How did you learn Jesus?
Learn Jesus!
Practice Jesus!
(Ephesians 4:17-27; Matthew 7:13-28)
“There are lots of ‘believers’ in Jesus but too few discernible ‘Disciples’ of Jesus pursuing a Jesus ‘first place in everything’ ‘grow up in all aspects into Him’ or ‘walk in the same manner as He walked’ Lifestyle in real practice (Ephesians 4:15 and 1 John 2:3-6).
Pokyra helps fix the important ‘Our Part To Play’ practice problem in Christianity much like a ‘Trade School’ pursues a more PRACTICAL ‘learn by doing’ (or ‘learn by RECEIVING’) approach toward teaching and equipping certain skills just as Jesus explained His ultimate GOAL for all of His devoted Disciples in Luke 6:40:
‘A Disciple is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like their teacher.’
We who are His devoted Disciples are not pursuing any other ‘teacher’ FIRST and are becoming more and more mature in Christ each day as the Citizen Disciple of Heaven because we are following the King of Heaven Himself. Do you get it how AWESOME this calling from the King of Heaven truly is?
Sadly, too many ‘Christians’ don’t ‘get it’ and are content with becoming students/disciples of somene else “first place in everything”. For example, some are saying, ‘I want to become a Baptist or Catholic or … ____________ (you fill in the blank from all of the ‘Christian’ groups and organizations out there in the world claiming to be the “teacher” FOR Jesus the King of Heaven).
So, do you REALLY want to “grow up in all aspects” into those ‘teachers’ as Jesus taught it in Luke 6:40?
News Flash: “… everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like their teacher.’
Think about it honestly: ‘When you arrive in Heaven will you still believe Jesus is a _____________ (the “teacher” label of someone and their ‘Christian’ brand other than Jesus ‘first place in everything’ – Colossians 1:13-18)?
Consider the example of Paul who wrote (taught) many of the important texts found in the New Testament part of the Bible. Paul came to “know” Jesus AFTER He died and rose from the dead back to His throne in Heaven. In fact, Jesus spoke to Paul audibly from His throne in Heaven recorded in Acts 9:1-9. Let’s consider Jesus’ required “fruit” standard from John 15:1-8 and apply it to the “teacher” Paul.
The “fruit” coming out of Paul in, say for example, Philippians 3:1-21 and Colossians 1:13-18 (and, of course, elsewhere in the Bible too), let’s compare THAT FRUIT with that of “other teachers” teaching other “Christians” throughout the world today. Too many today are teaching others as if THEY were THE FINAL WORD “first place in everything” teacher claiming to speak FOR King Jesus.
What’s the problem? Jesus views too many “teachers” teaching “strange doctrines” that Jesus would NEVER teach if you truly were to “know” Him by the Holy Spirit and “seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33; 7:21-27; and 1 Corinthians 2:12-16).
The Apostle John also warned us about this spiritual hijacking of and replacement of “the anointing” of the Holy Spirit of Jesus in 1 John 2:26-27 just as Jesus was warning His Disciples in Matthew 16:21-28!
Read John’s warning in 1 John 2:26-27 and you will quickly “get” the point I am trying to make here with this posting titled,
“How did you learn Jesus?”
Now, let’s contrast Paul’s letter written to the Corinthians (specifically 2 Corinthians 5:14-21) regarding our “ambassadors for Christ” the King of Heaven roles to begin accurately representing both Him and His Kingdom of Heaven too. Are you aware of the role of an “ambassador”? They carry messages from their King or President of a Nation. The point being if they represented the King WRONGLY then they were FIRED from their job (or worse!).
When you contrast Paul the “ambassador of Christ” with other “teachers” of Christ today claiming to represent Christ, know that Paul’s letters written hundreds of years ago in the Bible were FULL of CORRECTIONS to other “Christian” teachers. Paul was clearly acting as Jesus’ “ambassador” just like I am asking you to compare and contrast the “fruit” coming out of Paul with those you may know where you live as a Christian.
Here is the challenge: Would Jesus FIRE YOU or PRAISE YOU for sharing His “interests” or not (Matthew 16:23; 16:13-28; 1 John 3:24-4:6)!
For example, Paul’s letters to Timothy challenged him to personally correct certain teachers in Ephesus to “stop teaching strange doctrines” because they were straying further and further away from Jesus as their “first place in everything” Teacher and as the undisputed “head of the church” that bears His Name (1 Timothy 1:1-20; 6:3-5; and Colossians 1:13-18).
What’s my point? The point is that if THIS FRUIT coming from Paul is also found in any “Christian” “teacher” today then they are truly honoring Jesus’ “first place in everything” as Teacher for His “Christians” and are clearly doing it right! Well done!
Chances are great that these who listen to them are truly “growing up in all aspects into Him” (Jesus) and will “be like their teacher” Jesus when they are “fully trained” (Ephesians 4:15 and Luke 6:40).
Anyone having other “fruit” would likely receive one of Paul’s famous CORRECTION letters on behalf of the King of Heaven he was representing as His “ambassador for Christ”. Paul knew quite well of Jesus’ challenge to everyone in Luke 6:40. Are you?
Are you also an “ambassador for Christ” or are you an “ambassador” for ____________ (you name the “teacher” you are growing up into).
Jesus’ devoted Disciples have learned from Him how to be “not of the world” but of the kingdom of Heaven. How did they learn that lifestyle here on earth? I mean Jesus’ lifestyle He called, ‘the kingdom of heaven is at hand,’ that Jesus brought with Him from Heaven recorded in the New Testament part of the Bible (John 1:18)?
Easy! They learned it from Jesus Himself and how He literally and practically modelled a real Holy Spirit Lifestyle of daily life lived “on earth as it is in heaven” with “Our Father” (who is “spirit” – John 4:19-26 and 1 John 2:26-27) even inside this rebellious to God “domain of darkness” world where people hate God and His Kingdom and His King (Jesus).
Trust Jesus, you really don’t want to get to the Gate of Heaven (John 9:35-10:9) without being Jesus’ devoted Disciple ‘first place in everything’ like life is right now and forever will be “lived” in His Kingdom of Heaven (Colossians 1:13-18 and Matthew 7:21-27)!
Again, Jesus always declares this about the teacher/student relationship anyone has with anyone:
‘A Disciple is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like their teacher.’
How did you “learn Jesus”?
Who is your “first place in everything” TEACHER you are currently growing up into?
At Pokyra, I am attempting to ‘serve’ your own ‘self-serve’ Discipleship Personal relationship with our Master King Jesus of Heaven just as Jesus and His original Disciples said it was possible … even today (1 John 2:26-27; Romans 14:4; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5).