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Editors note: This is part of the devotional I had with the Lord this morning of July 14, 05 that I wanted to share with you all! If these can be used as Bible study guides, feel free to use them.

Quiet Times (Psalm 44, Proverbs 14, and Mark 6:6-7)

I do not trust my weapons, they do not save. (Psalm 44, TLB)

A wise man controls his temper; he knows anger causes mistakes. (Proverbs 14, TLB)

“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)

Observation:

I asked myself what Jesus did.

Jesus had just addressed those that were offended at Him in His hometown. Now, Jesus does three things:

Jesus went around teaching from village to village.
Calling the Twelve to Him, He sent them out two by two.
He gave them authority over evil spirits.

I decided to look at the last two points today.

Observation:

I asked myself what role Jesus plays in the lives of the disciples.

Jesus called the Twelve to Him.
Jesus sent them out two by two.
Jesus gave them authority over evil spirits.

Interpretation:

I asked myself what is the significance of what has happened.

Jesus is the focal point and in charge of the disciples roles. Jesus is the One who calls, sends, and gives. The disciples did not choose to go on their own until they were called. Jesus calls them first. So, the calling began with Jesus. Jesus initiated the calling of the disciples. Jesus does not stop there though but goes a step further.

After they were called Jesus sends them out but not individually as 12 but as six teams. Jesus sent them out two by two. This is significance because Jesus wanted them to build each other up if one falls. It was a support group for each other rather than handling the mission as a lone ranger. Jesus was emphasizing the importance of holding each other accountable. Most of all Jesus emphasized that He is the One that sends. Jesus does not stop there though but goes a step further.

Jesus gave them authority over evil spirits. The disciples saw Jesus cast out demons. Now, as Jesus calls them and sends them two by two, Jesus gives them the authority to cast down evil spirits. This is so significance because when Jesus calls and sends, He also provided His power in their lives according to what Jesus felt they needed at the time. It is also significant because of all the authority Jesus could have given them, Jesus focused on giving them authority over evil spirits. Jesus was emphasizing to them the danger of evil spirits and what they do in people’s lives. They would have known that too because they saw what happened to the demon-possessed man until Jesus healed him.

I believe the three things Jesus did for the 12 disciples are based on the 3’E’s.

Jesus EQUIPPED them when He called them to Him. They were already learning from Jesus as they saw Jesus in action. They were also being built up already. They saw Jesus heal demon-possessed people, a leper, a woman bleeding for 12 years, raising Jairus daughter from the dead, a paralytic, Peter’s mother-in-law, all the sick that were brought to Him, teach with wisdom, heal, and even calm the storm. It was not like Jesus called them out of the blue. They already had experience being with Jesus. Now Jesus gives them an assignment. Jesus does not stop after equipping them but goes a step further.

Jesus ENABLES them when He sends them out two by two. Jesus gives them the capability to accomplish where He is sending them. Jesus reminds them that they have one another to help each other out. Jesus does not stop there after enabling them but goes a step further.

Jesus EMPOWERS them when He gives them authority over evil spirits. Jesus gives them power they had not before to accomplish His mission and not their own. This is exciting to know when Jesus calls, sends, and gives it is because He did the choosing.

Implications:

I saw important implications in my own life. When Jesus calls me to something, sends me to accomplish that mission, He will also give me the authority. I cannot be doing God’s mission on my own but need to take the help that is provided. Doing missionary work or any mission the Lord sends us out is rarely a lone-ranger job. Whatever Jesus did, He set examples for us. I need to seek the Lord in prayer and ask Him for His help and the laborers to help accomplish the mission He has me on. I believe He is the One that equips, enables, and empowers me. If it is His calling in my life, He will work out the details and also the obstacles that come in the way! Thank you Jesus!

I ask you now dear friend, where are you sent.

Dear friend, as we seek the Lord in prayer wanting His will for our lives, He will send us to places. For some it could be to make a difference in academia, for others to make a difference in their careers, for others to make a difference in relationships especially between GOD and MAN but also among each other. Wherever you feel the Lord has sent you, there is a reason for it friend. Yes, there is.

When the Lord sends you somewhere, you can be excited about it because He chose you. That alone is exciting that He has called you for a purpose. Now, He will equip, enable, and empower you. He will provide the means as you depend on Him. It does not matter where you are or where you have been. You will be sent.

The question is will you be sent by the Lord to do His work or will you be sent by the devil to accomplish his evil deeds.

The Good News is as you seek the Lord in prayer daily, meditating on His Word, and taking the help the Lord provides from the community of believers Jesus will be the One that will be doing the sending. Once we lose our focus away from Jesus and Jesus is not the focal point of our lives anymore, we endanger ourselves.

Yes, we do! Our flesh can send us to places and make us do things that are not of the Lord. It can be with our actions or words. I do not want that. You should not want it too! I want to be used of the Lord and know I have been sent by the Lord to the places He has me in. If not, I want to leave that place and seek where He wants me to be at. We all should aim for that as we seek Him.

What if we are not sure if it is the Lord that is sending us or if it is being done on our own?

Whatever you are called to and feel sent to, test it with Scripture. The Word of God will reveal to you what you should be doing as you seek the Lord in prayer. There will be times we have to go out in faith, checking our motives and deeds with the Lord. We can justify our every deed but God looks at our motives. When we go out in faith and want to please Him, He will take care of the rest.

May you know where you are sent because only the Savior enters nurturing Truth! Amen!

“Savior Enters Nurturing Truth!” (S.E.N.T)/”Where are you sent?”

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you so much for calling the disciples to you, sending them two by two, and giving them authority over evil spirits. This means a lot Jesus. You are the One that equips us, enables us, and empowers us to do what you have called us for. So, please help us Lord whatever area you have called us into. We need your help and thank you Lord for emphasizing the importance of Christian community and not being a lone-ranger in what is done. Jesus you could have done all the teaching and healing but you set an example by equipping, enabling, and empowering the disciples to do what you have started. Help us not to do things just on our own but receive the help you give us and look for others to help us. We want to be sent where you want us to go and be at. Our flesh will have its own ideas but we desire to do your will Oh Lord because we love you and know where you send us is where we should be because you are the Author of our Life. We also know there will be obstacles but when we fall, you will have someone to lift us up. We thank you Jesus. Forgive us when we do things on our own. Help us to seek you always. Help us to know what you want for our lives whether it is in careers, academia, or relationships. We turn all situations over to you and depend on you for help. We trust in you Lord and in the power of your might. Help us Jesus please. Thank you for helping us. Thank you Jesus for dying for our sin to forgive us and coming back to life to save us! We acknowledge you as our Lord and Personal Savior. Please be our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus! We thank you Jesus, you have heard our prayers and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I am a sinner Lord. I am so sorry for my sins. I confess my sins to you. I confess the wrong things I have done and messed up my own life. I need you Lord right now and in the years to come. I have gone my own way and have not found what only you can give me. You alone have the words of Eternal Life. You alone love me unconditionally for who I am. I thank you Jesus. I accept you Jesus into my heart. Thanks Jesus for coming into my heart. Thanks for forgiving me of all my sins. Thanks for giving me a new identity in you. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior as I believe in my heart that you died and came back to life to save me now and forever. I give myself to you and ask you to be in control of my life. Thank you Jesus through the days, we can do things together. Thanks for being my Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thanks Jesus for changing me and helping me through life's storms and winds. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

(You can start your Christian adventure by reading the Gospel of John)

Friend you may feel something or may not feeling anything but do not go by your feelings. When you ask Jesus to come into your life, He will and does. He will take over from here as you depend on the Lord and let Him work in you and through you! This is exciting friend! May each one that came to know Jesus be filled with His Holy Spirit forever more and those that know Jesus come to know Him more and more! Amen!

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

P.S.. If you need someone to talk to, pray with, or have a Bible study, you can email me at reddy4HisGlory2004@yahoo.com and we can set up a time that is convenient for you! You can also call me at 412-720-4579