Australia Kneels: Week 6 – Day 6

Doing the Will of the Father who sent us – Joh 4:34

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work. 

The Garden Catalogue For Today

Welcome to the Discipleship and Action Day – Let us go and Draw from the Well of Life, and get filled up so we can pour out the Living Water to others we can bless.

On this day we will have a variety of messages and input from trusted disciplers.

Bringing others to Jesus – A Resource for you to use

Let’s think about the Truth from Eph 2:1-6 how believing in Jesus as opening the Way at the cross and through His resurrection from death to life has made the way to lift us up to live in His abundant life.

There are many ways that we can share about The Way of Life with others like the Video Presentation (which we shared in Day 3 of this week), where you can show the slides on our mobile phone or tablet, while speaking with people on street.

It is amazing how many people are willing to stop as we start by asking questions – like a survey – which has proved to be a very powerful way of helping people to understand the process of recognising our sinful state and God’s Way and Truth to His Life as in Eph 2: 1-10

For the Presentation Slides in PDF Format – that you can use to share the Message of the Way of Life with others – click here – www.afj.org.au – and sign on to the Australia Jesus website to receive FREE resources. For the presentation slides, enter your details for the outstanding Way of Life Presentation. Click here – www.godrevolution.com.au – there is a video and PDF to help explain how to bring others to Jesus and also a video demonstration.

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There is a PDF to Explain HOW to Share “The Way of Life” Presentation with Others

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You can also visit ALPHA – To have Open Conversations about the Christian Faith.

Alpha is for everyone who is willing to have an honest conversation. No matter your background, history, or beliefs. You are welcome.The Alpha talks are designed to inspire conversation. They explore the big issues of life and faith, addressing questions like “Who is Jesus?”, “Why and how do I pray?” and “How does God guide us?”

CLICK HERE – to Connect to ALPHA near you  

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Becoming a Disciple for Jesus

By Tony McLennan

Weekend Talk 5

The Disciple of Jesus

Introduction

The Scriptures record that those who were close to Jesus were referred to as His disciples. However, the term ‘disciple’ extended to a wider number than twelve.

In the days that Jesus walked the Earth, a teacher (Rabbi) would have disciples. It was expected that disciples would absorb their master’s teaching, obey the master’s directions and model their lives on the the master’s life.

Each disciple aimed to become like his master.

Jesus said:
“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant (disciple) is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
John 13:15 -17

I. Jesus And His Disciples

Just as Jesus called certain people to be His disciples, so are you called to
become His disciple.

Read Mark 3:13 – 19. Note His threefold reason for appointing disciples:

1. To be with Him;
2. To send them out to preach;
3. To have authority to drive out demons.

Jesus had many disciples apart from the twelve. The Sermon on the Mount was chiefly given to His disciples (Matt 5:1). Another sermon was clearly directed to His disciples (Luke 6: 17 – 20). Jesus revealed “the secret of the Kingdom of God” to the Twelve and the other disciples around Him when He was alone (Mark 4:10 -11).

In Luke 14:25 – 33 we read of large crowds travelling with Jesus. Here Jesus defines the difference between being a member of the crowd and becoming one of His disciples.

Verse 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple.”

Verse 27 “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Verse 32 – 33 “If he is not able… [he] will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”

Jesus was not calling people to be with Him just so He would have a great following. He was calling people who genuinely loved Him and wanted to follow Him with all their hearts.

So we can observe that a disciple of Jesus is one of those who:

1. Loves the Master;
2. Models his life on the Master;
3. Exhibits the characteristics of the Master;
4. Loves the words of the Master and puts them into action;
5. Rejects all teachings and influence that would come between the Master and the disciple;
6. Will not allow any other relationship to come between him and his love for the Master; and
7. Considers the Master’s Will as greater and more important than his own will and, therefore, strives to fulfil His Will in every area of the disciple’s life.

II. Jesus Is Calling You

John’s gospel provides a zoom lens picture of Jesus’ love for, and requirements of, His disciples. He said to them “you did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit” (John 15:16)

It is wonderful that Jesus has called you! Read the following Scriptures and you will gain a very clear picture of Jesus’ relationship with you; how much He loves you and wants to draw you closer to Himself and to His purpose for your life.

Obedience to the Word: “If you continue in my Word, then you are my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31 -32

Faith in Him: “What must we do to work the works of God?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” John 6:28 -29

Love Him: “If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home (abode) with him.” John 14:23

Live in Him: “Abide (live) in Me, and I will abide in you.” John 15:4

Bear fruit for His glory: “Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; showing yourselves to be My disciples.” John 15:8

Pray and ask Him for your needs and those of others: “If you abide (remain) in Me and My words abide (remain) in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” John 15:7

Love each other: “My command is this: Love each other as I have
loved you.” John 15:12

“By this, will all men know that you are My disciples, if you love
one another.” John 13:35

III. The Disciple’s Knowledge Of Him

In many passages in Scripture, Jesus distinguishes between those who truly love Him and those who are not walking in love with Him.

To the foolish virgins in Matthew 25:12 who would have entered into His wedding feast, He said: “I tell you the truth, I do not know you.”

To those who would enter the Kingdom in Matthew 7:21 – 23, Jesus says, not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven….’ He says ‘Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers.’

Read John 16:1 -3. “They will do such things because they have not known the Father or Me.” (See also John 15:21).

The distinction between Jesus’ disciples and those who content themselves with outward forms but do not really love and obey Him from the heart is built around the word ‘know’. In the Hebrew language ‘to know’ can mean to know someone intimately as a man knows his wife. The sense is one of deep attachment and union, one with another.

In 2 Peter 1:3 the Scripture records that God has given us everything we
need for life and godliness. This comes through our knowledge of Him;
through knowing Him intimately.

Eternal life extends from knowing Him – see John 17:3. It is not an intellectual knowing, it is the joining together of our hearts with His great heart. In this way, the Christian participates in the Divine Nature.
See 2 Peter 1:4.

The disciple of Jesus lives for Him and longs to know Him more and more.
“…He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.”
2 Corinthians 5:15

How much does the disciple want to know Him?

Read Paul’s account in Philippians 3:10: “I want to know Christ and the
power of His resurrection….”

IV. What Is God’s Purpose For You?

Many people struggle to find out the purpose of their lives. They all feel at some stage that they have a destiny. But very often, for Christian and non – Christian alike, this ‘destiny’ is caught up with asserting ‘self’. People subtly or otherwise are asking themselves: “What can I do to make my name great?”

This sort of thinking is not in line with God’s purpose for us. He sees and
is mindful of each one of us. His plan for each one of us would have to be
the best possible plan we could ever adopt or enter into.

So what is God’s purpose for you?

His purpose … is that you become like His Son, Jesus Christ
(See Romans 8:28 – 30). Paul prayed in this context for each disciple of

Jesus (See Ephesians 1:15 -23). He talks about God’s purpose in their lives:

• It was God’s pleasure and purpose to make us His children (v. 5).
• His plan (purpose) is to bring all creation together under Christ (v. 10).

Conclusion:

God’s purpose is to make you like Jesus. Above all our attributes, without loss of our personality, God has set for us a model man or person. This person, Jesus (in terms of character, attitude, wisdom, fortitude, devotion to God, love for His Word, faithfulness in worship and prayer and love for God and others, compassion for those who are lost and those who are poor and in need), is God’s ideal. The Father holds up Jesus as our example and calls us to be like Him.

This is a growth process. Set your heart on becoming a disciple of Jesus,
living for Him so that you may grow up in Him into the fullness of the
stature of the man Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:13).

Memorise this verse:
“And we pray this in order that you live a life worthy of the Lord
and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of God ….”” Colossians 1:10

“The Father holds up
Jesus as our example
and calls us to be like Him”
From ‘Becoming a Disciple of Jesus’

The Wheel Illustration

Note: An illustration showing the Key areas of
obedience for a disciple of Jesus in the Wheel Illustration.

The “Wheel Illustration” shows the basic five keys that result in an active,
blessed and fruitful Christian life.

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Becoming a Disciple for Jesus

By Tony McLennan

Chapter 8

Bringing Others to Jesus

Introduction
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation ….” Isaiah 52:7

Picture the scene. John the Baptist declares that Jesus is “The Lamb of
God” and immediately Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, follows Jesus.
Along with another of John’s disciples he went and saw where Jesus was
staying and spent the whole day with Jesus.

Read John 1:39 – 42.

Things to note:

• They spent the whole day with Him.
• The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother and tell him
  “we have found the Messiah.”
• The next thing Andrew did was to bring Peter to Jesus.

If we love Jesus, we will want to bring others to meet Him. It is not the only way we show we love Him but it is one way which He particularly values.

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32

I. Jesus Words

The very first words recorded in the New Testament (Matthew) that Jesus
spoke to His disciples were:

“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers
of men.”
Matthew 4:19

Let’s look at each word or set of words in this short verse:

• “Come…”:
  Jesus says to each of us, “Come to me.” We must not put activity
  ahead of our relationship. If the Lord does not build the house they
  labour in vain who try to build it. (See Psalm 127:1)
  • What does it mean to come to Jesus?
  • How do we accomplish this?
  • What will be the effect in our lives?
• “Follow Me…”:
  Jesus didn’t say “I’ll do it one way while you do it another way.” No, He set the example. Jesus was the greatest winner of souls and our greatest example.

* Luke 19:10
Who was it in this verse that Jesus went looking for to bring the message of salvation?
* John 4:4-7
Why did He go through Samaria?
* John 9:35-39
Why did Jesus go looking for him? Note “when he found him” v 35
* Luke 13:11-13
What did Jesus do when He saw her?

• “…and I will make you...”:
  Although you may learn Scriptures and memorise your testimony (and these are important things to do) ONLY Jesus can make you effective as a soul – winner.

* John 14:12
You must have faith in Jesus.
* John 16:15
The Holy Spirit will make the mysteries of the Kingdom known to you.
* Matthew 10:20
“For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
* Acts 6:10, 15
Why could they not stand up against Stephen?
* Acts 13:9- 12
What impact did the Holy Spirit have upon Paul’s words?

• “…fishers of men…”:
  The Lord will grant to you fruit from your labours. What would it be like to be a fisherman who never caught anything? He knows where the people are who will respond to your message. Ask Him to lead you to these people. Be bold. Be strong, because He will be with you.
•  John 21:6, 11 Jesus knows where and how to find and catch fish.

• Luke 5:8 -11 What did the fish represent here?
• Acts 2:41 Who and how many were baptised?

II. Becoming a Winner of Souls

To be effective soul – winners we must love the people around us who are lost and in sin. We need to love them with the same love that Jesus has for them.

How do we attain and offer this love? (Romans 5:5)

We need wisdom (Proverbs 11:30) and, with wisdom, we become a “tree of life” to those who are lost.

How can we go about preparing ourselves for winning those who do not
know the Lord?

First: Pray – Mark 1:35 -37. Focus your prayers on certain people. Covenant with others to pray for them. Your praying will make a difference.

Second: Prepare Your Testimony. This can be written out in a page or two. It is your story of how you met Jesus.

Third: You can use a Bridge to Life (1) or The Way of Life (2) Presentation, a tract or draw a diagram explaining the way of salvation.

Fourth: You can invite and bring the person to the Alpha Course or to a suitable Church meeting or Christian activity.

Fifth: You can arrange to pick them up to get them there

Sixth: You can pray for them throughout the occasion or whenever there is opportunity.

Seventh: You can be a friend and support them both when they accept Jesus and then by being with them to support them in their New Life.

Conclusion:

When we follow Jesus and become ‘fishers of men’ we need to do so purposefully. A great man once said: “Casualness leads to casualties.” Indeed this is true when it comes to sharing the Good News. Be in tune with the Holy Spirit. Be diligent to act out the seven steps above. Pay close attention to the skill and the practical aspects of communicating with others as well as to spiritual preparation.

Memorise this verse:
“Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”” Colossians 4:5-6

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We will continue next week with the last 2 chapters from the book: Becoming a Disciple of Jesus by Tony McLennan

For even more information please visit:  The God Revolution  & Australia for Jesus websites.

I Will Remember Their Sins No More
By Francis Frangipane

Holiness is attained only through an unfolding experience with the grace of God.

Removing the Barriers Caused By Sin
Have you ever had a close friend but talked critically about him to someone else? The next time you were together, did you notice something almost artificial about your relationship? You were not as open nor as honest with him. Because of your sin, there was a small but measurable distance between both of you. Though you may have been ashamed of what you did, if you stayed unrepentant, you actually started to avoid the one you hurt – if not socially, at least with your eyes and heart.

You may have shared a world together beforehand, but now the interpenetration of personalities, the sense of being “at home” in one another’s soul, is gone. Unless there is repentance, the distance between you will probably widen until the relationship itself is over. Although neither of you may understand why you drifted apart, the love you possessed died because you sinned and failed to repent.

In the same manner that human relationships are sustained by openness and honesty, so it is also with our relationship with God. When we sin against Him, we unconsciously erect a barrier between heaven and ourselves. We may still go to church, but a sense of distance and artificiality emerges in our hearts.

Each of those defenses we have erected to keep God out ultimately walls us in, spiritually imprisoning us in our sins. These barriers degenerate into strongholds of demonic oppression. Eventually, our walls toward God imprison us outside the Divine Presence, trapping the soul in outer darkness. It is possible that our walls toward God are the very substance of which hell is made.

Yet, the love of God is such that He loves us enough not only to release us from our sins but also from the negative effects our sin has had upon our fellowship with Him. Mercifully, He promises, “their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 10:17). Every time we ask for forgiveness, our relationship with Him becomes free and new again.

In one sweeping act of forgiveness – so complete that He promises to not even remember what we did wrong – God has provided the eternal payment for each sin we contritely ask Him to forgive. He loves us so much that, while He continues to perfect our attitudes of heart, He also provides a means to keep our relationship with Him genuine and without barriers.

Jesus Paid the Price
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us” (Ephesians 1:7-8). What is redemption? Redemption is the “payment of a debt or obligation.” There were notes, warrants held against us. We are all debtors to God, but Jesus satisfied the warrants held against us by His death on the cross.

And when you were dead in your transgressions . . . He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 (Italics mine)

The moment you accepted Jesus into your heart, all the things you ever did wrong, every evil thought, every angry word and every wicked deed – each of which deserved its own punishment – was stamped REDEEMED: PAID IN FULL by our Father in heaven. Jesus paid for them all with His blood. He is our Redeemer! He paid the price, not just for the sins we previously committed but for every sin that we sincerely ask forgiveness for now. All our sins are forever forgiven and forgotten.

Hebrews 10:14 tells us that “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” And again in Colossians we read,

For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross . . . and although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach. Colossians 1:19-22

As far as the sin issue is concerned, we must grasp the completed work of Christ. “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). From God’s eternal perspective, we are freed from sin. It is here in the realm of time, and specifically in our minds, where sin still has a temporary hold. In His great love, however, God is removing even the barriers our sins have created between Himself and us.

It is important to state here that God has not lowered His standard of holiness. However, He knows we will never become holy if we are afraid to draw near to Him, for He alone is holy! Consequently, He has forgiven and reconciled us to Himself through Jesus. The blood sacrifice of Christ has satisfied the debts of every soul who, through repentance and faith in Jesus, sincerely seeks fellowship with God.

“I Do Not Remember”
How little we understand of eternal redemption! How many times will God forgive you? If you have truly set your heart to follow Him, He will cancel your sins as often as you ask. Will He forgive you of the worst sin you can think of? Yes! You may have to live with the consequences of your misdeed, but the redemptive power of God is such that, even in your sin, there are many things of value to be reclaimed. As for the sin itself, if you deeply and sincerely repent of it, not only will God forgive you, He will blot it out of His memory.

Let me share an experience. A certain man of God had been gifted with revelatory insight into people’s lives. During an evening service he ministered to a Presbyterian pastor and his wife. By the gift of the Spirit, he revealed the couple’s past, uncovered their present situation and then disclosed to them what was to come. This work of God greatly impressed the couple, and as the prophecies were fulfilled, one month later the Presbyterian minister brought two other pastors, each with their wives, to another service for personal ministry.

The word of knowledge was exceptionally sure that night, and the second minister and his wife marveled at the accuracy and truth in the prophetic word. The third couple stepped forward for ministry and again the word of knowledge was present. The prophet spoke to the husband, revealing his past, present and insight into his future. Then the man of God turned to this third minister’s wife. As he began to speak of her past, suddenly he stopped. “There was a very serious sin in your past.” The woman, with her worst fear seemingly upon her, turned pale and closed her eyes. The congregation hushed and moved to the edge of their seats.

The prophet continued, “And I asked the Lord, ‘What was this sin that she committed?’ And the Lord answered, ‘I do not remember!‘”

The Lord had been faithful to His promise: “I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25). Although many times this minister’s wife had asked for cleansing, still she could not believe the depth of God’s forgiveness. Christ had placed her sin in the sea of His forgetfulness. He removed it “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). From everywhere but the prison of her own mind, her sin had been paid for and removed. And now, in His great mercy, He removed it from there as well!

Oh, what burdens we carry, what guilt and limitations surround us because we do not accept God’s total and perfect forgiveness. In Isaiah we read, “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25).

How great is the God we serve. How wonderful is His love toward us. He is our Redeemer! Our Savior! If you are willing to forgive others and will but ask Him to forgive you, He will pardon your debts as often as you contritely turn to Him. He promises He will remember your sins no more. He who calls us into His perfections, has also provided perfectly for us to approach Him. Holiness is an unfolding relationship with the grace of God.

Spiritual Maturity (Continued…)

As we started in week 4 and continued in Week 5 to look at Spiritual Maturity, and thus just as a reminder again that according to Ephesians 4 – that the reason Jesus gave the the 5-Fold Ministries to His Church (The Ekklesia) – is to bring the saints unto Maturity – in order for us all to be walking in the “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”

Eph 4:7-16

7  But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 
8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 
9  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 
10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 
11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 
12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 
13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 
14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 
15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 
16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

Below are 2 Videos again by Ps Susan Hammer from Cry of an Eagle Revival Ministries – looking at the Calling and Purpose of the Evangelist and the Pastor: 

 The Evangelist:

The Pastor:

We will continue to look into more detail of the Teacher Ministry next week.

Pastor Jeff’s Special Today:  “Lack of Courage” 

Today’s issue is lack of courage in your faith. If you have truly converted, repented, turned to God and His Kingdom and His Word, thus receiving the Holy Spirit, He protects you. His Word through Moses thousands of years ago is still True today: ” Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6). 

Those without courage are the first named who will not enter heaven: ” He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolators, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Rev 21:8)

Being candid with yourself and the Holy Spirit, is there any remnant of your old lukewarm or nonexistent courage in the Messiah/ the Christ? Is there any old vow you made in this area that now needs to be removed? Do you think this is only applicable to the disciples 2,000 or 3,000 years ago? Do you have any residue of a residue of this issue for such a time as this? Was it connected to your upbringing as a child? Was it a family pattern in any way?

God bless you as you seek His Holy Spirit Wisdom and Comfort on this issue. May you go forward on His path, “perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1).