Mark 3:14 NASB95
And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach,
Ministry must always be the overflow of intimacy. If not, then we will be trying to give away out of our emptiness. Jesus appointed the 12 to be continually with him (that’s the grammar here). Sending them out to preach was not his first priority. Instead, them cultivating a lifestyle of being with him intimately was their first calling as it is ours. “God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:9 AMP)
“For God has not appointed us to [incur His] wrath [He did not select us to condemn us], but [that we might] obtain [His] salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [10] Who died for us so that whether we are still alive or are dead [at Christ’s appearing], we might live together with Him and share His life.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9 – 10)
Too often Christian leaders make it a priority to teach their members how to serve before they ever teach them how to sit at the feet of Jesus, beholding his face and hearing his voice. The only thing that we can give away that carries an anointing is what we have been filled with. Christians can only impact others if they are flourishing in their walk with the Lord, and they will never flourish if they have not learned how to first nourish in the presence of the Lord. In Ruth 2:14, Ruth sat in the presence of Boaz and ate until she was satisfied and she had some left, and in verse 18, it says that when she went back home to Naomi that she gave Naomi what she had left after she was satisfied. Only a satisfied (full) heart has an overflow to give away. Do we need to respond to the great commission to go into the world in the power of the Holy Spirit, sharing the miraculous reality of the gospel? Of course, we do, but we will not go forth in the power the Holy Spirit unless our own souls have been satiated at the feet of Jesus. When ministry is an overflow, then it is easy. When it is a duty, then it is empty. Don’t be so busy serving his purposes that you forget that your first call is to enjoy his presence. Beware of the barrenness of a busy life. Ministry in the public place must come forth from intimacy in the secret place.