Are You Missing A Missing Part?
Part One
Identifying, developing, and executing the individual spiritual gift and accompanying ministry (area of spiritual service to others) that God has in mind is a major part of the post (after) salvation spiritual life that is outlined in Scripture.
Biblical discipleship, that being the ongoing studying (1) and application (2) of the Word of God, is initially for the spiritual edification and growth of oneself, but with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission (3).
The Great Commission is all about sharing the unadulterated Gospel Message and post salvation Bible Doctrine with OTHERS.
All born-again believers have been “commissioned” to prepare themselves, and then to participate, in the Great Commission, wherever and whenever it is, that God gives them the opportunity to do so on a daily basis.
Participating in the Great Commission is what gives spiritual significance to everything we do 24/7, and what fulfills the primary purpose for which we were created.
But like a runner in a torch-relay race, one cannot be used by God to pass the unadulterated Gospel Message or an edifying principle of Bible Doctrine along to others, until he has not first taken possession of , and has a clear understanding of, such things for himself.
There is (should be) no need for an advancing disciple to go around “looking” for people to evangelize or to edify.
God will bring the inquirers to you, if and when they see (what should be) the differences in your attitude, behavior, activities, and priorities, that distinguish followers of Christ from everyone else, here in the devil’s world.
In the times in which we are presently living, an advancing disciple should stick out like the proverbial sore thumb. If people tell you that they are “surprised” to learn that you are a Christian, it’s time for a 2Cor. 13: 5 self-examination. They may have not known what made you different, but the difference should be plain for all to see.
According to Matt. 7: 13, this “everyone else” would involve the majority of people with whom you interact with on a daily or regular basis. Among them would be family members, fellow students, co-workers, friends, and people with whom you share secular activities. It can also include some of the folks with whom we share “religious” activities. Just because one goes to church and goes through the motions doesn’t mean he or she is Heaven bound.
This attractive distinction is especially true when you are handling great adversity well, in the midst of life’s trials and tribulations.
Every soul (including our own) falls into one of these two categories, either being in the need to be born-again, or in the need to continue to grow in the knowledge and or application of the Word of God.
Therefore, the personal “mission field” for an advancing disciple is anywhere he or she is, 24-7, regardless of what one is otherwise doing.
If, during the course of any given day, you contribute to the salvation or the edification of just ONE soul, that day was a success in the eyes of the One to whom we will give an account.
On some days, God will use our words and example to sow seeds, whereas on other days, He will use us to water or prune the plants, and on other days to reap the crop.
Every day, we, by our words and or our actions, are either drawing others to God and to the things of God, or we are being used by the devil to steer them away.
Jesus said that He would make “fishers of men” out of those who (really) follow Him. Have you checked your “creel” lately?
Perhaps you haven’t yet come to the realization, that as a follower of Christ, being a fisher of men is what the divine purpose is for you being wherever you are, at any time.
Evangelism involves communicating the unadulterated Gospel Message to unbelievers, affording them the opportunity to be saved and to receive the unearned, undeserved, gift of eternal life.
In order to be born-again, one must have been presented with and have believed in the unadulterated Gospel Message. Therefore, if you have been born-again, you already possess ALL the knowledge you need to have evangelize others in a one-on-one conversation.
Edification of born-again believers involves sharing the whole range of Bible Doctrine, affording them the opportunity to grow in the knowledge and in the application of the Word of God, bringing the maximum amount of glory to God. The more Bible Doctrine you have learned, the more equipped you are to edify others.
Only a very small minority of born-again believers are called to become ordained evangelists or pastor-teachers.
The “target group” of such evangelists usually involves large audiences with individuals that have not yet been born again. It is the function of this type of evangelist to communicate the unadulterated Gospel Message, affording unbelievers in attendance or in a listening or reading audience, the opportunity to be saved. It is the evangelist that God uses to communicate the information, but it is God the Holy Spirit who make the information understandable.
Pastor-teachers are born-again believers who have been called to study and teach the whole realm of Bible doctrine, making disciples out of those who have already been born again. Traditionally, this takes place where a group of born-again believers gather together for worship on a regular basis, but “congregations” can also consist of born-again believers who receive their intake of Bible Doctrine through the modern-day means of communication, as well.
Sometimes the primary functions of the evangelist and the pastor-teacher overlap, as there are many, for example, who may go to church who have never heard or understood the unadulterated Gospel Message, and there are born-again believers who are need to learn Bible Doctrine in order to advance in discipleship.
It is job of the pastor-teacher to equip the members of his congregation to participate in the Great Commission within their personal periphery, as they go about their daily lives.
The members of the congregation are equipped by his or her pastor-teacher (4) ,by being supplied with accurate doctrine for their own growth, and by encouraging them to share with others, by word and example, what they have learned and have applied for themselves.
End of Part One
(1)\t2Pet. 3: 18 (2) James 1: 22 (3) Matt. 28: 1, 20 (4) Eph. 4: 12