TEACHING

Don Atkin

SOWING SEEDS WHO ARE SONS

The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom. - Matthew 13:38

Jesus, the firstborn Son of God and prototype and firstborn of many sons, referring to Himself, said: Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain (Matthew 12:24).

He went on to explain, He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor (verses 25-26).

We are to see ourselves as good seeds, sons of the kingdom, hating our lives in this world, willingly falling into the ground (the field of the world that God so loves), and dying daily as we follow Jesus Christ in pursuit of His kingdom.

SUFFERING SONS

The suffering we embrace is not to take us by surprise (I Peter 4:12-19). We are to count it all joy when we fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience, that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4).

Our Father, in bringing many sons to glory, made the captain of our salvation perfect through sufferings (Hebrews 2:10). He also predestined (us) to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29).

A right attitude is important, and it is usually developed over a period of time. Learning to "land softly" in "good soil," and trusting God to give the increase, requires a process of growing. Joy comes in the morning as light dawns upon our situation, and we see His strength being made perfect in our weakness. First the root, then the shoot, then the fruit! Joyful suffering eventually produces joyful sons.

God’s eternal plan and purpose will come to fruition as we fall into the ground and die. If we fail to do so, we remain alone. If we do so, we will bring forth abundant and abiding fruit - 30, 60, even 100 fold!

DISCIPLING SONS

Sons are not produced merely through proclamation. Jesus spoke to multitudes, but poured out His life, every fiber of His being, into twelve men who would be the first fruits of His fathering ministry. His priority and methodology can be found by studying the gospels.

(My book, "Like Father, Like Son," is based upon Jesus’ priority and methodology, and is subtitled,

"Discipling Sons For God." It is available online, at www.DonAtkin.com.)

Our commission is not merely to preach. It is to disciple the nations! Biblical preaching was primarily to the unsaved people in the world, who need demonstration at least as much as proclamation. We are to preach the gospel of the kingdom to them, and then disciple those who respond.

Jesus devoted most of His three and one-half year ministry to discipling twelve men who were then sent to change their world. Mentoring seems to be a preferred term in our day. It seems a little softer. Maybe that is part of the problem - less dying involved!

We have been commissioned to disciple sons for God, training them how to gracefully die to self daily in pouring out their lives to others.

It takes time to gather baggage. It takes time to get rid of baggage. We all come into the kingdom with history. We are largely the products of our environment. Not only does our environment need to change so that we are living in the atmosphere and spirit of heaven, but we need to be purged of baggage. This often requires deliverance, inner healing, and release from the effects of generational curses.

Many never get free enough to die to self. They go through life self-consumed because they cannot make themselves vulnerable enough to receive the help and training, healing and equipping, they need. They never come into fruition because they are never equipped for the work of the ministry which God ordained for them to walk in. (See Ephesians 2:10; 4:11-24.)

Discipleship is a Bible term, used by Jesus to describe a very necessary process:

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. - Matthew 10:24-25

Such a process requires authority, submission and accountability. Jesus commended a centurian for his great faith because he understood these principles. (See Matthew 8:5-10.)

MATURING SONS

Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. - Galatians 4:1-2

The perfecting (maturing) process requires that the son posture himself as a slave, submitting himself to the delegated authority of the God-appointed guardian/steward in his life.

"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." - James 4:6-8

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. - I Peter 5:5-7

Get it? He cares for you! He wants you to properly posture yourself that He may exalt you when you are ready - perfected, matured.

The posture of the appointed teacher/guardian/steward is also very important. We who are privileged to obey the Great Commission by discipling nations are to be postured as servant sons who wash the feet of our disciples, bringing refreshment and life to them in love. We are to father them with Father’s love and wisdom, always pointing them to the Lord Jesus and to our Father who is in heaven. They might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers whose example they may imitate. (See I Corinthians 4:14-16.)

Instruct and demonstrate for them how to rightly relate to God and men. Caution them to not love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, "Rabbi, Rabbi."

But you, do not be called "Rabbi"; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. - Matthew 23:6-12

RELEASING SONS

Some sons are to stay. Most are to be sent. One hindrance to kingdom expansion is the failure of some leaders to raise up, and then release sons. Another hindrance is our failure to make room for those who are raised up. We sometimes "disciple them to death." Or, we keep them at our side at the expense of their own destiny, because we perceive that they are integral to our personal success. We never send them forth to be sown in the soil of the world as seeds - sons of the kingdom. Our sons are really His sons, sons of the kingdom, to be sown as seeds among the nations as directed by the Holy Spirit!

We need to have a strategy for releasing maturing sons into the harvest.

Jesus, devoted a short time of very few years to the twelve who would become the apostles of the Lamb. They were still very young when He met with them and said,

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.- John 15:14-17

We are to choose disciples who have the right attitude of submissive obedience and accountability, who are willing to unselfishly serve to the point of dying daily, and will follow our example of humility. We need to impart unto them all that the Father gives us. Then we must appoint them to go - go and bear fruit, relating directly to the Father as sons being revealed to their worlds as lights in dark places.

We are to enjoy their continuing friendship, as we are all brothers. I am a blessed man today, enjoying the friendship of many brothers in many nations whom I have been privileged to father, steward, guard - as sons of the kingdom. It is my joy to pray for them, encourage them, counsel them, affirm them, and support them in any way that I can.

They are multiplying the very Seed that will release all of creation from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8:21).