GROWTH STAGES OF THE DISCIPLE #4
(The Personal Evangelist)
For our past three
articles, we have been discussing the growth process of the believer. We have done so by illustrating what might
appear to be the opposite of growth. That is, we are talking about losing
weight, or reducing. We are using the
analogy of one who will be running in an important race and is preparing to
lose a lot of extra pounds. For our purpose this weight loss is the equivalent
of spiritual growth. In this process we are using a series of five circles
decreasing in size. At the last writing our new disciple finds himself
blossoming in the third ring.
Going all the way back to
the first writing, you may remember that the first circle means one has taken
the leap of faith to receive Christ as his personal savior and has accepted the
challenge to pray and read the Word.
Having taken that leap, he has started the growth process. In that first circle, he loses a lot of weight,
and follows through in the reduction process by ridding himself of sin.
“Let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which does so easily ensnare us, and let us run with patience the
race that is set before us.” Heb. 12:1b
The new believer continues to
reduce by moving into the second circle, where he becomes the bridge builder
evangelist. In that sphere, he begins to
understand what evangelism is all about by building relationships. Because he has been praying and reading the
Word, he continues to follow the example of the blind man of John Chapter nine.
By living out the example of the
man who was blind from birth, he now sees many people following Christ. He discovers that witnessing and sharing his life story
are getting easier.
He may have already taken,
or is about to take the step of faith in baptism. He may be beginning to
understand the importance of tithing and giving back to the Lord. He may be committed to practicing faithful
attendance in Worship services. As
important as all of these things may be, that is not what brings about
salvation. At this point some will begin
to feel that this whole spiritual walk is about a life of being good and
following a set of rules. Another
reaction is that sometimes at this point in the process, some become tired, or
discouraged and they turn back on their commitment.
But we are going to assume that
one has kept on running, and is reaping spiritual blessings by keeping in the
race.
With the understanding of
bridge-building skills, he may be seeing his friends and loved ones being
introduced to Christ. That good feeling
of seeing souls won begins to work on him.
He becomes burdened for the lost and wants to share his faith in a
greater way.
He continues praying,
reading and studying the word and has
been putting a cadre of verses into his mental bank. These verses begin to come alive. He places in his arsenal a group of verses
that have become known as the Roman Road, because each verse is taken from the book of
Romans. He remembered these were the
same ones he used when he took that leap of faith to begin this pilgrimage. So once again he studies through those same
scriptures and all of a sudden a light comes on. He realizes how easy it is to put this plan
into action. He knows by memory, Romans
3:23; 6:23 and 10:9-13. He finds
opportunity to share these verses any time he can with friends and
acquaintances, and before long, he no longer needs to be a bridge builder. He is now capable of doing the work of an
evangelist for himself. He no longer
needs anyone to help him build that bridge, because he has been successful in
leading someone to Christ on His own.
This makes him ready to
move into the third circle; that of the Personal Evangelist. This is a circle
of about 34 to 38 inches in circumference, perhaps the size of belt the well-trained
runner might wear.
He now appears to be
growing and advancing very quickly, and feels confident in his growth. But often it is about this time that some
begin to falter and sometimes there is no explanation. Suffice it to say that because he is doing
everything he can to grow and prosper spiritually, he has caused pain and
misery to his adversary, the great deceiver.
Satan is not a happy camper
when he sees spiritual growth. He will
do all in his power to hinder ones progress.
He works overtime at trying to stir up doubt and confusion, sickness,
deaths, divorces, lawsuits; and on and on it goes.
He sticks his ugly face
right in the middle of everything one tries to do to help advance the
kingdom. This is real spiritual warfare,
and it is where the rubber meets the road in ones spiritual life and
growth. Because the believer is now
living in victory, Satan is so angry that he can’t sit still. He pulls out all
the plugs to keep one from following in the Master’s steps. To be continued.
Dock Caton 12/28/12
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