Post by davidinczech001 on Nov 10, 2007 0:30:39 GMT -5
Here is a quote from the book, "ALL TRUTH IS GOD'S TRUTH, by Arthur F. Holmes -
"...the church at large has commendably paid increased attention to the great commission, stressing both foreign missions and personal witness to Jesus Christ. The missionary mandate is, however, not the only mandate God gave men, nor is it limited to evangelism.
"In the first place, the missionary mandate as recorded in Matthew's gospel contains one explicit imperative - to make disciples. ... Discipleship is a broader and more complex task than evangelism: it means conforming the whole person and his whole life to the will of God. Social and intellectual and artistic activities are thereby included."
I'm submitting this quote because I like it, and because it reflects a change of direction I'm looking to make in my life. I have spent the last 12 years in Europe on an adventure where I sought to fulfill the missionary mandate as I saw it. Now, living again in Canada, I'm really looking for new direction, and that quote spoke to me and is causing me to give thought to what discipleship really means. Also now, when I think of evangelism and seeing people saved, I am thinking of the start of a relationship where I would take responsibility for guiding a new believer, much like a father should take responsibility for bringing a new life into the world, to guide and teach his child. This fits as well with a prophecy I recently received that I have a "father's heart"- which is exactly what I need to be a father or a discipler of new-born children of God. So now my goal looks further than just to how many fish I can catch. The goal includes cleaning and preparation with the Lord in mind. What will I set before Him? What will give glory to Him? He is discipling me and has given me His father's heart as a gift. And by His Holy Spirit He attracts the ones who need a father's love. Philip asked Jesus, "show us the Father" and Jesus replied, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:8,9) By His grace they will see the Father in His Son in me, and I will fulfill this mandate.
"...the church at large has commendably paid increased attention to the great commission, stressing both foreign missions and personal witness to Jesus Christ. The missionary mandate is, however, not the only mandate God gave men, nor is it limited to evangelism.
"In the first place, the missionary mandate as recorded in Matthew's gospel contains one explicit imperative - to make disciples. ... Discipleship is a broader and more complex task than evangelism: it means conforming the whole person and his whole life to the will of God. Social and intellectual and artistic activities are thereby included."
I'm submitting this quote because I like it, and because it reflects a change of direction I'm looking to make in my life. I have spent the last 12 years in Europe on an adventure where I sought to fulfill the missionary mandate as I saw it. Now, living again in Canada, I'm really looking for new direction, and that quote spoke to me and is causing me to give thought to what discipleship really means. Also now, when I think of evangelism and seeing people saved, I am thinking of the start of a relationship where I would take responsibility for guiding a new believer, much like a father should take responsibility for bringing a new life into the world, to guide and teach his child. This fits as well with a prophecy I recently received that I have a "father's heart"- which is exactly what I need to be a father or a discipler of new-born children of God. So now my goal looks further than just to how many fish I can catch. The goal includes cleaning and preparation with the Lord in mind. What will I set before Him? What will give glory to Him? He is discipling me and has given me His father's heart as a gift. And by His Holy Spirit He attracts the ones who need a father's love. Philip asked Jesus, "show us the Father" and Jesus replied, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:8,9) By His grace they will see the Father in His Son in me, and I will fulfill this mandate.
