Written by Mark Driskill:
Friday December 31, 2010
Read Acts 4:13

“They had been with Jesus…”

Peter and John stood before some of the most powerful and educated men in Israel. They stood there on trial with no degrees, no money, no pedigree to brag about. They were ordinary men with nothing to offer but the presence and power of Jesus. This completely baffled and momentarily silenced the powerbrokers who sought to stop them. When these movers and shakers of the nation looked at two ragged old fishermen they were blown away by one thing. “They recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

There is something incredibly powerful about someone who has been stripped of everything humanly speaking and stands clothed only in the power of Jesus. History tells us that when James was being hanged for his faith one of the Roman guards was so moved by just watching this man that he immediately converted to Christianity and was executed alongside him. Friends we must not underestimate the importance of spending time in the presence of God. This daily time with the Lord is much more than a discipline for good Christians.

When you spend real time in the presence of God, whether by worship, or prayer, study of the word or simply ministering to others in his name, there is a power that is infused into your life that is noticeable by the world. They don’t understand it but they see something in you that they both hate and crave at the same time. We need to spend time in God’s presence if we expect that presence to be evident to others.

Years ago I, when our children were much younger I looked outside my front door to see my son sitting in a huge mud puddle, wearing only two things; a diaper and a grin. He was covered head to toe in brown mud. He was having the time of his life. I just laughed. There was no doubt that he had been soaking in the mud because he was covered in it. This is how God wants us to live. God wants you soaked and saturated in his presence and just dripping with the power of the Holy Spirit.

The next time you are brought on trial for your faith let them see you standing there stripped of all your human attempts to be impressive wearing nothing but a glorious grin and the presence of Jesus (oh and your clothes of course). Let them look at the joy in your eyes and know you have been with Jesus.

Mark Driskill and his wife Mary are homeschooling community ministers in Breathitt County Kentucky.  They have four children. They co pastor Emmanuel fellowship Church, serve as Camp Pastors at Bethel Mennonite Camp, and Mark Teaches at Oakdale Christian Academy.

Mark is web minister for Begotten by theWord , a ministry of Helping Hands Christian Resources.

Once a month he preaches on the local radio station through the “Lion of Judah” program. Mark also preaches in youth rallies and revivals upon request at no charge. Their vision is to see true spiritual awakening come to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and to the nation.

Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.