Fall 1985
The Preparation of a Ministry
Wade E Taylor

“And He goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto Him whom He would: and they came unto Him. And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to PREACH, and to have power to HEAL sicknesses, and to CAST OUT devils.” Mark 3:13-15

“And my speech and my preaching was not with the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power.” I Cor 2:4

When Jesus began His ministry, He chose twelve into whom He might impart a ministry so that His Gospel might be established and grow in a people through out the Church age.

After Jesus had walked with His disciples for two and one-half years, showing them the pattern of this ministry, He said to them, “Whom say ye that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto you, but my Father which is in heaven”. In other words, Jesus said to him, “Simon, you have identified me by revelation, not by observation. You have heard from the Father, just as I hear. This is how you know who I am.”

“And I say unto you, that you are Peter.” (“I am the Rock, you are now a small stone [Peter]; of the same substance that I am of, now you can hear from the Father even as I hear”). “And upon this rock (the ability to hear from the Father) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Cannot stand against a Word from the Father).

“And I will give unto you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.” (the power to act on the Word that you receive from the Father). Matt 16:13-19

Now the Church would be built, there was a ministry that heard from Heaven. This had been the purpose of His ministry to them. All that was left for Him to do was to go to Calvary and pay the penalty for sin. “FROM THAT TIME FORTH began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” Matt 16:21

Today, the need is for a ministry that will hear from the Father and then go forth into all the world with a Word from Him, just as Jesus sent forth the early disciples after they came to the place of hearing from above.

“And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.”