Hanging out with Jesus I: Great Beginnings

Hanging out with Jesus I: Great Beginnings

We have set foot in a new year.  God promised Moses that whatsoever land he set his feet on he would give to him.  We have crossed over to cross through. The start of a New Year is about new beginnings. Expectations are high. Resolutions are made. Goals are set. It is a new start.  The year can also bring fears and anxieties. What is the year going to bring your way? Some tough circumstances of the previous year have not suddenly evaporated. Life may still be tough. At this time, the teaching to Joshua (Joshua 1:9) at the beginning of a new season without Moses is helpful: "be strong," "be courageous," "do not be dismayed." Because the Lord your God is with you, wherever you go. Song: Sweet is the promise I will not forget you or leave you. Understand that what he has done he can do more today and tomorrow. He has no favorites. He does not change.

The theme for the year - Making Disciple Makers.  We have identified the following five priority areas: Prayer, outreach, making disciples, sound relationships, and administrative excellence.

Disciples are learners and apprentices at Jesus’ feet. People who are in love with Jesus and keep falling in love with him over and over. People destined to see him as he is and be with him forever.  Disciples are ...  fervent worshipers, soul winners, disciple makers, wealth creators, world changers, legacy builders, mountain movers who accept no excuses.  As he is so are they in this world.  You cannot make disciples if you are not familiar with Jesus ... His life, teachings and purpose. Jesus the master disciple maker said as my Father sent me so I send you. 

Who was this man they called Jesus Christ? The book of Mark supported by the other gospel books will help us answer this question. We will track him as he taught and modeled disciple making. We want to grasp how and what made him do what he did as well as what his terms were. Some of his stated reasons were to please the father, so that the joy of believers may be full, so that people be free indeed, so that his followers would bear much fruit. 

Mark begins his book with God as the source of great beginnings (Mark 1:1). He wrote the good news of Jesus Christ a story that ended remarkably well. By the time Mark wrote, the word gospel had become a term that referred to the preaching about Jesus Christ and  saving power in for all who believe ( Rom 1:16). God not only controls the beginning but also controls the end. He is the alpha and the omega. To control both the alpha and the omega one has to also have control over the in between process. Without Him, nothing was made that was made (John 1:3). He is an able coach and captain through life’s unexpected storms, curves, and milestones. He manages the opening and closure of life chapters. God gives hope against all odds because He can begin with nothing or little to make something beautiful of your life. He can start with chaos and produce order such as exists in the universe.  In the book of Genesis humanity messed up (Genesis 3) but God brought new beginnings in the story of Jesus Christ. All he needs is himself (John 1:1, Genesis 1:1-5). If you wish, you could go back and start all over. You can begin again by entrusting your life into the Master’s hands.  You can begin again by allowing God to shape your life by His skilled, purposeful, and loving hands. He is the God of great beginnings as well as of good endings.

To set the stage for the wonderful story Mark began by highlighting three voices. All great beginnings in God feature the three voices.

I. Voice of prophecy (Mark 1:2). The coming of Christ was predicted in scripture. It was backed by a prophetic word.  The beginning of what God’s word proclaimed has a guaranteed end. God’s word is of effect. He hastens to perform his word.  It accomplishes what it says.  Even at the beginning of a year or a new season, remember God’s promise. The promise may seem unattainable. It has to be too good to be true to be the truth. It is not based on your effort or merit but your response.  Obey and meditate on God’s word. What informs you creates a mindset of what you believe about yourself and God. It programs your convictions about life. It configures your values and choices. It determines how you see situations/your perspective. A mindset sets your tradition/how you live.

The prophetic word about Jesus happened in the fullness of time. We live in that fullness of time. In other words, the story of Christ, which prophets proclaimed, became a reality and now is ongoing. It is continuing through the lives of believers.

II. Voice of faith (Mark 1:3-8).  The coming of Christ was announced by the vice of John the Baptist in the wilderness.  It took faith on John’s part. His utterance was the believers cry from wilderness. Not only was John’s voice a faith response it called people to faith.  It was a call to the sinners and the thirst to open their heart, and be willing to turn to God. He baptized as a symbol of acknowledgement of sinfulness and a willingness to turn. He prepared people for the one coming after him Christ who would provide remission of sin. The voice of faith is a response to the call to make the right choice in the opportune time. The choices we make today have an impact on the decisions we will be making tomorrow. They establish a pattern and a foundation for life.  At the beginning of a year or season set the tempo, and basic design on God’s word, commit to prayerfulness, give and be forgiving.

John’s voice was not the easiest to receive. His clothing, his meals, message and his location were not what experts would recommend for someone wanting to persuade people. His dress and food were very unusual. His message was a rebuke and a promise hard to imagine. He operated and called people to the wilderness.

III. Voice of power (Mark 1:9-12). When Jesus appears thirty years into life, he must have already known about John. In addition, their mothers would have shared about with them their miraculous conceptions, and the angels’ words about them. He persuaded John to baptize him to fulfill all righteousness. That indicates what his life would be like -one of obedience to his father.  Because of this attitude, the Holy Spirit came to reveal him and to anoint him. Jesus was revealed to humanity as the anointed one. A voice was heard from above endorsing him as the son of God and bringing the power he needed for his mission.   The RHEMA word brought the Spirit and the grace. When you begin anything with God, listen for the word of confirmation. It comes with all you need, grace. The RHEMA is the word of in John 1:1, which is Jesus. What you need is the word of The Lord - not just things, health, fruit, and power.

Begin with him not yourself.  Build on gains in hand. What ever you do, start well and finish well. Acknowledge God in planning, at the beginning, in progress/process and in celebrations at the end.    Do not just have year start prayers but yearlong prayers.  Keep him at the center and not just in the picture. You need him at the driving seat. Let him run the show.  He is the captain of the ship.   He is the key to solving your life puzzle.  Think not only what you want him to do for you but also what you can do for him.  Ask God to help those holding stuff against you to release you. Ask for forgiveness, and be like God ... your sin he remembers no more.  Release people who have caused you pain, give your pain to God. See his ultimate expression of love on the cross. He died for his crucifiers. Where there is unforgiveness, faith stops working. Be also like God … until you remember no more you have not forgiven. 

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa