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:
John 20:19-21; Luke 4:14-21
Mon, 2 October 2023

Sent by the Lord

Observation:

What is the analogy that Jesus used in sending forth His disciples (v.21)?

Deeper Reflection
As we enter the month of October with our upcoming two Missions Sundays, let us focus our attention and prayers on Covenant EFC’s third Faith Exploit, “Disciple the Nations”. In today’s Scripture, verse 21 is a very significant statement that Jesus said to His disciples after His resurrection. And it applies equally to all those who are Jesus’ disciples today. There are three key observations we can make.First, the analogy that Jesus used – His having been sent by the Father – points us to Jesus’ foundational teachings that He came to accomplish the very will and works of the Father (Jn 4:34; 5:30, 36; cf. Lk 4:14-21). Second, the idea of Jesus’ disciples being “sent” reminds us that world missions is not a result of human initiative, but is God-initiated and God-directed. It is God’s mission in the world. Third, verse 21 reminds us that Jesus is not merely calling us to join God in His mission, but to relate to Him as our heavenly Father – in love, obedience and dependence.1Therefore, the more fundamental question is not “Are we being sent?” or “What must we do?”. Rather, it is “To what extent do we understand and treasure our sonship in relation to God our Father (Jn 20:17)?” So that, as beloved children of God, we will respond rightly to our heavenly Father who created us in His image, redeemed us in Jesus Christ, and called us to join Him in His mission. Out of gratitude and love towards God, we joyfully walk in the Lord’s will for us, and fully rely on His resources as we faithfully serve Him.
1 This is consistent with John’s emphasis in his writings on the Father-Son relationship that anchored and motivated Jesus in all that He did in submission and obedience to the Father’s will.
Application:

How do the purposes for which Jesus sends forth His disciples impact the
way I plan and live out the years of my life?

Prayer:
Dear Father in heaven, what manner of love You have bestowed on me that I should be called Your child! Every opportunity given to me to carry out Your will is a privilege for me to participate in Your glorious purposes. Help me to clearly discern the things that You want me to accomplish and to faithfully work at them with a heart that loves and depends on You and always seeks Your glory. Amen.
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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