Ramesh C. Reddy
Editor in Chief
Hi everyone :)
May you know the Lord loves you and wants to spend time with you! May the Lord bless you and guide you! Amen!
My Quiet Times for September 21,02: (Psalm 111, Proverbs 21, and Mark 3)
“He appointed twelve designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” (Mark 3:14)
I learned that Jesus appointed 12 for 3 reasons:
1. That they might be with Him.
2. That He might send them out to preach.
3. That they may have authority to drive out demons.
Reason 1: “That they might be with Him.”
I asked myself what it means by the phrase “that they might be with him?”
What came into my mind was a good relationship. When we are with someone in a good relationship and they are with us, what happens?
There is talking, listening, enjoying each other’s company, trusting each other, and being there for one another to name a few. These are only some of the things in a good relationship. Of course, there are times of tension too that eventually get worked out in a good relationship.
It was so exciting to know that the Creator of the Universe and the Lord of All chose people that they might be with Him. Jesus wanted to be in a relationship with the disciples and wanted them to be in a relationship with Him. I believe that involved talking, listening, trusting, loving, enjoying and being there for one another.
Before the apostles could do anything, the first thing Jesus wanted from them was a relationship with Him, to be with Him, getting to know Him and be known by Him. It was a personal relationship that Jesus desired of the apostles and not a religion.
I found it so interesting that being with Jesus became a prerequisite for them to even begin ministry. Ministry was to be an overflow of their relationship with the Lord Jesus. This is evidenced by REASON 2.
Reason 2: “That He might send them out to preach”
Jesus wanted them to be with Him so that they can be encouraged and equipped by Him so that they will be enabled to go out and preach. Ministry of preaching was an overflow of them being with Jesus. That is so exciting that before they could tell others about Jesus, Jesus wanted them to know Him first in a personal way. Preaching was not to be a religion oriented thing but a Jesus-oriented area.
It is easier to tell others about someone if that someone has made an impact in our own lives. In essence, we will be excited to let others know what that person has done for us and means to us. Also, we will be speaking with facts hopefully because we have been with that person and learned from that person.
Spending time with Jesus was not to be the solo thing. It was one of the means Jesus used in their lives to preach to them that they may be able to preach to others. Knowing Jesus and being known by Him was not to be the only thing the disciples were called to do. They were to leave their comfort zones to do evangelism after being involved in a discipleship with Jesus. Preaching involves telling others about someone or something. Jesus did not want the disciples to just stop with preaching. Preaching was to be an avenue to open doors for something else involving a particular mission. This is evidenced by REASON 3.
Reason 3: “That they might have authority to drive out demons”
Preaching was to be an open door to get involved in other people’s lives and help them. It is interesting that the other reason given for Jesus appointing disciples to be with Him is so that they can have authority to drive out demons. After enabling them to preach, any other reason could have been given but it was to drive out demons.
I found that so significant because it let me know that the Lord Jesus is concerned about the evil we face and the evil that can permeate our lives. The Lord is aware of demonic oppression and spiritual warfare in people’s lives. Jesus did not want his disciples to just preach to people but intervene personally in people’s lives because Jesus wanted to help them through his disciples.
I saw important implications and applications for our own lives here.
I ask you now dear friend, what kind of relationship do you have with the Lord?
Dear friend, the Lord Jesus loves you so much and wants to spend time with you. Oh yes, He does! He misses His time with you. He has called you and chosen you to be in a personal relationship with Him. He wants you to be able to talk to Him, listen to Him, enjoy His company, trust in Him, and most of all learn from Him.
I don’t know what kind of relationships you have been in. They could have been good ones or bad ones. I do not know what kind of relationships you are in now. But, what I do know is Jesus wants to be in a loving relationship with you. He wants you to get to know Him and be known by Him.
Jesus wants to empower you and lead you. As you grow in your personal relationship with the Lord, you will be so excited what you are learning from Him that you cannot stop sharing that love with others. You would want others to have what you have for Jesus is not constricted to one individual. Jesus is there for everyone who seeks out for Him. Won’t you do that friend if you are not in a personal relationship with Him!
I am not talking about just believing in Jesus and letting it end there. The Bible says even the demons believe in God that they shudder. Yet, we know demons are not in a relationship with the Lord. True belief in Jesus will involve a relationship with Him because you are going to trust in Him and let Him be the Lord of your life, allowing Him to lead you and guide you! Don’t you always want that? I hope I will always want that!
Going to church and tons of fellowships is not having a personal relationship with Jesus. They are all outward expressions of our faith but I learned some time ago what really matters is ‘what is our inward expression of our faith' supplemented by our outward expression of our faith and being in a community of believers in the Lord.
The Lord Jesus looks into our heart and knows whether we love Him or not and genuinely want to be in a relationship with Him or if we are doing everything for show. He wants to be in a relationship with you friend. He won’t hurt you as humans do! He will be with you and even give you endurance to face trials and reveal His comfort to you.
When you experience His awesome love, you cannot but help preach Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected to others. You will love Him so much that your own life you don’t mind risking for the sake of the Gospel. This is not something that just comes upon someone one day. It only happens after we are with Jesus getting to know Him daily and being known by Him. I know I want that kind of relationship.
I believe we will also be in a position to help others who are dealing with demons in their lives because we have a relationship with Jesus and know what Jesus would have us do. Demons do not have to be evil spirits alone for each of us face our own demons but the Good News is that Jesus Christ can be there to help us and we can be there to help others by the Power of the Holy Spirit.
May you come to love the Lord Jesus so much and get to know Him by spending time with Him through prayer and study of His Word! This is the personal aspect of spending time with Jesus. Then there is also the corporate aspect of church, fellowship, and corporate study of His Word. Doing things corporately means nothing to the Lord if your own personal relationship with Him is lacking. That is something I learned and am so happy I did!
“Realize Everyday Love And Truth Is Our Nurturing Savior’s Healing In People!” (R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P)/”What kind of relationship do you have with the Lord?”
Prayer:
Jesus, I want to thank you so much that you chose apostles for the main reason of being with you in a relationship. Then Lord out of that you have been able to encourage, equip, and enable them to go preach and drive out demons. Jesus, I thank you that you have not changed and want to be in a personal relationship with us. That is exciting that you would wait for us to spend time with us. Forgive us Lord when we let the hectic busyness of the day hinder our time with you. We don’t even think that you are in control of time and that when we seek your Kingdom first all the other things will be added as you promised. Thank you for your promise and your awesome love. I thank you Lord that you have given us the power of the Holy Spirit to be able to preach you to others as we spend time with you first. Help us to reach the hurting and wounded and use us to drive out the demons people face in their lives. Lord, please help us with the things we face so we can help others. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for your love and compassion. We entrust our lives to you and pray for the one who is wounded and is not in a relationship with you. Please bring that one back to you Lord and may he/she know that they are never out of your love or reach. Thank you Father God that we can be your children. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. We surrender our lives to you and ask you for your strength and willingness to bear what you send our way. We are truly sorry for our sins and ask for your forgiveness. Thank you for cleansing us with your cleansing blood Jesus, as we turn to you. Most of all thank you for dying for our sins and coming back to life to save us. In Your Name I pray Jesus! Amen!
Love in Christ,
Ramesh