Author: Chuck & Deb

Chuck & Deb love Jesus!

Knowledge is not Enough

Read Mk 1.21-28, Lk 4.31b-37

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are–the Holy One of God!”
(Luke 4:33-34)

The demons acknowledge Jesus on every level. They recognize Him as Lord having the power to command them and punish them. They call Him by His personal name, Jesus of Nazareth, acknowledging both His humanity and His fulfillment of scripture. (Mt 2.23) Finally, they say that they “know” He is the Holy One of God, the coming Messiah (the Christ) acknowledging His deity.

The demons knew Jesus better than most Christians. But the Disciples of Jesus possess more than knowledge, they have embraced Him as their way of life. They are adherents in faith and practice. Jesus has changed not only their intellect, but their actions. A disciple is being transformed by the same knowledge that the demons had. The demons, on the other hand, are doomed not because of their lack of knowledge but because of their rebellion against the King of kings. (Jam 2.19) As Disciplemakers we must discern that knowledge without action falls far short of Jesus’ intent for our lives. (Lk 6.46-49) Everything we encourage a young disciple to know about Jesus should have its ultimate end in a changed life. Being and doing can never be separated from truly knowing Him. (2 Cor 13.5) FJ51

For questions or comments drop me a line at charleswood1@gmail.com

Authority: Confidence in the Father

Read Mk 1.21-28, Lk 4.31b-37

They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
(Mark 1:22)
They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
(Mark 1:27)

A new teacher had come on the scene. He was one who commanded the crowds with a message that went beyond the power of words. His confidence in speech and actions drew a distinct contrast between Him and all other teachers of the day. This Teacher taught with authority. And from this authority alone they should have recognized Jesus as the Messiah.

I believe Jesus’ authority came from His confidence in three areas; Confidence in the Father, Confidence in the Word of God, and Confidence in the Work of God.

He was confident in the Father and His relationship with Him. (Jn 10.15) Every part of Jesus’ life was governed by His relationship with the Father. Ultimately, everything Jesus says or does springs out of His supreme loyalty to the Father and His assurance in who the Father is. Because he was confident in the Father’s identity, He was certain of His own identity. (Jn 8.14-16)

Jesus placed extraordinary confidence in the Word of God. (Mt 4.4) It was God’s Word that sent Him, motivated Him and ultimately put Him on a cross. Jesus never uttered one word that did not first pass the scrutiny of the Father. His words were the Father’s words. He had authority because He was confident He was speaking the very Word of God. (Jn 12.49-50)

And lastly, Jesus had complete confidence in the Work of God. (Mt 26.39) Jesus was in perfect synchronization with the will and work of the Father. The Father’s work was His work. (Jn 5.36)

Do you want to have authority in your ministry? Would you like to have the influence to change people’s lives into exactly what the Father desires? There is no authority but God’s authority. If we are to minister deeply in people’s lives we must be completely confident in our relationship with the Father, the Father’s words and the Father’s work. As we align our lives with the life of Jesus, we align our lives with the Father. That is the way to make disciples with authority. FJ50

For questions or comments drop me a line at charleswood1@gmail.com

Seeing Jesus Clearly

Read Mt 4.18-22, Mk 1.16-20, Lk 5.1-11

But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken;
(Luke 5:8-9)

When Peter was confronted with Jesus’ miraculous powers, he not only discovers the Messiah but his own identity is revealed as well. “I am a sinful man!” Peter’s immediate response is that of a man who understands he is standing in the presence of absolute holiness. He responds like Isaiah when he is brought into the presence of God and is overwhelmed at His holiness. (Isa 6.1-5)

When a man looks at the Sun he may initially take it for granted and go about his life totally ignorant of its significance. But when the same man is educated on its enormity, energy potential and its role in his existence, the man comes to grips with his minuscule place in the solar system. The more he learns, the more he is awe struck by every aspect of the Sun. That’s our objective in helping people see Christ. When we are correctly introduced to Jesus, the disparity between our depravity and His absolute holiness is painfully obvious. Most men are very aware of their short-comings. The challenge is getting them to see Jesus for who He really is and to repent in light of His character. I see three distinct tools in our kit bag as disciplers in order to help others see Him for who He really is. First is prayer and enlisting the Holy Spirit’s help in opening spiritual eyes and ears. (Eph 3.14-19) Secondly, the Word of God will display Jesus Christ in the most vivid and complete manner. (Heb 4.12) And lastly, our example of loving like Him is a compelling representation His love for them. (Jn 13.34-35) FJ49

For questions or comments drop me a line at charleswood1@gmail.com

Immediate Adherence

Read Mt 4.18-22, Mk 1.16-20, Lk 5.1-11

Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
(Matthew 4:20)
Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
(Mark 1:18)
When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.
(Luke 5:11)

All three synoptic gospels describe the disciples’ response to His call to follow as immediate and complete. We know from the first chapter of John that Jesus had met them prior to this event and had some relationship with them. But on this day, there was a line of debarkation that Jesus asked these men to cross and they did without hesitation. He had apparently proven Himself worthy and the men saw following Him as their greatest priority.

This is the exact process we are trying to help men and women experience. We introduce them to Jesus, revealing Him through the scripture and our love. Our objective is to help them see Jesus as clearly as possible in order to give them sufficient data and experience to see that He is worthy of following. Sometimes I can do this in one sitting. With others, it may take years. But there comes a point in time where Jesus asks them to make a commitment beyond just investigation. He bids them to leave everything (in principle) and follow Him. A true disciple’s response at this point is unconditional and immediate adherence. The “come and see” phase is over and the “come and follow” has begun. Part of our task in making disciples is to be sensitive to these stages and addressing each with appropriate grace and truth. Sometimes men need more time to consider. Other times they need to be challenged. This takes skill in the disciplemaking process and is usually learned through experience. So be a good studier of people. Be patient and intentional. Help them make the transitions to deeper levels of intimacy and commitment to Christ. FJ48

For questions or comments drop me a line at charleswood1@gmail.com

The Benning Crew at the Fall Conference at Ft Bluff, TN

Following Jesus Equals Ministry

And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)

The natural outcome of following Jesus is that these disciples would become fishers of men. They would see how Jesus brought people to the Father and they would learn to do the same. The Master trained men this way. He turned fish into fishermen, sheep into shepherds, and people into priests.

How can a person be a follower of Jesus Christ and not give his life to impacting other people for the Kingdom of God? It is impossible! If a person has dedicated his or her life to becoming like Jesus they will be swept into the currents of compassion for the weak and the lost. Jesus was compelled to reveal the Father to the people. He modeled not only His feelings but His actions to save them. How is it that in modern American Christianity this privilege of loving people into the Kingdom has been relegated to the professional? It is a sign that people really are not following Jesus. He never intended His true disciples to sit idle enjoying His lavish love while watching the rest of humanity to slip into Hell. Are we the ones who call ourselves “followers of Christ?” The proof is not in our morality, it’s in our ministry. FJ47

For questions or comments drop me a line at charleswood1@gmail.com

Intentionality in Ministry

And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)

Jesus had a plan for these men’s lives. The result of following His example would be that they would become like Him in bringing people to the Father. But He would make them fishers of men. He would practice the art of intentional disciplemaking.

As Jesus set out to “make” these young disciples ‘fishers of men” we see that He had a plan, a recipe. Just as a woman would put ingredients together and bake a cake, so Jesus would bring the principles of spiritual living together and bake them into the character of these men. I’ve heard it said that having an agenda or program in discipleship is wrong. My friends disciples do not just happen, they are made. Certainly, methods and tools can be abused but it is just as certain that Jesus knew exactly what He was doing. We are actually commanded to be intentional in ministry as Jesus was. As He “made” disciples, we are commanded to “make” disciples in the Great Commission. (Mt 28.18-20) A key verse that commands us to fellowship with one another gives us the objective of “spurring one another on to love and good deeds.” (Heb 10.24-25) This same verse begins with “let us consider.” In other words before we meet in fellowship we supposed to “think” about how we are going to spur one another on. We are to have a premeditated plan to facilitate disciplemaking. It’s being intentional about helping men and women become lovers of people just like Jesus. FJ46

For questions or comments drop me a line at charleswood1@gmail.com

Discipleship – Becoming like Jesus

Read Mt 4.18-22, Mk 1.16-20, Lk 5.1-11

And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
(Matthew 4:19)

Jesus calls His disciples to follow Him. He doesn’t mean this strictly as a mode of travel from point A to point B. This kind of following has the idea of observing and then imitating an action. Jesus is calling His disciples to watch Him and then imitate His life. He is our model.

All those who profess Jesus as Lord have one objective; to become like Him. In doing so we will glorify God. It is the easiest way to explain what it means to be a Christian. Following Jesus. “The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” (1 John 2:6) This is also where we obtain our guidance for disciplemaking. It’s not really about getting people to do spiritual things like reading the scriptures, praying, or even practicing grace. I could have all these things and miss the One most important. (Jn 14.6) The Pharisees had become experts in spirituality and completely missed the way to the Father (Jn 5.39, Mt 6.5, Mt 23.15) Our job as disciplers is to continually point people to Jesus Christ. Initially they will watch our example and we explain that we are following the model Jesus set for us (1 Cor 11.1). Ultimately, we want to wean a person off of us and primarily to Christ. That is why it’s important for the disciples to personally get into the Word to see Jesus. That is why the young disciple needs to pray for themselves in order to personally relate to the Father the way Jesus did. Every spiritual discipline, every action, every thought revolves around the one goal of becoming like Him. (Col 1.28,Gal 4.19) At the end of the day I must ask this question; “Are the men and women I disciple becoming more like Jesus?” FJ45

For questions or comments drop me a line at charleswood1@gmail.com

Looking for Leaders

Read Mt 4.18-22, Mk 1.16-20, Lk 5.1-11

Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
(Matthew 4:18-19)

We know from the Gospel of John chapter 1 that Jesus already knew these two brothers. Andrew was introduced to Jesus by John the Baptist. And in turn Andrew introduces his brother Peter to Jesus. These early relationships would be crucial on three separate occasions. This was the first. A formal call to follow the rabbi.

You never know where a relationship will end up. Some are casual and remain so. Others may change the world. As we are ministering to people our objective is help them grow in their relationship with Christ. But some people will be future leaders for the Kingdom. There is a big difference between laborers and leaders. Laborers are in the business of helping people the way Jesus did and leaders are in the business of training laborers the way Jesus did. If you are not looking for potential leaders as a disciplemaker you will ultimately run out of resources and will be constrained to a ministry of addition. The chances of the ministry living beyond your generation are slim. Leaders, not only multiply laborers but future generations of leaders. As you are involved in helping people, keep your eyes open for those who are willing and able to lead. Give them special attention in their development and multiply yourself for the next generation. As you labor keep looking for leaders. If you want to be a leader in the Kingdom, get trained by someone you know is able to produce laborers and leaders for Christ. (Heb 13.7)

For questions or comments drop me a line at charleswood1@gmail.com