Introduction:
Herald and preach the Word! Keep
your sense
of urgency (stand by, be at hand and ready, whether the opportunity
seems
to be favorable or unfavorable, whether it is convenient or
inconvenient, whether it be welcome or unwelcome...) (2Tim.4.2
Amplified).
Here is your object with every
person: Give them the seed of the full gospel--enough information to
determine their
level of interest. If they are not interested, you have planted the
seed--next!
You might have to sift through many in order to find the "ready" ones,
those
who are open to receive more information. You are looking for those
whose
time is now, to work with now, teaching them these basic truths, for
them
to teach others.
If they do expresss interest,
go
to the next step--more information.
There are four principles that need
to
be understood:
1. The Word of truth carries in it
the
power of God's life. Get the Word into people's understanding. Share
the
simple gospel, and tell the the truth of how to be saved through faith
in
Jesus Christ. Your business is to plant seeds. If you plant seeds,
there will
be a harvest. If you never plant seeds (the Word), there will never be
a
harvest. It is as simple as gardening. Whatever you do, with all the
tact,
gentleness, love, kindness, boldness, and wisdom that you can have, get
the
truth of the simple gospel and of how to be saved into every person.
Get
the seed planted. Lk.8.4-15.
2. Get a third party witness to the
truth
of the Word. A witness gives living credibility to the truth of the
Word.
Jn.5.32-38.
3. Follow up is of utmost
importance. This
is how you water the seed sown. But, don't overwater, or the seed will
rot.
A little offered consistently, is better than an occasional soaking
flood.
There are many different ways to follow up. Use all means that you can.
Ac.15.36.
4. Systematically continuing in this
basic
process will produce a harvest. This is for conversion, for healing,
for
the baptism of the Spirit, for spiritual growth, or anything in the
kingdom.
You can be consistent without being pushy. Be consistent with doing all
these
four steps. Ac.20.20,26-28,33-35.
Five Step Discipleship
The following teaching, if taught
simply,
will produce a constant harvest of souls in your life, and, as you
duplicate
yourself into others lives, and they do likewise, people will be
trained,
discipled, and the kingdom will spread with no limits. This is what God
promised
to Abraham.
1. Finished. The finished work
of
Jesus
is the gospel of grace. This is accepting what Christ has done for you
as
the perfect, eternal salvation given to you as a free gift, apart from
all
goodness, works, or effort on your part. This is having all your sin
and
shame taken away, and the righteousness of Jesus Christ put to your
account.
Heb.10.10,17. Eph.2.8. 2Cor.5.17-21.
2. Forgiveness--water baptism.
This
is
your scriptural public confession of faith. When you turn to Jesus, you
turn
from sin. To show that you are following Him, with your sins washed
away,
you are to be baptized (dipped) in water. Every believer is sent to
teach
all nations and baptize people as soon as they believe. Then those
believers
can go, teach, and baptize in the name of Jesus, by the authority that
He
gave them to go and preach, teach, and baptize others. Matthew 28.18-20.
(Note: With an established local church, the new converts will be
referred to that local church to be baptized.)
3. Fullness of the Spirit--baptism
of
the Holy Spirit. This is God's seal upon you for supernatural service
in
His kingdom. This too, is to be taught and transferred from
believer-to-believer. Jn.1.29,33. Jn.7.37-39. Acts 1.4-8.
4. Faith and Love. Living by
faith
in
the Word of God, and exercising love toward all people no matter what,
are
the foundations for successful living and ministry. Understanding
Christ in
us and our all-victorious position in Christ includes total victory
over
sin and flesh by total commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ,
total
victory over all satanic powers, total victory over all sickness and
disease,
and total victory over poverty. God's people are above only and not
beneath
in any way (Deut.28.13). The faith that overcomes the world and all
things,
works by love, so these go hand-in-hand for victory in every way, and
growth
to spiritual maturity.Gal.5.4-6,18,22-26.
5. Finding others to duplicate this
truth
into so they can go and do the same. We spread the Word freely
everywhere we go. When we find those who are open and hungry, we
minister more to them
to quickly establish them in these truths, so they can go and do
likewise. This includes every believer being able to preach the gospel,
baptize, minister
the baptism of the Spirit, teach and demonstrate our position in Christ
(eg.
minister healing, deliverance from demonic powers, etc.), and teach
others
to go and preach the gospel and teach others these basic truths.
Matt.25.28-30.
2Tim.2.1,2.
In the early church they largely met
in
homes. Share the gospel, get a convert, set up a meeting in their home
with
them inviting their friends, to come hear the Word. Train them to do
the
same. People need to go to their regular church for corporate worship
and
training, plugging in to the established training programs, but they
can have the added benefit of home meetings with in-home
evangelism/discipleship
training. Heb. 10.25; Acts 2.46; 20.20. Rom.16.5.
Ph’m
2. 2Jn.10.
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