EMPOWERMENT IN DISCIPLESHIP
Empowering featured highly in Jesus’ discipleship. He was really concerned that He equipped His disciples and they could be successful in His assignments. He empowered them before sending them out while He was still on earth. Prior to His ascension, He emphasized to them the need to receive power from above.
Matt 10:1 "He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness".
Acts 1:4-5 "On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
Since such empowering crucially centers around the anointing of the Holy Spirit, a key part of discipleship would be to train and share with our disciples on how to connect with God. It is crucial that disciples learn methodologies and pick up skills under their mentors. But that is only one side of the coin in spiritual ministry. The anointing of God brings about life and fruitfulness in the spiritual realm, some of which may not be immediately obvious. If a Christian serves God according to the principles and skills that he has picked up from his mentor, but lacks the anointing, he will not be as fruitful as someone who has the anointing on top of those principles and skills.
It is, therefore, important for us to help our disciples and check with them on their constant walk with God.
- Are they walking close to God?
- Are they giving God priority in their lives and spending prime time with God?
- Are their motives for ministry appropriate, and glorifying to God?
In the natural, fathers are usually the parent who provides identity to their children. Spiritual fatherhood is no less important as part of discipleship, providing empowerment in a certain way.
God the Father proclaimed the identity of Jesus at the River Jordan. It was an important time for Jesus. The stamp of identity provided by the Father was so impactful that the devil’s attempts in the wilderness to derail the mission of Jesus met with total failure.
There will come a time in our discipleship where we impart identity to those who follow us. For some it may be a time when we recognise that they are ready for a mission, when they are sufficiently matured to be entrusted with some key responsibility. Simple words like “We believe in you to lead the family district from now on” when spoken under the anointing at the right timing could foster strong faith and inward confidence for the disciple to step up to the mark.
Spiritual fatherhood can also give confidence to our disciples in the area of shared authority.
When we operate together as a spiritual family and understand the heart of the father, the disciple can draw great strength that he has the total backing of his spiritual mentor. We should develop that spiritual bonding to let our disciples know that we are backing them up. When they are sent out to plant churches, to pioneer life groups, they know that they have our total support.
