NONNON-NEGOTIABLES FOR

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST Don Atkin www.donatkin.com

INTRODUCTION Please pray for me as I offer this kingdom perspective to a church-minded people. I want to express my heart with love, integrity and candor. Walking in the light and speaking the truth in love is the way of the Spirit. I am fortunate that, as I approach the beginning of my eightieth year, I have no vested interests, nothing to protect, and nothing to hide, nothing to sell and nothing to build. I owe you nothing except to love you.

Chapter 1

WHAT DOES A REAL CHRISTIAN LOOK LIKE? I will offer a definition for the church in Chapter 2. But first, I must present a definition of a Christian. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. For this reason it is fair to consider these two descriptive words meaning “followers of Jesus Christ” synonymous. Therefore, biblical mandates for disciples are also biblical mandates for Christians:

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“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple (he cannot be a Christian).” “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple (cannot be a Christian).” “None of you can be My disciple (can be a Christian) who does not give up all his own possessions.” Paul went to the bottom line: Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? Tragically, servant-leaders have invested light years and billions of dollars to accommodate and entertain people who would not even be there if they had been told the truth about the cost of discipleship. Deitrich Bonhoeffer said, “The call to Christ is a call to come and die.” Few will choose the narrow way that leads to life. I would not want to give an account for watering down the message and preaching a different gospel! Paul’s personal testimony illustrates the integrity of true Christian conversion: I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

Chapter 2

THE CHURCH DEFINED Picking up where we left off, it is faithful obedience to the life of Christ abiding within and among believers that makes us His followers, His disciples. When we speak of Christ within the individual, we are affirming spiritual birth by virtue of the abiding Spirit as fruit of authentic conversion. When we speak of Christ among believers, we are affirming that Christ is in our midst, constituting His body in the earth realm. We are seated together with Him at the right hand of the Father in heaven’s realm. And He is in us, the hope of glory in the earth realm. This is the church. The church is not a building, a living room, or a place we go to. The church is people, a new creation, royal priesthood and holy nation. The church is the body of Christ. The church is the 2

bride of Christ. The church is the family, the household of God, the temple in whom He abides. The church is therefore not a denomination, but rather a people born of His Spirit and commissioned to demonstrate and declare the kingdom coming on the earth as it is in heaven. Today, members of the church in any given city may be found scattered among denominational and non-denominational communities and congregations, in both organized and organic variations. Their commonality is the life of Christ within by virtue of being born again of the Spirit. Yet, the majority is not being shepherded, discipled, or envisioned beyond their individual saving faith. Historically, the church of Christ was birthed on Pentecost, A. D. 33. The first church was in Jerusalem, and numbered about three thousand souls who, at the word of Peter, repented, were baptized, and received the gift of the Holy Spirit. “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” The church today is most clearly defined in nations where persecution is a way of life. My personal experience suggests that the underground church in communist China is among the most advanced. We found no “mixture” there. Merely religious people do not put their lives on the line. Believers arrived at gatherings one or two at a time over a period of hours in order to not draw attention. Black curtains covered the windows. There was joy unspeakable and full of glory. They hungrily and eagerly sat at attention seven hours a day, four days in a row. Some were arrested, beaten and tortured within months following our second visit. It was reported to us that they came out of prison honored to suffer for Jesus, and all the more eager to preach Christ, and Him crucified. Jesus told His disciples: “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”

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Chapter 3

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM-I Jesus, a New Government Pierced to the heart by the realization of their parts in crucifying Jesus, the multitude gathered for Pentecost said, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Repentance has been defined as a change of mind, a change of direction, a change of behavior, etc. None of these definitions is complete and sufficient within itself. Neither is the sum of these, because man is capable of making such changes completely on his own volition. This is a common misunderstanding and practice within much of what calls itself “church” today. Multitudes believing the historical facts about Jesus, and giving mental ascent to Him as Savior, make such decisions and commitments to change, go into the water, and are told that they have been baptized into Christ. Love constrains me to speak the truth. Some actually do experience authentic conversion as they are immersed into Christ. True repentance is a gift from God enabling believers to surrender their own lordship and submit to the lordship of King Jesus. True repentance is a change of government from self-rule to Jesus as Lord. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. The church is the body of Christ, made up of a new creation able to confess “Jesus is Lord” by the Holy Spirit, and proving their faith by their obedience. Consider these words of Jesus: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” Jesus fulfilled this promise and Joel’s prophecy on the day of Pentecost, A. D. 33.

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Isaiah prophesied: There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. The increase of the Lord’s government and of peace is ever-increasing fruit of a lifestyle of repentance. The Lord of hosts said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’ Lawlessness is anything we do on our own or fail to do when He commands it. Whatever is not of faith is sin. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Jesus knows His disciples, and His disciples know Him, see Him and hear Him. “Blessed are those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.” Willing followers actually make spiritual authority work. People are free to no longer follow Jesus at any time. He said, “Follow Me and I will make you . . .” Jesus stops making us when we stop following Him. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth: Be imitators of me as I also am of Christ.

Chapter 4

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM-2 Abba, a New Father This blog may reach those who don’t know who their father is, have/had an absentee father, those who have been mistreated or abused by their father, and some (hopefully many) who have/had wonderful fathers. Regardless of your experience, Abba is a mega-upgrade! He is the Perfect Father, all of the time! He is always present and always available. He IS Love! For all that are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirits that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. 5

So many who are genuinely Christians, born of the Spirit into a new creation, simply try to pray, read their Bibles, attend meetings and honorably live with the hope of heaven. While this is commendable, there is so much more awaiting sons. We are not just sons. We are sons of God, and therefore sons of the kingdom. We are to reign in life. Like Jesus, there are preparatory trials along the way. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect (mature), He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation. It is our Father’s will that we grow up into mature sons and daughters, and join Him in the business of the kingdom. Jesus said, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.” He is the firstborn of many brethren. God is bringing many sons to glory. Historically, multitudes have repeated the Lord’s Prayer in rote, as part of their weekly liturgy, never even considering that His kingdom could ever come on the earth as it is in heaven. Consequently many live their lives (instead of His life) finding their significance in the world while maintaining certain spiritual disciplines. There is so much more in store for sons of the kingdom. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Our Father . . .” Yet, so many today pray, “Our Lord . . .” believing and acting like slaves, not sons. Our Father is eager to hold you close to His heart and to love you into holistic well-being. No matter how old you are, or how long you have been active in the church, there is a place in His arms for those who become like little children and enter into the kingdom.

Chapter 5

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM-3 Community, A New Family I have watched a young woman granted repentance, turn and yield to the Lord Jesus Christ. The transformation was so obviously supernatural over a period of about two years. Unfortunately, she did not get assimilated into a family of believers. Her “church” activity was to occasionally attend a large denominational church.

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When faced with terrible circumstances and very difficult decisions, she turned to her old partying community where she knew that she would be loved and accepted, and received the comfort and comradery that she so desperately needed. Her countenance no longer radiates the presence of Christ within. Struggling to survive and to care for her children, she is making wrong decisions based upon her trusted support community. She lives in one of the most “churched” areas in the world, but never has found her place. Like so many others, her faith has been reduced to a religion of individualism—“It’s me and God!” God’s resources are most often found within His family. Jesus referenced this truth: Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.” But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.” Imagine how so many things might have been different for this young mother had she been immersed in the body of Christ, where we are commanded, “Love one another.” “Bear one another’s burdens.” “Forgive one another.” The New Testament gives Christians a lot of “one another” instructions; things that we should all do on behalf of our family in Christ. “One another” is two words in English, but it’s only one word in Greek. It’s used 100 times in 94 New Testament verses. 47 of those verses give instructions to followers of Jesus. Paul wrote 60% of those “one another” commands. When I was a very new Christian, a change in employment caused us to move from the East all the way to California. For the first time in our lives we were separated from our natural family and immersed into the family of God. Eventually, God brought us back to be nearer our families and gave us favor with them. But, our new life in Christ had gained for us the priority of being in God’s forever family. We have always been immersed in the family of God, very relational, even in more institutional settings. Consequently, we don’t understand how meeting venues can label you “either/or.” We can shout unto God with shouters, dance with dancers, sing with singers, and pray with prayers. It all begins on the inside and is nurtured by family.

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Chapter 6

A MID-STREAM REVIEW Giving Serious Consideration to Implications I know the personal cost, the pain of dying daily while living a life of repentance in order to be faithful to the gospel of the kingdom. I have lost count long ago on how many acts of repentance have gone into more than fifty years of following Jesus. When I say that much is going on that is at least criminal, and likely demonic, I am pleading “guilty,” and thanking God for His grace and patience. Been there; done that. Rather than accuse, judge or condemn others, I prefer to share the truth as I understand it today, and trust that the Holy Spirit will bring His unique and very personal applications to each individual who reads these posts. We began by defining a real Christian as one born of the Spirit, a new creation who was crucified with Christ, in whom Christ lives. Jesus said, “The gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” THIS IS NOT NEGOTIABLE! Only those who are living His life by the Spirit are members of His body, the church. Millions, perhaps billions of dollars and man-hours are going into edifices and entertainment for multitudes that mingle among those who are actually alive to God. The Lord is adding to the church day by day those who are being saved. THIS IS NOT NEGOTIABLE! Jesus is enthroned in and among many brothers whom God is bringing to glory. He knows His own and calls them by name. He said, “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” THIS IS NOT NEGOTIABLE! He said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” Abba is our Father in heaven, and we are sons of the kingdom. “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” THIS IS NOT NEGOTIABLE! There is neither maturity nor purpose for the individual apart from his full integration into the body of Christ, the family of God, the household of faith. God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. THIS IS NOT NEGOTIABLE! 8

Please take time to seriously consider the implications of these five non-negotiables before we continue on with this series. I am praying for you with great love and caring!

Chapter 7

A NEW BIRTH My New Life in Christ You MUST! (Not Negotiable!) Jesus responded to Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” • • • • •

He cannot see the new creation. He cannot see the true church. He cannot see the Lord. He cannot see the Father. He cannot see the New Covenant community.

Jesus continued, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ’You must be born again.’” You MUST! Paul addressed the same theme: The love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died . . . therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh . . . if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven . . . Just as we have born the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. This non-negotiable is a matter of spiritual life and death! “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.” There is no room for presumption. We must nurture the spiritual life we discover unless we are content with shepherding goats. Peter gave the divine directive: 9

• • •

Repent Be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from or where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – Jesus

Chapter 8

A NEW CREATION My New Identity and Purpose The reason that I am stressing this point so much is that it is so often overlooked in the business and busyness of what calls itself “church.” Tailoring their efforts after the world, and using the Babylonian systems for grandiose purposes, people sometimes become simply numbers and resources for the ambitious visions of leader(s) . People will spend eternity apart from God because true conversion never happened for them—because costs of true discipleship are compromised. While I made many mistakes in my growing up years in Christ, I never quietly allowed people for whom Christ died to bask in a false sense of eternal security. I had lived in that falsehood too many years myself, believing that since I was living in the USA and was not a Jew, I had to be a Christian. It is both scary and tragic to consider the various brands of so-called “Christians” who do not have the life of Christ within them. An empty plane looks like a plane, but cannot fly without a pilot at the controls. We cannot fulfill our purpose without Jesus literally at the controls! So many sincere seekers mistakenly believe that they are fulfilling God’s purpose by filling chairs in the audience for religious performances. Non-Christians are capable of directing parking lot traffic, ushering, preparing the flowers or the communion. While these are honorable services, they alone do not evidence the abiding Christ or His life coming forth. Several years ago in Peru, I worked alongside the brethren in stacking chairs. Word got back to me that they were greatly impressed because “The Apostle” helped them do that. The new 10

creation carries the life and presence of God with him/her even in humble acts of service. Revealing the glory of God is the privilege of the new creation in every sphere of activity. I worked for many years to become somebody. Finally, upon becoming willing to be a nobody Jesus is making me somebody in Him. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church . . . For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Learning our identity and purpose in Christ is most often the fruit of biblical discipleship.

Chapter 9

A NEW HEART Forgiven and Forgiving Forgiveness does not necessarily always flow in response to repentance, confession, and asking for forgiveness. It may work that way in the world. But, in the kingdom, forgiveness springs forth out of a new heart. The new creation has a propensity to forgive as a characteristic of the ministry of reconciliation. Forgiveness may be one of the most potent provisions for lives of peace. Peter asked Jesus how many times we should forgive, and then suggested in question form, “Seven times?” Jesus’ response was profound when you take the time to really consider it: “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times.” There is so much more to having the keys for binding and loosing than can be captured in a moment or two. I have found the following to be far more than events. I have found them to be a way of life—the life of Christ being lived out by faith: •

Repenting – constantly abandoning any self will, initiative and governance in favor of Jesus and His loving lordship.

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•

•

•

Loving – He came to show us the Father who is “Love.” The fruit of His Spirit is “love.” Christ in us, the hope of glory, loves His enemies and ours. He loves even those who crucify Him and us. Forgiving – is a decision, not an emotion. Doing so is not negotiable for those who are His disciples. “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” Serving – The Greatest among us is Servant of all. His passion pointed toward reconciliation, the very thing for which all of creation cries out.

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

Chapter 10

A NEW POSITION Raised and Placed by Grace Can you imagine what it would be like to be the missing piece of the puzzle that, when finished, will reveal the fullness of Christ in the earth? Can you just imagine the futility and frustration of those pieces of the puzzle that, when functioning rely upon you for the fullness of their function? Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being filled and held together by what every joint supplies, 12

according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Here is a clue to adhering to one another: held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part. We are not held together by what is supplied us; we are held together by what we supply! The whole is greater than any part thereof. Even in the infant church in Corinth Paul began to lay the foundation of Christ in us, the hope of glory: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. For to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. The gifts that I carry are for your good; and the gifts that you carry are for our good. God, who knows what He is doing, has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desires. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. Some are raised to be set in, while others are raised to be sent out. Even those who are sent out should first be set in. It is by being set in that we gain what we carry when we are sent out. We are prepared with the grace to go while we are yet graced to stay. Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood . . . a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Lone rangers are as useful as spare and unattached body parts.

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Chapter 11

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT His Presence, Guidance and Enablement Those who are waiting for a revival, or a visitation, or the return of Christ before anything significant can happen are missing the substance of the good news and all that is encompassed in the power from on high. Then He [Jesus] opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” We understand that this promise was fulfilled at Pentecost. Just prior to His arrest, following His promise of another Helper, Jesus provided this insight and explanation to His apostles: “. . . that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” If you are reading this it is fair to believe that you are beyond the complex rationales of religious mindsets that pray in unbelief for revival and visitation, and you understand that the very life of God is in us. “. . . you in Me, and I in you . . .” We are the benefactors of His abiding habitation. Christ in us, the hope of glory! You have an anointing from the Holy One (Christ: the Anointed One) . . . The anointing which you received from Him abides in you. His Spirit life within to guide and enable us is not negotiable if we are truly His disciples. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

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Do you see that those praying for revival and/or visitation are asking for what we have already received? There’s nothing more to receive. We will spend our lifetimes discovering what we have already received. Apostles and prophets are to uncover for the church the foundation that has already been laid.

Chapter 12

SPIRITUAL GROWTH The Inevitable Fruit of Faith and Obedience Kriston Couchey rightly writes: “We have been taught by religion that being in Christ is a process of dying and getting more of God. However, as a result of being joined to Him, we are ALREADY one Spirit with the Lord. And being born of the incorruptible seed of Christ is a process of revealing what is already within and knowing that, in Him, you have ALREADY died and Christ is ALREADY your life. We must simply see and agree with Him. So much of Christianity has wasted time trying to kill what was dead and bring into us what we already have, all by faith.” His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Everything pertaining to life and godliness has already been deposited in us in the person of Christ by virtue of His Holy Spirit. As our true knowledge of Him grows, so grows His glory and excellence in our experience. Maturity is the fullness of Christ within us and among us enabling us to discover and function in our unction as fellow-members of His body. This spiritual growth is essential—not negotiable—for His disciples who fulfill their destiny and His purpose in the earth. My six-part video series on “The Spirit of Sonship” (link at www.DonAtkin.com) is an excellent tool for this growth, because it serves us in the renewing of our minds, moving from a slave mentality to a son reality. Jesus learned obedience from the things which He suffered. Immediately after Joseph and Mary found Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem, Scripture says: And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them . . . And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. I can imagine the emotions of Joseph and Mary as 15

they searched frantically for Jesus for three days. I have my own conclusions of some of the details of that day. You can decide for yourself. We all must agree that (1) Jesus learned obedience through suffering, and (2) He continued in subjection to them, and grew. Paul wrote: I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us. James wrote: Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect [mature] and complete, lacking in nothing. Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Chapter 13

DISCIPLESHIP I Increasing in Favor with God It is difficult to understand how God’s only begotten Son, born of His own seed by the Spirit, would need to increase in favor with Him. Perhaps a brief peek at the culture of that day may help. Born heirs, owners of everything, children were largely raised no different than slaves by their mothers along with guardians and managers until the date set by the father. Unlike our present-day practice of adoption, taking someone into our family and giving him/her the family name, adoption then was a celebration of maturation accompanied by father’s public acknowledgement of sonship. This normally took place when children reached thirty years of age. Joseph was appointed by the Father as guardian and manager over Jesus to, alongside Mary, bring Him to maturity. If you can receive it, perhaps Jesus missed it when, as a twelve-year-old, He decided to be about His Father’s business. It was from that point that He continued in subjection to Joseph and Mary, and increased in favor with God. It was eighteen years later when He received Father’s affirmation and declaration of His sonship: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

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His identity as a beloved Son of God sustained Him during the temptations of forty days in the wilderness. He had bold access into the Holy of Holies and His Father did not leave Him nor forsake Him for a moment. The word of God was in His heart, on His mind and tongue for the tempter’s every effort to deceive Him. He came out of the wilderness in the power of the Spirit. He came to put His Father on display, could do nothing of Himself, unless it was something He saw the Father doing. He did not seek His own will, but the will of Him who sent Him. “I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” Giving ourselves to Him and to those guardians and managers He appointed for us will bring us to the place that we, with Jesus, can say: “I know where I came from and where I am going.” We, too, can increase in favor with God. Isaiah spoke of the increase pertaining to God’s kingdom: There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

Chapter 14

DISCIPLESHIP II Increasing in Favor with Man Hosting a minister from a Third World nation, we quickly became aware of his need for deodorant. The purchase and presentation made, we had hoped for some relief that did not come. Some months later, while visiting in his home, we found the deodorant proudly displayed in his trophy cabinet! Even in the USA, our broken culture invaded by corruption is multiplying dysfunctional people. Just to provide a product or statement does not disciple a new creation away from its old habits. Mercy dictates excusing socially ineptness; the will of God dictates patient and loving disciplines. 17

Paul prophesied about today in a letter to Timothy: Men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these. To lovingly deliver precious people out of such cultures also requires patiently discipling the cultures out of them! While there are evidences and examples for the obedience to the Great Commission, including the lifestyle ministry of both Jesus and Paul, their cultural context provided them with a head start. We do not have that luxury. Discipling believers, so that they increase in favor with God and man, is not an option. It is our Lord’s command, the urging of His Spirit within our breast, the need of the hour for the revealing of a new creation. The culture of the kingdom will only be revealed on earth as it is in heaven by sons of the kingdom who have engaged the process in faith and obedience. It is futility to speak about what we are not living. Our lives speak louder than our words. My book, “Like Father, Like Son,” is a fitting tool, available at www.donatkin.com in print and electronic formats. Real disciples of Christ make up the real church living under a new government with a new Father and a new family. There are huge implications concerning a new birth, a new identity and a new purpose. Our new hearts will confirm our new positions and purpose in Christ. Life in the Spirit, enjoying the reality of His abiding presence, guidance and enabling will result in growing in favor with God and man. So will the sons be revealed to creation.

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