It is a common theme today for many individuals to write, blog and preach about how the church needs to focus on discipleship, becoming more like Jesus. In fact, it seems to be the mantra of many today, maybe even mine.

Maybe we need to stop and think a little before we move on: what Jesus are we trying to be like?

It seems in many circles we have an image of Jesus that is portrayed as a sanitized moral perfectionist. An example whose lifestyle is that of a set of characteristics, evidenced by living particular guidelines: when accomplished, one is deemed pure, holy, righteous etc. Is this the Jesus we are to be like? I am not sure…

A casual observer of Jesus would have seen someone quite different.

He was selfless and submitted.
He came to do the will of the one who sent him
He came as a religious revolutionary, challenging the paradigms of tradition
He taught a kingdom and proved its existence by demonstration

He was homeless, and penniless
He was hungry and tired
He was misunderstood by those he came to help
He was missed by those who were looking for him

Do I really want to be like Jesus?

He was called illegitimate, sinner, drunkard and demon possessed
His own family ridiculed him
He was deserted by those closest to him

Do I really want to be like Jesus?

He didn’t preach a conference, but He spoke to thousands
o    But he had to provide the lunch
The bulk of his ministry was not some Toastmasters 3 point homily
o    But stories so simple, a child could grasp
He didn’t have a fancy church edifice
His “pulpit” was found in boats, on hillsides, in the wilderness, along the roadside

Do I really want to be like Jesus?

His ministry was not one day a week
He impacted lives in the daily rub of the ordinary or mundane
He touched the untouchable, loved the unlovable, forgave the unforgivable, valued the valueless and gave to the undeserving
He was despised, rejected, criticized, condemned and ultimately crucified!

Do I really want to be like Jesus?

Yet…
He opened blind eyes
The lame walked
The dumb talked
Demons were cast out

He told us
o    If I lose my life, I would find it
o    We would be persecuted for His name sake

o    All power is given to Him – now we are to Go!
o    He was sending us just as he had been sent
o    That we would do Greater works than His
o    He would not leave nor forsake us
o    He would be with us to the end of the earth

Do I really want to be like Jesus? Yes, but I must deal with the war of the flesh and spirit. It is the Spirit with in me, calling, compelling me to be what He desires. Yet is my natural man that is partial to self, judging the cost of my comfort and pride before I fully commit.  So maybe my prayer should focus more on the daily dying to self: then the Spiritual would begin to manifest.

What say ye?

The simple truth is we have all the same commissioning from the Lord: He has instructed us to “Go and make disciples.(1)” So, no matter where we find ourselves in living for God or our status in life, we all have the same purpose – we are to make disciples.

The wonderful challenge comes in discovering how we are to use our individual uniqueness to fulfill this purpose. Paul addressed this issue when he wrote to the church at Corinth, elaborating to them that they were each created as different members of the body of Christ, but each was equally important to the functioning of the body.(2) It is still the same today: we are each uniquely gifted and equally important to the purpose of the body.

It is our individual giftings that will qualify us to circulate in different environments effectively demonstrating our King and establishing disciple making relationships.

So if we all have the same purpose and are uniquely equipped to accomplish this purpose, what seems to be the challenge to successfully accomplish this?

I believe part of the challenge is the traditional model of discipleship development of gathering and containment. The typical church creates attractional events to gather the lost to a service to hear the Gospel. Once someone is born again, there is typically a series of classes that will teach a biblical morality and particular lifestyle. Discipleship is judged by the successful completion and adherence to this material.

In contrast to this process we see Jesus words “Go and make disciples.” The two key words of this statement: “Go & Make.”

“Go”
This is probably the toughest word to be obedient to. To quote part of the Law of Inertia “A body at rest remains at rest …unless acted upon by an external force.” The challenge to “go” is we must must overcome the lack of inertia: this requires energy. We must grasp that we are sent,(3) motivating us to leave our present place of rest, both physically (church building) and spiritually. We must be missional minded, we cannot expect the people to come to us. Jesus went to those who needed Him: “for god so loved the world, he gave.” Jesus stated “As thou has sent me into the world.” The true nature of being apostolic demonstrated by our going. The proof we have been sent is that we go.

“Make”
This is the second challenging word and it implies a process, it requires my involvement. It means I must invest my time, energy, vulnerability: it cannot be a one time event.

In their teaching series, The Story Formed Way, the leaders of SOMA missional community state: “The word make implies a process—a process that has steps to it and is intentional.” To make disciples requires us to plan to get involved in the lives of those around us, initiating intentional relationships. Again from the SOMA leaders: “discipleship process begins at the point of relationship, not at the point of conversion!” In todays culture, many people want to see the proof of our God, lived out in daily relationships before they choose to believe in Him.

So back to our purpose. Each of us has been uniquely gifted and sent to enter the process of relationships with those who do not know Jesus. It is within these relationships, in the daily rub of life, others will come to see the transformational power of Jesus in our lives, then choosing to enter a saving discipling relationship Him.

Today, choose to GO AND MAKE a disciple!
———-
(1) Matthew 28:19-20
(2) 1 Corinthians 12
(3) John 17:18

The 4th segment of Lesson 1 Living in Kingdom Authority.
This session focuses on how Jesus has renewed and restored us back to Adam’s original purpose: God’s image and glory bearers.

Living In Kingdom Authority 1d – Man’s Purpose Restored

One of the components of staging is the outside, particularly the front door: in real estate terms it is called “curb appeal.” This may actually be the most important part of staging. Curb appeal is how the house is viewed from the street. It is the place where the average people go buy and it is the first impression of the home. Done right, curb appeal is an invitation; it grabs the attention and says “this is what you are looking for!” It is a strong magnet, drawing those who pass by to come in and explore the rest of the house.

The better the curb appeal, the more likely for people to enter the front door.

One day, while sitting at my office (Starbucks) a pastor friend and I were discussing a particular ministry he was developing in the assembly he was leading. His comment was it was to be the front door of the church. This got my mind going. I began to think about “the front door” and the idea of “curb appeal.”

The front door to the church is not glassed commercial double doors, stained doors or solid wood doors. Neither is the front door to the church some particular program, ministry or mode of evangelism. The front door to the church is you and I!

Let me clarify this a little more. Contrary to traditional religion, the church is not a building were people gather one day a week to partake of some religious performance. The church is the body of born again believers who have been called out to exercise the authority of Jesus Christ, thereby demonstrating the miraculous power of His Kingdom. In short, the church is you and I!

As the church, we are the representatives of Jesus and his kingdom. It is how we present ourselves (staging) that determines if the church is attractive to others. Breaking it down, the way we live our lives, manage our homes, how we interact with those around us; this is the “curb appeal” of the church (or kingdom). In the day-to-day rub of ordinary life, we find we have an opportunity to make Jesus and his church attractive to others. When we respond to the situations of life as Jesus would, we are presenting an attractive front door for individuals to enter. Obviously, the more attractive I make Jesus, the more people will want to enter.

So, I guess this brings a up a question for all of us to address:
How inviting is my “curb appeal?”

The first session in this series presents God’s original purpose for creation and mankind.
This segment is the third to this lesson and covers what it means to be the Image of God.

Living In Kingdom Authority 1c

Part a – God’s Purpose, Your Purpose
Part b – The Glory of God

The first session in this series presents God’s original purpose for creation and mankind.

This segment discusses what the meaning the Glory of God and its application to His purpose,  the Gospel and our lives.

Living In Kingdom Authority 1b

Part a – God’s Purpose, Your Purpose

The first session in this series presents God’s original purpose for creation and mankind. This segment is the intro to this lesson. I discuss the process of thinking and how the Lord illuminated truths and my understanding to Kingdom Authority.

Living In Kingdom Authority 1a – Introduction

View Part B  here

View Part C here

In mark 1:40-42, Jesus has an encounter with one of these outcasts of society – a leper. This scenario gives quite an illustration of ministering the good news of the kingdom, beyond the miraculous. Some insights include:

1. The leper recognized Jesus had the goods

“If you will, you can make me whole.” There was obviously something in the manner of Jesus’ life that this leper saw that gave  him faith that Jesus could answer the biggest need of his life.

So this leads me to the soul searching question: Is there enough visible evidence in my life to let people know what I have available?

2. The leper felt comfortable to approach Jesus

There were strict rules of society regarding lepers and their visibility in public. Yet this man was willing to risk the outcome because he believed Jesus would accept him.

Spoken or unspoken, we have “rules” in our societies on the interaction of the marginalized and disenfranchised. Even within the confines of the church we find that many do not feel welcome if they do not measure up to the status quo of what they see in the average member.

Again, must ask myself, Do people feel comfortable enough to approach me?

3. Jesus was moved with compassion

Jesus response was not typical of society: He was “moved with compassion.” Not only did he NOT shirk away, his compassion caused him to move or do something.

How many times do I/we avoid the interaction with the marginalized or disenfranchised? At best we do programs to “minister” and not get involved. “The poor do not want to be a program.” – The Total Church

4. Jesus touched the untouchable

Jesus took a risk based on societal standards: he touched the untouchable. By Mosaic Law, Jesus would have become unclean himself.

I/we need to step out and take a “risk.” To demo the kingdom, we must move beyond the comforts of our lives and step into the areas that others in society would not go.

Real ministry to the marginalized and outcast will produce a twofold results: The First, someone’s life can be transformed. Second, others will see the power of our God.

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Mt 5:16”

There was this man that for all of his life lived in need. No matter what he attempted, it seems he could never get ahead. One day he received notification that a distant relative had died and left to him their mansion. Obviously this man was elated. Finally something had gone right for him.

Upon receiving the deed and keys to the mansion, this individual proceeds to his new possession. As he arrives, he is struck with awe and amazement at its size and grandeur. With great excitement, he inserts the key and opens the massive polished oak doors stepping into the most elaborate and beautiful foyer he has ever seen.

The floors are a gleaming marble. The walls are decorated with priceless paintings. The curtains are what you would expect in the most opulent of homes. The chandeliers are of exquisite cut leaded glass reflecting the sunlight into a myriad of rainbow colors. The man is so overwhelmed with joy that tears begin to flow down his cheeks. He pauses for a moment thinking about this distant relative who he has never met, yet this relative has given him the best gift of his life.

Suddenly, the man turns and walks out with a smile on his face, locking the door and returns to his meager dwelling. All through the week, he lives his life of existence, thinking about his mansion. He has told his friends at work about it. Even given some directions to it. Yet every day he returns to his same old abode.

A week later, we find this man back at his new mansion. With similar excitement he places the key in the door and swings open that large door and steps into the foyer. Once again, he is overwhelmed with the beauty, and it is all his! He revels in the wonder that he could be so fortunate and mentally thanks his relative for this gift. After a few minutes he turns and once again, walks out the massive door and returns to his routine life of meager existence.

Unfortunately, because he did not venture further into the mansion, he missed the envelope his relative left in one of the other rooms. Inside this envelope were instructions to access the safe in the office that obtained the keys to various lockboxes where further valuables were stored. This process of weekly visits to his mansion is repeated week after week, month after month, until the man has developed a pattern of accessing limited benefits of his new mansion.

Now we all understand this is a fictitious story. We really don’t believe anybody would be that foolish, not taking full possession of his inheritance.

However, we find this happens week after week in churches throughout the body of Christ. With the traditional focus of the church on the salvation message, we constantly focus on entering the kingdom of God. Our message is continually presenting the door to this wonderful spiritual domain. Week after week we encourage believers to focus on entering into the experience God has for them and making sure that they have continual access.

There is more to the kingdom than the door. Jesus came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven — the good news of the dominion of a spiritual realm. Inside the kingdom God has for us much more than we could ever imagine. There is provision, protection, peace, joy, power and demonstration. We need to venture deeper into our fathers house and seek what He has placed there for us.

How can we accomplish this?
· Change our prayer to abiding prayer – stay until we hear from Him.
· Seek to mature beyond being a child of God to becoming a son of God.
· Walk in the empowering of the Spirit, demonstrating Kingdom (apostolic) authority.

If you know me or have been following my blogs and Apostolic Notes, you know I am all about demonstrating the miraculous power of Jesus and His Kingdom. Yet on this particular morning, I wondered about this. No I am not doubting, I have seen too much to stop: but I question if maybe there is too much of a focus on a miraculous event?

What I mean: are we living our normal lives, waiting for a miraculous event to demonstrate the power of the Kingdom? When we should be living a lifestyle that is exhibiting a kingdom culture.

Culture is a common set of values and beliefs that are the foundation of actions: Thus every culture has its unique manifestation. This can be clearly seen in many of the Asia countries where their culture has been in existence for hundreds if not thousands of years.

Kingdom demonstration is more than the miraculous, it is a lifestyle based on a unique set of values and beliefs that are not of this world. The greatest challenge to revealing this lifestyle is moving beyond the born again experience: taking our focus off an eternal goal and focusing on a transformational lifestyle.

Along with the miraculous, Jesus ministry was one of teaching and preaching a different life style. What we call the sermon on the Mount (Matthew chap 5 & 6) is a discourse on a way of life that was radically different than what the religious leaders were demonstrating.

I believe the application for us today is this: we live a lifestyle initiated by our born again experience that is based on Kingdom culture. This manner of living is to be the “salt” that attracts others. When they seek us out, we now have the opportunity to demonstrate the power of His kingdom: both in the miraculous and in the new birth.

Food for thought:
Am I waiting for the opportunity to demo the miraculous or am I demo for the transformed Kingdom lifestyle?