Dear Family
“What if it were possible to do what Jesus did? What if, like Jesus, we could make a major impact on our world without ever traveling more than a hundred kilometres from home? What if we could take a group of “unschooled and ordinary men” and equip them to turn the world upside down (Acts 4:13)? What if in just four short years we could create a movement of disciple makers, just like Jesus?
How did Jesus do it? Surely following His strategy – blessed by His spirit – we can expect His results! He did not put His disciples in a classroom, did not give them a manual, exams – written sentences to complete – 7 steps. We said before in these monthly Kingfisher letters that His strategy as TO LIVE WITH THEM – spend their ordinary everyday lives together. The disciples grew because they SPENT TIME WITH JESUS. The result of this living together with Jesus – was clearly visible in the change of their characters and development of practical ministry skills.
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13 NIV).
2000 years later – how do we spend time with Jesus who is not physically present? Through the spiritual disciplines!
A trellis is a tool that enables a grapevine to get off the ground and grow upward, becoming more fruitful and productive. God raised up local churches as structures, trellises, that will help us grow upward and deeper with Jesus. This may include midweek services, worship, preaching, small groups and ministries. Spiritual disciplines are personal trellises that help us abide in Christ and become more fruitful. “It is a kind of scaffolding to build my life with God.” It is an intentional, conscious plan to keep God at the centre of everything we do. Spiritual disciplines provide structure and direction to intentionally remember God in everything we do. The goal is – to be with God and to love Him in everything 24/7.
Jesus’s practises were prayer, worship, reading the scriptures, solitude, rest, sleep, long walks, enjoying nature, enjoying close friends, service etc.
Disciplines do not earn us favour with God or measure spiritual success. The challenge is not to spend as many hours as possible praying or fasting – it’s not about doing the outward ritual – this can grow into a Pharisee-mentality of “prouding” yourself on what you achieved – it’s about what happens during the spiritual disciplines – does this action initiate communication and intimacy between me and God? We exercise them not because of the discipline itself, but because of a longing in our heart for what happens while we are busy practicing it. Our desires and thinking become centered around God. Spiritual disciplines intentionally create a space in your life where you allow God to form your inward life into the character of Christ. We cannot change ourselves. They are activities we take upon ourselves in order to give God room to change us.
Spiritual Disciplines are:
- Spiritual disciplines are like wires that connect us to the power of the gospel.
- Spiritual disciplines provide a structure to invest time and energy into deepening our relationship with Christ.
- Spiritual disciplines are places in which we become open to interact with God and celebrate His presence.
- Spiritual disciplines create a space where we can hear God speak on a deep level. The Spirit reveals our hearts to us. Our motives, our thinking, our desires.
- Disciplines help us to approach life as Christ did, think as he did and then quite organically act as He did.
“We do the connecting, He does the perfecting”.
It’s this “perfecting” that is my best disciple making tool – not my programmes or words, it’s this “perfection” that will give me a clear strategy on how and where to make disciples. It’s the only strategy that will allow your disciples to spend time with Jesus and eventually equip them to become disciple makers themselves.
Reflection question: If practising spiritual disciplines is a reaction to Jesus’s invitation: “Come, Follow me – spend time with me” – which of Jesus’s disciplines are underdeveloped in your life?
Enjoy Jesus!
Johann Theron