Don Esposito’s Teaching in
Panama City
by Marcelle Logue,
Correspondent for YAH Sar Shalom Congregation
On Sabbath, July 15 we
joined the Congregation of Yahweh in Panama City to hear guest
speaker, Don Esposito. He and wife, Petra, reside in Jerusalem about
half of the year and spend the other half traveling, speaking, and
doing mission work. First he shared some amazing miracles that have
happened in Africa and asked us to pray for a meeting coming up in
Uganda in August.
(Don Esposito is the Elder
of the Congregation of Yahshua in Jerusalem and author of the
popular books, The Great Falling Away and The Chosen
People.
The teaching was on
discipleship. The following is a paraphrase from my note taking.
The word “Christian” is
mentioned three times in Scripture, “believer” two times, “follower”
four times and “disciple” 250 times.
We get the word discipline
from disciple, which means to have self-control and to be corrected.
In the old covenant we see scriptures that show the rod of
correction and in the new the staff is used to guide us, we
need both types of correction.
John 5:30,31 shows Yahshua
was a disciple of Yahweh. He came in the Father’s name.
We are continually shown through his life and the lives of other
biblical and historical figures that there is a cost in
discipleship. Take for instance the familiar cost
proposal given the rich young ruler in Mark 10: 17-27
Overcoming the environment
is 90% of our spiritual battle. A kingdom principle evident here
shows that Yahweh gave us rulership but not ownership.
Psalm 24:1: The earth is Yahweh’s and the fullness of it.
Yahweh owns things. When a human being has many
possessions, he/she starts thinking in terms of ownership. We need
to see that when we have more, then it’s a greater opportunity to
give more and serve more.
How can I use the
blessings he’s given me to serve the kingdom?
According to John 18:25,
Peter denies Yahshua. If we are not proclaiming Him then we are
denying Him (disobedience by omission).
According to Luke 17:20-21,
the Pharisees ask about the kingdom, to which Yahshua replies that
the Kingdom of Yahweh is among you.
Unless the kingdom is among
you then you will not be among those in the Kingdom.
What do we spend our time
on? Are we excited about what Yahweh is doing? Are we in Scripture
daily? Do we rejoice over scriptures such as Zechariah 8 and Isaiah
11 that speak of the children of Jerusalem (and the world) playing
in the streets again? If we are excited about this, consider how
excited Yahweh might be at the prospect of peace.
Luke19:12-27: The Parable of
the Talents: We have all heard this parable but brother Don helped
us to see it in a new light. We are responsible to USE our
gifts for the kingdom. There are folks who have been believers for
years, even decades, who still do not know their spiritual gifts.
We must know them and use them or the little that we have will be
taken away. This is not an analogy but to be understood literally.
We are ambassadors for the
Kingdom of Yahweh. Romans 8 tells us that we are co-heirs with
Messiah; we are kings and priests (and princesses, too). We
must start fulfilling our roles in the Kingdom now.
The leaders build up
disciples to go out and disciple others. If you are not
discipling others, then you cannot be a disciple.
Finally brother Don shared
the distinctions of an ambassador.
An ambassador is:
-
Appointed by a king; not
voted in.
-
Appointed to represent
his state or kingdom.
-
The responsibility of
the state he represents.
-
Totally protected by his
government. (Matt. 26:52-54)
-
Never becomes a citizen
of the state to which he has been assigned. (Always remember
from whence you have been dispatched.)
-
Can only be re-called by
the king. His purpose will be fulfilled.
-
Has access to all his
nation’s wealth for his assignment. The Father knows what you
need and will provide.
-
Never takes a personal
position on a matter but only that of the government he
represents. Heb.2:1-3
-
One who makes the
kingdom message the highest priority of his life. Our
priority is always what we actually do!
This message was challenging
and encouraging, one to be considered and applied.
- Marcelle Logue
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