If you are like me, and came to Christ through an evangelical Christian group, you weren’t “saved” long before you were taught about “The Great Commission.” Along with this comes the encouragement to tell everyone you know about Jesus. Your experience may have been different, but you are interested in knowing about the Scriptural mandate to be a witness, and whether this matches fully with what we are taught today in many churches.
Discipleship
First, let us realize that scripturally, at least, the commission is actually all about making disciples and teaching them to follow and obey Jesus as Lord. Jesus never tells us in Scripture to go forth and make converts. There is a major difference between converts and disciples. Actually, there are many major differences.
Mat 28:18-20 AMP Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. (19) Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).
The Greek word translated “disciple” means to make a pupil of someone. Those who already know and follow Jesus are to teach others how. That is the basic meaning. The focus here in Scripture is not on getting someone to mentally agree to religion and to say a “sinner’s prayer” and “get saved.” In John 3 we see that one must be made a new man (in spirit) by the Holy Spirit. With this in mind, a “sinner’s prayer” is only useful if it leads someone to truly surrender to this initiation by the Holy Spirit into God’s Kingdom as a new creation in Christ.
Churches are full of religious people who have not been in the least bit regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus why there is no fruit, no power, and no presence (God made manifest). Notice that the power and presence is mentioned in the commission statement by Jesus.
The very reason Jesus gives for the commission to “go then” is that he has all POWER. Remember, he promised this power to his disciples who are witnesses (Acts 1:8). In fact, according to Acts 1:8, a “witness” should not even “go then” until he’s empowered. To go without first being empowered is actually disobedience to Jesus’ command and commission.
Because whole denominations and churches have made it their commission to make religious converts instead of the true scriptural commission, they ordain men by men and send them forth without supernatural power. Then they pat themselves on the back for how many people say a prayer and/or get water baptized. Then we come back and look at all those converts in ten years and what are most of them doing who have actually stuck around (in that denominational religion)? They’re warming pews as a rule, and living like the rest of the world Monday through Saturday. Not quite what Jesus had in mind, I don’t think!
My call to every church group is to stop making so much effort to make religious converts and start paying more attention to the actual commission Jesus gave us to MAKE DISCIPLES, and to recognize (and carry) his power and presence. This is something we should seek after with all our hearts!
What are we being discipled in? Becoming like Jesus, following in his footsteps! What was the end result of discipleship for John, Peter, James, Matthew, etc.? They became like Jesus, more and more. Finally Peter was so walking like his Lord that when he would walk through the streets of Jerusalem, people would bring the sick and crowd them in on the sides of the street, so that Peter’s shadow would go over them when he walked by, and they were healed (Acts 5:15-16).
I’ve actually had unbelieving believers (Christians who believe in Jesus but don’t believe he really still heals or wants his disciples to heal and such) ask me why such and such an evangelist or minister of some type only had a low percentage of people get healed, or some would be temporarily healed and the problem would come back later. Well, the easy and seemingly obvious answer is that they aren’t fully like Christ yet (whether in love or power). As we become more like our Lord, following him and learning from him, we will become more like him, including the power he wants us to have as witnesses.
There are more complex answers for the question about why some ministers have more success than others in the supernatural, including healings. But, it is not that we say a disciple is perfect right away, or even after several years of discipleship, but that we go from faith to faith, from glory to glory, growing in Christ, becoming more like Christ, until we see him as he is and become fully like him.
Rom 8:29 MKJV For whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be the First-born among many brothers.
That is the whole point, not to have people say a prayer and “get saved” so they go to heaven instead of hell. If you read through the Gospel accounts and New Testament, you won’t find much in the way of God telling us through his Apostles that the commission is to get people “saved” so they go to heaven instead of hell. No, the whole point is so that unregenerate men become new creations in Messiah, and through the course of the refinement by the Potter are fashioned in the image and likeness of the unique Son of God, Jesus the Christ (Yahshua HaMashiach in Hebrew).
God wants relationship, not religion. He wants to have sons and daughters in his image and likeness who dwell with him forever. That is why he sent the Word in the flesh to suffer and die. That is why Jesus did what he did, submitting to the Father’s will. He didn’t do it so more people could become Methodists, or Baptists, or COGIC, or any other religious designation! He wants to have a relationship with people, and has invited all men to enter a relationship through Christ, and to be conformed to his likeness.
Because religious Christianity has mostly gotten this wrong, and spent so much effort building religion rather than relationships, we have a bunch of very weak and apathetic Christians attending churches (or not attending in many cases), who are not submitting to the Potter as the clay, to be molded into the correct image and likeness. They don’t receive power (Acts 1:8). Many don’t even believe in empowerment for believers anymore in these days (which to me is calling Jesus a liar and the Word untrue).
What does the scriptural model of discipleship look like? First, we see Jesus making disciples, and know he is by far the best example. His original disciples carried on this and made disciples also (Polycarp was discipled by John and Timothy by Paul, as a couple of examples).
This discipleship is when someone walking the walk with Christ takes another who answers the call of Jesus to “come, follow me,” and helps them walk, step by step, denying self, and taking up our crosses to follow Jesus. Having someone who has been walking the walk help the new disciple is tremendously helpful. Think of natural babies. They can’t take care of themselves. They need carried and they need fed. They even need help finding rest, as they don’t know how to calm and soothe themselves yet.
As the disciple progresses, he is given Kingdom work to do, to practice, such as when Jesus sent out the 12 and later the 72 to do miracles, signs, and wonders, and preach the Kingdom. This was not their full ministry they were destined which came later, but simply a training ground of learning to be witnesses.
There comes a time when the disciple is mature, and ready to take his own ministry on as a witness, and make disciples himself. For example, the great saint Polycarp who was discipled by John who was discipled by Jesus, made disciples also after his discipleship with John was complete, and John set him on to minister on his own. Paul did this to Timothy and Titus as great scriptural examples we can read about and learn from.
This model is effective in producing believers who are very fruitful and who walk in Christ-like power.
Corporate meetings are really meant to be a bunch of small groups coming together, usually on a weekly basis. The small groups may meet more often. The church of Jerusalem in the book of Acts is a great example of this. They had discipleship and fellowship in small groups, then they came together weekly to all worship together and receive further instruction from the chief Apostles and the Pastor, James. Today, most converts simply attend weekly church services, and have little to no involvement in discipleship throughout the week.
Seek knowledge and understanding concerning discipleship, and pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you to participate properly. This is not for all of the converts, but only those willing to actually follow Jesus.
Mat 10:38 AMP And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me.
Telling
Being a scriptural witness does include speaking (including testifying), but this is just one part of many, and is not the whole deal. However, among those turning the commission into a call to get conversions and grow church memberships, telling people about Jesus becomes what is called “witnessing.”
Someone may say, “Have you been witnessing lately, brother?!” What he means is, have you been telling people about Jesus. Though many evangelicals mean well, as I once did this too and meant well, it really isn’t a very effective ideology. First, it denies the fullness of gifts for the Body of Messiah. Not all are called to be an Evangelist. Not all are equipped for this work. And remember, if we aren’t first empowered for a work we aren’t to go forth and witness yet (Acts 1:8).
Granted, this is different when considering friends and family. Of course each believer should avoid being ashamed and should not keep silent with family and friends to hide the new faith. But, even with family and friends, many evangelicals really have no business preaching to them all the time. Usually they drive their family and friends further from Christ, rather than to Christ, though they mean well.
Also, when this version does seem to produce fruit, it is not genuine most of the time. It produces people who mentally agree with the message and say, “OK, I’ll believe too.” But, it doesn’t create disciples who also mature in Christ-likeness and empowerment to be witnesses on their own.
Witnessing is not going around telling everyone at work, school, or any other place, that you are a Christian and “Let me tell you about Jesus and what he did!” I’m not saying talking about Jesus is bad – far from it! I’m saying that this is not the only part of witnessing and that often people who mean well say too much and at the wrong times and actually cause reproach rather than Kingdom advancement.
Being a witness can be summed up into one thing, however, though that one thing is not telling people about Jesus. The one thing is to be. Being a witness is that simple; just to be (a witness). How can you just BE a witness? You are born of the Spirit, empowered by the Spirit, have the fruit of the Spirit, and thus just being who you are as you are being recreated in Christ-likeness, you are a witness. You don’t even have to say a word and you are being a witness. You walk in a room and no one knows at first you are a disciple of Christ, but you are still being a witness, because a witness is simpy what you are, not something you are trying to be by doing something in particular.
If you are being a witness in this true manner, it won’t be long before people at work realize there is something different about you, even compared to other “Christians.” Be prepared, however, as this will (not might) result in some persecution at some level. You don’t have to be preachy, and there will still be some who simply won’t like you or being around you. Why? They themselves probably don’t know. But, because they are in bondage to the adversary, and you have an anointing of power on you that breaks yokes of bondage (all the power of the adversary to enslave men in their sin), those who love sin and want to stay in it, will not want to be around you. If they have to be around you, they may at times lash out, without even realize they are doing it.
I’ve only been working at my current job for a few months now, but within the first month one lady was already speaking to me in an impolite way every time she saw me, for no reason (outwardly, nothing had been done or said). Several times she has voiced for no apparent reason, “I hate you, minister, stay away from me.” That is the extreme of course, and likely because this lady is in great demonic bondage, more than normal for those at this job. But, I’ve noticed all manner of weirdness happening, and I haven’t even been “preachy.” Rumors started circulating about me that weren’t true, clearly aimed at harming my reputation.
This shouldn’t surprise us. Why? They did it to Jesus too. They did it to Peter. They did it to Paul. If you are a true disciple, it will happen.
How will we keep jobs and have success then? Well, thankfully, we have that power, remember? We have that presence (he said he would not leave us), remember? I’ve found that the favor of God works like this; he gives me favor with who I need to have it with, namely those in power positions (managers, owners of companies, etc.) while coworkers may not want to be around me. The managers may not even want to be around me, but God gives me favor in every job I’ve had with the leadership over me, as long as he wants me working there.
Think of Joseph and Daniel. How much more favor to share does the Son of David (Yahshua, Jesus) have? Much more, and he will give it to his true witnesses to open doors he wants us to go through, despite our enemies (think about the story of Ruth, or read it if you forget).
God also will give us favor with the people he wants us to minister to in some way, by word or action. I’ve found that often a person will eventually be drawn to me at a job and I will have the opportunity to begin ministering to them in some way, through encouragement, edification, exhortation, or if they aren’t a Christian, by sharing the love of Christ with them through action and speech.
Solomon shares some wisdom with us we should all consider as a witness. There is a time for this and that he said, such as “a time to laugh,” and so on. It is not always appropriate to laugh, for example. There are times to laugh and times to cry. Also, there are times to preach and times to remain silent. There are times to mention Jesus in our talking, and times to stick to business or other discussion. It helps us have wisdom when we are witnesses. If we have a lot of zeal but little wisdom, we can do more harm than good at times.
Think of a real fool with an automatic weapon, who goes firing it into random crowds and at random individuals. This is what I liken some zealous evangilical Christians to, who want to constantly fire the Gospel and “repent” at everyone they come across. But, a more mature soldier with wisdom knows how to handle the weapon, and shoots only the enemy. Likewise, mature witnesses, who have been properly discipled and taught how to handled the power (Acts 1:8), will wound the enemy and defeat him, but keep from shooting the bystanders who are enslaved by the enemy. We are to be helping them get set free, not killing them (spiritually) with the Gospel.
So, before you open your big mouth, think, and pray for wisdom. There is often better effect by your actions speaking about the love of Christ, than to go around preaching to everyone. People who aren’t ready (to be discipled) will not notice or just take your loving actions for granted, but that isn’t your fault. If someone can’t yet see a difference about you through just being who you are around them, your countenance, and so forth, then they probably aren’t ready for your preaching Christ either. The Holy Spirit will draw those we are to disciple, in the proper season.
This is different for an Evangelist who is specifically gifted and empowered to preach the Gospel to many, and see many who want to turn from their old living to follow Jesus instead. Other believers should usually just let their actions speak the love of Christ, and when they do vocalize, let it be blessed words of love and testifying about Jesus, but not preaching at the “sinner.” The love of God draws men to repentance, not beating them over the head with Bible quotes or giving them a picture of a God who wants to smash them to bits if they don’t accept the Gospel of Christ.
Fellowship
Every believer who wants to be a witness needs fellowship with other believers on a regular basis. It is unscriptural for there to be lone ranger Christians. There are two types of fellowship that are very helpful to spiritual growth.
First there is the need for involvement in a small group of like-minded believers. By like-minded I do not mean that of denominationalism or sectarianism, in which dogmatic understandings have formed of man’s traditions and interpretations of Scripture, and the group is not open to considering anything that does not match their own ideas. By like-minded I mean those who want to follow Jesus, with their whole heart, and be a fruitful witness and be more and more formed into the image of Christ. As the members of the group learn and grow, they may realize that some things they thought were right are actually incorrect, or that their knowledge and understanding of something was incomplete (such as about the gifts of the Spirit). Don’t get in a group that is close-minded and thinks they know everything already. Those kind of people don’t learn and grow, they just keep playing the same religious ritual games over and over and pat themselves on the backs for it.
Second, corporate worship with more people coming together weekly or more than once a week is encouraging and helpful. For one thing, the corporate anointing is increased if the corporate church you attend has plenty of empowered witnesses attending. Of course, I don’t encourage being a moocher of this, like some many are today. At the church I attend we have thousands in attendance each week, but only hundreds who are true witnesses and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The rest just come to be entertained by us. But, if you are willing to be an empowered witness too, the corporate anointing of all of us coming together can be powerful for your encouragement and growth.
Also, the corporate unity gives a place to serve. I currently serve on two different ministry teams at the church my family attends. This is in addition to the small group of disciples my wife and I fellowship with and grow together with.
Furthermore, the corporate unity of the saints allows for a pooling of resources and manpower to get more Kingdom work done. For example our corporate church group has orphanages in Brazil serving to raise up kids who were homeless on the streets, in the ways of Christ now. At one time they were castaways but now they are being accepted by missionaries we sent there. We paid for homes for them to live in and the ministers to go to minister to them and train them up in Christ. Instead of dying out on the streets, they will produce fruit for the Kingdom. Such a work would not have been possible if we only met with our small group, and did not come together with a larger group of Christians.
Also, in Monroe, Ohio we have a “Home for Life” that takes in young women who need help, usually who come from a rough lifestyle and often are pregnant without help (no man taking his responsibility), or some who were being abused. The home gives them a place to live in peace and safety, with all of their needs met, while they attend our church services and hear the Gospel – so first they are shown the love of Christ, then told about why we love them. Every part of their lives are cared for by our pooling the resources and manpower together, so that women who were in great despair and ready to give up on life can find new LIFE in Christ!
In a manner, I find that the small group is more for our benefit as disciples, while the greater group is more about coming together to benefit others. Of course, as mentioned before, the spectators come each meeting too to watch us serve. We don’t mind this, because it is for them we are serving, that some might truly get ahold of Jesus through our witness, and go from being spectators to being involved themselves and growing in Christ, and getting plugged into small groups.
Street Preaching or Home Visits
I’m all for street preaching or public preaching of any type if the Spirit is leading it and empowering it and the message is the true Gospel. I’m also for home visits with the same criteria. If one is called to this they will have a new heart for it, and be gifted for it. No one should be pressured to go out and publicly speak/preach the Gospel.
Sometimes an Evangelist in the Body will get puffed up and think only he is doing the work of the commission and being a witness, and will pressure others in the Body to join him. Ignore such pressure, but support his efforts. He does a good work when he goes out and uses his gifts to tell people about Jesus, with signs and wonders following (all true scriptural Evangelists have signs and wonders following the preaching of the Gospel – remember, we aren’t to go forth until we get empowered).
If such a one says, “But you need to be a witness too! Come with me!” Just respond something like, “I am being a witness, as I’m gifted. I’m not the same part of the Body as you, and don’t need to be. But I praise God for your gift in the Body, and support your work, brother! I hope you can support and celebrate my part too.”
If that does not get them thinking in a more humble state of mind, just walk away. God will deal with those who get puffed up and start trying to be the Holy Spirit or the Head. In my experience, there are people who think they know what you should be doing, who God has not put over you to disciple you. Just ignore them. The enemy tries to put confusion among brethren this way. Don’t concern yourself with someone trying to tell you what you should do for Christ if it is not the person or group God put you under to be matured in Christ.
One Body Many Parts
1 Corinthians 12 says we are one Body but many parts. We partake in the same Holy Spirit and are all in Christ, but we are all unique and gifted differently. We should each seek to know our purpose in Christ and our particular gifting. Then we serve in our gifting and find fulfillment in such. This article is not about how to figure such out, but for starters, Jesus promised, “Seek and ye shall find…”
See the page on this website, “Relationship, Not Religion.”
If you are empowered, having no supernatural gifting yet, you aren’t truly a “witness.” Seek to receive the Holy Spirit to empower you. There need be no fear in this for a true believer and this is why:
Luk 11:9-13 AMP So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. (10) For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened. (11) What father among you, if his son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent? (12) Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? (13) If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts [gifts that are to their advantage] to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!
Conclusion
There are many groups now focusing again on scriptural discipleship. However, most denominational churches still aren’t getting true discipleship, thinking discipleship is having classes on Sunday morning or Wednesday night. If you get nothing else about discipleship, get this; to be discipled is to have someone who has already walked the walk ahead of you in Christ, who you can closely learn from and follow Christ with.
1Co 11:1 AMP PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah).
Know that when you are a true disciple and are being empowered as a witness, you will be persecuted at some level. Not just by those in the world, but sometimes even more by the religious believers who are not being discipled and are not being empowered. I call this the Pharisee syndrome. I’ve had many religious Christians treat me at some level similar to how the Pharisees treated Jesus. This is normal (should be, if you are on the right track) and should encourage you, not discourage you.
Joh 15:20-27 AMP Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his master [is not superior to him]. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word and obeyed My teachings, they will also keep and obey yours. (21) But they will do all this to you [inflict all this suffering on you] because of [your bearing] My name and on My account, for they do not know or understand the One Who sent Me. (22) If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin [would be blameless]; but now they have no excuse for their sin. (23) Whoever hates Me also hates My Father. (24) If I had not done (accomplished) among them the works which no one else ever did, they would not be guilty of sin. But [the fact is] now they have both seen [these works] and have hated both Me and My Father. (25) But [this is so] that the word written in their Law might be fulfilled, They hated Me without a cause. [Ps. 35:19; 69:4.] (26) But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me. (27) But you also will testify and be My witnesses, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
Many people say they love God while hating men and especially lashing out and hating the works of Christ by the Holy Spirit through empowered disciples. I’ve never seen so many religious feathers ruffled than when I was in a denominational church that believed the gifts of the Spirit ceased long ago, while I was demonstrating them with fruit for the Kingdom. Many, like those who loved Jesus in the scriptural accounting, loved me and saw that my work was true, because it glorified God and bore fruit for the Kingdom. Others ignored this and simply attacked and persecuted and even called what I was doing “of the devil” because they had the Pharisee syndrome, and don’t really know God, though they claim to love and worship him.
Don’t be offended with them. Love all men, forgive all men, and seek to serve as a witness of God’s love and power, an effective disciple glorifying our Master and Savior! Amen! The scriptural faith is real and powerful and causes manifestation of that reality and power of the Kingdom of God. Don’t partake in mere religion and be fooled by it. If you aren’t partaking in the Kingdom coming on earth as in heaven, which is powerful, then seek to find this true discipleship and walk!
Remember, the true commission of Jesus was not for us to get men out of hell and into heaven, but to make disciples who will be formed into his very image and likeness. Our Father in heaven wants a household full of his children, who will reign over creation from his right hand with their King, Jesus, the firstborn. Also, scripturally it is heaven coming to earth, not earth going to heaven that is God’s goal. Even in the End of the Book (Revelations), our dwelling is on earth, but heaven has fully come to earth, and God dwells with us in fullness from Zion.
Therefore, it is an improper invitation that says something like, “Accept what Jesus did for you so you can go to heaven!” Everyone who remotely thinks that could be true (that accepting Jesus gets you into heaven) will accept that invitation, but that doesn’t make them a disciple, or one born of the Spirit.
