Proverbs 22:20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge.
One of the last instructions that was given to the followers of Christ by the Lord Jesus before He was taken up into glory was that we, His followers, were to go and make disciples of all nations.
The reason we could do this work with all confidence and assurance was that all power in heaven and earth had been given to Jesus, who has given it to us, for the task of bringing the Kingdom of God to all nations. Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Along with this instruction was what we were to disciple the nations. Matt. 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. There it is, the discipleship mandate: “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”
Anyone who has walked with the Lord for any significant amount of time can disciple any new Christian. If we have been walking in the obedience of the Lord then we have a lifetime of lessons we can teach the next generation who are desperate for mentors and guidance in the word of God. Yet, so many of the older Christians are waiting for some kind of a burning-bush experience to set them on their way to become a hand extended to help make disciples.
Why they are waiting is a mystery because the word of God has already said to go and do it. The Lord would not have told everyone to go and make disciples if it were not possible. I have asked some of the Christians who have walked for years in their faith why they were not taking up the mandate of discipling someone. Their lame and pathetic answer is normally “I do not know enough yet.”
God is not asking you to teach them a theological thesis on the ark of the covenant and its many facets. He just wants you to help, guide, and pray with the people who are starting out their walk in Christ. He wants you to be an armor bearer for the new saints who are testing their new spiritual weapons they will have to work with throughout their lives. Eph. 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. All new Christians need help getting fitted with their new spiritual clothing and you can help them adjust so they can become victorious in Christ.
Why they are waiting is a mystery because the word of God has already said to go and do it. The Lord would not have told everyone to go and make disciples if it were not possible. I have asked some of the Christians who have walked for years in their faith why they were not taking up the mandate of discipling someone. Their lame and pathetic answer is normally “I do not know enough yet.”
God is not asking you to teach them a theological thesis on the ark of the covenant and its many facets. He just wants you to help, guide, and pray with the people who are starting out their walk in Christ. He wants you to be an armor bearer for the new saints who are testing their new spiritual weapons they will have to work with throughout their lives. Eph. 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. All new Christians need help getting fitted with their new spiritual clothing and you can help them adjust so they can become victorious in Christ.
In the Gospel of Mark, chapter five, we read the story of the demoniac of Gadara. This man was possessed with a legion of demons and he was in absolute torment. Mark 5:5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. He could not be controlled with shackles or irons because he would break them.
His life was a total hell all day long. He spots Jesus and comes running to Him and the Lord delivers him from the evil spirit. Mark 5:8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. After this miraculous deliverance, the man is in his right mind and clothed for the first time in a long time.
At this point, the man who had been possessed wants to follow Jesus but Jesus says something amazing. Mark 5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
What? No instruction to go to bible college, countless amount of seminars or years sitting in church. Jesus said, “Go tell your friends what Lord has done for you in compassion.” Go disciple with what you have and more will be given to you.
His life was a total hell all day long. He spots Jesus and comes running to Him and the Lord delivers him from the evil spirit. Mark 5:8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. After this miraculous deliverance, the man is in his right mind and clothed for the first time in a long time.
At this point, the man who had been possessed wants to follow Jesus but Jesus says something amazing. Mark 5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
What? No instruction to go to bible college, countless amount of seminars or years sitting in church. Jesus said, “Go tell your friends what Lord has done for you in compassion.” Go disciple with what you have and more will be given to you.
We are a generation who has so much biblical information that many of us have forgotten more then the next generation will ever learn. That is an indictment against what Christ has freely done in our lives. Luke 12:48b From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
I have been most fortunate throughout the years to always have someone I am mentoring in Christ. Young and old, I have been blessed to go and make disciples by showing them what the Lord has done for me and within my life. I meet with different people and in different languages for a few hours a week to help answer questions that new believers come up with. The interesting thing is the fruit and reward in my life has been magnificent.
God is always faithful to give the information needed in all situations. We just have to be willing to be a servant of the Lord and we need to jerk the slack out of our excuses and disobedience. Most of us can disciple, we just have to want to do it. Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. May God give us the strength to step forward and be counted. Amen!
God is always faithful to give the information needed in all situations. We just have to be willing to be a servant of the Lord and we need to jerk the slack out of our excuses and disobedience. Most of us can disciple, we just have to want to do it. Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. May God give us the strength to step forward and be counted. Amen!
Hi Larry.
I think it is because there is a stinking-thinking that has come into the church wherein we, the people, will pay pastor and he can organize all the disciple stuff. In most cases it is as I have written. Most people do not feel qualified or they think they do not know enough and they live in fear of giving it a try and trusting the Holy Spirit to help them. That ends up being a lose-lose situation. The Lord said it simply. "Go make disciples of all nations." The simple version is share our testimony and tell all what good things the Lord has done for us and how much compassion God has for us.
Nice to see you out there making disciples:) May God give you and Fran favor in Africa in all that you do in Christ. Amen!
Why is discipleship so unprevelant in our churches? Good word Norm.