Fw: CREM MINISTRY - DAY 15 OF 30 DAYS
jayne kimani
Scripture Reading; Day 15 of 30 Days
The day of double Miracle Part 10: Three Things You need to live a miracle filled life
Mark 5:35-43 New International Version (NIV)
35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36 Overhearing[a] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Good morning and welcome to day 15 of our 30 days of preparation. Today we look at the significance of the three disciples that Jesus took with Him into the house of Jairus. Yesterday we saw the significance of the number three in the Bible – represents the trinity or completion. Why did Jesus take only this three disciples and what parallel can we draw from this?. There are three types of people that you need to have in your life in order to resurrect anything dead and to live a miracle filled life.
Person Number 1: James: Have solution minded people around you.
Let me start with a brief biography of James to set the stage here.
James the Apostle was one of the 12 original apostles. He was the son of a man named of Zebedee and the older brother of John the Apostle. James was a fisherman, as was his father and brother. He was one of the first apostles to be called by Jesus. Jesus gave John and James the surname of Boanerges, which means "sons of thunder." Together with Peter and John, James was a close confidant of Jesus, being present at many important events, including the resurrection of the daughter of Jairus, Jesus' transfiguration, and the agony in Gethsemane. James was killed by King Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:1-2).
The character of James is revealed clearly when Jesus went to a Samaritan city they were spurned by the local residents and this angered James and John. What was their reaction to the people rejecting Christ and essentially rejecting them? They asked Jesus “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven and consume them” (Luke 9:54)? Of course at this time, Jesus rebuked them for their attitude (Luke 9:55) and said “the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (Luke 9:56) but this event brings out the character of James.
They were on a mission to accomplish a task and the people rejected them and Jesus appeared not keen to take any action on these people. We don’t see them complaining to Jesus or walking around discouraged – they came up with a solution. The only background they had was what the old testament prophets including prophet Elijah had done for example in mount Carmel – He had called upon God and fire had come down consuming the prophets of Baal. So they turned to Jesus and asked him to do the same and sort out the problem.
Brethren, in life you need people around you that are solution oriented. Men and women that will come e up with ideas when difficult situations arise. They may not always have the right ideas like was the case here with James and John, but at least they came up with suggestions. People with ideas help you to explore the possibilities that exist to tackle issues of life. If you are going through financial challenges, you a James around you that come up with suggestions on possible ways out of the situation. Every problem that you come across in life can be turned into an opportunity. Romans 8:28 and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Solution minded people will inspire you to see possibilities and as you step out in faith – God will perform miracles. He will orchestrate resources, bring opportunities, bring along other people that you need to be able to succeed and come out of the situation you are in. Solution minded people don’t complain, mourn or allow difficult things to get into their heart. They acknowledge the depth of the problem, but start looking at the options available.
1 Corinthians 10:13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
It is true the pain may not go away immediately, but as you explore the options available, God will surely provide a way.
During those early days of the ministry, I recall one overnight prayer meeting we met at Corner Mtongwe (Likoni South Coast - Mombasa) - It was at the house of one of our dear sisters called Mama Ivali. Her house was small and so we cramped outside the corridor, lit our kerosene lamps as we did always (the house had no electricity) and we started our prayer meeting. Those were difficult days – the churches most of us attended didn’t want to hear about that overnight prayer meeting. Why they were so opposed to prayer, I have never understood up to today. We started the meeting as always with praise and worship and went on to pray. That night the presence of God was real. Brethren God is moved by the hearts of people. The environment was difficult, but in that parked corridor were hearts of people that were genuinely seeking God. Brethren, we prayed that night – our biggest burden was to ask God to provide a place where we could meet freely to worship him. We wished the churches could be opened but they were closed. We wished we could get a hall where we could meet and get out of the corridors of Swahili houses which we were using. Those of you that were there will remember that Kesha. As we approached mid-night, our later Br Stephen Muya arrived with his wife Catherine and a team from Mombasa island . It was such an encouragement – they spoke so powerfully and encouraged us and we continued in prayer. Shortly after that I remember spending time with our Late Br Philip Musau and trying to find a place we could meet. We explored going to the churches to ask to be allowed to use the church halls, but the opposition was just too strong – but we didn’t stop looking- we were keen to find a solution.
Today, as I write this article, each team has a meeting place – Mombasa & Nairobi and one that is available as and when we need -God has provided and answered the prayers of that night. Sometimes when I see low attendance at our Friday fellowship meetings, I turn around and ask God to forgive us especially when I remember how hard we prayed to get a meeting place. God has even now advanced us forward and we now have land of our own that we are now looking to build our own facility. Surely God is faithful.
I am giving you this testimony to encourage someone. What God did for us as a team, He can do for you as an individual. You may be going through a difficult season in your life – just be solution minded. Get around solution minded people that will help you see the options available and as you take steps of faith and with prayer pursuing the options, God will perform a miracle. The enemy likes to blind us so that we don’t see opportunities, but Jesus came so that we might have light. May our God open our eyes today as so that we may see the opportunities placed before us for business, work, and ministry all for the glory of God.
Important to highlight that we didn’t get a meeting place the next day after the Kesha. It took some time, but we didn’t stop looking at possibilities and solutions. There is a church in Nairobi called house of solutions – I like the name! I believe you need a James around you – men and women that are solution minded.
What type of people do you have around you? Identify solution oriented people and make an effort to connect with them. They will give you ideas for business, they will stretch your mind on what is possible and with prayer and faith actions – that which is dead in your life will be resurrected. God has unique gifts in each one of us. We have everything we need to accomplish God’s purpose here on earth and to live powerful lives that touch others for Christ. To fully exploit these gifts, we need to step forward in faith and for this we need to be solution minded. The problem may not go away today, but I can assure you tomorrow, things will be different if you embrace solution or possibility mindset.
Turn to someone next to you or send them a text / WhatsApp message and tell them – be solution minded! Be like James.
We will continue tomorrow on the second person that you need. Stay tuned.
God bless