TARGETED

“I will bring honor to your name in every generation. Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭45:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Traveling

Across

Racial

Generational

Emotional 

Traps

Energizes

Discipleship 

    Discipleship and life can and does deal us more than a few devastating blows. Still we are called to “make disciples.” Following Jesus is a journey that demands our willingness to go into new places to share God’s grace, mercy and love. At the same time we are being required to honestly share His warning against wickedness and expectations of holiness.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:18-20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

    Journeys make traveling necessary. Going, sending, leading are all verbs used in the Bible to describe our response to God’s plan. Every nation, every generation, and every circumstance can become a minefield of emotional traps, but the presence and power of the Holy Spirit energizes our efforts in making disciples.

“Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭25:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    The power is real and it serves a single purpose. Allowing us to become the children of God. As His children, we become witnesses telling the world the reality of God’s many benefits.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” ‭‭John‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

    Once we are children of God, we have access to gifts that flow from the Holy Spirit. These gifts help us spread the message of salvation while encouraging and strengthening the church. The power and presence of the Holy Spirit in us brings benefits and blessings to all.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”” ‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    Discipleship is more than welcoming individuals into the family of faith and leaving them to sink or swim on their own. It is the ministry of reconciliation and education. Discovering the path that leads to life everlasting is not an individual activity. It is strengthened by teamwork.

“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:18-19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    Leadership and congregational preparation set the tone and scope of spiritual growth, but the health of the church and relevance of evangelistic efforts can only produce spiritual fruitfulness through the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Outreach may draw people from every ethnicity and age group, but only the Holy Spirit can transform lives.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:11-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

    Targeted discipleship is intentional and active. Planned, organized and presented training offered through the love of God will produce spiritual fruit. The Holy Spirit will draw multi-generational people from multi-racial backgrounds to build His Temple. 

“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    Step out in faith. Allow God to inspire each of us. He has promised to build His church.