12 Average Men, One Amazing God | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

Excited to open up God's word with you, meet me in the gospel

of Mark in chapter three. Mark chapter 3 and put your

Mark 3 · chapter mention

finger and verse 13. Mark 3:13 father, this is your

Mark 3:13

word. This is your voice.

Or give us ears to hear. We know that Satan hates your

word. And Lord, he will try to

interfere with this moment. and so we just ask for a special

protection over our minds and our hearts We pray that all

attacks would be subdued. And we ask, oh, Lord.

That your will would be done in our hearts, as your word is.

Clearly understood no confusion Lord, no stammering nothing.

That would try to hinder. The Simplicity of this text.

Let it move us and change Us For Your Glory.

We love you Lord and we love your word speak.

Now in Jesus name, amen. And he went up on the mountain

and called to him Those whom he desired.

And they came to him. And he appointed twelve whom he

also named Apostles so that they might be with him and he might

send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.

He appointed the 12 Simon to whom he gave the name, Peter

James, the son of Zebedee. And John the brother of James to

whom he gave the name in the Greek.

It would say bah nargiz that is sons of thunder.

Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and

Thomas, and James, the son of alphaeus, and thaddaeus, and

Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.

Who betrayed him? You just heard the names of

twelve men whom Jesus set apart as a unique set of

Representatives, who would in a matter of a few short years

impact the course of human history.

Understanding the appointment of The Twelve Apostles is not a

footnote to the ministry and life of Jesus Christ.

It is an absolute Landmark a milestone to the Grand Narrative

of redemption. When you come to this, you

realize that there is a surprising election of unrefined

young Jewish men who would be used by God in such a way that

would have unimaginable Ripple effects going across the globe

and across generations and Promises to have effects until

the return of Jesus Christ. You and I today are benefiting

from the legacy of these men and their faith.

Illness to their lord, and our Lord.

And it's almost difficult to imagine how thus far as studying

Jesus in The Gospel of Mark excluded, the official

recognition of these men that we commonly know, as the 12.

Now that doesn't mean that these men were not with Jesus

throughout the early phase of his ministry.

It does mean that these men were in the same pool As others who

were also following Jesus closely and with great interest

up to this point, but something is about to happen.

The Holy Spirit, indeed takes his time to give us details

about how Jesus is going to separate a dozen of these men.

So that they would be his agents and unrepeatable way by the way,

that would do incredible things for the message and the ministry

of Christ. And as you come to this, you

realize Even In A fast-paced Book, Like Mark, we see some

incredible things to meditate on.

We look here and you just heard even the the location of the

call. You even see the the preparation

of Jesus before the call. To an extent as we parallel it

to a different account. We see here, the names of these

men, we see the purpose of this call.

We see the mission of the call. We even get small descriptions

of some of these men helping us see their Humanity in something

of the grace of God. And because of that, I believe

this demands for us to at least look at some of the details and

to see how these details are significant to the significant

turning point in the ministry of Jesus here.

Now And so, I want you to look with me in this body of text.

Three things and they're easy to remember the first thing we're

going to look at is the planning before the call.

And Luke is going to help us see the planning before the call,

but not just the planning of the call.

We're going to see the purpose of the call.

What was that? The apostles were set apart for

and lastly something that I pray will encourage you.

Deeply are the people who were called, who were these people?

Why did God choose them? What is it about them?

M, that can help us understand how God can use us.

And so, as we look at these things, let your heart be ready

to soar. As you worship, god with me

about his wonderful wisdom, his wonderful love and choosing 12

average men. Twelve average men one, amazing

God. So we come to verse 13 and he

went up on the mountain and called him Those whom he desired

it would be very wrong for us to assume that Jesus did the

spontaneously on some random afternoon.

It would be equally in error to think that Jesus made this

decision independent of divine guidance.

Even though we are told that he chose whom he desired.

Whom he willed whom he longed for whom he chose.

And the reason why I say this is because when you go to Luke's

account, which is the only other gospel writer, who gives us this

occasion and his version of the ministry, and life of Jesus

Christ. You see what Jesus did in

preparation for this? Call turn with me to Luke

Luke 6 · chapter mention

chapter 6, and verse 12. Matthew Mark, Luke.

Mark's neighbor is Luke. Luke chapter 6.

Luke 6 · chapter mention

Look at verse 12. In these days, he went out to

the mountain, the same Mountain that Mark speaks about to pray

to pray and all night. He continued and prayer to God.

And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them

twelve whom he named Apostles the night before, the appointing

of the Apostles, we find Jesus seeking the face of the father,

Crying out to him so that he would have the revelation of the

men, who would be set apart for his intimate Associates, and it

was not an ordinary time of prayer because this was not some

small verdict to make this was crucial.

This was huge. This would have generational

consequences and, because of this critical decision for the

future of Christ's Ministry in the message.

Jesus in his Humanity. Saw it necessary.

To come before. God, isolated from the busyness

of ministry and even interaction of others to seek God, for

divine approval. He needed a guarantee from

Heaven. Oh, God.

Are these, the men that you want?

Who are the men that you desire? And this is his approach even

though the position of Apostles and this context is unique and

exclusive to these men, not to be repeated not to be

replicated, the approach of Jesus and selecting them is a

call for us to imitate. What do I mean by that?

Realize that he is demonstrating his Humanity here.

And what he is proving to you. And I as followers of him is

that the bigger a decision is, the more prayer is required

about it. The bigger, the decision is, the

more prayer is required about it.

And here's the thing, it would be unfair and unrealistic to say

that, this is how Jesus prayed all the time.

This is how he regularly prayed. He spent all night, she barely

slept. You got one hour of sleep, two

hours sleep. Every no, that's not true.

He did regularly pray. But when it came to major

crossroads that he faced in his Humanity, remember he saw it

absolutely necessary to wrestle with God to wrestle with the

flesh, to wait on him, to take that time to make sure that he

has clear direction from above. And you and I in this life, the

short term, as you heard this mist of a life at the same time,

we'll have dilemmas, you will face times where you have to

make a decision, but it will require special seclusion and

time of prayer where you come before the Lord to receive

undeniable Clarity and wisdom from God.

And the encouragement I get from this text and I share with you

is the example of Jesus in this Jesus saw Prayer as the best and

ultimate resource to turn to and to run to when you have many

options before you and you don't know what to do, did you hear

what? Luke said, go back to the verse

and verse 13 and when day came he called his disciples and

chose from them. So it wasn't like he had 15

guys. Now, he's going to choose 12 to

be on his team. I'm sure there are many, many,

many, many who are walking with Jesus following Jesus asking

Jesus questions, but from among them, Jesus needed 12 and we'll

get to why 12 in a moment. But he did not assume you did

not presume. He did not rely on his own

thinking, even though he is God yet in his Humanity, I believe

the spirit of God wants to show us an example a model so to

speak. That detail, should bless us

because this is an indirect promise is a knot.

That when you and I are overwhelmed with options when we

are, when we are overwhelmed with the unknown, when we know

that there are decisions to make that will alter the rest of our

lives. Pray.

Always pray. Keep praying, stay there, seek

him. Wait on him, repeat yourself.

If need be until God brings Clarity.

And by faith, you have to believe that God will either

providentially make a known and sometimes supernaturally guide

us. When we don't know what path to

take. I rejoice in that prayer.

Works prayer works. Why do you think we pray here

every Wednesday? Because we have nothing else to

do on Wednesday. My Flesh can think of a hundred

other things to do, but pray on a Wednesday night, especially in

the winters of Chicago. But I know that God hears And

here's the thing, Jesus is the ultimate example of a servant,

is he not? That's the theme of Mark.

The servant of Yahweh there is no greater than he and he sets a

pattern for us as a man. He sets a pattern as a servant,

as a minister. He sets a model pray.

Seek God, wait on God, look for him present to him.

And as I come to this text, I also admire the master because

of the context of his praying why.

Now, why does Jesus choose his Apostles?

Not, why does he separate one night just to seek Him

separating himself from preaching, removing himself from

engagement with other people and saying, oh God, I'm coming to

you. Why, at this point, I believe

it. You don't have to turn there,

but it's because of Mark 36. Remember, Mark, 36 the spiritual

leaders and the political leaders have now Now come

together to destroy Jesus. The pressure is mounting, the

persecution is rising and Jesus himself knew the special

preparation that was required for these men before the

crucifixion. And so as he perceives these

things, he realizes the time is short and he comes before the

father, Lord. Now this is when this is, this

is what I need from you. And why that blesses me is

because you know that the Temptation and Times of fear and

The Temptations in the times of pressure is to not pray.

To rely on emotional impulses, to run to so many different

Avenues before you come to the main one, which is God himself.

And yet Jesus here, does not make excuses.

He's not Frank tick here, he's not just making anything happen

because what? We got to get things going.

No, if anything he he feels this pressure but it causes him as he

squeezed. To just cry out to the Lord.

Lord, you see Lord, you know the predicament, you know, the

situation you know the limitations I need you now where

do I go? What do I do?

I will not move without you. You know we consider our church

as a, as an example we believe in a multiplicity of Elders in

the church by God's grace is growing.

All we needed. We need more Elders, we need

more leaders. So why don't we just pick

anybody? Because it just looks better.

Well, why don't we just anybody that knows a few verses and and

becomes some I consistently. There's anybody know.

Lord. You see what we need?

We'll wait on. You will pray.

Some people. I'm getting older still single.

I'll just take the next guy that can breathe.

I can come to church with me and not be annoying about it because

I don't know if he's really saved but God will understand.

No sister, brother pray. Wait on God.

He sees it look to Jesus as your example, father, you know what I

need? You see the things the

constraints, you see the things that are hindering.

This being a possibility time is running out threats are arising.

Please let your known will be known and please, as you make it

clear. Help me see it.

So I can follow Faithfully. This is what Jesus is doing.

It's incredible. It's wonderful prayer, works

wonders but It is contingent Upon A Certain heart posture.

Go back to Mark, did you notice the wording and Mark 3:13 And he

Mark 3:13

went up on the mountain and called to him Those whom he

desired and they came to him, he called him Those whom he

desired. Jesus had a will.

These 12 are what he desired whom, he desired for himself.

And so when I look at that and I compared it to Luke, I wonder if

these are the men that he desired, then why did he spend

all night praying and asking God for his desire?

Legitimate question. If he had a desire, then why

pray all night for God's will to be known?

And I think that there is a revelation when you marry these

two things. When you bring these two things

together, what you see is Jesus is desires wearing golf with the

desires of the father. That's what you see.

Christ and the father were one in so many ways and one of the

ways they were one was in their wishes, With the father desired,

Jesus desired whatever the father's will was it was the

will of Jesus Christ and there was never a time where Jesus

worked independently from God. And there was never a moment

where he entertained or desire to do.

So he said it clearly in John 6:38 for I have come down from

John 6:38

heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

And so when you see here, whom he desired his desires and in

complete alignment with Desires of the father.

And that's what prayer can do, by the way.

That's what prayer does, as much as it changes things.

That ultimately changes you, when you really pray, when you

really come into the presence of God in fellowship with him, If

you're ever concerned whether prayer not works, if it ever

changes, anything know this for certain it will change you at

least. And it could forms you and it

shapes you and God sees your humility and he sees that

posture prayer. And as you pray, he promises

that he will exalt us. He will conform us, he will work

on us, he would fill us, he would do wonders in us as much

as we're asking to do wonders outside of us.

Do you want to secure an open Heaven, over your life?

Do you want the strongest signal possible?

If I can use that language in your relationship to God and how

he responds to your request and your desires, then make sure day

by day, that you examine your heart and you are confident to

say I want with God wants. Whatever God desires, that is

what I desire. And God will bless you as he

blessed his son Jesus prayed. Big decisions.

Require unusual praying. But now we come to the purpose

of the call, we see the preparation, the planning behind

it, but we come down to verse 14 and we see that he appointed

twelve. Whom he also named Apostles, so

that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach

and have authority to cast out demons seems pretty

straightforward. But when you slow down and you

look at the order of the objectives, then you will see

something very special about our Lord.

What was the first thing that Jesus desired from Those whom he

desired that. They might be with him.

That they might be with him and second to that, going out to

preach and doing Miracles with the delegated authority that he

has given them. Here's what you have to see from

this. Jesus desires, intimacy more,

and before Ministry. That's what you have to take out

of this before. There was preaching, before,

there is pastoring, before there is writing before any of that

Christ called these men to be in close, proximity to him.

And from that place of Fellowship, from that place of

one-on-one relationship, Ministry service would flow and

that discipline remained with the disciples even

post-resurrection. Remember what they said in Acts

Acts 6 · chapter mention

chapter 6, when the when the church grew and there was there

was demand for tables to be served the apostles pause and

they said in verse 4 of Acts 6, but we will devote ourselves to

what prayer and then the ministry of the word that order

is not by accident. In the minds of the Apostles, we

have to first pray, meaning we have to remain in close

connection to God. So we have to seek God, speak to

God worship. God, lay ourselves out before

God. Wait on God, this is primary.

To how we serve the Lord. And everything else will come

from that. And this truth excites me.

I pray that it stirs. You do you know why should stir

you? Because we see that no matter

how Grand your ministry may be, no matter how much demand there

might be on your life Christ, prioritises personal one-on-one

communion with himself, That's what he Longs for even in the

context of you serving him. I see something here.

Don't mistake. What my desire is, ultimately,

that's for you and I to be acquainted with one another.

And this was the heart of Christ before his Incarnation before

his Incarnation during his time on the earth.

And it is even now today while we sit here and hear about it,

Perhaps, you're not convinced. John tells us who was sitting on

that throne and that famous vision of Isaiah, it was Jesus

himself. And when you go to Isaiah

chapter six, which I encourage you to turn to you.

See that while Jesus pre incarnated is sitting there in

his glory and majesty and Splendor, there are these

creatures that are around him. And those creatures were known

as the seraphim, a word that says that describes the burning

ones Do you remember what the seraphim were doing when they

were in the presence of Jesus in his glory?

Well, let me remind you in Isaiah 61 In the year that King

Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and

lifted up and the train of his robe, filled the temple.

Above him, stood the seraphim, each had six wings with two.

He covered his face and with two, he covered his feet and

with two, he flew I always ask the Bible questions.

And I look at this text and I am moved by the sight of the power

of Jesus just by sitting on a throne and the attention and

adoration that just his presence on the throne demands.

But I look at these creatures known as the seraphim and I ask

myself, why is it important for me to know how many wings they

had? And why is it important for me

to know what each pair of wings are doing in the presence of

Jesus Christ? And I know one thing that will

keep me asking that question until I get an answer, it's not

there for no reason. It's not there just to paint

some mystical picture. It's there because there's

instruction And so you look at these, these pairs of wings and

you ask, why do I need to know that four of them are covering

different parts of who they are? Well to our mobile and remaining

in flight and then you read on in verse 6 and you see at least

one pair is is for Isaiah 66. Then one of the seraphim flew to

me Isaiah says, having in his hand of burning coal that he had

taken with tongs from the altar. And so Isaiah is there, right?

This Prophet who before this chapter is pronouncing woes upon

Israel. And now he looks at himself and

he says, woe is me overwhelmed overcome by the Holiness of God

in Jesus Christ? He crumbles.

And here is one of the seraphim who with his two wings that are

mobile flies, he flies to Isaiah and he assists Isaiah so that he

can gird up his loins and stand in the presence of this. 81.

So I know at least one pair of These Wings Are for their for

service and the fact that they are remaining in Flight implies

that they are ready to serve Christ, Swift to respond, not

hesitating, not contemplating whatever.

The word is, we will be ready to go.

And we see that exemplified just in a few verses in this context.

So I see that these two wings are for service.

Okay, that that answer is not. But what about the other Wings?

What about the two that are covering the face?

What? About the two that are covering

the feet. Oh, I think it is so clear.

When you realize what's happening in that room, this is

passionate worship coming from the seraphim.

The covering of the face demonstrates, the absolute awe.

That they are under for Christ. Even these sinless creatures are

overcome by the glistening glory of God, in his Purity and the

covering of the feet. I believe speaks of a kind of

humility. We are unworthy to be in the

presence of Jesus. We are unworthy to be in such

close proximity. We are not worthy to be in this

position of service and so they cover the feet.

The feet that we have so that we can follow where he tells us to

follow. We see that demonstrated by

these, these strange Celestial beings, and when you take all of

this into consideration and do a simple math equation, you come

to revelation Out of the six wings.

To our dedicated to service while four are set apart for

worship. Meaning what these Servants of

God gave more attention to adoring devotion than, to

practical Ministry. How true it is, that it's the

opposite for so many that they put more focus and energy on

doing things for Christ. Then enjoying loving and

worshipping Christ. How is it that we dedicate most

of our strength to just serving him as great as that is?

But leave little to no. Little to no strength and

attention to simply looking at him loving him.

Expressing our love for him. God Longs for us to serve him.

He calls us to serve him from the exercise of sweet communion

with him, and that should not the service to him.

Should not challenge the intimacy with, with him and the

intimacy with him. Should not challenge the service

to him. If it is done according to his

word, we will be blessed in our Ministries will be blessed.

Or else we get into just robotic ritual and the preacher comes up

to preach because he can cleverly put things together,

but he hasn't been spending time with God.

And the worship, team comes up and let's just get this over

with. I'm not really feeling it today.

And I haven't been worshiping. God all week, and the people

come and they just want to volunteer just through.

They can say that. I volunteer and there's, there's

missing something. Where's the connection?

Where's the court of? Love that everything is Flowing

from. Well the comes from doing what

the seraphim do. Oh, Lord, help me keep Keep my

Gaze on you and all that I do for you.

And I'll tell you those who are the most intimate with Christ

are the most effective for Christ.

All the time. There's a touch from God on it

because the Lord knows that they're doing it from a place of

loving him. And so, I just said, - you be

careful. Don't lose focus of what this is

all about. And the thing that keeps you

anchored and your heart pure and your strength real is, when you

sit with him, meet with them, commune with him and let

everything come and proceed from that place of posturing yourself

in love before him. That they might be with him,

that's what he wanted. And from that place, that they

would go out and preach and cast out Devils with his authority

and he, the focus. I want you to have now on that

second part of ministry is the authority, The Authority that

the apostles received from Jesus.

Remember these men are going to be sent out into the four

corners of the earth. Ephesians tells us that they're

going to lay the foundation of the church.

They're going to take what Jesus is going to teach through the

Holy Spirit. Post resurrection and then give

it to us and you and I are benefiting from that through the

Epistles. These are these kind of men and

we see here that Jesus gave him a certain capability.

They possessed it and they operate in it because it was

delegated by God, but it was in a unique way, it was very

special. And when we come to this, we

have to understand that that is not to say that God cannot work

through his people today to accomplish miraculous things.

But it must be understood and must be balanced with an

understanding that God always, always has distributed certain

measures of power at his will and for specific purposes.

That might not be shared in the same way throughout history.

I'm telling you this for a reason, I'm getting to the

reason why in a moment, but I want you to look at this and

realize that they had received authority to cast out demons,

that Authority came from Jesus, It was not whipped up by human

command. It was not something that they

can just do in their own, will know.

It was something that Christ unlocked enabled, a switch that

he turned on and he reserved it for these 12 men and specific.

And here's the thing, the Twelve Disciples knew that Paul a later

Apostle knew that that they have been granted, a very unusual

scale of authority in order to validate their Apostolic

position. Oh, and to confirm the gospel

message, that would be preached into introductory stage.

Of its form and forming can I prove that to you go to Second

2 Corinthians 12:12

Corinthians 12:12? 2nd Corinthians 12:12.

This is Paul writing. And he says, in 2nd Corinthians

12:12. The signs of a true apostle.

The signs of a true Apostle were performed among you with utmost

patience, with signs and wonders, and mighty works.

This proves that this is not, Paul was aware and even taught

that there are distinct signs exclusively performed by those

who were true. Apostles, Some might be saying,

well preacher, you're preaching at a Mark and I say, yes.

And they said, have you read in Mark 16?

I said, yes. And some of you know where I'm

going with this because when you go to Mark 16 And you go to

verse 15. Jesus said to them, go into all

the world and proclaim, the gospel to the whole creation,

whoever believes whoever believes and is baptized will be

saved. But whoever does not believe

will be condemned, and these signs will accompany those who

believe not Apostles preacher not Apostles, these signs will

accompany those, who believe. You're a Believer.

So these signs should accompany you.

In my name, they will cast out demons.

They will speak in new tongues. They will pick up serpents with

their hands and they will drink any deadly poison.

It will not hurt them. They will lay their hands on the

sick and they will recover. They will accompany those who

believe. And you have to come to church

long enough to know when I'm going to say from Mark 16 when

we get there. But let me give you a heads up.

I do not deny that God can Not. Still work through his people in

miraculous ways. But the reason why I bring this

up is because there are those who teach this is why I'm

bringing this up. There are those who teach that

unless you are regularly Healing The Sick unless you do speak in

tongues, unless you do cast out demons even unless you raise the

Dead. You're not a True Believer.

Because Mark 16 says that these signs will follow those who

believe in the argument goes this way.

Hey, are these signs following you?

As a Believer? Let me see your track record.

Let me see your history. Do you have any testimony know?

You might not be a believer. Say people.

Preach that. Yes and thousands upon thousands

are believing it. And they are living under a

burden that Jesus never intended to place on his people.

So that might be foreign to you understand what I'm trying to

say. God can work through his people

miraculous ways. But that Mark 16 scripture

reference does not mean that unless these things are

uninterruptedly happening through your life, then you're

not really a believer. Some might say, well, these

things are not. True today.

Because and the best argument to them is what we have.

The scriptures we have, the can enclose we have all that God

needs to tell us. Today, there is no need to

confirm anything. There's no need to prove

anything like these Apostles had to when they're performing signs

and wonders in the introductory phase of the Gospel being

presented to the world. And so we don't this stuff isn't

real anymore and so certain things ceased while certain

things continue and the things that see sort of things that we

see in Acts. And things that we see in the

Gospels. And so that's kind of the answer

that people give And I think that the burden of proof for

that school of thought is on them from the scriptures.

Then to say, where do you get that from the Bible?

So if people say in common say, well brother, where are these

things today? Then, where they just with the

apostles and they ceased? I don't see anything happening

today. My argument, my answer would not

be what we have the Bible and that's it.

Because I have to I have to do a lot of gymnastics with the text

to make That clear. My concern is the Bible.

What does the Bible say? And here's the answer that I

would give you ready, Hebrews chapter 2 Hebrews chapter 2,

Hebrews 2 · chapter mention Hebrews 2 · chapter mention

verse three and four. Remember my point is this that

there are some who claim that unless you exercise Apostolic

Authority, you might not even be a Christian.

You might not be a believer in Jesus Christ.

Here's what I see in Hebrews 2 3.

How shall we escape? If we neglect such a great

salvation? It was declared at first by the

Lord and it was a tested To Us by those who heard while God

also bore witnessed by signs and wonders pause, notice God bore

Witness. By signs and wonders the

apostles performed, Miracles at a rate.

And to an extent that when they preached people with see the

signs that accompany the message and it would be undeniable.

Signs and wonders, and various Miracles.

And by gifts of the holy spirit. Look at this last part

distributed according to his will.

So they bring it back to the question, brother, why do we not

see these things so much? And in the west at least because

different parts of the world, you'll hear testimonies why is

it not? Why isn't that like we see it

here in the word and here's my answer biblically, I'm going to

the Bible for the answer, not philosophy, not inference, just

the text because God willed it. God Wills that a different

portions at different segments in history, went to pour out his

holy spirit to what extent and through whomever.

He chooses, it's his will that a different parts.

He moves in different ways in church.

History has proven that that God in his sovereignty, wisdom knows

when and how and through whom to do such things.

And we see that even in our own history Beyond this.

We see that God has anointed Men to do wonderful things, just by

preaching, think of guys like Jonathan Edwards, George

Whitefield, John Wesley, these men were touched by God in a

special way that brought massive salvation to even America.

And So my answer is, well, it's God's God's choosing.

And if he wants to gift the church and a certain particular

way, he can do that if he wants. So what are we to do?

Well we do, what we can, who we do, what we are called to do,

and we preach and we teach and we disciple and we go to the

mission field and let me give you a heads up.

And as we proclaim, the message God in his sovereignty knows

when to accompany the message with his power.

That's how it works. And so we see that these men

have a unique Authority, and Apostolic Authority and

necessary Authority, and this, dispensation of, I can use that

word without scaring people. Of the church age.

This was their purpose. now, we come to the people who are

called, These men were specially called but they were not very

special. You heard the the praying behind

the call, you heard the purpose of the call to proclaim the

gospel to be trained. So that when it came to Jesus

ascending into heaven, he would have his band of men to send out

into the world and to teach that truth and special power.

But have you considered when you coming to this text, have you

considered instead of just trying to memorize the name of

the disciple so that when it comes to a random Bible quiz?

You know how to answer all their names?

Have you meditate on this? Because when I come to the names

here, I don't just see numbers. I see personalities.

I see nicknames. I see.

The power of the Gospel, when it grips, the human heart in a

saving way. And what is possible with people

from different backgrounds to experience when they all live

under the banner of Jesus Christ.

So you look at these names in your realize that Jesus chose

12. And he brought them in and when

you compare the different lists and maybe you've seen this in a

different gospels. You might see that there are

some different names and you're wondering.

Well, is this an inconsistency, right?

You look at some names, like, Thaddeus is here.

Where is Nathaniel over here? Then there's another thing here

and you're wondering. Did they get it wrong?

No, they didn't get it wrong. Can I tell you what?

That is their nicknames sometimes with the same person.

Can you think about how that's, that's so human these guys came

together and they did life together, Day by By day and they

gave each other nicknames. And so, speaks really just of

how how real they were. But have you ever wondered why

12? Why not 10?

Why not 15? Why not 32, why not 50?

Why not for Y-12? It's a very, very significant

number in the Bible. Very significant to the Jewish

people, I believe. One reason was to send a message

to Israel. I Believe by Jesus choosing the

12, he is saying, we have a new government, a new government is

being established because a New Covenant is about to commence.

And in the same way that the 12 tribes and the Old Testament

were raised up to display the glory of God to the rest of the

world Christ, was signaling to this generation that a renewal

was coming to Israel. Something new is here.

A new structure is going to surround and centralized around

the person of Jesus Christ, the son of David and these leaders

that he chose to be under him. So there is no question that

this is the interpretation. We have 12, we have 12 men who

signified, 12 people, who will establish a new government for a

New Covenant, that was prophesied in the Old Testament.

And if you think that that's a stretch, all you have to do is

look at the words of Jesus, go to Matthew.

Ooh, 1928 and look what Jesus says to these 12 and what their

mission would be beyond their lifetime Beyond The Great

Commission. Matthew 19:28.

Matthew 19:28

Look what Jesus says. Jesus said to them, truly I say

to you in the New World, when the son of man will sit on his

glorious, Throne you have followed me, will also sit on

twelve Thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.

It's clear, it's so direct. He lets these men know who asked

the question. Hey, we gave up everything to

follow you. What's in it for us and he

assured them. Look, there's not just going to

be blessing in this world, but in the new world, you What that

means. That that is a description of

the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.

He's not talking about heaven here.

There's going to be no judgment issued In Heaven.

There is a new world coming in which Jesus, when he comes to

sit on his throne in Jerusalem? Yes, not a figurative Jerusalem,

not an allegorical Jerusalem. A literal Jerusalem.

There are also be 12 different, Thrones each designated for

different tribe of Israel. That will be occupied I'd buy

one of the Apostles. And you know what's so amazing?

That word New World in the Greek.

It's not two words, it's one word and it's only used in one

other place in the entire New Testament.

The the phrase, their new world is the same word that Paul uses

when he teaches through Titus about our Salvation.

And he says in Titus 3:5 that he saved us by the washing of

Titus 3:5

regeneration. That's the same word and that's

Why? Maybe in some of your

translations, you don't see new world.

You see the word wide regeneration?

Do you know what he's trying to say?

When I come back to physically Rule and Reign on the earth,

this world, as we know, it will undergo a rebirth.

That's what he's saying. There will be a transformation

that will take place upon my return and we read of those

characteristics throughout the Old Testament sprinkled here.

And there, we will see that the animals will be at peace with

one another. We will see that war will cease,

we will see that even Rafi will shift and that life human life

will be extended. There is something there is a

regeneration coming to our planet.

You know, you can take that truth and use that for us if

Jesus is going to come back and cause a regeneration for this

world how can we believe that we as humans and our personal

salvation can be regenerated? Nothing change how the same way

that this world will be transformed and observable way?

And so, when I'm regenerated Something's Gotta change,

something's got to change. And so there is a new world

coming. A regeneration coming by.

Here's what? So beautiful, then the same way

in your personal salvation you don't become completely perfect.

Neither will that new world be, it won't be completely perfected

that will come at the end of the millennial Reign.

When we read that, there will be a new Heaven and a new Earth.

And so we see, even in the Regeneration of the earth, there

will be some kind of hints of sin the possibility to disobey

Christ though he will rule the Nations and it is true with us

in our regeneration as well as in not that we are still capable

of sinning. We are still capable of

rebelling, I'll be encouraged by that truth but besides the point

We see here that Jesus promises his Apostles, you guys during

that time that that nation of Israel will remain as an ethnic

people, that's not politics, that's Bible, they will remain

as an ethnic people until the end of the age and u12 will rule

over them. Judge them, clarify things to

them, direct them. For a thousand years.

So Jesus even having a Future Vision in the millennial Reign

realize. Now I must choose 12 men who

will be my representatives in that new world, who will judge

the 12 tribes of Israel. So he chooses he chooses 12 and

prepares them now and trains them now, but we can end it

here. Can we not Here, our stomachs

might be grumbling, but hang on because we can't stop.

I can't stop. Sometimes I feel like Paul I

want to go till midnight. I'm afraid, there's too many

eutychus. Has that well, Feel differently

about him. If you don't know who eutychus

is, make it a study for your afternoon this Sunday.

I look at this list of men. And I realize something about

the grace of God. I look at these names and I see

individuals, I see real people with with the things that I

experienced in this body, with different ways of thinking, with

different dispositions. And, as I Look to this list of

men, you can do a whole series of messages just on the Twelve

Apostles. Because the holy spirit gives us

enough to work with to realize, God really does choose average

people to serve him. Isn't that wonderful to think

about? And I, again, I'm not going to

keep you here till midnight, but I want to just at least whet

your appetite to see how when you even come to a list of

names. Like this, don't just try to

memorize their names, so that if you're quizzed on it, you know,

how to name the 12 apostles. It's so much more Rich than

that. So, this is just my own

meditation. You can come with a dozen points

from the 12, apostles, even more.

But let me just give you a few to contemplate on When I look at

this list of men, I think number one, that God Longs for family

members to serve him in his new family.

In this list, we read verse 16. He appointed the 12 Simon to

whom he gave the name, Peter James, the son of Zebedee, and

John the brother of James and we know in verse 18 Andrew is

Peter's brother you know the Lord could have called Peter and

not Andrew he called a called James and not John.

But his desire was for these pairs of Brothers to work

alongside of him together. He wanted these brothers who

live together who argued and fought with each other growing

up, who have the same parents who have memories, who probably

have scars from roughing around, as children.

He wanted these men to be a part of his Apostolic Journey for

them and it's true. They each had the choice to say,

you know. I don't want to be an apostle.

This is too much. They won, could have gone

forward and one could have stayed back, but I don't want to

look at that. I want to look at God's heart in

this matter. As the Lord had a plan for these

brothers believe that he has a plan for your family.

He really does. He looks at your family as he

does. These brothers, these brothers

became a team for the gospel. They became a team.

And I believe with all my heart when you look throughout the

Bible, you see couples serving God together.

You see Fathers and Sons, you see this variety of the family

unit set apart for the glory of God.

And I say that I believe God has put you and I in our particular

families intentionally more than just having a safe place to grow

up more than just having companionship but four units and

teams to be made for the glory of Jesus Christ.

I encourage you. Not to look at your spouse.

Merely as A romantic partner. I encourage you not to look at

your kids. Merely as miraculous gifts from

God that you enjoy and provide for as much as that is true.

I want you to see in the way Jesus saw these brothers. as a

Partnership disciples working together for the glory of God.

I know that might not be true for, for many of you here, who

you're the only one who saved with your siblings.

And with your parents, But I'm saying if God allows you to have

a family come with that mindset, that as you look for somebody to

marry that, they would be somebody that you would put your

hand in it to serve Jesus Christ.

With as you pray for your children, that you would look at

them as Servants of Jesus Christ arrows, in your quiver that you

can shoot out into this world. Believe that with all of your

heart God has a plan for your family.

God has a desire for you. One of the greatest Joys that I

have in my life is to know that my brother's love Jesus Christ.

And again, I know that that is not something that everybody can

attach to. And that is the beauty of the

family of Jesus Christ that even if your blood family doesn't

serve the Lord, you have something deeper in this family,

a spiritual bond, But over those who are now stepping in many of

your stepping into that season, I pray that you had a Sanctified

view of the family unit that it would be a team that plays a

part in this larger team of the church that would glorify God.

Ask God, lord. What is your will ask God that

every single one of those babies that come Would be future

ministers, maybe not full-time. Ministers, but ministers and

nonetheless. I see that.

God Longs for family members to serve him in his Grand family.

I also look and I see that God is willing to recruit a variety

of personalities. Even unsanctified ones.

You know where they get that from verse 17, James, the son of

Zebedee and John the brother of James to whom he gave the name

Bonner geese. That is sons of thunder.

Huh? What a nickname sons of thunder?

Bible enthusiasts have debated over the years of why Jesus

Chose this kind of a nickname for James and John?

I don't think it's a mystery, just read through the gospels,

and you'll see why. Just read through the different

moments where you see James and John interacting with people

interacting with Jesus interacting with certain

situations and it all makes sense, sons of thunder.

Yeah, it was James and John who were called to go through a

Samaritan Village and they were rejected.

So they came to Jesus the Same Jesus who teach who taught about

love and loving your enemies. And praying, he says hate Lord.

We saw your power. Why don't you call fire down

from heaven? Let's turn this Samaritan

Village. Into a Sodom.

And you know what? That tells me that James and

John. I kind of have a hint of who

they really looked up to in the Old Testament.

Like Elijah kind of ministers guys that had like, power guys

that had that no joking around. You want to compromise your

done, those are the kind of guys that James and John really

admired and looked up to and it showed Jesus rebukes them do,

you realize that very shortly? John is going to try to stop

people from casting out a demon, in the name of Jesus because

they were not the apostles, and it didn't work.

So he comes to Jesus AG. Is that I try to stop a guy

who's using your name to cast out a devil and she's like, so

they're not against us there for us.

You said, all right? James and John approached Jesus.

In the presence of the other Apostles is Lord.

We want front row seats. When you come in your kingdom,

we know, we can't sit on your throne, but if we can sit on

your left and your right, we want it.

The others are looking at them and they get angry and another

account, they actually have their mom asked, which is kind

of interesting. There's no question that these

men were zealous. They were not just jealous.

They were aggressive. They were ambitious.

They were unafraid. They didn't tolerate nonsense.

They didn't tolerate compromise. Sons of thunder.

But with that, strong personality comes weaknesses.

And you even see it through their lives, you get the

impression that they're insensitive that they didn't

really exercise wisdom and that's often the case when

people are overcome with Zeal, it's usually not met with much

wisdom. At least at first And you know

what, Jesus knew that before he even called him.

He knew how hot-headed they were.

He knew how explosive they were. He knew that they were able to

get violent if need be. And he still calls them.

And you see that he refines them.

And he rebukes them. And he has a great teacher, as a

great spiritual father, as a great spiritual elder, brother

takes his time to channel that passion for good and not for

harm. And I look at Jesus here and I

see Lord, if you're willing to be so long-suffering with them.

Help me be patient with my brother who might be a son of

thunder. Help me understand that you are

patient with them. You are patient with me, help me

also, be patient with those who just have a different wiring

than I do. How many believe Lord that as

long as they are willing to be worked on that you can.

You can use even a son of Thunder to do wondrous things

for the glory of God, but just think about the kinds of people

that God uses in this text alone.

You have those who are Dynamic, like, Peter and vocal, like

Peter, and and dynamite, like, like James, and John.

And then you have these other guys, that you don't really see

much. They kind of work in the

background. They're kind of quiet, but they

are serving Jesus, just as wonderfully They might not have

its outstanding personalities but they are still persons who

are set apart for the glory of God, God's roster of men and

women are very colorful. And the holy spirit is willing

to animate every single type of person as long as they are

willing to allow him to work in and through them.

And so I see, I mean, there's so many examples, I can use from

these lists of men of the different personalities, but

just to whet your appetite. I see something else.

I see that God is able to unite unlikely men through the power

of the Gospel. I get that from Verse 18,

Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and

Thomas, and James, the son of alphaeus, and thaddaeus and

szymon Simon the Zealot. Now, Simon, the Zealot is not

another nickname. It was kind of a nickname but

Simon actually belonged to a group, a political group known

as As the zealots. In Jesus time, they were

fanatical, they were Radical, they lived for Jewish

Independence, they hated the Roman government, they

encouraged a rebellious attitude even to the point of Reckless

Behavior. And violent behavior, these

zealots, they abhorred Rome, and they abhorred.

Those who affiliated with Rome at any level including tax

collectors. And in that same verse, you read

of Simon the Zealot and you read of who Matthew the tax

collector? One is pro-government.

The other one is anti-government like the farthest ends of the

spectrum politically and socially.

I believe Jesus has a sense of humor.

He puts these guys on the same team.

Matthew meet Simon the Zealot Simon the Zealot meet the former

tax collector Matthew. If Simon the Zealot was with his

group of zealot friends. If they ever bumped into Matthew

outside in the world, they would have eaten them up alive.

And yet, in all the gospel accounts, I can't find one

argument. One altercation.

One point of division silence. Do you know why?

Because the gospel brings people together, that's why When you

see these two coming together, you have to realize that this is

a significant change that is taking place in the deepest

parts of human conviction. Think about it, Simon the

Zealot. What do you think he felt when

he heard his Rabbi from Nazareth?

Say give to Caesar. What belongs to Caesar, huh?

Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar Caesar doesn't deserve

anything. Nothing of the sort.

He works with Matthew. He serves with Matthew, he prays

with Matthew, he preaches with Matthew, he eats with Matthew.

He travels with Matthew, because when you have two hearts who are

truly given to the allegiance of Jesus, all other viewpoints bow

down, and surrender to the supremacy of his will all all

and when I see people divided over issues, Different issues.

I realized one thing. That the supremacy of Christ is

not real in their lives. That is not to say that we are

ecumenical and we just join with anybody who says they love.

Jesus wears a cross on their neck, who goes to some church

building. I'm not proposing that at all.

I'm talking about real surrender to Jesus like these Apostles.

And in this crucial hour of bitter division in our world on

multiple fronts, the lordship of Jesus Christ, is what The Church

Must trumpet into the world. Do you understand what I'm

saying? There is no other unifying force

that this world can offer apart from the grace found in our Lord

and Savior Jesus. And no other thing.

There is no other solution. And so it breaks my heart when I

see once faithful Ministries. Adopting worldly ideologies.

And psychological and social Concepts to try to build Bridges

between people critical. Race theory is not going to cut

it. For various reasons.

Social justice ideas are not going to cut it.

What you see on the news and what you see from modern-day

philosophers and psychologists is not going to cut it.

It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that is able to bind the

most unlikely hearts together. Tonight just agree on some

things but to be completely consumed in love for Christ and

love for one another who also loved Christ.

So I'm not one who says, you know, just preach the gospel

that's not address. What's happening in culture?

Let's not. Let's not try to understand

what's happening in our world. No, you know that, but I am

those who will say the gospel is, the only solution it is.

I'm not here to offer anything else because there's nothing

else to offer. Who does Jesus use?

He uses average people Who is Jesus?

Use broken people fragmented people.

People with unique personalities, people from

different backgrounds, and he doesn't hold it against them,

and he brings them together through his Wonderful Grace, and

he does wonderful things through them.

And I'm so glad because I know I'm an average person.

And I know I have a unique personality and I do have a

certain wiring that people don't share and I praise God for that.

But I look at this one. Amazing God and I worship him

for his goodness. And I look into this group of

people and I see average people. Different histories different,

leanings different Temptations but we all serve one amazing.

God, he will use us. He will guide us, he will

Empower us. He will delegate different kind

of authority and giftings to each of us.

But he is worthy of worship and all.

Let's pray. Chloe, thank you. that in that

unique event of choosing the 12, we see ourselves in that moment

God because we see ourselves as Apostles but we see ourselves as

average men and women who are unworthy to be considered to

bear fruit for your namesake Here we are.

Here we are. Lord in your house with

different cultures and backgrounds.

Different types of giftings. And even personalities.

We thank you that we have felt the unifying power of the Gospel

in this place and we pray that it would only continue.

Lord help us in this season of world history where a lot of

important decisions have to be made some are contemplating

moving some don't know what to do with their children.

Lord made to be reminded that you prayed and you gave

persistent persevering passionate prayer.

Two important things help us do the same.

Help us Lord understand that you have gifted us uniquely and the

Lord, we will honor you by being faithful to the giftings that

you've given us and Lord, in this day of our, would you pour

out your holy spirit so that we can see greater demonstrations

of your power in this broken, dark, and filthy world?

and Lord I see help us be faithful and patient with one

another as these disciples were help us look to you.

The patient one. Who did not give up on these 12?

And you will not give up on us as long as we continue to walk

with you. Help us not give up on each

other. Even when we fail, Even when we

fall into the flesh. Help us demonstrate your

kindness. Let me worship you for these

truths and we glorify you and we say thank you, thank you for

your word. Thank you because you are

amazing. Amen.