SCRIPTURE:
"Then
He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send
them out to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out
demons: ..." (Mark 3:13-15)
Observations:
I
asked myself the reasons Jesus appointed the twelve?
1.
That they might be
with Him.
2. That He might send them out to preach.
3. And to have power to heal sicknesses.
4. To cast out demons.
Interpretation/Application:
I
asked myself what is the significance of Reason 1?
We see that Jesus' heart was set on developing personal relationships
with people. Jesus' main reason for appointing the twelve is
'that they might be with Him.'
This is very significant because I believe the entire
ministry of Jesus is focused on personal relationships. Foremost, Jesus
wanted the twelve to have a personal relationship with Him before they
can do anything such as preaching, healing, etc. This is very exciting
too because it shows Jesus taking the initiative. Jesus wanted to spend
time with the twelve and train them in that time too.
It is wonderful to know that when Jesus
calls us to be His, it is not just so we can have Salvation but for a
much bigger picture. Jesus wants us to be with Him. He wants us to be
wanted and loved. Being with Jesus and learning from Him is the best
experience any of us can have. We should not let anything crowd out our
times with the Lord whether it be sleep, studies, jobs, activities,
relationships, etc. Jesus knew the hectic schedule of his disciples too,
for each of them had a profession to make their living. Jesus took them
to a mountainside where I suppose it would be a quiet place that they
might be with him.
A relationship with Him is what Jesus
desires for each one of us. Without that personal relationship with
Christ, everything we do in life will not have the same effect or
meaning than it would with our personal relationship with Christ.
This
past Friday, Oct 17, 2008 in our Living Acts Cell Group of Oakland
International Fellowship, our Bible study focused on John 15:1-8 where
Susannah facilitated the study. We learned that the bearing of fruit in
our lives starts with God. He is the initiator and the Gardner. Jesus is
the Vine we need to hold on to. We need to ABIDE in Christ so we can
BEAR fruit in Christ's Name.
Jesus
wants to spend time with you and He is the One that can empower you. He
does not want us to ignore our studies, our jobs, our relationships, etc
but He wants to be part of them and to help us through them. This will
not happen unless we go to Him as the disciples went and were taught by
Him.
Jesus was not just building relationships
but was engaged in making disciples in action.
Observations/Interpretation:
What were the
actions going to be and its significance?
The twelve with whom
Jesus spent time with became disciples and they all were trained by the
Master Himself:
-
To Preach to others
-
To Heal sickness
-
To Cast out demons
The preaching, healing, and casting of
demons were the fruit that were to come as the disciples spent time with
Jesus.
It is very interesting to know that
Jesus trained the disciples and empowered them not only to meet peoples'
spiritual needs (preaching) but also to meet people's physical and
emotional needs (overcoming sicknesses/demon possession). Jesus cares for the whole
of the person.
Application:
I saw important
implications for my own life. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and
tomorrow. The main thing Jesus wants from me is that I might be with
Him. This is really exciting because Jesus wants to spend time
with me. He loves me so much and wants me to develop a personal
relationship with Him. Through that relationship, He wants to train me
and make me His faithful worker so that I can go out to preach, heal, or
do whatever He has called me to do!
It is significant for me to know that
preaching and healing are not emphasized before spending time with Jesus
even though they are very important too.
I ask you now
dear friend what emphasis do you put on your relationship with Jesus?
Dear friend, what I learned today should tell us that nothing is more
important than spending time with the Master daily and learning from
Him. Everything else should be secondary and flows from our relationship
with Jesus.
Ministry or whatever we do in our life should be an out flowing of our
relationship with the Lord. In life we need to be led, taught, and
preached to by the Master Himself to be effective. I know I need to
spend at the feet of Jesus and in His Word daily, praying and seeking
Him if I want clear direction in my life and to have strength to do what He
calls me to do. It is not an easy process.
I
am reminded of a passage from Luke 10:38-42 that addresses a
relationship with Jesus that our Living Acts Cell Group of OIF studied
two weeks ago:
"As Jesus and
his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman
named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary,
who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was
distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to
him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to
do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the
Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but
only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it
will not be taken away from her."
Martha was so concerned about doing things for Jesus when she opened her
door to Him but Mary wanted to sit at Jesus' feet and learn from Him.
Jesus was telling Martha that Mary BEING WITH Jesus pleased Him more
than Martha DOING THINGS FOR Jesus.
It was
important for me to realize that I can do, do, and do so much for
Jesus thinking I am pleasing Him but you know that actually would not
please Jesus as we may think it does if we are not doing things with
Jesus too. What would please Jesus is that we
do, do, do things WITH Jesus. There is a major difference doing things
for someone and doing things with someone. Jesus wants to be a daily
part of our lives and wants us to do things with Him. Jesus loves us so
much and desires to spend time with us.
But
BEING with Jesus or DOING things for Jesus cannot even begin if we don't
have a relationship with Jesus KNOWING JESUS.
This
is a principle I was reminded of by Keng in our cell group Bible study
time two weeks ago which I have expanded upon.
Friend, Jesus loves you so much that Jesus wants you to come to KNOW HIM
as your Lord and Personal Savior. Jesus spent so much time with the
disciples because He wanted them to KNOW HIM. Jesus wants us to KNOW HIM
too.
Jesus
also knew that humanity's relationship with God is so marred that they
cannot have a solid relationship with the Lord because of sin in their
lives. It is this sin that Jesus came to abolish and take away. Yes,
friend while we were yet sinners Jesus Christ died for us so that we can
be reconciled to God and have a personal relationship with Him.
Jesus
did that for the disciples and for us too. Jesus went to the cross of
Calvary and lay His life upon that rugged cross so that those who look
to Him will be saved. We can look to Jesus and be saved.
We
need to be save because the bondage of sin will not only hurt us from
having a positive relationship with God but with other human beings too.
Sin has infected all of us and only the antidote offered by Christ's
sacrificial death can restore our relationship with Father God. The
antidote which is the precious cleansing blood of Christ has been
offered and we need to take it in.
We
need Jesus to cleanse us of all our sins and set us free so God in His
Holiness can have a relationship with us. Yes, friend because of what
Jesus Christ did, God sees the blood of Christ covering over us making
His judgment pass over us. Now we can have entrance into Heaven and also
be in the presence of the Living God allowing Him to guide and lead us
through the power of the Holy Spirit all because of us accepting Jesus
Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior desiring to KNOW HIM more and
more.
Jesus
wanted a relationship with the disciples to restore them to Father God
and wants that same relationship with us. It starts with KNOWING, BEING,
and DOING.
Jesus
died for our sins, was buried, and came back to life on the 3rd day to
save. That is exciting to know friend that we are loved by God.
If God
be for us who can be against us. Jesus is God and it is wonderful to
have a relationship with Jesus KNOWING, BEING, and DOING.
Won't
you take time out of your 24 hr day schedule to spend with Jesus
studying His Word, praying, and seeking Him?
Don’t
base it on feelings because that’s what Satan loves to emphasize. Satan
will make you feel like you are not in the mood to do it so why bother.
Satan will also whisper since you are not in the mood to do it, it is
not genuine time so why bother. Satan will also whisper that you are
doing it as an obligation not because you want to so you should not do
it. Don’t listen to those lies.
Even when we do not feel like spending time with the Lord, if we are
faithful and obedient because Scripture states to meditate on His Word
day and night and not to let His Word depart from us, He will bless us
because we have been obedient.
"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it
day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in
it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded
you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be
discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
(Joshua 1:8-9, NIV)
Even if Satan brings to your attention that you are doing it
legalistically without your heart in it, ignore Satan’s whispers. As you
spend time with the Lord even when you do not feel like it, Jesus will
meet you there! I know He will because He has met me there! Do not go by
feelings. The amount of time you spend should be between you and the
Lord.
I hope you do not go by feelings when it comes to your relationship with
Jesus! Feelings can be deceptive but hold on to Jesus and you will be
holding on to hope!
What could be more important than giving your time to the One who
created you, made you so special and knows what He wants for your life.
Your life will come to perspective as you will see the Lord's guidance
in your life as you seek Him first. Ask Jesus to be part of your life
and allow Him to lead you daily. You will draw so much strength and
guidance from the Lord! One of my most exciting times in the morning is
to open up the Bible and see what God wants to speak to me!
May we give
the Lord first place in our lives before everything and learn from Him.
As we spend time with Him, may we have the passion and zeal to go out
and preach the Gospel, be empowered to heal the sick, cast out demons,
or whatever He has empowered us to do!
May
our relationship with the Lord prompt us to make moral issues a priority
in this election especially issues such as the protecting of the unborn
and protecting the sanctity of marriage, etc. I wish both candidates
cared for the unborn but startling quotes and statistics prove
otherwise.
We as
followers of Christ can make a difference in this election as we seek
His face, pray daily, and VOTE THE BIBLE. Let it be a relationship with
Christ that pleases Him by our actions even as simple as pulling a lever
on the voting machine.
“McCain Meets Messiah's Message Upholding Unborn
Over Obama!" (Oct 19,
08,
9:08 p.m.)
As we rest in the arms
of the Savior daily, He will give us the wisdom to be able to do
whatever He asks us! Being empowered to heal does not just mean physical
ailments but emotional ailments, etc. As important as preaching and
healing were to Jesus, He always made spending time with God a priority.
May we sacrifice our own pleasures that we might get time to spend with
the Master daily. Our education, our vote, and everything else will fall into
perspective as we seek the Lord first.
Never feel you are inadequate to be
used by the Lord for He can use you in mighty ways if you make yourself
available to Him.
Do you know someone who needs to hear the Gospel?
Do you know someone who needs healing and restoration in their lives?
You be the
one to give them the Gospel and bring healing and restoration in their
lives. Take everything to the Lord in prayer
even if you do not understand why things happen the way they do. We
cannot understand everything but the Lord's wisdom and strength can give
us endurance to get through! Amen!
Lord
wants to REVIVE you and me friend as we spend our time with Him! Yes, He
does! Thank you Jesus! Amen!
Yesterday, during Communion time at Oakland International Fellowship
worship service, I sang a song to the Lord that came to my heart. I am
finishing the song this morning.
Blood
and the Flood
(c) 2008, By Ramesh C. Reddy
Thank
you for the Blood, my Lord
Thank you for the Blood, my Lord
Thank you for the Blood, my Lord
Taking
away sin's flood, my Lord
Taking away sin's flood, my Lord
Taking away sin's flood, my Lord
I was
so lost
You came to pay the cost
Jesus,
You are the Way
Cleansing me day by day
Thank
you for the Blood, my Lord
Thank you for the Blood, my Lord
Thank you for the Blood, my Lord
Taking
away sin's flood, my Lord
Taking away sin's flood, my Lord
Taking away sin's flood, my Lord
I was
so lost
You came to pay the cost
At the Cross of Calvary's Hill
Paying my ransom bill
Jesus,
You are the Life
Freeing me from sin's strife
Thank
you for the Blood, my Lord
Thank you for the Blood, my Lord
Thank you for the Blood, my Lord
Taking
away sin's flood, my Lord
Taking away sin's flood, my Lord
Taking away sin's flood, my Lord
I was
so lost
You came to pay the cost
At the Cross at Calvary's Hill
Paying my ransom bill
Jesus,
You are the Truth
Making me bear Fruit
Thank
you for the Blood, my Lord
Thank you for the Blood, my Lord
Thank you for the Blood, my Lord
Taking
away sin's flood, my Lord
Taking away sin's flood
Taking away my sin's flood, my Lord
I was
so lost
You came to pay the cost
At the Cross at Calvary's Hill
Paying my ransom bill!
Amen!
"I will instruct you and guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch your progress" says the Lord. (Psalm 32:8, TLB)
“Realize Everyday Lord’s Aspirations Totally Involve Our Nurture So He
Invites People” (R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P)/"What
emphasis do you put on your relationship with Jesus?"
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, we come to you now and thank you so much that you chose
the disciples that they might be with you. It is exciting to know that
you want to spend time with us. It is so easy to be caught up in the
notion that we need to spend time with you but the fact of the matter is
that you want to spend time with us if we give you the time. Thank you
so much Jesus. During that time we thank you that you can train us and
empower us, making us the way you want us to be as you also help us do
what you want us to do. Forgive us when we do not give you first place
in our lives. We are so sorry Lord. Thanks for always being there for us
and we do rest in you Lord. Please make our times with you exciting even
though at times you have to prune us and we do not feel like being
pruned or giving you the
time because of selfishness. Forgive us for that Lord. I thank you for dying for our sins and coming back to life to save
us. Thank you for loving us so much and always making time to hear us as
we seek you. Thank you Lord that you never get tired of hearing from us
but you have inclined your ears to listen to us. In Your Name We Pray
Jesus praising you and thanking you for everything! Amen!
May my spoken words and
unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my
Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)
ANALOGY OF INVITING PEOPLE TO THE GREAT PHYSICIAN:
We are like an ambulance taking
sick people to the
hospital. People are dying and there is an emergency because of an
epidemic virus. The ambulance takes the initiative to go to the place
people are dying and bring them to the hospital. They are not dead yet
but there is no time to wait. The ambulance needs to get to the hospital
for that virus to be treated. The virus has infected the mind, body, and
soul spreading rapidly. You and I cannot do anything to heal our friends
of this virus except be the AMBULANCE taking them to the HOSPITAL where
the GREAT PHYSICIAN waits.
Once at the hospital, there is a GREAT PHYSICIAN that waits. The sick
are gathered from all corners of the earth and come to this hospital.
This hospital is called CALVARY OF SALVATION and the EMERGENCY WARD is
called GOLGOTHA.
The GREAT PHYSICIAN is not like other doctors who can only treat
patients with physical ailments but this GREAT PHYSICIAN is much
more and knows He has to stay 72 HOURS for every dying person there to
be healed.
He knows what He has to do! This GREAT PHYSICIAN knew that only His
BLOOD can wipe away this epidemic VIRUS, so for you and me He went to
the blood transfusion room where people were about to die. There He lay
down on the bed made of wood.
The surgeons walk into the room. They turn this GREAT PHYSICIAN on
His back. Instead of using an IV, a WHIP with sharp glass, etc is
used to draw out the BLOOD from the GREAT PHYSICIAN'S back! It does not
stop there but to elevate the head on the bed of wood, a CROWN OF THORNS
is used which draws more BLOOD.
As the head is elevated, the GREAT PHYSICIAN's hands are stretched
wide on the wooden bed. Then the feet are bound together. This is done
for the BLOOD transfusion to begin. Instead of using an IV, NAILS and a
HAMMER is used. The NAILS are pounded through the hands into the wooden
bed with a HAMMER so the BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. The NAILS
are pounded through the feet into the wooden bed with a HAMMER so more
BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. As the BLOOD continues to flow from
the GREAT PHYSICIAN's body, the GREAT PHYSICIAN flat lines. Then the
surgeons insert a SPEAR into the heart to make sure all the BLOOD is
out. All the BLOOD is out!
Now, the GREAT PHYSICIAN is moved into the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE
being guarded by security.
Now the CALVARY OF SALVATION hospital has a BLOOD DONOR whose BLOOD
can be used to save everyone there from this EPIDEMIC VIRUS.
Those dying need to be taken there to receive the BLOOD transfusion
that is available. However, the BLOOD will not be forced upon those
dying! THE PUREST RED ANTIDOTE is only given to those that are willing
to receive the BLOOD TRANSFUSION so they could LIVE.
All that accept the BLOOD are being CLEANSED of this EPIDEMIC VIRUS
in their system that is infecting the mind, body, and soul. This
BLOOD goes into the dying person's mind, body, and soul and eats away at
the virus cleaning them and making them pure. This VIRUS is known as
SIN. The BLOOD is the PRECIOUS CLEANSING BLOOD OF THE GREAT PHYSICIAN,
JESUS CHRIST.
The WOODEN BED is the CROSS OF CHRIST where the dying need to be led
too.
72 HOURS LATER, there is a commotion at the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA
MORGUE. THE GREAT PHYSICIAN is not there anymore and the ANGELS that
visit tell loved ones who came there, that THE GREAT PHYSICIAN IS ALIVE
and will save all that come to Him.
It is true even to this day, for all that come to the HOSPITAL OF CALVARY come to realize that His CLEANSING
BLOOD shed on the WOODEN BED (CROSS) will never run out. Anyone infected
who wants to be healed of their sickness can accept what Jesus did for
them and be covered in His precious CLEANSING
BLOOD.
I have done that friend and know that at the foot of the cross where
Jesus died shedding His precious cleansing blood for my sin and the sins
of the world, I can find forgiveness and grace.
Thanks be to God that Christ's death on the cross was temporary to
remove all His precious cleansing blood for our sake but after He was
buried, Jesus came back to life to save.
To this day, all who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved when
they acknowledge what Jesus Christ has done for them and what He can do
for them.
Friend, Jesus loves you so much and if you were the only one living
on earth, Jesus would have done the same for you. What I shared with you
was an analogy but in real life it has happened. Jesus went to the cross
for you and me and His precious cleansing blood was shed so you and I
could have life. Jesus came back to life 72 hours later and is alive but
His blood continues to heal people on every corner of the earth to those
that accept Him.
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. You can invite the GREAT PHYSICIAN right now as you make this your prayer.
Dear Jesus,
thank you for healing the paralytic after forgiving his sins. You set him
free to go home. I want to be free. I don’t know
everything about you. I still have a lot of questions. What I do know is
that you died on the cross for my sins. When it comes to sin, I am a
paralytic Oh Lord. I am infected with this deadly disease known as sin.
I am not perfect but a sinner who needs your cleansing blood to clean me
of my sin. I confess to you my sin and repent of my sin. I know
you have forgiven me when you died on the cross. I want to accept that
forgiveness. Thank
you for shedding your cleansing precious blood for me. You were nailed
to the cross because of me. It is like I actually held the hammer and
pounded the nails so I could be free. Thank you for willingly dying for
me Jesus. Thank you for taking the shame and pain for me. Thank you for
doing that to set me free. I come to the cross and ask you for your
healing in my life. Thank you for the power of your Blood to redeem
humanity. Thank you for coming back to life to save us and give us
Eternal Life as we yield to you. Your blood can heal us where we are. I
love you Jesus. I want you Jesus. Even with my questions, I come to you now and accept you
into my heart. Please Jesus come into my heart and make my heart your
home. Give me a transfusion of change. Live in me Jesus and I will live
for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I thank you Jesus
for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for
living in me Jesus. I acknowledge you now as my Lord and Personal
Savior. Please be the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank you for being my
Lord and Personal Savior Jesus and because of what you have done for me when
God looks at me, He now sees me covered in your blood and His judgment
passes over me. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me.
Thank you for being with me Lord. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit.
Thank you Jesus I now belong to you and never need to be alone! You will
always be with me and have given me Salvation. In Your Name I Pray
Jesus! Amen!
May my spoken words and
unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my
Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)
