MAKING DISCIPLES FOR THE LORD WHO IS WITH US

Until the convert has been brought up to the status where he can be entrusted with a charge, the disciple-maker should not consider his work to be complete.

By Ps. Seth Asare Ofei Badu (First Delivered at a Pastors Pre-Christmas Convention Prayer Meeting at Techiman in 2011)

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 15:16

The disciple-maker, cast in the mode of the Saviour, is equipped and authorized to bring/guide a person into full maturity in the Lord, watching to work with the Holy Spirit to raise a vessel that is useful to the Lord.

Discipleship practices in approximately sequential order are:

1. Compassion:
2. Intercession:
3. Preaching/ Calling to Decision:
4. Water Baptism – The substance and the symbol:
5. Holy Spirit Baptism – Completion of the New birth:
6. Teaching – discipleship:
7. Appointing or Sending Forth:

1. COMPASSION

This is the ethos of all outreach – If the person is not helped, he will be destroyed. Why will a person be destroyed? Because God has cursed all that remain of the old creation – He gave only man the chance to escape this destruction by obtaining the new birth. The Saviour (and one who makes disciples) sees the unsaved as loved ones or kinsmen (not just people) struck with a fatal disease, whose cure they have. He recognises them as kinsmen because he or she was like them.

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Hebrew 2:17

2. INTERCESSION

The highest expression of compassion, which includes all acts of kindness and generosity: You put yourself in the shoes of the doomed, and plead with God for their lives. It is a powerful divine ministry that suits the disciple-maker as a channel of God’s mercy to the unsaved – revelations of their special difficulties with God and ways of getting round them and assumption of some responsibly for them before God. God wants us to stand in the gap. 2 Co 5:18 cf. Is 53:12 How can you bring yourself to harm one you have acknowledged as helpless before God? Intercession keeps you ready all the time.

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1Tim 2:1, 3, 4

3. PREACHING

Calling people to true repentance in order for them to escape the wrath of God, and access eternal life that is available in Jesus. Remember the following:

• A preacher is needed. Many people are held in bondage by Satan’s deception, and can be freed by the power of an accurate exposition of the Word. Take time to present the full message of salvation whenever you have the opportunity.
• The motivation for repentance is entrance into the Kingdom of God through the new birth. Mt. 3:1; 4:7 John 3:5.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14

WATER BAPTISM

This is the welcome ceremony into the new birth, and it must be embarked upon carefully. Note that

• The person is now turning to God, he or she is therefore at the teachable best. We should not botch the opportunity to focus them right.
• This is the point at which many actually lose the opportunity to be born again. They get ushered into the routine of the church without any expectation of a spiritual life. This happens when the symbol is over-ritualised or the reality (repentance) is made insignificant.
• Emphasis must be on what water baptism represents – REPENTANCE. It is important that the following a clarified at the point to baptism:

i. Abhorrence of sin, as an obstacle to eternal life

ii. Dying to sin

iii. Identification with the death of Jesus: He died for me

iv. Rising to live for Christ

v. Hope of eternal life

vi. No wilful sin and an attitude of condoning accidental sin are expected in baptism.

vii. Repentance is the key preparation for the new birth by the Holy Spirit.

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. Mt 3:5, 6

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Ac 2:38

HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM

This is the crucial next step to confirm repentance and acceptance of Jesus. For all who truly repent and come to Jesus, He accepts and confirms with the Holy Spirit, in a palpable manner. The disciple maker must ensure that his takes place before moving on to the next phases. Evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit or the New Birth includes:

• Boldness and confidence in being directed by the Spirit
• Gifts of the Spirit
• Speaking in tongues (always in the Bible, at and after Pentecost)

The Holy Spirit comes to those who

1. have fully repented (died to self and sin)
2. know Jesus (and accept Him and all He stands for), and that He gives the Holy Spirit (John 14:17)
3. have subjected the needs of the flesh to the requirements of the Spirit.

If a person does not receive the Holy Spirit before or soon after water baptism, something is wrong, and the disciple-maker should be alarmed, and should not consider His work done until He can confirm that the new birth has taken place. More teaching and waiting is needed by those who want eternal life (A little sacrifice in diligence is necessary to ensure this once and for all).

Enti mmom, anuanom, momm[ mm[den nhy] mo fr] ne mo yie den; na s] moy[ yeinom a morensunti da. 2Peter 2:10

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:9, 14

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory … And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 1:13, 14; 4:30

6. TEACHING

By word and example, a disciple make helps the believer into walking in his new inheritance. He teaches him how to work for eternal rewards, rather than whiling away His time only in perishable pursuits. It is practical training directed by the Word, oriented towards the practice of

• repented lifestyle
• commitment to Christ’s glory
• obedience to the Holy Spirit and appropriate use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit
• prayer
• working with God, or adequate engagement in the ministry of reconciliation
• keeping fellowship
• endurance in trials

The goals of this education are best achieved in modelling for the believer, and in the fellowship of other born-again and maturing believers.

An adequate grasp of the Scriptures is necessary in discharging the preaching ministry that is also the remit of the disciple.

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: Mt. 28:20

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps 1Peter 2:21

APPOINTING OR SENDING

Until the convert has been brought up to the status where he can be entrusted with a charge, the disciple-maker should not consider his work to be complete. Although it is to salvation that the convert is called, salvation is not an idle destination – it is dignified life and labour right away. The assumption of discipleship is that there is work cut out for the person who comes to Christ. The disciple-maker helps to guide towards this work. If the convert is led to a point where he cannot easily identify his desk in the house of God, he has been misled! Appointing should be done carefully taking into account

• the person’s maturity
• the manifest gifts of the person
• the full guidance of the Holy Spirit in prayer

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. John 20:21

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee Titus 1:5

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 1Timothy 3:6

By Ps. Seth Asare Ofei Badu (First Delivered at a Pastors Pre-Christmas Convention Prayer Meeting at Techiman in 2011)