SCRIPTURE:
"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us." (Mark 9:38-40, NIV)

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what is John's interaction with Jesus?
"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name.
and we told him to stop,
because he was not one of us.

INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself the significance of John's interaction with Jesus?
John felt that only those within the core team of Jesus' circle should be doing ministry using Jesus' Name. He nor the other disciples did not want outsiders who were not part of their inner circle to do ministry using Jesus' Name. The disciples wanted to hold a monopoly on using Jesus' Name whether it is  to drive out demons or do other ministries so they told the man to stop doing ministry in Jesus' Name. Because of their own personal views of who should be doing ministry and who should not, they stopped a man from bringing healing to someone in bondage.

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself how did Jesus respond to John's statement?
"Do not stop him," Jesus said.
"No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,
for whoever is not against us is for us."

INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself what is the significance of Jesus' response to John and the disciples?
I felt like Jesus was saying to the disciples that not everyone needs to be part of their  inner circle to do a miracle in His Name. Also, I felt like Jesus exhorted his disciples not to stop anyone using His Name to do ministry because "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me". Jesus put an emphasis on allowing others outside of his inner circle to do ministry in His Name as long as what they were doing did not bring a bad name to Jesus or their inner circle for He reminds the disciples, "For whoever is not against us is for us". Whoa, that is powerful!

What I saw here is as long as there is no heresy spoken against Jesus, Jesus did not mind who did ministry in His Name even if they were not part of His inner circle. What mattered the most was that people were being healed by the grace of the Lord and the power of Jesus' Name was changing lives.

IMPLICATIONS:
I saw important implications for my own life here. I can do ministry in Jesus' Name even if I am not a pastor, teacher, evangelist, etc by profession. I don't have to be a seminary student or an ordained pastor to do ministry in Jesus' Name to bringing healing into people's lives. I can do it as I am as I depend on the Lord Jesus to guide me and lead me, equipping me, empowering me, and enabling me to reach others with the love of Christ. Jesus gives that permission to me just as Jesus gave permission for outsiders to use His Name to do miracles. That is so exciting to know. The signature verse that the Lord Jesus has impressed upon my heart is: "But life is worth nothing to me unless I use it to do the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus, the work of telling others about God's mighty goodness and love." (Acts 20:24, NIV)

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING  M.I.N.I.S.T.R.Y:
There was a time in my life that someone who heard about my posting of devotionals at http://www.pittsburghstandard.com told me something to the effect, "You are not a pastor so you should not act like one, by taking Scripture and expositing it from God's Word. You should leave that to the pastors instead of you teaching." If I had depended on that person's words, then I would have stopped doing this ministry of sharing what the Lord Jesus has been teaching me from His Word because I am not a pastor. But, I thank the Lord Jesus for reminding me that He could use anyone, anywhere to do His ministry for His honor and glory. So, I kept at it and now am in Gospel of Mark 9 by His grace. I was definitely hurt at the time and probably the man to whom the disciples said to stop driving out demons in Jesus' Name, was hurt too. Just as Jesus did not stop me from sharing/teaching what I learned from His Word, Jesus did not let the disciples stop others from doing ministry that were not like them as long as they were not preaching/teaching heresy.

I am not a pastor or even a leader in my church, but I have been so blessed to be blessed by some of the brothers and sisters from my church of Pittsburgh Chinese Church/Oakland's International Fellowship who have encouraged me regarding the devotionals that I have shared through the years. For me, it just showed how the Lord can use a weak vessel  like me in my shortcomings to impact different people's lives in different ways. It also confirmed more that I do not have to be a pastor or leader of a church to do ministry in Jesus' Name. I am not going to list all the names but a few from my church: Kristen, Josh, Jen, Olivia, Ratikorn, Athip, Bryan, Lyd, Cathy, Antonia, Steve, Zela, Amy, Daniel, Pastor Bucknell, Pastor Hugo, etc have encouraged me regarding the devotionals that I have shared. Pastor Ed even gave me pointers on how I can use the devotionals to make the point that the Gospel can and should affect every facet of life. It is my meetings with Pastor Ed that inspired me to introduce the new section of the devotionals called "How the Gospel Gives Me Testimony......"

What I love about my church is the opportunity that all members are given to serve in different capacities of ministries even if they are not a pastor or leader of the church as long as they do not teach heresy about Jesus or God's Word.

I was going through a personal hardship these past few days so Pastor Hugo's sermon at Oakland International Fellowship about serving the Lord through different ministries came to me just about the right time. He reminded the congregation that not everyone is called to do everything in ministry but that our Lord Jesus has gifted each of us with special gifts to be used for the edification of the church, the body of believers for His honor and glory so we need to seek the Lord and serve utilizing the gift that He has given each one of us. To find areas of service, they even had a ministry fair.

When it comes to ministry, Pastor Hugo did not want any of us to be a lone-ranger Christian - happy to live a Christian life on our own without community, a Be-Involved In All Christian - wanting to serve in all areas without seeking specialized areas that can utilize our full gifts, or a grasshopper Christian- hopping from one ministry to the other or one church to the other without settling down.

At different points in my life, all three would have described me. After the sermon was over, I was so excited to serve in different aspects of ministry but I also had baggage to deal with which I need the Lord's help with. Usually each of us at church meet with different mentors in our lives. For me it has been mainly Pastor Hugo & Edwin.

There have been areas of my life where I have been stopped from doing ministry not because I am doing ministry in Jesus' Name but other reasons. To this day, some of those wounds still hurt but I thank the Lord for different opportunities.

I have found that doing ministry should be to glorify Christ and make Him known to bring hope, help, and healing in other people's lives that Jesus has put on our path. Then only will we be doing things with Jesus and for Jesus instead of against Jesus. When we do things with Jesus and for Jesus, He will take care of the rest.  I need to remember that and utilize the gifts Jesus has given me for His honor and glory.

I loved what Pastor Hugo shared yesterday regarding 'shape our lives in ministry by serving'. He used an acronym from Pastor Rick Warren regarding S.H.A.P.E:
Spiritual Gifts
Heart (Passion)
Ability
Personality
Experience

But, we cannot really utilize any of those 5 points to serve the Lord Jesus Christ by serving others if we do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior. The Spiritual Gifts are given to believers in Christ to be used for the edification of the church and not for personal agenda's or gains.

But to even have those to do ministry, I have had to come to the point to realize what wretched person that I am who cannot save my self from sin. Sin has a deep grip on me and will not let go unless a power outside of myself intervenes and makes a transformation in my life. This power is the power of Jesus Christ. While I was yet a sinner, Jesus died on the cross to save me and redeem me from my bondage. So, now as I acknowledge who Jesus is and what He has done on the cross of Calvary to set me free from my soul sickness as Andrea & Jason like to use while doing ministry with Pitt-Asian InterVarsity, I know that I can have my freedom in Christ all because of Christ's precious blood cleansing me on the cross of Calvary when I accept God's free gift of Salvation by His grace.

I cannot earn it no matter what works I do but it is given because of God's love for me so that I can be used for His works of service. I need to believe that I am saved by grace through faith and not of any works that any man should boast. It is God who works in me to do His will for I am His workmanship in Christ Jesus to do good works. When I do that, I am even ready to serve in ministry not on my own ability but the ability that Christ gives. It is His mission field and we are His workers for His honor and glory. It is so awesome to know that God uses us in ministry His way.

I ask you now dear friend, why bother with ministry in life?
Dear friend, when people put you down or say that you cannot be doing ministry with so and so because you are not part of them, it may give you a reason not to bother with ministry in life but don't let it get you down. If God has called you to do ministry in a particular area, He will not let anyone stop you from doing it. Even when obstacles come your way, the Lord Jesus will provide encouragement to help you keep moving on to do His work. That's what happened to me regarding the devotionals. At a point, I just wanted to give up but the Lord used certain people in my life to encourage me such as my mommy, different friends from facebook, my church, etc. Also, if someone is stopping you from doing what Jesus endorses or gives approval to, Jesus will have a talk with them in His way just as Jesus stopped the disciples from stopping a man doing ministry in is Name.

But it is important to remember Jesus' words of  "For whoever is not against us is for us".

The focus should be on Jesus while doing ministry and not on self or self-accolades. Once ministry becomes all about us and what we get out of it, you and I have missed the point of being in ministry. I learned that the hard way and some of the consequences I still reap to this day but God also in His grace gives me strength. Ministry is all about Jesus and an out flowing of our own personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ being in His Word and Prayer. That can be for you and me when Jesus becomes the focus so we can use the gifts He has given us for His honor and glory! Praise the Lord!

There will always be people who may not want to take you in for so and so ministry because they maybe thinking like the disciples but you and I can be assured if Jesus wants you or me to do so and so, He will make a way! Thank you Jesus.

Writing this devotional blessed me so much and I hope it has blessed you too!

May you rest in the Lord knowing ministry is nicely involving Scripture's Truth revealing Yeshua!

"Ministry Is Nicely Involving Scripture's Truth Revealing Yeshua!" (M.I.N.I.S.T.R.Y)/"Why bother with M.I.N.I.S.T.R.Y in life?" 

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I love you so much. Thank you for loving me so much. Oh Lord, thank you so much for encouraging me regarding ministry. When I am doing ministry for you, it does not matter what titles I have or don't have. I don't have to be a pastor to use the gift of pastoring if it is a gift you have given me or any gift you have given me can be used for your honor and glory for the edification of the body of believers while I trust in you. Help me to do that. Let me not do anything for selfish reasons allowing pride to cloud my judgment. Thanks so much Jesus. Thank you that ministry is nicely involving Scripture's Truth revealing Yeshua. You are my Yeshua who came to save me from my bondage to sin. You came to save the world from it's bondage by dying on the cross and shedding your precious cleansing blood. Thank you so much Jesus. I accept what you have done for me and confess all my sins to you knowing you alone can forgive me and give me life. Help me Lord for I am weak and in need of a Savior and you are Mighty to Save. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!

If you want to be a soldier in the Lord's army, you can become it right now. Now is the time of Salvation! You do not have to wait but can pray this prayer and give your life to Christ to serve Him daily! There is no draft but coming to Christ is voluntary. He loves you so much and wants you to come to Him! He will take care of you, guiding you and leading you!

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I love you. Thank you for loving me so much and thank you for choosing the cross to die for me. You became the Son of Man and lived here on earth. Then you humbled yourself and became obedient to death-even death on the cross. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. You died on the cross so that I can be covered in your blood and cleansed by your blood as I acknowledge that I need you and cannot enter Heaven without you being my pathway. So, Jesus I confess all my sins to you and all the ways I have tried to get into Heaven when you already provided the means and the Way. Thank you for all that you have done for me. "The cross is the place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and grace. Thank you Jesus, it is at the cross where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed at the cross. Thank you Jesus, at the cross you died for our sins and at the cross you gave your life for us." I thank you for that and thank you for coming back to life to save us. Thank you Jesus for being there for me! Thank you for loving me. I love you Jesus! Please take me as I am and make my life into something that you will be proud of. I surrender my life to you and need your help to live for you. I am forever grateful for what you have done for me and I can never repay you. I want to live for you and need your help. Help me Jesus please. I thank you Jesus for saving me! Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! In Your Name I Pray precious Jesus! Amen!