Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: ADEPT (10/19/23)
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TITLE: Good Enough | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
10/24/23 -
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Just before ascending (1), the Lord Jesus Christ commissioned (2) the Church to spread the Gospel Message for salvation, and to make disciples out of those who are born again (3).
Disciples is an English translation of the Greek word m-a-t-h-e-t-e-s. A m-a-t-h-e-t-e-s is one who becomes a technical student, in this case of the Word of God, A mathetes desires to become like his teacher.
Discipleship is a post (after) salvation activity. Therefore, it has nothing to do with retaining salvation (4), but has everything to do with the Church fulfilling its God given mission, here on Earth.
Discipleship is initially for the spiritual edification of oneself, but with the long term objective of participating in the Great Commission.
Disciples must not only learn (5) what the Bible has to say, but must learn to apply it (6) to everything that they think, say, and do.
It matters not where (home, work, school, or play) an advancing disciple is, or what he or she may otherwise be doing, he or she is there to function as an ambassador of the Kingdom of God.
An ambassador is well read and familiar with the policies of the Kingdom that he or she represents. Acquiring such knowledge is a fundamental requirement to execute this function.
Religious individuals, weak believers, and nominal Christians are satisfied with “good enough.”
“Good enough” only calls for one hour or so out of 168 hours (7 x 24) that God gives us each week. During that one hour, we may pray, sing hymns, and occasionally pick up an interesting point or two during a brief homily or sermon, but often times make no significant progress along the road to spiritual maturity.
Depending on the denominational traditions, “good enough” will have us go through the daily, weekly, or monthly motions of celebrating the Lord’s Supper (Communion) in one way or another. But by failing to truly examine ourselves (7) and falling short of accomplishing the stated purpose of bringing into remembrance the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ (8), they make no progress.
Salvation is immediate, complete, and eternally secure, as of the moment one is sealed (marked for identification) and his or her dead spirit is regenerated. This sealing (9) and regeneration (10) is the Work of God the Holy Spirit that takes place the moment one chooses to believe in a presentation of the unadulterated Gospel Message.
One can never be any more or any less saved than when he or she was born again (11).
Although a born again believer’s salvation is eternally secure, he or she is only a spiritual infant, and in need of much spiritual nutrition and exercise, if he or she is going to become and remain an adept disciple.
Spiritual nutrition comes from the ongoing ingesting of the Word of God (12) on a regular basis.
Just as a really good meal at a fine restaurant is good for the day, one must continue to eat and drink on a regular basis, or his or her body will suffer the physical consequences.
The same principle of ongoing eating and exercise applies to the daily feeding on, and exercising (application) of, the Word of God by an advancing disciple.
Without daily spiritual food and exercise, a born again believer will remain saved, but will become spiritually unproductive (13) in his or her post salvation spiritual life. This productivity is measured by the amount of saved or edified souls (14) that was accomplished by one’s participation in the Great Commission.
There are many Church-goers that have a tool box (soul structure) full of tools (Scripture verses), but lack such productivity.
Remember, the best power tool on the market is useless if it is not taken out of the box and connected to the appropriate power source (15).
Spiritual exercise takes place as one applies his or her Biblical knowledge to all that he she thinks, says, or does, 24/7, with the enabling power that God supplies.
Advancing disciples will never be satisfied with “good enough.” The more he or she learns, the more he or she will want to learn. The more productive he or she becomes, the more productive he or she will want to be.
For an advancing disciple, to be adept means for him or her to become very knowledgeable and productive in promoting the Word of God.
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(1) Acts 1: 9 (2) Matthew 28: 19, 20 (3) John 3: 7 (4) Romans 8: 1 (5) 2Peter 3: 18 (6) James 1: 22 (7) 1Corinthians 11: 28/2Corinthians 13: 5 (8) 1Cor.11: 23-25 (9) Ephesians 4: 30 (10) Titus 3: 5 (11) Romans 8: 1 (12) 2Peter 3: 18 (13) Mark 4: 19 (14) Mark 4:20 (15 ) John 15: 5
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