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Testimony of Discipling [message #10438]

Fri, 29 November 2013 06:22

Marilyn Crow
Messages: 598
Registered: September 2013
Location: Australia

Senior Member

I thought I would start this topic by sharing some of my journey with the Lord in discipling others. Back in the `70`s & `80`s we would invite people to a meeting & many came to know the Lord. Then they would be taken through a booklet something like, `First steps for Christians,` or taken to Bible classes. It was all centred in the organisation & rather regimented.

Over time as I began reading different books on the Christian walk, - two in particular had a profound impact on me in relation to discipling - `Chasing the Dragon, by Jackie Pulinger,` & `The lost Art of Discipling.` I met Jackie while I was in Bible College in NZ & she was speaking at a meeting. In her book she wrote about how the Lord led her to the walled city in Hong Kong & how over many years God showed her how to care & reach the lost there. One person effecting so many.

Then in the `Lost Art of Discipling,` the writer laid out the process of helping a convert through the various stages of Christian growth till they reached maturity & then be able to help others. The key I realised was one person by the Holy Spirit effecting just a few, but (& this is where organisations miss it) keeping with these few till they are mature & helping them to reach out to others. It takes persistence & willingness to change & grow in yourself by the Holy Spirit, to have children, physical & spiritual.

Thus in the `90`s I was ready to launch out in the Lord, trusting that He would bring the different ones He chose for me to nurture, care, encourage & teach. And God did send people, person by person & each of these initial ones are now peers with me & each have their relationships that they are nurturing from people who receive of them.

I could tell you each of these people & who they are reaching, & even some of their disciples who are now reaching out to others. It is not organised by man, but initiated by the Holy Spirit. It is not through formal meetings but in everyday life. I don`t control this but look on in joy at those initial ones, who now understand how God works in people`s lives & are there working alongside their few, going deep & not trying to personally save the world.

Going deep means, time, energy, waiting of God for discernment, words of wisdom, encouragement; it is going out everyday with Godly intent that we carry His life, His words, thoughts & actions of life to others. The focus is expecting to give of our precious treasure within, a bit at a time. The first ones tell me it is such a relief not to have to `save someone,` (as if any of us can save ourselves, let alone someone else) & the pressure of having to give a `gospel message,` all the time, has been lifted. Working with the Holy Spirit in people`s daily lives is being that servant & seeing what the other person needs, not trying to force feed the whole (gospel) answer.

That is just a summary – the `How to,` is a large learning curve, especially for me as I`m an organiser. But it`s not for me to organise the Holy Spirit – huge lessons!!!!!!
From even the little I have read of your lives I do believe you are discipling others, but you just have the wrong definition & expectation of it. I`m sure as God opens up this great topic we`ll begin to see clearer of what He is doing, not only in our own lives but also in the lives of others around us.

Blessings Marilyn.

Marilyn C

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