When a Man’s hand does the will of the Father that Man’s name is written in the Book of Life”- The Spirit of God – (September 14th 2018)
- The Holy Spirit is our teacher.
- All revelation concerning Gods written word is found in the scripture.
- All questions for the sake of salvation are welcome.
Question: What is a Disciple?
Answer: Someone that follows the path that Christ has set for them; guided by the Holy Spirit and taught by God.
Duties of a Disciple: Carrying out the will and giving instructions to the people. Educated on the word of God plant a seed within them.
Practical Duties– Preach the Gospel, Heal the sick, cast of devils, keep God’s commandments, make disciples, Prophecy, walk in faith, pray and fast, study the scriptures,
Matthew 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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.
The disciples of Jesus Christ first get their house in order. They accept Christ, then gets baptized. Then they are taught to understand the message of salvation. The knowledge and life of a disciple is ever growing. One aspect of the duties of a disciple was read earlier in
Matthew 18:19 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Jesus said “Go ye therefore and teach all nations.” In the Amplified bible says it this way “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
We already know what a disciple is, but can a person be a christian an not a disciple?
Answer: yes and no
A Christian is a disciple and is called to win souls, we are called to make disciples in all nations.
There is a parable in the scriptures Jesus told concerning the giving of talents. let us take a closer look using this to explain soul winning
Matthew 25:14-15 14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Let us not for get that in Romans 12:3 it says “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Within this parable let us use Faith this is God’s talent given to every man according to his ability has the power to multiply and increase this church
Matthew 25:16-18 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth and hid his lord’s money.
Just as the natural man values money. Money is a universal recognized currency used as a medium of exchange, however in the kingdom of heaven like money the currency is Faith. In Hebrew 11:6: says”
Without Faith it’s impossible to please him”
Matthew 25:18-26 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
This profitable servant had the faith and ability to increase 100% and brought in 5 other souls who all by faith would worship the true and living God. Thus, pleasing God through faith, the kingdom of God was increased.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
God called this servant Wicked and Slothful (Lazy) even though this lazy servant was given faith and the ability to increase 100% in his soul winning efforts he did nothing with it but bury it. What was his reason? Fear! In verse 25 he said “And I was afraid and went and hid thy talent in the earth. Choosing not to listen to God he listened to fear. What could he be afraid of? Could it be Someone rejecting him, could it be he couldn’t see himself as God saw him, did he lack money and thought he needed money to do the Lord’s work, could it be selfishness, could it be in his mind his friends and family would view him as strange, fake or a false teacher. Or is it like in today’s world is he blaming COVID 19. What ever the reasons is, In John 15:8. Jesus said “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples”.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
That disobedient servant was not the only one in the scriptures that operate in that manner. In 1 Samuel 15:23 the prophet Samuel said to Saul “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD ….”
Remember We are called to make disciples in all nations. We are called for soul winning
Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
As we continue with the parable of the talent lets see what type of Judgement await all those who operate like this slothful servant in Matthew 25:28 goes on to say…
Matthew 25:28-30 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The unprofitable servant God called wicked and Lazy, was cast into the lake of fire. This life choice parable can also be seen in the story about Jonah.
Jonah was an Israelite whom God had called to be a prophet but who refused to accept his divine mission. why? Laziness, Stubbornness, wickedness. Jonah was comfortable with the idea of his family and close friends being saved and that’s it. Jonah did not believe nor wanted to accept his calling to win souls for God and left on a sea voyage instead. God then raised a great storm as a sign of his anger towards Jonah. Soon after Jonah came to his senses and accepted the faith and ability given by God to increase 100% to add souls into God’s Kingdom.
Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
In the amplified bible says In Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
God is telling us today to change and repent, do not be like the first Jonah running from our Devine mission. Or be like that lazy servant that took so long to do what God told him, eventually fear took him leaving him to face the lake of fire because he buried God instructions.
Today I am asking everyone here Are you an unprofitable wicked, lazy servant? Are you the type of person who sees soul winning only for die-hard Christians, or do you see soul winning as something that can be controlled by the governments of this world? Do yo know what is profitable to God?
How much profit have you made for the kingdom of God through faith? Can we be a Christian and not be a disciple? Or More importantly Can you be a Christian without winning souls.
Answer: NO
I believe it’s time to move forward by reaching out to those in our neighbourhood, city, country, or counties this is our Devine mission. let us not forget What is profitable to God? It’s people entering his kingdom. After all isn’t that what satan is trying to prevent us from accomplishing in the first place? It’s Soul winning!
Psalm 66:18
This is how we have power when we pray
Glory to God!!