Insights Magazine: Number Six, 2018

NUMBER SIX, 2018

GOD IS FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION! ARE YOU DOING YOUR PART? charles r. swindoll

AIMING TO MAKE DISCIPLES steve johnson

SOVEREIGNTY AND PROVIDENCE steve johnson + more

In this issue 3

God IS Fulfilling the Great Commission! Are You Doing Your Part?

charles r. swindoll

8

Aiming to Make Disciples

11

Do Something

steve johnson robyn roste

Coming to Terms 12 Sovereignty and Providence

steve johnson

Beyond the Broadcast 15 Strengthening Your Grip on Discipleship

Insights is published by Insight for Living Canada, the Bibleteaching ministry of Charles (Chuck) R. Swindoll. Chuck is the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Texas. His international radio program Insight for Living has aired for more than 35 years. We hope this publication will instruct, inspire, and encourage you in your walk with Christ.

Copyright Š 2018 Insight for Living Canada. All rights reserved.

No portion of this monthly publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages are taken from the NLT. Unless otherwise noted, photography and illustration

by Tim Schellenberg. IFLC is an autonomous ministry and certified member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. Printed in Canada.

by charles r. swindoll

Cover and artilce Images: Daniel H Tong on Unsplash

W

hen I heard the numbers, I of Christians who resisted. They were shunned or forced out of their homes to could hardly believe my ears!

I was at Insight for Living live in the fields like animals.

Flames of persecution spread across Ministries international headquarters, meeting with a delegation of pastors from China, charring the spiritual landscape.

Jiangsu in the People’s Republic of China. Eventually, Mao’s wife announced to the They told me that as many as 109,000 world that the Christian movement in people in their province are trusting Christ China was finished. The only place for the church was the history museum. as their Saviour each year!

However, Mao and his wife didn’t win.

Don’t let those figures fly by you. On Rather than destroy Christianity, the average, about 300 people hear the Gospel and say “Yes!” to new life in Christ...every persecution fortified the church. Up from the ashes grew a day...in just one province! Weekly, new I’m going to say it straight: lovelier, more fragrant f lower of Christian churches form. As soon If you are a believer witness. Today, in a as their doors open, the and you are not actively land where Bibles seats are filled with participating in fulfilling were virtually nonnew, first-generation Christians. Many have the Great Commission, you existent 40 years ago, never stepped inside are not obeying the Lord’s Christian churches are sending missionaries a church! In fact, it calling on your life. to proclaim the Gospel wasn’t so long ago that along “The Silk Road,” reaching Muslims, being a Christian in China wasn’t safe.

In the late 1960s, Jiang Qing, the Hindus, and Buddhists in China, the powerful wife of Communist leader Mao Middle East, Africa, and India. Other Tse-tung, brashly announced she would courageous missionaries are crossing into destroy Christianity in China in three North Korea!

When I think of the growth, I often months. A systematic program to erase remember China’s national f lower: the name of Christ in China followed.

Mobs of people who had devoted the Chinese plum blossom. Because it their lives to Mao burned Bibles and blooms in the harshest of winters, the hymnals. Police arrested church leaders plum blossom has become a symbol for and sentenced them to labour camps. perseverance and resilience. Against Christians were forced to denounce Christ fierce winds of hate, the Gospel is and vow loyalty to Mao. Old women blooming in China and spreading in who clung to their faith were publicly pursuit of the Great Commission!

Remember those final marching orders humiliated, some beaten to death.

Posters were hung bearing the names Jesus gave His disciples?

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

(Matthew 28:19–20) Our Chinese brothers and sisters in Christ are doing their part! Are you?

Let’s look closer at Christ’s last words to find out exactly what He meant.

Jesus Spoke to Ordinary People

Who was Jesus speaking to? Ordinary people who knew Him personally. The disciples had no kits that they could reach into, pull out the right tool, and do a miracle. They had no halos, wore no uniforms. They hadn’t gone to Bible schools, but most had grown up attending synagogues that had their religious schools. Not until the Holy Spirit came on them, did they have any power.

Want to know what they looked like?

Look in the mirror! They were folks like us. They were sinful, unsophisticated, fearful, and uncertain what to do next.

They were ordinary.

Jesus Presented a Brief, Simple, and Clear Plan The main verb in the Great Commission is make. What? Disciples. How? By going, baptizing, and teaching. Please observe: it is NOT a casual suggestion. The Great Commission is a firm command, and Jesus left no room for doubt regarding the scope—all the nations.

Jesus Was Intense about the Mission but Flexible about the Method Jesus specified where the mission was to be accomplished, but not how. He knew the world and its cultures would

Ten Reasons to Give God Praise SINGLE CD MESSAGE

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be constantly growing and changing...as “textbook” used within those groups to would the tools available to His followers. disciple believers and train indigenous Without the help of the printing press, pastors to study and deliver God’s Truth radio, Internet, or even a microphone, to their congregations. In that way, we those disciples turned the world upside will make disciples of all the nations. down. Just imagine if all believers today But it begins right here at home. took Jesus’ final words as seriously as the early disciples did!

Jesus Expected Obedient Action I can assure you that Insight for Living from All His Followers Ministries does. We are intense about our mission of communicating biblical truth I’m going to say it straight: If you and its application around the world, are a believer and you are not actively because at its heart is Jesus’ mission of participating in fulfilling the Great making disciples through teaching.

Commission, you are not obeying the Our mission will not change. Vision Lord’s calling on your life. Nobody gets 195—our strategy to make disciples in all a pass! Jesus’ marching orders are clear, 195 countries by teaching Christians how they are not negotiable, and He expects to study and share the Bible—is clear. But obedient action from each of us. our method will stay flexible, bending I can be this bold because the Great to meet people in different cultures Commission compels me to do so. Every and using new technology as the Lord day of my week, I dwell on this command provides and directs. from Christ. I’m driven by it day and At the centre of our strategy is a book I night. Looking back, that was true even wrote called Searching the Scriptures: Find before I went into ministry. Looking the Nourishment Your Soul Needs. This book ahead, His Great Commission will keep exists solely to help believers learn to prepare me from ever retiring. I’m going to do this spiritually nourishing meals from God’s as long as I can do it effectively. That’s Word as I do...and once they’ve mastered what Christ expects me to do! the skill, to teach it to others. My goal has I will never give up! Thankfully, I’m not never been to spoon-feed anyone! It has on a solo journey. We’re in this together! always been to help you become spiritually Best of all, Christ is with us all the way. self-sustaining. I long for others to dig into Do you remember His last statement just God’s Word for themselves and find the same before He ascended? joy, hope, help, and satisfaction I have found.

I am with you always, even to the end of Did you know there are 6,875 heart the age. (Matthew 28:20) languages in our world? Every year, the Isn’t that great? Christ was not with me Scriptures become available in more of more when I was a younger man, and He is them. As new translations are completed, not with me now more than He will be 10 we will translate Searching the Scriptures years from now. He is ever present, consisfor those language groups as soon as the tently engaged, constantly making HimLord opens the doors. When that happens, self available, and faithfully empowering Searching the Scriptures will become the us to do what we’re meant to do.

The question is, “Are we doing it?”

The astonishing numbers of new believers in China encourage us...and challenge us. God is opening the door for Insight for Living Ministries throughout China to disciple and train lay pastors and church leaders there. We want to work with those pastors who met with us recently and are part of a government-sanctioned entity called the China Christian Council. But our plans are expanding—God is opening similar doors for us in many other places around the world! Young believers and new pastors are hungry to discover the riches of God’s Word…and we are ready to teach them how to do so effectively.

God IS fulfilling the Great Commission... and we get to be a vital part of it! Won’t you join us?

Again, I’ll say this straight: Without your faithful prayers and financial involvement, Vision 195 will not happen. Only together can we obey our Lord’s marching orders and reach the nations who long to know Him! Please pray fervently! Please participate generously!

Charles R. Swindoll serves as the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas.

My Part in the Great Commission

BE DISCIPLES MAKE DISCIPLES INSIGHTFORLIVING.CA/DONATE

by steve johnson

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As Jesus gives The Great Commission He tells His disciples to make disciples and to teach these new disciples to obey all that He commanded, including the command to make disciples. Condensed further, Jesus is essentially saying, “Disciples, go make disciples and teach them to make disciples.” Using the archery analogy again, we hit the bull’s-eye when we make disciples who in turn make disciples of others.

Seeing Your Target How long would it take to evangelize Hitting the bull’s-eye is also what it’s all about when it comes to The Great Commis- the world if we were to actually do what sion (Matthew 28:19–20). The central and Jesus said and if each year every disciple compelling command in these verses is made another disciple who made another “make disciples.” Three other words—going, disciple? Sure, it would start out slow. baptizing, and teaching—describe how we After one year there are only two disciples are to go about that. But I wonder if in one and only four after two years. But keep going and by year 33 respect The Great ComHow long would it take you will have more mission has become than 8.5 billion disThe Great Omission. to evangelize the world ciples. God’s plan calls We seem to underif we were to actually do for multiplication. stand the going and Just as the normal the baptizing part, but what Jesus said and if each year every disciple made process is for plants do we need to adjust what we are setting another disciple who made to grow, produce seed, and ultimately produce our sights on when another disciple? another plant, in the it comes to “teaching them to obey everything I have com- same way it is inherent in discipleship that manded you” (28:20 NIV)? We engage in Christians reproduce themselves. The job teaching disciples so in that sense we’re isn’t done, the command isn’t fulfilled, and hitting the target. But we are missing the the cycle isn’t complete until we do. To fail bull’s-eye when it comes to reproduction— to do that will eventually mean extinction for Christians. the goal of discipleship. itting the bull’s-eye is what archery is all about. I learned years ago hitting the bull’s-eye doesn’t happen from flinging arrows in the general direction of the target or even aiming at the target. One needs to aim at a specific point on the target in order to be accurate. That point is generally the centre of the target: the bull’s-eye.

Measuring Your Success

• Am I modelling and transferring this concept to those I am leading This makes a huge difference when we or discipling? As Paul told Timothy, measure the success of our ministries or “And the things you have heard me church groups. Decisions for Christ, Sunsay…entrust to reliable people who day morning attendance, or the numbers in will also be qualified to teach others” small groups are good things in themselves, (2 Timothy 2:2) but they are not the only yardsticks of The Great Commission. Jesus’ command isn’t • Is there adequate follow-through to see that Jesus’ plan is being followed fulfilled until the one who made a decision by the ones I’ve discipled and how can to follow Him has matured and made a disI help them to see that it is? ciple who is seeking to reproduce himself Someone has said, “Aim at nothing or herself. and you are sure to hit it!” Hopefully that doesn’t describe how we make disciples.

Knowing Your Role On a personal level each of us may need Hitting the bull’s-eye in archery or disto pause and reflect as to whether we are hit- cipleship simply requires knowing where ting the bull’s-eye. There are several essen- to aim and then shooting for it. Aiming tial areas where we need to assess ourselves. to make disciples who make disciples is a bull’s-eye every believer can hit.

• Do I clearly understand what Jesus’ command involves and does it permeate my thinking about discipleship? If Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada. so, where are my disciples?

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To find the program on your local station visit insightforliving.ca/find-station

by robyn roste

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In my heart I knew I was taking the easy hinking about the New Testament and its focus on acting on our way out and I needed to do something faith has prompted conviction in even if it wasn’t much. So, I pulled over, my heart. There is so much more I could ran across the road, and asked if I could be doing but don’t because of laziness, help. At the time of the accident there were five or six cars at the intersection fear, and selfishness.

If you’re anything like me, you know and I was the only one who pulled over. how easy it is to look the other way when And I wasn’t going to.

What if someone something is uncomfortable or pass by, It’s a lot less work to only was hurt? What if the driver at fault took not even wondering care about myself, but off ? What did it harm if there’s something I if I live like this I’m not me to stop and check should do. fulfilling Jesus’ command other than being a bit It’s a lot less work to inconvenienced? only care about myself, to love one another.

After ensuring everybut if I live like this I’m not fulfilling Jesus’ command to love one one was OK and passing over my contact another. In fact, Mark 12:29–31 says the information I continued on my way wongreatest commands in all of Scripture dering how I can develop the habit of doing are to love the Lord our God with all our something rather than nothing.

And you know what? I wasn’t even late heart, soul, and strength, and to love our for work. neighbours as ourselves.

This conviction culminated one day when, while on my way to work, I witnessed a fender bender. My first instinct was to Robyn Roste is the media and marketing manager continue on. It wasn’t a serious accident at Insight for Living Canada. and it looked like everyone was OK.

SOVEREIGNTY and PROVIDENCE | God is Sovereign Sovereignty of God refers to His position How should we respond to the Sovereignty

By Steve Johnson

Photo by Nate Rayfield on Unsplash

Terms in the Bible are specialized words of particular significance. In Coming to Terms we explore the significance of these terms to deepen our understanding of biblical truth through a question and answer format.

Unpacking the term

Many people think that saying “God is sovereign” is the same as saying “God is in control.” It isn’t. The sovereignty of God refers to His position of supreme authority and power. He rules over and owns everything because He made everything. It’s true that He causes and controls all that happens but that is not sovereignty, it’s providence.

As the sovereign One, God has a predetermined plan and purpose for everything that happens in the universe. But He is not merely a detached observer of His creation.

He is active in all history, time, and space carrying out His rule and kingship according to His plan and purpose. “…he makes everything work out according to his plan” (Ephesians 1:11). Not only did God create everything, He upholds all things and all things owe their continued existence to Him (Hebrews 1:3).

In order to carry out His plan and purpose God guards, guides, and governs

all things. This is called providence; “He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’” (Daniel 4:35).

What are some things He controls? He controls the physical world including the weather (Job 37:10), plants, animals, birds (Psalm 104:14, 21; Matthew 10:29), and oceans (Psalm 135:6). In fact, His providential control is over the entire universe: “The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything” (Psalm 103:19).

But what about humanity and the affairs of men? The Bible says God is operative in all that comes to pass in the world and directs all things to their appointed end: over the affairs of nations (Job 12:23; Psalm 22:28; 66:7; Acts 17:26), over man’s birth and lot in life (1 Samuel 16:1; Psalm 139:16; Isaiah 45:5; Galatians 1:15,16),

over the outward successes and failures of men’s lives (Psalm 75:6,7; Luke 1:52), over things seemingly accidental or insignificant (Proverbs 16:33; Matthew 10:30), in the protection of the righteous (Psalm 4:8; 5:12; 63:8; 121:3; Romans 8:28), in supplying the wants of God’s people (Genesis 22:8,14; Deuteronomy 8:3; Philippians 4:19), in giving answers to prayer (1 Samuel 1:19; 2 Chronicles 33:13; Psalm 65:2; Matthew 7:7; Luke 18:7,8), and in the exposure and punishment of the wicked (Psalm 7:12–13; 11:6).

The sphere of God’s control also includes the exercise of a person’s will.

God can interfere with people exercising their wills and cause their will to be thwarted (Proverbs 16:9; James 4:13–16).

Or He can allow them to do what they will.

All of that is still within the sphere of His control and plan. People exercise their wills in the context of influences but God is in control of all the factors that influence people to make the choices they do.

How does God direct and control all things and what does “control” mean?

Although God is in control of all things, He may choose to let certain events happen according to natural laws and secondary means, which He has ordained to further His plan.

God in His power works together with subordinate powers and second causes according to the pre-established laws of their operation, causing them to act

when and how they do. The powers of nature do not work by their own inherent power. God’s power upholds and operates in and through them (Hebrews 1:3). The laws of nature are the expression of His will. That someone should die of sickness is not outside God’s control because He can control disease and raise the dead.

Other times He Himself is the primary cause of something to further His plan.

As Acts 17:28 says, “For in him we live and move and exist.” God in all His fullness and power is present everywhere at all time. He can suspend the laws of nature to accomplish His purposes—something the Bible calls a miracle—and raise the dead, or turn water into wine, or cause the sun to stand still (Joshua 10:13–14).

How should we respond to the sovereignty and providence of God? Humbly acknowledge that He is the Most High God and we are not. Yielding our will to His because He is in control only makes sense (James 4:13–16).

Give thanks that the One who is in control is infinitely good (Psalm 73:1), wise (Job 9:4), and loving (1 John 4:10).

Finally, do not worry about things because He has a plan for our good and His glory (Matthew 6:25–33; Romans 8:28). Entrust yourself to Him to experience peace.

Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada.

Strengthening Your Grip on Discipleship

“You can come to church, sit, leave, and NEVER be impacted by another life. That’s tragic, you know?”

- CHARLES R. SWINDOLL Time for a pop quiz. What is a disciple? a) Someone who has completed a 10-week Bible study course b) A Christian leader c) A knowledgeable Christian d) A zealous Christian e) A Christian who listens to spiritual music The answer? None of the above. Surprised? Don’t be! Never has a word been so overused yet so misunderstood. Although the topic of discipleship has been overworked, it’s an under-applied concept.

Most of us are still spectators when it comes to ministry. It’s not only wise and unhealthy, it’s unbiblical. Let’s focus our attention on what the Lord said in His Great Commission in Matthew 28:16–20 and learn what it means to live as a true disciple.

Discipleship is more than just another church program. Jesus Christ has established discipleship as the method by which He plans to fulfil His mission to grow His church. And how does He plan to grow His church? Through Christians as they live out Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:16–20 to go, baptize, and teach others all that Jesus said while He lived on earth.

In order for Jesus’ plan to multiply disciples to come to fruition, He chose to invest His life and teaching into 12 men. And they, in turn, were to pass His teachings on to others—to disciple others. So, choosing these men could not be left to a random recruiting project. Jesus needed to select each one personally. And He didn’t pick the brightest, most well educated, or wealthiest men. He chose common, humble labourers to walk with Him and learn from Him. But before they could begin ministry, they had to spend time with Jesus. That’s where discipleship, and all ministry, begins. And the disciples—unsophisticated and coarse in the eyes of the religious leaders—could speak with boldness and conviction because they had been in the presence of the Lord (Acts 4:5–12).

Diligent study, fellowship, and church involvement all contribute to growing in Christ. But sometimes we see these activities as an end in themselves.

Remember, the goal of discipleship is to know Christ better, to be like Him, and to make Him known

“Strengthening Your Grip on Discipleship” is from Chuck Swindoll’s series Strengthening Your Grip. You can stream this message online anytime at insightforliving.ca/audiolibrary.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.

And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Matthew 28:19­­–20

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