|
As Many as Possible
05/02/04
"Though I am free and belong to
no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the
Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like
one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those
under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law
(though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win
those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have
become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I
do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Our brother Paul's passion for
God is expressed in his goal "to win as many as possible." First of
all in verse 20, Paul shares his desire to "win the Jews." Then in
verse 21, he declares his zeal to win the Gentiles to Christ. In God's world
view, it is composed of only two groups, Jews and Gentiles.
So in verses 20 and 21 Paul wants to win as many as possible out of a lost
world. Yet Paul goes on. He declares, "To the weak, I became weak to win
the weak." It occurred to me that in verse 22, Paul was saying we need to
be just as passionate "to win" the weak disciples! Paul saw winning a
lost world must include winning potentially lost disciples!
For the past several months the
leadership of the Portland Church has taught the congregation to have deep
convictions that to be baptized one must be a "sold out" disciple, to
place membership one must be a "sold out" disciple and to be restored
one must be a "sold out" disciple. A "sold out" disciple
walks with God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength. (Matthew 22:37-40) A
"sold out" disciple loves his neighbor as himself. A "sold
out" disciple's mission is to be "a fisher of men." (Mark
1:14-18) A "sold out" disciple is willing to go anywhere, do anything,
and give up everything for Jesus! (Luke 14:33)
This past week in the Portland
Church, God moved so powerfully! First of all on Wednesday evening, Marieta
David of the Spanish-speaking ministry was baptized! Then Sunday morning at the
Marriage Retreat at Cannon Beach Tim and Natalie Phillips were restored. And at
our Sunday night service, not only did a strong disciple family place membership
from Boston, Larry and Debbie Scipioni, but Sonia Gonzalez was baptized! Her
parents and her older five brothers are dynamic disciples in the Portland
Church. Her mother was in tears as this was their oldest daughter and first girl
baptized of the Gonzalezs' ten children! From one perspective, Sonia was raised
"in the church" - similar to the Jews "under the law."
Whereas, Marieta had no previous contact with a church of disciples and was
converted from the world, like "those not having the law," Gentiles!
Though there are many qualities of a happy, healthy church, the Scriptures
command by word and example that God's churches should be numerically growing
(Acts 2:47, 6:1-7, 9:31, 16:5) and fully committed to winning a lost world
(Gentiles) and the children of the disciples (Jews). This must be a focus of a
congregation or it will not happen! This past weekend, the marriage retreat was
held at an amazing hotel, right on Cannon Beach overlooking Haystack Rock. Rob
and Pam Skinner of the Boise Church were our guest speakers. Rob
and Pam planted the Portland Church in 1991 with a gathering of 50 disciples
coming from San Francisco and Seattle. After a very fruitful seven months, the
Spirit then took them to Seattle, Anchorage and then Tokyo for ten years! We,
the marrieds of the Portland Church, were so encouraged by their messages and
even more so because of their lives. Rob and Pam's courage and perseverance to
stay in the ministry, despite the climate of our churches is so inspiring. In
three days, a very precious bond was renewed between the Skinners and the
Portland Church.
The theme of the retreat was
"My Lover and My Friend" from Song of Songs 5:16. Rob used the
Scriptures so powerfully and practically as he preached that as disciples we
must love God and the Kingdom first, then our spouses. (Matthew 6:33) He shared
very openly what God had taught him about "listening versus fixing,"
"lap-talks," "the pause button" and choosing who is going to
win your marriage fights - Satan or Jesus? He also talked specifically about
getting the discipling we needed to have strong marriages.
Though the singing, messages, and
prayerful strolls along the beach with our spouses were life-changing, one of
the most encouraging highlights was the restoration of Tim and Natalie. They had
left God and the church for several months, having been shared with and baptized
in California. After hearing what was going on in Portland, they desired to be
back with God. After several "hard hitting," but inspiring Bible
studies with the Bordieris, Reddys, Thornes, and Prestons, they decided to once
again surrender to the lordship of Christ. (James 5:19, Jude 22) When Elena and
I met with them for the "counting of the cost" session, we shared
Revelation 2 about "losing their first love." We asked them what their
lives were like when they were first baptized. They shared amazing personal
changes and miraculous conversions they had seen through their own sharing!
Then, I asked, "In your hearts, is Christ again your first love?"
Without hesitation, simultaneously and with huge smiles they said an emphatic
yes!
All those disciples involved in
Sonia's conversion, Marieta's baptism and the Phillips' restoration understand
Paul's heart, when he shares "he became a slave...he became all things to
all men to save some," and that he did it "to share in the blessings
of the gospel." Let us all in the Portland Church stand in awe of God, for
we are nothing but salvation is everything! Let us all determine "to win as
many as possible," of the Jews (our children), Gentiles (the world), and
just as passionately, weak disciples! And to God be the glory!
Kip McKean
|
Articles
