(Second part)
Memory verse (Mark3: 14) : “ Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach ”
When Jesus chose his twelve disciples, his first goal was not to send them to preach but TO BE WITH HIM. For the period of three years Jesus walked with his disciples, he lived with them all the time and ate with them. They were with him and watched him pray. Ministry is caught not taught. They watched him how he ministered to needs of humanity. They saw his love for people. They watched him as he preached and taught the multitudes. He taught them and rebuked them. At the end of his earthly ministry he sent them to go to the world and make disciples of all nations. Men like Peter experienced His glory on the mount of transfiguration (Matt 17). They began to get the revelation of who he was (Matt 16: 13-18). The time they spent with Jesus transformed these disciples so powerfully and it was the preparation for the ministry God had called them to do, i.e. to preach.
The first goal of our lives should be to know Christ, to walk with him, to fellowship with him, to grow in our relationship with him and in our knowledge of him. Jesus is ready to send the Holy Spirit to help us all to know him. It’s the Holy Sprit who reveals Christ in our lives. It’s the Holy Sprit who brings us into daily communion with CHRIST. It’s the Holy Spirit who causes us to hear the voice of Christ etc. As we make it our number one priority to seek and to know him, He begins to change our lives. We begin to experience his presence, his power and love. The peace of God begins to fill our lives. The hunger for him begins to grow. The desire to be in his presence increases. He begins to deal with areas of our lives that needs pruning (John 15.2). He begins to give us the power to overcome the works of the flesh and worldliness in our lives. Transformation begins to take place in our lives. The way we think, talk and act change. Discipleship mean becoming like Christ in speech, thought and action. This is what is called Christ likeness. God wants you to have time with Jesus that you may be like him (Acts 4: 13) Satan is a thief, he like stealing your most precious time of being in the presence of God, but refuse! Make time to be in his presence for this is the key to power. When you are like him, you’ll do what he does.
Tomorrow’s subject, “Believing in Jesus”
