“Teach Everyday Asking Christ Himself!" (T.E.A.C.H)

By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

Monday, June 05, 2006

Editors note: This devotional is taken from the archives of Gospel of Mark, chapter 6.

Quiet Times (Mark  6:6-7)

“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 if the Lord has called me to a particular task.

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!

An opportunity arose yesterday on Pentecost Sunday after church service. I was standing at the bus stop waiting for a bus and felt I should go talk to a particular person waiting at the bus stop. He asked me questions about the DA VINCI CODE. I was able to share with him about 45 minutes regarding THE LIES IN THE DA VINCI CODE AND THE MOVIE. He told me he does not believe in any religion but was so receptive to hearing about Jesus and the Bible. I was able to clear a lot of misconceptions he had. Most of all I had the opportunity to present the Gospel to him AFTER DISMANTLING THE MAIN LIES IN THE DA VINCI CODE.

I ask you now dear friend, what do you teach?

Dear friends, there are many things we can teach. Not everything we teach can be beneficial to others. If we teach negative things to people LIKE DA VINCI CODE,  they will get hurt. If we are rejected for teaching negative things, we deserve it. We should seek the Lord for forgiveness and seek 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 and 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 a manipulative tactic in cults, etc that bring danger to others. DAN BROWN ATTRIBUTES THESE TO THE CHURCH. I DON'T DENY THE CHURCH HAS DONE WRONG  BUT THAT DOES NOT CHANGE WHO JESUS IS AND WHAT JESUS CAME FOR. IT DOES NOT ALSO CHANGE THE FACT THAT THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD BASED ON EVIDENCE.

Jesus taught the Word of God and it did bring benefit to others because Jesus did not twist the Scriptures as some do LIKE DAN BROWN. 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 UNLIKE DAN BROWN.

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 because I do not have a seminary degree but love teaching the Word of God to those who want to hear it as the Holy Spirit helps me and leads me. It is not by my might, nor by my power, but by the Spirit of God that 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 and 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 it being verbal or action-oriented.

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. 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?”

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. Thank we can talk to you always. 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!

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!

Get yourself involved in a campus Bible study, fellowship, and most of all find a Bible believing church and be involved to grow in your Christian walk with the Lord. They all need to be supplements for your own precious time with the Lord in prayer and meditating on His Word. If you need a Bible, please let me know!

As the movie DaVinci Code opened across the theaters on May 19, 2006, which speaks against the church and most importantly degrades the Name of Jesus Christ, we need to make ourselves available to speak the truth to the falsity presented in the movie and the novel. If you plan to watch the movie or have read the book and have questions or your faith seems to be shaken, please email me or give me a call at 412-720-4579 so we can discuss the false claims in the book that are presented as fact even though the book itself and the movie is presented as fiction. May the Lord bless you and guide you!

If you need anyone to talk to, pray with, or study the Bible with this Spring or Summer of 2006, you can email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579. Please do not hesitate. One-one Bible studies can be so powerful to because the Holy Spirit is still in the midst.

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

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