All true ministry begins in the presence of God V
Hello wonderful people of God!
I am so glad that we can continue to explore a topic that I believe is one of the most vital truths I can ever share with you. We have been discussing spending time with God as the first priority of our lives if we want to please Him and serve Him with excellent results.
We saw the example Jesus set for us with His life, and we have considered three lessons from the life of Isaiah.
Today we will move on by considering another illustration of this principle from the initial training Jesus gave to His twelve disciples in Mark chapter 3:
“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14He appointed twelve-designating them apostles-that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mark3: 13-15).
From the above text, we can see the following truth:
Jesus has a mission, and He called twelve men, whom He named apostles, to become part of it.
This is the same thing God is calling us to today. He is calling us to be co-workers with Him in the business of saving the lost and expanding His kingdom in the earth.
We do that by serving God in our respective areas of gifting and assignment.
However, before Jesus sent the Apostles on their assignment, He called them to first spend time with Him. This principle is still very essential in our day. Before you run out to serve God, you need to slow down and spend some time with Him in fellowship.
After the disciples knew about the resurrection of Jesus and were commissioned by Him to go out and preach the good news to all people, they must have been filled with passion and zeal to go and spread the news as quickly as possible. However, Jesus slowed them down by saying they should tarry until they were clothed with power from on high.
“This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24: 46-49).
We know they did just that from the biblical record:
“Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God” (Luke24: 52).
“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” (Acts1: 14).
These disciples were applying the principle that they were taught by Jesus, and that is that ministry begins in the presence of God. They spent time ministering to God in worship, and they drew near to Him through prayer and the reading of the Word.
The outcome of spending time with God is that we are equipped and clothed with power to do what we have been called to do.
One of the reasons Jesus called His disciples to be with Him before they went out to minister is that they might have authority to cast out devils.
“He appointed twelve-designating them apostles-that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15and to have authority to drive out demons”(Mark3: 14-15).
Our authority and anointing to effectively serve God flow out of our relationship with God and not from our activities.
This is something you must remember all the days of your life.
Let me ask you today, how is your relationship with the Lord? If you sense a lack of anointing and spiritual authority, it is very likely that you have grown cold in your relationship with Christ. Start from there and see how your life will be revolutionized.
Grace be multiplied unto you in Jesus’ name!
Pastor Rufus Ajiboy
