The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
1 John 1-5, 2 John, 3 John
Act 3: God’s New Covenant People
Scene 4: Christ’s Church: God’s People Advance the Kingdom
Background Information: 1 John 1-5, 2 John, 3 John
Many antichrists have planted themselves in the local church over the years in order to lead it away from true faith in Christ. Their strategy is always very similar, no matter what the time or place. They claim to be unique, different than “normal” Christians. They have special insight, and they live beyond the sins of common folk. They trade on their charisma and self-promotion. Mature Christians, like John, see right through it. They are not attracted to or impressed by people who are all talk and no walk. Mature Christians quickly spot a counterfeit because they are so familiar with the real thing. John testified to what he had personally experienced, for he lived in loving fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. How could he be impressed with these unimpressive posers when he had experienced the Lord Jesus? The antichrists could stir up human passions, but they could not endure in long-term faithfulness. These frauds will always come and go, but they will not come and stay, because they lack the spiritual power of endurance. Their going, John writes, showed that they were never really part of the true body of Christ. Love for the world, rather than love for Christ, is what makes Christians susceptible to these antichrists. We don’t need to learn every lie that is out there; a new lie is born every minute. But we can learn the truth because it is a fixed body of revealed knowledge. We will never master Scripture, but we can be mastered by it. The more we immerse ourselves in the truth, the more easily we will see right through the lies. The more we love Christ, the more we will lose our appetite for the world and its lies. This love for Christ is not revealed primarily in displays of emotion, but rather in a life of faithful devotion. Our devotion to Christ is best seen in how we treat each other. If you are wondering whether someone is the “real deal” or not, you need only look at how they treat others. Everyone who has been born of God will love others with the love of God. They will not do this perfectly, but they will do it consistently. Then, when they fail to love others, they will not hide or deny it. Instead, they will confess their sins to God and to one another and find that God is faithful to forgive them. Pursue maturity by pursuing love for God. Pursue love for God by loving the people he has put all around you.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray Pashtun men of influence would follow Jesus and lead others to do the same. Pray that a sustainable church would form through those who believe.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.