CHRISTIAN, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE, LET US TAKE ALL THAT IS AVAILABLE TO US NOW.
I wrote on Monday a short blog about the fact as one gets older one tends to reminisce more, and I shared about the most momentous thing that has ever happened in my life when I was 10 years old, when I was born again, and became a Christian. Paul describes the experience in Col. 1:12 KJV Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In simple terms we were CALLED out of darkness into the LIGHT OF GOD’S LOVE His glorious Salvation. For me that was over 70 years ago, the next step is found 2 Peter 3:18 NKJV But GROW in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Sadly, there have been millions who have made a “decision” to follow Christ but didn’t know where to go following that decision, and the reality is that most people need help to grow and fulfil the purposes of God in their life.
Just before Jesus ascended into heaven He gave the Church what is called THE GREAT COMMISSION FOUND IN Matt.. 28:18-20 NKJV And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “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.
AMP. Jesus approached and ,breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Go then and MAKE DISCIPLES of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
TEACHING them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age .Amen (so let it be).
MESSAGE Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and TRAIN EVERYONE you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then INSTRUCT them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
The Church over the years has interpreted this Commission in many different ways, sadly, very few churches have been very effective, many Churches conduct classes which are little more than the “rules of the club” other churches have said it is too hard and we don’t have the personnel to do it.It is like throwing a baby into a swimming pool and telling it to swim!!! So many who have made that first step do not GROW IN GRACE AND IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
If a local church can conduct a Discipleship class that is excellent, but if that isn’t possible, there needs to be a ONE ON ONE DISCIPLESHIP plan to teach and train the new Believer. this can be done face to face, plus making use of all the technological ways that are now available to us like Zoom, etc.
Often that first decision is just the start of a pilgrimage and it may be some time before it all starts to come together for the person.
We need to be sure the new Believer is born again and has assurance that he is forgiven.
There are a number of essential ingredients to daily prayer that the new Believer needs to be taught and assisted to see that they become part of a daily lifestyle..
The new Believer needs to know what makes up God’s so great Salvation and the glorious inheritance we have now as a new Christian.
Much of this can not be practically taught in a class, and the Disciple-maker needs to walk with the new Believer FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES, until these essential truths are experiential and a daily experience.
The result should not only be that the new Believer is maturing and growing in grace, but in actual fact is also being trained to become a Disciple-maker himself.
Not only are called out of darkness into God’s Kingdom, but every Believer is called into ministry firstly to become a Disciple-make, but God gives people many gifts and talents to His people and the Disciple-maker/Mentor can help the new Believer to find his calling and ministry in the local church. When I was about 14, God clearly “called me into ministry and later into Theological College, where so many things I should have know and experienced earlier were revealed to me, which gave me a passion to fulfil the great Commission.
Let me say again a new Christian will not come to maturity on his own, but needs a Disciple-maker to walk with him, and for the new Christian to be part of a local church.
Remember the Nike slogan JUST DO IT !!!!!!
