When we enter into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we are oftentimes quickly given a Bible and told that it is the rule-book for life. Granted, this is a partial truth, but I believe this portrayal of God’s Word seriously diminishes its true intent—which is to point us to Him.
The Bible is not the end: it is a means to the end. The end is glorifying God through our restored allegiance to Him, that allegiance resulting in a radically transformed life. The Word is there to provide us insight, examples, and direct communication with our Creator and Redeemer, through the Holy Spirit. We are invited to hear from God, if we would just open our hearts to what He is saying.
Now the “trained” will want to hurl as they read this. But the truth is, we do not even need the written Word. We were told in no uncertain terms that the Spirit is sufficient to instruct us (see 1 John 2:27 and John 16:13-15), and the Word simply serves to open our ears to His voice. This actually plays out in the persecuted Church throughout the world, where many believers live radically transformed lives, with just bits and pieces of the complete canon (much like the NT church). Sometimes I think the way the Word is used hinders our relationship with Him rather than encourages it.
We all believe Hebrews 4:12 that says:
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12, NASB)
Yet in practice, we oftentimes treat it as a history book and a rule book—not the LIVING and ACTIVE, multi-dimensional, Word of God. Here in the west, we have the complete Bible, and many, many more resources telling us what it all means—making us far knowledgeable beyond our ability to obey. In fact, this knowledge-centric practice subjects us all to judgment (see James 4:17, Matthew 7:24-27, and James 1:22).
I suggest we take three steps back, to the very basics, and start practicing listening to God’s voice obeying what we learn. That is the foundation for healthy spiritual growth.
Here is some real practical counsel to instill healthy practices in your new disciples. For starters, I recommend a simple reading plan: one chapter in Psalms, one in Proverbs, one Gospel, one Acts, one Epistle, and one Revelation, daily. This takes about 20-30 minutes and will give your disciple a healthy sampling of the essence and working of God. But reading is NOT enough. I likewise suggest a simple method to ensure hearing the Spirit and becoming a “doer” of the Word. Set up three columns in a journal: the verses read, what God is speaking to you personally through the passage (not simply facts), and what He wants you to do with what you learned (personally). This pattern allows the new disciple to seek God’s voice and conditions them to look at God’s Word as a means of hearing from Him. It also encourages obedience and action. Inaction and disobedience is sin. And we should strongly discourage the practice of acquiring knowledge in the absence of obedience. This pattern of behavior is rampant in modern Christendom, and a tough habit to break. If adopted, it will be difficult to propagate a healthy discipleship chain.
Likewise, teach your disciple how to pray. We have already briefly covered hearing from God. Well, prayer is two-way communication. Teach your disciples to ask, yes, but also to listen for a response. Likewise, teach them to just glorify God—praise Him for who He is and what He has done. Do not simply come to Him with a wish list. How does that bring Him glory? Also, teach them to intercede for the saints. Have them pray for their own discipleship candidates for 15 minutes a day. Have them pray for the community, their family, and other needs. This will establish a good pattern of considering other’s needs, rather than having a prayer time that focuses on their personal needs only. Teach them to pray without ceasing—a perpetual thought-life of communicating with God.
Teach them and encourage them to fast right away. Fasting suppresses the flesh allowing more clarity in hearing the Spirit. Fast a day per week right away, encouraging them to pray in their discipleship candidates. As they hear God move and see how fasting intensifies their intimacy with God, they will learn how to incorporate fasting as an integral part of their spiritual life.
If these habits are established early with your disciple, you just about guarantee that the Lord will personally speak to, nurture and guide this disciple going forward. They will not be hindered by external drivers. They will be predisposed to constantly seek His counsel and obey what they learn. These are great patterns and habits to establish right away with your disciple to initiate and ultimately propagate a healthy spiritual DNA multi-generationally.
I will discuss further tips to avoid acquiring and propagating bad DNA in a future chapter.
Lord, I pray that your people would learn to hear your voice, and eagerly desire to commune with you. I pray that you quiet the distractions in life to allow them to cherish their time with you—to gain understanding, guidance, and obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen.