Christ didn't take the multitudes up the mountain; he took disciples. In some instances, he took just three disciples from among the twelve. Why? Multitudes want to belong (to identify with the glory and not to be a part of the story), but disciples want to become (they want to learn what it takes to be like their leader). Belonging and becoming are the distinguishing traits separating multitudes from disciples.
Disciples see the climbing process as part of what is required to get a better view of things, but multitudes question it. Multitudes would say, if God is involved, why is the climbing hard? Multitudes serve God for convenience and can't tolerate discomfort, but disciples are willing to carry their cross as the follow in the footsteps of the master.
Attempting to take the multitudes up the mount may attract stoning from them before you ever get to the middle of the mountain. We were commissioned to make disciples, not to establish empires of multitudes. Disciples will stick to a vision when the going is tough and rough, but multitudes only appear when everything is set up, with "fish and bread" for consumption.
The kingdom of God is advanced not by the multitudes who profess to belong to the kingdom, but by the few disciples who are willing to follow the master up the mount, despite the challenges of making it to the mountain top.
2016 is another opportunity to made disciples and not just to bath in the deceptive acclamation of the multitudes. Today, they say hosanna and the next minute they same people are saying crucify him. Depending on the multitudes to stand with you to advance the kingdom vision God has given to you is just like leaning on a broken staff. In the light of this message, are you a disciple or a part of the multitudes? Ponder! DrBenard Etta
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