The Master's Men, Part 2-A

Jesus preaching in a Samaritan town and the citizens refused to believe the message Jesus delivers refused to believe in him. Following believe James and John want to say to the Lord. Let's give it.

Let's call down fire and burn the ground evangelism strategy believe or your toes be fairly followers formed a group that no is the 12 disciples. Stephen works his way through this passage uncovers some timeless principles that we can use in our own walks as disciples of the Lord. For example, one of the principles we'll see today is that Jesus didn't choose these men because of how smart they were or because of what they knew.

He chose them because they were willing to be taught will take encouragement from what we see in these men as we humbly accept God's calling for our lives today dear Stephen with today's Bible.

I have read that Longfellow could write a few rhyming lines on paper and move generation. We call that poetic genius, Rockefeller could sign his name to a blank check and it would be worth millions.

We call that powerful affluence Monday could splash paint on a canvas and it would be, a masterpiece we call that artistic brilliance.

None of that compares to the life-changing mastery of Jesus Christ, who will take ordinary disciples and transformed them in the co-laborers and co-Rainey'sfutureheirsofthekingdom.WecouldcallthatamazingGracegobacktoLuke'sgospelwheretheLordhasdeterminedinchapter6,twospendthesecondhalfofhisministrydevelopingcomposinginvesting.Wecouldevensaypaintinghisgracealloverthelivesof12mennowininthisparagraph.LukegivesusoneoffourliststhatappearintheNewTestamentofthesedisciples.Andaswelearnineachoftheselists.Thedisciplesarelistedinorderoftheprominentroletheplay.Peterisalwaysmentionedfirst.Judasisalwaysmentionedlast,andthatisthatisthatintentionalbutallofthemareordinarymenlikeWilliamBarclayinhiscommentaryonLuke'sgospelwrote50yearsago.Hesaidtheyare12ordinarymen.That'salltheywere,buttheydidn'tcalltobeginwearingthedustoftheirmasterrighttheretheretowalksocloselytohimasdisciplesshouldweallessentiallywherethedustofourLordkickedupbyasimpleknowwemadeacoupleofobservations.OurlaststudyandIwanttorepeatthemjustasregularrunningstart.ThefirstobservationwasthisJesuschosehisdisciplesnotbecauseheneededthem,butbecausetheyneededhim.Andsecondly,Jesuschosehisdisciplesnotbecauseofwhotheywere,butbecauseofwhotheywouldbecomeandSimonPeterandAndrew.That'sasfaraswegotillustratedthissowellasyoutracktherelationshipwiththeLordandintheirministryintothedaysoftheearlychurchbeginbyadding1/3principle,andthenwillintroduceafewmoregottogetthesixofthemthedaysoforgetlunchIthirdlythediscipleswerenotchosenbecauseofwhattheyknewbecausetheywerewillingtobetaughtnow.Amongthe12JesuschoosesandLukelistsnowtwomorefishermenanothersetofbiologicalbrotherswhodefinitelyhavealottolearn.JamesandJohn.TheoldestofthemwasJames.Eventhoughhe'solder.IfyoutrackyourwaythroughtheNewTestament.Hewillneverappearinascripturalsettingalone.HealwaysshowsupalongsidehisyoungerbrotherJohn.Mostofthetime,JamesandJohnareseentogetherandsoIwanttointroducethemsortofasapackagedealhere.JamesandJohnarethesonsofZebedee.Luketellsusearlierinchapter5,Zebedeeseemstobeamanofinfluenceandperhapssomewellstatureinthecommunityismorethanlikelytheownerofthisfishingenterprisemanagedbyhistwosonstheirfishingpartners.Asyoumayhaverememberedourotherbrothers,SimonPeterandhisolderbrotherAndrew,Zebedeeentirefamilyseemedwelltodoandandwell-connected,perhapsbecauseofthegenerouscontributionstothetemplewerenottold,butwedoknowtheirconnectionbecauseJohnwasknowntothehighpriestwhoadmittedhimintohiscourtyardafterJesuswasarrested.John18weoftenoverlookthefactthatJohnwasinthatcourtyardalongwithPeter,alongwiththosenosypeopleandthatnoisyroosterrightthereisevidencefromearlychurchrecordsthatZebedeewasaLevite,andinfactrelatedbybloodtothehighpriestsfamily.IsayallthattopointoutthatJamesandJohnaregenerallyofaprosperingbusinesstoleavewhatevergoodstandingthatthereligiouscommunitythat'sallgone,andtheybecomedisciplesofthisthisitineraryunconnectedfairlyimpoverishedteacher.What'smore,theytheybecome,theclosestoftheLord'sdiscipleswillencounterthemoftenintheloopandLuke'swritings.ButfornowherecordsforustheJamesandJohnaretheonesinvitedintothatlittlegirl'sbedroomandthey'reallowedtowatchJesusraisedherfromthedead,youcanimagine,theyneverforgotthat.LocateWinvitedbytheLordtojoinhimonthemountwheretheywillwitnesshistransfiguration.That'sthatbriefmomentinhistorywherethelargestkindofpullsbacktheveilandisrevealedinthisbrilliantsplendorforwhoheis.Lukenineisastaggeringdisplayofofhisdeity.Infact,onthewaydownfromthatmountain.Mark'sgospelsortaaddressthefact.Inchapter9JesustellsPeterJamesandJohnnottotelltheotherdiscipleswhathappeneduntilaftertheresurrection.Nowthetroubleis,allofthisyouknowcloseproximity.NowthisconfidentialitywentstraighttotheirheadsthattheywillspendthenextfivehourswalkingtoCapernaum,arguingallthewaywiththeotherdisciplesaboutwhowillbethegreatest.Obviously,thegreatestknowninthegreatisnotthegreatest.Imagineyeswecan.SomewhereinherethemotherofJames,andJohngetsinvolved,whatwecallthemama'sboys.ShecomesalongandandsheaskedJesustoletherboyssitonthethronesoneithersideofhisthroneandreallytheotherdisciplesareupsettheydidn'tthinkaboutthat.Sothey'reallmadateachother.WhatwashermotherlovemomherenowIwilladdthere'sevidencethatthemotherofJames,andJohnwasrelatedtoMarythemotherofJesus.Breathevenhersister,whichwouldmakethemfirstcousins.Andisthisyouknowthisisthewayworksuseeveryconnectionyou'vegot,youknow,gettothefrontofthelineyouknowtogetthatpromotiontoyouknowtomakeitatthetop.Ithappenstoday.Perhapswhereyou'reworkingeverybody'spullingwhateverstringtheycantogetpromotedWashingtoninsiders.IreadcallitPotomacfever.Onesenatorwrotethatwheneveranewpresidentiselected,hesaidwereallwaitingwereallnegotiatingbroughtcompany,wereallworkingoutsothatwecangetsomeposition,someappointments,someplumpromotionwillJamesandJohnatPotomacfever.Lukealsotellsusthatthesebrothersarenotjustambitiousbuttheyaresomewhatruthless,they'llearnthenicknamefromJesus.LukeninewilltellustheSonsofthunderandthatwouldnecessarilycomplementbytheway,JesusispreachinginaSamaritantownandthecitizensrefusedtobelievethemessageJesusdeliversrefusedtobelieveinhimandfollowingtheirrefusaltobelieveJamesandJohnaregoingtosaytotheLord.Let'sgiveitto.Let'scalldownfireandburnthistowntothegroundmeathouseeffortevangelismstrategybelieveoryourtoes.Ithinkthatbefairlyeffectivelythoughtitwouldworktome.Whywaitreallyforthefiresofhell.Later,let'sgiveittothem.Nowwhattheywantthisfierypassionrashonkindspiritisgoingtobetransformedovertime.Thiscanturnintheperseveranceundergreatpressureheisgoingtoturnintoacommitmentthatwillrefusetogiveinororbackdownorgiveup.Jameswillbethefirstdiscipletodie.He'simprisonedbyHerodAgrippa.Thechurchesbarely10yearsoldandhebecomesthefirstofthe12tobemartyredwiththediscipleyouknowwhowantedfiretofallfromheavenontheenemiesofthegospelwasalreadyadifferentman.WelearnfromClementofAlexandriawritesthattheRomansoldierwhobroughtJamesintothecourtroomofHerodtobetriedandhestoodthereandheardJamesdefendhisfaiththathewassopersonallymovedandconvictedthatashewasleavingJamestheplaceofexecution,heturnedandaskedJamestoforgivehimthatearlier.Jameswould'vesaidinaburnbutnowhesaysyesIwillpiecebewithyouwhichsoconvictedthatRomansoldierthatheprofessedfaithinChrist,andClementssaidthattwomenthatwereexecutedfortheirfaith,notJohnhisbrotherwilllivelongerthanhim.Infact,JohnliveslongerthananyotherapostleJohnwillbethelastonetodie.YouwillgoontowritethegospelofJohn,first,secondandthirdJohnandthebookofRevelationwhileonexilewhilesufferingthereontheislandofPatmosisa90-year-oldisbestwecan.EstimatedyouroldmanhedescribesinRevelation'stourofheaven.Thesingingofhostsoftheredeemed,thegloriousthroneofGod.Withlightningflashingarounditasitrestsupontheseathatlookslikeglassthegloryofthefather'shousemadeofgoldandgem.Johnwritesitdown.What'smissinginthisolddiscipleisambitionandpride.InfactJohneventuallydevelopedabrand-newnicknameovertheyears.Anicknameusedbytheearlychurchandtothisday.Heisknownnotasthesonofthunder.ButastheapostleofloveJohnwillusethewordloveinhiswritingsmorethananyotherNewTestamentauthor.Morethan80differenttimes.OneauthorsummarizewhathedescribedasJohn'stheologyoflove.JohnistheonehewritesthatGodisaGodoflove.FirstJohn48thatGodlovestheworld.John316forGodthefatherloveshissonJohn520theGodthefatherloveshissonsdisciples.John1421theJesus,God'ssonloveshisdisciples.John1512thatthefatherthefollowersofJesusloveJesusinreturn.John14aswellthatallbelieversshouldloveoneanother.John1335effectedthedistinguishingmarkofadiscipleofJesusChrist.Johnsaidiswhatloveforoneanother.SothethemeofamanwhoearlierwantedtoconsideringunbelieverswhoarguedandcommentedtogetthethroneclosesttoJesusbecomesagracious,caring,loving,oldmanwhatyouwanttogrowoldlikeJohntheyworewellthedustoftheirteacher.ThenextLukementionshereitisalistofthecyclebythenameofPhilipyummyintroducedbygivinganotherprincipaltuckedawayforencouragement.TheLordchosehisdisciplesnotbecauseoftheirimpressiveabilitybecauseoftheiravailability.Maybeyouarelikeme,asIgrewupmymotherfromthatintoourheartsthatavailabilityisthegreatestability.Nootherdiscipleprobablyflushesthatoutanymore,oranybetterthanthatPhilipthatyoumightconfusePhilipwithPhilipwhoplaysaprominentroleintheearlychurchintheearlychaptersofthebookofactschapter6he'shebecomesoneofthedeacons.Thisstilldoes.Andtheninchapter80becomesaratherfamousevangelistamongtheSamaritansholdingralliesperformingmiracleshundredsofpeoplecometofaithinChristandthenthatparticularPhilipiswhiskedawaybythespiritofGod.RememberthatEthiopianispuzzlingoverthatpassageofthebookofIsaiahshowsupsuddenlyandexplainedthatthemanisconverted.Don'tconfusethatPhiliptheevangelistDeaconwiththisPhilip.TheapostlePhilipthedeaconwasalotmoredynamicandseemtodoalotmoreforthegospelthatweactuallyknowverylittleaboutPhilip,theapostle,theonlythingwereallyknowabouthimisisfromfourbriefsentencesarescatteredthroughthegospelbyJohnJohn'stheonlyonewhomentionschapter1chapter6chapter12inchapter14,inhisclassicworkonthedisciplespublishedin1937whenmyfavoriteauthors.G.CampbellMorganwritesthatPhilipwassimplyanunimpressivemancamefromthesametownasPeterandAndrew.Morethanlikelythatattendedthesamesynagoguewouldhavebeenknowntothemquitepossibletheywould'vewonderedwhyPhilipwaschosen.Heseemsinthesefourbriefsentencesslowtocatchontofaxthephysicalrealityofthings.He'squickonthatIshouldsaypleaseslowtopickuponthemiraculouspossibilityusewhatoneauthorcalledafactsandfigureskindofguywhowentbythebook.Whenweseehimappearing.Hewantstofigureoutwhatever'sgoingon.Hewasoneauthorsaidtheencounteramongthedisciplesifthecalculatorhadbeeninventedbackthen.Philipwould'veownedtwohewould'veontheonethathasallthethingsIstilldon'tknowwhattheymeantodoallthosecalculationsinfactories.OneclassicscenewhereheshowsupindividuallyandhasanopportunitytodemonstratefaithinthemiraculousinthepowerofChrist.Infact,Jesusisabouttotesthimpersonally.Nowdon'tmistakeJesusis.Thistestisnottodiscourageyou.Itistodevelop,butitshowsupinJohnsixwhereJesusispreachingintheopenairtoasmanyas15perhaps20,000people,ifnotmorethanmenaloneareestimatedbytheapostleJohntonumberaround5000.John6%wasgettinglate.MorethanlikelyknowthisaccountandinthemassivecrowdisthatnothingtheandandsoJesusturnsstuffPhilipisalwayseitherthathetriestofillupandJesus.ThetextsayssaidtoPhilip,wherearewetobuybread,sothatthesepeoplemayeat.Hesaidthistotesthim,forhehimselfknewwhathewoulddo.PhilipandlowerswheretheworldbybreadtofeedallthesepeopleandPhillipsprobablywonderingwhyamIgettingthispopquizheremorethanlikelyyouknowJesusdidaskhimbecausehewasfromthatregion.Evenwiththebakerywasbutevenmorelikely.Hehadbecometheapostolicmothercalledtheapostolicadministrator.HewastheonewhoworksonwhatyoucouldfigureoutthatthatwasthelimitssoyouTennesseeFilipinoPolandandscratchcavity5000.ThetwoLord,wedon'thavethemoneywecan'tdothisandwriteaboutthatAndrewshowsupandsaysheyIhadalittleboywho'swillingtodonatehishisalliancewithCLECsinCyprus.IgotfivelittlepiecesofgarlicbreadtoolittlepickledfishandIthinkiswonderingAndrewyou'reoutofyourmindwillgetthefactsthatwereevenbringupalunchit'salmosttherearemorereasonsbutit'salmostasifJesusaimsthismiracleattheheartofPhilip.Itiswhatyoucanseeitwhatyoucancalculateit.Whatyoucanaddthisiswhatyoucanfigureoutisn'thowmuchyouhaveinthebankiswhatyouit'swhatyouplacetheminthehandsofthemasterartistbyfaithinmaybeyoucameintodayandthisisforyou,Lord,Ican'tcan'tfigurethisoneout.There'snowaythroughthisdilemma.There'snowayarounditgotallthefactsinfrontofmethanalltheprosandcons.I'vecalculatedalltheoptionssittinginaworkoftheLordmoveswiththesmallestgestureoffaith.Thisoffering.Thisisareallytocarelesslyinadequatesuggestiontoitwithalunch.TheLorddoesn'tneedimpressiveoffering.Thesehedoesn'tlisten.Justuseaggressivepeople.He'snotlookingforimpressivejustavailabilityintheofferingofsomethingsosimplefivelittlepiecescoursebarleybreadpickledfishtohelp.Thanksforjoiningustoday.Herunwisdom.StephenDavidisworkingthroughaseriescalledtheMastersmen.Thiswasthesecondlessoninthatseriesandthere'sonemoretogo.Youcanlearnmoreaboutus.Ifyouvisitourwebsitewhichiswisdomonline.org.Onceyougettooursite,you'llbeabletoaccessthecompletearchiveofStephen'sBibleteachingministryhe'sbeenpastoringforover35yearsandallofthatteachingisavailabletoyou.ThearchiveofStevensteachingisavailableonthatsitefreeofcharge.Youcanlistentoeachlessonorreadthemanuscript.Ifyouprefer.Ifyouhaveacomment,question,orwouldlikemoreinformationyoucansendusanemailifyouaddressittoinfo@wisdomonline.org would like to know how God is using this ministry to bless you once again that email address is info@wisdomonline.org before we end our time for today I want to remind you about our I encourage you to install that app to your phone the reason it's so helpful is that it allows you to quickly and easily access all of our Bible-based resources.

It's free to install and use and it's a great companion for your personal Bible study will thanks again for joining us today were so glad you were with us and I hope you will be with us next time. For more wisdom for the heart