Good morning Jesus, I begin today placing all that I am and all that I have into you hands.
Yesterday Curtis Sergeant and his wife Debbie came to our house and listened took part in a discussion with us on obeying Jesus’ command to go and make disciples who make disciples. Multiplication is a critical aspect of discipleship. Multiplying disciples is at the core of being a Christian. It is the DNA Jesus instilled in his disciples. This same DNA was instilled in you when you accepted Christ as your Lord. One of the questions our conversations centered around was, “Am I a disciple worth multiplying?” God does not want to multiply all disciples, but those who are his true disciples. God does not want to multiply mediocrity. “Mediocrity” in Christianity, the western church is multiplying quite well on its own. However, you must examine and improve your personal prayer life and level of discipleship before you can step into trying to examine and improve your community and your church. God desires to multiply those who exhibit Immediate Radical Costly Obedience (IRCO)
Immediate: Martin Luther said, “Delay is the sharpest arrow in the enemy’s quiver”
Radical: If your life is rooted in Christ, you will stand out to the world.
Costly: no matter what is required.
Obedience: “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” (John 14:15) “Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him.” (John 14:23)
Throughout Scripture, God’s multiplication of disciples was achieved through those individuals who exhibited Immediate Radical Costly Obedience (IRCO). One example is Abraham. God chose Abraham to be the source of multiplication and blessing because he exhibited IRCO. Read these four stories of his life in Genesis. 12:1-4; 17:9-11, 22-23; 21:8-14; 22:1-3. In all these stories, Abraham basically heard what God was telling him to do, and then he did it. He obeyed what God told him without delay, faithfully, no matter what the personal cost.
If I were to add another letter “I” to IRCO it would be for “intentional”. For the Great Commission to be completed and the making of disciples requires intentional action and resoluteness. Jesus commands us today to set our eyes on the goal of disciple making and pursue that goal with stubborn focus. This means that unless you pray and plan to make disciples, you won’t do it. Though we at ODC may make allot of mistakes along the way of making disciples, However, like inviting Curtis into our mist and setting aside a day to be with him shows, we are seeking to be very intentional to make disciples.
Disciples are not made accidentally or may I add at Sunday morning worship services. Worship is an aspect of a disciples life, however Sunday morning worship does not train, model, or create disciples. We must intentionally change our mindset that we can make disciples without changing anything in our daily lives and the daily lives and formats of our churches. That disciples will be made if we keep going about doing our own thing. Making disciples requires intentionality and it requires Immediate Radical Costly Obedience.
My family, I pray today you will open your Bible and read through these four stories of Abraham in Genesis. Then take time in prayer to reflect on these passages. If you love God, you will obey what he commands, and his commands are not burdensome. They are not legalistic or to be negatively obeyed, but obeyed out of love. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt 19:29-30) How is your love for God being expressed in your life through IRCO? Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
https://www.onedirection.community
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