Discipleship is hard work.
In an age that seeks to simplify everything, discipleship with the narrow way ideology seems increasingly illogical. Selfishness (it has many fancy names now) is a core characteristic of the broad way mindset and every attractive.
The temptation to stop loving, to stop caring and interceding, was real on this last trip. As legitimate as my reasons were, they failed the test of love because there’s long-laboring, longsuffering and tears, in the destiny of true discipleship.
- I was convinced on this trip that- Teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, demand spending quality private time with the disciple.
I saw in many ways and took note, that discipleship thrusts with potential for lasting fruit must be anchored in love. Love that’s willing and able to suffer long and while in that suffering mode, still show kindness. (1Cor 13:4) That’s tough!!
This lesson on love was driven home for me as we cast out demons from one of the girls at the Young Leaders’ Camp here in Yei. She was violent, kicking, cursing out and ridiculing us. Some among us got hit several times. Some wanted to engage the demons in a Q&A session and others seemed to channel their anger at the girl in a physical way.
I had to lead this team, so I asked the them to follow my commands. I knew I had two tasks. Free the girl from the demons and show these youngsters how to do it effectively.
Several minutes into the battle, the Lord said to me, “You’ll be limited in power without my love flowing from your hearts.” It seemed like a bomb exploded in my spirit as the scripture, “For the love of Christ constrains us…” (2Cor 5:14) gripped me. Then I said to myself, “This one may take me the whole night but I’ll stick with it because the love of Christ constrains me…”
As soon as I quoted that scripture to the hearing of the team, other scriptures referencing the love of Jesus began to fly. I knew the battle was over. The demons began to react more wildly and quickly left her. She regained consciousness and asked for water to drink.
The DNA of the Father is love. Discipling or doing spiritual warfare without re-establishing this truth in our hearts will be futile.
- I reaffirmed again that, identifying and accepting our vulnerabilities is helpful for sound spiritual formation. Sadly though, because we dread uncertainties in relationships meant to help us grow; vulnerability and true openness seem too risky a venture.
You may not be your “best” self now, that’s okay. Who is? But you see, vulnerability is far better than giving up on where and who we are today.
We should courageously begin to explore and expose the hidden matters of the heart; using them as aids to discover the truth about the love of God, the perfect example of a father and the power of His light.
I asked a few friends on this trip, “Who are you in the heart and hands of the Creator; the Potter?” I was thinking of God’s illustrative lessons and message to and through Prophet Jeremiah. (Jer. 18:1-6)
At this Young Leaders’ Camp 2016, we saw and wrestled with the cloak of shame and the feeling of helplessness that loomed over these young leaders as we explored matters of the heart. Many had a hidden mess and needed to know that condemnation is not God’s way of addressing our brokenness.
That feeling of unworthiness though good in itself, is so often manipulated by the enemy, breeding shame and a feeble repentance, where safe people are absent or distant. Like a beautiful statue that’s wrongly erected, we struggle to receive the unfettered grace of Jesus because the devil’s lies have hijacked our view of God.
Having traveled this road that led to nowhere before, bullying myself to no avail, I was able to help these young lads understand that God is not only for us but also with us right in the mess. Many met me after that final devotion to say thank you.
It remains my goal with these students’ camps, youth conferences and ministry in general, to create an atmosphere for authentic fellowship and relationship; where a weak believer and the vilest of sinners could come in and meet the same Jesus that ate with sinners; not a legalistic and religious Jesus that asks them to cleanup first before they come.
- The dearth of spiritually mature older women is a great handicap in our discipleship thrust among the young ladies. Also, the challenge of “what next”, after these Camps and Conferences, with respect to re-entry into their local church and an enduring growth there.
Listen to Brother Kolo reflect on the benefits and challenges from the Young Leaders’ Holiday Camp 2016.
Reflections of the Young Leaders’ Holiday Camp 2016 from Uche Izuora on Vimeo.
Some years ago in my blog: Where Are The Women?, I highlighted the challenges with this need and solicited the help of any that connect with our desire to bring life-giving discipleship care to the female folk in this region.
While we look for quality short-termers, we need a long term plan for these challenges.
- I am convinced beyond doubt that partnership is far more than just being friends. True yoke-fellows suffer together, fall or stand together and succeed as a team.
A competitive spirit is a delicate and difficult gift to manage. The “us versus them or I versus him/her” disposition to life can be destructive, if poorly used. Comparisons soon become “normal” as the heart is deceived into believing that “always winning” is God’s only way or that “doing it better than them, makes me better than them”.
I learnt much from observing the young leaders’ Platoon group formations and their performances at the Holiday Camp. Sometimes, people we think are with us may be silently and/or secretly against us and people we think are against us are poised to give their all for us. In His wisdom, God sometimes keeps us from discerning the difference between our confidants, compatriots and comrades, so we can learn lessons in loyalty, love and trust.
God blessed me with some great true yoke-fellows on this trip who suffered with me (some secretly and silently), accepted my faults as ours and made celebrating our victories a thing of beauty.
I’m tempted to mention names and detail their efforts, but I won’t. May the All-Knowing God of all grace, whose records never lie, keep these men and women until we lay all at the Master’s feet.
“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things; to Him be glory forever! Amen.” Rom 11:36
Kingdom Exploits With Uche 