Disciples or Just Believers?

"Today most Christians in China's house churches are fully committed disciples of Jesus Christ. Every Christian is a soul-winner; every believer is involved in fulfilling the Great Commission. The work of the church is not done by a few 'qualified' individuals but by millions of passionate farmers, office workers, and salesmen and women all over the nation. Some of the greatest evangelists are teenagers who have been called by God to travel from village to village sharing the good news..."True disciples are usually people that few understand. They are viewed as potentially unstable fanatics. Often the same governments that tolerate the existence of mere believers will stop at no ends to completely eradicate any disciples within their borders."Believers try to follow God, but their prayers and commitment are clouded by indecisiveness. Their prayers go like this: "Oh Lord, I am so weak. Please send your power. I am weighed down with sin. Please come and relieve me." If they ever hear the King's call to go somewhere and do something for the sake of the kingdom, they feel they need extra encouragement before they can safely step out: "First let me check with my wife, my pastor, my boss, and my mother-in-law to see if it's OK with them.""A believer always seeks assurances that nothing will go wrong if they step out for Jesus. Only when they are convinced that the coast is clear and no harm will befall them are they willing to take their first step!"Disciples have a different attutude. In China many disciples beg God to give them just a little of his dynamite power. They pray, "Oh God, if you will lend me just a little spiritual dynamite, I promise I will take it to the darkest area I can find, place it there, and pray you will send your fire from heaven to explode it.""God always does."This is how the Gospel has spread so quickly in China."--Chinese house church leaders Back to Jerusalem movement

Dear Mrs. Fred,May I ask for the exact source from where this quote is taken?Lars

lwpray wrote:Dear Mrs. Fred,May I ask for the exact source from where this quote is taken?LarsCertainly. From the book "Back to Jerusalem: Three Chinese House Church Leaders Share Their Vision to Complete the Great Commission" by Paul Hattaway.Back to JerusalemAsia HarvestAmazon.com

Thank you...I have not been able to secure a copy yet.We met Brother Yun some time ago during his visit to Sweden.Amazing testimony.Amazing exploits.Lars

We go to the Holy Spirit, and God's word. True obedience to God will bring purification and hardship. It's all worth it though. You do not have to go to a third world country to get purification and hardship. God will bring the fire to burn the chaff and water to cleanse if you let Him. Some of the things in the New Testament are not easy, do what Jesus says to do and copy Jesus (1 John 2:6). Start speaking out about sin, teach sinners what sin is, like lying, stealing, adultery, lust, covetousness, idolatery, magic, tell sinners these things are evil to God, tell them to repent and that Jesus paid the price for all these sins, and to repent before the Day of Judgment, when God will punish all sins and those who have not been forgiven through Jesus Christ (the only One righteous and offers forgiveness of sin). Many wicked all around will not like it and will persecute you, even if it's just emotionally or verbally. This persecution is just for a short time, even if we die, God is working all things for the good of His children.

God will bring the fire to burn the chaff and water to cleanse if you let Him. Some of the things in the New Testament are not easy, do what Jesus says to do and copy Jesus (1 John 2:6). Start speaking out about sin, teach sinners what sin is, like lying, stealing, adultery, lust, covetousness, idolatery, magic, tell sinners these things are evil to God, tell them to repent and that Jesus paid the price for all these sins, and to repent before the Day of Judgment, when God will punish all sins and those who have not been forgiven through Jesus Christ (the only One righteous and offers forgiveness of sin). Many wicked all around will not like it and will persecute you, even if it's just emotionally or verbally.How true this is. I actually wondered as I read this thread if we will soon see great persecution in our country.Then I looked at the above quote and thought, "Not as long as we keep doing what were doing." We don't take a stand for Christ and His righteousness- we won't suffer for Him. If we would stand up right now and boldly proclaim genuine righteousness in our lands there would be persecution to the speaker. For now we are tolerable to the world. We keep the Gospel indoors and our faith to ourselves. God help us! God make us genuine disciples of Christ!

Hello Sister Hanna!I hope you've joined SI's new Sialkot Prayer Initiative! We CAN start somewhere, even if it's just cyberspace.I feel the frustration you are expressing, to the core of my soul. I prayed 'Lord, You built Your church on men filled with the Holy Spirit. That is Your heart and the way You work. Please show me some men like that, I beg of You. I'm doubting there is anything like what You say Your church is, anywhere on this earth.' One evening I'm reading 'Back to Jerusalem', and the Lord points up in my mind that 'Here, daughter, are such men as you've prayed to see'. I cried for a long time in great happiness.I don't know if there's anything in North America that will achieve what you're looking for. Become willing and able to travel overseas. The perspective is so radically different, it's life-changing. We westerners cannot understand it without seeing it. I'm determined to do this, too. Denny Kenaston, and many others, send their children to Africa in their mid-teens. Charity has training programs and knows of many more.Fast and pray, like you never have before. Follow every rabbit trail that looks promising. Do what all others have historically done: Find avenues of outreach where you are. Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael, Corrie Ten Boom, all the spiritual giants of history, began in their own backyards, witnessing to their neighbors, local slums, the neediest groups in their area. The desire to get intense spiritual training is an awesome call, Hanna!! It is from the Lord and so He must answer you!!Mrs. Fred

Brother Lars:There is a Back To Jerusalem office in Sweden. Perhaps they can get you Brother Yun's book. Their mailing address: Box 2851, 187 28 Täby, SWEDEN Mrs. Fred

Thank you, Mrs. Fred, I noticed the address yesterday when I took another look at the web site of ”Back to Jerusalem”.

Thanks for sharing, I just ordered for my copy.In ChristJeff