Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Warriors for Christ

So much has happened in the past few months…my only regret is not being able to keep up and write about it. We have travelled to Mgona, Tambala and yes, oh yes, I have returned home. A few weeks ago I returned to mngwangwa. Edward coined it, the return of the prodigal teacher. It made me laugh and cry. It has been so long…eight months.

The Lord showed us the next step with the saints in mngwangwa. We have reduced the number to those that are teachers and leaders of others so we can have greater impact and also so that we can grow from where we were last. Returning had my stomach in knots because of what returning meant. It meant returning without Felix….and I know that is almost like an old line but it always stays with me. I have a picture of him at my desk and even now I can hear what he would say…. “Its catching, like a prairie fire”. Yet there was so much excitement mingled in. I was going as a general would do to choose soldiers figt for the task ahead.

We talked about what our vision was, together as a group and everyone was afire with suggestions and comments. It was taking each other hand in hand and talking about the direction we want to go…the direction the Holy Spirit is leading us in. Our scripture was from 2nd Timothy: (2 Timothy 2:1-4) You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. We were looking for faithful men and women who could teach others. We wanted to do as the writer of Hebrews tells us... leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,.... This we did by outlining that this was not the training on the HOW of being a soldier but rather of the SPECIALISED training of soldiers. And soldiers they were, eager and excited. A week later we returned and began to teach the first series which they had picked...discipleship. so many pastors in community (and a guess throughout the world) fail to find faithful people to help with the work of the ministry. I have encountered pastors that are the worship leader, the usher, the announcer and convener as well as the pastor all in one. This does not make a superhero but rather a tired tired person, doing many good things but failing to excel at any. So many pastors wanted it to be the first topic to discuss, “how do we make good disciples?”

We talked about what a disciple is and what makes for a good disciple maker because then we can have good disciples. We talked about John the Baptist who was one of the greatest teachers of a disciple maker and how his actions and words were lessons for us. I often wonder about John and his cousin Jesus and what that relationship was like as they grew up and how amazing it was to be able to lose that familiarity and recognise the Christ. So, we looked at John as he clearly gave his disciples a picture of who he was, not fearing letting tham know his position in perspective to the Christ (not fit to untie his sandles). He volunteered this information not wanting his disciples to think of him any more than he was in light of the Christ. He was also the one who clearly expressed who Jesus was to his disciples (not telling them about how Jesus would do this and that for them) but letting them know the core purpose...the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He did such a great job that his disciples followed after Jesus. It was the close of our first session...that a true disciple maker points his disciples to Jesus and is not ‘bummed out’ that they leave him and follow Him because if they do follow Jesus, then that is success. If disciple making is about fruitfulness and replication then as a disciple maker we aught to be following Christ in rechless abandonment so that what we produce will do likewise. Praise God. having been discipled for...now 9 years and having discipled for the past 6 years, it is a tipoc so close to my heart. Through my disciple maker I have learnt to pursue God at all costs and to love talking with Him and spending time in the Word of God. I have learnt the safety of journeying with someone who has already been down the roads I take so I do not have to face the same demons they did and if I do, they would have given me wisdom where they had failed. This way, the church goes from glory to glory. Otherwise we remain in the state of our forefathers, always talking about the former glories.

What a joy it was to share the word. It is such an honour to do so and our heart’s prayer is to never get farmiliar with that honour...the honour of discecting the word of God and bringing revelation to His people through His Spirit. May you look at your bible and what Gos shows you as the greatest honour...hearing the heart of God! what an honour!

Today we head for Mgona and Tambala.