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Hello and welcome to ACTS 29 TODAY
coming to the knowledge of the truth
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As I was meditating on the subject of discipleship, It occurred to me that it would be interesting to see exactly….. HOW JESUS DID / TAUGHT AND EXAMPLED…MAKING DISCIPLES.
It seems that it all boiled down to 4 basic things.
#1 ) HE TAUGHT…teaching about the kingdom of GOD thru parables, etc.
#2 ) HE PREACHED….the kingdom of GOD is here now, salvation for all.
#3 ) HE HEALED THE SICK…the sick and lame came and He healed them ALL.
#4 ) HE CAST OUT DEMONS…many who were demon possessed were set free.
And we could also say He did many other miracles as well (feeding the 5 thousand, walking on the water, and turning water in to wine, not grape juice ).
Basically these where the ways in which He made disciples. (and was with them almost everyday)
It seems that today the Church is all about teaching and some preaching (teaching to believers and preaching to unbelievers) BUT ALMOST NON EXISTENT IN HEALING AND CASTING OUT DEMONS.
Paul said I do not come to you in WORD ONLY, BUT IN POWER….IN DEMONSTRATION..OF THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Teaching and preaching require a lot of words, but HEALING AND DEMONIC DELIVERANCE…..REQUIRE…..DEMONSTRATION.
It is of course easier to teach and preach, than it is to heal the sick and cast out demons, BUT if we say we R going to B like Jesus, FOLLOW JESUS, THEN MUST WE NOT ALSO FOLLOW AFTER HIS EXAMPLE.
WILL WE HAVE ANY HOPE OF BEING HIS DISCIPLES….. AND NOT DO LIKE HE DID TO MAKE HIS FIRST DISCIPLES? HIS DISCIPLES DID WHAT HE DID.
JESUS LED BY EXAMPLE…..SHOW & TELL….SOMETIMES TELL & SHOW.
Could it B that we are selves R not really that discipled…so we have great difficulty making other disciples?
Jesus said GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO ALL.
AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS.
HOW HARD CAN IT BE
Well it can B very hard…IF WE DON’T FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS AND HOW HE MADE DISCIPLES……………..
JESUS DID NOT SAY…GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND BUILD BUILDINGS, MAKE TITHERS, HAVE A SPECTATOR SHOW ON SUNDAY MORNINGS AND TELL THE PEOPLE HOW WONDERFUL THEY ARE, WHILE THEY ARE LIVING IN SIN AND SUFFERING FROM MANY PROBLEMS.
I have heard enormous amounts of teaching, enormous amounts of preaching, I have been healed of some physical issues, and have had demons cast out of me, and I AM STILL N THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A DISCIPLE OF JESUS.
I would say that 99.9 % was teaching and preaching, and only a FRACTION…..IN THE POWER AND DEMONSTRATION OF THE SPIRIT.
I guess this begs the question….what if these signs don’t follow us?
The sad thing is, people are being discipled today, BUT NOT N THE PATTERN OF JESUS. But in the pattern of religion and man made philosophies. The man made philosophies of the day are.
YOUR BEST LIFE NOW (the complete opposite of being a disciple of Jesus)
THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL (God will make you wealthy if you give your $ to me)
JUST COME TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AND PAY YOUR TITHES AND EVERYTHING WILL B JUST FINE (thinking the building is the church and a place we go rather than WHO WE R, TITHING IS NOT EVEN A NEW TESTAMENT PRINCIPLE, OR TAUGHT THERE, ALL GIVING IS BY THE SPIRIT, AND JUST BEING A SPECTATOR, A HEARER AND NOT A DOER IS JUST FINE ).
is it over yet
This is all directed to ME, as I see that my life has to get more involved N the DEMONSTRATION OF POWER AND NOT JUST WORD ONLY…IF THERE IS EVER GOING TO B ANY HOPE OF MAKING A DISCIPLE FOR JESUS.
I now see these things as MOMENTS OF ….OPPORTUNITY.
As the Holy Spirit places different people in front of me will I take the opportunity to minister to them with whatever is needed at the time and directed by the Spirit?
Do they need, TEACHING, PREACHING, HEALING, OR DEMONIC DELIVERANCE, I HAVE DECIDED TO NOT LET ANYMORE OPPORTUNITIES SLIP BY ME.
Just a few days ago my neighbor whose girlfriend is visiting him from Japan was complaining of stomach pain, I just said N Jesus name pain go from your stomach. Then she left and the next day I ask her, how is your stomach? she said good, a lot better.
Just a small thing but a start, WE HAVE TO HAVE A DEMONSTRATION OF POWER IN THIS DAY OR WE WILL JUST BE STUCK IN THE SAME OLD SAME OLD TRADITIONS OF MAN.
WHEN WE ALL GET ACTIVATED AND DEMONSTRATE THE POWER OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD (and this also includes loving one another) everything will change for the better.
Faith without works iS DEAD, COMING TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH (from our head to our heart) WILL ACTIVATE US ALL.
Please pray for me and stand with me as I serve in Thailand, and that disciples of JESUS WILL BE MADE IN THIS NATION (who in turn can make other disciples)
AND REMEMBER KNOW ONE …CARES … HOW MUCH YOU KNOW
UNTIL…THEY KNOW…HOW MUCH YOU CARE.
LARRY
Acts 29 Today 