Way Beyond Human

  Discipleship is not a human endeavor. With that understanding we can move forward.
   To gain an appreciation of the above truth we need to weld together three sections of Scripture. We begin with the dialogue that took place in that upper room before Christ began His Passion. Here He introduced the disciples to the “Holy Spirit,” tied to their ministry role. Jesus said, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever -- the Spirit of truth.”
   “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:16-17a and 26).
   Now we begin to appreciate that the Holy Spirit is the essential Resource for becoming, and remaining a disciple of Christ. The initial work that Christ began with His first disciples was ultimately fulfilled through His Spirit.
   Now we turn to the end of Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus said this just before His ascension:
   “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” (28:19a)
   At the very center of their kingdom work for Christ would be disciple-making. They would be human vessels, guided by the Holy Spirit to fulfill this work. Their words and actions, as apostles (eye witnesses and messengers of Christ) would be inspired by the indwellin ...