THE CALL OF A DISCIPLE

Scripture Passage: Mark 3:13-19

¹³ Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted and they came to him. ¹⁴ He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach ¹⁵ and to have authority to drive out demons. ¹⁶ These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), ¹⁷ James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), ¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

The call of twelve disciples is mentioned in the above passage. Mark is the primitive gospel in all four gospels which is written by John Mark, the companion of Paul in his first missionary journey (Act 15:35-41). It was written in AD 70 and became the first ever written gospel with the theme of identifying Jesus as “The Son of Man” (10:45) who came to serve others.

The appointment of Disciples found in this passage. He appointed the disciples with the intention of being with them, preach and do what Jesus did. The gospel is giving a kind of urgency in its way of writing – “Immediately” is the key term found throughout the book. 

Responding to the call of Jesus is the integral part of a disciple’s life. A disciple must obey and follow the commands of a master. We see Isaiah responded positively to the call of the Lord in Old Testament, Isaiah 6:8, “Here I am Lord, Send me.”

God’s call and people’s response resounding throughout the Bible. In this passage God calls whom He wanted and “They came to Him” (v 13). The reason why Jesus chose them is for "following Him", that is the same agenda God has towards us. We are the disciples of Christ Jesus to follow His footsteps and commands that he delivers us to do. What are the commands given to them?

1. TO BE WITH HIM (JESUS) V.14A
 

To Be with him means – To be in intimate relationship with Him. The disciples had the highest opportunity of being with Jesus in understanding every move of Him. They experienced God in their lives – what a great privilege for the ordinary men. Jesus trained the disciples by being with them throughout the ministry.

Acts 4:13, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

Jesus takes your nothing – and makes everything when you are with Him. a sculpture or art gets more beauty if it is with the artist long time. if an art is intimate with the artist it becomes beautiful and masterpiece for everyone to see and enjoy. 

Eph 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork (Poiema), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

At most contact with Jesus makes you a powerful person. Power in Greek is Dunamis – power of dynamite to breakdown the power of evil and dynamo – lighting the darkened world. All comes through one means that is being (in connection) with Jesus.

John 15:4-5, “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Are you in connection with Jesus –The world will see its difference through your power.

2. TO PREACH (V. 14B)
 

The second purpose of being a disciple is “Sent them out to preach.” – They must preach others of what Jesus was doing. Jesus preached towns and villages about the Kingdom of God. A disciple must go and preach the gospel of His Kingdom through the experiences he gained from the Lord.

They were the sent ones (apostolos) – which means ambassadors of Jesus in His place to proclaim what Jesus was doing with them. Reconciliation agents to bring people unto God – Holy and anointed call to be the apostles. Preaching the living and active word of God which is the seed to bring people unto God. 

The mission of a disciple is to go out and preach the gospel to the people. Preaching is not a technique or coming out of eloquent experiences but through the power of God. A person who spend more time in private (with the Lord), become powerful vessel (of God) in the public. You can easily understand the preaching of pastors and preachers how long they spent with the Lord. More time in God’s presence – powerful preaching in the public. 

Preaching is a duty of a disciple (I Cor. 9:16) Woe unto me if I preach not the gospel. We are the sent ones of God today to preach the gospel to the unheard and unknown.

3. TO DO (DEMONSTRATE) WHAT JESUS DID. (V. 15)
 

Jesus gave them the authority to do (drive out demons) what He did (v.15) – when the power of darkness leave, the Kingdom of God comes there. Jesus empowered / authorized them to do what He did. 

Luke 11:20, “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

Luke 4:16-21, “¹⁶ He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷ and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” ²⁰ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. ²¹ He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

The Nazareth Manifesto we see about the mission of Jesus who is not sent for preaching but also freedom to prisoners, healing, freedom and proclamation. The same authority is given to the disciples; we are His disciples to continue – carry non that work as a disciple.

As a disciple of Jesus

1. Are you With Jesus (in intimate relationship)?
2. Are you preaching the gospel?
3. Are you demonstrating what Jesus did?

May God enable us to carry on His mission as His disciples!

Scripture Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:1-10

“¹Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ² Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”

Paul in Romans expressed his desire for all believers’ three important things. Rom 15:14, “I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another.” All believers have the right to know the word of the Lord – it is their birthright.

·         Full of Goodness (the nature of God)

·         Full of knowledge (the spiritual maturity)

·         Able to teach others (Be expert in Word)

However in 2 Corinthians Paul concentrated on the ministers of God, it is not exclusively to the Pastors and Leaders. Every believer must be ministers of God. The primary duty of a servant of God is “Ministering to the presence of God” then “Ministering for God.” Most of the leaders and pastors reverse the priority and spend their entire time in ministry forgetting to minister the presence of God. As I said it is not restricted to the pastors, it includes all the believers.

The passage talks about FOUR personal and corporate responsibility of a servant of God. 

1. LIVE IN GOD’S GRACE: (V.1)

2 Cor. 4: 1 says, “¹Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart”

75% of pastors in the United States leave their ministries in first 5 years of their ministry which is called as “Burnt Out.” They lose their vision, enthusiasm and passion for ministry due to the frustration / displeasure in the ministry. This is a sad statistics – In India many pastors grow their children not with the ministry intention but to work and earn money. In recent days many pastors send their children to foreign countries for work, in their last stage they sell the church and leave the ministry due to no successors to carry on the ministry. In both cases the strength of pastor is emphasized the grace of God is missing. Obviously the church loses its strength rapidly.

Paul in verses 8-9 says, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” We face troubles but stand firm because we live in God’s grace – in other versions speak of God’s Mercy.

Luke 9:62 says, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

 

The call of God has great emphasis on the “Grace of God.” Because the one who called us is faithful (1 Thes. 5:24) he chose us, not we ourselves for the ministry (John 15:16). Christian ministry is Faith and Grace based, there is nothing that we can do with our energy and strength. That’s why Apostle Paul says to “Live in God’s Grace”

Living is also reminds us of – continuous action. One cannot live without air so also without God’s grace no one can sustain in the ministry.

2. PREACH CHRIST ALONE (V. 2 / V.5)

v. 2, “we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. ⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. Paul declares that he made no deception, distraction of God’s word – just delivered the plain truth. (v.2) and not even preached about himself (v.5). Martin Luther in his reformation statements made the following clear,

1. Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”): The Bible alone is our highest authority.
2. Sola Fide (“faith alone”): We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
3. Sola Gratia (“grace alone”): We are saved by the grace of God alone.
4. Solus Christus (“Christ alone”): Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.
5. Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”): We live for the glory of God alone.

The first among the list was “Scripture alone” most of the preaching today stress on the following,

·         Jesus + Something else (Baptism)

·         Gospel + Something else (remove ornaments)

·         Bible + Something else (devotion sermons)

·         Grace + Something else (striving holy life)

This is danger to Christianity, Jesus said you can do nothing without me (John 15:5) – It includes the leaders and pastors. Many today pose themselves as great in their congregation, without me (pastor) you can do nothing. Just Bible / Gospel / Christ alone can do greater things. We do not need anything to it to flavor the Christian life.

Peter in his second epistle says (1:16-21), “¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” ¹⁸ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ²⁰ Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. ²¹ For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Preach CHRIST, The Lord – Nothing else

3. UNDERSTAND THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE (vv. 3-4)

We have an unseen battle for everyone who wants to live for the Lord. The battle is not against flesh and blood but against the god of this age – Satan (Eph 6:12)

This passage clarifies it as the gospel is unveiled to unbelievers – it is by the god of this age, the Satan. He is also named as “ruler of the world” (John 14:30). This struggles we think of very hard but have been already overcame by the Lord. Every time we initiate something for the Lord there will be opposition or struggles to accomplish it because there is an unseen battle going on between God’s people and Satan.

Ephesians 6:10-19 lists about the spiritual weapons that enable the believers to overcome the plans of Satan. First the people of God must overcome the schemes of the evil one so that we can conquer the Satan. It doesn’t mean that we must underestimate the warfare but be prepared to overcome it. 

Above all the leaders must “Be on guard – Stand firm – Be courageous – Be strong in the Lord” (1 Cor. 16:13) not giving up by the “seems to be defeat” situations.

4. HAVE AN ENLIGHTENED HEART ( V.6)

Paul says, “God made His light shine in our hearts.” Enlightenment comes when we are open to the Lord and seek the guidance of the Lord. Many of times pastors and leaders restrain to open their hearts and minds to the leading of the Holy Spirit. the spirit of God is refreshing the minds of people when we are obedient listeners.

It is good to be traditional bondage pastors – who hold on to what their pastors or pastor’s pastors said and taught. God enlightens the heart of His people every day to new ways.

“Everything starts within me.” Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to be.”

Jim Elliott, a missionary to South American tribal groups said, “You cannot give something you do not have.”

The following questions are to be answered from heart,

·         Do I have the touch of God?

·         Do I know and see His power?

·         Do I have the empowerment of the Holy Spirit?

1 John 1:1, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.” Something that the apostle heard, saw, touched and proclaim it to others.

Only enlightened heart can enlighten others just like a burning candle lights other candles, a tuned guitar can tune other guitars.

Conclusion:

·         Do I live in God’s Grace

·         Do I preach Christ alone?

·         Do I prepare myself for the spiritual warfare?

·         Do I have an enlightened heart?

May God bless you all.