What RISE Training Offers You
“I will not shrink back from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Neither will I shrink from declaring to you anything that is profitable, as I teach publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:27, 20). These words are taken from Paul’s testimony to the leaders in Ephesus after he led the largest church multiplication movement recorded in the Scriptures. What Paul offered to the Ephesians I want to offer you. Through our RISE TRAINING we commit to you that we will not shrink from declaring to you:
1. How to Victoriously Rise Up from the Dying Church to the Rising Church
It is essential that every Christian rise up into His glory and overcome the diseases that are killing the dying church. We begin by learning to walk in the victory of his love (Rom. 8:37). We totally “love the Lord” with all our heart, soul, mind and body. We are willing to die for the Lord Jesus and the proclamation of the gospel. This kind of radical love will defeat Satan (Rev. 12:11). As the Lord Jesus loves and glorifies His bride, we will rise up and overcome every enemy and usher in His millennial kingdom (Rev. 20:1-6).
2. An Exegetical Theology of Kingdom Advance
A careful, exegetical study of the entire Bible reveals that the central theme of the Bible is Kingdom. Isaiah prophesies regarding the Messiah that “there will be no end to the increase of his government” (Is. 9:7). When King Jesus brought God’s kingdom to earth he explained, “from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been triumphantly advancing; now is the time for courageous souls, forceful people, to take hold of it with burning zeal” (Matt. 11:12 paraphrased). It is important to understand the advance of the kingdom. The true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ will adjust their lifestyle to partner in kingdom advance.
3. The Evangelistic Lifestyle of the Lord Jesus Christ
Too many Christians wonder what God’s will is for their life. The Lord Jesus told us what to do and showed us how to get there. The Lord continues to challenges His disciples to “follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19). It took Him three years to train 11 men in effective evangelism. Once they understood evangelism and discipleship, they impacted the entire earth. Christians need to be discipled into an evangelistic lifestyle. After training, they obey Jesus’ Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19).
4. The Gospel of the Kingdom
“Jesus was going about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness” (Matt. 9:35). There is great fruit that comes out of understanding the gospel (Matt. 13:23). The gospel of the kingdom brings a major correction to an oversimplified gospel. It puts the emphasis on the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The gospel that we use to lead people to Christ must be the gospel that Jesus preached.
5. God’s Way to Gain the Anointing of the Holy Spirit
When we are going, the anointing is growing. Too many believers are waiting within the four walls of their church for a move of the Holy Spirit. The action is out in the community, the classroom and the marketplace. The anointing empowers us to bring good news to the afflicted, bind up the brokenhearted and proclaim liberty to captives” (Is. 61:1). When we go and build redemptive relationships, the anointing of the Holy Spirit is developed in our lives. When we abandon our self-centered Christianity and begin to care for the last, the least, the lost and the enslaved, the love of the Lord transforms us. As we perceive what the Lord is doing in people’s lives, we begin to move in the miraculous works of God (John 5:19-20, Eph. 2:10).
6. A Discipleship Multiplication Strategy
When the apostle Paul entered the city of Ephesus at the climax of his missionary career, he changed his church planting strategy. Instead of planting one church in one city, Paul opened a discipleship multiplication training center that resulted in a church multiplication movement where “all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:1–10). That same strategy is bearing fruit around the world, including America.
7. The Purposes of God in the Last Days
Scripture tells us that we are standing at our doorway into the greatest harvest the world has ever known. God is already “pouring out his Spirit on all mankind” (Acts 2:17). In the last days “the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world” (Matt. 24:14), “those who have insight will lead many to righteousness” (Dan. 12:3) and “all who call upon the name of Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). Though the church will persevere through persecution and martyrdom, “many will be purged, purified and refined” (Dan. 12:10). The revelation of the Lord Jesus will beautify His bride (Rev 1:1, 19:7). He will present her to Himself in all her glory (Eph. 5:27).
Here’s what I ask of you
Yes, I want to ask you to “be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). But much more than that, Jesus challenges every disciple “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24). He promised that “whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s shall find it” (Matt 16:25).
RISE TRAINING invites you to join The RISING Movement
We invite you to give up your small ambitions and turn away from the comforts and distractions of this age. We invite you to shed the deceptions of a lukewarm church that is convinced it is rich and needs nothing new. We invite you to sacrifice everything to buy into Jesus (Rev. 3:14–18). The Lord Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart and is eager to dine with you (Rev. 3:20). He promises that “he who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Rev. 3:21). Through the RISE TRAINING, I believe we can go there together! This is what we offer you.