Hi how are you today? I am well and have had a good week. It is a public holiday in my country today so I have the day off. Do you enjoy public holidays in your country?
This week I felt God tell me to continue my blog on community and look at the last six things Jesus did with His disciples. I am sure there are many more but we will consider only a few more.
1. He prepared the disciples for the future.
This is important because community will not look the same year by year. When people’s expectations of the community are not met, then sometimes it can cause issues.
John 14: 25-27 in the Message Bible states:
25-27 “I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.
Jesus was telling them that in the future He was going away but not to worry as the community would still grow because instead of Him, the Holy Spirit would come.
He was also comforting them and though they didn’t understand then, His words would make sense later.
Jesus transitioned the community of believers over well. In a community, we must have a strategy to transition leadership over well.
2. He spoke destiny over them
One of the best examples of this is when Jesus spoke destiny over Peter the first time. It is found in Matthew 16: 17-18 and in the Message Bible it states:
17-18 Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
Jesus called Peter a rock that Jesus will put His church on. Peter was the first called leader of the church as we know it today.
Community always speaks destiny. The community you are in should be speaking life over you and potential. The leaders should be encouraging you and calling you up higher. If they are overlooking you or worse degrading you, then I would find a different community.
Community should always encourage not discourage.
3. He led by example
Jesus always led by example and we see that as we read through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
He showed the disciples how to get people healed by God, how to meet their needs and how to have total faith in God.
Jesus taught them to pray. This was an interesting concept to them. None of them could go and talk to God so when they saw Jesus doing it, they wanted in on it too.
Luke 11:1 in the Message Bible states:
11 One day he was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, “Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”
If they were taught to pray in the synagogue they would never have asked Jesus. So Jesus taught them to pray.
Community should always be in the business of teaching us. It should not be for social outings only but it needs be to have a teaching element. What does your community teach you?
4. He prioritised His time
Being in community should not take up all your time. If it does, then you are doing too much. It is okay to be busy for a season but seasons end and then it is rest time. Look at what Jesus said in Mark 6: 30-31 in the Message Bible which states:
30-31 The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat.
Jesus knew they needed a break and so do we. We need time to rest and replenish our bodies. Make sure you take time for this.
5. He showed them interruptions can happen
The best interruption is in the story of the woman with the issue of blood.
Jesus was on His way to heal Jairus’ daughter but then an interruption came.
In Luke 8: 43-45 in the Message Bible it states:
43-45 In the crowd that day there was a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with hemorrhages. She had spent every penny she had on doctors but not one had been able to help her. She slipped in from behind and touched the edge of Jesus’ robe. At that very moment her hemorrhaging stopped. Jesus said, “Who touched me?”
Jesus could have kept walking knowing the woman was healed but He didn’t. This was an interruption that Jesus knew He must stop for.
In verse 48, we find out why:
48 Jesus said, “Daughter, you took a risk trusting me, and now you’re healed and whole. Live well, live blessed!”
Jesus not only wanted her to walk away healed but whole.
In our community are we allowing the Holy Spirit and others to interrupt? What might we be missing out on in those interruption times?
6. He restored them
Community should always restore us.
Jess restored Peter in John 21 after He had denied Him three times.
We need to ensure that our community has a restoration area. Offences are the opposite of restoration as offences keep the person out but restoration offers them a way in.
This week think about the communities you are involved in. Can you see some of these characteristics in them? If not, pray and talk to God about it.
Community is God’s idea.
Bless you and keep living the life God intended.
Karen
