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If you are at all interested in obeying Jesus' command to "go and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19), then you must watch the You Tube video. Use the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJWkQ9UP_m8&feature=em-share_video_user As time passes, our sense of urgency should increase, not decrease. With that sense of urgency should be a passion to be as effective as possible in our commission of making disciples. Let us renew our minds, clarify our ministry goals, and purify our ways so we will see God work in power through the Holy Spirit in these last days!
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Just today I was reminded of Paul’s words in Romans 15; “For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;” (Romans 15:18–19). We want to be quick to remind you (our faithful readers and prayer supporters) that the reports we place on this blog and in our newsletters are no credit to us in any way. What is being accomplished is solely “what Christ has accomplished through us” and “by the power of the Spirit of God”.
If our ministry and the reports you read have touched you heart in any way, please commit time to pray for us. Nothing can be accomplished of eternal value unless God is doing the work through us in the Spirit’s power. He alone must receive the praise for the amazing results you read about! This is a special post to share with you that several Karen disciples have completed the Karen God's Plan for His Church (GPHC). Finishing the new manual is no small task, it takes hours and hours to complete, but this is a life changing course because it directs leaders back to the sufficiency of God's Word and the power of the Holy Spirit and Headship of Christ. Yesterday, I was able to introduce and launch GPHC seminary course to students at the Karen Bible College/Seminary in Chiang Mai. I will send an update soon on the awesome time I had with "the soon to graduate" disciples in Vietnam last week. Many had worked hard in completing and applying what they are learning. I have to say, my time in Vietnam was probably one of the most rewarding times of my entire ministry life. Lord willing, these Vietnamese leaders will be receiving certificates in July when Sherman and I will be there. Today at the Global House Church Summit I met many indigenous leaders from many different countries and many are Muslim. Tomorrow I will hand out GPHC to the English speaking students. I praise our Lord for the many opened doors and granting us favor beyond what we deserve. To God be the Glory! Tim
More good news! The Karen Baptist have approved GPHC seminary course to be taught at their Bible College and Seminary. It “just so happens” that their first class will start May 27th. The Lord has allowed Tim the awesome privilege to be there to kick this course off in Chiang Mai. Thank you Lord for this divine appointment and opportunity!
In addition, Tim just got back from introducing GPHC to the Karen Siloam Bible College/Seminary in Chiang Mai. He was able to share our 35 minute video of a Karen student presenting in detail all seven chapters on a white board with no notes! Truly amazing! This is our first college level GPHC course that has actually been launched at a Bible College. The professor wants us to teach this course to the seminary students for one week whenever we are available. Praise the Lord with us for these opportunities! Most missionaries and preachers are familiar with Jesus’ analogy in John 15 of the vine, branches and fruit. But there is one verse that needs our careful attention; “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide (remain or last), so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” (John 15:16). Beside that fact that Jesus has chosen us and appointed us for the purpose of fruit-bearing, He wants out fruit to “abide (remain or last)”. If we are measuring our ministry in quantities such as number of converts, church buildings and their size or any other physical measurement, we are using the wrong scale of values.
True fruit results from proving that we are Jesus’ disciples. This brings glory to the Father (15:8). All of our work will be tested by fire to see if it has eternal materials in it that will last (1 Cor. 3:11-15). It is good to take time to evaluate our own work and make corrections now so that our fruit in the future will remain to the Father’s glory. This is why we were chosen by Jesus. I was just reading a book yesterday by A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of Man, in which he says, "Everywhere among conservatives (and I will add - every strip of religion), we find persons who are Bible-taught but not Spirit-taught. They conceive truth to be something which they can grasp with the mind...There is no truth apart from the Spirit. The most brilliant intellect may be imbecilic when confronted with the mysteries of God. For a man to understand revealed truth requires an act of God equal to the original act which inspired the text" (page 77).
Paul wanted to make this point very clear: “For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:11–12). This became the hallmark of his ministry. “And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13). The foundation for Paul’s word come from Jesus who 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). Why is this point so critical? There is no power for transformation in mere “Bible-taught” information. By the very nature of the Holy Spirit’s work, there is transformation in us so we increasingly reflect Christ through our lives. This is the message of Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18. I refrain from putting a copy of those verses here so you will pull out your Bible and read it yourself. How are you preaching and teaching Scripture? Are you just passing on intellectual information, or is His truth first alive in you by the Spirit’s work? Let us ask God the Spirit to reveal and teach us the truth of Scripture so its power will work in us. Then our preaching and teaching will be effective. Tim sensed the Lord wanted him to participate in an evening service, even if he could not understand the language, so he joined them. To his surprise, they were actually speaking in English and J's wife and daughter translated for those speaking Hindi. ”As they shared their testimonies, J… fit me into their time. It was obvious that the Lord spoke to them through the overall vision I was able to share with them on three occasions. I really sense the Lord in our midst. Communion went well and we sensed the Lord's presence. Then water and a basin were brought for a foot washing. Well, who does the foot washing but J… and his wife! They washed all the leader's feet and mine, which immediately brought heavy conviction upon me. This was a very moving time, especially in this culture and being done by the leader. Brothers it was real, beyond ANY doubt whatsoever. Afterwards, Josh asked me to close in prayer and I could not even speak I was so torn up weeping inside. I knew the Lord wanted me to confess my lack of love publicly, so I did. There was MUCH confession and brokenness like I have never experienced before.”
God is at work, and often we do not realize it until He places us right in the middle of what He is doing. How thankful we are that God has given us the privilege of seeing Him work in unexpected places in our day! “When I left England, my hope of India’s conversion was very strong; but among so many obstacles, it would die, unless upheld by God. Well, I have God, and His word is true.” He faced unbelievable obstacles and opposition, but he went on to say, “though I were deserted by all and persecuted by all, yet my faith on the sure Word, would rise above all obstructions and overcome every trial. God’s cause will triumph!” (Faithful Witness: The Life and Mission of William Carey, New Hope, Birmingham AL, 1991).
Will you and I GO in this confidence and “declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!” (Psalm 96:3). If we keep our eyes on Jesus who has already overcome all obstacles, we will triumph through His victory! “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13). This should be our objective in asking for anything.
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36). It is very instructive to note that what moved the heart of Jesus was not the lack of food, shelter, health, money or education. What drew out compassion from Him was the lack of shepherd type leadership. Leaders are desperately needed who see the spiritual needs of people more than their physical needs. At the root of every physical problem is a spiritual solution. I am not saying that food is not needed to sustain physical life. Jesus fed the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15). But in providing food, Jesus was pointing to Himself as the only means of true satisfaction.
After Jesus had performed many miracles and fed the five thousand, the crowds looked for Him “on the other side of the sea”. Jesus challenges them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” (John 6:25-26). It is critically important that we are moved with compassion for those without Christ for the right reason. Oswald Smith defines compassion as “love in action”. Are we moved into action with the message of God’s love in the gospel as we watch the world flounder in chaos and suffering? That is the message that brings healing and wholeness, first to the soul, and then to the life. This is the work of a true shepherd with the heart of God empowered by the Holy Spirit. |
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