20 July 2020

BASIC MILITARY TRAINING FOR THE BELIEVER (16)

By John Ollis

This blog sees the conclusion of this series on “Basic Military Training for the Believer”. There has never been such a response to anything I have written in the 4+ years since I have been seriously blogging. This to me highlights and confirms my constant burden and concern for the need of Biblical Discipleship.

The enemy we are contending with has so deceived many Leaders either by the Leader’s misinterpretation of what Jesus commanded in Matt.28:18-20 NKJV And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

In that their definition (or interpretation) is a western concept exclusively thinking of a classroom where a group of disciples are taught in a group, or they understood what Jesus was saying, and decided “it is just not practical in the 21st century” and simply opted for a class as their definition of making Disciples.

I do think there are many aspects of Discipleship that can be initially discussed in a group situation, but a “one off” discussion IS NOT SUFFICIENT. I am convinced that a Disciple-Maker MUST come alongside the new Believer and walk with him (for as long as it takes) until the teaching/s produces a consistent Christian lifestyle, and I don’t think it stops there, but can and should transition into a Mentoring relationship where there is training for Ministry.

Do many leaders “feel” that Discipling is exclusively their responsibility ????It would appear that way. The reality is (not one person can do it) we MUST RAISE UP 100’S OF DISCIPLE-MAKERS, so that we can raise up quality Disciples, who in turn will become Disciple-Makers.

I have written the above many times, and feel to emphasise it one more time in the light of this series of blogs.

Do Leaders fully realise WE ARE IN A STATE OF WAR CONTENDING AGAINST STRONG SPIRITUAL FORCES ?, and every Believer (new or older) will never be a conqueror unless they they learn to put on ALL 7 PIECES OF THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD.

The reality is we can never relax, but like a literal soldier in a war zone, who must must be disciplined and alert 24/7.

In over 2000 blogs I have hardly ever referred much about the devil and his huge team of demons, no one can ever suggest I am a “demon chaser”, I think this has been a mistake on my part, and the devil has been happy, but we must realise (by revelation) WE HAVE AN ENEMY WHO HATES US, AND HATES THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and we must respond to this, and lay hold of ALL that is available in the inheritance for us, and we can be conquerors all the time. So, I see my responsibility is to be a REGULAR REMINDER TO GOD’S PEOPLE on this essential subject.