KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 18:2 KJV “And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.”

The Lord had a place where He used to meet with His disciples. I believe this was a place of prayer and fellowship, that is to impart knowledge of the word of God to his disciples. Judas who betrayed Him, knew the place because he was always with the rest of the twelve. What does this aspect of the ministry of Jesus have to teach us of this era of the practice of Christianity?

I consider this place of resort as what we would consider in our era as gathering at a particular location. It is what I believe has evolved as church buildings The Lord Jesus did not have any four-walled building for Him to be gathering with His disciples. (Please this does not mean meeting in a building is wrong) They had to resort to this garden, which could have been owned by one of His rich disciples. The point I wish to draw out of this was that the focus of His activities was not only about this place of a resort but also out there on the fields, where the sinners are. Sadly the practice of the church is concentrated at the place of meeting more than, getting to the world of the people.

In Mark 1:35-37 the Lord returned from an early morning prayer, to be told that everyone was looking for Him. These people were with him the previous day when He healed many sick folks. The Lord answered them as follows: Mark 1:38 KJV “And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.” The Lord’s ministry was about going to find the sinners or souls. His main church was His disciples. The towns, villages, and parks were their mission fields.

Many in this modern church find it strange to be asked to go out to talk and minister to people where they are. I believe this is one of the reasons, the impact of the church is not moving that fast. Remember before He went to heaven, He commissioned His disciples to go into all the world and make disciples of all men. The principle is to meet to equip yourselves and go out to do the work of the ministry.

THOUGHT: THE REASON FOR EQUIPING THE SAINTS IS FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY.

FURTHER STUDIES

Eph 4:12 KJV” For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

Matthew 28:19 KJV “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”