Spend time with Jesus now

An interesting thing I discovered one day.
There is a verse in the bible. Did you know that? This one reads like this.

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" John 21:15

When Jesus asked this question of Peter we should consider just what He meant when He said, Do you love "me" more then these?

They had been out fishing all night and hadn't caught anything. Jesus had asked them if they had any food and they had answered no.

Jesus told them to throw the net again and that they would find some. They did and were successful.
They caught a gazillion large fish, but the nets did not break.

What do you suppose all those fish represent? I mean it was a biblical miracle.

The prosperity of God? The abundance of God? The power of God? How about the blessings of God? Healing? Church growth? All the above?

Oh how people fall in love with the things, miracles, signs and wonders of God.
But Jesus asked, Peter "Do you love "me" more then these?"

Some people fall in love with bible knowledge, more then the author of the bible.
Some people fall in love with the things of the world, more then Jesus. We all know that.
Some of us fall in love with the things of the Lord, more then with Jesus.

That's why we have so many books, tapes, CD's, conferences, and all for sale for a profit.
These things are not bad, unless you talk and think about them more then you think and talk about Him.

We get all excited and involved with the things of God and even call them ministry to explain and justify our time and effort on them.

You know like, End times, Healing, Prophecy, Spiritual warfare, Worship and even Music. These are all good and even of the Lord.

But Jesus asked, "Do you love "me" more then these?"

There is a passage of scripture in the bible. At least there is if you have the right version of bible.

This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:11-13

It doesn't matter what kind of training someone has gone through. I don't care what version of the bible you prefer, or how much time you spend or do not spend doing whatever.

There is one name under heaven that matters, and that name is Jesus.

It says they were uneducated and untrained, but they had spent time with Jesus.

They had healed that lame man and rocked those peoples world.
People who have spent time with Jesus, will rock your world!!

The reason the early church had power to grow, and heal, is not because they spoke in tongues, had bible studies, or conferences. It was because they had been with Jesus.

People who have been with Jesus will rock your world, and you need to be one of them.

I know many people feel they need to get involved with the things of the Lord, so they will be drawn closer to the Lord.
Can I read you something? I plagiarized this from the bible.

Then Peter opened his mouth and said:
"In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ -- He is Lord of all -- that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Acts 10:34-46

Oh they magnified God!!

Now Peter was not teaching on the Holy Spirit. He was not talking about signs and wonders, or healing or the gifts.

He was talking about Jesus Christ and all God broke loose.

Wouldn't it be wonderful and powerful if all God broke loose in your life, your family, your church?

Peter wasn't talking about speaking in tongues, bible study, or even healing. He was talking about Jesus Christ. May we all learn something from Peter

In the book of Colossians it says:
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Col 1:18

That He may be the supreme issue in all things.
Remember,
He is the author of that bible you cherish,
He is the healer for those that need healing.
He is the Gift that produces the manifestations.
He is the way of Salvation.
He is the armor of God.
He is the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the father except through Him.
He is to have preeminence in all things that you say, think and do.

The bible says;

Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. Col 1:28-29

Him we preach. Not healings, not prophesy, not missions, Him! Him we preach!

All these things are things of God. But He is to have preeminence. Jesus.

Before you spend time with or on any of these things. Spend some time with Him. Everytime.
Spend some time with Him.

People who have spent time with Him will rock your world. You need to be one of them.

Paul said;
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Rom 1:16

The good news of Christ is the power of God to Salvation. Salvation means saved. What are we trying to do?
the Gospel of Christ is that power of God. The Good news of Jesus Christ is the answer.
So what are you looking for?

I'm not saying that we need to stop seeking or believing for any thing that we are seeking or believing for. I'm not say saying we need to bring any of it back down at all.
What I am saying is we need to repent seek and pray to get Jesus Christ up on top of our desires, that He may have preeminence in all that we think, say, or do.

Just as some people cannot see the forest for the trees, I believe most sinners cannot see Jesus for the Christians. And I believe most Christians cannot see Jesus for the "church".

At the church in Antioch, they had a big to do. Every body who was in the who's who of the early church seemed to be there. Certain prophets and teachers; Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius of Cyrene, Manean who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and a guy named Saul.

They were not there to discuss a plan for church planting, it was not evangelizing classes or a prophetic conference.

They were ministering to the Lord. They were spending time with Jesus.
Then the Holy spirit spoke and said separate to me Barnabuas and Saul.

They did not seek any particular thing, they were ministering to the Lord is what it says. They were together to spend time with Jesus. And then the Holy Spirit spoke. Acts 13:1, 2

But, First they spent time with Jesus.

Your not going to believe this but I found another verse in the bible.

And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: Mark 3:13-15

See, first that thy might be with Him.
Then He would send them out to preach. Preach where? Not to Christian churches, there weren't any at that time. Not in the synagogues because they couldn't talk about Jesus in the synagogues.

He sent them to towns and villages, to the wheatfields and watering holes. To their places of work, the grocery stores, the Post Office, any place there was people. The same places He sends each of you all the time.

But first they were to be with Him.

You are called to be with Jesus. That is your calling. That is the primary thing, the highest ministry. Going forth to preach or do anything else is of secondary importance. We should first be with Jesus; after that, Go forth to preach.

But before Jesus said, "Go into all the world" He said, "Be with Me."

Oh that God may help us to remember that to be with Jesus is our First and Highest calling.

That He would cause and help us repent of having other things first, at any time. To spend time with Him first, and then go do the things that even He would have us do.
If you want to build a church any where under any circumstances, people need to see lives impacted and changed and it must start with you and me.
That happens by spending time with Jesus.

People who have spent time with Jesus will rock your world. You need to be one of them.

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matt 22:37-40

From Genisis to this very verse hangs on these two commandments. So before you try to do whatever it is you think you need to do.
Be that go to work, bible study, talk to your spouse, or even talk to your nieghbor, you need to Love the Lord your God with all you have.

You won't have Holy Spirit power in your life or efforts until you get the first commandment right.

You gotta spend time with Jesus to do that. You need to be with Jesus. first. Everyday, every time.

If you have had something, anything, ahead of your being with Jesus, then right now right where you are, repent. Change it. Get it right. Your marriage, your work, your ministry. Let Jesus have preeminence.