(Second part)
Memory verse (Mark 3:14) " 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 "
Jesus ministry went beyond the grave and until today it is still impacting the nations of the world because of the men he chose to partner with. By the time he started the ministry there were many Pharisees, Sadducees, teachers of the law, they were those who were praying and fasting, they knew the law, they tithed faithfully, but he did not focus on the externalities, he did not even trusted the actions of men or appearances, he went and spent the whole night in prayer before the God whom searches the hearts of men and chooses for him the men he was to share his life and ministry with (Luke 6:12-13).
There is a good man of God I know who was my friend when I was a minister in Rwanda, he started a ministry some years ago and asked another pastor to work with him and after some years when the church was seemingly stable the other pastor threw him out of his own ministry, he started another church and found another pastor to work with him and after good years of laying the foundation when everything seemed ok, he also kicked him out. Ministers of the gospel make mistakes, when God call someone to do certain things, the first thing they do is to begin collecting all kinds of people to partner with them instead of seeking God’s will and direction. God called Abraham and told him what to do, but when Abraham was going he took with him Lot. Abraham ministry took another turn when he separated with Lot. If you think seeking God is wasting of time, try to do things without God’s guidance. If you think praying and waiting on God is hard, it is ok, try men and see. The prophet of God told king Amaziah, it's not God’s will for you to go to battle with the armies of Israel, but if you think it is ok, go with them but know that you’ll be defeated (2Chr 25:5-9). Jesus chose twelve men to be with him, they shared lives with him, they ate with him, they grew learnt ministry, until Jesus told them that they were no longer servants to him but friends, even in the toughest moments of going to the cross he could ask them to stand with him in prayers. He died and went to heaven, and these men he chose took up his ministry to greater heights. He chose right partners.
Tomorrow’s subject: “ David’s partnership with Jonathan ”
