STAGE 4 and LAUNCH TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

 

THE FOURTH STAGE

Please do not think that by reaching this 4^th and final stage that your training in righteousness or your being made perfect in the image of Christ is complete. Being sanctified is a life-long process of being made holy, consecrated, dedicated, made separate from the ordinary an set apart for God’s special use.

Examples of this are found in Matthew 4 and Matthew 11.

Matthew 4:18-25 gives us our first example of Jesus’ demonstration of what He is calling His disciples to become and to do.

JESUS MADE DISCIPLES – WE ARE TO MAKE DISCIPLES

“Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.”

JESUS DEMONSTRATES HIS WORKS

“Jesus was going about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.”

“And the news about Him spread throughout Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and severe pain, demon-possessed, people with epilepsy, and people who were paralyzed; and He healed them. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.”

WE ARE TO GO AND DO HIS WORKS

“Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.” (Matthew 10:1).

“As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:7-8).

WE ARE TO KEEP ON KEEPING ON, UNTIL THE END

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 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 follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).

AND AS YOU GO

Be filled with the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Be filled with humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace

Be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

And finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, think about these things. As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Amen and amen!

Your Brother and Friend – (Always In Training)

Mike Young

PREVIOUS:  STAGE 3 OF LAUNCH – Becoming A Fully Developed Christian.

(please bookmark this page or subscribe for future episodes).