Gtcotr/ws101707
Key Scriptures: Matthew 16 KJV
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Last Sunday we talked about the different groups of people Jesus ministered to while He walked on earth. From the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we are able to identify these groups of people as:
The 5000
The 70
The 12
The 3
The 1
Jesus was very strategic in both choosing His topics for discussion and in His presentation of the material with each group. His aim was to meet each individual and group where they were and speak to their current need while challenging them take their next step with God.
Sunday we focused on the group known as the 5000, the multitudes. We saw from several scriptural examples how that Jesus taught a basic three point message to this group. His points were:
Bless Me
Feed Me
Heal Me
We talked about these people representing the proverbial Sunday morning crowd and how important it is for us to follow the pattern example of Christ. When Jesus spoke to the multitudes He kept it simple and focused the message on their need.
However, when Jesus ministered to smaller groups of followers He was not always so gentle and understanding. With them He focused more on God’s need. The more intimate the relationship the deeper His subject matter and the stronger His delivery.
Tonight I too want to go a little deeper than just the bless me, feed me, heal me message and speak to the disciples of Christ; those who desire to follow Him more closely and give more of their lives to Him and His Kingdom work.
Psalms 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
In that sanctuary David was speaking of there were several places of worship and service. There was the outer court where the multitudes came to be forgiven, blessed and healed. There was the inner court where the Levites came to serve and minister to the Lord and finally there was the Holy of Holies where only those specially chosen by God, consecrated, sanctified and holy priests, could come before the very presence of God and hear His voice from the mercy seat.
This pattern reveals a progression of intimacy, service and worship. When Jesus died on the cross God tore the veil that separated Him from mankind and made it possible for every person to approach His throne. Now it is up to each individual as to the level of relationship they want to pursue with God … from His blessings to His presence.
We can live in the ‘it’s all about me’ arena of life or go farther into God’s will and become servant workers in His Kingdom work and, if we desire, we can pursue an intimate, holy, separated life unto God, devoted to Him, hearing His voice and being His vessel.
God has left it up to each individual as to which group they belong.
Lets look at some of Jesus’ teachings to the 70 and the 12:
Matthew 10 KJV
1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Mark 16 KJV
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Luke 10 KJV
1 ¶ After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
17 ¶ And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
John 14 KJV
12 ¶ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. KJV
Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. KVJ
There is power in Jesus’ Name and there is power in agreement.
Psalms 3 KJV
1 ¶ <> Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
That’s where the blessings are revealed … in unity!
