Growth Stages Of The
Disciple
Growth Stages of the Disciple is the first of a series that will be following on the blog. The fact that they will be interspersed with news on missions and our travels, each article will be numbered. This is the first of the series to follow.
Discipleship has been theme of our Thursday morning group
for this whole year. Therefore we
thought it was appropriate for us to give a review of what we have tried to
accomplish in our studies to all the Renegades of faith. For the next several articles you will see an
explanation of growth as the disciple progresses in his growth. In these articles you will find attempts to
explain what happens to an individual as he steps out in faith, and begins the
journey of living out this role as a disciple or follower of Christ. It will be broken down into several articles
that will define the follower as he passes through several stages of growth.
There are so many good books on this idea that it seems
almost futile to try to improve on any of them.
But the intent here is to try to focus as much as possible on what God
is doing in our midst, and in each of our lives individually, to see if we can
discover some growth procedures that would be beneficial to us all.
Although most if not all of the target audience for this
particular article are already living in and walking in fellowship with God we
want to begin with a pre-believer status, so one can follow each step along a
path toward total commitment.
Possibly this will touch a nerve with someone who has never
taken that step, and help him to understand how to take a leap of faith to
enter the kingdom. For others it may
help him to understand more clearly what has happened in his life, and still
for others, it may help them in learning to disciple new believers.
Realizing that not every individual will have reached a stage
in his life that he understands the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, we are
going to begin at that point. Since most
people in the society in which we live, has at least a clear understanding of a
loving God who seeks to bring all mankind into His presence, we will begin
right there. For this undertaking we
will begin with the individual who finds himself at a point just one step
before receiving Christ as his personal Savior.
We will illustrate what the journey might look like, as he
moves from a condition of hopelessness and despair, to a thriving spiritual
journey with Christ. To do so requires
that we move back to the simplest steps of faith and follow our Master’s
leading each step of the way.
For this writing and the ones
to follow we will see what is involved in the area of discipleship that moves
an individual from his present state or condition, into another stage of
spiritual growth. In the Christian world this is known as the process of
sanctification. This writer believes
that sanctification is a process, and not something that just happens in one
big event in a person’s life. It is a
growth process that begins at the moment of salvation, and continues all the
way through an individual’s life. So let
us begin this journey.
How can
I be sure that I am saved and on my way to heaven? How can I let go of
all doubts, including, does God really exist? How did I get here? Or
how do I know the
Bible
is the only true Word of God? And how can I know what it means, and how to interpret
it for my life, even if it is true?
The
answer to these questions is so hard and so far removed from me; yet, it is so
easy and so close to me. Let me be the first to admit I am not able to
answer these questions to the point of satisfaction for all people. I can only
answer them to my satisfaction, and to the degree that it has given me a deep
settled peace within.
The
starting point begins with one simple word, FAITH and me. What is
faith? The scripture teaches that “faith is being sure (evidence) of what
we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 we can’t
see faith, we can only hope for it. And for some reason, God gave me just
a small measure of grace, to take a leap of faith. Francis Schaeffer said,
“we must all take a leap of faith.”
But
wait, how do we know we can trust the scripture? We don’t, except for
that one small measure of faith. But that small measure allows us to know
it is God’s Word to us. Why? Because He said it. “In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John
1:1. So, if He is the Word, and if He exists, the Word must be true.
But
how can I believe God made me if I don’t know that He exists? Again, that
is how simple faith comes into play. If the Word says that God and the
Word are one in the same, then the Word must be true, if God is real, because
He says it is. And my little ounce of faith makes me believe in
God. I believe in God, because I exist, I am here. I Know I exist
because I think, I feel, I move and act. That I am here is a fact that I
would have little problem proving. And if I am here, someone had to put
me here. It is much easier to believe I am here by creation, than to
believe I came from a monkey. So, if something or someone made me, it
must have been a creator. That creator is God. He was, is, and
always will be is a fact I believe by that little grain of faith, even though I
can’t see or touch Him physically.
If
God does not give one enough grace to believe the premise that He exists, then
there is probably little chance of Him believing in the “things hoped” for, or
the evidence of “things not seen” which is to follow. But it is
impossible for me to believe this marvelous creation, in which we live is here
by accident. The earth, the sky the moon, stars, planets, trees, plant
life animals and all living beings, could not have come into being by an
explosion. There has to be a creator, and that is God.
If
one can accept God is, and that the Word exists, and is true, then it is much
easier to accept our responsibility from the Word. What then does the
Word say about eternal life, and how to find joy and peace in this world as we
wait for His coming?
There
is a special plan from the Word that we can follow. It begins, with God’s
invitation. Christ says, “Here I am. I stand at the door and
Knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and
eat with him and he with me”.
Rev.3:
20. That is an open invitation for all men of all ages. He is
standing at our hearts door, knocking, calling, and pleading to be let in.
If
that is true, and it is true, how can I open the door? How can I accept
His invitation? First of all, I must be ready. I must be prepared
to open the door when I hear Him knock. But how can I be prepared and ready for
Him? I must admit that I am lost, that I am in despair, and without
hope. Remember that Faith is something we hope for. I must be aware
that I am a sinner, and doomed, unless, God does exist, and His grace can save
me. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23 “There is no one who does good, not even one” Romans 3:12, and the
way of peace, they do not know. Rom. 3:17. And what will be the
punishment, or the wages of that sin? “The wages of sin is death, but the
gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23 someone has
to pay the debts of our sin. If these debts are left unpaid, we face
eternal death. But He doesn’t stop there. Those wages have already
been paid by his death on the cross. He says, “The gift that he freely
gives us is eternal life” This is not something we have to pay for or work
for. This is a free gift from God’s son, directly to us. He then goes on
to show exactly how to open the door.
“That
if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that
God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with the
heart, you believe, and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you
confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9,10 “For everyone
who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Rom: 10:13.
So to
sum it all up, I first have to take a leap of faith to believe God exists, and
that I am without hope if He is not with me. “For all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God. All includes me. If this is true, and it
is true, someone has to pay. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift is
eternal life. When I realize that, I take another leap of faith, to open
my heart to Him. I must open my door, and permit him to come in.
Behold I stand at the door and knock. if
any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in. Revelation
3:20. When I do that, I become a born again believer and the Holy Spirit
comes to dwell within me. I am saved. Now that is not to say I will
be perfect, I only begin a growth process that will last, until I come into His
presence at death. I will fall. I will sin. But when I do, I must
get up, dust myself off and get ready to fall again. From here it is one
day at a time, one step at a time until I see Him face to face. (To be continued.)
Dock Caton 10/07/12
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