Each New Year we usually say “Good-bye!” to the previous year with a “Good riddance!” Every year has its challenges, but after a few more years go by, we tend to remember only the good things. One thing we can surely rejoice in is that the Lord chooses to forget all of our confessed sin and only remembers the good we have done. If we are going to be one with Him, we too will have to forget our sins and our failures, and only remember the good things.

         This is not a delusion, nor...

Last year I received a word that we were in the Valley of Decision, and that those who were not maturing in Christ and daily seeking Him would begin to backslide and turn away from Him. We must be intentional about our spiritual maturity, or it won’t happen. Even biology teaches us that when we stop growing, we start dying.

          This is the time of year when many are making resolutions for the coming year. Why not make this one? May this be the year in which we seek the Lord in every way...

        We continue this week with just a few more Scriptures where the Lord gave a definition of what His disciples would be and do.

          “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8 NKJV).

         Not only do disciples bear fruit, but they bear “much fruit.” Jesus is Life, so if we are abiding in Him, life will be multiplying through us.

          "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who...

   Last week we discussed how few converts to Christ have gone on to become disciples. So what does it mean to be a disciple? A true disciple will seek to know how the Master Himself defines a disciple. Therefore, we will look at a few verses where the Lord gives us a definition.

    Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 

   "For whoever desires to save his life...

    In the New Testament, there are several progressions toward maturity in Christ. Though it is not stated specifically as such, the most basic would be:

1)   Converts

2)   Disciples

3)   Servants

4)   Friends

5)   Sons

    The Great Commission is to make disciples, not merely converts. With the evangelists’ emphasis on making converts, which is their job, many, and possibly most, converts have stayed at this level because of a lack of follow up. New Testament ministry is a team as seen in Ephesians 4. In the Book of Acts, when an evangelist like Philip ignited the...