Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Discipleship is a vital activity within the church. It must be done and it must be done properly. It is not enough to say I saw and I did. Hearing, learning, and seeing sound examples are important but the most vital of all elements here is receiving.

I can speak the truth in love but if you receive it as from a man where is the glory to God? There has to be a receiving from the spirit and a giving of the spirit. Discipleship is a spiritual discipline, not a human effort.

Matthew 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Why does that seem to be lost on us who take on the task of discipling others? Is that how we were discipled? Were you discipled? If not, then you must learn to do it without a human example to lean upon.

Philippians 4:17 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

To properly understand this verse, think in this way. Did you take the train to New York or did the train take you to New York?

Being in Christ and being in the Spirit is like getting on the train, you do not take Christ or the Spirit anywhere, they take you, carry your, move you.

Our expression of that truth does not always reflect the actual exercise of that truth. In discipleship we are both on the train discussing our journey, ever mindful of the train more than what we see out the window.