10/08/11

Bringing in the crowd

Mark 3:20 - Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.

In today's scripture we read about a very large crowd getting gathered in the house where Jesus meets with His disciples. Just some time back Jesus was at Tyre and Sidon where a large crowd was gathered around Him and it was a time when He allowed His anointing to manifest such that any person who touched Him would be healed or delivered. This caused a problem for Him because the evil spirits in the people would make the persons to fall down before Him and shout out that He was 'the Son of God'. Jesus had to command them not to declare this for the time was not right. He even went on a boat so as to keep away from the crowd.

In the house the crowd was even much more and we see that this happened after Jesus selected and bought together His twelve disciples whom He wanted to prepare to do the job of preaching unto the whole world and bring them into authority to heal and deliver. Jesus had many others in the troupe who usually were with Him but He selected only twelve as per the design of the Kingdom of God like God maintained the number twelve with the tribes of Israel.

The most important agenda for most preachers today or most Churches are to fill the church or hall with maximum people. The prime focus is the crowd since with the crowd comes fame and money.

In the early Church of the Apostles we read that when they did what was right in the eyes of God, it was the Lord Who added people to the congregation. They did not resort to publicity campaigns or tricks or threats or promotions to get people in the congregations.

With Jesus we read it was by the knowledge of Who He was that people gathered around Him and the second time when He did according to the Will of His Father that people gathered around Him.

If we know who we are in God that itself will cause people to be drawn unto us. And to get even more people we need to also follow the instructions of the Lord God.

We need to always remember that it is the Lord Who is the Lord of the Harvest. It is He Who gives us the harvest. If we are struggling to find people to preach or people are exiting the Church we need to introspect and see if we are knowledgeable of who we as Christians are in the Lord and if we are following His instructions?

The Jewish High Priest to gather people in the synagogue on the feast of the Passover conspired with the Pharisees to crucify Jesus. We need to ask ourselves are we too again crucifying the Lord Jesus Christ so as to fill our Churches or our Ministries, for fame and money.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, we pray for the Shepherds You have appointed to lead your sheep may they try to do your work with their own efforts and intelligence. We pray they following your instructions and be aware of who they represent on this earth. You are Lord of the Host, Almighty and Omnipotent. You are also the Lord of the Harvest and it is up to your discreet as to how much to give and to whom. You love your flock and would not like any harm be done against them...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Mark 3:7-15
7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,
8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.
9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.
13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.
14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Acts 2:44-47
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 5:3-14
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

Acts 11:19-24
19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)