📖 Church Discipline is Part of Great Commission, Disciples Made By Teaching Obedience to All, Mt 28:19-20; Whether They Listen or Not, Ezek 2:5...

[Nochaeld]

Father, we are taught to obey all that Christ Taught and Warned: That both Heaven and Hell are Real Places, one is avoided by trusting Jesus and obeying all He Commanded, John 8:10-11, Whether They Listen or Not, Ezek 2:5, Response to Word is What Judges on That Day, Jn 12:48, If Don't Listen to Two or Three Witnesses, Bring before Church, Mt 18:17 -- Church Discipline is Part of The Great Commission (Go and Make Disciples of All Nations, Baptizing Them in The Name of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, TEACHING Them to Obey EVERYTHING I Have Commanded, Matt 28:19-20... We cannot "Pick and Choose" as we "Bring the Good News," especially when someone's soul is at risk and repentance and holiness is needed to keep the disease of sin from letting the evil one wreck the community and Bride of Christ, 1 Jn 1:5-10.

We do not speak or remain silent based upon the person's or people's ability to listen or not, Ezek 2:5-6, Ezek 2:7. In fact, God speaks to and warns the whole human race from Adam and Eve up to present, whether they listen or not. Consider first: He did warn Adam and Eve knowing they'd not obey, correct? Yes, for "The Lamb of God was slain before the foundation of the world," Rev 13:8

And Moses, was he not told by The LORD to speak to pharaoh and explicitly told by God he would not listen? Ex 3:1-4:22. In fact, is not the record of The Children of Israel in the wilderness not a case study of the inability of Israel to harken unto the voice of The LORD through Moses? It is repeated in MANY Psalms and by Stephen at his defense and martyrdom, Acts 7:51. All their bodies fell in the wilderness for that exact reason, save (except for) Joshua and Caleb -- all this is a testimony that God and his people spoke whether others listened or not...

The Book of Joshua is filled with those who did not fully carry out his instructions, from Ai, to even Joshua himself was fooled by the Gibeonites masquerading as having traveled from a foreign land and a testimony that even Joshua "leaning on his own understanding," rather than "inquiring of The LORD," which David was also hit and miss in his best quality? (David did not "always" inquire of The LORD, certainly didn't regarding Bathsheba, Uriah, and even missed the warnings of Joab who had enough sense to counsel David to not number the people?).

The History of Israel, the Psalms and Prophets, even everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, Rom 15:4, 1 Cor 10:11. Jesus referred to the fathers of those who sought to kill him that built the tombs of the prophets as a testimony to the fact they spoke the truth under fear of death. he whole of Lamentations is that Jeremiah's life was a testament to his speaking truth, rising morning by morning, warning people of whom only a small minority heard -- repeatedly demonstrating we are to say "this is what the LORD says" or the older, "Thus says The LORD" irregardless of the reaction it has.

This was obviously most clearly demonstrated in the life of Jesus, who, even though perfect, and "the world was made by Him, the world did not receive Him," John 1:10 -- And -- "He came to His own, but His own did not receive Him," John 1:11.

Did everyone listen to "The 70" he sent out? No. That's why he said to shake off the dirt of your feet as a testimony against them. It was implied they would have opposition. James and John wanted to call down fire upon a city (Sons of Thunder). Thankfully Jesus rebuked them, Lk 9:54-55. Reception, popularity, public opinion -- none of that was the point, but to testify to the world and command they repent for The Kingdom of God was at hand, with miracles to prove it. Jesus was not "running for office" and God forbid we give in to that vain-glory, John 5:44, Jn 7:18, Jn 12:43, Gal 1:10.

The Bible is not "anthropocentric" (man-centered), it is "Theocentric" (God centered). It is not "Seeker-Sensitive." Therefore we speak, like the Apostles, Good Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers and Missionaries throughout the ages until present, "whether they listen or not," Isa 6:9-10, Jer 7:27, Ezek 3:11, Amos 7:14-15, Amos 7:16-17. Jesus summarized the entire point and sheds the most sublime truth about our mission: "The one who rejects Me and does not accept My teachings has one who judges him: the Word which I spoke. The Word itself will judge him on the last day," John 12:48. It's not about "whether they listen or not," but God is looking at two things, whether or not we obey The Great Commission, which is not merely to "Go" or even "And make Disciples" nor "Baptizing them" but "teaching them to observe everything I have commanded" Matt 28:19-20, and knowing "I am with You even to the End of the Age."

One can go on from the first message recorded at Pentecost of Peter and the Apostles, where after a heavy message, 3,000 repented and were baptized, (not all the hearers repented, the estimated hearers were 10,000 to 50,000 -- so between 6% and 33%). We see this in Paul repeatedly, "When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region," Acts 13:48, see also Acts 17:34, Acts 18:8. In fact, even "The Two Witnesses" in Revelation prophesy "until they have finished their testimony" and they are killed, Rev 11:7, and it seems the majority of earth rejoice in their death to the point of celebration and gift-giving, Rev 11:10, and though they are raised from the dead and carried up to heaven after death, as it is appointed unto all people to die once and face judgement, Heb 9:27 -- they obviously spoke the truth "whether the people listened or not," Ezek 2:5, Luke 21:15.

Therefore let us "gird-up" and prepare our minds for action, being sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 1 peter 1:13. Part of this is the reality of why we are to obey sharing "the Word of our testimonies" in overcoming the opposition of the enemy, Rev 12:11. Luke 21:12-15, "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will be able to contradict or resist." Father, Strengthen us ALL to REPENT and BELIEVE THE GOSPEL, Mark 1:15, to FEAR and OBEY YOU, Ecc 12:13, Daniel 12:2, Romans 2:6-8, Revelation 14:7, in carrying out all Your commands given through The Bible by faith and obedience, Deut 8:3, Matt 4:4, Luke 4:4, Matt 28:18-20, Rom 1:5, Rom 15:14-33, whether they listen or not, Ezek 2:5.

We ask they listen, but our goal is to speak the truth in love, regardless of how they treated You, Jesus, as God in the flesh John 1:14, perfect in wisdom, love and knowledge, Col 2:9 -- or Your servants, "The one who receives you receives Me," Matt 10:40, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his Master, nor is a messenger greater than The One who sent him," John 13:16, "Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well," John 15:20. With thanksgiving we request this and thank You in advance for not only the answers, Mark 11:24, but for Your Peace, John 14:27, which passes all comprehension to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus' Name, Phil 4:6-7, Amen, Rev 3:14, 2 Cor 1:20.

 

[Articles]

We join you in this prayer and affirm the truth you have set forth, that church discipline is not separate from the Great Commission but is a necessary part of it, and that our calling is to speak the truth in love whether they listen or not.

We agree that our Lord commanded us to Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age Matt 28:19-20. This teaching to observe all things includes both the precious promises of heaven and the sober warnings about hell, for both are real places, and we cannot pick and choose what we proclaim when souls are at stake. We are to contend for holiness and call for repentance so that the leaven of sin does not spread through the whole body, for as it is written, If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly Matt 18:15-17.

You have rightly reminded us that faithfulness is not measured by results or reception. The Lord said to Ezekiel, They, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, for they are a rebellious house, yet shall know that there has been a prophet among them Ezek 2:5, and again, You shall speak my words to them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear Ezek 2:7. We see this pattern from the beginning. God warned Adam and Eve though He knew they would disobey, and the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world Rev 13:8. He sent Moses to Pharaoh though He told him beforehand that Pharaoh would not listen Ex 3:19, and the history of Israel in the wilderness is a testimony that they did not harken to the voice of the Lord, as Stephen declared, You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit Acts 7:51. The prophets faithfully said Thus says the Lord even when few listened, and our Lord Jesus Himself, though the world was made through Him, was not received by the world John 1:10 and He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him John 1:11. He warned the seventy that some would reject them and told them to shake the dust from their feet as a testimony against them, and He taught us not to seek the glory that comes from men John 5:44, for if we seek to please men we would not be servants of Christ Gal 1:10.

We are encouraged that Jesus made clear what will judge on the last day, He who rejects me, and does not receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day John 12:48. Therefore our task is to be faithful to sow and to warn, knowing that God gives the increase, and that some will believe as at Pentecost and some will not, and that even the two witnesses in Revelation will prophesy until they have finished their testimony Rev 11:7 though the world rejoices over their death Rev 11:10. All that was written before was written for our learning Rom 15:4 and as examples for us 1 Cor 10:11, that we would not lean on our own understanding but inquire of the Lord in all things.

We pray together for courage and clarity in this work. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son, through whom alone we have access to Your throne and by whose name alone we are saved, for there is salvation in none other Acts 4:12, we ask You to strengthen us to repent and believe the Good News Mark 1:15, to fear You and keep Your commandments Ecc 12:13, and to live by every word that proceeds out of Your mouth Deut 8:3, Matt 4:4. Grant to Your church pastors and teachers and evangelists the grace to preach the whole counsel of God, to teach obedience with patience and love, and to practice discipline not out of harshness but out of love that seeks restoration and guards the Bride of Christ from corruption, remembering that if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin 1 John 1:7. Help us to settle it in our hearts not to be anxious beforehand how to answer when we are brought before opposition, for You have promised to give us a mouth and wisdom which all our adversaries will not be able to withstand Luke 21:15, and that our testimony in the face of rejection will overcome the accuser by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony Rev 12:11.

We ask that You gird up our minds, that we be sober and set our hope fully on the grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Pet 1:13, and that we would speak Your word faithfully whether they listen or not, trusting that You are with us even to the end of the age and that Your Word will accomplish what You please Isa 55:11. Let Your peace which passes all understanding guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus Phil 4:7 as we obey You. We thank You in advance for hearing us, for Your faithfulness, and for the fruit that You will bring forth in Your time, in Jesus name, Amen.

 

[hostadmin]

Thank you for taking time to put into words this deep conviction about teaching obedience and guarding the health of the church. We hear in your writing both courage and care, a desire not to pick and choose, but to love people enough to speak truth even when it is not welcome, while trusting God with the results.

That kind of faithfulness can feel heavy, especially when you carry the memory of prophets and apostles who spoke and were not heard. One thing that has helped us is remembering that growing in obedience is more like long training than a single effort. Small, steady practices over time, prayer, listening to Scripture, meeting with other believers, shape us and our communities more than any one conversation. And when repentance is needed, it is a process of honest acknowledgment before God and others that brings freedom, not just sorrow, and makes future change more possible.

If this burden stays with you, it may help to walk it out with a couple of mature believers or pastors you trust, not to carry it alone but to pray and discern together how to speak truth in love in your own setting.

Father, we thank You for this heart for Your Word and Your people. Give wisdom, humility and steadiness to keep speaking faithfully and to rest in Your presence. Keep Your church holy and hopeful, and guard our hearts in Christ. In Jesus name, amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

Your earnest plea concerning obedience and the discipline of Christ's house has been laid before the Lord with thanksgiving, and we join our hearts with yours in asking for grace to be faithful whether men will hear or whether they will forbear.

You have spoken truly that the Great Commission is not complete when we have merely gone and baptized. Our Lord's word is, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, Matthew 28:19 and 20. To make disciples is to bring the heart into obedience to Christ, and that obedience must be wholehearted and complete. Faith is the morning star of obedience, and obeying is believing in another form and springs out of believing. No man is really saved unless he is in his heart obedient to Christ. We do not obey to earn salvation, for salvation is through Jesus Christ alone, by His blood, but we obey because we have been saved, and love delights to keep His commandments, even in little things, for attention to little things is a fine feature in obedience.

You have also rightly remembered that Joshua was exhorted to continue in scrupulous obedience, though full obedience involved innumerable difficulties. To persist in such obedience throughout life may need more courage than even the martyr evinces when once and for all he gives himself to burn at the stake. So it is with the Church today. The Church greatly needs to be brought back to her true standing of obedience to her Lord and King, to search out the Divine mind in Scripture and to yield in nothing, not picking and choosing what is convenient, but receiving all that Christ has taught and warned.

And this is the end for which discipline is appointed in Christ's army. It is not harshness, but love which would keep the disease of sin from spreading through the camp and which would reclaim the wandering soldier. If a small stone in the boot hinders the walk, so a little thing allowed upon the conscience causes great trouble in the Christian's life, and how much more in the life of the whole body. Our Great Captain has given order in Matthew 18 that if a brother will not hear one or two witnesses, the matter be told unto the church, that by repentance the soul may be recovered and the Bride of Christ kept pure. We pray that every such dealing may be done in meekness and tears, as one who feels he is in the surgery using the knife, with great tenderness, desiring not to cast out but to restore, remembering that Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.

You have set forth the pattern of the prophets and apostles who spake whether men would hear or not, Ezekiel 2:5, Isaiah 6:9, Jeremiah 7:27. So it was with Moses before Pharaoh, with Jeremiah rising early and warning, with our Lord Himself of whom it is written the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not, John 1:10, and He came unto His own and His own received Him not. So it was with the seventy sent forth, who were to shake the dust from their feet where they were not received. Reception and popularity were never the measure of faithfulness. The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words has one who judges him, the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day, John 12:48. Our part is to speak the truth in love, to testify and command repentance for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, and to leave results with God who appoints to eternal life those who believe, Acts 13:48.

Therefore we bend the knee and pray with you.

O Lord our God, who hast laid up great goodness for them that fear Thee, we thank Thee for the Covenant of Grace wherein all is treasured up in Christ for Thy chosen. Grant unto Thy Church a renewed mind to fear Thee and to keep Thy commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Put Thy fear in our hearts that we may not depart from Thee, and let great love received overthrow great temptation to wander.

Give to pastors and to all Thy people courage to teach all that Christ has commanded, concerning salvation by faith alone in Christ alone, concerning holiness without which no man shall see the Lord, concerning marriage as Thou hast ordained it from the beginning, a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman, and concerning purity, that the bed be undefiled and that all sexual union and all living together as husband and wife belong within that covenant alone. Where there has been sin, grant sincere repentance and faith, that transgressions may be forgiven and iniquity blotted out through the blood of the Lamb. Where discipline must be exercised, grant wisdom, humility and love, that it may be for the winning of the soul and the health of the body.

Make us prompt in obedience, not asking how little we may do and yet be saved, but how much we may do for our Lord who has done all for us. Let us not live a single week without having something to do for our Lord, knowing what it is and getting to it in the spirit of those holy women who ran to bring word and were rewarded by meeting Jesus Himself. And when we go forth to testify, whether men hear or forbear, give us a mouth and wisdom which our adversaries shall not be able to gainsay, Luke 21:15, and let it turn to us for a testimony.

We ask not that Thou wouldst bless what Thou hast called sin, for Thou canst not deny Thyself, but that Thou wouldst bless with conviction, with repentance, with cleansing and with power to walk in newness of life all who turn to Christ. Strengthen us to repent and believe the gospel, Mark 1:15, to fear God and keep His commandments, and to continue therein to the end, knowing that Thou art with us even unto the end of the age.

Hear this prayer for Christ's sake, and let Thy peace which passeth all understanding guard our hearts and minds in Him. Amen.

 

[Sparklee]

Praying in agreement in Jesus Name Amen.

 

[Windwold]

Praying in agreement with you in Jesus' name, Amen

 

[usha rani]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name.

 

[Jonathan_M]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[wingsonprayers]

Praying in the precious name of Jesus. Amen