Praise the LORD!!!
Today I've been working on the ministry's website, a blog entry and networking on the social sites. The LORD has laid it upon my heart to write today's devotional on something we all should know well. The "Great Commission" as it is most commonly called by most who profess faith in JESUS. It is our calling as Christians to go out and make disciples of all the world. Opps! Getting a little ahead of things here:)))
Matt. 28:18-20
"18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, l“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 mGo 3therefore and nmake disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 oteaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am pwith you always, even to the end of the age.” 4Amen."
As I was saying earlier, the great commission is the call upon all Christians to reach out to all those around the world, teaching them the truth of the GOSPEL and to those that have accepted it, train them in discipleship. When the LORD gave me these verses for today, I was adding some information to the VMNI web page. I was explaining how the LORD has laid it upon my heart, that to truly witness to HIS love for others, we must meet their physical needs first. If you're like me, there have been times when you were getting a bit hungry and it was impossible to keep your mind on that which you were doing! Well the same goes for when we're trying to witness to someone, if they're hungry or thirsty, or in need of the basics of life, its near impossible to convince them of their need of a SAVIOR which they can't see or touch.
We as Christians need to realize this, for it is a great truth and has most likely kept a lot of people from believing in JESUS whom we've witnessed to. It is far easier to witness to a spiritual need, then a physical one by far, unless that person is on their very death bed. If you've ever tried to witness to a street person or one that is homeless, you will of most likely come upon some resistance along these lines. They can't see JESUS for the fact that their physical needs far out weight the spiritual ones. But if you can meet these needs first, and do so by showing them the love of JESUS through your actions, you'll have then opened them up to listening to the GOSPEL and most likely have greater success at doing so.
Now verse twenty, touches on something that is truly lacking in our witnessing style today, and I do mean truly lacking, big time!! This is that which is promised(by men), but seldom completely followed through upon in most churches and evangelical crusades. That is, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." I've been witness to many a sermon in my time as a Christian, and very rarely seen much follow up work done after bringing a new Christian into the fold. I truly do mean this and really, I'm ashamed of this fact (I can only imagine what the LORD thinks about it.!) We convert a person to belief in JESUS and HIS power to transform their lives and then we leave them to seek out the rest all on their own. Sure we invite them to attend our churches and Bible studies, but true,one on one counseling as to how they need to go about growing in their new belief, is left out. An LORD forbid you were saved while watching Christian TV, because once you call or write them,they send you a little booklet telling you what to do next and a price list of "more fine books and tapes to teach you."(Mark 11:15-19)
If you've read my book, "Out of the LIGHT," this is exactly what happened to me on my early call to JESUS. I was in a service and had accepted JESUS into my life and then just left hanging. No one to lead me, no one to counsel me, just left to fend for myself. Needless to say, my walk with the LORD didn't last all to long and I was right back to where I started(Matt. 12:43-45), living the old life however I chose. Now though, I know that this was just the initial planting of a seed within my life, and that there was the need for me to develop my testimony more, and that it wasn't time for me to take on the imagine of CHRIST yet. But time is getting short and we've not the twenty or so years for a person to develop on their own. We as mature Christians, need to step up, and begin doing that which we're commanded to. Teaching people all that the LORD has taught us and making them into disciples also. There is no way around this, it is a command we were given by JESUS HIMSELF. To train these people, to show the love of the LORD to them first hand and to lift them up so as they too can effect people's live for the KINGDOM of GOD.
To do this though, we ourselves must be strong in our faith, well studied and proficient in discerning the truth set forth in the GOSPEL. We can not be as the waves of the ocean, tossed to and fro by ever teaching of men(Eph. 4:14). We must be firmly rooted, by the river of living waters, ready to produce abundant fruit for the KINGDOM. So dust off your Bibles, turn off the TV, pray for guidance, wisdom and knowledge and step out upon the ROCK of our salvation. Reach out your hand and touch another persons heart for the LORD and be able to go the distance. To not just convert them, but to nurture them and teach them all that the LORD has taught you. Let us rise up and bring forth a new generation of Born Again believers that can stand at our side in the harvest field, reaping the rewards that the LORD has set out for us, the souls of those in a lost and dieing world, a world of darkness and despair. A world where there is truly only one hope worth striving for. A deep personal relationship with JESUS CHRIST, KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS!!!
Here are a few verses for you: Deut. 3:23-29; Luke 24:44-48; Acts 26:12-18; Gal.1:1-5; Col. 1:24-29
Use these verses, but don't stop with them, cross reference and seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!!
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Vine Ministerial Network International
Friday, March 5, 2010
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