No Longer Disciples but Friends with Jesus - "Radix" Part I

What if Jesus said, "I no longer call you "disciple" but friend." 

In effect at the end of His ministry that is what He was saying. The word is "doulos" and it means slave, servant or student. What would happen if today's Church "movements" stopped "Discipleship Programs" and started sharing the Communion Table of Jesus?  Is Jesus unable to share His life without your help? Does Jesus need platforms, television, worship entertainment and globalization to "help Him build the Church"? Jesus said, I will build my Church and the gates of hell will retreat as I move forward!" Jesus wants you - not your help. Being in His presence through Communion each day will reveal His goodness in your life.

Let me challenge you to give up trying to "become" a "disciple" right now to become a personal friend of Jesus. Do you know the word 'disciple' is never used again after the book of Acts and literally means the relationship of a student to a teacher? It is in the same category as a servant or a slave. A slave has a master who is the slave-owner. A servant is hired by an employer. A student is under a teacher also sometimes called a 'master'. A friend can be closer than a brother Proverbs tells us. Being a friend does not indicate ownership and submission to a master, but an intentional closeness of sharing a special relationship.

The challenge is to become more like Jesus but not in your own strength but by the power of His friendship and influence. When we are His friend He shares with us and when He does it is we who are transformed. He is the total and complete friend. He knows how to be the best friend in the universe! Seeing, hearing and knowing Jesus allows Him to become a bigger and more important part of your life until His life becomes your life.   

Discipleship happened to those who knew Jesus in person day to day for three and a half years. They learned from Him directly in person. When He gave them Communion that is when He said I no longer call you 'servants; because servants do not know the master's plans. Now I call you friends because I will share with you everything the Father shares with me." John 15:15

The 30 Day Challenge
Have Communion every day for 30 days (you pick the start day) and watch it become the most important 30 days of your life! You will begin your friendship with the Son of God. You will learn how deep His love is for you when He smiles at you. You will know His touch that calms your heart in an instant. You will see glimpses of His glory and eternal Kingdom. He will meet you where you are, as you are, for who you are. You will know its Him because His presence will be real. He will make known to you everything He has heard from His Father. He will share His hidden treasure with you. You will become His friend and He will become yours.

What is it is more important than having a personal relationship with Jesus? Is it more important for you to have Communion with Jesus than communing with the world? Is it more radical to be transformed by Jesus love or conform to what others say about love? I'm just asking a few questions. to provoke some serious thinking and dialog with others.

His design for having a personal, real relationship with you is to sit at His Table and have Communion. He designed it to make it simple and easy to meet with Him and enjoy His presence. By having Communion you will encounter His presence. We call that CommunionFire! 

---