life true is lived.

Paul expressed this prayer for his friends in Ephesus:

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19

God's love for us is Four Dimensional:

Breadth: There is no sin that will keep you out of the Family of God- all is forgiven!

Length: God's love continues throughout Eternity- it never ends.

Height: God's Love takes us to the throne room of the universe were we are seated with Christ above all others!

Depth: God's Love for us took Him into the depth of Hell to pay for our sins.