Serving others sets a Christ-like leader apart from those who lead by the model of the world. It’s not easy; our natural bent is to say “I’m in charge,” not to ask “How may I serve you?” Read Annes story of leading discipleship from the kitchen!

Anne is a Global Disciples Facilitator in Uganda who practices servant-leadership. For some time, she prayed about planting a church in a needy community.

Anne led an outreach team with 21 men, to go for several weeks of preaching and prayer, to lay the groundwork for a church. Anne organized intercessors to cover her team in prayer during ministry time. She set up rotations to handle the practical needs of the team, including meals.

Everything was in order and the Holy Spirit was clearly anointing them for this outreach.

When Anne and her team arrived at the host home, she went over arrangements with her hostess…and hit a snag. The woman refused to have the men in her kitchen. Instead of sharing the load with her team, the responsibility for feeding them now fell solely on Anne’s shoulders.

Anne wrestled with God over this. “I’m the leader,” she prayed. “You asked all this of me, but now I have to work in the kitchen instead.” The Lord’s response? “Anne, I need you to do this; to honor this woman’s authority in her own home.”

So Anne obeyed. She participated as much as she could in the outreach and preaching but spent most of her time preparing daily meals for 20-plus people—a laborious task, without pizza deliveries, take-out meals, or instant anything heated up in a microwave.

Over several weeks, Anne’s team saw a great response to the preaching, prayer, and evangelism, and they established the nucleus of a new church. When they gathered to evaluate their experience, one comment came up immediately and was echoed by each person on the team. “Anne served us,” they said. “Even though she is the leader, she chose to serve.”

Through Anne’s example, these young leaders learned to live out leadership according to the model of Christ and to serve others in humble obedience.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

The dictionary definition of an ambassador is this. “an accredited diplomat sent by one country as its official representative to a foreign country.”

Ambassadors act as representatives or promoters of a specific activity.

In fact, ambassadors are appointed by their governments to live in foreign countries. And, at the same time they maintain their citizenship in their homelands. Their role is to reflect the official position of the sovereign body that gave them authority.

The question is how does this relate to being a disciple of Jesus?

In the letter to the Corinthians, Paul discusses the ministry of reconciliation. He uses the term ambassadors for those with whom God has brought reconciliation through Jesus Christ. He has given the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Ambassadors do not represent themselves. They are always on duty to officially represent the country of which they are a citizen. As ambassadors for our King Jesus Christ, we represent Him in this world. In fact, the only impression many people ever get of Christ is what they see in us. We are the fifth Gospel that our world can read! The main point is that broken people who have been healed are then commissioned to go to other broken people. We are to point the way towards reconciliation. I am a living testimony of that!

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.  (I Timothy 1:15)

As ambassadors for Jesus, we have been sent by Him to represent Him here on earth. In the same way, He represents us before the Father in heaven (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Peter 2:12). We have the great privilege of speaking on behalf of him. God has entrusted as ambassadors to represent the ministry and the word of reconciliation.

In all we do and all we say, we should strive to be the very best reflection of our Lord. In Acts 11:26, the disciples were called Christians because they were reflecting Jesus Christ in all that they did. No matter where we go, we should walk with the dignity as one who is an ambassador for Jesus Christ.

We are ordinary people no more. We have been given the ministry of sharing the Gospel of reconciliation with a dying world. In fact, we have been given everything we need to proclaim the gospel to others (Romans 10:14-15). There is only one way to restore the relationship of peace with God.

As ambassadors, we are not allowed to stay shut up in the four walls of the church building. Our job is to take the message of our King to reconcile others with God. There are more than 2 billion people who have not yet heard of the Good News of Jesus. If every ambassador will do their part in sharing about the Prince of Peace, everyone might get an opportunity to hear the Good News and choose to follow Jesus Christ.

The basic mission for all of us as disciples of Jesus is to carry out the mandate given by Him. We must remember that reconciliation is God’s initiative to which we respond through His amazing grace of love.

It is deeply satisfying to help someone come to know and worship their true God. In fact, sharing the Gospel gives us a tremendous sense of significance! We are taking part in the work of eternal worth, sharing in the work of God Himself. God has created us in Jesus Christ to do the work He has designed for us (Ephesians 2:10). That is what it means to be ambassadors of Christ in the world in which we live. May the Lord use us as His official ambassadors to our generation!

Are we representing Christ well as His official ambassadors in our neighborhoods and work places?

What do I need to change to represent Him well?

We created to have right relationships. Both with our Father and with our brothers and sisters around the world. It is a good reminder for us not to forget that our mark as Christ-like disciples is love for one another beyond our localities and denominations. Forgiveness is the other side of the coin of love.

In fact, relationships are restored through forgiveness. It is great to allow the Lord to search our hearts and cleanse us from our guilt (Psalm 139:23-24).

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

We are social beings created for relationships and in the community of disciples.

In Christ-like relationships, husbands and wives must submit to one another in reverence to Christ.

Husbands should submit themselves to love, lead, protect, sacrifice, and provide for the needs of their family. Wives should submit to and support their husbands and families (Ephesians 5:21-33).

Children should submit to respecting and honoring their parents. And parents should submit to raising their children by instructing them according to the word of God (Ephesians 6:1-4).

In the workplace, employees should submit to their employers by fulfilling their responsibilities. And employers should also submit to their employees by seeking the best for them (Galatians 3:28).

We are relational beings, but the sin that destroyed our relationship with God also ruined our relationship with others. This is why life’s greatest hurts, as well as life’s greatest joys, come through relationships with people.

So, how can we overcome some of the challenges we face in our relationships and follow Christ’s example?

We are disciples of Jesus, called to obey His teaching and to follow him no matter what.

… Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what, not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, becoming human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death … (Philippians 2:1-11).

Jesus is God by nature, but He made himself empty and came to this world as a human to serve and live among us to show us the way of a joyful life. He lived by fully submitting himself to what His Father wanted Him to do (John 5:19, John 5:30). He came to serve, not to lord over people. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus showed us what the Father looks like (John 14:9)—not just what He was like 2,000 years ago but what He looks like all of the time. He taught His disciples to serve as He served them instead of lording over them (Matthew 20:26-28).

As followers of Christ, submitting to one another requires that we hold more tightly to unity and love than to our rights and privileges.  Jesus said that the most important commandment is to love God, and the second most important is to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). If we are going to have Christ-like relationships with others, we need to love people—even people who are hard to love. Jesus set the example for us, coming to die even for the people who hated Him.

Love is a willingness to set aside our own concerns so as to attend to the needs of others. Love is more than a feeling that includes actions (1 John 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 13). Christ-like relationships within the community of believers allow us to love one another deeply, walk-in fellowship with one another, bear each other’s burdens, encourage and build each other to grow, and serve our world together (Hebrews 10:24-25).

When we love one another as Jesus loves us, the world knows that we are the disciples of Jesus (John 13:33-34).  The early Church was known for their love and care for one another as it is recorded in Acts 4:32-34:

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.  And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.

The meaning of life is not in having authority over others but in serving them. Paul in his epistles wrote that we should “serve one another in love”—this is a Christ-like relationship (Galatians 5:13; Galatians 6:2; Philippians 2:3). Serving others gives us a meaningful life (1 John 4:10-11). When we kneel down and serve somebody, it makes it harder to think that we are important or mighty. This is why leaders in the Church should be servants (John 13:15); that is the only way that eternal life is going to be enjoyable for everyone. We thank God for leaders who follow the example of Jesus and risk their lives to serve others. True greatness lies not in power but in service—the type of service that Jesus demonstrated.

One of the arenas where we can serve one another is within the community of believers, the Church. As we all know, there is no perfect church, just like there is no perfect person. But the Church is the community of disciples that is designed to help us on our journey to grow together in knowing Jesus. In this community, we learn how to walk with Jesus, remember His sufficient grace and promises, and grow together in experiencing God to serve our society.

This community also helps us to stay focused on our life purpose, and it gives us opportunities to exercise patience and forgiveness which we may not like but which still helps us learn to be more like Jesus. Paul reminds us of the example we ought to follow (Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32).

God has purposefully given us different gifts to serve one another (1 Corinthians 12:11). We need each other just as each part of our body needs the other parts. We have not been given gifts to serve ourselves or to boast about our gifts but to serve others (1 Corinthians 12:14-26). God has given us different gifts “for the common good of others” (1 Corinthians 12:7). We need each other to grow in the image of the Son—the eternal purpose of God—and to reach our world for His glory (Romans 8:29).

When we follow in the footsteps of our master, Jesus, His mercy and grace fill our families, our neighbors, our faith communities, and our workplaces. In all our relationships, we should help one another to grow in Christ-like character, to encourage, and to build each other up (Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 12:10; Ephesians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:15; Ephesians 5:22-25; Ephesians 6:1-8).

Living a life that reflects Christ-like relationships won’t be easy and it won’t happen overnight. It takes time, so we need patience with the process, both with ourselves and others. We need faith that God will finish the work He has started in us. God is “a God of mercy and grace, endlessly patient—so much love, so deeply true—loyal in love for a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7). It is my prayer and desire that His character overflows in our relationships with others.

How is your relationship with your family (spouses, children, and parents) and with your neighbors?

How are your relationships at your workplace?

And how are your relationships in the church family?

Are all of your relationships reflecting the way Jesus related with people?

What does it mean to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus in our relationships with one another (Philippians 2:5)?

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Jesus clearly taught us to forgive all who have offended us, but how do we do it? Learn why forgiveness is essential for our own freedom.

This forgiveness needs to be unconditional and unending just as is our heavenly Father’s forgiveness. In fact, this is required of us because, as disciples, we have already experienced forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:22).

Jesus extended forgiveness while He was still in pain on the cross. He pleaded with the Father to forgive those who were crucifying him. This includes the entire human race for we all were found to be guilty with hardened hearts. 

Jesus chose to pray for them so that God would forgive them. He showed His kindness, mercy, and love for them and for us. 

So, if Jesus forgave all those who crucified Him, what right do we have not to forgive those who hurt us?   

In Matthew 18:21-35, Peter asked Jesus how many times to extend forgiveness to someone who hurts us. He asked, “Up to seven times?” Jesus responded with a parable of two slaves who both owed money. The first owed a large amount of debt to the king. And the second owed a much smaller debt to the first slave. When the first slave begged for mercy, the king forgave the entire debt, leaving the slave owing nothing. However, when the second slave begged for mercy, the first slave did not forgive the debt. He had the slave thrown into prison.

Consequently, when this became known to the king, the first slave was rebuked, sent to prison, and tortured. In this passage, Jesus expressed the seriousness of forgiveness— those who do not forgive others will suffer for it. This suffering refers to all of the side effect. Relational, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual elements, that come from holding on to bitterness and anger (Matthew 5:23-24).  That is why Jesus commanded us to make forgiveness a part of our daily life. He does not want us toexperience these effects.

Forgiveness is being obedient to Jesus’ instruction to “love your enemies.” In many cases, enemy number one is one’s self.

Self-forgiveness is essential to self-healing. Each time we forgive someone, our own sense of self-forgiveness and self-worth will grow. It is the true way to improve our own self-image.

Creative imagination makes all things possible in a forgiving state of mind. To the degree that we are healed, that same healing is made available to all those in our lives who have bound us.[1]

The choice to forgive frees us and allows God to mend and restore our broken hearts.

Joseph was imprisoned for many years because of the false accusation of Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39). Now, imagine yourself in his shoes. Can you imagine being falsely accused, losing the reputation you had, losing your job and being put in prison. We can imagine how it feels to have our friends gossiping because of something which is not true. It is painful, and stealing someone’s good name is a very serious sin before God (Exodus 20:16). Yet when we look from God’s perspective, God can restore our reputation as He did with Joseph. Remember that God is the One who will bring the truth to light. We need to remember that God is the one who has the right to revenge, not us (Romans 12:19).  Don’t fight for your reputation—leave that to God!

Friend, the only key to healing the wound left behind is to forgive. Joseph is an impressive example of this (Genesis 45:4-5; Genesis 50:15-21). No one can erase what happened in the past. But the future can be different because God has the power to heal a broken heart through. 

Holding onto offense, refusing to forgive those who wounded us, will block the healing power of the Holy Spirit. Bitterness is a deadly poison that inhibits us from receiving God’s forgiveness and gives us over to torment. The only solution is to release those feelings that we have against others. Allow the Holy Spirit’s forgiving power to restore your soul.

It is very important to open ourselves and allow the Lord to heal our inner wounds as is described in Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me … He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and … to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”

It is very important to respond to Jesus’ calling to receive the inner healing that He has provided to us (Matthew 11:28-29). Let us release our heavy burden to Jesus, take His yoke which is easy, and learn from Him who has forgiven us and welcomed us to be children of God (Ephesians 4:32).

Is there any broken relationship that you are aware of that needs to be restored?

How quick are you to forgive yourself and others without holding a grudge?

How often do you reflect the forgiveness of God in your relationship with your parents, spouse, children, church family, and neighbors?

[1] Ruth Carter Stapleton, The Gift of Inner Healing, 1976.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Discover four steps in restoring your relationship with God. Find out how to make your relationship with God strong and healthy.

God created us for a relationship with Him.

Adam and Eve enjoyed that close relationship with God until sin entered the world. The sin that entered the world through our first parents destroyed our intimacy with God and others (Genesis 3:1-8).

However, God didn’t give up.

He took the initiative to make our relationship right with Him while we were weak, sinners, and enemies (Romans 5:6-10). And He is concerned about our relationship with Him more than anything else. He doesn’t care how far we have gone, what a mess we have made or what we have accomplished. Rather, God cares about the relationship that He prepared for us through Jesus. He demonstrated His own love for us by sending His only begotten Son to die for us (John 3:16-18).

Jesus died for us to show God’s greatest love for us and to restore our relationship with Him (John 15:13). In Jesus, God has shown us how much He loves us, even while we are still sinners. In Christ, we are assured of His constant love that will never fail—this is the solid foundation for our relationship with God.

He already has finished His part to make our relationship right. Now it’s our responsibility to accept what He has already done to restore our relationship with Him. He sent His only Son Jesus to take away our sins (John 1:29). He offers us the promise, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). Therefore, to make our relationship right with God, we need to live out the following steps.

The first step to restoring our relationship with God is to admit that need His direction. We must accept responsibility for our actions as did the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-17). We need to acknowledge the sin that separates us from God (Romans 3:23) and its penalty of death (Romans 6:23). For many of us, it is very difficult to come to this conclusion of admitting our sins, and we tend to hide or blame others for our sin as did Adam and Eve.

It is my prayer that God brings us to our senses as He did the prodigal son. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!” (Luke 15:17). Admitting our mistake is the first step to restoring our relationship with God—but it is not the end.

The second step in making our relationship right with God is returning to God with a repentant, humble attitude rather than hiding and covering (Acts 3:19; Genesis 3:10-13; Luke 15:18-20; Isaiah 59:2). Returning to God through confession removes the sin that blocks our relationship with Him. When we confess our sins before God, He promises to forgive us (1 John 1:9), and forgiveness is what restores a relationship that has been broken. Some people admit their sinfulness but never do anything about it. Some people even say, “I need to get my life right with God,” but they never actually return to God. The prodigal son did not only plan to get right with his father, he actually took steps to do so; he made a decision and returned with a repentant, humble heart. Some people simply want God to bless them, but they are not willing to make their relationship right with Him by leaving where they are and returning to God. 

The prodigal son did not minimize his behavior as if it were no big deal. He said, “I have sinned against heaven and against you.” And He took full, personal responsibility for his bad choices and actions. He neither blamed anyone else nor did he ignore his own sinfulness. Also, He humbly acknowledged, “I am not worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:19). In other words, he was acknowledging that he did not deserve anything from his father. This is something we all need to recognize in returning to God to restore our relationship with Him—God owes us nothing and is not obligated to bless us in any way. We don’t come to God making excuses or demands but rather by acknowledging our personal wrongdoing and asking for His mercy. Our God is a loving Father who is waiting for us to be serious about restoring our relationship with Him.

Most of the time, the people who have messed up are not willing to come back home to God because they are unsure they will be welcomed back. No matter how far we have gone, our loving Father welcomes us home. There are seven things that the father does in the story of the prodigal son—looking, running, kissing, giving clothing and ring and sandals, and throwing a feast (Luke 15:20-24). These acts convey the depth of his love and illustrate the heavenly Father’s love for anyone who totally messes up but is willing to return.  God welcomes us home when we come back to Him with humble and repentant hearts. 

The story of the prodigal son’s father gives us a clear picture of our heavenly Father who is always looking for and hoping that His wayward children will come back home. He is a compassionate and loving Father who runs toward us to give us a hug and kiss and welcome us home as soon as we make the decision to return to Him. He shows His love and acceptance to us by giving us the best robe (righteousness), ring (authority of the children of God), shoe (the Gospel of peace), and feast to celebrate the restoration of our relationship with Him.

Making our relationship right with God begins with our spiritual birth (John 3:3-8). As soon as we receive His free gift of becoming sons and daughters, we confess that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9-10). Our restored relationship with God is the beginning of our ongoing transformation into Christ-likeness (2 Corinthians 5:17-18; Galatians 4:6). We are no more slaves but are His children who serve in our Father’s business (Luke 15:28-32). Let’s live like beloved children and experience our authority as His children (Ephesians 5:1). 

The relationship that God offers us is so intimate that He calls us His children (1 John 3:1; John 15:15) and promises to give us an eternal inheritance (Romans 8:15-17). He invites us before His throne as often as we want (Ephesians 2:18), and He loves us with a love that will never fail. He loves us and accepts the responsibility of providing our needs, protecting us, and helping us to grow toward maturity. Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers (Hebrews 2:11). We praise God for this kind of relationship He has initiated for every person created in His own image and likeness.  Our relationship with God is built upon a life of obedience (Ephesians 5:1). James tells us that as we submit ourselves to God through obedience, resist the devil, and draw near to God, He will draw near to us (James 4:7-8).]

Jesus set an example for our relationship with God. We can look to Jesus to learn more about our relationship with God the Father (John 17). For some people, like me, “Father” brings only negative memories. But when God reveals Himself as a Father, He does not want to cause fear, but love. He wants to remind us of His protection, of His provision for all of our needs, and of His care (Luke 15:20-24). Human parents ought to have these qualities, but everyone falls short of the ideal while some are even evil. But God the Father is perfect—we are secure in His love (Matthew 5:48; Luke 6:36; John 6:32; 2 Corinthians 1:3; James 1:17). We should imagine the best father possible and be assured that God is 100 times better than even this ideal image.

Jesus was sure that the Father loved him (John 3:35; John 5:20). He was also sure that God, as a perfect Father, would provide for His needs. And He trusted His Father to take care of him, even after death. He told His disciples not to worry about their lives, or their food and clothing (Matthew 6:28-34). Our God is the loving and caring Father who provides all of our needs even better than He does for the birds and the flowers.  We need to know that our Father loves us, cares for us, and is always forgiving.  It is our responsibility to become the channels of His love, care, and forgiveness.

Have you made your relationship right with God?

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Spiritual warfare is a reality for any follower of Christ. Discover how the power Holy Spirit will give you victory in every battle you face!

Take a moment to read begin to understand the Holy Spirit.  (1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Ephesians 4:11-13; Romans 12:4-7)

In reality, spiritual warfare is a reality for any follower of Christ (Ephesians 6:10-12, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

In fact, the Bible tells us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against demonic forces. “For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Since his own fall, Satan is working to destroy humanity through deception (John 8:44; Genesis 2:1, Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:1-24) and war (Revelation 12:12, Revelation 12:17). Consequently, when we witness to people, we are engaging in spiritual warfare to set the captives free from spiritual bondage.

Many times, the enemy uses different strategies to war against us—through deception, temptation, accusation, negligence, rebelliousness, fear, ungodliness, etc.

In fact, the Lord has already won the victory over sin, Satan, death, and darkness on our behalf. His power enables us to live out and claim our victory the power of the darkness. And we must be empowered and led by the power of the Holy Spirit and the word of God (Ephesians 6:12-18).

Did you know that winning the spiritual battle is accomplished “not by might, nor by power; but by God’s Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6)? The Lord has already won the victory over sin, Satan, death, and darkness on behalf of us. His power is first and foremost in securing spiritual victory for us as Christians. If we are attentive to the Holy Spirit we will grow into spiritual maturity. And we will secure the victory that Jesus has already won on behalf of us for the glory of our God.

The keys to victory in spiritual warfare are:

The gifts of the Holy Spirit will bring forth the fullness of His ministry in our lives.

In fact, it is through the gifts of the Spirit that we are able to minister effectively to one another and receive the help of the Comforter in our lives. All gifts should be used to glorify Christ and to benefit others. Not every Christian has the same gift, just as not every part of the human body performs the function of seeing, hearing, or walking (1 Corinthians 12:14-26). God desires our lives to display the fruit of the Spirit, His Christ-like character. It is great to be known by our fruit (Matthew 7:20). As we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, He will produce more and more of His fruit in us and conquer our sinful natures to transform us into God’s image. The gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit will enable us to become victorious in our spiritual warfare.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are special abilities that the Holy Spirit gives to disciples of Jesus. They are for the purpose of building up the Body of Christ. They are divine abilities granted to followers of Jesus to accomplish what God has called them to do.

2 Peter 1:3 states, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” 

Some of these gifts are called the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Did you know each Christian has at least one spiritual gift?

There are nine expressions of the Spirit recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. And other gifts of the Spirit are also recorded in Romans 12:8-12 and Ephesians 4:7-13. Let’s briefly look at some of these gifts.

The word of knowledge is supernatural knowledge and insight that the Holy Spirit gives. The Holy Spirit gives us knowledge of something that is hidden or reveals a secret for benefit of His Church.  

Word of wisdom is instant supernatural wisdom given by the Holy Spirit to apply the word of knowledge. This gift enables the church to handle complex problems or issues in a constructive, God-honoring way.  

Gift of faith is the manifestation of divine faith when it is needed. Its given so that we can believe and act accordingly. To reveal this gift, God may ask us to do something that seems crazy. For example, walking on water requires supernatural faith. Or planting a church.

Gift of healing is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit to someone who is sick.  There are two plural words—“gifts” and “healings. This means that there are different kinds of healings from different kinds of diseases.     

Working of miracles is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit that transcends the natural laws by which God reveals Himself to people. For example, the turning of water into wine, the feeding of the 5000 by multiplying five loaves of bread and two fishes, etc. Our God is a miracle-working God and He still loves miracles today.

Discerning of spirits is the supernatural ability to identify what is going on behind the spiritual scenes (1 John 4:1-4). This gift is needed to discern the source of any revelation or message because there are four sources (demonic, angelic, human, or divine). Missing this gift from the church of Jesus Christ brings confusion and division in the church.

Gift of prophecy is a divine ability to foretell the future and to explain the current situation. In 1 Corinthians 14:1, Paul told us to desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy. The prophecy Paul mentioned here is a forth-telling one when someone gets a direct Word from the Lord to give to someone else or to the church so as to build up/restore.

Different kinds of tongues are the supernatural ability to speak in another language to edify self and to build up the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 14:2, 1 Corinthians 14:5, 1 Corinthians 14:13-14, 1 Corinthians 14:39-40). There are gifts of tongues for the edification of oneself and for the edification of the Church. There are times when tongues are given as a sign of receiving the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:6).

The interpretation of tongues is the supernatural ability to interpret what is spoken in another tongue (1 Corinthians 14:13-14, 1 Corinthians 14:27-28). Sometimes the interpretation may be given to the one who is speaking in tongues or to another person.

There are also other ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit to equip the Church of Jesus Christ for the unfinished task of the mission of Jesus. Some of these gifts are people, such as apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, deacons, etc. These and other ministry gifts are given to every member of the body of Christ as the Spirit wills for the glory of God. Let us mention some of the ministry gifts.

Gift of serving is demonstrating the love of God by meeting practical needs. Those who have this gift have different eyes to see needs and respond promptly.

Gift of teaching is revealing the treasures in the Word of God. This gift discovers and validates truth for the edification of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Gift of giving is the sharing of resources in order to meet the needs of others.

Exhortation is the supernatural ability to encourage others to help them reach their life and ministry goals by walking alongside them.

Administration is a supernatural ability to keep things organized and in accordance with God’s principles and priorities.

Helping is the supernatural ability to help others to do whatever it takes to get a task accomplished. 

Mercy is the supernatural ability to demonstrate God’s love and compassion by responding empathetically and graciously to another’s, or your own, hurt.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time when many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Discover how to live a Holy Spirit empowered daily life and bear fruit that lasts. Read on for an understanding of the Fruits of the Spirit.

A Holy Spirit empowered life results in victory over sin. He gives joy and peace in heart, and submission towards the Lord and others. So, we need to live and walk in total dependence on the Holy Spirit. We want to bear His fruit, the fruit that lasts!

The fruit of the Spirit is what the Holy Spirit produces and displays in the life of a disciple.

One of the primary purposes of the Holy Spirit’s coming into a Christian’s life is to change that life.

It is the work of the Holy Spirit that conforms us to the image of Christ. It is His presence within us that enables us to develop spiritual fruit in our lives. Without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5, John 15:16).

He has chosen and ordained us, that we should go and bring forth fruit, and that our fruit should remain. God’s divine purpose for our life is to bear fruit. Abundant fruit is possible for those who live in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (John 15:1-8).

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The fruit of the Spirit enables us to eliminate spiritual barrenness. He allows us to escape the corruption of the world, and to become partakers in Christ’s nature (2 Peter 1:4-8).

It is our responsibility to walk in the Spirit. As we do we develop this fruit that is the character of Christ in our lives. This will it cause us to grow spiritually, and be a powerful witness to unbelievers as well (2 Peter 1:8-9).

Love is caring for someone else as much as I care for myself. Love is something in which we grow (1 Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 3:18-19). Paul writes in Philippians 1:9, “And this I pray, that your love may abound [grow] yet more and more.” God wants His love to flow through us to call and win many to the Kingdom. Paul contrasts love with spiritual gifts and other manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit. He concludes that none of these gifts compare with the power of love (1 Corinthians 13). He does this to emphasize the importance, completeness, and supremacy of love over all other qualities.

Love will never end; it will always be of use. Such supernatural love flows into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). It causes us to make a decision to love even when we don’t feel like it. When we walk in the love of God, everything else falls into place (Song of Songs 8:7; John 13:34-35; John 15:13; John 16:27; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 3:11; 1 John 4:7-8).

Joy, a manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit, is defined as happiness, cheerfulness, great pleasure, gladness, and delight. Biblical joy is inseparable from our relationship with God. If God is actually present in our lives, the joy He experiences can begin to flow in and through us (Psalm 16:11). Joy is the sign that life has found its purpose and its reason for being.

When we are filled with this joy, we begin to rejoice in the Lord beyond the circumstances surrounding us (Philippians 4:4).

There is fullness of joy in every situation in the presence of God (Acts 2:46; Acts 16:34). God Himself, and our relationship with Him, are the source and cause of any real joy we have (2 Chronicles 20:27; Nehemiah 12:43. In fact,this is a supernatural joy that gives spiritual strength (Nehemiah 8:10). The Psalmist and the Prophet Isaiah both refer to it as the joy of salvation (Psalm 51:12; Psalm 35:9; Psalm 89:15-16; Isaiah 12:3; John 15:11; Jeremiah 15:16; Acts 2:28; Romans 14:17). Our joys must arise from yielding our will so as to fulfill God’s purpose and see it accomplished (Matthew 25:21).

Peace is a gift from God to those reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ, and it is the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in us as we grow in a continuing, trustful relationship with God through the daily affairs of our lives (John 14:27; Romans 5:1; Psalm 119:165). Such peace doesn’t come through any other means—not through drugs, alcohol, sex, wealth, or entertainment. The peace of God has a different source than that of the world. We cannot experience this peace without giving lordship to the Prince of Peace in our lives (Isaiah 9:6). His peace is a peace that surpasses all human understanding and keeps our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7; Psalm 119:165; Isaiah 26:3; Romans 8:6; James 3:18).

Patience is a characteristic of our Lord that fills us with gratitude. It makes us mild, gentle, and constant in all circumstances. God’s patience delays His wrath, allowing time for good to occur (Jonah 4:2). Do we have such patience? As we desire others, especially God, to be patient and forgiving toward us in our faults, do we have patience ourselves? Patience is a two-way street, and God clearly demands reciprocity. He expects us to pass His patience and forgiveness on to others as Christ did (Matthew 18:23-35). When we develop this character in our lives, we can learn to enjoy life where we are while we are waiting for what we desire (Ephesians 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:2; 2 Peter 3:9).

The real test of patience is not in waiting but in how one acts while waiting. Patience is a vital part of the process that enables God to work over a long period of time, if necessary, to produce in us other important aspects of His image so that we “may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4). Reaching this point is definitely a process which takes a lot of practice.

Kindness is simply putting others first. It is a quality that makes us great in God’s sight (James 3:17; 2 Samuel 22:36). Kindness is something that we must develop, and we can do it because the Holy Spirit has already enabled us. The mountains shall depart and the hills will be removed, but the Lord’s kindness shall not depart from us (Isaiah 54:10). In 1 Thessalonians 2:7, Apostle Paul illustrates kindness by the example of a mother nourishing her children. Being Christ-like means being gentle, kind, loving, and compassionate as He is to us. We all have sinned and come short of His glory, yet God forgives and redeems us.

Being like Jesus is having His kindness manifested in our lives (Luke 23:33-34). Imitating Christ, Stephen also showed kindness; even in the midst of being stoned to death, he asked the Lord to forgive the sin of those who were killing him (Acts 7:59-60); the parable of the Good Samaritan is also a good example of kindness (Luke 10:29-37); Joseph’s story is one of the many stories of kindness we find in the Old Testament (Genesis 45:4-15). How kind are we?

Goodness and generosity enable us to do good things to those who hate us (Luke 6:27). The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 33:5). He created us in His image and draws out of us His own goodness to witness that He is our God. It is the goodness of God that leads men and women to repentance. His goodness goes beyond what is legally right—it goes the extra mile and gives what is needed to benefit, build up, and bless others. He wants His goodness to flow in and through us to impact others’ lives.

We are called to be lights in a dark world, and we must shine the goodness of our Father (Psalm 23:6; Psalm 52:1; Matthew 5:14-16). True goodness is inseparable from godliness; God is the source of all that can truly be called good. He does not just have it or do it, but He is good, and He greatly desires to give it to us (Exodus 34:6). He has recreated us in Jesus Christ for His good works (Ephesians 2:10). So we need to take every opportunity to yield to the Holy Spirit so as to develop this goodness in our lives.

Faithfulness is the quality of being faithful. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines faithfulness as “maintaining allegiance; constant; loyal; marked by or showing a strong sense of duty or responsibility; accurate; reliable; exact.” Faithfulness enables us to walk and live by faith (Romans 5:2). Without this kind of faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Since God is faithful, it has become our responsibility to imitate Him in being faithful by committing our lives to the leading of the Spirit.

There is never inconsistency in the life of Jesus. Our greatest obligation on earth is to imitate His faithfulness to a faithless world (Revelation 3:14; John 18:37; Matthew 24:45-47). Being faithful is not always easy—it requires making a decision and then sticking to it regardless of what our feelings tell us. However, when we are faithful and do what God tells us to do, we will be rewarded; the Bible says that if we’re faithful over little things, He will make us rulers of much (Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:22; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:24; Romans 4:20-21; Ephesians 6:16).

Meekness is the quality of being free from pride and arrogance; it is a modest estimation of our own worth (Numbers 12:3). It is the meek who are blessed and share in Jesus’ inheritance of the earth (Matthew 5:5; Psalm 37:11). People may relate meekness with weakness, but meekness is really power under control; it is a slave-like submission to God. Moses was a great example of meekness. While Moses had a high position, he did not try to defend himself with his social status (Numbers 12:3).

Once we crucify our pride and self-will, we do not think or care about ourselves. Meek people do not measure the importance of events by their relation to their personal comfort or what they gain from them. They begin to see everything from God’s perspective, seeking only to serve His purposes in every situation of life. Meekness enables us to bear patiently those insults and injuries we receive at the hand of the enemies of the Gospel. Meek people seek no private revenge; they leave revenge to God while they seek to remain true to their calling and meet God’s standards (Zephaniah 2:3). It is the hidden heart of a person—a meek and quiet spirit—which is greatly valued by God (1 Peter 3:4; Ephesians 4:1-2; Colossians 3:12; Titus 3:1-2).

Self-Control is that control over the whole person (spirit, soul, and body) which enables us to live a victorious life. Paul illustrates self-control by showing what it produces along the way and, most importantly, in the end (1 Corinthians 9:25). A person who has self-control is mild and calm, avoids extreme behavior, and exercises self-restraint in both actions and speech. Self-control is keeping our passions and desires in check. “Whoever has no rule over his spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28; Proverbs 16:32) Self-control is present in the one who is strong in the strength of the Lord having put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17). If we lack this manifestation of the Spirit, we are like a car without brakes which has great potential to damage others as well as ourselves.

What is the best way you can encourage others to exercise the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit in their lives?

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Do you understand the Holy Spirit and His work? Did you know you can be empowered by the Holy Spirit for life and mission right now?

Who is the Holy Spirit? 

Did you know that the Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit is a personal being with a mind, will, and emotions? (1 Corinthians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 12:7-10; Ephesians 4:30). He is a divine person.(John 14:17; John 15:26; John 16:8-15). He speaks, teaches, testifies, convicts of sin, guides, intercedes, and sends. (Acts 13:1-4; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:8, John 16:12; Acts 16:6-7; Romans 8:26; Acts 13:4).  

In fact, Jesus taught His disciples that another divine person would come who would take his place to comfort, strengthen, and guide. (John 15:26; John 16:13). And that He would be eternal. (Hebrews 9:14); He would be all-knowing (1 Corinthians 2:11); He would be everywhere. (Psalm 139:7-8); He would be Holy (Romans 1:4).

Consequently, in 2 Corinthians 6:16, the Holy Spirit is called “the living God.” He is associated with the Father and Son (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). Lying to the Holy Spirit is considered as great a sin as lying to God (Acts 5:3).

In fact, God has been involved in creating and sustaining life from the beginning. (Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30). And,The Holy Spirit has a distinct personality from the Father and the Son. (John 15:26; Acts 2:32-33; Matthew 28:19, Acts 20:28).  

So, the Holy Spirit is not just some vague power. In fact, He is the God who was and is with God the Father and the Son from the very beginning. Did you know that He is sent by God the Father to be with us till the end of the world? (John 14:26; John 16:7). 

Take a minute and read how the Holy Spirit is manifested and known through the Bible.     

Genesis chapter 1 indicates that the Holy Spirit was involved in creation and was moving on the waters. (Genesis 1:2; Job 32:8; Job 33:4; Psalm 33:6-9). 

The work of the Holy Spirit is vividly present throughout the Old Testament. And particularly during the building of the Tabernacle. He empowers Bezalel with wisdom, skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craft works. (Exodus 31:3; Numbers 11፡25-26; Numbers 27:18). This is a great reminder that the Holy Spirit empowers all of our work too. 

The Holy Spirit empowers Judges (deliverers), kings, and leaders of the people for a mission. When Israel is in danger of defeat or capture by the surrounding nations and the people cry out for deliverance. The Spirit of the Lord comes upon various leaders (Judges 3:9; Judges 6:34; Judges 11:29; Judges 14:6, Judges 15:14).

The work of the Holy Spirit is also tangible in the account of Samson’s life and leadership (Judges 13-16). He is a dedicated Nazarene, and the Holy Spirit is upon him on many different occasions (Judges 13:24). The text affirms that the Spirit of Yahweh begins to “move” Samson “at times” (Judges 13:25). This statement teaches us that the work of the Spirit in Samson’s life is significant. The Spirit seems to come upon Samson according to the purposes of God. In Judges 14:6, the Spirit of Yahweh comes upon him to give him the strength to slay a lion.

And in Judges 14:19, the Spirit of Yahweh comes upon him to help him slay thirty Philistines. In Judges 15:14-15, The Spirit of Yahweh comes upon him to help him slay a thousand Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone. Consequently, the amazing strength and victory seen in the life of Samson is from the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that came upon King Saul and King David. 

When Saul is chosen to be the king of Israel, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him and he prophesies (1 Samuel 10:10). The same Spirit later comes upon him to give him victory in battle (1 Samuel 11:6; 1 Samuel 11:13).  

This same Spirit empowers the Old Testament prophets to give them prophetic inspiration and guidance. The Spirit-filled prophets speak the truth and stand for justice in contrast to the false prophets. We also read about kings Saul and David experiencing prophecy as a result of the Spirit’s power. (1 Samuel 10:1-7, 1 Samuel 10:10; 1 Samuel 11:1-11; 1 Samuel 19:19-24). 

David notes that “the Spirit of Yahweh spoke by me, and His word was in my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2). In 1 Kings 22:24-25, the Spirit of God is involved in the words of the prophets as shown by the argument between Zedekiah and Micah. Then, the role of the Spirit centers mainly on the prophet Elijah, to whom the Word of the Lord frequently came.(1 Kings 17:2; 1 Kings 17:8; 1 Kings 18:1; 1 Kings 18:7-12). 

Did you know that the Spirit can transport Himself from place to place. Elijah is not simply being “led by the Spirit” subjectively or falsely. This reality is reinforced when the Spirit of God is mentioned in reference to Elijah’s life and ministry. In 2 Kings 2:16, the sons of the prophets tell Elisha that they want to look for Elijah in case the Spirit of Yahweh has caught Elijah up and placed him on some mountain or in some valley. 

Elisha, the servant of Elijah, asks for a double portion of Elijah’s “Spirit” when Elijah is taken up to heaven by the Lord. (2 Kings 2:9-15). After Elijah is taken from Elisha, the prophets’ sons recognize that the Spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha. (2 Kings 2:15). The work of the Holy Spirit was tangible in the lives of God’s people.  

Throughout the Bible, the Holy Spirit comes upon several individuals for different purposes. (2 Chronicles 15:1-7; 2 Chronicles 20:1-23; 2 Chronicles 24:20). In Nehemiah 9:30, the Levites remind Israel that in Moses’ day, God gave His “good Spirit to instruct them.” And, in Ezekiel 11:5-12, the Spirit of the Lord falls upon the prophet to induce a prophetic utterance. In Ezekiel 2:2, the Spirit enters into the prophet as an introduction to his prophetic ministry recorded in the book. 

In all these instances, it appears that the Holy Spirit came upon these people or filled them to give prophecy. The Holy Spirit enabled the prophets both in receiving and delivering the message effectively. The prophets received revelation, inspiration, direction, strength, for the ministry of promoting true allegiance to the Most High God.  

In the future, when the Lord heals the land, He will pour out His Spirit on His people, on all people, and miracles will occur in the sky as part of the coming Day of the Lord. The New Testament portrays the heart of this message.

Acts 2:17-21 becomes an invitation to humanity to recognize God’s power in the end times. We have such a great hope to participate in the new era in which the Holy Spirit equips the faith community for victorious life and a special task of ministry through His power. Though we live in a world full of evil and oppression, crises, disease, injustices, and disappointments, we have God, the Holy Spirit, who is present and brings restoration and transformation to the broken world in which we live.  

Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Spirit. He knew that without the power of the Holy Spirit, it was impossible for them to carry out the great task that was given to them (Acts 1:5-8).  They waited in prayer, and when they received the power of the Holy Spirit, they became effective witnesses (Acts 2). Acts 2:17-21 is the fulfillment of the prophecy of God outpouring His Spirit as proclaimed in Joel 2:28-32.

In fact, the message is about God pouring out His Spirit on all flesh. In the context of Acts 2:17, the word used for flesh is sarx and it denotes all of humanity (the outpouring of the Spirit upon all flesh, everyone who belongs to the restored community). It is all about the empowerment of the people of God to live lives of discipleship and serve His purpose with the power of the Holy Spirit. What was the result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the lives and ministries of the disciples of Jesus on the day of Pentecost? 

The apostles witnessed to others by demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit that worked in them. Did you know the Holy Spirit filled them with boldness in the midst of persecution and their testimony was demonstrated with power (Acts 4:30-37). Like the early Church, we all need the same power that the Holy Spirit gave the apostles in order to have boldness in our ministry. The Holy Spirit united their hearts together to share a common purpose and possessions; the believers were unselfish and were willing to share all they had. 

As they continued to teach and proclaim the word of God with the power of the Holy Spirit, the number of disciples multiplied greatly. In Acts 1, there were 120; in Acts 2, their number grew to 3120; in Acts 4, to 5000. When persecution broke out in Jerusalem, Philip the evangelist took the Gospel to Samaria. The Samaritans listened to him, saw miracles (including healing and casting out of evil Spirits), had great joy, believed his message, and were baptized in the name of Jesus (Acts 8:6-17).  

When Peter and John prayed for the Samaritans, they also received the power of the Holy Spirit for ministry. The gift of the Spirit to believers at Samaria demonstrates that all, even a despised group like the Samaritans, are to engage in the missionary task and bear the shared responsibility given by the Spirit (Acts 1:8; Acts 8:12). 

When Peter preached to Cornelius and his family and friends, the Holy Spirit came upon them in the same way as He had on the first disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2; Acts 11:12-18). The most significant implications of the Roman Pentecost are the impartiality of the gift of the Spirit (coming on all flesh), the unity of the body of Christ (just as the Spirit gave gifts of language on the day of the Pentecost), the sign of global unity of the body of Christ (as a reversal of the story of Babel), and the witnessing of God’s saving activity through their tongues (Acts 2:17-21; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:44-48). 

In Acts 19:2, when Paul met with the believers in Ephesus, he asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Paul’s question implies something significant about the lives of these disciples. According to Luke’s narration, there is evidence indicating that these disciples lacked something critical—the outpouring of the Spirit for which Jesus commanded His own disciples to wait (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8).

From Luke’s narration, it appears these disciples in Ephesus did not reach out to anyone until Paul himself came to teach and preach to them for three years. These disciples were not part of the new movement and the initial experience of the Spirit’s power. Paul’s coming to Ephesus marks another decisive moment in missionary history—Ephesus was to be a new center for the Gentile mission, next in importance to Antioch, and these twelve disciples were to be the nucleus of the Ephesian church. 

Finally, Paul commanded the Ephesian church in his letter to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Consequently, you and I should live under the power of the Spirit on a daily basis. In fact, it is normative for Christians in the new era to be under the power of the Spirit. In his letter, Paul indicated that power and unity in the Christian life and mission come through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16). The purpose of the Holy Spirit’s power is to bring full knowledge of God (Ephesians 3:18) because God’s power extends beyond our imagination (Ephesians 3:20). Both Luke and Paul are not talking about a one-time experience—they expect the power of the Holy Spirit to be a normative experience for disciples of Christ in the new era. 

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective training and coaching strategy, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

The last words of a person are usually the most important. Before returning to be reunited with the Father in heaven, Jesus gave His final charge to His disciples, as stated in Matthew 28:19: “Make disciples of all nations.”

Discipleship is the essence of the Great Commission. If rescuing us and getting us into heaven were all there was to our life in Christ, Jesus would not have given such a commission to His disciples back then and to us, modern believers.

According to 2 Peter 3:9, the Lord is not willing for anybody to perish. This is supported by Jesus’ statement in Luke 19:10 that He came to seek and save the lost. This is precisely why He issued the Great Commission. It is now our responsibility to tell the world about Jesus’ finished work on the cross.

His work on the cross was so complete that whenever we share the Gospel with someone, and they believe, they get the free gift of salvation (Romans 10:10-11).

All that Jesus taught and exhibited to His disciples during His three years of ministry, including God’s Word, Jesus desired His disciples to share with others as well. The gift of salvation is available to all, and every believer is given the Holy Spirit to carry out our Lord’s final charge—disciple the nations.

We are not really fulfilling the commandment if we are not creating disciples, no matter how zealous we are in ministry or in our Christian walk. The objective is not simply to get to heaven but to be “imitators of Christ” (Ephesians 5:1-2) and to be “light and salt” (Matthew 5:13-16) for others so that they may know Christ as well.

Various characteristics of good discipleship are taught throughout the Gospels. Let us have a look at some of them:

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8:31-32

True discipleship is obedience, and that, in a nutshell, is God’s love language (John 14:15). The obedience that distinguishes a disciple, then, arises not from a sense of responsibility, but from a loving, trusting relationship and fellowship with Jesus.

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35

God is not merely a giver of love; He is love. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ made this love so real for us. He demonstrated His love for us by entirely surrendering His desires to the will of the Father so that “all men could be saved” through Him. (Matthew 13:17)

Love is an action, and it is this action that drove Jesus to the cross. Our love for God has a corresponding and appropriate action as well. It is not following a set of “feel-good” rules and regulations but rather the love expressed in our compassion for others—a love that does not seek to be earned and transcends all barriers of race, social class, and economic standing.

“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” – John 15:8

A life lived in Christ is destined to bear fruit. In John 10:10, He states that He came to give us life that is abundant in every way. True discipleship yields fruit that lasts (John 15:8). He instructs us in Matthew 6:19–21 to lay up our treasures in heaven. Our life can be an investment towards the rewards we could reap in eternity.

You cannot take your earthly possessions to heaven. So, what can you construct that qualifies as a heavenly investment? Building lives has eternal significance. That is how you are carrying out your part of the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations!

Contact us at Global Disciples to learn more about the Global Disciples Approach. We hope to partner with you in God’s mission soon.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective training and coaching strategy, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!