So the question that faces a lot of new converts and even better still long time Christians. I’m a Christian, what do i do now? or How do I serve Him. Jesus in Matthew 10 answered this question in detail in the ordination of His disciples. He is said to have given his disciples power against unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal all sicknesses. In my sci-fi infused mind, I imagine it to be Jesus standing over his 12 disciples and transferring a glowing white light with intermittent divine sparkles over them. But of course this probably wasn’t the case(would have been cool though). He blessed them and ordained them into their office. He appointed them as his apostles. They were his disciples, disciples meaning students, one who follows a master, but now were ordained to be apostles, one who is sent on a mission with a message. Jesus himself was ordained by God at his baptism before he began His ministry and He in turn ordained his disciples, who also later ordained many others into God’s ministry. In Matthew 9:37-38 Jesus said , The harvest is truly plentiful , but the labourers are few, pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. He then proceeded to anoint them to do this work, of bringing the harvest to Him. But this gives us a good understanding of how God works. He expects that before we go out to start speaking and doing things in His name, we have taken the time to study his word and study under someone who knows His word. This doesn’t mean you should be enrolled in a seminary before you can share the Word with a friend, but it does mean, it is important that you have had some kind of teaching, training from your Pastor, Bishop, Evangelist etc, more especially if we are to step into leadership roles. We see Pastors pop up from all corners nowadays and forming churches and we should take a minute and ask, under who did you train? Who ordained you? Throughout the bible we see that kings and prophets chosen by God trained under others and were given a mandate by someone in a higher position. Are you receiving guidance from someone more experienced or do you think you know it all? Proverbs 16:25 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
The Mandate to Preach- Jesus gave his disciples instructions to go first to the Jews and preach to them about the Kingdom of Heaven before the Gentiles. Jesus said to the Canaanite woman who needed help with her demon -possessed daughter (Matthew 15:24), “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” and in Jeremiah 50:6, God calls Israel His people the “lost sheep.” It showed God’s divine priority for His chosen people. Even later on during the active spread of Christianity in Romans 1:16, Paul said “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.It shows that God has set priority for those that love Him.It gives us an idea as to how He prioritises us now as Christians over unbelievers. He tells them to freely preach and spread the word and perform miracles and to give of the gift they have received to heal and cast out demons.
The Mandate for Living -He tells his disciples not to take any money or extra clothes with them , because this is their job and they will get paid.v 10 ‘…A workman is worthy of his meat’. We often hear this comment from people ‘Church is always after money’ of ‘Pastors always asking for money’.It occurs to me , that those not giving or giving the least ,are often the one complaining the most, mainly out of guilt. Now we are to pay a tenth of our earnings to God, Malachi 3:10, NKJV. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And this tithe is to be used to care for the men of God. Numbers 18:20-21, NKJV. “Then the LORD said to Aaron: “You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel. “Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting. 1 Corinthians 9:13-14, TLB. “Don’t you realise that God told those working in his temple to take for their own needs with some of the food brought there as gifts to him? And those who work at the altar of God get a share of the food that is brought by those offering it to the Lord. In the same way the Lord has given orders that those who preach the Gospel should be supported by those who accept it.” Understand that 1) All the money on earth belongs to God, you yourself are blessed to have some of it. Deuteronomy 8:18, NKJV. “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 2) Giving your tithe and offerings is not between you and the man of God, it is between you and God. Malachi 3:8, NKJV. Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘ In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.
3) If the church or man of God misuses the money or is corrupt, it is between him and God James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.So You do your part, give what you ought as tithe and what you will as offering, Jesus recognises it as belonging to God and will bless you accordingly. Luke 21:3-4, NKJV. “ So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” P.S if you are struggling financially, check your attitude to giving, high probability that there’s something lacking there.
The Mandate for Speaking- Sometimes before I speak to someone about Christ or even write my blog, I try to craft some eloquent words to make sure my point is made with grace in the hope that the person listening or reading will be impacted. But Matt 10:20 says “Give no thought to what you will say …..For it is not you that speaks, but the Spirit that speaks in you. Now that’s a load off! I don’t have to worry or stress out or be scared of saying the wrong thing because the Spirit gives me utterance. Ephesians 6:19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, divine utterance may be given me, so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel. So now its up to us , when God urges us to speak to someone, stop worrying about having the right thing to say and just do it.
The Mandate to endure-In verse 24 of Matt 10 , Jesus tells his disciples that they will be persecuted. Spreading the gospel won’t be rosy. People will judge you for your imperfections, remind of your past and outline your areas of incompetence….and that’s just the human beings…. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood…(Eph 6:12). But Christ said fear not the those who can only kill the flesh but not the soul Matt 10v28. You are valuable to God, especially for your work for Him. So fear not, don’t deny Christ before men or He will deny you before God.
Verse 36 says something profound. A man’s foes shall be his own household. Outside a family that serves the Lord like Joshua’s (Josh 24:15)”…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”, there can and will be divisions. It is important to understand the importance of putting God first, above spouse, above children, above parents….because if you love your father or mother more than me, you are not worthy of me.He stresses in no subtle terms where He should be in the rank of your priorities.
Jesus gave the mandate to his disciples and in the same way it applies to us; for us to put God first in our lives , tell people about Him and His salvation; and trust Him in all situations.
Merry Christmas and stay blessed , see you next week.
Othniel's Tales 
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