Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 2:17-18; 3:1-5
Thu, 31 March 2022

Spiritual Warfare in Making Disciples

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about spiritual warfare in
disciplemaking?

Deeper Reflection
A CHURCH MAY AT THE END OF A YEAR REPORT ON THE number of pre-believers who received Christ through its personal and congregational evangelistic efforts. But does that church check on the number of these new believers who remain in the faith, how are they being discipled and who are those who have fallen away? We can safely assume from Paul’s close relationship with the Thessalonians, and his desire and attempts to reconnect with them after being forced to leave them abruptly, that he had such concerns. And this would be especially so when Paul recognised the reality of spiritual warfare in disciplemaking.Satan is mentioned twice in 1 Thessalonians, which point to two battlefronts in spiritual warfare in disciplemaking. Discipleship battlefront: The Thessalonians in their young faith were suffering affliction and Paul felt that he had not adequately built their faith. So, he was fearful in his absence from them that “the tempter” might have “tempted” them (1 Thess 3:5), they were “being shaken by the troubles you are going through” (1 Thess 3:3, NLT) and fell away from the faith. A very critical disciplemaking curriculum is suffering in discipleship. Disciplemaking battlefront: Paul made attempts to return to Thessalonica “again and again”, but to no avail, because “Satan hindered us” (v.18). The Greek word for “hindered” applies to “breaking up a road to render it impassable”47. When we fail in committing ourselves to disciple new and young believers, we may have already lost in the disciplemaking battlefront without being “hindered” by Satan. 
47 John R. W. Stott, 62
Application:

How does the reality of spiritual warfare in disciplemaking affect my life and ministry?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Outreach/Missions/New Life leaders: To be alert to spiritual warfare in discipling people
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 5:17, 25-31; 6:1-2
Mon, 5 June 2023

Serving from Babylon to Persia

Observation:

What is the significance of Daniel serving in the Babylonian and Persian
courts successively?

Deeper Reflection
God’s word to Belshazzar that He would “put an end” to his kingdom and give it “over to the Medes and Persians” was fulfilled immediately – “that same night” (v.30) – after Daniel’s interpretation of the inscription on the wall (vv.25-31). God can fulfil His Word immediately or after a long time. Whatever time God may take to fulfil His Word, He is “trustworthy in all His promises and faithful in all He does” (Psa 145:13b, NIV).The demise of the Babylonian hegemony was not just a historical event, but primarily a theological one. Nebuchadnezzar was “My servant” whom God raised to judge His unfaithful people in the seventy-year Babylonian exile (Jer 25:8-9, 11). When God had accomplished His purpose through Babylon, “I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation” (Jer 25:12). This is how God deals with arrogant and evil nations: “And Babylon, the beauty of kingdoms, the glory of the Chaldeans’ pride, will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah” (Isa 13:19).The end of Babylon does not mean an insecure future for Daniel. However drastically our circumstances may change, God’s call for our lives remains when we walk with Him faithfully. We are secure in God’s call, because it is God’s call. Daniel became one of “the three commissioners” in Persia (Dan 6:1-2). It wasn’t that having lost his job Daniel applied to serve the Persian king. Daniel couldn’t do that. It was purely by royal appointment. But behind the “It seemed good to Darius to appoint” (Dan 6:1) was God’s call for Daniel to serve Him from Babylon to Persia.
Application:

How do I relate God’s call for me in drastic changes of my life situations?

Prayer:
Lord, I believe You have a calling for my life which You have intended to be distinctive for me. I want to live my life with a deep sense of answering Your calling. Help me to walk with You faithfully, knowing that as I do so, You will unfold Your plans for me in that calling. Grant me wisdom and understanding to discern Your calling for my life.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self
 

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