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Helps of the Holy Spirit in Making Disciples
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Paul Jang
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2008-03-24 03:05:55, hit : 2,808 |
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Helps of the Holy Spirit in Making Disciples
Because making disciples has many values for church growth, the churches may use the program. Of course, its success or failure must totally depend upon the grace of God. Nevertheless, He does not disregard human efforts because He is willing to use human instrumentality in processing church growth. Of course, humans cannot do that for himself. Humans are only an instruments used by God. Without God's help humans can do nothing.
The Holy Spirit must help the church to make disciples for church growth because He is the Spirit of the truth, and desires the church to grow. "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit is very influential in the process of discipling someone (Hadidian 1979, 73). The Holy Spirit plays several important roles.
First, the Holy Spirit causes growth in believer and church (Hadidian 1979, 73). He is not only the causer of regeneration (John 3:5) but of growth in the believer (1 Cor. 3:6). Making disciples is, therefore, of no use unless the Holy Spirit help to engage it.
Second, the Holy Spirit inspires the church to awake and grow through God's word of life, for example, the work of the Holy Spirit in the valley (Ezek. 38:1-10), the work of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), and the Great Awakening movement (Latourette 1970, 214).
Third, the Holy Spirit takes care of the isolated believers that separated from their discipler due to geographical and commercial problems. "It is comforting to know that when the discipler cannot be with the new Christians, he can rely on the Holy Spirit to cause them to grow in their walk with Christ" (Hadidian 1979, 73). Of course, contact should be maintained through letters, phone calls, and visits whenever possible (Hadidian 1979, 74). But the best effective ministry to them is the communication with the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14, 26).
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Introduction
Ch Growth 