As God allows us to train disciples, church leaders and church planters in so many places, we are amazed at the new connections that are made around the world. As an example, through Chinese leaders in East and S. E. Asia, we were invited to introduce our training material to Chinese leaders in Europe. We have merely placed ourselves in the Lord’s hand to direct where we go and when. Remember that the Apostle Paul had a similar experience in Acts 16. He and Silas “attempted to go into Bithynia [along the Black Sea], but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them” (16:7). There is no indication that Paul and Silas were discouraged, but continued moving westward in the direction of Troas. They knew that God had something else in mind for them and waited as they walked. “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them” (16:9–10). In the same way that Paul trusted the Spirit’s guidance in his ministry, we also are convinced that God shuts certain doors that we thought were good to go through. He has another door that is better and more effective for the spread of the gospel and principles of disciple-making, church planting and establishing. Ask the Spirit to lead and He will guide with accuracy and power!
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How far will we go to help someone grasp the important principles of Scripture? Jesus knew the value of walking seven miles with two who were discouraged with “things that had happened. “While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them” (Luke 24:15). There was one thing Jesus did not do; He did not discuss the political angles of the Romans who crucified Him or the religious errors committed by the Jews that led up to His death. After listening to the concern of these two men, Jesus did what each of us must do. “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (24:27). Was this seven mile walk worth the time, about 1 hour and 45 minutes? At the end of this walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus, they entered their home and had a meal with Jesus, and as He broke the bread, “their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him” (24:31). But that is not all. Though Jesus “vanished from their sight,” there was more revelation to come as the “returned to Jerusalem and…found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together” (24:33). “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (24:45). This is why we disciple others! It takes walking with the disciple, pointing them to the Scriptures, and letting the Lord by the Spirit open their understanding. From my own experience, there is an excitement in staying with someone until the light of God’s Word dispels the darkness and provides truth to walk in. In a world of opposition to the gospel and biblical principles, it is important that we go beyond what is expected to make a ‘highway’ for preaching and communication of the Good News. As Jesus was preaching on the mount, he laid out principles that were very contrary to the religious and cultural thinking of that day. They still are! “But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles” (Matthew 5:39–41). This is not popular in a day of ‘me-ism’ and doing the bare minimum. The intent of the gospel was to express the heart of God and go far beyond what mankind deserved and “show [His] love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). There was nothing in us worthy of God’s love. That is a major point of the gospel. NO ONE IS WORTHY! Because Jesus removed the guilt of sin for those who believed, God provided forgiveness and new life – eternal life in Christ and He has made us worthy. We saw yesterday that Paul became a servant to all in order to save some. He was following the example of Jesus, who became a servant to the whole human race so that “as many as were appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48). Do we have a ‘mission mind’ based on the example ofJesus to go the extra mile so someone might hear the gospel and be saved? (See Philippians 2:5-8). There are many examples of missionaries who have given up everything for the opportunity of sharing the gospel with the lost. On this subject, I would like us to consider Paul’s attitude and the degree of flexibility he had in life-style and culture. “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:19–23). Notice the basis of this attitude. It was the gospel of Jesus Christ – the message that has “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). With that knowledge, Paul “made [himself] a servant to all” because that was the most effective way of presenting the gospel so God would work in others. He followed Christ! Every believer must ask themselves the question; ‘does the gospel mean enough to me that I will do anything so someone else can hear it, receive it and believe?’ When this becomes our heart for the world, God will help us take on the attitude of Christ – a servant (Philippians 2:5-8). I am sure that title brings up many ideas of things that might hinder the gospel being presented in any given culture. Paul mentions many throughout his letters, but in 1 Corinthians 9, he is mainly concerned about using Christian freedom, liberty or rights in such a way that it would actually hinder the gospel. Even as to the right he had to receive compensation for his work as an Apostle, he makes this statement: “If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:12). Notice that Paul’s highest concern was the promotion of the gospel. Then he repeats himself in verse 15; “I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision.” In other words, he was not making a point hoping the Corinthians would send him money. “For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (9:16). Preaching the gospel was not a job! The force of these words should hit us in the core of our motives. Would you continue preaching the gospel and serving the Church even if you received nothing for doing it? As he goes on to say, preaching is a stewardship from the Lord who has entrusted it to us. Finally, Paul says, “What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel” (9:18). This is an excellent check on our motives. Two members of the NFI team were in a S. E. Asian country recently and were so encouraged. The “Timothys” who use God’s Plan for His Disciples (GPHD) and God’s Plan for His Church (GPHC) as training tools, are living examples of Paul. They both work and are independent of outside support as they seek to follow Paul (2 Thessalonians 3:8-9). They both are trailblazers with the Gospel, with a laser focus of fulfilling the Great Commission; going to hard places where people have never heard the name of Jesus. But most of all, they seek to be faithful, with hearts that have been changed and are continuing to be shaped by the power of the Spirit through the living Word. The NFI team met with them and talked about their strategy to go to the Hmong, a tribe in the north. They were encouraged as tribesmen, to cross over the border into neighboring areas and reach the many unreached people groups. The Hmong are more equipped to do this work because they are already familiar with the tribal culture and traditions. Time was spent reviewing GPHD and the importance of Acts 14:21-22. The Gospel paves the way for making disciples and establishing and strengthening them. These men were particularly concerned about those in the church who were not born again and what role GPHD would play in bringing them to Christ. GPHD really exposes the heart and clarifies where a person is with Christ. As we hear reports like this, we should be reminded that prayer is key to God’s work moving forward. The Early Church learned how important prayer was and devoted themselves to it. We must do the same in order to overcome obstacles and wage the spiritual battle against darkness. We come to the third point of unity – unity in the Body of Christ. This was a major point of truth for the Apostle Paul, and it should be for us. The power for presenting the gospel to the lost is often measured by whether there is unity among believers who present it. Read carefully Paul’s exhortation to the church in Rome. “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5–6). Let’s look at his points on unity. 1. It is God who gives us the ability to be in “harmony” with each other. That means we must be submitting to His Word so we promote unity, first on the basis of our relationship with Him. It is God who “grants” us to live in harmony with others. Human efforts will fail. 2. Any unity in the Church that follows God’s principles will be “in accord with Christ Jesus.” As the Head of the Church, He must be at the center of everything. If there is disunity among the leadership, it is because they are “not holding fast to the Head,” Christ (Colossians 2:19). 3. The purpose of unity is not for the absence of strife, but so the Church “together…may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (See Ephesians 1:12, 14). Because this issue affects so many churches, take time to examine your own heart to see if there is any disunity between you and another brother of sister. If there is, humbly resolve it quickly! You will remember from yesterday that my second point on the foundation of unity was the authority, power and supply of the Holy Spirit. It is no wonder that Paul insists that we be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). He follows this by declaring there is “one body and one Spirit…one hope…one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (4:4). The oneness in the Godhead and every truth and every principle that flows from them must be part of our foundation for unity. Without the Holy Spirit, this unity cannot be maintained or experienced. After spending three chapters of personal and intimate teaching to His disciples, mainly about the role of the Holy Spirit, Jesus gives us a window into His heart in prayer to the Father. Jesus prays “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one” (John 17:21–22). Our standard of unity is what is known between the Father and the Son. Human agreement or man-made unity will never rise to the level ordained by the Holy Spirit. If we follow Paul’s injunction to “be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit,” we must accept and submit to His authority in and between us. He will then take the Word of God and apply it to our lives for our obedience. Through this process we will prove His power in His unity in the Church. As we gathered for worship this morning, many came a half hour early in order to spend time in prayer for the Church around the world. We had three concerns: 1) that there would be unity among believers on the foundation and authority of the Word of God, 2) on the authority, power and supply of the Holy Spirit, and 3) that we become more responsible about sharing the gospel with the lost and unreached people of the world. Why were these points of prayer joined together? The authority of God’s Word is the foundation of everything the Church is, and should do. In an age when “everyone [does] what is right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25), there is only one way to have unity, and that is through having one authority. We must start with the fact that there is “one God” (Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:5). With that truth must come the authority of what He says; “My word…that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and it shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). This last point of that verse is important to keep in mind in a world full of chaos, sin and suffering. God sent His Word into this sin-cursed world, and NOTHING will fail in its purpose. That is why Paul affirms that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The authority of God’s Word changes the condition that sin created. We will look at the authority, power and supply of the Holy Spirit tomorrow, but in this blog, it is vital to understand that every disunity is caused by not accepting the authority of Scripture and applying it to ourselves. It takes humility and repentance to realize that some part of God’s Word does not have authority over my mind and heart. I want to also encourage you with what we are hearing each week from persons who are so grateful for our translation work and can hardly wait for us to print the second edition of God’s Plan for His Disciples in Spanish. We are humbled by the interest and growing demand for this book and the introductory video. It is another proof that God is at work to impact the Spanish speaking nations with the power and authority of His Word and the Holy Spirit. Just two days ago, I heard from a brother in Brazil we have not heard from since 2011. This is only the Lord. We have also been asked to print this book for Cuba, Mexico, Costa Rico and Honduras. AMAZING! Translation and some printing is now finished for the Mandarin (China & Taiwan), Hmong (Vietnam), and Burmese (Myanmar). Other translations are in process; Arabic (Middle East), Hausa (Nigeria), and Urdu (Pakistan). So many are seeing God transform their hearts, rekindle their passion for spreading the gospel, and renew a commitment to discipling others. Many of you who pray for this ministry ARE PART OF THIS MOVEMENT OF GOD! Again, we say Thank you! It is no time to relax and bask in what has been accomplished. There will be time in heaven for that. We are very grateful for all the open doors God has given us, but the work is not done. With nearly 650 people groups that are still unengaged – no witness of the gospel - we must press on with diligence and with HIS supply of grace and resources. Will you press on in the race with us? |
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