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MAKE ONE

Posted on June 25, 2010 | Leave a comment

OF ALL THE FIVE N.T. GREAT COMMISSION

VERSES, THERE’S ONLY ONE THAT HAS A

PRESCRIBED PROCESS.

Matt. 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Matt. 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Matt. 28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Mark 16:15 ¶        He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

Luke 24:47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

John 20:21 ¶        Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Only one has a prescribed process whereby disciple making could be possible. Yes you are right, Matthew 28.18-20. Here’s how it goes:

Delegated POWER v.18

We can have confidence as believers because He has delegated to us His authority. He overcame the power of death, remember?

Prescribed PROCESS vv.19-20a

“GO…” (engage) –with the goal of introducing people to Christ.

“BAPTIZING…” (establish) –to build them to maturity.

“TEACHING…” (equip) –get them trained to reproduce themselves.

“I AM WITH YOU…”  (empower)–to be sent with the power from on high.

Declared PROMISE v.20a

Look at how gracious Jesus is to us: “surely”, “always”, “to the very end of the age.”

What more can you ask? He even provided for us the process on how to make disciples.

So let’s accept the fact that…

Since We Follow God, We Make Disciples.


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DISCIPLESHIP Motives

Posted on February 5, 2009 | 3 comments

Have you ever wondered what should be the driving force behind every attempt to make disciples?

Here are some questionable ones.

“Evange-ligaw” (courting a girl), “Bible-steady”, “disciple-chicks” trying to be a missionary to the opposite gender. Hoping at the end they’ll end up being together. The person, most of the time, becomes a recipient of Paul’s admonition in 2 Corinthians 6.14. Rather than winning the person to Christ, he ends up winning the person for his own benefit.

“Personal-priest” status to survive and acquire personal gain. In Judges 17.7-13, a young Levite became Micah’s personal priest (“this Levite has become my priest.”). Many ministers have become peddlers for profit rather than preachers of the Gospel.

Or many more other motives that Paul exposed in lives of the believers in Philippi. Out of envy and rivalry (Phil 1.15) and out of self ambition, not sincerely (Phil 1.17). So what could be the right motives in making long lasting disciples?

A Desire To Please God

2Cor. 5:9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

Pleasing God should be everyone’s business in every area of life. It is not a lip service; it’s our hearts’ pursuit. Faith then is necessary (Hebrews 11.6). Before you share and impart faith, you better make sure you’re possessed. Yup. Possessed with faith.

The Fear Of The Lord

2Cor. 5:11  Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.

We persuade men out of our healthy knowledge of the fear of the Lord. Are there rewards too? Definitely. But ultimately, we know that it is still the terror of God that makes us wise (Ps 111.10; Prov 9.10). And therefore makes us win souls (Prov 11.30).

Compassion For The Multitudes

2Cor. 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

“Out of goodwill (Phil 1.15b)” done “in love” (Phil 1.16a), melts the hearts of people. The Gospel becomes real in the lives of many. There’s an undeniable effect. They not only see it, they could feel it too. Now I am compelled. Not out of mere emotion, but out of sure revelation (Rom 5.8). See Matthew 9.36 and be convinced.

But here’s the twist…

Phil. 1:18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Wow… I am thoroughly amazed of Paul’s high end sincerity. In light of the Philippians’ ‘envy’, ‘rivalry’, ‘self ambition’, and lack of ‘sincerity’, you could sense that Paul had no trace of legalism at all! As long as men and women come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, it’s enough to make Paul happy. But I advice the ones who have adapted the opposite motives, get into further discipleship in Christ. Embrace the true motives he enumerated in his second letter to the Corinthians chapter five.

So the next time you’re tempted to adapt the false ones, think again.

As long as Christ is exalted above all…

Let’s go keep making disciples…

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V.I.P. Disc. Leaders (2/6) ESTABLISH In Sp. Foundations & Sp. Family: “Quit Drifting, Get ANCHORED”

Posted on March 11, 2008 | 1 comment

WHAT MADE THE GOSPEL of Jesus Christ penetrate the known world for only thirty-three years right after the resurrection? Imagine accomplishing that without mobile phones, internet, jet planes, emails, chat rooms, television, telephones, websites, etc.

What sort of transformation took place between Acts 1:8 and Acts 8:1? What happened between the conversion of the sinners to becoming preachers of the Gospel?

I believe it has something to do with the foundations laid in the lives of the new believers and the genuine fellowship (family atmosphere) formed among them. In short, they were established – solidly grounded.

Take a look at this:
Acts 2:42-47
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Apostle Paul himself was established spiritually – a foundation was laid, when a disciple named Ananias assisted him in his new-found faith (Acts 9.10-19). Then another Christian disciple, Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’), introduced him to the rest of the spiritual family (Acts 9.27).

Now, imagine the effect in his life and ministry. He wrote two-thirds of the New Testament, which were designed to help establish new believers in different regions, mostly churches he started.

One of the epistles, not the wives of the apostles, which he wrote to the Hebrews was designed to help them press on to spiritual progress and maturity. Some were neglecting the Word that he exhorted them not to drift away (Hebrews 2.1).

Try to look around us and see lots of people who responded well to the Gospel but in a stunted stage because they are drifting away like a boat, afloat but with no direction. No exertion of effort. Just at the mercy of the incoming waves. Before you know it, you’ve become so far away from the shore, and beyond reach.

But, thanks be to God, new believers don’t have to be adrift. They can be established firmly and securely (with the help of fellow ‘ship mates’).

When the storms of life start to attack us on every side; we will have nothing to worry, for our hope (Jesus Christ), is the Anchor of our lives.

Hebrews 6:19a
“We have this hope (Jesus Christ) as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

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OUTRAGEOUS Sayings Of Jesus: All You Can Eat

Posted on February 21, 2008 | 3 comments

OUTRAGEOUS FOODS ARE here to stay. We have different weird ones in almost every country: “veggie mite” of the Aussies; “chicken feet” of China; “monkey’s brain” of Hong Kong; some sort of “hippopotamus” meat of South Africa; “ceviche” of Peru; “sushi” dipped in wasabe with soy souce of Japan…(the rest of our readers out there, feel free to share your contri, especially if you’re a fan Andrew Zimmer of Discovery Channel: (‘Bizarre Foods’).

We don’t even have to go far to see some bizarre ones. In the Philippines, we have a lot of those: “Azucena” adobo dog meat of Baguio; fried “cricket” of Tuguegarao; “durian” fruit of Davao; the world famous and I think, Ptr. Steve’s fave, “balut”, a boiled unhatched duck egg of Pateros.

But there is this unique Filipino dish that’s so good to eat with rice cake (puto): “Dinuguan”. Side note, “Sabi nila, pinaglihi daw ako sa puto…kaya lang nahulog sa dinuguan kaya naging ganito ang kulay ko.” It’s pork meat with some mysterious parts mixed with pig’s blood.

I know…I know you are a bit squeamished about the idea. But imagine telling that to the Jewish people!

Well, Jesus mentioned something even more outrageous that “dinuguan”.

John 6:52-55
“Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.”

But what made this statement so outrageous; being one of the most original hard sayings in the Bible, is not because of the ‘cannibalism’ idea in it; not because they can’t understand the saying; but it is the difficulty of accepting the meaning of it. So hard that many disciples, I mean DISCIPLES, turned there backs and no longer followed Him.

This has become the saddest verse in the entire Scriptures, which is found in, what I call, the ‘666’ verse- John 6.66.

What made Christianity so unique is that it is highly EXPERIENCIAL. He was telling us to feed on Him! And He wasn’t the first one to talk about eating the things of God, though:

Psalms 34:8
“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”

Ezekiel 3:2-3
“So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.”

Since the words He used were associated with ritual sacrifice terms, Jesus was here claiming to be the Lamb of God, the sacrifice that would be offered for the sins of the world.

It is almost like Jesus was telling them, the disciples then, and today, that:

“Only Jesus Satisfies Our Hunger.”

(In a way, I made an illustration about this idea in what we can call ‘Salad Bar’ theology, and the story as I have said it at the end of my message in this podcast.)

With that truth, He must have attached this note: “Re’spondez S’il Vous Plait” (R.S.V.P.)…short for, “Please reply.”

Only few, twelve disciples to be exact, responded well (vv.67-69).

Will you?

If you will, then I say to you…

“Bon Appetit!”

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BRANDED Cert. Christ Follower (4/4): Bearing Fruit

Posted on October 25, 2007 | 9 comments

What a way to end this series.

John 15:8 says,

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

I am glad Jesus has described our relationship with Him in a biotic level: bearing fruit. He never explained it in a technocratic way; like machines.

Yet the challenge still remains: bear much fruit! Without it, we are as good as dead. To be cut-off. Thrown into the fire.

But if we bear fruit, we still have to be cut. Cut in a different way- to be cut-clean. I don’t have time to talk about pruning in viticulture, but that’s how the Word of God managed to illuminate it beautifully.

I want us to understand though that we as branches, don’t produce fruits. Yup, you heard me. We never produce fruits. It is the vine that produces the ability for the branches to bear fruits. Therefore, we can safely say that, we are like racks where fruits are hanged. Branches don’t have the capability to come up with fruits.

So, how can we, as branches, not just bear fruits, but bear much fruits? I am glad you asked: abide in the Vine. Just stay in there. You may be feeling the ‘heat’ (cutting) from the Gardener, remain anyway.

Since John 15:1 said this in red letters: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” Then you know what I mean when I say ‘abide in the Vine’.

So, which one do you like? To be cut-off or to be cut-clean? Branches that are bearing fruit need to be cut clean so they may bear ever more fruit. Yield to the pruning. God knows what He is doing. Remain connected with the Vine. The fruits will follow.

When that happens, people will start to see something. The bible described several aspects of fruits… to you my dear readers… would you please tell us some of the these fruits that are expected to be seen in us as Christ followers? Feel free to join in the discussion…

Well, let me reword it. If being a Christ follower is a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Ouch..

Don’t be burdened. It’s a privilege. Bearing much fruit is not for your sakes. It’s for the glory of our Father in heaven.

Wow. Let me continue to bear much fruit then.

Glory to God!

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