#ReimagineDISCIPLESHIP…as Becoming Christlike As We Go Together

[Reimagine Curator]

#ReimagineDISCIPLESHIP…as Becoming Christlike As We Go Together

Great Commission or Great Omission? By Francis Frangipane Jesus warned that there would be great deception in the end times. Humility, therefore, tells us that we should not presume our personal expression of Christianity is aligned perfectly with God's heart. How can we examine ourselves? We can measure the focus of our lives with the last great command of the Lord, called by Bible scholars the "Great Commission." What is the Great Commission? These were the "marching orders" Jesus gave His apostles just before He ascended. In other words, this is what He desired His church to be focused on until He returned. He said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you"(Matthew 28:19-20). In essence Jesus wants us focused on two things: He wants us to "Go" with a view of bringing the lost into His kingdom. But He also wants the church at large to become Christlike: "teaching them to observe all that I commanded you." For some, however, the Great Commission has become more like a great omission, as many Christians are neither concerned about the lost nor are they reaching for Christlikeness. Salvation is the first step in the journey toward Christlikeness. Christ's vision is for His people to grow "in all aspects" unto Him (Ephesians 4:15). Those who obey all that Jesus taught, ultimately through the Holy Spirit, possess the same life as Christ Himself. His teaching conforms us to His heart, making us redemptive in motive and, like Him, unoffendable as we seek the transformation of our nations. So, the Great Commission gloriously begins with evangelism and conversion, but unfolds into Christlikeness as revealed in Christ's words. As The Father Sent Me Christ calls us to be His followers. He said, "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (John 20:21). Just as He was sent into the world to bring redemption, so He sends His disciples. Indeed, the goal of discipleship is that we become "fully trained," so that we are functioning exactly "like [our] teacher," Jesus Christ (Luke 6:40). You see, many believe in Jesus; few are they who mature spiritually to where they actually believe like Him. Those who believe like Him have faith that tells them all things are possible. They are confident that redemption can occur, even in the darkest regions. Thus, the goal of the Great Commission is to see these kind of Christians planted in every nation, for in their spirit is the redemptive future of each culture. Yes, Christianity can be many things to many people: a place of friendships, healing and new beginnings; but at its core, it must be a training ground where the saved are empowered to journey toward Christlikeness. Christ's goal was the replication of Himself in His disciples and, through them, replication of His life throughout the world. This issue, therefore, of teaching His word, of using His word to shape us from the inside out, is the goal of discipleship. For me, the Lord sat me down and for three years I didn't pastor at all. All I did was read and study the Gospels. It was this focused refining that became the substructure in everything the Lord was doing in me. God reduced me from being a professional minister to a disciple of Jesus Christ, a true follower of Jesus as He is revealed in the Gospel in word and deed. But this training in the words of Christ is exactly what has been omitted from so many of our churches and seminaries. We make our converts more into the image of our denomination, rather than conformed to the image of Christ. The Chief Cornerstone: Often Rejected Jesus said, "The stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief corner stone" (Luke 20:17). Beloved friend, we cannot separate what Jesus says from who Jesus is. Christ and His word are one. To the degree that we fail to teach what Jesus taught, we are actually rejecting Him as Lord. Listen to how the Lord associates Himself with His teachings. He said, "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day" (John 12:48). He warned, "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory..." (Luke 9:26). He exposes our hypocrisy, saying, "Why do you call Me `Lord, Lord," and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46) Christ and His word are inseparable. Jesus was not a man who became the Word, but the Eternal Word who became a man. His very nature is the Word of God. And to reject or ignore what He says is to reject or ignore who He is. Thus, it seems to me that if we are not offering focused training on becoming Christlike, we are missing the heart of the Great Commission. Of course, this training may unfold in a variety of ways; it may not even use the word "Christlike" in its vocabulary. However, salvation of the lost leading to conformity to Christ and His teaching is the expressed goal of the Great Commission. Therefore, pastors, regardless of your denominational or cultural history, we must possess two things: love for the lost and a vision of attaining Christlikeness! Create your own curriculum or use training already provided, but do not omit the Chief Cornerstone as you build His church. Intercessors, stand unoffendably committed to seeing genuine, Christlike disciples established in your church. Do not give up, even if it should take years to see the transformation occur. Let us, dear friends, make sure we are fulfilling the Great Commission, not the great omission.

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In Christ's Image Training

https://frangipane.org/images/icit_termlogo.jpg" alt="" width="280" height="209" align="left" /> Sign up today for the next In Christ's Image Training class. Online course begins April 7, 2023 Registration closes March 30, 3023 In Christ's Image Training is a six-month, online course developed by Pastor Frangipane. These are proven truths that break chains and lead to power in our Christian walk. The course comes right to your home via email and audio messages and is designed to lift one's focus toward the actual presence of Jesus Christ. The course not only includes 48 lessons and 39 audio messages (sample audio), but the discerning student will actually find the Lord using the weekly lessons to stage opportunities to deepen the truths found in the training.

1) Go to our overview page and read through the Level I page, FAQ page, Level I Syllabus page and Tuition page. 2) Choose an enrollment plan. 3) Next, complete and submit the Level I Registration form before the end of the day, Thursday, March 30, 2022. 4) Class begins April 7, 2023. For more info, please see www.frangipane.org/icit-overview.html. Training also available in Spanish / Español

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The Shelter of the Most High

Is there a spiritual place, a shelter, where God actually keeps us, "and the evil one does not touch" us (1 John 5:18)? Yes, there is a place in the heart of God where we can find immunity and protection, where we are literally surrounded by the Lord's presence. Once we enter this place, nothing can defeat us. Twenty-one profound chapters, each highlighting a different dimension of our Father's love and protection, each well able to escort you into the warmth and safety of the shelter of the Most High.

Book - $8.45 (Retail $13.00) Ebook - $8.45 (Retail $13.00)

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The Shelter of the Most High Companion Teaching - Audio Series

As trouble escalates in the world, we are all looking for a place of immunity and protection. In The Shelter of the Most High, Francis gives trustworthy, biblical evidence in the midst of all our uncertainties and fears there is an available shelter from God to shield us. Once you've found this place, nothing you encounter can defeat you. From wherever you are, you can reach - and remain in - the shelter of God. These companion messages expand upon the material covered in the book, The Shelter of the Most High. Message titles: Healing in Horeb | Opportunity in the Secret Place | The Lord Indeed is Good Perpetual Rescue | Significant to God | Abiding in God's Love | Check Your Attitude | Immunized from Assault | New Every Morning | Greater Immunity | A Thought Concerning Criticism | Christ in You | Identified with Heaven CD Series - $26.25 (Retail $35.00) Audio Series MP3 Download - $13.13 (Retail $17.50)

Visit Arrow Bookstore to order these and other resources by Pastor Francis

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Follow Francis on Twitter for daily quotes Follow Francis on Facebook for daily quotes ______________________ Support Advancing Church Ministries at www.frangipane.org/support.html ______________________ Comments and Questions [e-mail] ______________________ Mensajes en español

A service of Frangipane Ministries, Inc. Copyright (c) 2023 All rights reserved. Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations were taken from the NASB.

[Reimagine Curator]

GUEST COMMENT ~ 

E-Musings   Why Not Now?   “David, after he had served his own generation…fell asleep” (Acts 13:36).   When Jesus he was on His way to heaven, Peter asked Him, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now?” (John 13:37). You, like Peter, may wonder why your denouement has been delayed and you ask, “Why not now?”   God has a wise and loving purpose for those of us who linger. There is work yet to be done in us that can only be perfected on earth. Our afflictions, which may be many, are working for us “a far more exceeding and eternal measure of glory”(2 Corinthians 4:17).    And there is work to be done through us—if only to love and to pray. We cannot go home 'til God’s purposes are perfected. We are, as Augustine said,  immortal until our work is done.   Furthermore, our lingering is an opportunity for others to learn how to love and to serve. I read somewhere that the Amish believe that the poor, the sick, the mentally ill, the aged, and incapacitated are given as gifts to the Church for they enlarge us by teaching us to  care.    So, though we desire to go home, to live on in the flesh means fruitfulness (Philippians 1:21). And there is comfort as we linger: Though heaven is delayed, it is assured. This our living hope for Jesus has promised: “You cannot follow me now; you shall follow me later” (John 13: 36).   David H. Roper    [e-mail] | [e-mail] You are receiving this email because you requested it or someone requested it for you. If you'd like to stop receiving email from us: Unsubscribe Instantly