In the West, we fall short of understanding true discipleship. We think that faithful church attendance and listening to one man give a one-hour sermon once or twice a week is discipleship. Now, don't misunderstand me; we absolutely cannot afford to underestimate the value and importance of teaching, but in comparison to some other parts of the world, the focus in the West is too individualistic. We don't equip the believer or the earnest student of the Word to be a disciple and to quickly begin to disciple others. We are too passive and lack the immediate mobilization of others. I believe the great harvest of these last days that is before us will be reaped by the body of Christ and not necessarily just through individual ministry gifts. Common, everyday working people will affect the harvest more now than ever before.
Check out this powerful word of wisdom spoken decades ago:
"There is going to be a great spiritual awakening in the world, and it's going to come from plain, simple people who know—not simply believe—but actually know that God answers prayer. It's going to be a great revival of true Christianity, not a revival of religion. It's going to rise from the laymen and from men who are going about their business and putting God into what they do; from men who believe in prayer, and who want to make God real to mankind." — George Washington Carver, 1864-1943 (a strong Christian, most widely known for his development of the peanut)
It's been reported that the church in Iran is multiplying disciples at an unprecedented pace because believers there teach the earnest seeker obedience to the commands of Jesus and how to pray and interact with God immediately just as Jesus did and taught. They don't waste time with so many nonessentials and thin theological issues. This is one of the primary reasons the gospel is spreading like wildfire in Iran, because they believe discipleship begins the moment you come into contact with an unbeliever.
A disciple maker is one who stewards the commands of Jesus and presses His teachings as the central point in every interaction with unbelievers or earnest seekers. Obedience is the emphasis.
"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, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19-20, emphasis added).
At this juncture in time and history, the West must learn the value of what the Lord is doing through the persecuted church in Iran and in other parts of the world.
The Days Ahead
The days we are in must include the restoration of the reverence and fear of the Lord to the body of Christ, especially here in the West. So many people treat the things of the Spirit lightly and flippantly, not realizing who we are dealing with, because they have so little revelation of Him. As a result, they don't consider the huge responsibility that it is in saying or doing anything in the name of the Lord, and the weight of accountability to Him that it carries.
Years ago, the Lord dealt with me about writing on what He called "lost" or discarded themes and important truths from His Word. He went on to tell me that there had been a diabolical silence on holiness in the church.
In the days ahead, look for the body of Christ to be restored to holiness through the fear of the Lord and a respect for sacred things. Look for there to be a greater emphasis on discipleship, especially in small group settings and home meetings, as the darkness and trouble in the world continue to increase. Answered prayers and healings will increase in such caring environments as people receive a greater revelation of God's love for them.
Interesting days lie ahead. The Lord is more excited about what He is doing and about the increase in the body of Christ than He is about political and current events in the world. The peace of God will rule in the hearts of those who are seeking Jesus and His kingdom, and being about our Father's business in these end times.
Bert Farias' books are forerunners to personal holiness, the move of God and the return of the Lord. They also combat the departure from the faith and turning away from the truth we are seeing in this hour. His current passion is to promote a culture of the supernatural manifestations and ministries of the Holy Spirit in the church today and to pass it on to the next generation Passing on the Move of God to the Next Generation and The Coming Restoration are a simple blueprint for what the Lord Jesus is doing in His church today. The Tumultuous 2020s and Beyond is his latest release to help believers navigate through the new decade and emerge as an authentic remnant. Other materials/resources are available on his website, Holy Fire Ministries. You can also follow him on YouTube (Holy Fire Ministries), Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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