THE GOALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

For those who have been reading my blogs for years know that one burden God has given me is what I call “Biblical Discipleship” based on the Great Commission is Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
You may react and say John has just one string in his bow, what else is there to say about Discipleship. Jesus gave us this message/truth 2000 years ago, yet over all the centuries the Church hasn’t got it right, or maybe for a decade or a generation it starts right, but then for numerous reasons, like this is to hard, too long term, it starts to become modified until it degenerates simply into a classroom setting imparting information, so that hearers know the “rules of the club”. Or in too many cases there is no Discipleship, and the results can be horrendous.  We wouldn’t throw a baby into a swimming pool and say swim,  but we do with a person who seeks to come to faith.In every aspect of life and business we are encouraged to set goals, but sadly there doesn’t seem to be goals in Biblical Discipleship.
This blog today has come out of a meeting I had today with one of my past students, who is becoming more and more involved in ministry in South East Asia. A region that is also very close to my heart. The Lord put in my heart a statement to share with him,(as a result of a discussion paper he gave me to read) and I believe the word was for me personally too, I will quote it late in the blog.
In goal setting, it is recommended that one set, SHORT TERM, MID TERM & LONG TERM GOALS. I want to recommend we do this with Biblical Discipleship, This is cuttently developing (present tense) in my heart as I write as a result of what the Lord put in my heart. I agree some aspects of Discipleship can be well dealt with in a class, but many aspects need to be done on a one to one face to face basis.
SHORT TERM GOALS
Build a bridge of friendship with the person
Clearly ascertain they are truly “born again” and have “assurance” of sins forgiven
Lay the foundation of developing a daily Quiet Time of Prayer and Bible reading, & Meditating.
Demonstrate how God wants to speak to us DAILY from the Scriptures and how we need to let it become a Rhema Word. Walking with them until it becomes a lifestyle.
Commit to walking with the person until a the Quiet Time becomes a lifestyle, (even if it takes a number of months)
Assist the person with Biblical keys to protect the mind, and again walk with them until it is a lifestyle,
Discern if there are strongholds in their mind that needs to be broken, and minister to them if there are.
See they are filled with the Spirit and encourage them to DAILY PRAY IN TONGUES.
Many people come into the Kingdom of God bruised and hurting, we are to be a channel of healing to them look at Luke 4:18-19 AMP. The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity],
To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound].
That anointing is available for God’s servants to minister WHOLENESS  to His people
Introduce them to  what is their inheritance in Christ NOW. Which will include The Whole Armour of God Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints
My readers may feel there are other things to be added to this short term goals (one on one, face to face list), I would love to hear from you, and your suggestions, keeping in mind there are numerous things that can be covered in a class situation, like Believer’s Baptism, Holy Communion, Tithing, Church Membership etc.
After only a very few short weeks the Discipler will quickly discern the New believer is growing in grace. There will be the temptation to withdraw DON’T.
MID TERM GOALS
Keep on assessing that there is growth in the areas under “short term goals”.
Slowly introduce the believer to all the aspects of His inheritance in Christ, showing Him what is written in the WILL (The Word of God). Do it slowly so that you are not just imparting information but that every aspect truly becomes revelation in their life. So that they truly embrace all the privileges of SONSHIP (truly being a son of God)
Enlarge the Vision (and worldview) of the Believer to take in the unsaved in and outside his own family, and the important place the Christian family must be in their life.
To encourage them to pray for the lost, and seeing them born into the Kingdom of God.
Then to seek to Disciple that person sharing all they had learnt from their Discipler
LONGER TERM GOAL
To fulfil 1 Cor.4:15 NKJV  TO BECOME A SPIRITUAL FATHER . For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
What was the statement God put in my heart this morning?

THE GOAL OF DISCIPLESHIP IS TO RAISE SONS WHO WILL BECOME FATHERS.

In our natural families we were not given any training to raise a family, it was all “on the job training” with all the unfortunate mistakes that can happen. This is so often the way it happens in the Body of Christ, but it doesn’t have to be that way, we have the Manual, we must pray that God will raise up more Disciplers and Fathers so that we BUILD THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN OF THE WORD.

THEN WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE THE GLORY OF GOD.