Do the Same – Part 3

Continuing Dr. Nolte's message: Under the Great Commission of Jesus, the Christian church equips, trains and releases its brothers and sisters in Christ to minister the Gospel to those around you (including the 8-9 that you are in close personal relationship with and have a certain level of security with) and change their world for Jesus Christ and the kingdom of Heaven, including initiating and inviting to come and see for themselves. 95% of the people following Jesus today began by someone they know initiating the conversation, encouraging them and inviting them to their church. Let’s get over our own doubting, self-conscious selves on seeking and saving the lost in need of the Savior of the world.  

 

For the “How” question, the passage text answers the question also. John the Baptist told Andrew and John and the rest of the disciples there, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” [the Messiah], pointing to Jesus. There is Jesus. He is the Messiah. That’s it. Just point to Jesus. Andrew pointed Pater to Jesus. Philip pointed Nathanael to Jesus. Just point to Jesus. It’s not about fame, fun, or friendship. It’s about pointing people to Jesus in whatever context God gives you. That is all disciples are called to do in the Great Commission. You catch a fish before you clean it. The Cultural Mandate is the for the process of sanctification (growing and maturing as a Christian). That includes learning and knowing our Theology, the Holy Scripture of the Bible and Apologetics for defending the faith with good arguments. That is important for our witness and walk as Ambassadors for Christ, but remember that Jesus can handle Himself and the Bible is theologically consistent, so can hang together well. Yet, He has made us “Fishers of men.”

 

Don’t crimple ourselves by making the “Who” and the “How” too complicated. The simplest way to witness for Christ is by telling your own story of the restoration from what we were and from what we were becoming by finding Jesus. Both Andrew and Philip just told their story of meeting Jesus. Personal life stories incredibly effective in reaching others on a emotional and spiritual level. In Mark 5:19 Jesus said, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” Tell your own story, because it is honest and it is true. The power of the Gospel is its own draw. 

 

In all cases, a decision is required and made. Jesus invites Andrew and Philip to follow Him, and they either choose to follow or not follow. Jesus invites us to follow Him today, and we either choose to follow or not follow. The important thing here is that with the invitation is the requirement to choose to either accept or reject the invitation. For those following Jesus today as disciples, it’s not just to follow Jesus at the beginning; it’s keep following Jesus along the way. Life is crazy as it goes up and down, back and forth with good times and bad times (and everywhere in between. That is real life. The disciple challenge to keep following Jesus is also a choice and decision. Our initiation and invitation is for the purpose of allowing someone who does not know the Lord as Savior of their soul to choose to follow Jesus. Sometimes, they choose not to follow Jesus. You know them and have a relationship with them, so continue to bring the gospel message up now and then, allowing the Holy Spirit to work. Prayerfully invite until that person decides to repent of their sin, accept the free gift of salvation and follow Jesus as Lord. 

 

That is why a Christian church is so important; a place where they can fellowship with fellow Believers in community, joining in this life journey walk together. There is a couple more questions: “Why all this initiate and invite anyway?” Jesus modeled it, but why is it the best model for starting people on the discipleship journey? Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). The Lord connected to me on a personal basis, then invites. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”  The Lord indicates that He already knows Nathanael. Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” For a God-fearing Jews going out and sitting under a fig tree was a spiritual symbol and practice; a discipline of studying, praying and seeking God’s face. Jesus was saying, “I already know you, understand you and see what is going on in your heart.” There is something deeper, more significant and something literally valuable in the person themselves. The point is the point.

 

Revelation 20:11-15, 21:27 “Then I saw a great white throne and him {Jesus] who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Nothing unclean will ever enter it {the kingdom of Heaven], nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.” 

Let's conclude Dr. Nolte's message on finding Jesus in the next post.

In Christ, Brian