The Apostle Trained Pastor - Difference #6.
This article presents the difference in a Apostle Trained Pastor as compared to a pastor coming from a standard, earthly Bible College or Seminary. This is Difference # 6 of nine.
The Apostle Trained Pastor comes to realize many things contained in the Scriptures not taught in boiler- plate Colleges. Apostolic realities are provided in abundance.
Items and topics not covered in most Colleges will be presented to The Apostle Trained Pastor at The Jesus Chapel Bible College.
God’s economy doesn’t make sense to a business person. A business is successful by growing numbers - A Church is successful by growing disciples. ~ Stephen
Apostle Trained Pastors Value God And Put Serving Him Above Growing Numbers, While Growing Disciples.
To God, investing Himself in the few who care, is better than investing in more seating for many who don’t. To God, real seating is better than thrill seating - God is looking for Disciples, not people to entertain.
You don’t have to look far to see churches more interested in growing numbers of attendees than disciples. They will often do so by any means available, to the exclusion of growing disciples. Those involved in church growth planning develop elaborate schemes and ideas geared towards reaching those found NOT interested in receiving genuine Christian discipleship ( refer to this blog for what discipleship is). As the population of attendees grows, the church counts itself a success.
Other churches, grow buildings on their grounds as visual evidence of success. Yet, fail to grow disciples. Yes, they have beautiful buildings, add youth centers, new fellowship halls, and even gymnasiums... while adding little or nothing into the hearts of their attendees or congregants in terms of comprehension of the character, nature, and will of God, nor in reaching doctrinal purity or understanding.
Many spend time with announcements of alluring events and BBQ’S that are upcoming. Others announce the ‘ soon to be held’ Rodeo, or Scuba Diving event, Bowling, or Volleyball, etc. Yet, the event that matters most, the import of God’s Holy Word into the heart of believers, often finds itself on the back burner of indifference.
That the Word of God finds itself neglected in the ‘ house of God’ is shameful, as the people, and those found leading them, show little interest in becoming fully invested in learning such things as Biblical truth, Doctrinal realities, How to apply the Word of God in their lives, and preparation for eternity... let alone, reaching the World around them with the Love and Word God.
God’s Economy is the thing He has invested in. His investment was large, it cost Him His only Son, and was a gross over payment. An Apostle Trained Pastor is more concerned with filling those under his teaching with the fullness of God. “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be FILLED with all the fullness of God”. Ephesians 3: 19 KJV.
The Apostle Trained Pastor wants to see the people he cares for and teaches successful, becoming abundantly filled with the fullness of God. This is a calling found much more meaningful than entertaining people who do NOT long to know God. Discipleship is the process God endorses, and has called for in His Word. Not mentoring, not hanging out around talk of God, rather, true un- adulterated Discipleship.
It was disciples that Christ sent to cast out devils, perform miracles, and show the world that the kingdom of God was being made ready for activation upon the earth, and it is the kingdom of God that He has placed in the heart of those who would believe, awaiting activation through faith, which is salvation. Salvation without purposeful response from it, is wasted on non- participating individuals. This is sad, because God has given such a wonderful and powerful something from His kingdom that they refuse to bloom into and use.
This is why the richest place on the planet is NOT Fort Knox, but is the graveyard. It is in the graveyard that we find countless gifts of God unused, waiting for participation in a formerly lively vessel, whose intended use we may never find the joy of, in whom cures for things God was trying to fix through them, such as perhaps a cancer, or disease remain, while people state aloud that God has failed to act.
It is NOT so for the Apostle Trained Pastor because he pursues all of the gifts of God, bringing out the best in the chosen and faithful vessels found seeking God’s will in their lives, with their lives.
If you have never noticed before, God placed His Spirit inside of you, the believer. The difference in the word in, and win, is the simple addition of the ‘ W’. We, as believers, are called to ‘ win’ with what God has put ‘ in’ us. The ‘ W’ stands for works. We were saved by grace, but for good works. We were saved to win!
The Apostle Trained Pastor places great value on being a ‘ doer of the Word’, not a mere hearer. The Apostle Trained Pastor values serving God, by building Disciples. The Apostle Trained Pastor realizes that the gifts God gives are too be used here, and now, when people need them, prior to shedding their bodies and leaving the gifts unused, to rot in the stench of a corpse found inactive in the work of God, rather than being heralded as used fully, in the cause that Christ rose to ensure could be given to mankind, the continuation and completion of His ministry by those who would come after Him. It is Christ Himself who has passed the GOSPEL TORCH, should we not run the race that He has placed before us?
Apostle Trained Pastors Value God And Put Serving Him Above Growing Numbers, While Growing Disciples.
Stephen Paul, The Jesus Chapel
/ Thejesuschapel. com