By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

Friday, Jan 23, 2009

SCRIPTURE:
“Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.” (Mark 6:6-7, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself what Jesus did?
Jesus had just addressed those that were offended at Him in His hometown. Now, Jesus does three things:

1. Jesus went around teaching from village to village.

2. Calling the Twelve to Him, He sent them out two by two.

3. He gave them authority over evil spirits.

I decided to look at point 1 today.

Interpretations:
I asked myself the significance of Jesus going around teaching from village to village?
Jesus was rejected in His hometown by many. However, Jesus did not let that get to Him. Instead, He went around teaching from village to village. He did not let people’s perception or rejection of Him stop Him from doing what He was called to do. Jesus knew the importance of teaching the people so Jesus continues to teach from village to village. This is exciting to know!

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. Jesus was rejected but did not let that influence His calling. He knew He had a mission to accomplish and went about it.  I should do the same when the Lord has called me to a particular mission.

Not everyone I shared the Word of God accepted the Word of God. There have been those that became very offended. It could have been easy for me to throw in the towel and look down upon the situation. But then I would have been leaning on to my own understanding. What the Lord impressed upon my heart is to do what the Lord wants me to do and leave the results in His Hands. I have seen amazing results because of the Lord's Hand in it! I should not give up!

When I share the Word of God as opportunities arise, I need to be aware that not all will accept the teaching the Lord wants me to share. However that should not stop the teaching of the Word of God. Wherever the door closes, it could be closed for the time being or forever. My service to the Lord is to do His will as He gives me opportunities. He has given me opportunities and has encouraged me in those opportunities. Praise God!

I ask you now dear friend, what do you teach by your life?
Dear friends, there are many things we can teach by our life. Not everything we teach can be beneficial to others. If we teach negative things to people, they will get hurt. If we are rejected for teaching negative things, we deserve it. We should seek the Lord for forgiveness and seek out those we have spoken to these negative things and ask their forgiveness. These negative things I am speaking of are those that are against the Word of God. Jesus taught many things but by the world’s standards they may have seen it as negative but the Word of God is never negative but it is the people that use the Word of God as manipulative tactic in cults, etc that bring danger to others. 

Jesus taught the Word of God and it did bring benefit to others because Jesus did not twist the Scriptures as some do. We all need to be careful we do not let God’s Word say what we want it to say but what it really says.

No matter what our profession we can teach by our words or by our actions. People can know what we are teaching by observing us even if we do not say anything about the Word of God. That is powerful to know. We should model our lives after Jesus Christ and teach His ways and His Word by our actions. All are called to fulfill the Great Commission. It is not limited to only those whose calling is to be a pastor, priest, minister, reverend, etc.

What we teach could be rejected by those closest to us or around us. This should not stop us from teaching what the Lord wants us to teach. I believe Jesus wants all of us to teach His ways by the way we live our lives. We can go around teaching Christ by our actions if not words.

I am not ordained as a pastor but love teaching the Word of God to those who want to hear it. It is not by my might, nor by my power, but by my Spirit says the Lord. I pray it is always by the Spirit of the Lord I teach the Word of God when the Lord gives me opportunities. Sometimes we have to make opportunities just as Jesus did not limit Himself to His hometown but went around teaching village to village.

Jesus’ calling was ministry so Jesus went around ministering to people by His teachings and healings. Whatever our calling is, I learned there will always be a teaching element to it whether being verbal or action-oriented.

Jesus' ultimate calling though was to go to the Cross to save humanity from their sin. Jesus taught a Gospel centered message to people and not what they wanted to hear and that is why many rejected Him. So, what we teach if it is Gospel centered we need to be prepared to have it rejected by some but that does not make the teaching wrong if it is done gently and humbly. Jesus did not teach a prosperity Gospel and we should not do that either. We need to focus on the centrality of the Cross and the reason for the Cross of Christ. The entire Gospel rests upon what happened at the Cross and thereafter.

If we teach anything other than the Cross of Christ when we present the Gospel we are not presenting the whole truth. Let us not sugar-coat the Gospel to get listeners but let us present the Gospel as it is supposed to be presented starting with why Jesus had to die for us, why Jesus had to go to the cross for us, and why Jesus came back to life on the third day, why we need Jesus, why Jesus alone can save us, what we need to be saved from, etc.

I highly encourage anyone reading this to come to the training done by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship on presenting the Gospel. 

*Extreme Hope Outreach Training:* Saturday  Jan 24th 1-5pm,  William Pitt Union

    *This training will help us prepare for sharing the gospel with Pitt students, utilizing interactive displays (Proxe stations) to have conversations at the Pitt students own pace.  Also, it will give us guidance on connecting interested students with follow-up GIGs.  This training will well prepare you for sharing at a Proxe station, so we ask you to come in order to work a Proxe at Pitt.  (This training will also help prepare you for sharing with your friends.)*

If you are called to be a pastor or teacher, you have the obligation to present the Word of God in its absolute Truth with the emphasis on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please never go away from that. Whatever passage you preach or teach, you can bring it back to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even a command as short as 'Thou Shalt Not Lie' can be presented as a Gospel-centered message with Jesus Christ at the forefront.

But teaching is not limited to the pulpit, devotionals, etc presented by pastors or teachers. But what we teach can have ramifications in other professions too! So, if you are called to be a doctor then be the best doctor you can be by teaching others what you have learned. If you are called to be a manager then be the best manager you can be by teaching others what you have learned. If you are called to be a pastor then be the best pastor you can be by teaching others what you have learned remembering 'apart from Christ, we can do nothing'

No matter what your position is, you can be a positive influence by what your actions teach. Jesus is always a positive influence and we need to imitate Jesus Christ in our lives. It will not be easy but He will help us through. No matter what our profession the Lord gives us His Word to transform our lives and share it with others to transform their lives.

May you come to know what the Lord wants you to teach everyday, asking Christ Himself! Amen!

“Teach Everyday Asking Christ Himself!” (T.E.A.C.H)/”What do you teach by your life?”

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you so much as you were teaching when people rejected you because of your teaching, you did not let that stop you. You went around village to village teaching the Scriptures and about God’s Kingdom. Oh Lord, we need your help to teach no matter what profession we are called into. For our lives can be a teaching to those that observe us by the way we live and act even if we do not say a word. Help us Oh Lord to use our actions and words for your honor and glory. It is not always easy. And Lord when we teach things that are contradictory to your Word please bring it to our attention right away and help us to change our ways. Help us to know that when we teach negative things, we hurt people when those negative things are against your Word. Help us to depend on you and lean on you Lord for everything. You say in your Word, despise your Word and find ourselves in trouble but when we obey your Word we succeed. We want to succeed your way. Help us Jesus! Thank you Jesus! You also remind us that self-control means controlling the tongue but a quick retort can ruin everything. Father God, please forgive us when we have used our tongue to hurt others and teach things that are not of you. Please where we have erred, restore us. If our teachings have caused a break in friendship with anyone because we spoke on our own without your blessings and Word, forgive us and restore us and the relationships we have hurt or damaged. Please Oh Lord for with you all things are possible. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for hearing our prayers and answering us. Thanks we can talk to you always. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much that we are never out of your love. No matter what is tormenting us, you are there for us. When there are days we cannot get through and loneliness has gotten the best of us because we are isolated in our torment and sin, you are still there. Just as the demon-possessed man saw you, ran to you, and fell before you for healing, we can come to you too. Thank you Jesus! You made yourself available to the man with the evil spirit. Thank you Jesus for making yourself available to us now when we call your Name for we are never out of your love and never out of your reach. You Oh Lord know what we have done; you know what we will do. You know what Satan will do to entice us and torment us. We come to you Lord and ask you for your healing presence in our lives. Take any addiction and torment that people face and fill them with your power to live for you. We know you can do it Jesus. Only you have the power to deliver us from any torment and find peace in you. Thank you so much Jesus. We come to you now Jesus and ask you to forgive us of all our sin. Deliver us Oh Lord and cleanse us with your cleansing blood. We believe in you Jesus; we believe you are the Son of God, we believe that you died and rose again; we believe you are here right now standing in our presence with the power to heal now and the grace to forgive. Help us Oh Lord as we turn this song “I Believe” into a prayer to you Oh Lord. Thank you so much for coming into our heart and making our heart your home as we ask you in. Take us in Oh Lord and be our Lord and Personal Savior as you lead us and guide us. Help us to help others as you help us! Thank you so much Jesus you are in our heart making our heart your home. Thank you for living in us. Thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus you have heard our prayers and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!