WIGTAKE

Ask the Right Question!

    When Missionaries would arrive in a new country they would often look around at all the needs and not be sure exactly where to begin. Sometimes they would start a church, a social ministry, or a school. They usually asked the same basic question, “What can I do?”.  However, it all begins with asking the right question. If you ask the wrong question, you get the wrong answer, or start down the wrong road. The question you ask will usually define how you approach the problem or challenge. When a Missionary asks the question, “What can I do?”, they have immediately limited their ministry to what they can do.

    The better question would be “What’s It Gunna Take”(WIGTAKE). What is it going to take to reach this city, community, country, this people. If we ask "What we can do" we have limited our vision to what we can do. We may can start a church or two, start a school, start a ministry. We may can reach 100, 200, 500, over the years. However, the real question is: What is it going to take to reach the entire city of 250,000 , 1 million, 5 Million (Houston, Porto Alegre) 24 million ( Sao Paulo, New York, Mumbi). The entire people groups or segment of 800,000, 13 million, Etc.

   When we ask this question, we begin our strategy at a different level.

Answer the Right Question!

     It is not enough to ask the right question. We have to actually answer the question. How many churches will it take ( 1 per 1000?), How many small groups? ( 1 per 25?), how many leaders, teachers, pastors, workers? ( 1 per 25?). How will these groups reproduce? How often? Where will they meet? How often? Who will lead them? How will they be trained? A Vision with out a plan is only a dream!

Example:

      A few years ago a girl came to me after several Volunteer Mission Trips to Salvador. She said that she wanted to come to Salvador to work with children. I asked her about how many children she thought she could work with.  She explained that she had worked with groups up to 200 and more. She had years of experience.

      I explained that in Salvador we had over 850,000 kids in the public school system. This did not count the thousands that did not attend school or those in private schools. You see we are not just trying to reach 200 kids, we are trying to reach close to a million kids. To reach a million kids you will need to approach this quite differently than if you are trying to reach 200. You will take on a different role. You have to envision a ministry beyond “what you can do”.  Your plan must be God size and not Your size. You must depend on God’s resources not Your abilities. You begin to pray for grace, mobilize heaven and earth, involve any and every legitimate partner, cry out to God to do what God alone can do. When it happens, who get the glory? You guessed it, not you. God gets glory for what only God can do.

      To reach the people God has put on your heart, let me ask you a question. What is it going to take?

DIVERSIFY?!?!

     When we first arrived in Brazil in 1991, the inflation rate was over 35% a month. It made no sense to save you money since it was worth less and less each day. People would spend as quickly as possible investing in anything that would possibly hold it’s value. The banks were still necessary so folks would diversify their deposits  for security. If one bank failed they would have money in another bank. Many had multiple accounts in Bradesco, Banco do Brasil, Itau, Caixa Economica, Etc. Smart, right? Diversify your investments.

       In the area of religion, many do the same think. They “deposit” a little of their faith in the “Bank of Mother Mary”, the “Bank of Good Works”, The “Bank of Multiple Religions”, the “Bank of Self-Improvement”.

      When they hear about Jesus, here is what often happens. They think, sure, why not add Jesus Christ to the group. So in “accepting Christ”, they place Him on the shelf with “Mother Mary”, “Good Works”, and “all the other things they hope will work”. Diversify.  Cover all your bases.

      However, by the very fact that they are depositing in multiple “Banks”, basically they are saying, I really do not trust any of you guys. If I really trusted your “Bank” I would deposit all of my money (Faith) there. They are really not trusting any of the Banks. That is not “trusting”, that is gambling. They are just hoping that al least one of these will work.

    To trust Jesus Christ as your Savior means to “withdraw” all of your faith from the bank of “Mother Mary”, the “Bank of Good Works”, the “Bank of Good Intentions”, or any other “Bank” and deposit all of your faith in Jesus Christ. Anything less than that is a sham, a farce, and that kind of “faith” can’t and won’t save anyone.

John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

SMALL GROUP#3-Accountability

Does the Bible speak of accountability? Oh Yes! In groups of 2/4 mark the verses with a 2 or a 4 to show if the verse says we are accountable 2 someone or 4 someone. Where in your church are people held accountable? Small Groups?

Accountability to God and to/for Others

Job 33:13  "Why do you complain against Him that He does not give an account of all His doings?

Rom 14:12  So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

Heb 13:17  Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

1Pe 4:5  but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Mar 6:30  The apostles *gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught.

1Pe 3:15  but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

1Jo 3:16  We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Rom 12:10  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

Rom 15:14  And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another

1Co 11:33  So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

1Co 12:25  so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

Gal 5:13  For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Gal 6:2  Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Eph 4:2  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,

Eph 4:32  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Eph 5:21  and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Phi 2:3  Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

Col 3:13  bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

1Th 3:12  and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;

1Th 4:9  Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

1Th 4:18  Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1Th 5:11  Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

1Th 5:13  and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

1Th 5:15  See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.

Heb 3:13  But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Heb 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Heb 10:24  and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,

Heb 10:25  not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Jam 5:16  Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

1Pe 1:22  Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

1Pe 4:8  Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

1Pe 4:9  Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

1Pe 4:10  As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1Pe 5:5  You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

1Jo 1:7  but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1Jo 3:11  For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

1Jo 3:23  This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

1Jo 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

1Jo 4:11  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1Jo 4:12  No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us

2Jo 1:5  Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.

Act 20:7  On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread,

Rom 1:12  that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine.

2Co 7:3  I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.

Eph 2:22  in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Eph 4:16  from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Phi 1:27  Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Col 2:2  that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself,

EXPERIENCING GOD's WILL

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ²And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

  Experience God’s will. Big order. Here are three truths found in Romans 12 that might help.

     First, is the step of Presentation. “Present your bodies a living sacrifice” This is first and not last. Before you “know”, you present. Before you have any details, you present. By faith you sign a “blank check”. You trust God to fill it in. No questions, no boundries, no line in the sand saying..“until here I will follow you.” No! First step, by faith, knowing that his will is best, you present.

   Second, is the step of Transformation. God will change your heart, head, hands, whatever is necessary to do what He says. God does not call the equipped, He equips the called. You Present, God Transforms. It’s simple. It is also a command. “Be transformed!” He begins with your mind, “renewing of your mind”. You must think differently. This is a process, a “transformation”. First presentation, Second transformation…..

   Third, is the step of Experiencing. “that you may prove (experience).” “That” (i.e. ..in order that, ..so that, …so as a result that) you will experience. What do we experience? Exactly what we were seeking ... “that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” God’s will is Good. God’s will is acceptable. God’s will is perfect. I will settle for perfect.

  

  Often we want to know God’s will. Then we will decide if that is what we want to do. That is not how it works. We decide first. Having decided, by faith, we present, He transforms, and we experience. Not that complicated. Just don’t get this out of order, it will be very frustrating, in fact, it won’t work. His will, His word, His way. 

PRISON MINISTRY in BRAZIL

Brazil’s Prison Population in September 2009 was 472,482, making it the fourth highest in the world.. According to the Brazilian Government’s National Penitentiary Department (DEPEN), in June 2008 the number of people being incarcerated exceeded the design capacity of Brazil’s prisons by 40 per cent, and the number of prisoners was increasing by approximately 3,000 per month. Brazilian prisons are notorious for their overcrowding, corruption, violence and torture. For many years Human Rights groups have cited overcrowding as being the cause of many of the brutal riots in Brazilian prisons.

         Of the 17 Prisons in the state of Bahia, 7 are in Salvador.  “S.O.S Prisidio” (SOS Prison Ministry) is our ministry to these prisoners and their families. The team leader, Jesse Jane (real name) has lead hundreds of volunteers to minister, evangelize, disciple, and plant churches in every pavilion in each of these prisons. Churches and ministry centers have been started in the communities near each prison to reach the relocated families in the area.

        

To work in the high security area, each volunteer must have a background check, go through a strip search, and often be humiliated every time we go in. Is it worth it? You bet! The Pastors, deacon, etc of every prison church were justly convicted of serious crimes but Jesus Christ changed everything. These men and women are now ministering and leading other inmates to Christ. It’s a type of “Cell” church.

        Pray for Jesse Jane, The Volunteers, the Christian inmates and those we are trying to reach. Pray for continued access, safety, ministry resources, and that many, many decisions will be made to follow Christ as Lord and Savior.

THE LIFEBOAT

        Imagine you are on a sinking ship 2,000 miles from shore. You are wishing the situation was different, you are wishing for another ship, you wish you knew how to swim! Let’s say you, and the others on the ship decide to swim for shore. You say a prayer and all jump into the water. Some sink immediately, some try to turn back, and some actually start to swim. The group starts out strong. However, with time they begin to grow weary. One by one they begin to sink. Not good. The others swim on with fixed focus. More begin to sink. Not good. There are fewer and fewer. Finally there is one. Only one. He is tired. Let’s say he swims 1,000 miles. Half way. ( beyond a world record). He only lacks 1,000 miles. There is no hope. He did better than everyone imagined… only to drown in a different location.

       This is much like those that try to get to heaven by their own effort. Heroic feats, just not enough. It’s just too far. The Bible says that we have sinned (Romans 3:23), i.e. we have holes in our boat. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), i.e. the boat is going to sink. We can not save ourselves (Romans 5:8) i.e. …too far to swim. We are in a mess!

     Good News! There is a Lifeboat! A Lifeboat can save people that swim and also those that don’t swim. You see, your swimming ability is not a factor. You just have to get in the boat.  You should know however….

     It is not enough to believe that the boat can save you! You have to get into the boat. You can believe with all you heart that the boat can save you and you can drown while believing this. It is not your “faith” that saves you, it’s the “boat” that saves you.  By faith you get into the boat, but it is the boat, not your faith that saves you. This “boat” is Jesus Christ. He lived, died, rose again, and is alive to day.. to pay the price of your failures (sins).  He is your hope. There is no other. None!

    So you have a choice!

      1. Stop swimming. Get into the boat. As you would trust a lifeboat, trust Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and payment in full for your sins. Life is good in the lifeboat. My choice is the lifeboat.

      2. Swim on. Alone, tired, no shore in sight, you are also swimming by faith you know,. ..faith in your swimming. A heroic feat that no one will remember, because it didn’t work.  

     There is room for you in the lifeboat you know. You can see a difference in those in the boat and those in the water. Don’t be an idiot, get in the boat!

Evangelism vs Discipleship

        It is interesting how many Christians think that all we need to do is “gittem saved”.  No thought on “making disciples”. Interesting that we are never told to just “gittem saved”. The Great Commission in Matt 28:18-20 is “make disciples”. Here are the facts.

     Evangelism only . If we could lead 3,000 a day to Jesus Christ, a day of Pentecost every day, how long would to take to win the 6.7 billion people in the world to Christ? Would you believe 6,119 years. That is no day off, no vacation, non-stop, everyday evangelism. And this is if no one else is born during that time. Amazing!

   Multiplying Discipleship is different. If we start with 1 reaching 1 and discipling that person for, say, a year…. that’s 2 (1st year ). If those 2 reach and disciple 2 more… that’s 4 (2nd year). If those 4 reach and disciple 4 others.. that’s 8 (3rd year ). Those 8 reach and disciple 8 others=16 (4th year).  Really slow, right?  Watch this…..

In 33 year is would be possible to Evangelize and Disciple over 8 billion people. The difference is Multiplying Discipleship. That doable! That is the only way it can happen. And, that is how Jesus said to do in the first place. …make disciples!

      2 Timothy 2:2 “and the things you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit these to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. “

   Making disciples is the command of Jesus. Making disciples is the only way this can happen. Making disciples will change the world one person at a time.

     Now the hard question. Who are you discipling?  If you are not discipling you are not obeying.