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Life Cycle of the believer - 6/16/2008 5:47:23 AM
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manichunter
Posts: 63
Joined: 6/2/2008
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Is there a believer life cycle?
This is something we teach at our church that has helped us greatly. I think others might want to know. If you disagree, let me know. This might be a little controversial. We believe that the christian spiritual rebirth immulates the natural maturing, learning, and responsibility process. This process comes from Scripture and the Biblical talmid system. It was followed by Jesus Himself in the training and equipping of His disciples. It is illustrated from as far back as Moses/Joshua, Elijah/Elisha and Eli/Samuel.
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We start first with what we call a believer. This is equated with a new born baby and young child (1Pe 2:2). This is a person who has been born again spiritually and needs intensive care and direction. They remain mostly dependant and stuck in an infantile spiritual state (Heb 5:13). They have very little knowledge and application of Truth. They might know a ot of Scripture and still not know alot of truth. This is not an age dependent thing. A person can remain a believer throughout their entire life if they do not yearn or strive for the next step in the life cycle. In order to go to the next level, the believer is going to have make a few basic commitments and sacrifices. They are going to have pick up their own cross, deny themselves, and be a disciple (follower/talmid) of Yeshua (Mt 16:24). They will have to have a change of mindset and affections towards heaven and away from the material world and its treasures (Col 3:1). If they never strive for the next level, they will remain mostly spiritually ignorant, dependent and entrapped by the world's lust and material lures. This is the largest group of any congregation. They never fulfil their calling if they do not promote to the next level.
Next we have the disciple. This the equated to a teenager enrolled in an apprenticeship program. This person has committed to live in spirit and truth. They want to achieve their personal calling. Normal life, lust for worldly things, and the devil will not stop. They desire to strive towards the mark of their high calling. They want meat and a personal knowledge of their Lord. They have committed to the three phases of discipleship in accordance with the Scriptural culture of Yeshua. Yeshua followed this pattern of discipleship in His three years of ministry. Discipleship consisted of the learning phase, character building phase, and the application phase. A person can get stuck here as well if they continue to learn but never come to the knowledge of truth. Truth is only fully learned by application of Scripture. We might learn something, but the other half is testing it.
The learning phase is for the disciple to learn spiritual truths, knowledge, and revelations. It mostly a sit down and record phase as the instructor passes his knowledge onto his apprentices.
The character building phase is for the disciple to be edified, refined, and molded into the character required for achieving their personal calling. It is by afflictions and sufferings that God changes the character of His disciples. This is like bootcamp. Many drop out doing this phase back into the crowd with the believers. This is when a person gets introduced to their calling asked of them by God because the training gets specific and detailed.
The application phase is when the disciple starts applying what they know under supervision and monitoring. It is here where they start experimenting with what they know so they can develop wisdom (THIS IS WHERE I AM IN THE DISCIPLESHIP PROCESS). They are starting to walk in the steps of their calling. They are learning how to instruct and shepherd God's people in a teachers' aid role. They are being made ready to go to the next level of life cycle of the believer. God starts putting them on the battlefield where they can fight face to face with their enemy in his full fury. This has proven difficult for me personally. I have personally been attacked so viciously that I feel like screaming now.
Then we have the servant. This equated to an adult up to the age of retirement. Now a person is walking and living their calling every day. They have been equipped with the knowledge, character, and wisdom to instruct and shepherd the people of God. Their calling is now heading towards something new called a destiny. They are the leaders, instructors, and shepherds of the whole discipleship system. They are the elders. It is their responsibility to prepare the next generation for leadership. If this servant position is never developed in a local body, then the body is in a world of hurt. It would scare most churches to learn that their pastor is still a disciple himself. This why a lot of local bodies fall apart after a pastor leaves. No one was groomed to step in and properly fulfil the servant’s role.
Lastly we have the Master-Servant. This is equated to a senior citizen. I will not go into this one much because few people ever reach it (Moses, Elijah, and Paul got here). This person has accomplished their destiny. Now they are waiting to fly to their master. They have finished their course as Paul said. The rest of their life is just gravy for the benefit of others. They are the senor advisors with the greatest amount of wisdom. They are able to fulfil multiple servant roles in a pinch if required. This office is woefully missed.
What do you think? Are we half crazy to receive and implement this discipleship system?
Let me know.
< Message edited by manichunter -- 6/16/2008 6:03:51 AM >
_____________________________
Where is your Berean spirit. Challege everything to determine if you be of the faith. The devil is a tough foe. The messages have to be hard and piercing. So be it, count all things lost. Now off to the hunt to save souls!
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RE: Life Cycle of the believer - 6/16/2008 8:58:52 AM
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SpongeBlog
Posts: 1117
Joined: 12/9/2006
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I definately believe in this progression of growth. My baby years were fantanstic, while my 'teenage' years were very difficult. I think I'm settling into a more mature relationship with my heavenly father, now that I'm older and little more grounded in the faith.
And it's true I've found myself moving into a guiding and supportive role with those coming up behind me. I've been able to share what I've learned in my experiences with our 'College and Career (School of The Rock') group on Wed. nights. It's a joy to be able to lend a guiding hand to those who will soon be facing the same kinds of struggles I once did with the hope of helping them fare better than I did.
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"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men." (Romans 14:17,18)
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RE: Life Cycle of the believer - 6/16/2008 9:45:19 AM
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rcjames
Posts: 5019
Joined: 7/15/2005
From: Oklahoma
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Here is what I consider to be the life growth of a Believer;
(Eph 4:11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
(Eph 4:12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
(Eph 4:13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
(Eph 4:14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
(Eph 4:15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
(Eph 4:16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Thanks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
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