Chapter 21

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
(Hebrews 11:6)

Korea became God’s training ground for deepening my faith. He used this place to establish a foundation of trust that guided me through some pretty rough waters to come. Faith School was in session and one of my first textbooks was a biography about Hudson Taylor, a missionary to China. H.T. lived his life in strict dependence on God and the Lord used him mightily. I was impressed and I wanted to live my life like H.T. He placed himself in circumstances that put him on the edge for the benefit of the Kingdom of God. He hung everything on the prospect that God would always come through. I wanted to follow his example, but how? I was a soldier, not a missionary.

It all started when I was witnessing to a young soldier in the snack bar. I invited him to go with me to help some missionaries in Seoul. I told him I had no earthly idea how to get to these people’s apartment but I had been there once. I didn’t know what bus to take. He looked a bit puzzled until I told him my plan. It was simple: Go to the bus stop, jump on the first bus, and trust God to get us to our destination. Now getting on a bus in a small town and going along for a ride is no problem. But, this city was gigantic and they probably had a 1000+ buses floating all over this sprawling metropolis. His facial expressions said it all, “I’m hanging out with a crazy guy.” We crammed into the first bus and headed into a city of 4 million people. After a 20-minute ride, I saw a familiar building and we jumped off at exactly the right place. I was a little amazed but my buddy was even more impressed with this minor miracle. A greater miracle happened later that afternoon when my traveling companion received Christ as his personal Savior. Lesson number one in developing deeper faith.

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© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved

For they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened. (Mark 6:52)

His complaint was justified. I had done it again. It was the oldest leadership blunder in the book: telling the subordinate of another to do something without first checking with his leader. And this wasn’t the first time I made this rookie mistake. When will I learn?!

Ever feel this way spiritually? You keep making the same mistakes, committing the same sins, over and over again. It just seems like you haven’t learned that crucial lesson. Here are some tips for getting off the spiritual merry-go-round:

– Think before you act
– Pray before you act
– Memorize key Scripture on the issue
– Remind yourself of the pain of the last mistake
– Ask a friend to check up on you
– Recognize the settings for failure and avoid them
– If you fail, confess it and ask for forgiveness

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© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved

And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits (Mark 6:7)

I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. (3 John 1:4)

“This is Rob. He just came to Christ two weeks ago.” Charlie, whom I just baptized in chapel service an hour before, introduced him with a big smile. “Really Rob, that’s great! So what has Jesus been doing in your life since then?” I asked. “Oh, I’m going to start reading my Bible to learn more about Him. They told me to start reading the Gospel of Mark.” Charlie and Rob sat down for lunch and I watched them discuss the Wheel Illustration from a couple of tables away. Now that’s pretty cool, but what’s even more exciting is the fact I had been gone from the ministry for 60 days. And Rob’s coming to Christ was a result of 3 generations of men who were in a chain of disciples teaching one another about Jesus. I had become a spiritual great grandpa again. I wholeheartedly agree with the Apostle John, “There is no greater joy!”

Our Calling: To advance the gospel of Jesus and His Kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of laborers living and discipling among the lost

For I will pour out water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants (Isaiah 44:3)

I have been discipling men for 30 years. They are literally all over the planet. But it doesn’t matter how many, what I taught, how hard I worked, unless God pours out His Spirit and blesses them, they are dead in the water. It’s amazing how much credit we take in the helping men become like Christ. If the truth be told, we are the ones being discipled. Oh, the mistakes I’ve made. Some of the boneheaded things I’ve said and done in the name of God would make you cringe. And yet, by His grace and His Spirit, these men and women become stalwart apprentices of Jesus. They are willing to forsake family, jobs, property, and even their very lives for Him. I’m a good discipler but not that good.

Even Jesus recognized the Father was the Provider of spiritual transformation through the Holy Spirit. This should underscore our need as disciplers to pray. If we are not praying for the people we disciple on a daily basis, we are in danger of the sin of presumption.

Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:28)

I have known no greater burden than to have the responsibility for the welfare of a group of men. Suddenly I had become the designated steward of all that happens in them, to them, and for them. This is an especially heavy burden when I consistently placing their lives in harm’s way to accomplish the mission.

Leading a ministry is no less burdensome. In fact the stakes are much higher. The care for these sheep of God runs deeper. The consequences for failure are far greater. But the rewards for shepherding the flock of Jesus are immeasurable. Ministry is not a hobby. As my good Bible College prof use to say, “A brain surgeon messes with men’s brains. But you men are messing with men’s souls. Be careful how you mess.” (1 Pet 5.1-4)

Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19)

“We’ve always done it that way” or “We’ve never done it like that before” are usually statements of death. Nay sayers would have you think change or creativity is a bad thing. And generally, it’s the ‘old folks’ throwing a wet blanket on new ideas. There certainly are principles that should never be violated, but I’ve found it’s our methods or techniques that we hang onto as though they are gospel. Young leaders need elbow room to develop. They need to experience their own successes and failures. It may get a little messy (Prov 14.4) but that’s when the lessons really stick.

Jesus never changes in His character (Heb 13.8), but He orchestrates change all around Him. He changes us into His likeness as we commit ourselves to following Him (Rom 8.29). He changes the seasons of our lives and the circumstance that surround us. We are in a constant state of change. Change is good, embrace it.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

In our culture it’s the bad news that travels fastest. Our consumer based entertainment is more than ample proof of that. When you think about it, CNN, FOXNEWS and others would have to leave the air if it weren’t for our appetite for bad news. Is it any wonder that we have a tough time proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ? Is it any wonder that the cross is readily seen around people’s neck but the resurrection life is conspicuously missing? Received or not, the gospel is still to be proclaimed in the nations. And as much as this world enjoys hearing bad news, the good news still has its wonderful impact on many.

Have a Blessed Easter and tell others about His love for the world.

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© 2008, 2009 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved

And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” (Matthew 27:25)

I had his blood all over me. A young Kuwaiti shepherd boy had picked up a dud grenade and mangled his hand. The medics and I were working feverously to stop the bleeding. In retrospect, I should have been more concerned about the effects of being exposed to another’s blood but we were trying to save him.

The blood of another man is upon me. Ironically, I wasn’t trying to save Him; He was trying to save me. He didn’t want to be rescued or cured of His bleeding. His blood would satisfy the wrath that was meant for me. The Lord Jesus Christ bled and died for mankind. He covers us with His blood in order to protect us from ourselves and the just punishment of God for our sins. And now I praise Him and pray, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” (Mt 26.28, Rom 5.9, Eph 1.7, Heb 9-10)