SCRIPTURE: Mark 3:14 He appointed twelve—designating them apostles— that they might be (1st) with him and that he might (2nd) send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.
OBSERVATION: The pattern is clear. Those who would do great things for the Lord must first spend time with Him.
A business owner who has spent years building a successful business probably will not take an extended vacation and leave his business in the hands of a novice. Before turning it over to someone, he would want to make sure they understand his ways and priorities.
So it was with Jesus. He did not send the disciples out on their own until they had spent time with Him.
APPLICATION: If I want the Lord to use me to do things for Him I must first spend time with Him.
It is in spending time with Him that I learn His ways and priorities. I learn His heart. I learn not only what He does, but more importantly, why He does what He does.
And when He does send me out to work for Him, I discover that He is not sending me alone! He goes with me. His Holy Spirit is living in me. I discover that ministry is allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through me, touch through me, and write SOAPs through me.
PRAYER: Lord, I have often sang, “To be used of God, to sing, to speak, to pray; to be used of God to show someone the way…” Perhaps I should rather be singing, “To spend time with God until I know His ways; to spend time with God until I know His heart…” And Lord, when I move out in ministry, it is not my ministry, but your ministry. SOAP is not our ministry for which we are seeking your help; SOAP is your ministry in which you are using us. Amen.
Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!
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