Have you ever...?

How is your witness?

Were you ever discipled by anyone?

Could you/Have you discipled another?

God commands that we be disciples of Jesus Christ and go to the nation in order to MAKE disciples.

You see, we are not simply to speak Christ's name into our hearts and become convinced our work is over.

Quite the opposite.

We are to recognize our sin and become so disgusted and utterly repulsed that we enter into a cleansing called Salvation. We're so humbled and amazed at the actions that took place on the cross that we choose to do the unthinkable...

We ask another (Christ) to take over our lives. We completely surrender control of our future in exchange for cleansing (forgiveness) and eternal life.

A Christian disciple is a follower of Christ, but one thing you must know is, the cost of following Jesus Christ is your life.

It will cost you everything.

It's at this point that our work begins.

Matthew 28:19, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..."

Luke 9:23 also talks about us full out denying ourselves to follow Christ.

We're CHOOSING to follow Jesus and no one else.

We're CHOOSING to give up our old life.

We're CHOOSING to stop in our tracks, turn around and never look back.

We're CHOOSING a harder life in hopes of saving lives.

No one ever said this was going to be easy.

But the Bible does say time and time again that the world will HATE US for His name's sake.

It says we will be persecuted.

It says that we will have to be joyful in our long suffering.

It says for us to worship in our time of lament.

It says to witness and speak His name even if that means certain death.

So where does that leave many of us in our walk? Where are we, as individuals, in terms of getting the gospel to the nations? In the years that we've been saved, how many people have we lead to salvation by our witness or testimony?

10, 300, 1...none?

I'm guilty of this myself. There was this women I had met a few years back who literally made me question if I loved God as much as I thought I did.

We'd be having regular "girl chat" conversations about the weather, school, weekend plans, football, boyfriends, etc. But her conversational language was much different than mine. Her language oozed her love for Christ. She spoke His name in almost every sentence - and it was never to the point of boasting or doing it to make a point. There was such humility and gentleness in her speech that she made me wholeheartedly desire the love that she had.

She knew Christ differently than I knew Him. She had such an intimate relationship with Him and she mentored me to have the same. She taught me, encouraged me and prayed for me. She cultivated in me the heart of a disciple.

Let's make this a little more interesting.

What if I told you that you would have to endure part of the Tribulation?

What if Christians would be here when the Anti-Christ came to power?

Would our witness and discipling be strong enough to win the hardened hearts of the unsaved during the Tribulation?

Would you even know where to begin because you've never actually had the intense urgency to save someone from eternal damnation by simply talking about the only One you're commanded to love with all of your heart, soul and mind?

Like the book of James, I'm going to impress a call to action. We need to get the scripture to the streets, NOW!

Start a new ministry, make a new friend, talk to the people in the waiting room at the doctors office, talk to the doctor! EVERYONE needs Jesus Christ. Everyone needs to be saved from an eternity of torture and separation from God.

Now let me ask you a question.

Why does no one care anymore?

I know what you're thinking...I do care! We all care!

Then why aren't you screaming His name from the rooftops? Why aren't you telling absolutely every single person you meet how unspeakably in love with Jesus you are? Why can't you name one person you've witnessed to in the last 6 months? Why can't you name one person that you've ever lead to His presence?

Where's the urgency?

The problem is...we think we have time...

-Written by: Kayla Greer

Original Source

Soil

Much of what we produce in our personal ministries is brought about from where we're planted. Where we decide to plant our roots needs to not be taken lightly. We need to approach the matter with much prayer and follow only the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Ultimately, where we're planted and what we're planted in will be the reason for the success or failure of our ministries.

Different Types of Soils:

1. Content Soil
    -This soil once had a fire and a spark to it, but it's been burnt out for decades. It has an impeccable legacy, but no clear future. People are happy staying in the soil because of the name that is built on top of it. There's no stirring, no moving, just content people sitting in lukewarm soil.

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 2. Abusive Soil
     -This soil doesn't do much, but talk. They like a "good, hard preaching," and they like to judge others for not being as 'Holy' as they are. In their heart-of-hearts they don't feel like they're being judgmental at all. They feel like they've been given marching orders and they're obeying. However, the orders have no vision, no passion and they are left to wander. They are following a man instead of a King.

3. Guilty Soil
    -This soil has taken up residence in your mind rather than your heart. It continually tells you that you're a sinner and you could never possibly do any good for the Kingdom of God. This soil makes you believe the lie that you have to carry your sins, and therefore, paralyzes your ministry and your spiritual growth.

4. Busy Soil
    -This soil knows how to throw a good party, while doing prison ministry, nursing home outreach and service to local homeless shelter. It delivers babies on the weekend and builds sweet old sister Sue a shed in her backyard. This soil is spread too thin and worried too much about disappointing others than they are about pleasing the Lord. Yes, the work is good work, but the motive is in vain. No one can be useful when they have too much to handle.

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5. God-given Soil
    -This soil is unique. No two soils are the same, and if God isn't the one to lead you to this soil, you won't grow. This soil is personalized, fertilized and cultivated for the obedient. This soil is easy and light. Roots are able to be formed immediately and fruit is seen instantaneously.

Crazy things happen when people find 'their Soil'.
If you find yourself in one of the above 'Soil's' that isn't #5, you need to be praying about how God can get you to #5. Look at where you are and how effective you're being. Are your gifts recognized, are they being put to work, are you seeing results...does anyone even know you're in the pew?

My wife and I found our 'Soil' in REACH. Crazy things are happening, and unbelievable fruit is beginning to blossom. Take your step of faith and search out where you'll be able to grow.

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Become what "They" need

 Christ's mission on earth was to "seek and save the lost." His mission for us is to go into all nations with the gospel so that all may hear and have the opportunity to know Him. Although churches across this country have multimillion dollar facilities, eloquent preachers and an outreach program...what are they really accomplishing?
Even with all of these state-of-the-art amenities, churches are closing their doors by the thousands. People aren't interested in buying what the churches are selling anymore. People have grown tired of the show and are hungry for more.

Just because we go to church on Sunday morning, and some on Wednesday nights, doesn't mean that we're fulfilling what God has called us to do.

Think about it:
1. Are you being used?
    -Are your gifts realized and put to maximum work for the furtherance of the Kingdom? Or are you comfortable listening to a message and going home, never to open your Bible until next Sunday?
2. Are you continually being pushed?
    -Are you always being pushed to search God's heart more deeply, more intimately, more passionately? Are you able to get enough of His word?
3. Are you changing?
    -Are your thoughts, actions, perspective, circumstances, opinions, etc. changing to a more Christ-centered direction?
4. Are you reaching people with His word?
    -How many people were you able to lead to Christ last year...this year? How many people were you able to minister to?
5. Are you being taught?
    -Are you being taught and guided how to accomplish all of the above? Does the church you attend care for your spiritual-man? Are they investing in you in order to reach more?

We are not called to be like the world. In fact, the Bible states in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 to, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." (KJV) So how do we reach a world that doesn't act like us?

We have to understand them. We have to search their hurt and desire full restoration of their heart. If we cannot find common ground with people we will be unable to reach them with the truth they're so desperately looking for.

1 Cor 9:22 "To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some." (HCSB)
Our heart must be so set to searching out the lost that we become their weakness, their hurt, their worthlessness in order to understand where they are and how they need to receive the Word.

This great nation was built on those very principles. Even our Statue of Liberty has an inscription reading,
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

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 The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom. To the immigrants coming in trough Ellis Island, she was hope. She was a dream of a better tomorrow; a savior.
Our great country has forgotten this, and our churches have forgotten the true message and calling of Christ.

Are you being used, prepared and encouraged to be everything you need to be in order to fulfill the mission Christ has called you to do? Are we reaching people with a genuine love and hunger to seek actual transformation? Are we willing to fight for the truth at all cost?

Give me the hungry, homeless, displaced, exhausted, disgusted, too-far-gone.
Give me the unlovable and allow me to show them true love.

Fear for Freedom?

In today's politically correct world, we are often stifled as believers to keep all of our opinions to ourselves. Even in the churches we are told to suppress our true thoughts on Biblical topics that are otherwise unsavory in order to preserve the comfort of the masses. 
(i.e. They want their pews to remain filled!)

We are called to be genuine and forthright with the Word of God and with the urgency in which the writers of the gospels had. Today there are but a precious few of genuine character. We ought to seek after these people, encourage them, learn their boldness and the source of it.

"For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should." (Ephesians 6:20 HCSB)
We, as believers, are given power and authority that most Christian's never tap into. We are told to pray for boldness, for God expects it.

He knew that speaking the truth would be difficult for us, which is why He sent His Son. Jesus spoke boldly and gave His life for it! We are called to the same purpose. Our mission is not easy, but our purpose is eternal.

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Luke 10:19 says, "Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you." (HCSB)

-Stay with me now.

I'm not saying to go and dance with snakes...this is metaphorical, meaning that even in the craziest of situations when we feel evil itself coming up against us, that we have God-given Authority through Jesus Christ to overpower all. Nothing can harm us.

Let's speak boldly, intentionally, genuinely...
Let's encourage other believers to do the same.

Who knows, maybe we'll change the world...

"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32 HCSB)