1 Corinthians 4:15, Matthew 4:21

Dan & Claire Maudhub

I often wonder why our generation seems so powerless at times to affect change. We live in a society where change is so instant, where satisfaction and feeling good is at a click of a button. So where do we find the answers for real and lasting change? The Word of God of course!

Have you ever wondered why in the Gospels, Jesus spent His whole life with 12 young, untrained men? They were not exactly the bright sparks of the day. A large portion of the Gospels is given over to Jesus directly teaching His disciples or spending His life doing the Father's will - with them present. Why would He do that? My natural mind imagines He would hang out with the top bods, put into the entrepreneurs, debate with the forward-thinkers in a series of seminars and best selling books (or scrolls) but no, He spent it with these boys.

But what was He doing with them? He was equipping them to fulfil the call that God had placed on them to establish and grow the early church. Jesus spent His life equipping these untrained men in order for them to continue the legacy.

This profound truth has largely been lost in our generation today. We are big on programmes, crazes, movements and even encounters with God but we sometimes lose sight of the understanding that people will chiefly only change and grow with correct training and discipleship. Jesus didn't rely on a model or programme, He relied on the Father. As a generation we need to be seeking both the heavenly Father and human fathers in our lives who can equip and train us to live life skilfully. The apostle Paul was a father, training church leaders by encouraging them to copy him:

"Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel." 1 Corinthians 4:15

It's easy to think that when the Holy Spirit fell at Pentecost, the followers floated on a spiritual cloud and amazing healings and miracles 'just happened'! But things didn't just happen; the disciples had been mentored, trained and fathered by Jesus Christ for three years before Pentecost. When the Spirit anointed them to do the work of the ministry they were equipped and empowered to do so. Jesus showed us that if the next generation are to walk in the fullness of God then we need to be putting a huge amount of energy, time and resource into equipping them. We need to stop telling them and start showing them.

Matthew 4:21 shows some of the disciples mending their fishing nets in the boat by the Sea of Galilee. The original Greek root word for mending is the same as for equipping and this is what the church needs to do. For too long we have been fishing for men with broken nets. We can try outreach events and many Alpha courses and sometimes end up disappointed and disheartened that people don't grow or don't stick around. If we get ourselves trained and train those that we lead, we will see fruit that will last.

So how do we do this on a practical level? Again, let's look at how Jesus did it. Firstly, seek the Father and know His heart. Let Him birth a desire in you to be equipped and trained. Then, seek those out who can equip you and who you can equip. Being accountable in this is absolutely vital for your Christian walk - Jesus was so submitted and accountable to His Father He could say "I do nothing unless I see the Father do it, I say nothing unless I hear the Father say it" - how's that for accountability and equipping?

A word of encouragement: the Bible has it all. Remember it's not about fads or crazes it's about the Word of God penetrating our hearts and giving us the tools to live life skilfully. Jesus put into 12 ordinary men because He wanted to show us it's not all about talent and gifting; it's about a desire to serve God and be equipped to fulfil His purpose in our lives.