April 7, 2025 • 26 mins
We explore the stark difference between having a relationship with a church versus a relationship with Christ, highlighting how true discipleship happens through authentic relationships rather than religious rituals.
• Christians are commissioned to make disciples, not just church attendees
• The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) gives believers clear direction to baptize and teach others
• Many Christians develop a genuine passion for souls only after years of spiritual growth
• Effective discipleship requires consistency between our words and actions
• The "soft gospel" of Western Christianity contrasts with the persecution faced by believers in other countries
• True discipleship follows Jesus' example of compassion rather than harsh judgment
• We must view others as souls in need of salvation, not just people to be converted
• Building relationships is essential for effective discipleship—people won't listen if they don't feel connected
• The Word of God—not our arguments—is what actually convicts people of truth
Our challenge to you: Look at people as souls rather than just individuals, and ask yourself if your words and actions align in a way that draws others to Christ.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And in the Western world we have a soft gospel.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Mercy.
Welcome to the Call by Godpodcast.
I'm your host, Brother Nick,and I'm here with Adney.
Sister Adney, how you doing onthis blessed day?
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Good afternoon, brother.
Nick, I'm doing amazing.
How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
The allergy is kicking in again, but it's that
season.
Yeah, the show must continue.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Yeah, it sure should.
It sure has to.
We don't get to stop.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
I know, I know that's right.
So I'm excited about today'sepisode because you know we'll
be talking about our Savior,amen.
You know, everything thatChristians ought to aim to do is
highlight Jesus.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Amen.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our life, he's
our foundation, he's our Savior,he's our Master, he's our
Teacher.
He life, he's our foundation,he's our savior, he's our master
, he's our teacher, he's theMessiah, he is God.
So whenever we have anopportunity to talk about Christ
, jesus Christ, the gospel, itgives me a time to reflect of
how good he's been to me, goodto you and even good to the
(01:21):
world.
And I know we're in the monthof April and Good Friday is
right around the corner and youknow most folks they want to
celebrate Good Friday and alsoEaster.
And you know, you know, addy,you know this.
You know one of the busiestdays where worldly people go to
(01:44):
church, unchurch go to church isEaster.
There's also the holidays.
Do you remember some of thoseother holidays?
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Christmas, Mother's Day.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, so when I was a kid, adney, my, I don't know if
you remember, but on GoodFriday it was the Tenth
Commandment, that old schoolmovie, that Ten Commandment
movie used to come out.
Yeah, I enjoyed that movie.
I forgot it's called the TenthCommandment, right.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Mm-hmm, yeah, asa played it all day long.
Yeah, it's called the TenthCommandment.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, asa played it all day long, mm-hmm, and I
enjoyed it.
I enjoyed it Seeing themiracles of God, the children of
Israel crossing the sea and allthe plagues.
Yeah, that movie right there isa classic.
Amen initiated from thedisobedience of mankind, when
(02:47):
Adam and Eve ate from the treethat they wasn't supposed to
touch.
So as a result, because of thedisobedience of man, sin entered
into the world not only sin,suffering and death.
So God had a plan for us.
So the plan was to reconcileman back to God because our
relationship got broken and Idon't think people really
understand the devastatingeffect of what Adam and Eve did
(03:08):
in the beginning and how,without Christ, a person will
have peace.
And that's why I appreciate Godso much, especially when you
read the origin, how everythingunfolded, and you look back in
the present day like, wow, god'sultimate plan came to fruition,
that Jesus Christ was born.
Jesus Christ was here on earthover 2,000 years ago and that's
(03:30):
a blessing that God himself wentthrough a Virgin Mary and he
came here on earth and he walkedthe earth for 33 years,
fulfilled his ministry, hismission.
He died and he was buried and,most importantly, he was
resurrected, but before he wenton back to glory.
So Jesus Christ had his missionthat he fulfilled for humanity,
(03:54):
obviously to bring humanityback to God Once they hear,
believe, repent, confess and bebaptized of that gospel, and
that's what I wanted to talkabout today.
Yeah, we'll be talking aboutyou know, I mentioned it earlier
Jesus Christ, but also thegospel, I think and this is just
a conversation between hostsand co-hosts.
(04:15):
But before we get into thegospel, jesus Christ gave the
disciples a commission inMatthew 28.
And I had to look this up and Ilike keywords.
So commission?
So commission refers to like aduty or a task to an assigned
person or group, and I like that.
And I think sometimes, adney,and I want to hear your opinion
(04:37):
before we actually get into thegospels, when we are when God
saved us.
So when God saved you, adney,and God saved me, we have our
own individual mission.
And I think at some point whenyou appreciate what God has done
in your life, you got to, inessence, make it personal.
At least for me I made itpersonal, like when I was lost,
(04:58):
I said I went hard for Satan.
You know that's what lostpeople do.
They do sinful things and theyjust go hard for the opposite.
But when I got saved, I reallyappreciated what God, through
his son, jesus Christ, did forme.
So I was like man, you know, ifI went hard for Satan when I
was lost, now that I'm saved.
I got to go hard for God.
(05:19):
So when God, reading throughhis word, when he commissioned
me and gave me a duty, anassignment to go share the
gospel, I say say no more, lord,that's, that's exactly what I'm
going to do, and I still havethat passion to this day.
So before we get into thegospel, what are your thoughts
on the commission?
Speaker 1 (05:37):
And I have to be transparent and honest with me.
That was not a priority for me.
And I'm going to be honestbecause it's like I didn't
understand what and whom I wassaved to right as I'm getting
older and I'm comprehending.
It's not about me getting up ona Sunday morning and going to
(06:12):
somebody's church.
It's about me getting up Mondaythrough Sunday and having a
passion and a love for God tothe point where, when I see a
person that is not saved, thatmy heart will bleed for them and
I would desire for them to havea relationship with the Lord.
And that started happening onceI got into my 40s.
And it's just like okay, no, youcan't keep living this life
like this.
(06:32):
You need to understand that youare in a relationship and a
covenant with God and you needto understand what your
assignment in this work is Right.
And now it's like, okay, I'mseeking the Lord's face and
saying, okay, I've beencommissioned to make disciples.
Right, what does that look like, lord?
Like no lie.
(06:52):
What does that look like?
And it's like when God said toMoses what's that in your hand?
Right, what was in Moses' handwas a staff.
What's in my hand is mytestimony and my story and
helping people to get into therelationship with God, but not
into a relationship with thechurch, because for me I got
(07:13):
into a relationship with thechurch and not a relationship
with Christ.
If that makes a difference.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
No, that's profound, because you and I, we both have
children and that's one of thethings that we want our children
to fall in love with.
We don't want our children tofall in love with the church
building per se.
There's nothing love with thechurch building per se, there's
nothing wrong with the churchbuilding or the place of
assembly.
But primarily we want ourchildren to fall in love with
the Savior, jesus Christ, andhave a personal relationship
(07:46):
with him.
Because everything you know,anything that man built, it
could be destroyed, it'll fadeaway.
But you know, having thatrelationship with God like that
intimate, it's just not arelationship, but it's like an
intimate relationship with him.
And I compare it to Adney, likewhen you love somebody, you
(08:07):
know, when we was young we usedto have puppy love.
I'm not encouraging you to havepuppy love, you know.
You say, do you like me?
Yes, no, or maybe right.
And then the other person sayyes.
And then, man, you just can'tstop thinking about the
individual.
Like man, like I, just can'tstop thinking about an
individual because I believe Ilove them so much.
But that's not really love,that's really lust.
But when you have a deepfeeling for someone, you just
(08:31):
can't stop thinking about themand I think that every Christian
that is saved, that's the typeof relationship they had to have
with Jesus Christ, because ifyou really think about it and
the Bible says this when we wereyet in our sins Christ he died
for the ungodly.
So when Christians become savedlike me, you and even those
(08:53):
that are watching us whenChristians become saved like me,
you and even those that arewatching us when we become saved
we got to think about that.
We could have died unsaved.
And the last time I checked,you know, if you're not in the
right covenant with God and notin the right relationship with
(09:14):
God, where he is, you cannot goso to me when I.
That's why I say I make itpersonal because, adney, you
know this.
You know when we sin, we sinhard.
Before we were saved, we wereall alive for the enemy and
you're like man.
And then, as you age, you startto lose loved ones, you start
to lose friends and you're likeman.
Where are they going?
Sometimes preachers arechallenged because you may have
(09:38):
the family members try to preachsomebody that they know isn't
right with God into heaven, andthat's not how it works and
that's the importance of thegospel and that's where we're
putting more of an emphasis onit to share the gospel and
that's how men and women will besaved.
It's only through the gospel ofJesus Christ.
And Matthew 28, verse 16, theGreat Commission.
(09:58):
We talked about what commissionmeans, but I want to highlight
what Jesus Christ told thedisciples.
So you know, when we're saved,we are disciples.
We're no longer our own, we arebought with a price.
So we are not what most people.
They ought to know, thatthey're disciples for Christ.
(10:18):
So in verse number 16 of Matthew, chapter 28, it says but the 11
disciples proceeded to Galilee,to the mountain which Jesus had
designated.
It says when they saw him, theyworshiped him, but some were
doubtful.
Now this is the time if folksdon't read their Bible, if y'all
(10:41):
watching me for the first time,watching Adney for the first
time, this is after Jesus Christhas resurrected from the dead.
So Jesus Christ is going togive his disciples instructions
on what they need to do.
But they were doubtful becausethey didn't actually believe
that it was him.
So we know that there areeyewitnesses that Jesus Christ,
he's the only God that was risenfrom the death like death the
(11:06):
grave.
In other words, there is noother God that has conquered
death.
So that's why we know thatJesus Christ, he is the true
Messiah, he is the true God, andI'm going to leave it as that.
So verse number 18 says Jesuscame up and he spoke to them,
saying all authority has beengiven to me in heaven and on
(11:27):
earth.
Now, this is the greatcommission, right, and this is
where we get to sing ourhallelujah, because most people
still don't get it.
So verse number 19 says Go,therefore, and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of
the Son and in the Holy Spirit.
(11:49):
And verse number 20 saysteaching them to observe all
that I commanded you and, lo, Iam with you always, even to the
end of the age.
And this is encouragement to me.
It's kind of like what wehighlighted, how God
commissioned us.
So, when we're saved, god hasgiven us a duty to perform.
(12:10):
And he says go, therefore.
And I'm going to read anotherpassage where Jesus Christ
instructed him.
But he said go there and preachthe gospel.
But in this essence, in thisversion of the Bible, the NASB
version, he says go there forand make disciples.
So, annie, when you think aboutwhen he says go there and make
(12:32):
disciples what comes to yourmind.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
OK.
So the version I'm readingright now says go, therefore,
and disciple all the nationsRight.
What version?
Speaker 2 (12:43):
is this.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
So it's called the Recovery Bible and it says go,
therefore, and disciple all thenations, baptizing them into the
name of the Father and of theSon and of the Holy Spirit.
And the reason I liked it isbecause we're baptizing them
into the Father.
We have people that believethat the whole thing of asking
(13:08):
God into your heart right, ifI'm asking him into my heart,
I'm not being baptized into him.
That's not what I'm told to do.
I'm told to disciple.
And to simply put what is adisciple?
A disciple is a person that isimitating someone else's actions
(13:36):
.
Right, we're discipled bysomething.
Let's be honest.
We're discipled by something.
If we're not being discipled bythe body of Christ, we're being
discipled by something.
Our children that love listeningto rap music they're being
discipled by those rappers.
Our children that look at allthese women, with you know,
(13:56):
walking the street half naked.
They're being discipled by them.
So we are called to discipleall nations, baptizing them into
the name of the Father, intothe name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
So who am I discipling theminto?
I'm discipling them into Christ.
I'm discipling them to Jesusand whatever Jesus has and
(14:20):
however Jesus walked this earth.
That is how we're supposed tolive our lives and imitate, and
that's what the commission is,if I'm making sense.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
You're spot on.
So let me ask you a question.
Do you feel like in this modernage, do you feel it's
challenging to most to discipleindividuals?
And so why do you believe that?
Speaker 1 (14:45):
I don't think it's difficult to disciple
individuals.
I think the biggest issue wehave and I'm going to be honest
is we're so judgmental.
So in us being so judgmental,we don't allow ourselves to
build relationships right, amen.
The best way to disciple anyoneis to establish a relationship.
(15:08):
If I don't have a relationshipwith you, are you going to
listen to me?
If I'm telling you, if I'mexplaining to you, if I'm trying
to disciple you into Christ,you're not going to hear me
because you don't know me andthe first thing that's going to
come to your mind is you judgingme, you trying to judge me.
But the key and the goal todiscipling is establishing a
(15:29):
relationship.
And I think let me not say Ithink I know for a fact when I
read the scriptures Jesusestablished a relationship with
those who were around him and ashe's establishing this
relationship, they're seeing hiswalk and they're hearing him
preach.
The kingdom of heaven is athand.
He's not just preaching it,he's living it.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Right.
So in order for us to do that,today, we can't just be speaking
it.
We got to live it.
People need to, and that's whyI say it's not difficult.
If our actions and our wordsalign, people will listen to us.
It's when we say one thing andwe live in another type of way
(16:16):
and people are like bro, youfake.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
And even when it comes to like discipling, we
have to be an example.
It's like what Paul toldTimothy.
You know, be an example to thebelievers.
Yeah, Paul was sharing that toTimothy, but I think it's even
apropos to non-believers.
You know, we can't.
We can't be acting one way, youway like have a mask on when
we're in a place of worship andthen outside of the worship or
(16:45):
when you're not in closeproximity with the saints,
you're acting a totallydifferent person.
And then you'll have somebodytalking about hey, I thought you
was a Christian.
Because they see some uglyfruit, they see some rotten
fruit.
So now they saying words likehey, I thought you was a
Christian.
So now it puts you at aposition where you can't even
disciple them.
(17:06):
And I like what you said earlier, Adney, you said it had to take
you until you was like 40 plusto really look at souls.
And I think most Christians notall, because there are some
Christians that are spiritualand there are some that are
still on milk and I get itthey're babes.
So maybe that this episodewould help the babes.
(17:27):
So for me, when I look atindividuals, I look at souls.
I don't look like I don't whenI see, either it could be a male
or female if they're in frontof me, or even a far off.
I'm like man.
I wonder if they're saved, Iwonder if their soul is right
with Christ.
And there's sometimes, you know, I fall, I make mistakes, but
(17:52):
I'm very, very careful the way Icarry myself around unbelievers
, careful the way I carry myselfaround unbelievers.
And even times when I fall infront of an unbeliever, like I
have to catch myself and I evenhave to say, you know, I have to
apologize to them or saysomething like, you know, I
didn't mean to say what I said,I didn't mean to do what I did.
I do apologize to show themthat look, you know, I am man
(18:16):
enough to either walk up to youand tell you about my errors and
my flaws, Because, a believeras a believer, you should never
be a stumbling block to apotential believer.
And then I think in today'ssociety most Christians paint
(18:36):
this picture like, as thoughit's prosperity, like prosperity
like god.
If you could give me what Iwant, I'll do this for you.
You know, I mean like that.
That shouldn't be the case.
It's supposed to be.
It's like christ humbledhimself.
You know, even john john.
John put himself as a lord.
He's like lord, you know.
(18:56):
He exalted the Lord and he wentlow right and I think that's
the disposition that we have tohave.
We have to exalt Christ andthat's to be left of us and so
to make a disciple to me.
You hit it spot on, because whenJesus Christ here on earth,
he's the best example, JesusChrist had compassion, and
(19:17):
that's one of the things that Ididn't have as a new babe in
Christ Adney.
I was hitting the streets and Iwas like mentally and verbally
beating people up with the wordof God and I wasn't showing them
the compassion, the same loveand the compassion that Christ
showed individuals when he wason earth.
And I read the gospels, I havemy testimony, but I didn't quite
(19:39):
understand until it happened tome.
So when I was in my loweststate, when I needed that same
grace, when I needed that samemercy, folks wasn't giving it to
me.
So it came back at me.
So you're going to always reapwhat you sow.
And then, at that moment, that'swhen I realized you know what
we're already living a difficult, difficult world.
(20:02):
You know there are a lot ofpeople going through it, People
that are saved.
Yeah, People that are saved aregoing through it, but we're
blessed.
But think about the people thatdon't have Christ.
Think about the whirlwinds thatthey're going through.
So, when it comes to makingdisciples reaching out to the
lost and making disciples alwaysstrive to be an example to them
(20:24):
, it's not easy.
It's not easy because thoseentities that be that you cannot
see will potentially use them,and then it may cause you, if
you're not careful, if you don'thave that spiritual discernment
, if you're not careful, it maycause you to say some things or
even do something that you'renot even supposed to be doing.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Amen, and I love that you brought out the fact that
when you were a babe in Christ,you were beating people up with
the word of God.
Right, because again we get sozealous and until we study the
rabbi himself.
Right, and the rabbi of rabbisis Jesus.
(21:07):
He wasn't like those rabbisback then.
He wasn't the one that wasflashy, he wasn't the one that
wanted people to exalt him andfor him to sit at the head of
the table.
He was the one that humbledhimself.
Jesus was a nomad.
Let's be honest.
(21:28):
Jesus didn't have a place tolive, he had no job, but what he
showed was, like you said,compassion.
Showed was, like you said,compassion, jesus's bowels,
jesus's love, jesus's his um, uh, there, I can't, the word
(21:53):
escapes me now for humanity wasjust so great that he knew I
have to die for these peoplebecause if I don't, what becomes
of them?
Right, and it gets to the pointwhere we have to imitate that,
I think, what has happened inthe Western world.
We have a soft gospel.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Mercy Wow.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
And when I say we have a soft gospel, mercy, wow.
And when I say we have a softgospel, I mean, if we go to
Africa, oh, let's go to a Muslimcountry, let's go to China,
let's go to Korea, where theseare atheistic people who are
being beaten up.
They have to go in hiding toshare the gospel.
We here in this country, wedon't have those shackles on us.
(22:39):
But, yeah, we're shutting ourmouths, we're giving people soft
.
We don't want to hurt feelings.
And here's the thing.
It's not even about hurting thefeelings, because you don't do
that.
The word of God is actuallywhat convicts.
(23:00):
If the word of God ain'tconvicting somebody, you can't
be beating them over the headOnce you give them the word.
Let the word of God do what theword of God does.
That's the best way to disciplea person is to allow the word
of God to infiltrate andpenetrate, is to allow the word
(23:20):
of God to infiltrate andpenetrate.
Paul says in the ancientCorinthians, when the people
were fighting, that they werebaptized under this and baptized
on that.
And Paul had to come back tothem and say did Paul die for
you?
Look, I'm grateful and thankful.
I ain't baptized none of y'allright, because he had to put
(23:44):
Christ back where Christbelonged.
And what I've seen and I'verecognized in this world,
especially in the Western world,is that we've exalted so many
people, but the one that wereally, truly need to be
exalting our savior, our master.
We haven't done that and we'relosing souls.
And that's where compassion forme is like the Holy Spirit is
(24:10):
doing something in my heart,like when I tell you there's
just a shift in me where it'sjust like no, all that extra
stuff is non-essential.
The essential thing is thisJesus said all authority has
been given to me in heaven andon earth.
(24:30):
Go, therefore, and disciple allnations.
That's all that matters.
All that other stuff that wefighting about, it don't matter
to God.
What matters to God is thosesouls that we need to be
discipling.
And in the Western world we have a soft gospel.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Mercy.
Welcome to the Call by Godpodcast.
I'm your host, Brother Nick,and I'm here with Adney.
Sister Adney, how you doing onthis blessed day?
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Good afternoon, brother.
Nick, I'm doing amazing.
How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
The allergy is kicking in again, but it's that
season.
Yeah, the show must continue.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Yeah, it sure should.
It sure has to.
We don't get to stop.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
I know, I know that's right.
So I'm excited about today'sepisode because you know we'll
be talking about our Savior,amen.
You know, everything thatChristians ought to aim to do is
highlight Jesus.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Amen.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our life, he's
our foundation, he's our Savior,he's our Master, he's our
Teacher.
He life, he's our foundation,he's our savior, he's our master
, he's our teacher, he's theMessiah, he is God.
So whenever we have anopportunity to talk about Christ
, jesus Christ, the gospel, itgives me a time to reflect of
how good he's been to me, goodto you and even good to the
(01:21):
world.
And I know we're in the monthof April and Good Friday is
right around the corner and youknow most folks they want to
celebrate Good Friday and alsoEaster.
And you know, you know, addy,you know this.
You know one of the busiestdays where worldly people go to
(01:44):
church, unchurch go to church isEaster.
There's also the holidays.
Do you remember some of thoseother holidays?
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Christmas, Mother's Day.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, so when I was a kid, adney, my, I don't know if
you remember, but on GoodFriday it was the Tenth
Commandment, that old schoolmovie, that Ten Commandment
movie used to come out.
Yeah, I enjoyed that movie.
I forgot it's called the TenthCommandment, right.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Mm-hmm, yeah, asa played it all day long.
Yeah, it's called the TenthCommandment.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, asa played it all day long, mm-hmm, and I
enjoyed it.
I enjoyed it Seeing themiracles of God, the children of
Israel crossing the sea and allthe plagues.
Yeah, that movie right there isa classic.
Amen initiated from thedisobedience of mankind, when
(02:47):
Adam and Eve ate from the treethat they wasn't supposed to
touch.
So as a result, because of thedisobedience of man, sin entered
into the world not only sin,suffering and death.
So God had a plan for us.
So the plan was to reconcileman back to God because our
relationship got broken and Idon't think people really
understand the devastatingeffect of what Adam and Eve did
(03:08):
in the beginning and how,without Christ, a person will
have peace.
And that's why I appreciate Godso much, especially when you
read the origin, how everythingunfolded, and you look back in
the present day like, wow, god'sultimate plan came to fruition,
that Jesus Christ was born.
Jesus Christ was here on earthover 2,000 years ago and that's
(03:30):
a blessing that God himself wentthrough a Virgin Mary and he
came here on earth and he walkedthe earth for 33 years,
fulfilled his ministry, hismission.
He died and he was buried and,most importantly, he was
resurrected, but before he wenton back to glory.
So Jesus Christ had his missionthat he fulfilled for humanity,
(03:54):
obviously to bring humanityback to God Once they hear,
believe, repent, confess and bebaptized of that gospel, and
that's what I wanted to talkabout today.
Yeah, we'll be talking aboutyou know, I mentioned it earlier
Jesus Christ, but also thegospel, I think and this is just
a conversation between hostsand co-hosts.
(04:15):
But before we get into thegospel, jesus Christ gave the
disciples a commission inMatthew 28.
And I had to look this up and Ilike keywords.
So commission?
So commission refers to like aduty or a task to an assigned
person or group, and I like that.
And I think sometimes, adney,and I want to hear your opinion
(04:37):
before we actually get into thegospels, when we are when God
saved us.
So when God saved you, adney,and God saved me, we have our
own individual mission.
And I think at some point whenyou appreciate what God has done
in your life, you got to, inessence, make it personal.
At least for me I made itpersonal, like when I was lost,
(04:58):
I said I went hard for Satan.
You know that's what lostpeople do.
They do sinful things and theyjust go hard for the opposite.
But when I got saved, I reallyappreciated what God, through
his son, jesus Christ, did forme.
So I was like man, you know, ifI went hard for Satan when I
was lost, now that I'm saved.
I got to go hard for God.
(05:19):
So when God, reading throughhis word, when he commissioned
me and gave me a duty, anassignment to go share the
gospel, I say say no more, lord,that's, that's exactly what I'm
going to do, and I still havethat passion to this day.
So before we get into thegospel, what are your thoughts
on the commission?
Speaker 1 (05:37):
And I have to be transparent and honest with me.
That was not a priority for me.
And I'm going to be honestbecause it's like I didn't
understand what and whom I wassaved to right as I'm getting
older and I'm comprehending.
It's not about me getting up ona Sunday morning and going to
(06:12):
somebody's church.
It's about me getting up Mondaythrough Sunday and having a
passion and a love for God tothe point where, when I see a
person that is not saved, thatmy heart will bleed for them and
I would desire for them to havea relationship with the Lord.
And that started happening onceI got into my 40s.
And it's just like okay, no, youcan't keep living this life
like this.
(06:32):
You need to understand that youare in a relationship and a
covenant with God and you needto understand what your
assignment in this work is Right.
And now it's like, okay, I'mseeking the Lord's face and
saying, okay, I've beencommissioned to make disciples.
Right, what does that look like, lord?
Like no lie.
(06:52):
What does that look like?
And it's like when God said toMoses what's that in your hand?
Right, what was in Moses' handwas a staff.
What's in my hand is mytestimony and my story and
helping people to get into therelationship with God, but not
into a relationship with thechurch, because for me I got
(07:13):
into a relationship with thechurch and not a relationship
with Christ.
If that makes a difference.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
No, that's profound, because you and I, we both have
children and that's one of thethings that we want our children
to fall in love with.
We don't want our children tofall in love with the church
building per se.
There's nothing love with thechurch building per se, there's
nothing wrong with the churchbuilding or the place of
assembly.
But primarily we want ourchildren to fall in love with
the Savior, jesus Christ, andhave a personal relationship
(07:46):
with him.
Because everything you know,anything that man built, it
could be destroyed, it'll fadeaway.
But you know, having thatrelationship with God like that
intimate, it's just not arelationship, but it's like an
intimate relationship with him.
And I compare it to Adney, likewhen you love somebody, you
(08:07):
know, when we was young we usedto have puppy love.
I'm not encouraging you to havepuppy love, you know.
You say, do you like me?
Yes, no, or maybe right.
And then the other person sayyes.
And then, man, you just can'tstop thinking about the
individual.
Like man, like I, just can'tstop thinking about an
individual because I believe Ilove them so much.
But that's not really love,that's really lust.
But when you have a deepfeeling for someone, you just
(08:31):
can't stop thinking about themand I think that every Christian
that is saved, that's the typeof relationship they had to have
with Jesus Christ, because ifyou really think about it and
the Bible says this when we wereyet in our sins Christ he died
for the ungodly.
So when Christians become savedlike me, you and even those
(08:53):
that are watching us whenChristians become saved like me,
you and even those that arewatching us when we become saved
we got to think about that.
We could have died unsaved.
And the last time I checked,you know, if you're not in the
right covenant with God and notin the right relationship with
(09:14):
God, where he is, you cannot goso to me when I.
That's why I say I make itpersonal because, adney, you
know this.
You know when we sin, we sinhard.
Before we were saved, we wereall alive for the enemy and
you're like man.
And then, as you age, you startto lose loved ones, you start
to lose friends and you're likeman.
Where are they going?
Sometimes preachers arechallenged because you may have
(09:38):
the family members try to preachsomebody that they know isn't
right with God into heaven, andthat's not how it works and
that's the importance of thegospel and that's where we're
putting more of an emphasis onit to share the gospel and
that's how men and women will besaved.
It's only through the gospel ofJesus Christ.
And Matthew 28, verse 16, theGreat Commission.
(09:58):
We talked about what commissionmeans, but I want to highlight
what Jesus Christ told thedisciples.
So you know, when we're saved,we are disciples.
We're no longer our own, we arebought with a price.
So we are not what most people.
They ought to know, thatthey're disciples for Christ.
(10:18):
So in verse number 16 of Matthew, chapter 28, it says but the 11
disciples proceeded to Galilee,to the mountain which Jesus had
designated.
It says when they saw him, theyworshiped him, but some were
doubtful.
Now this is the time if folksdon't read their Bible, if y'all
(10:41):
watching me for the first time,watching Adney for the first
time, this is after Jesus Christhas resurrected from the dead.
So Jesus Christ is going togive his disciples instructions
on what they need to do.
But they were doubtful becausethey didn't actually believe
that it was him.
So we know that there areeyewitnesses that Jesus Christ,
he's the only God that was risenfrom the death like death the
(11:06):
grave.
In other words, there is noother God that has conquered
death.
So that's why we know thatJesus Christ, he is the true
Messiah, he is the true God, andI'm going to leave it as that.
So verse number 18 says Jesuscame up and he spoke to them,
saying all authority has beengiven to me in heaven and on
(11:27):
earth.
Now, this is the greatcommission, right, and this is
where we get to sing ourhallelujah, because most people
still don't get it.
So verse number 19 says Go,therefore, and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of
the Son and in the Holy Spirit.
(11:49):
And verse number 20 saysteaching them to observe all
that I commanded you and, lo, Iam with you always, even to the
end of the age.
And this is encouragement to me.
It's kind of like what wehighlighted, how God
commissioned us.
So, when we're saved, god hasgiven us a duty to perform.
(12:10):
And he says go, therefore.
And I'm going to read anotherpassage where Jesus Christ
instructed him.
But he said go there and preachthe gospel.
But in this essence, in thisversion of the Bible, the NASB
version, he says go there forand make disciples.
So, annie, when you think aboutwhen he says go there and make
(12:32):
disciples what comes to yourmind.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
OK.
So the version I'm readingright now says go, therefore,
and disciple all the nationsRight.
What version?
Speaker 2 (12:43):
is this.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
So it's called the Recovery Bible and it says go,
therefore, and disciple all thenations, baptizing them into the
name of the Father and of theSon and of the Holy Spirit.
And the reason I liked it isbecause we're baptizing them
into the Father.
We have people that believethat the whole thing of asking
(13:08):
God into your heart right, ifI'm asking him into my heart,
I'm not being baptized into him.
That's not what I'm told to do.
I'm told to disciple.
And to simply put what is adisciple?
A disciple is a person that isimitating someone else's actions
(13:36):
.
Right, we're discipled bysomething.
Let's be honest.
We're discipled by something.
If we're not being discipled bythe body of Christ, we're being
discipled by something.
Our children that love listeningto rap music they're being
discipled by those rappers.
Our children that look at allthese women, with you know,
(13:56):
walking the street half naked.
They're being discipled by them.
So we are called to discipleall nations, baptizing them into
the name of the Father, intothe name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
So who am I discipling theminto?
I'm discipling them into Christ.
I'm discipling them to Jesusand whatever Jesus has and
(14:20):
however Jesus walked this earth.
That is how we're supposed tolive our lives and imitate, and
that's what the commission is,if I'm making sense.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
You're spot on.
So let me ask you a question.
Do you feel like in this modernage, do you feel it's
challenging to most to discipleindividuals?
And so why do you believe that?
Speaker 1 (14:45):
I don't think it's difficult to disciple
individuals.
I think the biggest issue wehave and I'm going to be honest
is we're so judgmental.
So in us being so judgmental,we don't allow ourselves to
build relationships right, amen.
The best way to disciple anyoneis to establish a relationship.
(15:08):
If I don't have a relationshipwith you, are you going to
listen to me?
If I'm telling you, if I'mexplaining to you, if I'm trying
to disciple you into Christ,you're not going to hear me
because you don't know me andthe first thing that's going to
come to your mind is you judgingme, you trying to judge me.
But the key and the goal todiscipling is establishing a
(15:29):
relationship.
And I think let me not say Ithink I know for a fact when I
read the scriptures Jesusestablished a relationship with
those who were around him and ashe's establishing this
relationship, they're seeing hiswalk and they're hearing him
preach.
The kingdom of heaven is athand.
He's not just preaching it,he's living it.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Right.
So in order for us to do that,today, we can't just be speaking
it.
We got to live it.
People need to, and that's whyI say it's not difficult.
If our actions and our wordsalign, people will listen to us.
It's when we say one thing andwe live in another type of way
(16:16):
and people are like bro, youfake.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
And even when it comes to like discipling, we
have to be an example.
It's like what Paul toldTimothy.
You know, be an example to thebelievers.
Yeah, Paul was sharing that toTimothy, but I think it's even
apropos to non-believers.
You know, we can't.
We can't be acting one way, youway like have a mask on when
we're in a place of worship andthen outside of the worship or
(16:45):
when you're not in closeproximity with the saints,
you're acting a totallydifferent person.
And then you'll have somebodytalking about hey, I thought you
was a Christian.
Because they see some uglyfruit, they see some rotten
fruit.
So now they saying words likehey, I thought you was a
Christian.
So now it puts you at aposition where you can't even
disciple them.
(17:06):
And I like what you said earlier, Adney, you said it had to take
you until you was like 40 plusto really look at souls.
And I think most Christians notall, because there are some
Christians that are spiritualand there are some that are
still on milk and I get itthey're babes.
So maybe that this episodewould help the babes.
(17:27):
So for me, when I look atindividuals, I look at souls.
I don't look like I don't whenI see, either it could be a male
or female if they're in frontof me, or even a far off.
I'm like man.
I wonder if they're saved, Iwonder if their soul is right
with Christ.
And there's sometimes, you know, I fall, I make mistakes, but
(17:52):
I'm very, very careful the way Icarry myself around unbelievers
, careful the way I carry myselfaround unbelievers.
And even times when I fall infront of an unbeliever, like I
have to catch myself and I evenhave to say, you know, I have to
apologize to them or saysomething like, you know, I
didn't mean to say what I said,I didn't mean to do what I did.
I do apologize to show themthat look, you know, I am man
(18:16):
enough to either walk up to youand tell you about my errors and
my flaws, Because, a believeras a believer, you should never
be a stumbling block to apotential believer.
And then I think in today'ssociety most Christians paint
(18:36):
this picture like, as thoughit's prosperity, like prosperity
like god.
If you could give me what Iwant, I'll do this for you.
You know, I mean like that.
That shouldn't be the case.
It's supposed to be.
It's like christ humbledhimself.
You know, even john john.
John put himself as a lord.
He's like lord, you know.
(18:56):
He exalted the Lord and he wentlow right and I think that's
the disposition that we have tohave.
We have to exalt Christ andthat's to be left of us and so
to make a disciple to me.
You hit it spot on, because whenJesus Christ here on earth,
he's the best example, JesusChrist had compassion, and
(19:17):
that's one of the things that Ididn't have as a new babe in
Christ Adney.
I was hitting the streets and Iwas like mentally and verbally
beating people up with the wordof God and I wasn't showing them
the compassion, the same loveand the compassion that Christ
showed individuals when he wason earth.
And I read the gospels, I havemy testimony, but I didn't quite
(19:39):
understand until it happened tome.
So when I was in my loweststate, when I needed that same
grace, when I needed that samemercy, folks wasn't giving it to
me.
So it came back at me.
So you're going to always reapwhat you sow.
And then, at that moment, that'swhen I realized you know what
we're already living a difficult, difficult world.
(20:02):
You know there are a lot ofpeople going through it, People
that are saved.
Yeah, People that are saved aregoing through it, but we're
blessed.
But think about the people thatdon't have Christ.
Think about the whirlwinds thatthey're going through.
So, when it comes to makingdisciples reaching out to the
lost and making disciples alwaysstrive to be an example to them
(20:24):
, it's not easy.
It's not easy because thoseentities that be that you cannot
see will potentially use them,and then it may cause you, if
you're not careful, if you don'thave that spiritual discernment
, if you're not careful, it maycause you to say some things or
even do something that you'renot even supposed to be doing.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Amen, and I love that you brought out the fact that
when you were a babe in Christ,you were beating people up with
the word of God.
Right, because again we get sozealous and until we study the
rabbi himself.
Right, and the rabbi of rabbisis Jesus.
(21:07):
He wasn't like those rabbisback then.
He wasn't the one that wasflashy, he wasn't the one that
wanted people to exalt him andfor him to sit at the head of
the table.
He was the one that humbledhimself.
Jesus was a nomad.
Let's be honest.
(21:28):
Jesus didn't have a place tolive, he had no job, but what he
showed was, like you said,compassion.
Showed was, like you said,compassion, jesus's bowels,
jesus's love, jesus's his um, uh, there, I can't, the word
(21:53):
escapes me now for humanity wasjust so great that he knew I
have to die for these peoplebecause if I don't, what becomes
of them?
Right, and it gets to the pointwhere we have to imitate that,
I think, what has happened inthe Western world.
We have a soft gospel.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Mercy Wow.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
And when I say we have a soft gospel, mercy, wow.
And when I say we have a softgospel, I mean, if we go to
Africa, oh, let's go to a Muslimcountry, let's go to China,
let's go to Korea, where theseare atheistic people who are
being beaten up.
They have to go in hiding toshare the gospel.
We here in this country, wedon't have those shackles on us.
(22:39):
But, yeah, we're shutting ourmouths, we're giving people soft
.
We don't want to hurt feelings.
And here's the thing.
It's not even about hurting thefeelings, because you don't do
that.
The word of God is actuallywhat convicts.
(23:00):
If the word of God ain'tconvicting somebody, you can't
be beating them over the headOnce you give them the word.
Let the word of God do what theword of God does.
That's the best way to disciplea person is to allow the word
of God to infiltrate andpenetrate, is to allow the word
(23:20):
of God to infiltrate andpenetrate.
Paul says in the ancientCorinthians, when the people
were fighting, that they werebaptized under this and baptized
on that.
And Paul had to come back tothem and say did Paul die for
you?
Look, I'm grateful and thankful.
I ain't baptized none of y'allright, because he had to put
(23:44):
Christ back where Christbelonged.
And what I've seen and I'verecognized in this world,
especially in the Western world,is that we've exalted so many
people, but the one that wereally, truly need to be
exalting our savior, our master.
We haven't done that and we'relosing souls.
And that's where compassion forme is like the Holy Spirit is
(24:10):
doing something in my heart,like when I tell you there's
just a shift in me where it'sjust like no, all that extra
stuff is non-essential.
The essential thing is thisJesus said all authority has
been given to me in heaven andon earth.
(24:30):
Go, therefore, and disciple allnations.
That's all that matters.
All that other stuff that wefighting about, it don't matter
to God.
What matters to God is thosesouls that we need to be
discipling.
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