We come back to a familiar subject in this blog; how do we make disciples who will multiply themselves? Last week we spent two days in prayer and discussion on how we can be more effective in multiplying “indigenous Timothys”. Just so we all understand what this word “indigenous” means as it relates to missions and ministry, it refers to persons who “live in their natural, ethnic region or culture.”
In seeking to help the Church spread the gospel to every unreached people group, it is critical that we identify “faithful indigenous Timothys” who will pass on biblical principles to other “Timothys” in their own culture. New Foundations International trains through a four-week, intense study of Scripture using God’s Plan for His Church as a guide in discovering these principles. Here are some criteria we discussed as being important to this process. · We will be leaning on the recommendation of our indigenous contacts to send qualified “Timothys” to our training (Acts 16:2). · They must be "faithful Timothy's" who can teach others what they learn (2 Tim. 2:2). · Are well spoken of by their Christian community (Acts 16:2). · Willing and able to commit to the four weeks away from family, work, etc. (Acts 16:3). · Able and willing to disconnect from electronics and other distractions so they can concentrate on the Word (2 Corinthians 8:5). · We warn those who attend our training that this is not a traditional method, but biblical. It is a combination of personal study of God’s Word, guidance from the trainer, discussion among the group, and making personal application of what is learned (2 Timothy 3:10). · Taking the principles learned from Scripture and developing a strategy of ministry that will multiply disciples in their culture and beyond. They will equip their indigenous believers to reaching the unreached. If this outline has sparked an interest with you, we would be glad to discuss more details with you. If you are interested in this approach, go to the “TRAINING RESOURCES” page to view or download training materials, and click on “MORE” to contact us. We would love to hear from you.
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At times we receive emails or letters from persons who have been affected by this ministry and they are worth passing on to our readers, prayer partners and supporters. On April 13th I posted a blog on being taught by God. This testimony will help understand how God’s Plan for His Church (GPHC) is impacting individuals in their walk with the Lord.
“I am overwhelmed by a verse I just came across and I had to share. In 1 Thessalonians 4:9 Paul writes "Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another." I've been reflecting a lot on the recent trip with Randy to Rwanda and Uganda. What a privilege we have to serve God by spreading His Plan for His Church. I'm learning more and more that GPHC isn't just material that was birthed out of needing more material. God's Plan for His Church is, by His grace, a labor of love that is directly found in Scripture. It's a tool for us to learn how to be transformed by the Word of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and in turn teaching the "faithful" how to do the same. Brothers, this verse found in 1 Thessalonians 4:9 is key in unlocking what we truly desire by presenting and teaching GPHC. We yearn for God's Church to be "taught by God". It is so simple yet so profound! This is why we are going. This is what we are burdened for with the nations. We desire more than anything for a self-sustaining movement of the Holy Spirit to spread through His Church that is being "taught by Him." Let us then be encouraged by the church in Thessalonica. They are an example to us of a church that received the Gospel and became self-sustaining, being "taught by God" themselves. And let us, as Paul did, be sensitive to the Spirit and urge those that we know to be "taught by God." As Randy would say, "GO FOR IT!"” If you are inspired to know more about this ministry and how it is impacting the world for Christ, go to the “TRAINING RESOURCES” page to view or download training materials, or click on “MORE” to contact us. We would love to hear from you. There are times when I read the Scriptures and feel the writer is sitting right next to me knowing my circumstances, the church and world conditions around me. It is particularly at times like this that I am reminded why God placed these writing into Scripture because they are timeless and apply to anyone in any culture. Here is an example of Paul writing to a church to remind them of what he taught them earlier.
“For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God” (1 Thessalonians 4:2–5). Notice that these “instructions” were given verbally under the authority of the “Lord Jesus.” Today, some think they can change the “instructions” so the Church can be more ‘acceptable’ to the current cultural trends. It is the will of God that we are continually being sanctified, set apart, and made holy in doing the will of God for His glory. The world around the Thessalonian church was just as it is today; moral standards thrown away and replaced by lustful passion. Let us remember that God’s plan has always been that we be a people who clearly reflect His glory in the way we live in every aspect of life. We must not diminish, mar or taint that reflection by adopting any moral standard other than what we have received from God in His Word. When we read any of Paul’s letters, it is easy to sense his passion and the overarching importance he placed on the gospel. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul reminded them of the way he had presented the gospel; “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). That was the only remedy to their failure to live out the gospel of Jesus which had been presented to them (See Acts 18:11). All the serious issues in this church could only be resolved by applying “Christ and him crucified”!
It was necessary for Paul to remind them of what he preached at the very beginning. “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). How is it that such basic truth becomes of lesser importance and we fail to apply it to our hearts and lives? Any truth revealed by the Spirit in Scripture will lose its importance if we do not let the Holy Spirit keep teaching us its truth. Our very nature requires that God’s Word be repeated over and over, and that we allow the Spirit to keep enforcing its authority over us so we grow, mature and become fruitful. When individuals and churches accept this authority, they will see God transform their lives through His power. One of the hallmarks of Paul’s ministry was that he went back to those places where he had preached and established churches for the purpose of strengthening and further establishing the new believers (Acts 14:22; 15:36). In his visits and in his letters, Paul reminded the believers of what they had been taught from the beginning.
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6–7). Pay careful attention to how Paul wanted the new Christians to walk; “rooted and built up in him and established in the faith.” · To be “rooted” is to be firmly connected to the source of spiritual life, Jesus Christ. Jesus emphasizes this in John 15:1-11. Without this principle worked out in us, there cannot be fruit for God. · The purpose of being “built up” is “to increase the potential of someone or something.” This point confirms what Paul was telling the Ephesians, “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:13). · To be “established” is “to increase in inner strength, with the implication of greater firmness of character or attitude.” This insures believers against the wave of opposition and persecution that will come. It also builds a guard against false teaching. As you do the work of ministry in whatever field of labor God has given you, is this the goal you have so that what you leave behind is strong in the faith of our Lord Jesus? Any other goal will detract and weaken the church and robe Christ of His glory. There were certain teachings of Jesus that He repeated hoping the disciple would remember, especially those that would affect their ministry after He left them. Here are a few:
· His warning about false teachers (Matthew 24:11 and 24; Mark 13:23). · The disciples forgot the meaning of Jesus feeding the five thousand (Matthew16:9). · Peter forgot Jesus’ warning about denying the Lord (Matthew 26:75; Mark 14:72; Luke 22:61). · Jesus would be rejected, be killed, and rise the third day (Luke 9:22, 44 and 24:6) Paul had no problem repeating himself in letters, reminding churches he had planted what he told them when they were established. “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you” (Philippians 3:1). I am afraid we tend to turn off in our minds persons who repeat things we have heard before. I well remember my mother giving the same instructions again and again to be sure I did not forget. It may be that our ‘selective hearing’ happens because we want to justify ‘selective obedience.’ As faithful mothers repeat themselves and faithful teachers repeat themselves so we remember to do what is right, we need to be thankful they did not give up. Those who really care about our spiritual well-being never get weary of repeating the same instructions so they become etched on our hearts. For us, this is safe. Do you get irritated when someone repeats instructions to be sure you heard? I have! We must realize they have our spiritual well-being in their interest and care for our souls (Hebrews 13:17). There were dozens of times throughout the Old Testament that God had to remind His people Israel what He had done for them through deliverance from Egypt and during forty years in the wilderness. Over and over they forgot God’s mercy and provisions He gave them along the way.
Are we any different? We would like to think that we have good memories, but as time passes, our practice shows how short our memories are. Jesus knew that we are challenged with remembering and said, “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). The words of Jesus are so important that one of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to continually remind us of His teaching. Even when Jesus was with the disciples, He had to keep reminding them about His impending death and resurrection. He had to remind them of the servant’s attitude; “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master’” (John 15:20, ESV). Of the two ordinances Jesus left us, one was centered around remembering Him (Luke 22:19). I want to challenge every believer to look at the Lord’s Supper as a personal invitation from the Lord Jesus to remember Him in a way that strengthens your relationship with Him. He is not on the Cross or in the tomb. He is risen and has broken forever the power of sin and death that we might “no longer…live, but Christ…live in [us]” (Galatians 2:20). So “that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:15). We tend to forget vital truths like this and live independent of the life of Christ and power of the Spirit in us. Take a moment now and thank God for sending the Spirit to live in us and to help us remember the most essential principles of our walk in Christ as His disciples. As we look at all the Early New Testament churches, there are some that stand out in their spiritual character. Thessalonica is often mentioned for having received the “gospel…not only in word, but also in the power and in the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:5). Keep this in mind; the Holy Spirit was directly involved in their receiving the gospel. I fear that we often forget His role in our salvation and growth as long as we are here. He will never leave us (John 14:16) once we are saved through faith in Christ and sealed by the Spirit.
There is something more we need to observe about the Thessalonians. “Now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:9). This is a clear evidence that this young church was thriving in their relationship with the Lord; allowing the Spirit to teach them characteristics that belong to Christ followers. Love for each other was an outward portrait of Christ in them. It was also a proof that they were true disciples. “By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). This quality in any Christian is critical – being “taught by God.” It shows that there is an inner desire to grow in faith and a willingness to take responsibility for our own spiritual maturity. The sad state that is found in many churches is either a ‘feed me’ mentality or ‘entertain me’ attitude. So many Christians leave a church because of feeling they are ‘not getting fed.’ Where there is a ‘Thessalonican heart,’ persons look first to the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit to be built up and become strong in faith and practice. When this happens, we will “encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). IS THS TRUE OF YOU AND YOUR CHURCH? The other day when I was considering the characteristics of grace, my mind immediately went to the effect of grace on myself. Because of the physical challenges I have faced all through my life, even from birth, and now learning to live with pain, I am reminded of the Lord’s sufficient grace.
It is easy for me to identify with Paul when he “pleaded with the Lord [three times] that it [the thorn in his flesh] should leave [him],” and his request was denied each time. In my weakness, I am sure I have asked the Lord 300 times the same request. As Paul heard from the Lord, I have also received the same response; “He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). We naturally do not like to feel weak and dependent on others. Such a condition deals a direct blow to our pride. Paul had experienced a “surpassing great…revelation” (12:7) from the Lord which gave him insight into the mysteries of God (Ephesians 3:4). He knew that it would be easy for him to be boastful about what he received by divine revelation and why the Lord had given him this “thorn” to boast only in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17). “Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (12:9). What do we want more? The ability to boast in what we have accomplished, or the power of Christ through HIS sufficient grace that gives what we need to accomplish HIS will in a weak condition? We might all agree with the second statement, but in our real world our spirits and attitudes are more often driven by pride and wanting to do things on our own rather than totally dependent on the Lord. What power are you leaning on ALL THE TIME? Begin this day to rest everything in your life on the ALL SUFFIECIENT GRACE AND POWER OF GOD! Then He will receive the glory, not you. When you start digging into the various characteristics of grace, it is amazing what Scripture reveals for us to learn. Read carefully the following verses.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:11–12). Not only has the grace of God brought “salvation for all people,” but it also trains believers, those who have been saved to live God-honoring lives by that same grace. How does grace train us? We must connect the operating of grace in the believer with the Holy Spirit who also “dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17). This provision from God was the extension of Christ being with us (16:7) so that His grace would be instantly available to every believer who “walks by the Spirit”, is “led by the Spirit,” and “lives by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16, 18, 25). The writer of Hebrews warns about “failing to obtain the grace of God” (12:15). Because we have the Spirit living within us, He is always available, but there is a danger of us not allowing Him to make grace effective in our lives because we either grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30) or we quench Him (1 Thessalonians 5;19) by ignoring or suppressing His work of grace in us. The result will be our own failure and weakness and the defilement of those around us. Let the grace of God have its effective training in you so that others benefit as well. |
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