The Christian Church: Clueless – Go Make Disciples – Modern Day Paul’s Potentials At Our Backyard – What should be done urgently? Discipling migrants – Part 4 of 12
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Subject – The Christian Church: Clueless – Go Make Disciples – Modern Day Paul’s Potentials At Our Backyard – What should be done urgently? Part 4 of 12
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Sunday, 9nd June 2019
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The Christian Church: Clueless – Go Make Disciples – Modern Day Paul’s Potentials At Our Backyard – What should be done urgently? Discipling migrants Part 4 of 12
NUGGETS OF WISDOM
“Look at our Lords disciples. One denied Him; one doubted Him; one betrayed Him. If our Lord couldn’t have perfection, how do you think you could in our disciple making journey?”
– Anonymous
“God has entrusted us with his most precious treasure – people. He asks us to shepherd and mold them into strong disciples, with brave faith and good character.”- John Ortberg
“Who discipled Paul the Apostle? The other disciples, The Holy Spirit or Some undocumented person? Check out Galatians 1:11-24 for answers.” – Monday Ogwuojo Ogbe
“If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves? Psalm 127:1-2
My Security, Your Security and Our Security as a People and a Nation is in God not in Guns, Government or Mammon, so fret not and relax through God and in God!” – Monday Ogwuojo Ogbe
Key verses for Today:
Matthew 28:18-20 Amplified Bible (AMP)
18 Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”
Galatians 1:11-24 – Paul Defends His Ministry
11 For I want you to know, [d]believers, that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel [it is not a human invention, patterned after any human concept]. 12 For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a [direct] revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 You have heard of my career and former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to hunt down and persecute the church of God extensively and [with fanatical zeal] tried [my best] to destroy it. 14 And [you have heard how] I surpassed many of my contemporaries among my countrymen in [my advanced study of the laws of] Judaism, as I was extremely loyal to the traditions of my ancestors. 15 But when God, who had chosen me and set me apart before I was born, and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles [as the good news—the way of salvation], I did not immediately consult with [e]anyone [for guidance regarding God’s call and His revelation to me]. 17 Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia and stayed awhile, and afterward returned once more to Damascus.
18 Then three years later I did go up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any other apostle except James, the [half] brother of the Lord. 20 (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you as if I were standing before God that I am not lying.) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown by sight to the churches which were in Christ in Judea (Jerusalem and the surrounding region); 23 they only kept hearing, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the [good news of the] faith which he once was trying to destroy.” 24 And they were glorifying God [as the Author and Source of what had taken place and all that had been accomplished] in me.
Introduction
Dear brethren, on our series on the Christian church – Go make disciples, Today, we are exploring the modern-day Paul’s potentials at our backyard. The world is witnessing invasions of peoples and cultures into Europe, Americas, Asia and Africa as a result of harsh economic realities, civil wars, terrorism and instabilities in certain parts of the world. In Nigeria for instance, The migration of northern tribes into the Christian South has created an ’emergency’ for the Church in the South. And from all indications, the Church is ill-prepared to handle effectively this sudden influx of tribes from “the ends of the earth” into her neighbourhood. Instead of seeing the migration of the northern tribes into her orbits as opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission without crossing borders, some are perceiving it as a threat to the Church.
How do we respond to them? What practical steps can we take to initiate the process of integration into the body of Christ before the devil finds idle hands to us against us? God is not and cannot be taken by surprises. If we key into His frequency, and we are ready, willing to listen and obey instructions speedily, I believe, the threat can be exchanged for opportunity to transform lives into Gods kingdom. Are we ready
Bro John Idoko of CAPRO has written a 410-page book – Scattered to be Gathered, ministry to migrants, is a well-documented, practical hands-on book to help churches and those who a really willing to make disciples from the sea of humanity at our backyard. It is not a theory but a practical book based on ongoing field experiences garnered over the years.
Let’s take a sneak pick at a section of the book Appropriate Ministry Model
The appropriate ministry model that will equip and
prepare congregations for a broad-spectrum outreach
among Muslims is the Hezekiah model of leadership. King Hezekiah and his people, Judah, were heavily besieged by
Sennacherib and the Assyrian army. In the same way, the
heavy influx of Muslims into the Christian South is a deliberate and calculated attempt of Islam to besiege the
Church and the Christian heritage.
In order to check-mate the siege. King Hezekiah went
into action by mobilizing his people to do the needful: they
blocked all springs and streams so that the Assyrians would
not find water to drink, repaired all broken sections
of the wall, and built new towers. Above all else, he invested
heavily in making large numbers of weapons and shields,
thereby equipping his army against the day of battle. While
doing that, he trusted in God and moved his people in that
same direction. (2 Chronicles 32:6-8)
Every pastor/church leader and the Church should
emulate Hezekiah’s wisdom and foresight by blocking every
loophole and weakness in the church that has made
Muslims to easily creep in to make converts out of the
church for Islam. Beside all that, members need to be fully
fortified against the rebranding of Islam in the Christian
South to make it attractive and appealing to Christians,
coupled with baits being dangled at them. They must be
armed with Muslim evangelism skills, with “weapons” of
offense and “shields” for defense in order to engage in the
battle for the souls of Muslims, the battle field being in the
market place. Equipping the saints for the all-important and
difficult ministry to Muslims should be the concern and
focus of any church and minister who understands the times
and what “Israel” should be doing.
The converse will hold if the Church takes it for granted
and refuses to prepare the saints for offense and defense. If
the church does not take the challenge of Islam seriously,
and refuses to prepare the saints for offense and defense,
the loss will be great. It will be that on the day of
battle, like it happened to King Saul, not a soldier had a sword
or spear in his hand with which to fight. (1 Samuel 13:6,19-
22) The situation of an ill-equipped church is becoming
critical now. Some ‘Israelites’ are beginning to hide in caves
and thickets, among rocks, pits and cisterns. Those who can
afford it are taking flights and crossing the Jordan to go
abroad to avoid the siege of Islam. It is all because the ‘King
Sauls’ (the leaders over the people) have been preoccupied
with other things, in disobedience, and have neglected to
prepare their members and followers against the day of
battle. The stuff they have been feeding their members with
is not the kind of stuff that could make them a match for
Muslims in the battle field in the market place. And so as
soon as their members confront Muslims, they easily give up
in confusion and discouragement.
Church leaders should equip and train their members to
reach their kinds. The “reach-your-kind” concept stipulates
that you become close friends with Muslims of yourstatus. It
requires bold love to allow yourself to be dependent,
vulnerable…and to expect that you may still be persecuted.
It means, for instance, Christian lecturers should
be equipped in Muslim evangelism skills to reach
their fellow Muslim lecturers and students, doctors
reaching doctors and patients, traders reaching traders,
students engaging students, businessmen transacting the
business of the kingdom with fellow businessmen in the
market place. Artisans equipped with the art of creative
evangelism should craft the gospel into the context of their
fellow Muslim artisans, and so on…
If church leaders will invest into all their members who
interact with Muslims in different walks of life, those
members will be engaging Muslims with their lives and the
witness of the gospel and drawingthem closerto Christ. This
will lead to multiplication effects in the outreach as many
more getto hearthegospel.
Making Contacts that Counts..with Muslims
Christians today are encountering Muslims in all walks of
life. Some study in the same school, college or university.
Others work side by side in offices or factories. I heard that
Dangote Group is driven by Christians. Some do national
services together like in the National Youth Service Corps
(NYSC), military, police. In many places, Christians and
Muslims live together as tenants in the same building and
neighborhood. Christian doctors and nurses and other
health professionals have Muslim patients. Some of us have
relatives and friends who are Muslims. We have a good head
start. Others have Muslims living nearthem with whom they
are not yet friends.
These Muslims speak different languages, and have
customs that differ from ours. After a training session in Port
Harcourt, a participant stood up to tell how his Oga (leader,
head) in the office went for pilgrimage in Mecca and brought
for him, as a gift, a cap which he was reluctant to wear. I
encouraged him to wear it, and make time out to visit him at
his home, particularly during one of the Eids. The Oga would
be very happy, and somehow, a good relationship would
ensue which, if managed well, could lead to the Oga hearing
the gospel.
Some Bishops and pastors have Muslims as their drivers
(that has its own inherent risk in ignorance), some churches
are guarded by Muslims, so also are estates, homes, schools,
and other Christian establishments. Shoe repairers/shiners
are circulating everywhere on the streets. They are hawking
food items on wheel barrows, roasting suya on campuses,
drinking joints, and major street corners, riding Keke all over
towns. We buy beef from them in markets, and goats, cows
from them to celebrate our parties and occasions.
People
everywhere are in one form or the other in contact with
Muslims. And so the remarkable opportunities before us at
this time to reach Muslims in our Christian environment are
innumerable. But it is one thing to be in contact with
Muslims, it is another thing to make the contacts count for
kingdom gains.
We need to study 1 Cor. 9:19 -23 in order to learn how
to share the gospel with them
Making Yourself a Slave to All…to Win As Many As
Possible
- It means to look for ways to help them, even if it
inconveniences us.
- Look for opportunities to help Muslims when they
are in need. Our love to them will open up contacts for
evangelism and discipling.
- We need to respect their customs or ways of doing
things as much as possible. That their customs differ
from ours doesn’t mean they are evil, unless such a
custom is clearly unbiblical.
- In sharing the gospel with Muslims, we should
become like Muslims and obey their cultural rules as
much as possible in order not to offend them
unnecessarily. This we do with a GOAL: to win them…
But for us to win some of them, we have to be
winsome.
- If Paul were alive today among Muslims, he would
become all things to them too. He would follow their
ways of doing things as much as possible so that he
could win as many as possible.
- We need to understand some of the cultural rules of
Muslims and see which ones are similar or different
from our own cultural rules
Some Muslim Rules…Our Responses
- They dress modestly, covering their arms and legs.
Women put a scarf over their heads, or wear the veil
when they go out, and men wear caps. This is biblical.
Christian women need to learn how to dress from
Muslim women. If going to heaven will be by
modesty in dressing only, almost all Muslim women
will be on the front row seats in heaven, and many
Christian women will be at the back side of heaven, if
theygetthere at all.
- They take off their shoes before entering into a
house, or a place of worship. They often sit on mats.
There is no sin in this as it is biblical. God commanded
Moses and Joshua to remove their shoes for standing
in holy places.
- They do not stand up when urinating, but always
squatdown. There is no sin in how one urinates for us
as Christians. So we shouldn’t have a problem with
this if it will help us to get close to them.
- They do not eat meat that has not been killed
properly. The animal must be killed with a certain
prayer and with cutting its throat. We all eat meats
killed by Muslims. It is a non-essential for us.
Besides, in the Old Testament, we are commanded
not to eat meat that is not properly killed.
- They never eat pork because to them pork is
haraam, or “unclean” meat. They eat only meat
that is halal or “clean”. In the Old Testament, pig
was one of the unclean animals. For their sake, we
should bearwith this, and put away pork in order to
make them feel free with us, and even eat our
foods. Your relationship with a Muslim, no matter
how good it has grown, can be permanently
damaged if he knows you eat pork; and he can even
kill you if you ever give him pork or pork-related
food unknowingly.
- The one walking by should greet someone sitting
down. That’s ok with us. Jesus commands us to
greetall.
- In Islam the right hand is usedfor “clean” purposes
like greeting, eating, and giving or receiving
something. The left hand is only for “unclean”
purposes. That is also biblical and even traditional
hygiene.
- Dogs are considered unclean and should not be
petted. Those who eat dogs will have to make a lot of
sacrifices here for the sake of those they need to win.
If keeping dogs or eating dog meat will be a stumbling
block to the salvation of those for whom Christ died,
we should have the courage, like Paul, to say we will
never eat meat again. In order to save souls, there are
a lotof sacrifices we have to make.
- Some Muslims consider it rude to sit cross-legged.
This is one of the several issues we consider as non-
essentials that Muslims are concerned about. But
even in some of our cultures, it is frowned upon as an
act of disrespect to sit cross-legged in front of parents,
chiefs and other dignitaries.
- Muslims give and receive hospitality. To refuse to
give or receive hospitality could be offensive. We are
commanded to be hospitable, although in practice,
Muslims are more hospitable in every sense than
many Christians.
- There is separation between the sexes. In general,
women interact mostly with women, and men
with men, except for close relatives. To be seen as being
free with the opposite sex, which many of us as
Christians have no decorum about, is considered a
sign of promiscuity. It is biblical that males and
females have healthy boundaries in relating with each
other.
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Conclusion and prayer.
In our Christian race, the call to discipleship or disciple making is the core of the matter. Everything else rises and falls to the level of our commitment to discipleship or disciple making. That is the last command to us by Christ Jesus and we must of necessity make it of utmost priority. The way to be committed to disciple making is to make one.
Thank you Lord for helping us to make disciples among the modern day Pauls potentials around us. Help us to be equipped to do the work of ministry to the migrants in Jesus name, Amen
Shalom!
Monday Ogwuojo Ogbe – E-discipleship @
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Originally posted on June 8, 2019 @ 11:25 pm
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