TEACHING

Don Atkin

THE UNIVERSAL COMMISSION: MAKE DISCIPLES!

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 of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. - Matthew 28:18-20.

Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs (EVIDENCE) will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. - Mark 16:15-18.

The above words of Jesus should make it abundantly clear that the gospel of the kingdom is for every creature in all the nations, and everyone who responds in faith and obedience is to be discipled to live a supernatural and fruitful life.

We are to reject any notion that there are two levels of Christianity, such as clergy and laity, full time workers and regular members, etc. I apologize on behalf of western missionaries who have injected such heresy into the culture of Third World nations. It is time to get it right ~ biblically right!

For example, we found in some parts of India that those who are "called to the ministry" must obey the mandates given to the rich young ruler, "Sell all that you have, give it to the poor, take up your cross, and follow Me!" The fruit is an impoverished "clergy" class (examples for the flock?) who are continually asking for a fish.

It doesn’t take much "rightly dividing" of Scripture to realize that this was not a universal command. Yet, the most serious result of perpetuating this heresy is the negating of Jesus’ universal commission to make every creature in all the nations His disciple.

The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Unfortunately, today the church acknowledges two "brands" of believers ~ those who are disciples, and those who are just Christians. Sorry! Jesus says,

Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name." And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice lawlessness." - Matthew 7:21-23.

Everyone is called to be a disciple, because everyone has spiritual gifts for the common good of the body. Everyone has a work prepared especially for him/her to do. Everyone must be equipped for the work of the ministry, because everyone is called to share in the ministry. The maturing process is identified in Ephesians 4:11-16. The cost of discipleship is briefly outlined in the following verses, - Luke 14:26,27,33:

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Whoever responds in faith and obedience to the gospel of the kingdom is called to discipleship. Yes, there is a forsaking of all, including priorities on family. There is an embracing of the cross in daily self denial that releases the life of Christ within us (the hope of glory).

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. - Galatians 2:20.

The heresy comes when we apply the cost of discipleship to a select group of special believers, and allow for others to bask in a false sense of security, that they may be "saved and going to heaven" without being disciples. THERE IS NO DOUBLE STANDARD!

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers are gifts to the body, given by God for the purpose of equipping the others for the ministry, for their individual destinies within the corporate body of Christ. These fivefold gifts are not exempt from the discipleship process. Neither is the process exclusively for them.

There are those who are eventually raised up (through a maturing process) who are not gifts, but are appointed to positions of elders and deacons. They are qualified by character development, not gifting. They, too, are products of the discipling process. (It is common for fivefold gifts to also function as elders - I Peter 5:1.)

All believers are to be products of that process, bearing fruit by abiding in the Vine . . .

joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share (Ephesians 4:16).

How can we expect to function as a body until every member is taught, trained and equipped? I am thankful to my friend and fellow worker, Dave Shirkey, for the following insight about THREE LEARNING SYSTEMS which are all vital parts of discipling every creature in all nations:

1. Teaching - focuses upon content; increases knowledge

2. Training - focuses upon the job; increases skill

3. Equipping - focuses upon the person; increases capacity

Teaching is common; training is less common; equipping is rarely found in most church circles. Believers are increasing in knowledge because of teaching. Some are increasing in skill because there is a job to do, and therefore there is some training. But, who is following Jesus’ example to focus upon the person so that his capacity might be increased?

Peter would not have been able to stand and preach on the day of Pentecost simply because of knowledge, or (for that matter) skill. He needed capacity! His capacity was increased, he was equipped, because of the personal attention that he received from Jesus.

Whoever responds in faith to the gospel of the kingdom is a disciple, and is to be taught, trained and equipped to function in the anointing of Christ, the Anointed One, as part of His body, the church of Jesus Christ. The body of Christ is to be raised up in every city and region in every nation, in obedience to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Every believer is to be increased in his/her capacity to be a child, parent, brother, employee, citizen, etc. Each one is to have a capacity to share his/her testimony in the context of the gospel of the kingdom. All believers have (I Cor. 12) gifts of the Spirit that are for the common good.

It is a good thing when some are raised up and sent out to equip others. It is a good thing when some are raised up to serve the local body. It is exceedingly good when everyone is brought to maturity in knowledge, skill and capacity!

The King gave us a Great Commission. It is a universal commission to disciple all who come to Him in every nation. The gospel of the kingdom of God is intended to produce Vine-clinging, fruit-producing believers who respond to creation’s cry for the revealing of the sons of God. Only such a church can adequately demonstrate heaven’s power on earth, and release God’s government and glory among the nations.

There is no such thing as another class of (second class) Christians. Those who are simply looking for forgiveness and heaven have not yet heard the gospel of the kingdom. And, to give them "saved" status is not fair to them. Also, it diverts time, attention and money from the pursuit of the true kingdom.

Both by precept and example, Jesus focused upon discipleship. He summarized His public ministry with the Great Commission to disciple the nations. No other strategy can measure up to the potential for exponential multiplication that is assured as lives are transformed. Lives are transformed by focusing upon individual people, thus increasing their capacity. The will of God for kingdom expansion demands obedience to this universal commission.