WHEN ARE YOU EXPECTED TO HAVE A BASIC MATURE FAITH FROM THE TIME OF YOUR NEW BIRTH?
Here is a good question: 'How long should it take for a new Christian to reach a basic mature faith?'
It's a very good question, especially for ministers dedicated in training and discipleship.
Here is the response: '3 years or less'.
If Jesus worked on Earth for 3 years with His disciples until He went back to Our Father, then it means that a new Christian convert should reach a basic mature faith within a 3 year window period or less.
Some of you may disagree, but I will explain the reasons backing up my answer.
Here are the reasons:
1. Throughout the Gospel, there are a few incidents where Jesus rebuked His disciples because He already had an expectation from them.
a) In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus expected from His disciples to have faith in the middle of the storm. The incident occurred in the middle of the book of Mark. Thus leading me to assume that the incident occurred at mid-stage of Jesus ministry.
b) In Matthew 17:14-20, Jesus reprimanded His disciples for failing to cast out a demon possessing a boy. Notice the questions from Jesus to His disciples:
“how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? (Matthew 17:17)
c) In Mark 16:14, Jesus rebuked His disciples for not believing reports of His resurrection. Notice that this incident occurred at the end of His Journey on Earth. The rebuke from Jesus, clearly shows that He had an expectation from them.
d) The Great commission itself shows that Jesus expected His disciples to get things going.
Notice that He is not asking them the following question: 'Is there anybody who is not ready to go on the Great Commission?"
Jesus did not ask that question because He expected them to be ready.
By the time of the Great Commission, Jesus had spent 3 years with His disciples.
Based on the passages of Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-18,within 3 years (or less) of being discipled by Christ through His Words, a Christian should have the faith to do the following basic things:
1. Casting out of demons in Jesus Name
2. Speaking in tongues
3. heal the sick
4. Suffer no effect from poisonous attacks
5. Discipling people
6. Those who are called in the ministry (Apostle, Prophet, Teacher, Evangelist, Pastor) should be preaching already.
There is more that can be done through faith, but the 6 listed points are the basics that a new believer should do by the time he/she has reached 3 years (or less) in the Lord.
BONUS POINT:
If Jesus reprimanded His disciples when they failed to cast out a demon, it also means that He expected them to solve those problems. Many times in life, God will expect you to solve problems in various life situations like a 'grown up with basic mature faith'. He is not leaving you nor has He abandoned you. He just wants you to make use of your faith muscle.
You just have to use your basic faith like a grown up because He expects you to do so.
God never left in the storm nor in the battle. He is present BUT He expects you to do something about it through faith.
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It's a very good question, especially for ministers dedicated in training and discipleship.
Here is the response: '3 years or less'.
If Jesus worked on Earth for 3 years with His disciples until He went back to Our Father, then it means that a new Christian convert should reach a basic mature faith within a 3 year window period or less.
Some of you may disagree, but I will explain the reasons backing up my answer.
Here are the reasons:
1. Throughout the Gospel, there are a few incidents where Jesus rebuked His disciples because He already had an expectation from them.
a) In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus expected from His disciples to have faith in the middle of the storm. The incident occurred in the middle of the book of Mark. Thus leading me to assume that the incident occurred at mid-stage of Jesus ministry.
b) In Matthew 17:14-20, Jesus reprimanded His disciples for failing to cast out a demon possessing a boy. Notice the questions from Jesus to His disciples:
“how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? (Matthew 17:17)
c) In Mark 16:14, Jesus rebuked His disciples for not believing reports of His resurrection. Notice that this incident occurred at the end of His Journey on Earth. The rebuke from Jesus, clearly shows that He had an expectation from them.
d) The Great commission itself shows that Jesus expected His disciples to get things going.
Notice that He is not asking them the following question: 'Is there anybody who is not ready to go on the Great Commission?"
Jesus did not ask that question because He expected them to be ready.
By the time of the Great Commission, Jesus had spent 3 years with His disciples.
Based on the passages of Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-18,within 3 years (or less) of being discipled by Christ through His Words, a Christian should have the faith to do the following basic things:
1. Casting out of demons in Jesus Name
2. Speaking in tongues
3. heal the sick
4. Suffer no effect from poisonous attacks
5. Discipling people
6. Those who are called in the ministry (Apostle, Prophet, Teacher, Evangelist, Pastor) should be preaching already.
There is more that can be done through faith, but the 6 listed points are the basics that a new believer should do by the time he/she has reached 3 years (or less) in the Lord.
BONUS POINT:
If Jesus reprimanded His disciples when they failed to cast out a demon, it also means that He expected them to solve those problems. Many times in life, God will expect you to solve problems in various life situations like a 'grown up with basic mature faith'. He is not leaving you nor has He abandoned you. He just wants you to make use of your faith muscle.
You just have to use your basic faith like a grown up because He expects you to do so.
God never left in the storm nor in the battle. He is present BUT He expects you to do something about it through faith.