Lineage of Believers Part II
Two weeks ago we discussed the impact that Paul had, and what we can have today, when the gospel is shared. We saw that Paul was often rejected by those who he was witnessing to, but there were always those who came to know Christ simply by overhearing what Paul was saying. We recognized that when the gospel goes out, it does not return empty. “So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11. Today, I want to continue this line of discussion and recognize the importance it is to disciple other believers.
God’s word will never return empty, that is a stated fact. We leave new believers defenseless when we do not teach them after salvation the facts and doctrines that are the bed rock of Christianity. They will become open to false teachings simply because they do not know any better. If you have been a reader of Mill House Ministries for the last few years, I am sure that you are no longer a new believer, but I ask that you think back to those first few days, weeks, months, and years after you placed your faith in Jesus Christ. Did you have some ideas that did not fall in line with what the Bible teaches? And did someone come along beside you to help you understand more about your faith? That act is discipleship. And it is something that we are called to do.
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
“2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also”
2 Timothy 2:2
“We will not conceal them from their children,
But we will tell the generation to come the praises of the Lord,
And His power and His wondrous works that He has done.”
Psalm 78
These are just three verses that describe teaching the word to the next generation of believers, the act of discipleship. So we see that it is something that every believer is called to do, but why is it important? Well let us consider again the sequence of events in Acts 18:5-11; 24-28. Paul arrived in Corinth and staying with two believers, Aquila and his wife Priscilla. The Jews denied Paul’s attempts to share the gospel but he stayed in Corinth for a year and a half. During this time, Paul must have been teaching and encouraging Aquila and Priscilla. He was discipline them by training them to understand more of their faith. After Paul left Corinth, Aquila and Priscilla then came across a man named Apollos who was sharing the gospel but needed some correction. Through Paul’s discipleship of them, Aquila and Priscilla were able to come alongside Apollos and disciple him. Through their discipleship, Apollos was then able to refute the Jews in public and continue to spread the gospel.
Last week I ended with a call to not give up hope when you are sharing the gospel. This week I come to you with a challenge. I am sure we can all think back to someone in our life who has been instrumental in helping us grow in our faith, now is the time for us to pay it forward. We must continue to guide the new generation of believers so that they will be able to stand strong in their faith. This can only happen if those who have more knowledge of the scriptures come alongside them to teach them. I ask that you take a moment and pray, ask God to reveal if there is someone that you can help as a disciple and train them up. Pray that God continues to provide you with someone who can train you as well. Do not sit idly by with your knowledge of scripture, share it with those who need to learn.
Seek the truth and encourage one another,
Alex