January 4, 2015
GIVE YOURSELF TO TRAINING
Memory verse: Matthew 28: 18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
The word disciple means a disciplined or trained follower. We could also say it means an apprentice. You cannot be a disciple or an apprentice without submitting yourself to training. Training is very important, in fact the local church of our Lord Jesus Christ is a training centre, it is a place where ministers are raised and are sent to take the message of the gospel far and wide. When a local church fails to produce ministers, that local church is failing. Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers”
Every believer has a ministry, every believer doesn’t start out in ministry but everyone has a ministry. As you submit yourself to the ministry gift over you in your church, you find yourself matured and abundantly furnished with all the tools you need to be an effective and efficient minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This training doesn’t just involve you in coming to church, listening to the word and participating in the service and then going home, it involves submission to authority, disciple and instruction in that church. It involves proving yourself through service when convenient and when inconvenient. You must remember the relationship between Elijah and Elisha; Paul and Timothy; Moses and Joshua. In these examples we see how a younger individual submits to an established minister and becomes a minister himself. This is the biblical pattern. You cannot lead others effectively if you’ve not been led yourself. So submit to training.
CONFESSION: I am a disciplined follower of Jesus Christ, I submit myself to the teaching ministry of the ministry gift in my local church. I am not disobedient but as a son of God, I submit to authority has Christ submitted to authority. Amen.
Further Bible Reading: Exodus 30, 1 Timothy 2
Share with others
