The Meet is daily, private, unhurried time with God. In this episode, we explore spiritual formation, prayer, sacrifice, hearing Christ’s voice, and why real discipleship begins in hidden communion before it is ever seen in public. Download the free devotional at Patreon.com/9113bc and get the full workbook devotional through support membership.
How to Meet with God Daily
What does it mean to truly meet with God every day? In this episode, we explore spiritual formation, prayer, sacrifice, hearing Christ's voice, and the daily rhythm of discipleship through The Meet - the first pillar of The Big Three.
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Episode Notes
If eternal life is knowing God, then discipleship cannot stay theoretical. It must become relational, personal, and lived. In this episode, we begin Part I of The Big Three by exploring The Meet - daily, private, unhurried time with Christ.
This not another checklist episode. This is a call to communion.
We talk about why spiritual formation begins in sidedness, how Jesus modeled private prayer before public ministry, why hearing the Shepherd's voice is cultivated through abiding, and why sacrifice is not an add-on to Christianity but part of its very shape.
YOu'll hear how The Meet, The Temple, and the Ministry form a rhythm - not a mechanical system - and why reversing that order leads to burnout, noise, and hollow service.
This episode also walks through:
What daily communion with Christ looks like in real life
Why the new birth matters for hearing His voice
How Scripture begins to burn in the heart of the disciple
Why obedience, sacrifice, and worship belong together
How Private surrender prepares us for public faithfulness
Free next step: Join the free Patreon membership to download the devotional that goes with this EP6-P1 The Meet. Support members can also access the full workbook devotional built to help you practice The Meet, strengthen spiritual discipline, and establish a lasting discipleship rhythm.
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Timestamped Episode Notes
Timestamp
00:00 – Cold start – Spiritual formation must become relational
01:17 – Episode Introduction – The Big Three: Meet, Temple, Ministry
02:46 – The Big Three: Not a System – A Rhythm
05:45 – The Meet – Daily, Private, unhurried time with God
07:41 – The Temple – Stewardship of body, mind, rest, and health
12:03 – The Ministry – Everything flowing out of the first two
14:29 – Doorway: New Birth is the key
18:18 – The Meet: Definition, Practice, Scripture
28:39 – Hearing His Voice, Word Burning in Our Hearts
42:37 – The Meet: The Foundation of Sacrifice
54:52 – The Gospel Defined by Sacrifice
58:47 – The Big Three – Established in Sacrifice
59:49 – Why the Meet Comes First: The Meet – Where Sacrifice Begins
01:03:58 – Obedience – Sacrifice – Worship
01:04:58 – Preparing the Way for Standing Episodes
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Key Topics Covered
Spiritual formation vs. information-only Christianity
The Big Three: The Meet, The Temple, The Ministry
Daily Prayer and unhurried time with God
Hearing the voice of Christ through Scripture
New birth, belief, and eternal life in John's Gospel
Sacrifice as the foundation of discipleship
Private obedience before public ministry
Abiding in Christ for endurance and longevity
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Key Scriptures Mentioned
John 7.37-38; John 10.27; John 15.4-5; John 1.10-13; John 3.16-18, 35-36;
Luke 24.27, 32, 44-49; Mark 1.35; Matthew 6.33; 1 Corinthians 14.40;
Psalm 5.3; Psalm 46.10; Isaiah 26.3-4; Psalm 55.22; Philippians 4.6-7;
Matthew 26.41; Matthew 10.1-42; Romans 12.1-3;
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Founders Message:
Although we have provided both the Devotional/Workbook during these four to five episodes, it is due to the updates on the format and improvements on materials offered to our listeners and to get a taste of what this ministry's desire is - leaning towards bringing you the listener to a nearness and intimate relationship with Christ Jesus. We pray the materials are a blessing. We appreciate any feedback in order to continue to serve to the best this ministry is capable of achieving. Amen.
Founder Luis Alfredo Freddie Hernandez | Servant of the Most High
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Free Membership
Join the free membership to download the devotional companion for this episode.
Support Membership
Support members receive the full workbook devotional, including:
guided reflection questions
journaling prompts
Scripture study pathways
practical application exercises
deeper discipleship formation tools
This is the foundation.
This is the wake-up call.
This is the beginning of real discipleship.
Join here: Patreon.com/9113bc
Follow, share, and send this to one brother or sister who needs to move from information to communion.
The following download is available here as Patreon is having issues that need attentiiion: for those interested in deeper growth in their relationship with Christ Jesus herer are both the devotional and workbook of the current podcast, "The Meet." Click the link: (DOWNLOAD)
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Resource Recommendations for This Episode
Podcasts
Rule of Life Podcast - Strong fit for "arranging everyday life around being with and becoming like Jesus, " with seasons on prayer, fasting, solitude, Scripture, and community. (practicingtheway.org)
Practicing the way Podcast - strong resource for apprenticeship to Jesus in everyday life. (practicingtheway.org)
The Contemplative Pastor - useful especially for leaders and ministers trying to become more unhurried, prayerful, and peaceful. (practicingtheway.org)
Books
Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster - classic text on spiritual practices and formation. (HarperCollins)
Scripture-focused article series on spiritual disciplines from Desiring God - especially helpful for framing prayer, meditation, and biblical spiritual discipline without reducing it to performance. (Desiring God)
Videos
BibleProject: The Lord's Prayer - strong companion for your prayer emphasis. (BibleProject)
BibleProject: Shema/ Listen - excellent for your "hearing His voice" theme. (BibleProject)
BibleProject video library - broad Scripture animation resource for devotional follow - up. (BibleProject)
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Devotional reading plan for this episode
5-day reading companion
Day 1 - John 17.3; John 15.1-11
Day 2 - Mark 1.35; Psalm 5.3; Psalm 63
Day 3 - John 10.1-18, 27; Luke 24.13-35
Day 4 - Matthew 10; Luke 14.25-33; Romans 12.1-2
Day 5 - Philippians 4.6-7; Isaiah 26.3-4; Psalm 46.10
0:00 – 1:00
Cold Start
“If eternal life is knowing God, then we just can’t hide it behind some theory, like a college subject study rather than something practical you can apply in your life, and experience it. It’s not informational, a checklist of doing things—its gotta be relational, intimate, personal. Its gotta be cultivated, nurtured, established. This kind of relationship it’s going to cost. It’s going to cost time, comfort, the right to stay distracted. Its going to cost us, at times, more than we really want to give up, and when those moments come, and you sacrifice…it becomes worship.
Today I’m not giving you another teaching—I’m calling you into a practice, and an experience: The Meet. Because prayer, fasting, engaging in the word of God, ministry itself, demand sacrifice, and sacrifice is where discipleship stops being a system of doing things or an idea and becomes obedience. If we truly… believe.”
1:00 – 1:15
Liner: “You’re listening to…a ministry of 9113bc…”
1:15 – 3:00 Episode Identity + Promise
In this Episode Six: The Meet, Part 1 of a three part series introducing The Big Three, “The Meet,” “The Temple,” and “The Ministry,” we’ll be talking about them as a rhythm of discipleship, and what I mean by rhythm its sort of like that moment runners talk about—when you hit your stride and everything just starts to click. The way its defined is as follows: “It’s that floaty pain-dulls-down, mood-lifts-up feeling some runners get during (or right after) sustained aerobic exercise – where “everything clicks,” and effort suddenly feels easier.”
That’s what we’re gonna be getting into today, how to reach that point where “everything clicks” and “your efforts suddenly feel easier.” Where Christ becomes a natural part of your everyday life because your meeting with Him daily – The Meet.“
We’re gonna talk a little bit about these three pillars—The Meet, The Temple, and The Ministry. However, in this episode, we’re gonna get into “The Meet.” Pillars two and three, the Temple and the Ministry? I’m saving those for their own standalone episodes—Episode 6: Part II “The Temple,” and Episode 6: Part III, “The Ministry.” This episode episode 6, Part I, establishes the tools you’re gonna need to get a hang of, or rather begin to practice in your daily life before fruit can be sustained.
(MUSC BED)
The Big Three: Not a System — A Rhythm
“During my Sabatical I had taken a fast and kept asking the Lord: what do I have to do to organize my life so I don’t burn out—so my body doesn’t collapse, my mind isn’t cluttered, and everything can just flow? Where do I start?
So I had to put first things first—without checklists, methods, or turning this into spiritual self-improvement. Bear in mind, I’ll keep repeating those words because its much bigger than that. I wanted a rhythm that could become a part of my life – not something mandated, mechanical, or forced.
So what did the Lord kept bringing up, What I already knew I had to impliment in my life – prioritize—‘Seek first the kingdom of God…’ (Matthew 6:33). And with that came order—‘Let all things be done decently and in order.’ (1 Corinthians 14:40). That right there… that’s the product of time spent with Him—The Meet.”
Because it then becomes: A way of living ordered by presence, stewardship, and obedience—and yes in that order.
When this rhythm is reversed, ministry becomes noise, a clanging cymbal – void of love and God.
When it is ignored, faith becomes theory – numbers, a study subject void of the spirit of Christ.
When it is lived, life becomes witness – and then, you’ve got a testimony – a relationship.
“Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.’ (John 7:37)
And then He says, ‘Whoever believes in Me… out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ (John 7:38)
That’s not new language — Scripture’s been pointing to this from a long time ago.
Ezekiel saw a river flowing out — bringing life wherever it goes. (Ezekiel 47:1–9)
Zechariah spoke of ‘living waters’ flowing out. (Zechariah 14:8)
And Isaiah said God would pour water on the thirsty… and then said it plainly: His Spirit would be poured out. (Isaiah 44:3)
So here’s the picture: Christ is the source — you come to Him and drink.
And when you do… the Spirit doesn’t just fill you — He flows through you.”
(MUSC BED)
1. The Meet
Daily, private, unhurried time with God
The Meet is the non-negotiable starting point.
Its not public and your not performing and as such, it shouldn’t be rushed.
Because this is where the soul is aligned before the day makes demands.
This is where motives are exposed, wounds are named, repentance is real, and direction is clarified.
“O LORD, in the morning You hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for You and watch.” — Psalm 5:3
“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed.” — Mark 1:35
Jesus met with the Father before the crowds.
If He did not bypass this, you think we should – I don’t think so, neither can we.
If we don’t have the Meet – No Meet → there will be no clarity.
If we don’t have the Meet – No Meet → we’ll be on borrowed strength.
If we don’t have the Meet – No Meet → your ministry, my ministry, our ministry is going to be a hollow ministry
LINER
(MUSC BED)
2. The Temple
Stewardship of body, mind, rest, and health
The Temple is not vanity.
It is obedience.
Your body is not a personal accessory, a playground, an amusement park—it is a dwelling place – a Holy Sanctuary. Christ’s home and resting place.
Neglecting it is not humility, and buring it out is not holiness.
Stewardship here is of the utmost importance which includes: Rest without guilt, Discipline without obsession, Health without idolatry and Boundaries without apology.
Keep in mind, You do not serve God despite your body.
You serve God through it.
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you… You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” — 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
A neglected temple distorts discernment – remember, the enemy is lurking about seeking whom he can devour, sift, destroy, murder, redrum.
An exhausted body produces irritable faith – how can you minister from a place of irritation – you’re not, its not gonna happen.
A stewarded temple sustains longevity – remember when the runners hit their stride and everything clicks and your efforts suddenly become easier? Your commitment to “The Meet,” will eventually, flow like a well-oiled machine, and will continue smoothly, well, you’ll have rough moments, but, you’ve caught the rhythm, its now muscle memory. That overwhelming love of Christ maintains us, sustains us and keeps us near and dear to His heart – we’re connected to the source – The Vine.
This is not about looking strong.
It is about being fit for obedience.
(MUSC BED)
3. The Ministry
Everything flowing out of the first two
Ministry is not a platform, a title, a seminary certification stamped by an institutions seal and neither is it something just for the pulpit – the world is your pulpit, your title is servant, and your certification is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Christ. Is there order, yes, is there community, yes, is there discipleship – definitely, hence the reason why there’s the five-fold ministries: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.
Ministry is whatever obedience looks like today.
True ministry is overflow, not output.
If it doesn’t flow from The Meet
and isn’t sustained by The Temple,
then it is noise—even if ministry looks successful.
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.” — Colossians 3:17
This keeps ministry human, humble, and holy.
The Order Matters
Meet → Temple → Ministry these three?
Reverse it and you get:
Live the rhythm, you’ll eventually stride, effortlessly, and you gonna get:
This is a divine order of life that cannot be reversed without consequence.
****(MUSC BED) END SECOND SEGMENT ****
04:30 – 11:00 (06:30)
Doorway: New Birth is the key
Why the Meet matters
Three main Characters in the Gospel of John make use of that key word, “believe,” That word is spoken by John the disciple in Chapter one, Jesus the Messiah, and John the Baptist, in Chapter 3. This seven letter word, “Believe,” opens the door to eternal life, and the eternal living Spirit of Christ with which He teaches us, speaks to and through us, and we learn to distinguish to hear his voice as we follow Him even to the Cross – sacrificially.
John 1:10 - 13:
“He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 3:16 – 18:
Jesus after speaking of the new birth to Nicodemus goes on to say,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:35-36:
Finally, John the Baptist echoes the same words: “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
Whoever believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, not perish but have eternal life, if they believe in the Son of God. The thief on the Cross believed by merely acknowledging who He was, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
“Knowing God is the reason the thief entered into eternal salvation. From the words the thief spoke, he had to have some knowledge of the identity of Jesus and why He was there. He must have heard His preaching, witnessed the authority of His works—healings and miracles—felt conviction and repentance, and seen demonstrations of His love and compassion toward the people. I believe the thief knew who Jesus was. Both thieves knew who Jesus was. All of Jerusalem knew who Jesus was. But one mocked… and one believed. And in that moment, the believing thief acknowledged His Kingship and Messiahship when he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” (Luke 23:42)
“So it wasn’t lack of information that separated the two thieves – it was the hearts response to the one they were looking at.”
John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
(MUSC BED)
14:00 – 33:00 – The Meet: definition + practice + Scripture
First, I want to share a testimony. I love the morning hours. I love working early—when the dew still rests on the grass and I can beat the sun before it peeks through the horizon… when the sky goes from grey, to white, to blue, to yellow.
But I have to confess: even though I wake up at 0200 every day, it’s still a struggle. It’s a challenge. My flesh doesn’t celebrate discipline—my spirit does. And I’ve learned something about myself: if I don’t prepare for The Meet, the day prepares me for everything else – that’s the equivalent to having the day swallow me up.
So I set alarms—every fifteen minutes leading up to 0300—every single day. Not because I’m trying to prove something… but because I know what I’m capable of when I don’t. If I stay up late, it’s harder. If I don’t guard the night, the morning gets stolen.
Jesus said, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)
So I don’t pretend the weakness isn’t there—I plan for it.
And my prayers don’t begin when I get out of bed. They begin while I’m still under the covers. I start speaking to my Father. Sometimes I pray the Lord’s Prayer—“Our Father…” (Matthew 6:9–13). Sometimes I intercede for people I know are going through rough seasons. Sometimes I don’t even have words—I just lift what’s heavy. Especially when it concerns my neighborhood.
Because there are mornings when something presses down on the center of my chest—uneasy, tight, almost like a weight. And I’ve learned not to run from that moment. I bring it into The Meet. I stay there until it lifts… until peace takes its place… until I’m free from that burden.
“Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you.” (Psalm 55:22)
“Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
And when I need a promise to hold onto, I remember:
“Do not be anxious about anything… but in everything by prayer and supplication… let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7) or You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” (Isaiah 26:3-4).
That’s what happens in The Meet. The weight doesn’t always vanish because life is easy—sometimes it lifts because Christ is near.
Then I set everything else aside. I put socials away. I choose stillness. Sometimes I’ll have instrumental music low in the background—something gentle, something that doesn’t compete with the moment. Not to perform, not to create a vibe—just to quiet my mind enough to listen.
“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
“The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:14)
“For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30.15)
“For God alone my soul waits in silence...” (Psalm 62:1)
And I’ll sit there unhurried. Sometimes I don’t speak at all. Sometimes I’m just present. Because I’m not trying to fill the silence—I’m trying to meet with the One who speaks.
“In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for You and watch.” (Psalm 5:3)
“But I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.” (Psalm 88.13)
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases...they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3.22-23)
“I will take my stand at my watch post...and look out...” (Habakkuk 2:1)
I do this in the early hours because that’s when silence reigns, when the world is quiet. No calls. No texts. No notifications. No one to tend to—just me and my Heavenly Father… and Christ Jesus, and His abiding Holy Spirit. And I’ve found that when I give Him my first… He steadies everything that comes after.
Jesus did this. “Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed.” (Mark 1:35)
Jesus didn’t treat prayer like a spare tire—He treated it like breath. He stayed connected to the Father on purpose, and the Gospels show us when – Early, After ministry, when crowds increased, before major moments, under the weight, and at the greatest turning point.
Before the day could start making demands – Jesus was up early:
“When it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place…” (Luke 4:42)
And Mark tells us He rose while it was still dark. Before crowds. Before noise. Before movement—He met with the Father.
When most people would crash after ministry – He communed:
After feeding thousands, “he went up on the mountain by himself to pray…” (Matthew 14:23)
After ministering again, “he went up on the mountain to pray.” (Mark 6:46)
When crowds increased—He didn’t lean into hype when crowds increased – He leaned into solitude:
“The report about him went abroad… but he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” (Luke 5:15–16)
When people tried to make Him king by force, “Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” (John 6:15)
Before major moments—He prayed alone – before major moments:
“Now it happened that as he was praying alone…” (Luke 9:18)
And before choosing the twelve, “He went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.”(Luke 6:12)
Under the weight—He prayed under the weight – not performed:
At Lazarus’ tomb, He lifted His voice to the Father (John 11:41–42).
When His soul was troubled, He prayed, “Father, glorify your name.” (John 12:27–28)
He poured out His heart – at the greatest turning point – before the Cross:
“Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, ‘Father…’” (John 17:1)
This wasn’t last-minute religion. This was a life of communion.
As I looked up these scriptures on how Jesus prayed, was His posture, the lifting his eyes to heaven: John 17.1 when he lifted up his eyes to heaven.... John 11:41-42 “so they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me...” and Mark 6:41 “And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing...” one more to bring it home, Matthew 14:19 “...taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing...”
John even shows us He had a place for it—a set-apart rhythm:
Jesus went across the Kidron to a garden, a place He went to often (John 18:1–2). I’ve got Coney Island at the peer, and the board walk. There I either sit, walk or go to the sand and communion. But mostly, its my room where I’m with my father, its my Holy Ground. In other words you’re like on a date with Him. You go out with your friends, go along with Jesus, anywhere. He’s abiding in you, He just wants you to acknowledge His presence and make Him a part of your moment.
Ok, I got side tracked, So the pattern is unmistakable:
Early. After ministry. When pressured. Before decisions. Under sorrow. Before suffering.
Before the crowds. Before the demands. Before the movement. He always met with the Father, and had a place set – apart rhythm.
“And if Jesus didn’t bypass The Meet… neither can we. Because The Meet is where relationship is built day after day, quietly, faithfully. It’s how we reach that point where “everything clicks” and “your efforts suddenly feel easier.” Where Christ becomes a natural part of your everyday life because your meeting with Him daily – The Meet.“
And over time, that nearness trains your ear. Jesus said, ‘My sheep hear my voice… and they follow me.’ (John 10:27)”
1:00 – 1:15
Liner: “You’re listening to…a ministry of 9113bc…
(MUSC BED) THIRD SEGMENT 1790 10 to 15 minutes
33:00 – 42:00 – Hearing His voice + word burning in Our Hearts
“This is what happens when we Meet—Spirit-led understanding and alignment.”
“Born again means access to the Shepherd—and The Meet is where the Spirit sharpens our ears to hear the Shepherd’s voice, opening the Scriptures until the Word begins to burn in our hearts… He sets the Word on fire.” “My sheep hear my voice…’” (John 10.27) and “’Did not our hearts burn within us..while He opened to us the Scriptures?’” (Luke 24:32).
The disciples and many more experienced, witnessed and observed Jesus in all His glory while on earth. And then He resurrected. He presented himself to 500 witnesses at one time. Hearing the voice of Christ our Lord and Savior and God after he resurrected – sends chills up and down my spine just the thought of experiencing something so special and wonderful like – hearing His voice. John the Baptist, who was in the desert preaching repentance stated to his disciples when he was told that Jesus was baptizing on the other side of the Jordan, said:
“The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete.” John the Baptist fulfilled his mission, now he was preparing for departure, transition to the eternal Kingdom. I believe he knew as he stated, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” We should all seek to decrease and Jesus increase in our lives and prepare ourselves for the eternal Kingdom through our daily Meet with Christ, where we build this up, hearing His voice and preparing for eternity. But what a pleasure it must be to sit still, and listen, waiting, to hear His voice, His Spiritual leading and guidance while we make “The Meet.”
John the Baptist had Jesus in the flesh, hearing his voice, as did the two disciples on their way to Emaus had both, the resurrected Jesus manifested in the flesh from the Spirit Rhelm, Jesus The Holy Spirit, present there with them. The bonus, how the word was burning in their hearts as Jesus opened up the scriptures from Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms, Luke 24: 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” And Luke 24:30-32 “ When he was at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed an dbroke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were oened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. V32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
Then He appears to the other disciples in the upper room and does the same. He opens the scriptures to them showing them all through scripture where it is spoken of Christ and His promises.
Luke 24:44 – 49 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. V45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. V46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, V47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning form Jerusalem. V48 You are witnesses of these things. V49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from oh high.” Jesus spoke of these things in John 14, 15, 16 and 17.
Scriptures being open comes along with hearing his voice because it is the promise of Christ, perhaps not audibly, and maybe and perhasps you may be as so blessed to experience the audible voice of Christ, but nonetheless, when you read the word, it is the written voice of Christ your heart is hearing, listening and perhaps, even burning your heart as you immerse yourself in the Word of God and the pages are opened up to you and the words jump right at ‘cha.
Jesus in Chapter 10 of John speaks the following about those who hear his voice:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
Receiving the promises of Christ through the New Birth is an entire package in which we receive so many gifts and blessings, as to hear the voice of God, to have our hearts burn within our chests when we read the word. He discerns our hearts because his word is a double edge sword that penetrates bones and marrow down to the soul, the spirit and there is nothing we can hide and it knows everything within our hearts and exposes them that we may learn something beautiful – repentance, correction, wisdom and the fear of the Lord.
When I began my research on Jesus’s three-year ministry, I found three things being prominent in His life, the last, being all inclusive within the latter two – prayer, fasting, and Sacrifice, because prayer and fasting both demand sacrifice. I didn't know where to begin to build myself up to Jesus's standard. But I knew it required sacrifice, and it became intense. Nonetheless – I started, inch by inch.
As Saints of Christ, the Lord, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are taught and equipped with tools preparing us to face any kind of spiritual warfare, we begin to grow in sanctification, and learn how to truly love sacrificially even when it costs us so much more when that sacrifice is asked of us by the Father to obey. Though, I feel I’ve grown somewhat, one thing is for sure – I’m not there yet. Not to His standard. I continue to fall short, yet, with total certainty, and confidence, I can say the following, it keeps me connected to the Vine and from falling away to be trampled and thrown into the fire. A continual connection to the Vine is what we need to establish ourselves in an unmoving, unwavering relationship with Christ.
Which is the point – Jesus says His sheep hear His voice, and they follow Him because they know His voice. That kind of knowing isn’t instant. It’s not accidental. It’s cultivated in proximity. And proximity requires time – unhurried, private time with God. That’s why The Meet matters: because abiding is how the voice becomes familiar. Jesus said, ‘Abide in Me…apart from Me you can do nothing.’ (John 15:4-5) And abiding always costs something. It costs sleep. It costs comfort. It costs distraction It costs the right to stay shallow. That cost – when offered to God – is the beginning of sacrifice.”
“And that right there is the proof that this is real: the Shepherd speaks, the sheep learn His voice, and the Word begins to burn again. But here’s the part that modern Christianity tries to avoid—closeness has a cost. Hearing His voice isn’t free. Abiding isn’t automatic. The Meet is where that cost is paid, and where the disciple learns what following Christ truly requires. Which brings me to this: The Meet is the foundation of sacrifice.”
“If you want to endure the cost of following Christ publicly, you must first learn to die with Him privately.”
(MUSC BED) FOURTH SEGMENT = 10 MINUTES
The Meet: The Foundation of Sacrifice
This Part I of Episode Six obviously has not been a historical survey.
Neither has it been martyrdom in detail – well, not yet at least.
It is not about persecution as an event – we’ll be getting into that in future Episodes.
This Episode is about why persecution makes sense to the true disciple. Because what we have to come to terms with is the following fact: that sacrifice is the unavoidable reality of following Christ—it identifies The Meet as the place where that sacrifice is first learned, accepted, and lived. It comes with a cost. Especially if you’re in ministry and guess what, YOU ARE:
Ministry is whatever obedience looks like today.
Which brings me to the next point: I’ve learned throughout the years that Christianity is not acquiring knowledge, certifications and neither is it spending your years behind books and closed doors. For goodness sakes, Jesus spent three years in ministry with 12 guys, and listen there were more than the 12. The 12 were in the inner circle and Peter, John and James were deeper than the inner circle. That took me to the understanding that faith isn’t safety and discipleship is not a cultural beglonging. Jesus, again I say spent three years with His disciples, no classroom, no stage, no home, no books, chalk boards, no seminary and when he chose his twelve and sends them out He instructs them and the entire Chapter ten goes into detail on his instructions, his directives I leave with you, they start in Chapter ten and ends in Chapter 11 verse 1:
And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.
2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,
6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts,
10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.
11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.
12 As you enter the house, greet it.
13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.
15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,
22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,
33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.
37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.
41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.
42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
11:1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. [1]
Where in these passages do we hear Jesus mention anything about comfort? When do we see Jesus recruiting with promises of such a thing – it’s the total opposite. With statements like, “Take up your cross,” “Deny yourself,” “Follow me.” And, “Take absolutely nothing, not a thing with you, no money, no second pair of clothing, in addition when you hear something like, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”Fisrt though I have is, “I’m gonna die? This is to the death? What?” Another passage Jesus states: “As I have suffered, so will those who follow me.” In another passage we find the same sentiments: “Since Christ has suffered in His body, we must be ready to suffer also, I think its peter that states that and Paul chimes in Phillipians with For to you it has been granted for Chrsit’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” In Luke it reads, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ”Christianity wasn’t made to be kept within the confines of Church walls, Where is the suffering? Where is the sacrifice? Yes, this is where the five fold ministry comes to play. Now looking at Matthew 28: 18-20 where Jesus says:
“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 28:18-20.
This is the reality of following Christ, and he made it plain. From the opening of this Episode Part I, the first couple of minutes when I stated, This kind of relationship it’s going to cost. It’s going to cost time, comfort, the right to stay distracted. Its going to cost us, at times, more than we really want to give up, and when those moments come, and you sacrifice…it becomes worship. And that worship may cost you your life – either all at once or daily.
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THE GOSPEL DEFINED BY SACRIFICE
God’s love is not sentimental, emotional, nor is it waivering— Gods love is sacrificial.
What Jesus does here is give us the definition of love. Sacrifice is not an add-on to Christianity. Sacrifice is Christianity.
John in 1 John 4.8 states, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
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THE BIG THREE — ESTABLISHED IN SACRIFICE
Not a system. A life laid down.
The Big Three exist because sacrifice is required to follow Christ.
The listener must hear this clearly:
You do not add sacrifice to the Big Three.
The Big Three trains you to live a sacrificed life.
THE MEET — WHERE SACRIFICE BEGINS
Why The Meet Comes First
Before persecution.
Before obedience is tested publicly.
Before martyrdom is possible.
There is The Meet.
Christ models this relentlessly:
This is where Jesus says:
“Not My will, but Yours be done.”
That sentence alone explains:
You cannot die well for Christ
if you have not first learned to die daily with Him.
The Meet is:
If you cannot come to Him personally, face to face, in the secret place, secret closet, in prayer and fasting – which reminds me of the time I was serving on the line and I had a gentleman refuse the treats on the line, there’s a line that forms where the members and visitors have to wait outside and there are treats, hot drinks to keep them warm while they wait outside, had to mention that because that’s how we serve as they wait for the previous service to vacate the facilities to make room for the other members coming in, but this man standing in line, spoke, and his words literally made me jump back, because He meant what He said, He said, “I can’t, I’m fasting!” That sent chills up and down my spine, I apologized, I walked up to him and said, how long have you been on it? What kind of fast are you doing? And he smiled…I said, “I know where you’re at. God bless you and strengthen you. I’m impressed.” What is it that moved me? His sacrifice. He was sticking to his guns. He was determined to lay it all down. He was ready and willing to do what it takes and this Puertorican wasn’t going to lure him in to failure. Wow, I must say, that reminds me of when Jesus told Peter, “Get thee behind me Satan.” Oh wow. I just thought of that. Not cool. But it was sacrifice that Jesus was focused on and anyone that tries to deter you from that mission, from the cause, from the path, from your way in Christ – PUSH BACK. I wasn’t at all offended. I was moved emotionally. Because of his resolve and resolute determination to fulfill his sacrificial offering read Romans 12.1-3.
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OBEDIENCE → SACRIFICE → WORSHIP
This is the spine of Episode Six.
This is why:
They had already met with Christ.
The cost was already settled.
PREPARING THE WAY FOR STANDING EPISODES
Episode Six Part I closes by intentionally pointing forward, not backward.
It prepares the listener for:
1. A Standalone Episode on the Persecuted Church
An hour+ devoted to:
Not as history—but as continuing reality.
2. Standing Episodes on:
THE FINAL NOTE OF EPISODE SIX
I’d like to end this Episode with the following TRUTH all CAPS:
If you meet with Christ,
eventually you’ll be asked to suffer with Him.
And if you refuse The Meet,
when the time comes, you will not endure the cost.
But if you abide—
you will worship Him with your life:
This is the foundation.
This is the wake-up call.
This is the beginning of real discipleship.
(MUSC BED)
Role Sphigler - There's a place for me
Episode Six — The Meet: The Cost of Abiding
Episode Purpose
Episode Six introduces The Big Three as a rhythm of discipleship while fully elaborating only the first pillar: The Meet.
The Temple and The Ministry are introduced clearly—but intentionally reserved for their own standing episodes.
This episode establishes the tools that must be mastered before fruit can be sustained.
INTRODUCTION — Setting the Weight
This episode opens with a sober recalibration:
It is costly obedience.
This is where the listener is confronted with reality:
“Obedience is better than sacrifice.”
But obedience becomes sacrifice when it costs you comfort, time, safety, reputation, or life.
That cost—when borne in love—becomes worship.
THE BIG THREE — SYNOPSIS (Orientation Only)
Not a system. A rhythm.
A divine order of life that cannot be reversed without consequence.
1. The Meet — Communion
2. The Temple — Stewardship
3. The Ministry — Obedience in motion
Episode Six briefly explains:
Then it slows down—and stays with The Meet.
THE MEET — THE MESSAGE OF EPISODE SIX
The Meet as Sacrifice
Meeting with Christ is not passive.
It costs:
Jesus demonstrates this in over 90% of His ministry:
The Meet is where:
No Meet → borrowed faith
No Meet → reactive living
No Meet → performative Christianity
SEGMENT ONE — The Persecuted Church
Christ the First Martyr/ The First Fruit
The persecuted church segment grounds The Meet in reality, not romance.
The church did not grow through relevance.
It grew through devotion and obedience unto death.
These believers did not talk about meeting with Christ.
They risked their lives to do so.
The Meet was not optional—it was survival.
SEGMENT TWO — The True North Message
Relevance Without Compromise
Paul became:
Not to dilute truth—but to deliver it.
The modern church often confuses:
The True North Message re-centers the listener:
The Meet keeps the compass true.
Without it, adaptation becomes compromise.
DEVOTIONAL STUDY NOTES — THE BIG THREE INTERACTION
How the Rhythm Works
Break the rhythm:
The Meet informs why
The Temple supports how
The Ministry answers where
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), Mt 10:1–11:1.