by Craig Etheredge: The sun was bright, and the sky was clear as I climbed on top of Mount Arbel. This mountain is a special one in the life of Jesus and special to those who follow Him. It stands today, as it did over two thousand years ago, as one of the tallest peaks surrounding the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. I was there with a group from our church who was studying the life of Christ. Still to this day, the first glance at the view from Mount Arbel stays with me.

Standing on top of Arbel, you can see for miles. Looking to the north, you can see the peak of Mount Hermon, the largest mountain in Israel towering over the borders between Lebanon, Syria and Israel. To the east, you can see the Golan Heights, the black, basalt stoned tabletop range that separates Israel from the countries of Syria and Jordan. Looking to the south, you can see the fertile farmlands of the Jezreel Valley spread out like a patchwork quilt on the floor until it reaches the rolling hills of Samaria. And looking to the west, you can barely make out two tall towers of a major electrical plant that sits on the coastal plain next to the ancient city of Caesarea Maritima, the ancient port city constructed by King Herod where the Apostle Paul set sail to Rome, carrying the Gospel with him to the West.

From one panoramic view you can see the nations.

This is precisely why Jesus chose this place to give His followers what we know today as the “Great Commission”. Why do we believe Jesus stood on Mount Arbel? There are some clues that point to this conclusion. First, the mountain stands along the well-traveled route between Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee called the “Valley of Doves”. Since Jesus lived in Nazareth most of His growing up years, He must have traveled this way many times.

Another piece of circumstantial evidence is the fact that Arbel is the tallest mountain in Galilee. Matthew’s Gospel tells us that after Jesus’ resurrection, He gave instructions for His disciples to go to the mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28.16 ESV). While He didn’t specify which one, the disciples certainly knew the place. They had been there many times before. Who knows, maybe Jesus and His men spent the night up on this mountain, dreaming of what God would do with their lives one day. There is no archaeological evidence to substantiate Jesus’ presence on this mountain, but if Arbel isn’t the mountain, then I’m not sure which one it would be.

So imagine…

You are standing there with me with the wind blowing in your face as you lean against the galvanized pipe safety rail fixed along the ridge of the steep precipice. Imagine your feet standing on the exact mountain where the disciples stood. Imagine hearing Jesus’ words cut through the air. “…All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age,” (Matthew 28.19-20 ESV).

Craig Etheredge, author of this blog, wrote a short eBook, which is available to you as a free download. Access Invest in a Few here.

What was Jesus doing?

He was casting a vision – a vision of a global movement of multiplication. Just days before, they had seen Him crucified at the hands of the brutal Romans, hung on a rugged cross and despised by the religious leaders. They saw His lifeless body taken down and placed in a borrowed tomb. Three days later they saw Jesus risen from the dead, His body now transfigured, yet still bearing the scars of the cross. All of this was in preparation for their new mission in life. Now He was challenging them, commissioning them to invest their lives in a movement that would change the course of human history and alter the eternal trajectory of the lives of millions. It was a big vision… it still is!

Today, countless men and women are joining Jesus and His vision to make disciples to the ends of the world. Some walk away from the comfort of their homes and careers to plant churches and preach the Gospel in remote parts of the planet. Some dear friends of mine, Duane and Deanna devoted their retirement years to relentlessly travel into the far away bush areas of Africa, Asia and Central America to tell people about Jesus and train up pastors. They first met in college; Duane was a promising basketball player, and Deanna was a cheerleader. After graduation, Duane became one of the most successful basketball coaches in the state of Texas and was later inducted into the Texas Coaches Hall of Fame.

Among all the accolades and success, Duane and Deanna were fiercely committed to serving Jesus. Duane eventually left coaching for his first love, telling people about Christ and making disciples. Their sacrifice and determination continues to inspire me. But, you don’t have to leave your career to ignite a movement of multiplication. I know businessmen, doctors, lawyers, salesman, stay-at-home moms and college students, who are committed to making disciples where they live, learn, work and play. You can begin right where God has planted you – in your neighborhood, in your school, at your job site, etc. God wants to use you to make disciples who will also make disciples for a lifetime. Now you may be asking, “How can I do that? My schedule is busy, my life is fast paced: how can I really make a difference?”

In the first book of the Grow Series entitled “Walk with God,” you learned how to make Jesus the center of your life, listen to His voice, pray and live in Christian community. In the second book entitled “Reach your World,” you learned how to live on mission with Jesus every day by sharing the Gospel with the people God has put in your life. Now in this third book of the series, you will learn how to “Invest In a Few” – by taking what you have learned and investing it in the lives of others. Yes, you know how to be a disciple. Now it’s time to build disciple makers! Jesus is still sending out His commission. He’s still looking for men and women who will join Him in His global vision. And if you are ready and willing, Jesus can use you to make a lasting impact on the generations to come. So let’s get started!

By Craig Etheredge

Originally posted at discipleFIRST.com. Used here by permission.

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by Leadership Network: As you journey into developing as a leader, you will find so many great resources. From podcasts to books to conferences and beyond, there are tons of materials out there, many of which we recommend and use ourselves. With all of those tools right at our fingertips, however, it is easy for us to become somewhat mechanical in our development. Our nature lures us towards “5 Steps to…,” or “6 Ways to Become…,” etc. Those things are bad, per se, but I want to talk to you today about the status of your heart.

Where is the Holy Spirit in the process of your development as a leader?

The most important factor in your development as a leader is your relationship with God (the complete trinity). You’ve likely read and preached on scriptures like Matthew 6:33 which says, “But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things [all that you need for life] will be given to you as well.” Take a little personal inventory. Have you allowed these passages to lose their luster in your life? Have you become complacent in this area of seeking Him first? If so, realize you are not alone. Ask the Spirit to give you a new revelation of these passages.

Are you truly spending time with God and growing?

There are so many ministry leaders who read the Bible for the sole purpose of creating their message for the week or in preparation for the weeks ahead. Worship leaders fall into this trap as well. You get caught in the trap of listening, singing, or playing worship music for the sole purpose of finding the next song you’re going to introduce to your congregation. Am I right? Understand that your personal time with the Spirit has to be set apart from your church preparation. It just has to. Your intimate relationship with God is the first thing!

Is the Spirit flowing through you?

As a leader, you likely have several spiritual gifts and many talents as well. I’m going to tell you right now that you can use those gifts and talents and hold steady. But ask yourself, do you genuinely want a move of the Spirit in your church, or are you ok with emotionally manipulating your congregation to get a particular response? I know that’s is a difficult concept to wrap your mind around, but think about it. If you are leading on empty, you might just have enough charisma to keep people coming back and listening to you. But genuine spiritual growth may not take place in the lives of those you lead, and you will eventually burn out from leading through your own power and not His.

The far better alternative is keeping your eyes and your heart tuned into the Spirit. You will grow in your love of God. His Word will be like a fire in your heart just ready to burst forth, not only on Sunday but all week long! Just imagine the possibilities if you decided to truly partner with the Spirit in everything you do! Your church, family, and other relationships will be forever changed.

What does it really mean to seek first?

Ultimately, it all comes back to those spiritual disciplines: prayer, studying the Word, fasting, giving, etc. You have to get back to practicing those things regularly apart from ministry preparation time.

I want to encourage you to get this right. No matter what you have to do, whether it means setting your alarm 15-20 minutes earlier or going to bed earlier to be fresher in the morning, refuse to allow another thought to enter your mind until you put your mind on Him. Seek Him first by praying even before your feet hit the floor if you have to. Surrender the day and your time to Him at the beginning of the day and throughout it. And get some precious moments alone in His Word. Choose days to fast and make it about spending time with Him.

These are all things you likely know already, but we have an enemy who doesn’t want us to do incredible things to build the Body of Christ. If he can get your eyes focused on anything and everything besides Christ, he will. He wants you to be distracted, frustrated, and distraught. But he is not your King and Master, and God has given you the ability to overcome!

This week, in particular, as we come to Good Friday and Easter, focus on Jesus and His resurrection power! Many of you will be telling that story on Sunday. For the next few days, tap into the reality of the Gospel–the incredible truth that our Father loves us so much that He sent His Son to die in our place. We know the story doesn’t end there. Three days later, Jesus’ lungs fill with air and His heart begins to beat again, and for 40 days He revealed is resurrected self to the world around Him. And because of all of that, we become the adopted, chosen children of God!

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