Commission
Pre-Game Warm-Up
At 6’4” tall and built like a gazelle, Greg Thomas has a golf swing that would make a cover shot for Golf Digest. PGA qualified and great with private lessons and course management, Greg is definitely a man with a bright future in golf. When I began playing Greg’s “Top 100” golf club, his spiritually bankrupt life was pretty obvious. For two years, I prayed that I could lead him to Christ. Small talk in the clubhouse led to conversations about deeper things. Then one day, God opened the door. Greg asked me to do his wedding and I agreed on one condition; that he’d let me counsel with him and his fiancée before the ceremony. He agreed. Little did he know that his first wedding would be eternal and God had a plan to take him as His own. His prayer was humble and sincere. God moved into his yielded heart and everything began to change. Greg and I continue to meet regularly for one-on-one Bible study. He works on my golf game and together we grow with One who never shot a bogey in His life. Greg, too, will be leading men to Christ someday and I am confident that it will be Greg’s turn to “love him to Jesus until that man is ready to love another man to Jesus.”
Replication is a process Jesus started with eleven guys who practiced it until they died. Paul multiplied himself through Timothy as the Church of Antioch sent Paul out to “make disciples” and Barnabas encouraged the process. Paul multiplied himself through men like Timothy, his true child in the faith.
Everyone needs a Paul to look up to, a Timothy to pass off the baton of faith, an Antioch church home for oversight and accountability, and a Barnabas to exhort and encourage along the way.
Some of my greatest days have been in Marion High Security Prison where I’ve made many friends with murderers, gangsters and criminals of all makes and models. I’ve had the humbling honor of leading hundreds to the throne of grace. My expectations for my first trip to Marion were blown away by the peace and security on campus where the guards, the warden and the inmates walk as friends. For ten years now, their philosophy has been simple: “Love a man to Jesus until he’s ready to love a man to Jesus.” I suppose that 2,000 or more men, once thrown away and written off by society, have fallen in love with Jesus at Marion and eventually walk out of the gates never to return to crime again.
Understanding Multiplication
Mark these Key Words: Daniel Teach Disciples Holy Spirit
Old Testament Viewpoint:
Daniel 1:2,8-9; Daniel 6:3,6,10,15,23,25-26
Daniel 1:2,8-9
The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his god.
8 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials.
Daniel 6:3,6,10,15,23,25-26
Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom.
6 Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: “King Darius, live forever! “
10 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.
15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Recognize, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
23 Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
25-28 Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language who were living in all the land: “May your peace abound! I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; for He is the living God and enduring forever, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever.”
New Testament Viewpoint:
II Timothy 2:2; Mathew 28:19; Acts 1:8
II Timothy 2:2 :The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Mathew 28:19 : Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:8 : But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.
OBSERVATION: What is God saying?
1) Mother Teresa and St. Augustine used to say, “Witness always, use words when necessary.” How does your lifestyle need to lead in “making disciples” and multiplying the faith?
(Personal Answer)
2) What does Daniel’s testimony say to you about yours?
He did not conform. Pleasing God was more important to him than pleasing man.
3) In what way has God changed and shaped your lifestyle to prepare you to be a more effective “disciple maker”?
(Personal Answer)
4) Would you call “making disciples” a “choice”, a “responsibility”, a “calling” or a “task” and why?
All of the above because God asks. It is the only way to effectively reach the world.
5) How does the power of multiplication inspire you to disciple others? If one person invests in one person two times a year and equips those people to invest in and equip two other people to share their faith and make disciples and those people invest and equip two others….. How does this inspire you?
(Personal Answer)
PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS: What else of significance do you see God saying in this passage?
APPLICATION:
How does this passage relate to me today? What changes does it bring to my life?
LOCKER ROOM:
Who’s your Timothy going to be in the upcoming year and how can you pray for them, begin to serve them and begin the discipleship process with them?
Memory Verse: Acts 1:8
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
My Prayers
A Adoration: Father, today I praise You for…
C Confession: Father, please forgive me for…
T Thanksgiving: Father, today I’m thankful for…
S Supplication: Father, the people & things that I wish to pray for today are…
Taking the Challenge with your next Timothy
The Victor’s Crown
The Apostle Paul had seen a vision of the portals of eternity and proclaimed the imperishable prize for himself and all insightful believers. “Who is my hope, my joy, my crown of exultation? Is it not even you at the coming of our Lord Jesus? For you are our glory and joy.” His “victor’s crown” would be those he led to Christ and discipled to be standing with him worshiping Jesus at His second coming. Those men and women and children in whom he had invested his life and God’s Word, would be his imperishable crown of victory to celebrate for all of eternity.
And so it will be for you as you devote your life to “Timothy” after “Timothy” and those “Timothy’s” go on to humbly receive their “victor’s crown” with their “Timothy’s”.
The Discipleship Book
To receive your next two books for your next “Timothy” mail $12 (this includes shipping and handling) to Project Timothy 1353 Lake Shore Dr, Branson, MO, 65616 for two printed copies.
