ENCOURAGE THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD

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The fourth universal agreement I believe that any follower of Jesus from any cultural background can embrace in order to walk together in unity, no matter the lesser disagreements, is to ENCOURAGE THE YOUTH OF OUR WORLD. As usual Jesus not only teaches transformational principles, but He practices what He teaches. Jesus is the teaching! Jesus was around 30 years old, when he launched the movement and he launched it with a group of teenagers. His early followers were just teens with one exception, Peter, who was probably in his early twenties.
Jesus placed a high value on youth-children-and if we're going to do our best to follow Him, then we must also value children in the same way. There are, at least, four dimensions to the way Jesus values children.

FIRST-Jesus made it clear that no one will enter the Kingdom of heaven unless he becomes like a little child. Matthew reports that Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3) Mark also reports that Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Mark 10:15) Luke repeats Jesus' words from Mark: "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Note that each of the Gospels were in agreement on this and verifies Jesus' thinking about children.

SECOND-Jesus even told an older, Jewish scholar by the name of Nicodemus that he needed to be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. He says in John 3:5: "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." He goes on to say: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit." I believe Jesus was saying to Nicodemus that as a highly educated adult he was unable to enter the Kingdom, unless he became like a little child all over again-to be born again. Nicodemus knew too much that had become like blinders so he was unable to see clearly and freshly as a little child.

THIRD-Jesus valued children so much that he used them as an illustration for those who are the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. Matthew records an interesting scene around the question, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child, whom he placed among them. And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes a humble place-becoming like this child-is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:1-4)

FOURTH-Jesus identifies Himself personally with the children. Matthew continues with: "And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. If anyone causes one of these little ones-those who believe in me-to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were drowned in the depths of the sea." (Matthew 18:5-6) Note that if you receive a child in the name of Jesus, it's the same as welcoming Jesus Himself. And, then notice the warning to those who dare to cause a little child to stumble or go away from the things of Jesus. It's a serious thing to hurt a child in any way.

So, what is it about a child that is so important? Why is there such an emphasis in Jesus' teachings on valuing children? There are a lot of reasons that come to mind for me.

As a child, you know you don't know everything. You're open to learning; you're like wet cement. It's important to watch Jesus carefully and mimic what you see and hear.

As a child you want to learn all you can about this new life of following Jesus. Children just naturally imitate those who are important to them.

To be a child you may have to unlearn a lot of things so that you can relearn what Jesus wants you to know. You must be open and honest; there's a certain degree of innocence about being child-like. There's also a natural desire to depend upon and trust Jesus.

To be a child you will have to relearn the ABC's all over again. This time the ABC's are the building blocks of following Jesus.

To be a child you will have to relearn the simplicity of following Jesus. A child sees things simply and purely. This is the concern that Paul expressed for the followers of Jesus who were gathering in Corinth. He said: "But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." (II Corinthians 11:3)

So, always be careful to encourage the youth-the children-in our world and begin with the little child in you.

BELIEVE GOD RAISES UP LEADERS

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Over the years I have not been very successful in picking leaders. It seems most of the leaders I have chosen on my own have had a built-in fizzle to them. The third universal agreement I believe that any follower of Jesus from any cultural background can embrace in order to walk together in unity, no matter the lesser disagreements, is to BELIEVE THAT GOD RAISES UP LEADERS. God has a habit of preparing and raising up the best kinds of leaders for special tasks.
When God needed a leader to show the way for the people of Israel to break free from the bondage of Egypt, he chose a goat and sheep herder out on the back side of the desert. Moses had a unique resume that included a forty-year stint in the palace of the Pharaoh, killing an Egyptian in a fight, and then another forty years working in the fields for his father-in-law. And, he didn't want to be the leader of anything and was filled with excuses.

Joseph, the next to youngest son of Jacob, was nearly murdered by his jealous brothers who then sold him into slavery. He ended up in Egypt. After having his reputation destroyed by another's lie and being wrongly imprisoned for years, Joseph proved himself invaluable to Pharaoh. He became the number two man in Egypt's government. God used Joseph to save thousands of people during a great famine. That number included his own family, the budding Israelite nation. He was the reason his father's family moved to Egypt, setting the stage for the great Exodus centuries later.

When the people of Israel were being oppressed by the Midianites, God chose a young, insignificant man by the name of Gideon. Listen in on how he was chosen: The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak tree, where Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." (Judges 6:11-15) God delights in taking the weakest and making him mighty!

God chose a prostitute by the name of Rahab to play a significant role in hiding the spies. After the destruction of Jericho, she ended up in the godly lineage of Jesus, the Messiah.

God is very capable of choosing just the right person for the right task, no matter their background or giftedness or knowledge. This is why Jesus teaches the disciples this primary principle: Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Matthew 9:35-38)

God chose the most aggressive enemy of the Jesus movement, Saul, to be used as a powerful leader of the movement: Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
 
The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. (Acts 9:1-19)

God also chose the uneducated and ordinary to be the most powerful leaders of the Jesus movement. Check it out: When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. (Acts 4:13-14)

God continually prepares and chooses the most unlikely people to raise up to become leaders in His movement. He takes unlikely people and gives them unusual power to perform unbelievable things in the name of Jesus. Only God can do this, therefore we must ask God to raise up the leaders He believes necessary for His movement. And, do you know what this means? God may even be preparing and choosing you to do something significant for Him. So, pray for God to raise up the leaders we need in the Jesus movement and don't be surprised if you find that you have been praying for yourself.

MENTOR AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER

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MENTOR AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER The second universal agreement I believe that any follower of Jesus from any cultural background can embrace in order to walk together in unity, no matter the lesser disagreements, is to MENTOR AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER.
We tend to operate alone in life. This is due to many factors. Three come to mind. (1) Being self-absorbed. This is a narcissistic way of living life in the smallest package ever-being all wrapped up in yourself. When it's all about you, you are limiting not only others around you, but yourself. (2) Being controlling. This is such a natural tendency due to our deep insecurities; we want to be in control. What's so ironic is that when you are in control, you are limited to only what you can do. (3) Rugged individualism. "If it's going to be, then it's up to me!" Operating alone is the most weakened position of all. True strength comes in relationship-in community.

You know what is puzzling to me? It's that when people are hurting or lonely or in great need, they withdraw from others. Safe relationships with others is precisely what they need, yet they run from them.

Walking together with a few others is actually practicing living in the presence of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom is wherever the King is and as you are walking with Jesus, the King, He wants you to hear His words and practice them. We walk between two kingdoms-man's kingdom and God's kingdom. When you walk together, you are able to remind one another of how to live out these principles of Jesus in your daily life.

Jesus' Kingdom principles are revolutionary and counter most of the ways we think and live today. Here are just a few Jesus taught: The internal takes precedence over the external. You learn to die in order to live. You learn to lose in order to find. Little is much in God's Kingdom. You learn to give in order to receive. You learn to mourn in order to celebrate. You learn what it means to hunger spiritually in order to find satisfaction. You learn serving is the best leadership. You learn to forgive and you will be forgiven. You learn that individuals are more important than the multiplied masses. You learn to bless when you are cursed. You learn how to eliminate all of your enemies just by loving them.

Jesus practiced walking with a few. He chose three men to be with Him and then added a few more. He sent His disciples out two by two. He was careful to urge them to walk together. He even went so far as to say where two or three are gathered in His name, He will show up!

The early disciples practiced four things when they gathered together: They studied the teachings of Jesus. They enjoyed fellowship and sharing with one another. They ate together and they prayed together. As you look inside their gatherings and relationships you find them befriending one another, bolstering one another, being there for one another, believing for one another and bearing up one another.

I've been sharing 6 steps for walking together that seem to help zero in on what it is that we can do together. FIRST-OBSERVE the God of gods in action all around you. Don't miss out on noticing what God is doing in your world.

SECOND-OPEN yourself up to His presence in your life and the possibility of being utilized in what God is doing. THIRD-OFFER your body to Him. I get this from Romans 12:1: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is true worship. On the basis of what God has done for you, offer your body back to Him to be used in such a way as to make a positive difference in the world. FOURTH-OVERHAUL your mind. Romans 12:2: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. Don't allow yourself to be fit into the mold of this earthly kingdom, but allow your mind to be transformed into the Kingdom of God principles.

The next two go together nicely. FIFTH-OBTAIN a servant's heart. Romans 12:3: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For mentoring and encouraging others to function most effectively, it's a must that you don't approach these relationships with a haughty attitude. Humility always works! SIXTH-OPERATE in a small group. Romans 12:4-8: For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. All of the prior steps come into reality when you learn to operate within the power of the few.

In order to mentor and encourage one another you need to live substantially. Living substantially requires that you walk with Jesus. When you walk with Jesus, you are the walking solution to people's needs everywhere. The only way to walk with Jesus is to walk together with a few. You can shine your lights together, sponsor love for one another, support blessing in the midst of being insulted and share your stories-your experience, strength and hope you have found in Jesus. Mentor and encourage one another!

EMBRACE THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS

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In searching for a few universal agreements that any follower of Jesus from any cultural background can embrace in order to walk together in unity, no matter the lesser disagreements, I have settled on six of them. The first is easy: EMBRACE THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS AS A LIFESTYLE.
Three passages come to mind-one from Luke, one from Matthew and the last is from John. FIRST-Luke 14:25-35: Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: Jesus awakened a lot of emotion and attention among so many people who were following along after Him. So many were in the crowd of followers and probably for a variety of reasons. One day as they were moving along en masse, Jesus turns His attention directly at them and challenged them with three prerequisites to be an authentic follower. They are not easy. In Jesus' mind these are the essentials for being a disciple-a follower of Jesus. These are the things Jesus expects from any and all followers everywhere.

Jesus says: (1) "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, even life itself-such a person cannot be my disciple." This is the prerequisite of making Jesus your highest priority. This has been so misunderstood. It doesn't have to do with hating anyone. It literally means that a disciple of Jesus has to come to the point where he or she sets aside all other relationships as secondary to his or her relationship with Jesus. This is the pre-eminence of Jesus over all relationships, even over your own life!

Then Jesus says: (2) "And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." This is the prerequisite of making Jesus your highest priority no matter what. This has to do with keeping Jesus as your priority through great perseverance-no matter what happens to you, Jesus is still your most important relationship.

Jesus finally says: (3) In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." This is the prerequisite of what you're going to do with your possessions. It's not saying to give over everything you have to someone else or to some organization; He's saying it's important to give up your ownership of all of your possessions. The word for possessions is best seen as referring to all of your stuff, including all that you are-your very existence!

Note one thing Jesus repeats with each of the prerequisites. He says, "You cannot be my disciple, unless you do these things." It's not that you cannot be a good disciple, but that you cannot be a disciple at all.

The SECOND passage that comes to mind that speaks to embracing the life and teachings of Jesus as a lifestyle is Matthew 7:21-29: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Here are people who speak in the name of Jesus, cast out demons in His name and performed many miracles in Jesus' name, yet they were not genuinely connected with Jesus. He makes it clear that "only those who do the will of the Father will enter." Jesus then goes on to define clearly what it means to do the will of His Father.

He says: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Doing the will of His Father is to hear Jesus' words and practice them. To hear the words of Jesus and not practice them doesn't get it. In a sense, doing the will of His Father-hearing Jesus' words and practicing them-is what it means to embrace the life and teachings of Jesus as a lifestyle. With eyes to see what Jesus does and ears to hear what He is saying you can then practice the life and teachings of Jesus and embrace them as your lifestyle.

The THIRD passage that comes to mind that sums up what it takes to embrace the life and teachings of Jesus as a lifestyle is John 12:26: "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."

It's clear! Whoever serves Jesus must follow Him, not just know a lot of things about Him. And, wherever Jesus is His servant will be also. Then, Jesus' Father will honor this one who serves and follows. So, stick close to Jesus, serve Him and follow Him. Hang out with Jesus in all that you do and you will find yourself embracing the life and teachings of Jesus as your lifestyle. Try it out!

WHAT HOLDS THE JESUS MOVEMENT TOGETHER

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In the last few weeks I've been in some fascinating meetings where I've experienced the ugly tension of Christians fighting Christians over things that don't matter. Oh, I know each side believes the issue matters, but when the name of Jesus or acceptance of Jesus is at stake all things are secondary and insignificant. If you hold anything-any teaching or tradition or belief system-higher than lifting up the person of Jesus to another person, then you are not following Jesus, but you're following that "anything" you placed above Him. When I see this kind of in-fighting over insignificant things, I am reminded of one of the many instances where Jesus pulled off a clear miracle from God, yet the religious moved into a fighting, even hateful. Here's what happened:  

Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone." Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. Mark 3:1-6

A man has obviously been healed. He's experienced a supernatural touch from God, yet the grumbling begins. This is no different today. There are many followers of Jesus who have observed Jesus apprehending the hearts and minds of men and women in other cultures and as they follow Jesus they don't plant churches and don't call themselves Christians. It's a real phenomenon! It's an authentic Jesus movement breaking out without looking and sounding Christian, yet there is no doubt these masses of people have been touched by Jesus Himself.

I have been aware of this for several years. It's a wonderful thing! Now, there are Christians who are organizing themselves against this kind of thing. They say that this movement is invalid and non-biblical, because they aren't planted into churches and they are not becoming Christians. This anti-movement is doing its best to cut off the supply of funds for those who are promoting this non-traditional Jesus movement. They are even gathering in conferences and events to do so! How sick and wrong is this?

It seems to me that the bottom line issue is to discover the absolute essentials for us to believe and hold sacred so that we will advance the Jesus movement? What is it that we can all agree upon in the midst of our various disagreements? How can we walk together, even though our cultural beliefs and traditions greatly differ?

I have a friend who is from a Church of Christ background and is still enjoying fellowship in that tradition. We agree that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, but we disagree about whether baptism is required for man's salvation. I have several Catholic friends who do things in their services that I just don't understand and I usually feel very lost as I attend a Mass. On the other hand, when they attend my traditional church service, they don't believe they have gone to church, but to a seminar. As followers of Jesus we can agree that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, even though we disagree how a church service ought to be conducted. This same thinking can be taken through every flavor of Christianity as well as within the non-Christian religious cultures. We can find agreement in Jesus, even when we disagree on the lesser things.

Well, the question then is what are the primary things and what are the lesser things? Over the next six days I want to suggest six primary commitments that I have come to believe holds the Jesus movement together.

To set us up for this little series of thoughts I want to suggest two reminders as we think in terms of the Jesus movement. FIRST-The Jesus movement is answering the summons or call of Jesus on your life-"FOLLOW ME!" That sets the movement in motion. SECOND-The Jesus movement is all about making disciples of all cultures. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

There is only one command here-MAKE DISCIPLES! And, there are three participles: (1) By going-that's introducing people to this Jesus-advancing the conversation of Jesus. (2) By baptizing-that's identifying people as followers of Jesus as they begin to lean in. The disciples didn't know and believe much when they began to follow Jesus. (3) By teaching-that's instructing people who want to follow Jesus to practice all that He taught.

All of this culminates in the miracle of incarnation-fleshing out Jesus in your life-walking, talking, loving, thinking and bleeding like Jesus. This all happens within the context of walking with others in this movement. Going back to a simple familiar statement: "It's knowing Jesus and making Him known." These six agreements can become a unifying covenant that holds the Jesus movement together. Stay tuned!