RAISING DISCIPLES FOR WORLD OUTREACH

“...I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” Romans 9:2–3 THE BURDEN OF A BITTER HEART Some years ago, I left my hometown in deep shame. I had been falsely accused of stealing my stepsister’s money. As far as I knew, I was the only person who believed in my innocence. Even a local diviner, who was consulted by the family, pointed a finger at me as the guilty party.  For three agonizing days, I slept outside on the cold ground. No one cared, and no one reached out to comfort or defend me. It was a deeply traumatic season of isolation and rejection. Eventually, I fled my hometown to live with my brother in another state. But I did not travel alone; I carried a heavy baggage of bitterness. I made a silent, burning promise to myself: I WILL AVENGE MYSELF AGAINST EVERYONE WHO FALSELY ACCUSED ME--ESPECIALLY MY OWN FAMILY. I nurtured this veng...

"...I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh."— Romans 9:2-3 For years, I have contended that mission and missionary work is not defined by the number of journeys undertaken. It is not about how many cities we traverse or how many unreached people groups we visit. Mission, at its core, is a heavy, inescapable burden for the salvation of others. It begins, first and foremost, with the spiritual impact we make within our immediate neighborhoods.  A ministry that has lost its burden for people may continue to operate, but it has lost the very pulse that connects it to the heart of God. A missionary may travel from nation to nation and return with celebrated, glowing reports, but that does not mean their ministry remains alive in the eyes of Heaven. Once the burden and the love for souls are lost, the mission ceases to exist as far as G...

Subjecting Our Conscience to the Holy Spirit In our previous discussions on the subject of conscience, we have explored what the conscience is and what can produce either a healthy or a battered conscience. Without doubt, we have come to understand that the conscience is a witness, but it is never the final authority. No matter how sincere, innocent, or convincing a conscience may appear, it can still be grievously wrong. The Bible therefore warns us not to lean on our own understanding, but to acknowledge God in all our ways, trusting Him to direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5–6). However, our conscience remains an important witness within us and a moral faculty through which we become aware of right and wrong. It can be a valuable instrument in our walk with God—but only when it is properly instructed and governed by God's truth. It is therefore necessary to understand when our conscience is bearing witness in agreement with God's will and when it is merely echoing our desires, fe...

 For the Love of Him Who Has Called Us The journey has not been easy. Over the years, we have faced enormous challenges—trials capable of discouraging even the strongest hearts. At times, we have watched the apparent prosperity of those who despise truth and wondered whether integrity still has a place in our generation. We have endured fierce opposition, painful betrayal from those we trusted, coordinated attempts to silence our vision, and resistance from individuals and authorities who perceive our commitment to excellence as a threat. Yet, by the grace of God, we remain standing. Had our goal been earthly gain, popularity, or the applause of men, we could have compromised long ago. We could have lowered our standards, embraced malpractice, and traded truth for convenience. But our calling is greater than our comfort. Our generation increasingly desires success without sacrifice, wealth without labour, certificates without learning, and honour without character. Many have come t...

“I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit.” — Romans 9:1 During our last discussion, we examined extensively what the conscience is and the factors that can produce either a healthy or a defiled conscience. Again, we need to understand this fundamental truth: THE CONSCIENCE IS A WITNESS, NOT THE FINAL AUTHORITY. No godly or spiritual person should ever replace God with the dictates of his or her heart. A seemingly innocent, sincere, and convincing conscience can still be grossly wrong and dangerously misleading. Yes, the Bible gives us striking examples of people whose consciences were sincere yet wrong, while also showing us people whose consciences were properly instructed by God's truth and therefore helped them walk faithfully before God. Let us examine a few examples. A. SAUL OF TARSUS — ACTS 26:9–11 Before his conversion, Paul sincerely believed that he was doing God's service by persecuting Christians. “I myself ...