Discipleship

And Jesus came 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 of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20) 

Websters-Merriam defines a disciple as: 1. One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another. 2. An active adherent, as of a movement or philosophy. 3. One of the original followers of Jesus. 

Our focus passage is commonly known as the Great Commission. Jesus is reminding the disciples of who He is, and that all authority has been given to Him; so, when He commands them to go it is an authoritative command, not a suggestion. This command was not just meant for the disciples; discipleship was to start with them and then to be passed down from believer to believer as the body of Christ grows here on earth. Because Jesus had this authority, He could send whomever He wills to do whatever He pleases. 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12) Jesus informed the disciples that they and all other followers of Him would do greater works than He. This is only possible because of the Holy Spirit that has been given to all who have received Jesus as Savior and Lord, and with that gift of the Holy Spirit, the authoritative command to make disciples can be done by those who obey the command. 

We must take note that we are not called to go and save the nations! We are not given the power to save anyone; that power and ministry alone belongs to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We are to be vessels used by Them to present the gospel and point people to the saving work of Christ while the Holy Spirit calls and convicts them of the truth. It is His authority that sends us, His authority that guides us, and His authority that empowers us. His work and message would continue to the world through His disciples; this is why He said we would do greater things than He. Because through us He would reach and touch even more than He did when He was here personally on earth. Jesus’ main work was done deliberately to the Jewish people (Matthew 15:24). It was in rare exceptions that He ministered among the Gentiles (Matthew 15:21-28). Now, Jesus has commanded us to go to all nations and to all peoples to spread and share His gospel and to make disciples. 

Dale LaFrance (please look up Acts 1:4-8) 

Letter to the Laodiceans

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, “These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.  Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.  As many as I love, I rebuke, and chasten.  Therefore be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” 

Jesus describe Himself to the church in Laodicea as the One who is the ruler, source, and origin of all creation, something that they needed to hear just as we do today.  As we wrap up these seven letters, it’s interesting to note that each church had taken on some characteristic of the city that they were part of that had to be addressed. 

The Laodiceans were a proud people refusing outside help to rebuild their city after a devasting earthquake in 60 A.D.  They were a very wealthy city and used their own resources to rebuild.  The reference to the church being lukewarm most likely came from the fact that the city had to rely on the main water source being transported six miles via an aqueduct.  This water came from hot springs out of Hierapolis, and when it arrived it was unappetizingly lukewarm. 

Jesus called the church out for being lukewarm and stated that they were just as distasteful as the lukewarm water they had to drink.  This is a picture of the church being indifferent and compromising, a church trying to play the middle ground, neither hot nor cold. When one tries to be both things in reality, they become nothing and are useless, becoming nothing, which is why Jesus said, “I will vomit you out of My mouth!” 

As Jesus hung on the cross; the one thief on the cross next to Him was cold towards Jesus and clearly saw his need. John was hot towards Jesus and enjoyed a relationship of love; but Judas was lukewarm, following Jesus enough to be considered a disciple, yet not giving his heart to Jesus in fullness. I invite you to ponder these three examples and consider which one best describes you. I have always held the view since being a Christian that the most miserable on the face of the earth is a lukewarm believer: they have too much of the world to be happy in Jesus, but too much of Jesus to be happy in the world. 

Today, we must not fall into the same trap the Laodicean church did.  We should never except that we have enough Jesus.  The truth be told, we should always be desiring, striving, and yearning for more and more of Jesus.  If you are walking today just coasting along in Jesus not desiring more of Him and His help, you are walking along dangerously as the Laodiceans.  I must confess that was me some years back, and then I read this passage and the Spirit of God drove me to my knees to repent of being lukewarm.  Bear this in mind: Satan will have us any way he can get us, but he prizes a lukewarm religionist far above a cold-hearted sinner.  When we act this way, we must be zealous to repent and then to continue being zealous for Him.  Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart.  Notice how He doesn’t just barge in through that door, He knocks and awaits your answer.  We must open that door ourselves and allow Him in and when we do, we must allow Him all access.  And then we can walk in the victory that He has promised us.  Before we open that door, we must repent of all pride, self-sufficiency, our own wisdom, and lastly our cowardly neutrality. 

Laodicea was the worst of all the churches, yet it was given the greatest promise which can and will apply to us.  We can repent, finally conquer, and attain to the highest state of glory sitting with Jesus on His throne.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says! 

Are You a Salt Shaker

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (Matthew 5:14) 

When Jesus made this statement addressing the people during His sermon on the Mount, they had no problem understanding what He meant. They understood the importance of salt and its value. His statement carried great weight. Most likely His listeners had all kinds of images flash through their minds, and they understood the many connotations that salt carried with it. With this illustration of salt, Jesus was teaching about the influence that we as followers of Christ should have upon the world in which we live. 

The Greek word for salt is halas, and it describes salt exactly like the salt we use in our homes and kitchens today. Today salt is very common and easy to purchase at any grocery store. However, during Jesus’ day, salt was an expensive and treasured commodity that was crucial and needed in many spheres of life, and was not as readily accessible as it is today. 

Salt was used as a preservative. So, when the people heard Jesus say “You are the salt of the earth” they understood that He meant that through our influence, we should be a preserving force in a world that is filled with rot, spoil, and decay. God’s Word working in our lives causes us to be like salt, and our very presence helps abate the corruption that is eating away at the world. 

Salt was used as a flavor enhancer. How does this apply to us as Christians today? It tells us that not only should our presence abate the evil in the world, we should also change the flavor of our society as we bring the savor of Christ into our surroundings wherever we go. As followers of Christ who are truly living in obedience to His calling, the Holy Spirit within us will be flowing, over which will cause others to notice. 

Salt was used as an antiseptic. Are we allowing God to use us by cleansing our environment as His antiseptic to promote a more spiritually sanitized environment? 

Salt was used as a medicinal and healing agent. As God’s children we have been empowered with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and through the power of the Spirit we can be used to administer physical and spiritual healing because of the authority given to us in the Name of Jesus. We are carriers of God’s healing salt. Are we doing our job as the salt of the earth? 

Salt was used as a fertilizer. We are to make life better around us. When we walk into any situation, the environment surrounding us is filled with more peace, joy, and hope than it was before we arrived! Because as the salt of the earth, we have the power to make a difference everywhere we are scattered. 

So, how’s the salt in your shaker? And are you allowing God to shake it on those around you? 

                       Dale LaFrance  (please look up Colossians 4:6) 

Letter to Philadelphia

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy.  He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.  I know your works.  See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.  Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet and to know that I have loved you.  Because you have kept My command to persevere.  I also will keep you from the hour of trial which will come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.  Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.  He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and He shall go out no more.  I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:7-14) 

The city of Philadelphia was built by the Greeks with the intention to be a missionary city because right past it lay the wilds of Phrygia and the barbarous tribes.  The intention was to spread the Greek language, Greek way of life, and Greek civilization to those regions outside their borders.  Philadelphia was also a very prosperous city; because of that they commanded one of the greatest highways in the world.  This highway led from Europe to the east, making Philadelphia a gateway from one continent to another. 

Jesus reminds the church in this letter that He is holy and true, which describes His very being and not just what He intended to be.  The Greek word that Jesus used was “alethinos” which describes Him as being real or genuine.  Jesus is true in all of who He is; He is the real God and the real man.  He also reveals that He is the keeper of the keys and doors as He makes reference of that from Isaiah 22: 20-23.  This statement reveals that He has the power and authority to admit or to exclude entry into His kingdom. 

Jesus tells the Philadelphian church that He had opened the door of evangelistic opportunity and that they were to seize that opportunity and go through that door with faith.  This same call still applies to the church today!  We are all called to evangelize!  For some that may mean reaching one or two, and for others, multitudes. Regardless, we have all been given the great commission in Matthew 28:19-20.  We must keep our eyes open for those doors that the Lord opens before us to share His Gospel to those around us. Only Jesus can open the door and keep it open, and only Jesus can shut that door and keep it shut. We must be in tune with the Holy Spirit to recognize when a door is open and to go through it or when a door is closed and move on from it. So, when Jesus says no one can shut it, He reveals that there is unhindered access to that door. That open door may also imply that unlike the synagogue where the door was closed to them, His door into God’s kingdom was open to all who would want to enter in through Him. John 10:9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”  

Jesus was pleased with them because they kept the Word of the Lord and did not deny His name and because of that Jesus promised them protection from the hour of trial that would be coming to the whole world. He also noted that they had little strength; this did not imply that they were weak; it means real strength in the Lord. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). The church in Philadelphia had the poverty of spirit (Matthew 5:3) to know that they really needed God’s strength. He did exhort them to hold fast so that their crown of victory would not be given to another.  We must do the same today!  For those who overcome and hold fast, Jesus will make them as pillars in the temple of God, and God’s name will be written on him.  He who has ears let him hear what the Spirit says! 

Dale LaFrance   (please look up Isaiah 22: 20-23)