Gtcotr/ws080812
We
know that the New Testament is a snapshot of one Church, the first Church, and
the evangelistic work they accomplished in their generation.
Jesus
chose 12 men to be with Him … (Mark 3:14) – called Disciples
These
Disciples were the makings of His new Church
Jesus
said “Upon this rock I will build My Church …” (Matthew 16:18)
Then
He was arrested, tried, sentenced, executed, buried, and rose again on the 3rd
day victorious over death, hell and the grave.
The
primary thing on the mind of the “Victorious” Jesus is readily recognizable …
the building of His Church, which is His Body.
The
last words Jesus spoke were clear instructions to begin the building. These
instructions are the only marching orders we received from our Lord.
Matthew 28
18 And Jesus came and spoke
to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on
earth.
19 "Go therefore and
make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 "teaching them to
observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even
to the end of the age." Amen.
The
heart of this “Great Commission” is simply to go and make disciples – why …
because only disciples will make the Church unstoppable so that the gates of
hell cannot prevail against the family of God in the earth.
Knowing
that the New Testament covers a period of only about 40 years, one generation,
we realize that it is a snapshot of what every generation is called to
accomplish. We have heard this over and over but for the sake of those who may
be hearing it for the first time allow me to reiterate.
The
Old Testament covers a period of about 4000 years, from the creation in Genesis
to the coming of Messiah. It is a God inspired, God ordained, God empowered
narrative account of God bringing Messiah to a lost and hurting world … a 4000
year account.
The
New Testament however, is a picture of only about 40 years. If we begin with
Jesus calling His first disciples all the way to about AD67 when the Apostles
Peter and Paul had already been martyred and the volume of the New Testament
had been penned, that’s about 40 years.
Now
during that 40 year period those disciples whom Jesus chose began by forming a
home group. They taught them the Word of God, how to pray, the power of unity
and the burden of ministry. This home group began to send out witnesses first
to the streets of their city, on to the surrounding cities and states and then
finally around the whole world.
During
that one generation those initial few followers of Jesus took the Gospel and
won souls, planted churches and made disciples in Jerusalem, Samaria, Caesarea,
Cyprus, Turkey, Asia, Rome, Corinth, Philippi, the regions of Galatia,
Thessalonica, Pergamos, Laodicea, Ephesus, Athens, Antioch, Ethiopia, and the
whole known world … in only 40 years they reached the world with the Gospel …
and not even one of those boys owned a bicycle!!!
How
did they do it? Discipleship … by following the instructions of Jesus. You see,
Jesus has a strategy … He knows that by making disciples we build the church –
we make disciples, disciples make the church.
Allow
me to show you what I mean: (References in the NT)
KJV Disciple* Church*
The Gospels 233 3
Acts 31 22
Epistles & Beyond 0 90
The
“Great Commission” accomplished the “One Vision” of Jesus in the first
generation. His Church was built on Disciples. Making Disciples still builds
the Church … Disciples become the Church!
Two
great truths about the Church that Jesus builds – the Church Jesus builds is:
1. A God Set Church
1 Corinthians 12:18 But now
God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first
apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then
gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
It
is evident that a Church filled with Disciples, a Church that is built on
Discipleship, those who are fully devoted followers of Christ, would be a God
established, God ordered, God called, God ordained, God disciplined, God set
Church.
2. A God Sent Church
The
Great Commission is still the only marching orders God ever gave the Church. Certainly there is order and structure and
discipline in the Church, just as though it was the Army of God – but the order
is for purpose … so that the Kingdom can be enhanced through discipleship and
advanced by missions.
Acts 15:22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole
church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and
Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading
men among the brethren.
No
greater pattern was ever given the Church than the example provided by the
Church at Antioch. Theologians from all ages of the Church agree that the
Antioch principle was set forth by the Holy Spirit to be our guide for Kingdom
Expansion and the furtherance of the Gospel so that the Church of Jesus can
continue to be built upon the Rock where the gates of hell cannot prevail. What
is the Antioch Principle?
Acts 13
1 ¶ Now in the church that
was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who
was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod
the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the
Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and
Saul for the work to which I have called them."
3 Then, having fasted and
prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
The
challenge for every believer is to trust the truth – trust not only God’s Word
but also God’s way.
God
wants to set you in the Church as it pleases Him. You might say … “How do I
know which Church God wants me in?” Good question –
Church
is family. There are three basic ways to become a part of a family.
·
Birth
·
Marriage
·
Adoption
Some
of you have been in other Churches in the past, churches no doubt where you
felt like family and some perhaps where you didn’t. Church is designed by God
to be like family.
Just
like some of you have been in other Churches in the past, some of you have also
had the experience of being in other families in the past as well. In fact, if
statistics hold true, one half of those of you who are married have been
married to someone else before being married to the person to whom you are now
married … providing you are now married.
The
question we might ask God concerning which Church He wants us to be set in
might well be asked in the same light as to “Who do you want me to be married
to?” – or – “Which family do you want me to be a part of?”
I
can tell you with all confidence and assurance, God’s best, if it is at all
possible, is for you to be a part of the Church to which you are now joined
just like He wants you to be a part of the family to whom you are now related.
Family hopping, spouse hopping or Church hopping is never the best idea. If
something happens to alter the family relationship – let it be something God
does and do not uproot your own life.
That
is what it means to be “God Set” … what about “God Sent”?
There
are times when families branch out and children leave home to birth or be
joined to a new family. These times should be times of joy, expectation and
agreement. Far too often however, families and Churches are split and
relationships lost and future joys forfeited because of disagreements which cause
separation. These things ought not to be in families and neither should they be
experienced in the Church of the Living God. Divorce is a tragedy and even
though there is life after and many go on to enjoy great blessings in life,
nonetheless it was not God’s will from the beginning.
So,
what am I saying concerning this Disciple filled family of God we call the
Church? …
·
Let
God set your heart where you are
·
Decide
that only God will ever send you
Then,
just simply follow the Bible pattern – be a disciple of Christ and build the
Church!
(Some
are set and sent … others just got and went!)
