Discipling The Disciples

As he shared about answers to prayer and situations where the Lord was at work, my faith was strengthened. And I hope he felt the same about the stories I shared. In fact, I was so good at preaching to him I put him to sleep! Seriously, we should encourage one another verbally and in other ways and all we can.

I’m sure there are many ways that we can strengthen and encourage one another. Teaching, preaching and definitely, living the faith will encourage others. Whenever we see it done it encourages to do it too!

III. WE MUST CHARGE THE DISCIPLES

22 "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

ILL.- An airplane pilot said: ABOUT 90 fifth-graders piled into the airliner I was flying, on their way home from a school trip. Once we were in the air and the crew began trying to serve drinks, I could hear them pleading with the children to settle down so the beverages could be served and the other passengers could get some sleep. No amount of reasoning seemed to help, until I thought of the solution that actually worked: I picked up the PA mike in the cockpit and announced, "Children, this is the captain speaking. Don’t make me stop this airplane and come back

there."

Sometimes people need to be warned or charged in a certain ways. We as parents may have threatened our children with the words, "If I have to stop what I’m doing and come in there, you’re going to get it!"

II Tim. 4:1-2 "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction."

Paul charged young Timothy to charge the people in his preaching of the Word. Be strong. Be straight. Be sincere.

ILL.- Bob Stacy is one of my OCC college professors. I remember one time when Bob preached in our chapel services. He started his sermon with these words, "You ought to be dead!" And he said that forcefully. What did he mean by those words? At the time I didn’t know until he finished his sermon, but it was a charge that I’ll never forget and a charge that we all need. We all need to be dead to sin and self but also alive to Christ! That was the basis of the sermon and he was exactly right.

ILL.- I recently heard Tony Evans from Dallas, TX. He was preaching about giving. He said there three types of people: 1- the haves 2- the have nots 3- the have not paid for yet. He said, "Money is tainted. Taint yours and taint mine." And he’s right. Everybody belongs to the Lord. He’s just loaned us some money, a house, car, clothing, etc. And then Tony proceeded to preach about giving and mentioned the scripture in Malachi 3:8 " "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, ’How do we rob you?’ "In tithes and offerings."

He said the reason so many Christians have financial problems, the car breaks down, the house falls apart, etc. is because they are robbing God! Talk about powerful! But he said that our lack in giving is just an indication of a deeper problem! OUCH!