Latest / Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago / 12 Average Men, One Amazing God | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

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12 Average Men, One Amazing God | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series) · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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  Excited to open up God's word with you, meet me in the gospel
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  of Mark in chapter three. Mark chapter 3 and put your
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  finger and verse 13. Mark 3:13 father, this is your
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  word. This is your voice.
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  Or give us ears to hear. We know that Satan hates your
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  word. And Lord, he will try to
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  interfere with this moment. and so we just ask for a special
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  protection over our minds and our hearts We pray that all
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  attacks would be subdued. And we ask, oh, Lord.
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  That your will would be done in our hearts, as your word is.
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  Clearly understood no confusion Lord, no stammering nothing.
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  That would try to hinder. The Simplicity of this text.
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  Let it move us and change Us For Your Glory.
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  We love you Lord and we love your word speak.
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  Now in Jesus name, amen. And he went up on the mountain
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  and called to him Those whom he desired.
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  And they came to him. And he appointed twelve whom he
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  also named Apostles so that they might be with him and he might
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  send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.
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  He appointed the 12 Simon to whom he gave the name, Peter
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  James, the son of Zebedee. And John the brother of James to
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  whom he gave the name in the Greek.
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  It would say bah nargiz that is sons of thunder.
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  Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and
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  Thomas, and James, the son of alphaeus, and thaddaeus, and
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  Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.
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  Who betrayed him? You just heard the names of
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  twelve men whom Jesus set apart as a unique set of
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  Representatives, who would in a matter of a few short years
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  impact the course of human history.
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  Understanding the appointment of The Twelve Apostles is not a
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  footnote to the ministry and life of Jesus Christ.
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  It is an absolute Landmark a milestone to the Grand Narrative
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  of redemption. When you come to this, you
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  realize that there is a surprising election of unrefined
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  young Jewish men who would be used by God in such a way that
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  would have unimaginable Ripple effects going across the globe
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  and across generations and Promises to have effects until
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  the return of Jesus Christ. You and I today are benefiting
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  from the legacy of these men and their faith.
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  Illness to their lord, and our Lord.
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  And it's almost difficult to imagine how thus far as studying
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  Jesus in The Gospel of Mark excluded, the official
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  recognition of these men that we commonly know, as the 12.
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  Now that doesn't mean that these men were not with Jesus
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  throughout the early phase of his ministry.
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  It does mean that these men were in the same pool As others who
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  were also following Jesus closely and with great interest
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  up to this point, but something is about to happen.
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  The Holy Spirit, indeed takes his time to give us details
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  about how Jesus is going to separate a dozen of these men.
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  So that they would be his agents and unrepeatable way by the way,
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  that would do incredible things for the message and the ministry
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  of Christ. And as you come to this, you
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  realize Even In A fast-paced Book, Like Mark, we see some
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  incredible things to meditate on.
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  We look here and you just heard even the the location of the
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  call. You even see the the preparation
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  of Jesus before the call. To an extent as we parallel it
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  to a different account. We see here, the names of these
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  men, we see the purpose of this call.
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  We see the mission of the call. We even get small descriptions
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  of some of these men helping us see their Humanity in something
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  of the grace of God. And because of that, I believe
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  this demands for us to at least look at some of the details and
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  to see how these details are significant to the significant
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  turning point in the ministry of Jesus here.
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  Now And so, I want you to look with me in this body of text.
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  Three things and they're easy to remember the first thing we're
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  going to look at is the planning before the call.
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  And Luke is going to help us see the planning before the call,
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  but not just the planning of the call.
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  We're going to see the purpose of the call.
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  What was that? The apostles were set apart for
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  and lastly something that I pray will encourage you.
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  Deeply are the people who were called, who were these people?
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  Why did God choose them? What is it about them?
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  M, that can help us understand how God can use us.
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  And so, as we look at these things, let your heart be ready
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  to soar. As you worship, god with me
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  about his wonderful wisdom, his wonderful love and choosing 12
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  average men. Twelve average men one, amazing
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  God. So we come to verse 13 and he
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  went up on the mountain and called him Those whom he desired
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  it would be very wrong for us to assume that Jesus did the
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  spontaneously on some random afternoon.
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  It would be equally in error to think that Jesus made this
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  decision independent of divine guidance.
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  Even though we are told that he chose whom he desired.
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  Whom he willed whom he longed for whom he chose.
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  And the reason why I say this is because when you go to Luke's
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  account, which is the only other gospel writer, who gives us this
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  occasion and his version of the ministry, and life of Jesus
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  Christ. You see what Jesus did in
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  preparation for this? Call turn with me to Luke
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  chapter 6, and verse 12. Matthew Mark, Luke.
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  Mark's neighbor is Luke. Luke chapter 6.
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  Look at verse 12. In these days, he went out to
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  the mountain, the same Mountain that Mark speaks about to pray
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  to pray and all night. He continued and prayer to God.
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  And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them
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  twelve whom he named Apostles the night before, the appointing
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  of the Apostles, we find Jesus seeking the face of the father,
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  Crying out to him so that he would have the revelation of the
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  men, who would be set apart for his intimate Associates, and it
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  was not an ordinary time of prayer because this was not some
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  small verdict to make this was crucial.
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  This was huge. This would have generational
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  consequences and, because of this critical decision for the
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  future of Christ's Ministry in the message.
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  Jesus in his Humanity. Saw it necessary.
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  To come before. God, isolated from the busyness
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  of ministry and even interaction of others to seek God, for
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  divine approval. He needed a guarantee from
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  Heaven. Oh, God.
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  Are these, the men that you want?
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  Who are the men that you desire? And this is his approach even
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  though the position of Apostles and this context is unique and
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  exclusive to these men, not to be repeated not to be
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  replicated, the approach of Jesus and selecting them is a
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  call for us to imitate. What do I mean by that?
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  Realize that he is demonstrating his Humanity here.
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  And what he is proving to you. And I as followers of him is
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  that the bigger a decision is, the more prayer is required
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  about it. The bigger, the decision is, the
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  more prayer is required about it.
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  And here's the thing, it would be unfair and unrealistic to say
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  that, this is how Jesus prayed all the time.
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  This is how he regularly prayed. He spent all night, she barely
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  slept. You got one hour of sleep, two
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  hours sleep. Every no, that's not true.
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  He did regularly pray. But when it came to major
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  crossroads that he faced in his Humanity, remember he saw it
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  absolutely necessary to wrestle with God to wrestle with the
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  flesh, to wait on him, to take that time to make sure that he
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  has clear direction from above. And you and I in this life, the
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  short term, as you heard this mist of a life at the same time,
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  we'll have dilemmas, you will face times where you have to
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  make a decision, but it will require special seclusion and
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  time of prayer where you come before the Lord to receive
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  undeniable Clarity and wisdom from God.
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  And the encouragement I get from this text and I share with you
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  is the example of Jesus in this Jesus saw Prayer as the best and
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  ultimate resource to turn to and to run to when you have many
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  options before you and you don't know what to do, did you hear
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  what? Luke said, go back to the verse
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  and verse 13 and when day came he called his disciples and
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  chose from them. So it wasn't like he had 15
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  guys. Now, he's going to choose 12 to
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  be on his team. I'm sure there are many, many,
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  many, many who are walking with Jesus following Jesus asking
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  Jesus questions, but from among them, Jesus needed 12 and we'll
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  get to why 12 in a moment. But he did not assume you did
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  not presume. He did not rely on his own
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  thinking, even though he is God yet in his Humanity, I believe
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  the spirit of God wants to show us an example a model so to
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  speak. That detail, should bless us
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  because this is an indirect promise is a knot.
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  That when you and I are overwhelmed with options when we
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  are, when we are overwhelmed with the unknown, when we know
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  that there are decisions to make that will alter the rest of our
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  lives. Pray.
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  Always pray. Keep praying, stay there, seek
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  him. Wait on him, repeat yourself.
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  If need be until God brings Clarity.
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  And by faith, you have to believe that God will either
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  providentially make a known and sometimes supernaturally guide
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  us. When we don't know what path to
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  take. I rejoice in that prayer.
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  Works prayer works. Why do you think we pray here
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  every Wednesday? Because we have nothing else to
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  do on Wednesday. My Flesh can think of a hundred
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  other things to do, but pray on a Wednesday night, especially in
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  the winters of Chicago. But I know that God hears And
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  here's the thing, Jesus is the ultimate example of a servant,
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  is he not? That's the theme of Mark.
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  The servant of Yahweh there is no greater than he and he sets a
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  pattern for us as a man. He sets a pattern as a servant,
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  as a minister. He sets a model pray.
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  Seek God, wait on God, look for him present to him.
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  And as I come to this text, I also admire the master because
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  of the context of his praying why.
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  Now, why does Jesus choose his Apostles?
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  Not, why does he separate one night just to seek Him
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  separating himself from preaching, removing himself from
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  engagement with other people and saying, oh God, I'm coming to
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  you. Why, at this point, I believe
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  it. You don't have to turn there,
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  but it's because of Mark 36. Remember, Mark, 36 the spiritual
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  leaders and the political leaders have now Now come
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  together to destroy Jesus. The pressure is mounting, the
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  persecution is rising and Jesus himself knew the special
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  preparation that was required for these men before the
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  crucifixion. And so as he perceives these
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  things, he realizes the time is short and he comes before the
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  father, Lord. Now this is when this is, this
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  is what I need from you. And why that blesses me is
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  because you know that the Temptation and Times of fear and
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  The Temptations in the times of pressure is to not pray.
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  To rely on emotional impulses, to run to so many different
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  Avenues before you come to the main one, which is God himself.
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  And yet Jesus here, does not make excuses.
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  He's not Frank tick here, he's not just making anything happen
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  because what? We got to get things going.
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  No, if anything he he feels this pressure but it causes him as he
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  squeezed. To just cry out to the Lord.
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  Lord, you see Lord, you know the predicament, you know, the
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  situation you know the limitations I need you now where
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  do I go? What do I do?
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  I will not move without you. You know we consider our church
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  as a, as an example we believe in a multiplicity of Elders in
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  the church by God's grace is growing.
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  All we needed. We need more Elders, we need
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  more leaders. So why don't we just pick
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  anybody? Because it just looks better.
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  Well, why don't we just anybody that knows a few verses and and
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  becomes some I consistently. There's anybody know.
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  Lord. You see what we need?
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  We'll wait on. You will pray.
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  Some people. I'm getting older still single.
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  I'll just take the next guy that can breathe.
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  I can come to church with me and not be annoying about it because
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  I don't know if he's really saved but God will understand.
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  No sister, brother pray. Wait on God.
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  He sees it look to Jesus as your example, father, you know what I
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  need? You see the things the
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  constraints, you see the things that are hindering.
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  This being a possibility time is running out threats are arising.
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  Please let your known will be known and please, as you make it
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  clear. Help me see it.
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  So I can follow Faithfully. This is what Jesus is doing.
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  It's incredible. It's wonderful prayer, works
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  wonders but It is contingent Upon A Certain heart posture.
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  Go back to Mark, did you notice the wording and Mark 3:13 And he
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  went up on the mountain and called to him Those whom he
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  desired and they came to him, he called him Those whom he
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  desired. Jesus had a will.
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  These 12 are what he desired whom, he desired for himself.
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  And so when I look at that and I compared it to Luke, I wonder if
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  these are the men that he desired, then why did he spend
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  all night praying and asking God for his desire?
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  Legitimate question. If he had a desire, then why
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  pray all night for God's will to be known?
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  And I think that there is a revelation when you marry these
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  two things. When you bring these two things
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  together, what you see is Jesus is desires wearing golf with the
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  desires of the father. That's what you see.
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  Christ and the father were one in so many ways and one of the
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  ways they were one was in their wishes, With the father desired,
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  Jesus desired whatever the father's will was it was the
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  will of Jesus Christ and there was never a time where Jesus
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  worked independently from God. And there was never a moment
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  where he entertained or desire to do.
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  So he said it clearly in John 6:38 for I have come down from
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  heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
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  And so when you see here, whom he desired his desires and in
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  complete alignment with Desires of the father.
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  And that's what prayer can do, by the way.
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  That's what prayer does, as much as it changes things.
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  That ultimately changes you, when you really pray, when you
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  really come into the presence of God in fellowship with him, If
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  you're ever concerned whether prayer not works, if it ever
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  changes, anything know this for certain it will change you at
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  least. And it could forms you and it
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  shapes you and God sees your humility and he sees that
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  posture prayer. And as you pray, he promises
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  that he will exalt us. He will conform us, he will work
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  on us, he would fill us, he would do wonders in us as much
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  as we're asking to do wonders outside of us.
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  Do you want to secure an open Heaven, over your life?
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  Do you want the strongest signal possible?
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  If I can use that language in your relationship to God and how
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  he responds to your request and your desires, then make sure day
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  by day, that you examine your heart and you are confident to
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  say I want with God wants. Whatever God desires, that is
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  what I desire. And God will bless you as he
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  blessed his son Jesus prayed. Big decisions.
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  Require unusual praying. But now we come to the purpose
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  of the call, we see the preparation, the planning behind
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  it, but we come down to verse 14 and we see that he appointed
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  twelve. Whom he also named Apostles, so
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  that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach
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  and have authority to cast out demons seems pretty
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  straightforward. But when you slow down and you
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  look at the order of the objectives, then you will see
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  something very special about our Lord.
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  What was the first thing that Jesus desired from Those whom he
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  desired that. They might be with him.
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  That they might be with him and second to that, going out to
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  preach and doing Miracles with the delegated authority that he
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  has given them. Here's what you have to see from
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  this. Jesus desires, intimacy more,
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  and before Ministry. That's what you have to take out
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  of this before. There was preaching, before,
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  there is pastoring, before there is writing before any of that
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  Christ called these men to be in close, proximity to him.
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  And from that place of Fellowship, from that place of
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  one-on-one relationship, Ministry service would flow and
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  that discipline remained with the disciples even
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  post-resurrection. Remember what they said in Acts
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  chapter 6, when the when the church grew and there was there
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  was demand for tables to be served the apostles pause and
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  they said in verse 4 of Acts 6, but we will devote ourselves to
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  what prayer and then the ministry of the word that order
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  is not by accident. In the minds of the Apostles, we
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  have to first pray, meaning we have to remain in close
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  connection to God. So we have to seek God, speak to
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  God worship. God, lay ourselves out before
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  God. Wait on God, this is primary.
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  To how we serve the Lord. And everything else will come
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  from that. And this truth excites me.
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  I pray that it stirs. You do you know why should stir
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  you? Because we see that no matter
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  how Grand your ministry may be, no matter how much demand there
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  might be on your life Christ, prioritises personal one-on-one
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  communion with himself, That's what he Longs for even in the
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  context of you serving him. I see something here.
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  Don't mistake. What my desire is, ultimately,
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  that's for you and I to be acquainted with one another.
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  And this was the heart of Christ before his Incarnation before
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  his Incarnation during his time on the earth.
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  And it is even now today while we sit here and hear about it,
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  Perhaps, you're not convinced. John tells us who was sitting on
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  that throne and that famous vision of Isaiah, it was Jesus
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  himself. And when you go to Isaiah
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  chapter six, which I encourage you to turn to you.
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  See that while Jesus pre incarnated is sitting there in
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  his glory and majesty and Splendor, there are these
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  creatures that are around him. And those creatures were known
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  as the seraphim, a word that says that describes the burning
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  ones Do you remember what the seraphim were doing when they
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  were in the presence of Jesus in his glory?
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  Well, let me remind you in Isaiah 61 In the year that King
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  Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and
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  lifted up and the train of his robe, filled the temple.
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  Above him, stood the seraphim, each had six wings with two.
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  He covered his face and with two, he covered his feet and
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  with two, he flew I always ask the Bible questions.
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  And I look at this text and I am moved by the sight of the power
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  of Jesus just by sitting on a throne and the attention and
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  adoration that just his presence on the throne demands.
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  But I look at these creatures known as the seraphim and I ask
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  myself, why is it important for me to know how many wings they
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  had? And why is it important for me
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  to know what each pair of wings are doing in the presence of
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  Jesus Christ? And I know one thing that will
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  keep me asking that question until I get an answer, it's not
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  there for no reason. It's not there just to paint
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  some mystical picture. It's there because there's
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  instruction And so you look at these, these pairs of wings and
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  you ask, why do I need to know that four of them are covering
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  different parts of who they are? Well to our mobile and remaining
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  in flight and then you read on in verse 6 and you see at least
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  one pair is is for Isaiah 66. Then one of the seraphim flew to
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  me Isaiah says, having in his hand of burning coal that he had
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  taken with tongs from the altar. And so Isaiah is there, right?
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  This Prophet who before this chapter is pronouncing woes upon
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  Israel. And now he looks at himself and
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  he says, woe is me overwhelmed overcome by the Holiness of God
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  in Jesus Christ? He crumbles.
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  And here is one of the seraphim who with his two wings that are
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  mobile flies, he flies to Isaiah and he assists Isaiah so that he
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  can gird up his loins and stand in the presence of this. 81.
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  So I know at least one pair of These Wings Are for their for
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  service and the fact that they are remaining in Flight implies
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  that they are ready to serve Christ, Swift to respond, not
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  hesitating, not contemplating whatever.
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  The word is, we will be ready to go.
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  And we see that exemplified just in a few verses in this context.
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  So I see that these two wings are for service.
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  Okay, that that answer is not. But what about the other Wings?
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  What about the two that are covering the face?
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  What? About the two that are covering
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  the feet. Oh, I think it is so clear.
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  When you realize what's happening in that room, this is
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  passionate worship coming from the seraphim.
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  The covering of the face demonstrates, the absolute awe.
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  That they are under for Christ. Even these sinless creatures are
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  overcome by the glistening glory of God, in his Purity and the
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  covering of the feet. I believe speaks of a kind of
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  humility. We are unworthy to be in the
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  presence of Jesus. We are unworthy to be in such
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  close proximity. We are not worthy to be in this
• 25:45
  position of service and so they cover the feet.
• 25:49
  The feet that we have so that we can follow where he tells us to
• 25:52
  follow. We see that demonstrated by
• 25:54
  these, these strange Celestial beings, and when you take all of
• 26:00
  this into consideration and do a simple math equation, you come
• 26:04
  to revelation Out of the six wings.
• 26:10
  To our dedicated to service while four are set apart for
• 26:15
  worship. Meaning what these Servants of
• 26:19
  God gave more attention to adoring devotion than, to
• 26:23
  practical Ministry. How true it is, that it's the
• 26:27
  opposite for so many that they put more focus and energy on
• 26:30
  doing things for Christ. Then enjoying loving and
• 26:32
  worshipping Christ. How is it that we dedicate most
• 26:36
  of our strength to just serving him as great as that is?
• 26:40
  But leave little to no. Little to no strength and
• 26:45
  attention to simply looking at him loving him.
• 26:49
  Expressing our love for him. God Longs for us to serve him.
• 26:53
  He calls us to serve him from the exercise of sweet communion
• 27:01
  with him, and that should not the service to him.
• 27:06
  Should not challenge the intimacy with, with him and the
• 27:09
  intimacy with him. Should not challenge the service
• 27:11
  to him. If it is done according to his
• 27:13
  word, we will be blessed in our Ministries will be blessed.
• 27:18
  Or else we get into just robotic ritual and the preacher comes up
• 27:22
  to preach because he can cleverly put things together,
• 27:24
  but he hasn't been spending time with God.
• 27:27
  And the worship, team comes up and let's just get this over
• 27:29
  with. I'm not really feeling it today.
• 27:31
  And I haven't been worshiping. God all week, and the people
• 27:33
  come and they just want to volunteer just through.
• 27:35
  They can say that. I volunteer and there's, there's
• 27:38
  missing something. Where's the connection?
• 27:41
  Where's the court of? Love that everything is Flowing
• 27:44
  from. Well the comes from doing what
• 27:45
  the seraphim do. Oh, Lord, help me keep Keep my
• 27:48
  Gaze on you and all that I do for you.
• 27:52
  And I'll tell you those who are the most intimate with Christ
• 27:55
  are the most effective for Christ.
• 27:58
  All the time. There's a touch from God on it
• 28:01
  because the Lord knows that they're doing it from a place of
• 28:03
  loving him. And so, I just said, - you be
• 28:06
  careful. Don't lose focus of what this is
• 28:08
  all about. And the thing that keeps you
• 28:09
  anchored and your heart pure and your strength real is, when you
• 28:14
  sit with him, meet with them, commune with him and let
• 28:17
  everything come and proceed from that place of posturing yourself
• 28:21
  in love before him. That they might be with him,
• 28:25
  that's what he wanted. And from that place, that they
• 28:28
  would go out and preach and cast out Devils with his authority
• 28:31
  and he, the focus. I want you to have now on that
• 28:34
  second part of ministry is the authority, The Authority that
• 28:38
  the apostles received from Jesus.
• 28:42
  Remember these men are going to be sent out into the four
• 28:45
  corners of the earth. Ephesians tells us that they're
• 28:47
  going to lay the foundation of the church.
• 28:50
  They're going to take what Jesus is going to teach through the
• 28:52
  Holy Spirit. Post resurrection and then give
• 28:55
  it to us and you and I are benefiting from that through the
• 28:58
  Epistles. These are these kind of men and
• 29:01
  we see here that Jesus gave him a certain capability.
• 29:04
  They possessed it and they operate in it because it was
• 29:07
  delegated by God, but it was in a unique way, it was very
• 29:12
  special. And when we come to this, we
• 29:15
  have to understand that that is not to say that God cannot work
• 29:18
  through his people today to accomplish miraculous things.
• 29:23
  But it must be understood and must be balanced with an
• 29:27
  understanding that God always, always has distributed certain
• 29:32
  measures of power at his will and for specific purposes.
• 29:37
  That might not be shared in the same way throughout history.
• 29:41
  I'm telling you this for a reason, I'm getting to the
• 29:44
  reason why in a moment, but I want you to look at this and
• 29:46
  realize that they had received authority to cast out demons,
• 29:50
  that Authority came from Jesus, It was not whipped up by human
• 29:55
  command. It was not something that they
• 29:57
  can just do in their own, will know.
• 29:59
  It was something that Christ unlocked enabled, a switch that
• 30:04
  he turned on and he reserved it for these 12 men and specific.
• 30:08
  And here's the thing, the Twelve Disciples knew that Paul a later
• 30:13
  Apostle knew that that they have been granted, a very unusual
• 30:17
  scale of authority in order to validate their Apostolic
• 30:22
  position. Oh, and to confirm the gospel
• 30:25
  message, that would be preached into introductory stage.
• 30:30
  Of its form and forming can I prove that to you go to Second
• 30:36
  Corinthians 12:12? 2nd Corinthians 12:12.
• 30:53
  This is Paul writing. And he says, in 2nd Corinthians
• 31:02
  12:12. The signs of a true apostle.
• 31:08
  The signs of a true Apostle were performed among you with utmost
• 31:12
  patience, with signs and wonders, and mighty works.
• 31:16
  This proves that this is not, Paul was aware and even taught
• 31:19
  that there are distinct signs exclusively performed by those
• 31:23
  who were true. Apostles, Some might be saying,
• 31:29
  well preacher, you're preaching at a Mark and I say, yes.
• 31:34
  And they said, have you read in Mark 16?
• 31:36
  I said, yes. And some of you know where I'm
• 31:39
  going with this because when you go to Mark 16 And you go to
• 31:43
  verse 15. Jesus said to them, go into all
• 31:48
  the world and proclaim, the gospel to the whole creation,
• 31:51
  whoever believes whoever believes and is baptized will be
• 31:56
  saved. But whoever does not believe
• 31:57
  will be condemned, and these signs will accompany those who
• 32:00
  believe not Apostles preacher not Apostles, these signs will
• 32:06
  accompany those, who believe. You're a Believer.
• 32:10
  So these signs should accompany you.
• 32:12
  In my name, they will cast out demons.
• 32:13
  They will speak in new tongues. They will pick up serpents with
• 32:16
  their hands and they will drink any deadly poison.
• 32:18
  It will not hurt them. They will lay their hands on the
• 32:21
  sick and they will recover. They will accompany those who
• 32:25
  believe. And you have to come to church
• 32:27
  long enough to know when I'm going to say from Mark 16 when
• 32:29
  we get there. But let me give you a heads up.
• 32:32
  I do not deny that God can Not. Still work through his people in
• 32:41
  miraculous ways. But the reason why I bring this
• 32:45
  up is because there are those who teach this is why I'm
• 32:48
  bringing this up. There are those who teach that
• 32:51
  unless you are regularly Healing The Sick unless you do speak in
• 32:57
  tongues, unless you do cast out demons even unless you raise the
• 33:02
  Dead. You're not a True Believer.
• 33:06
  Because Mark 16 says that these signs will follow those who
• 33:09
  believe in the argument goes this way.
• 33:10
  Hey, are these signs following you?
• 33:12
  As a Believer? Let me see your track record.
• 33:14
  Let me see your history. Do you have any testimony know?
• 33:17
  You might not be a believer. Say people.
• 33:18
  Preach that. Yes and thousands upon thousands
• 33:22
  are believing it. And they are living under a
• 33:25
  burden that Jesus never intended to place on his people.
• 33:30
  So that might be foreign to you understand what I'm trying to
• 33:33
  say. God can work through his people
• 33:38
  miraculous ways. But that Mark 16 scripture
• 33:42
  reference does not mean that unless these things are
• 33:46
  uninterruptedly happening through your life, then you're
• 33:49
  not really a believer. Some might say, well, these
• 33:53
  things are not. True today.
• 33:56
  Because and the best argument to them is what we have.
• 33:59
  The scriptures we have, the can enclose we have all that God
• 34:02
  needs to tell us. Today, there is no need to
• 34:05
  confirm anything. There's no need to prove
• 34:07
  anything like these Apostles had to when they're performing signs
• 34:10
  and wonders in the introductory phase of the Gospel being
• 34:13
  presented to the world. And so we don't this stuff isn't
• 34:17
  real anymore and so certain things ceased while certain
• 34:21
  things continue and the things that see sort of things that we
• 34:24
  see in Acts. And things that we see in the
• 34:26
  Gospels. And so that's kind of the answer
• 34:30
  that people give And I think that the burden of proof for
• 34:36
  that school of thought is on them from the scriptures.
• 34:40
  Then to say, where do you get that from the Bible?
• 34:43
  So if people say in common say, well brother, where are these
• 34:46
  things today? Then, where they just with the
• 34:49
  apostles and they ceased? I don't see anything happening
• 34:52
  today. My argument, my answer would not
• 34:55
  be what we have the Bible and that's it.
• 34:58
  Because I have to I have to do a lot of gymnastics with the text
• 35:02
  to make That clear. My concern is the Bible.
• 35:05
  What does the Bible say? And here's the answer that I
• 35:08
  would give you ready, Hebrews chapter 2 Hebrews chapter 2,
• 35:14
  verse three and four. Remember my point is this that
• 35:22
  there are some who claim that unless you exercise Apostolic
• 35:25
  Authority, you might not even be a Christian.
• 35:28
  You might not be a believer in Jesus Christ.
• 35:32
  Here's what I see in Hebrews 2 3.
• 35:35
  How shall we escape? If we neglect such a great
• 35:37
  salvation? It was declared at first by the
• 35:40
  Lord and it was a tested To Us by those who heard while God
• 35:44
  also bore witnessed by signs and wonders pause, notice God bore
• 35:49
  Witness. By signs and wonders the
• 35:55
  apostles performed, Miracles at a rate.
• 35:58
  And to an extent that when they preached people with see the
• 36:02
  signs that accompany the message and it would be undeniable.
• 36:07
  Signs and wonders, and various Miracles.
• 36:09
  And by gifts of the holy spirit. Look at this last part
• 36:12
  distributed according to his will.
• 36:18
  So they bring it back to the question, brother, why do we not
• 36:20
  see these things so much? And in the west at least because
• 36:23
  different parts of the world, you'll hear testimonies why is
• 36:25
  it not? Why isn't that like we see it
• 36:27
  here in the word and here's my answer biblically, I'm going to
• 36:30
  the Bible for the answer, not philosophy, not inference, just
• 36:34
  the text because God willed it. God Wills that a different
• 36:40
  portions at different segments in history, went to pour out his
• 36:44
  holy spirit to what extent and through whomever.
• 36:48
  He chooses, it's his will that a different parts.
• 36:54
  He moves in different ways in church.
• 36:55
  History has proven that that God in his sovereignty, wisdom knows
• 37:00
  when and how and through whom to do such things.
• 37:03
  And we see that even in our own history Beyond this.
• 37:06
  We see that God has anointed Men to do wonderful things, just by
• 37:10
  preaching, think of guys like Jonathan Edwards, George
• 37:14
  Whitefield, John Wesley, these men were touched by God in a
• 37:17
  special way that brought massive salvation to even America.
• 37:23
  And So my answer is, well, it's God's God's choosing.
• 37:27
  And if he wants to gift the church and a certain particular
• 37:30
  way, he can do that if he wants. So what are we to do?
• 37:34
  Well we do, what we can, who we do, what we are called to do,
• 37:38
  and we preach and we teach and we disciple and we go to the
• 37:42
  mission field and let me give you a heads up.
• 37:45
  And as we proclaim, the message God in his sovereignty knows
• 37:49
  when to accompany the message with his power.
• 37:53
  That's how it works. And so we see that these men
• 37:56
  have a unique Authority, and Apostolic Authority and
• 37:59
  necessary Authority, and this, dispensation of, I can use that
• 38:04
  word without scaring people. Of the church age.
• 38:09
  This was their purpose. now, we come to the people who are
• 38:13
  called, These men were specially called but they were not very
• 38:17
  special. You heard the the praying behind
• 38:21
  the call, you heard the purpose of the call to proclaim the
• 38:23
  gospel to be trained. So that when it came to Jesus
• 38:26
  ascending into heaven, he would have his band of men to send out
• 38:29
  into the world and to teach that truth and special power.
• 38:35
  But have you considered when you coming to this text, have you
• 38:39
  considered instead of just trying to memorize the name of
• 38:41
  the disciple so that when it comes to a random Bible quiz?
• 38:43
  You know how to answer all their names?
• 38:45
  Have you meditate on this? Because when I come to the names
• 38:48
  here, I don't just see numbers. I see personalities.
• 38:54
  I see nicknames. I see.
• 39:01
  The power of the Gospel, when it grips, the human heart in a
• 39:05
  saving way. And what is possible with people
• 39:09
  from different backgrounds to experience when they all live
• 39:12
  under the banner of Jesus Christ.
• 39:15
  So you look at these names in your realize that Jesus chose
• 39:18
  12. And he brought them in and when
• 39:22
  you compare the different lists and maybe you've seen this in a
• 39:24
  different gospels. You might see that there are
• 39:27
  some different names and you're wondering.
• 39:28
  Well, is this an inconsistency, right?
• 39:31
  You look at some names, like, Thaddeus is here.
• 39:33
  Where is Nathaniel over here? Then there's another thing here
• 39:36
  and you're wondering. Did they get it wrong?
• 39:38
  No, they didn't get it wrong. Can I tell you what?
• 39:39
  That is their nicknames sometimes with the same person.
• 39:44
  Can you think about how that's, that's so human these guys came
• 39:48
  together and they did life together, Day by By day and they
• 39:51
  gave each other nicknames. And so, speaks really just of
• 39:55
  how how real they were. But have you ever wondered why
• 39:59
  12? Why not 10?
• 40:01
  Why not 15? Why not 32, why not 50?
• 40:05
  Why not for Y-12? It's a very, very significant
• 40:09
  number in the Bible. Very significant to the Jewish
• 40:12
  people, I believe. One reason was to send a message
• 40:15
  to Israel. I Believe by Jesus choosing the
• 40:19
  12, he is saying, we have a new government, a new government is
• 40:24
  being established because a New Covenant is about to commence.
• 40:28
  And in the same way that the 12 tribes and the Old Testament
• 40:31
  were raised up to display the glory of God to the rest of the
• 40:35
  world Christ, was signaling to this generation that a renewal
• 40:39
  was coming to Israel. Something new is here.
• 40:45
  A new structure is going to surround and centralized around
• 40:48
  the person of Jesus Christ, the son of David and these leaders
• 40:53
  that he chose to be under him. So there is no question that
• 40:58
  this is the interpretation. We have 12, we have 12 men who
• 41:03
  signified, 12 people, who will establish a new government for a
• 41:06
  New Covenant, that was prophesied in the Old Testament.
• 41:10
  And if you think that that's a stretch, all you have to do is
• 41:12
  look at the words of Jesus, go to Matthew.
• 41:14
  Ooh, 1928 and look what Jesus says to these 12 and what their
• 41:19
  mission would be beyond their lifetime Beyond The Great
• 41:24
  Commission. Matthew 19:28.
• 41:31
  Look what Jesus says. Jesus said to them, truly I say
• 41:37
  to you in the New World, when the son of man will sit on his
• 41:41
  glorious, Throne you have followed me, will also sit on
• 41:45
  twelve Thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.
• 41:49
  It's clear, it's so direct. He lets these men know who asked
• 41:54
  the question. Hey, we gave up everything to
• 41:56
  follow you. What's in it for us and he
• 41:59
  assured them. Look, there's not just going to
• 42:01
  be blessing in this world, but in the new world, you What that
• 42:04
  means. That that is a description of
• 42:07
  the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.
• 42:10
  He's not talking about heaven here.
• 42:12
  There's going to be no judgment issued In Heaven.
• 42:15
  There is a new world coming in which Jesus, when he comes to
• 42:19
  sit on his throne in Jerusalem? Yes, not a figurative Jerusalem,
• 42:24
  not an allegorical Jerusalem. A literal Jerusalem.
• 42:28
  There are also be 12 different, Thrones each designated for
• 42:32
  different tribe of Israel. That will be occupied I'd buy
• 42:36
  one of the Apostles. And you know what's so amazing?
• 42:41
  That word New World in the Greek.
• 42:45
  It's not two words, it's one word and it's only used in one
• 42:49
  other place in the entire New Testament.
• 42:52
  The the phrase, their new world is the same word that Paul uses
• 42:57
  when he teaches through Titus about our Salvation.
• 43:01
  And he says in Titus 3:5 that he saved us by the washing of
• 43:06
  regeneration. That's the same word and that's
• 43:10
  Why? Maybe in some of your
• 43:11
  translations, you don't see new world.
• 43:12
  You see the word wide regeneration?
• 43:17
  Do you know what he's trying to say?
• 43:19
  When I come back to physically Rule and Reign on the earth,
• 43:24
  this world, as we know, it will undergo a rebirth.
• 43:29
  That's what he's saying. There will be a transformation
• 43:33
  that will take place upon my return and we read of those
• 43:37
  characteristics throughout the Old Testament sprinkled here.
• 43:41
  And there, we will see that the animals will be at peace with
• 43:44
  one another. We will see that war will cease,
• 43:47
  we will see that even Rafi will shift and that life human life
• 43:52
  will be extended. There is something there is a
• 43:56
  regeneration coming to our planet.
• 43:59
  You know, you can take that truth and use that for us if
• 44:03
  Jesus is going to come back and cause a regeneration for this
• 44:07
  world how can we believe that we as humans and our personal
• 44:10
  salvation can be regenerated? Nothing change how the same way
• 44:16
  that this world will be transformed and observable way?
• 44:19
  And so, when I'm regenerated Something's Gotta change,
• 44:23
  something's got to change. And so there is a new world
• 44:28
  coming. A regeneration coming by.
• 44:30
  Here's what? So beautiful, then the same way
• 44:32
  in your personal salvation you don't become completely perfect.
• 44:35
  Neither will that new world be, it won't be completely perfected
• 44:40
  that will come at the end of the millennial Reign.
• 44:42
  When we read that, there will be a new Heaven and a new Earth.
• 44:47
  And so we see, even in the Regeneration of the earth, there
• 44:49
  will be some kind of hints of sin the possibility to disobey
• 44:53
  Christ though he will rule the Nations and it is true with us
• 44:56
  in our regeneration as well as in not that we are still capable
• 44:59
  of sinning. We are still capable of
• 45:01
  rebelling, I'll be encouraged by that truth but besides the point
• 45:07
  We see here that Jesus promises his Apostles, you guys during
• 45:12
  that time that that nation of Israel will remain as an ethnic
• 45:18
  people, that's not politics, that's Bible, they will remain
• 45:22
  as an ethnic people until the end of the age and u12 will rule
• 45:28
  over them. Judge them, clarify things to
• 45:31
  them, direct them. For a thousand years.
• 45:37
  So Jesus even having a Future Vision in the millennial Reign
• 45:41
  realize. Now I must choose 12 men who
• 45:45
  will be my representatives in that new world, who will judge
• 45:50
  the 12 tribes of Israel. So he chooses he chooses 12 and
• 45:54
  prepares them now and trains them now, but we can end it
• 45:56
  here. Can we not Here, our stomachs
• 46:00
  might be grumbling, but hang on because we can't stop.
• 46:03
  I can't stop. Sometimes I feel like Paul I
• 46:08
  want to go till midnight. I'm afraid, there's too many
• 46:11
  eutychus. Has that well, Feel differently
• 46:14
  about him. If you don't know who eutychus
• 46:17
  is, make it a study for your afternoon this Sunday.
• 46:22
  I look at this list of men. And I realize something about
• 46:27
  the grace of God. I look at these names and I see
• 46:32
  individuals, I see real people with with the things that I
• 46:36
  experienced in this body, with different ways of thinking, with
• 46:39
  different dispositions. And, as I Look to this list of
• 46:42
  men, you can do a whole series of messages just on the Twelve
• 46:47
  Apostles. Because the holy spirit gives us
• 46:51
  enough to work with to realize, God really does choose average
• 46:56
  people to serve him. Isn't that wonderful to think
• 46:59
  about? And I, again, I'm not going to
• 47:02
  keep you here till midnight, but I want to just at least whet
• 47:05
  your appetite to see how when you even come to a list of
• 47:08
  names. Like this, don't just try to
• 47:11
  memorize their names, so that if you're quizzed on it, you know,
• 47:14
  how to name the 12 apostles. It's so much more Rich than
• 47:16
  that. So, this is just my own
• 47:19
  meditation. You can come with a dozen points
• 47:22
  from the 12, apostles, even more.
• 47:23
  But let me just give you a few to contemplate on When I look at
• 47:27
  this list of men, I think number one, that God Longs for family
• 47:31
  members to serve him in his new family.
• 47:35
  In this list, we read verse 16. He appointed the 12 Simon to
• 47:40
  whom he gave the name, Peter James, the son of Zebedee, and
• 47:43
  John the brother of James and we know in verse 18 Andrew is
• 47:48
  Peter's brother you know the Lord could have called Peter and
• 47:54
  not Andrew he called a called James and not John.
• 47:58
  But his desire was for these pairs of Brothers to work
• 48:02
  alongside of him together. He wanted these brothers who
• 48:07
  live together who argued and fought with each other growing
• 48:10
  up, who have the same parents who have memories, who probably
• 48:15
  have scars from roughing around, as children.
• 48:18
  He wanted these men to be a part of his Apostolic Journey for
• 48:23
  them and it's true. They each had the choice to say,
• 48:25
  you know. I don't want to be an apostle.
• 48:26
  This is too much. They won, could have gone
• 48:28
  forward and one could have stayed back, but I don't want to
• 48:30
  look at that. I want to look at God's heart in
• 48:32
  this matter. As the Lord had a plan for these
• 48:36
  brothers believe that he has a plan for your family.
• 48:39
  He really does. He looks at your family as he
• 48:43
  does. These brothers, these brothers
• 48:45
  became a team for the gospel. They became a team.
• 48:51
  And I believe with all my heart when you look throughout the
• 48:53
  Bible, you see couples serving God together.
• 48:55
  You see Fathers and Sons, you see this variety of the family
• 49:02
  unit set apart for the glory of God.
• 49:06
  And I say that I believe God has put you and I in our particular
• 49:10
  families intentionally more than just having a safe place to grow
• 49:15
  up more than just having companionship but four units and
• 49:20
  teams to be made for the glory of Jesus Christ.
• 49:25
  I encourage you. Not to look at your spouse.
• 49:27
  Merely as A romantic partner. I encourage you not to look at
• 49:32
  your kids. Merely as miraculous gifts from
• 49:34
  God that you enjoy and provide for as much as that is true.
• 49:39
  I want you to see in the way Jesus saw these brothers. as a
• 49:45
  Partnership disciples working together for the glory of God.
• 49:51
  I know that might not be true for, for many of you here, who
• 49:53
  you're the only one who saved with your siblings.
• 49:55
  And with your parents, But I'm saying if God allows you to have
• 49:59
  a family come with that mindset, that as you look for somebody to
• 50:02
  marry that, they would be somebody that you would put your
• 50:06
  hand in it to serve Jesus Christ.
• 50:07
  With as you pray for your children, that you would look at
• 50:10
  them as Servants of Jesus Christ arrows, in your quiver that you
• 50:14
  can shoot out into this world. Believe that with all of your
• 50:17
  heart God has a plan for your family.
• 50:20
  God has a desire for you. One of the greatest Joys that I
• 50:23
  have in my life is to know that my brother's love Jesus Christ.
• 50:28
  And again, I know that that is not something that everybody can
• 50:31
  attach to. And that is the beauty of the
• 50:33
  family of Jesus Christ that even if your blood family doesn't
• 50:35
  serve the Lord, you have something deeper in this family,
• 50:38
  a spiritual bond, But over those who are now stepping in many of
• 50:43
  your stepping into that season, I pray that you had a Sanctified
• 50:46
  view of the family unit that it would be a team that plays a
• 50:52
  part in this larger team of the church that would glorify God.
• 50:56
  Ask God, lord. What is your will ask God that
• 50:59
  every single one of those babies that come Would be future
• 51:03
  ministers, maybe not full-time. Ministers, but ministers and
• 51:06
  nonetheless. I see that.
• 51:07
  God Longs for family members to serve him in his Grand family.
• 51:11
  I also look and I see that God is willing to recruit a variety
• 51:13
  of personalities. Even unsanctified ones.
• 51:18
  You know where they get that from verse 17, James, the son of
• 51:22
  Zebedee and John the brother of James to whom he gave the name
• 51:25
  Bonner geese. That is sons of thunder.
• 51:30
  Huh? What a nickname sons of thunder?
• 51:34
  Bible enthusiasts have debated over the years of why Jesus
• 51:39
  Chose this kind of a nickname for James and John?
• 51:42
  I don't think it's a mystery, just read through the gospels,
• 51:45
  and you'll see why. Just read through the different
• 51:49
  moments where you see James and John interacting with people
• 51:52
  interacting with Jesus interacting with certain
• 51:54
  situations and it all makes sense, sons of thunder.
• 51:59
  Yeah, it was James and John who were called to go through a
• 52:02
  Samaritan Village and they were rejected.
• 52:05
  So they came to Jesus the Same Jesus who teach who taught about
• 52:09
  love and loving your enemies. And praying, he says hate Lord.
• 52:12
  We saw your power. Why don't you call fire down
• 52:15
  from heaven? Let's turn this Samaritan
• 52:17
  Village. Into a Sodom.
• 52:20
  And you know what? That tells me that James and
• 52:21
  John. I kind of have a hint of who
• 52:23
  they really looked up to in the Old Testament.
• 52:25
  Like Elijah kind of ministers guys that had like, power guys
• 52:28
  that had that no joking around. You want to compromise your
• 52:31
  done, those are the kind of guys that James and John really
• 52:34
  admired and looked up to and it showed Jesus rebukes them do,
• 52:38
  you realize that very shortly? John is going to try to stop
• 52:43
  people from casting out a demon, in the name of Jesus because
• 52:45
  they were not the apostles, and it didn't work.
• 52:48
  So he comes to Jesus AG. Is that I try to stop a guy
• 52:51
  who's using your name to cast out a devil and she's like, so
• 52:53
  they're not against us there for us.
• 52:57
  You said, all right? James and John approached Jesus.
• 53:02
  In the presence of the other Apostles is Lord.
• 53:04
  We want front row seats. When you come in your kingdom,
• 53:11
  we know, we can't sit on your throne, but if we can sit on
• 53:13
  your left and your right, we want it.
• 53:16
  The others are looking at them and they get angry and another
• 53:19
  account, they actually have their mom asked, which is kind
• 53:21
  of interesting. There's no question that these
• 53:26
  men were zealous. They were not just jealous.
• 53:29
  They were aggressive. They were ambitious.
• 53:33
  They were unafraid. They didn't tolerate nonsense.
• 53:37
  They didn't tolerate compromise. Sons of thunder.
• 53:42
  But with that, strong personality comes weaknesses.
• 53:46
  And you even see it through their lives, you get the
• 53:48
  impression that they're insensitive that they didn't
• 53:51
  really exercise wisdom and that's often the case when
• 53:54
  people are overcome with Zeal, it's usually not met with much
• 53:59
  wisdom. At least at first And you know
• 54:02
  what, Jesus knew that before he even called him.
• 54:07
  He knew how hot-headed they were.
• 54:09
  He knew how explosive they were. He knew that they were able to
• 54:12
  get violent if need be. And he still calls them.
• 54:18
  And you see that he refines them.
• 54:21
  And he rebukes them. And he has a great teacher, as a
• 54:26
  great spiritual father, as a great spiritual elder, brother
• 54:29
  takes his time to channel that passion for good and not for
• 54:34
  harm. And I look at Jesus here and I
• 54:39
  see Lord, if you're willing to be so long-suffering with them.
• 54:41
  Help me be patient with my brother who might be a son of
• 54:44
  thunder. Help me understand that you are
• 54:49
  patient with them. You are patient with me, help me
• 54:51
  also, be patient with those who just have a different wiring
• 54:55
  than I do. How many believe Lord that as
• 54:58
  long as they are willing to be worked on that you can.
• 55:02
  You can use even a son of Thunder to do wondrous things
• 55:06
  for the glory of God, but just think about the kinds of people
• 55:09
  that God uses in this text alone.
• 55:11
  You have those who are Dynamic, like, Peter and vocal, like
• 55:14
  Peter, and and dynamite, like, like James, and John.
• 55:17
  And then you have these other guys, that you don't really see
• 55:19
  much. They kind of work in the
• 55:20
  background. They're kind of quiet, but they
• 55:22
  are serving Jesus, just as wonderfully They might not have
• 55:26
  its outstanding personalities but they are still persons who
• 55:30
  are set apart for the glory of God, God's roster of men and
• 55:33
  women are very colorful. And the holy spirit is willing
• 55:37
  to animate every single type of person as long as they are
• 55:41
  willing to allow him to work in and through them.
• 55:45
  And so I see, I mean, there's so many examples, I can use from
• 55:48
  these lists of men of the different personalities, but
• 55:50
  just to whet your appetite. I see something else.
• 55:54
  I see that God is able to unite unlikely men through the power
• 55:59
  of the Gospel. I get that from Verse 18,
• 56:03
  Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and
• 56:07
  Thomas, and James, the son of alphaeus, and thaddaeus and
• 56:12
  szymon Simon the Zealot. Now, Simon, the Zealot is not
• 56:16
  another nickname. It was kind of a nickname but
• 56:19
  Simon actually belonged to a group, a political group known
• 56:23
  as As the zealots. In Jesus time, they were
• 56:26
  fanatical, they were Radical, they lived for Jewish
• 56:29
  Independence, they hated the Roman government, they
• 56:34
  encouraged a rebellious attitude even to the point of Reckless
• 56:40
  Behavior. And violent behavior, these
• 56:45
  zealots, they abhorred Rome, and they abhorred.
• 56:51
  Those who affiliated with Rome at any level including tax
• 56:56
  collectors. And in that same verse, you read
• 57:01
  of Simon the Zealot and you read of who Matthew the tax
• 57:05
  collector? One is pro-government.
• 57:12
  The other one is anti-government like the farthest ends of the
• 57:17
  spectrum politically and socially.
• 57:22
  I believe Jesus has a sense of humor.
• 57:25
  He puts these guys on the same team.
• 57:29
  Matthew meet Simon the Zealot Simon the Zealot meet the former
• 57:33
  tax collector Matthew. If Simon the Zealot was with his
• 57:38
  group of zealot friends. If they ever bumped into Matthew
• 57:42
  outside in the world, they would have eaten them up alive.
• 57:48
  And yet, in all the gospel accounts, I can't find one
• 57:52
  argument. One altercation.
• 57:57
  One point of division silence. Do you know why?
• 58:02
  Because the gospel brings people together, that's why When you
• 58:07
  see these two coming together, you have to realize that this is
• 58:10
  a significant change that is taking place in the deepest
• 58:13
  parts of human conviction. Think about it, Simon the
• 58:18
  Zealot. What do you think he felt when
• 58:20
  he heard his Rabbi from Nazareth?
• 58:22
  Say give to Caesar. What belongs to Caesar, huh?
• 58:26
  Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar Caesar doesn't deserve
• 58:28
  anything. Nothing of the sort.
• 58:33
  He works with Matthew. He serves with Matthew, he prays
• 58:37
  with Matthew, he preaches with Matthew, he eats with Matthew.
• 58:41
  He travels with Matthew, because when you have two hearts who are
• 58:48
  truly given to the allegiance of Jesus, all other viewpoints bow
• 58:52
  down, and surrender to the supremacy of his will all all
• 59:01
  and when I see people divided over issues, Different issues.
• 59:08
  I realized one thing. That the supremacy of Christ is
• 59:13
  not real in their lives. That is not to say that we are
• 59:18
  ecumenical and we just join with anybody who says they love.
• 59:20
  Jesus wears a cross on their neck, who goes to some church
• 59:23
  building. I'm not proposing that at all.
• 59:25
  I'm talking about real surrender to Jesus like these Apostles.
• 59:29
  And in this crucial hour of bitter division in our world on
• 59:34
  multiple fronts, the lordship of Jesus Christ, is what The Church
• 59:39
  Must trumpet into the world. Do you understand what I'm
• 59:43
  saying? There is no other unifying force
• 59:48
  that this world can offer apart from the grace found in our Lord
• 59:52
  and Savior Jesus. And no other thing.
• 59:55
  There is no other solution. And so it breaks my heart when I
• 1:00:03
  see once faithful Ministries. Adopting worldly ideologies.
• 1:00:10
  And psychological and social Concepts to try to build Bridges
• 1:00:15
  between people critical. Race theory is not going to cut
• 1:00:17
  it. For various reasons.
• 1:00:22
  Social justice ideas are not going to cut it.
• 1:00:26
  What you see on the news and what you see from modern-day
• 1:00:28
  philosophers and psychologists is not going to cut it.
• 1:00:33
  It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that is able to bind the
• 1:00:37
  most unlikely hearts together. Tonight just agree on some
• 1:00:42
  things but to be completely consumed in love for Christ and
• 1:00:46
  love for one another who also loved Christ.
• 1:00:49
  So I'm not one who says, you know, just preach the gospel
• 1:00:52
  that's not address. What's happening in culture?
• 1:00:54
  Let's not. Let's not try to understand
• 1:00:55
  what's happening in our world. No, you know that, but I am
• 1:00:59
  those who will say the gospel is, the only solution it is.
• 1:01:03
  I'm not here to offer anything else because there's nothing
• 1:01:07
  else to offer. Who does Jesus use?
• 1:01:10
  He uses average people Who is Jesus?
• 1:01:13
  Use broken people fragmented people.
• 1:01:17
  People with unique personalities, people from
• 1:01:20
  different backgrounds, and he doesn't hold it against them,
• 1:01:23
  and he brings them together through his Wonderful Grace, and
• 1:01:26
  he does wonderful things through them.
• 1:01:28
  And I'm so glad because I know I'm an average person.
• 1:01:33
  And I know I have a unique personality and I do have a
• 1:01:37
  certain wiring that people don't share and I praise God for that.
• 1:01:42
  But I look at this one. Amazing God and I worship him
• 1:01:46
  for his goodness. And I look into this group of
• 1:01:48
  people and I see average people. Different histories different,
• 1:01:53
  leanings different Temptations but we all serve one amazing.
• 1:01:58
  God, he will use us. He will guide us, he will
• 1:02:01
  Empower us. He will delegate different kind
• 1:02:03
  of authority and giftings to each of us.
• 1:02:06
  But he is worthy of worship and all.
• 1:02:09
  Let's pray. Chloe, thank you. that in that
• 1:02:35
  unique event of choosing the 12, we see ourselves in that moment
• 1:02:39
  God because we see ourselves as Apostles but we see ourselves as
• 1:02:42
  average men and women who are unworthy to be considered to
• 1:02:48
  bear fruit for your namesake Here we are.
• 1:02:53
  Here we are. Lord in your house with
• 1:02:56
  different cultures and backgrounds.
• 1:03:02
  Different types of giftings. And even personalities.
• 1:03:11
  We thank you that we have felt the unifying power of the Gospel
• 1:03:14
  in this place and we pray that it would only continue.
• 1:03:19
  Lord help us in this season of world history where a lot of
• 1:03:24
  important decisions have to be made some are contemplating
• 1:03:27
  moving some don't know what to do with their children.
• 1:03:31
  Lord made to be reminded that you prayed and you gave
• 1:03:35
  persistent persevering passionate prayer.
• 1:03:40
  Two important things help us do the same.
• 1:03:43
  Help us Lord understand that you have gifted us uniquely and the
• 1:03:47
  Lord, we will honor you by being faithful to the giftings that
• 1:03:52
  you've given us and Lord, in this day of our, would you pour
• 1:03:55
  out your holy spirit so that we can see greater demonstrations
• 1:03:59
  of your power in this broken, dark, and filthy world?
• 1:04:04
  and Lord I see help us be faithful and patient with one
• 1:04:07
  another as these disciples were help us look to you.
• 1:04:12
  The patient one. Who did not give up on these 12?
• 1:04:18
  And you will not give up on us as long as we continue to walk
• 1:04:20
  with you. Help us not give up on each
• 1:04:22
  other. Even when we fail, Even when we
• 1:04:25
  fall into the flesh. Help us demonstrate your
• 1:04:28
  kindness. Let me worship you for these
• 1:04:31
  truths and we glorify you and we say thank you, thank you for
• 1:04:35
  your word. Thank you because you are
• 1:04:37
  amazing. Amen.