Prayerfully Called, Chosen, and Named by Christ

In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor (Luke 6:12-16).

After spending a few Sabbaths in the Synagogue, Jesus spent a whole night in prayer. For those who believe the bottom line of discipleship is imitating Christ, His example of all-night prayer is quite convicting. How often do we forsake the luxury of sleep for the sweet communion of prayer? Why did God the Son give this whole night to intentional intercession? It was not for Himself. It was for His disciples. He had special plans for a special few. The Spirit reminds us here that Christ saved us so that as His new creation, we might discover and fulfill the very work of God… “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). As He prayed all night for the first disciples, He continues to intercede for us today… “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). The Spirit inspired Luke to take us deeper here and He shows us how Jesus prayerfully commissioned the first twelve “apostles” (Greek: apostolos – one that is sent, an ambassador, delegate, or messenger). While some argue that the office of apostle was discontinued after the original apostles, the Spirit exhorts all diligent disciples to aspire to become effective ambassadors for Christ… “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). We learn here that His genuine messengers are prayerfully called, chosen, and named by Christ.

Effective ambassadors of Christ are prayerfully called to discipleship by Christ Himself… “And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him” (Matthew 4:21-22). The first step toward success in sharing the good news of Christ is to be growing as a diligent disciple and follower of Christ. Earnest disciples are available and eager to step up to greater levels of kingdom service because they recognize and respond to the voice of the Master… “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

Productive messengers of Christ believe they are chosen for the work they do. They are not driven by selfish ambition but have a humble view of themselves. They believe Christ has chosen them for their work not because they have some obvious natural ability, but because they know He will get the glory as He empowers them for the unique mission He chose for them… “Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27).

Successful delegates of Christ take on a name assigned by the Master. They pour themselves so earnestly and completely into the ministry that they take on an identity that is inseparable from it. Simon became Peter the Rock, upon whose confession Christ builds His Church… “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Diligent pastors are often identified so intimately with their ministry that Pastor becomes part of their name in the eyes of their flock as well as in their own heart. This new name is especially precious when we consider that one day, Christ will give each of His faithful disciples a personally chosen new name… “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it” (Revelation 2:17).   

As we grow up into Christ we become more effective ambassadors of His gospel because we are…

Prayerfully Called, Chosen, and Named by Christ.

Teaching that Provokes the Heart

On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus” (Luke 6:6-11).

Jesus spent another Sabbath teaching in the synagogue, showing in word and deed how to fulfill the law’s requirement to honor the Sabbath… “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken” (Isaiah 58:13-14). But His teaching was different because in word and deed, Christ showed us teaching that provokes the heart.

Jesus’ teaching nourished the soul. In fulfillment of His role as Messiah, He taught the word of God in the synagogue that the hungry souls of God’s children might be fed… “And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3). He was also fulfilling the prophets’ prediction that God Himself would one day come and teach His children… “All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children” (Isaiah 54:13). Christ centered teaching feeds the heart.

Jesus’ teaching healed the sick. The Teacher had a lesson plan but He was flexible and responsive to the needs presented in His audience. He responded to the physical need of the man with the withered hand with a visual lesson that demonstrated the power of faith in His spoken word… “He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction” (Psalm 107:20). The man demonstrated faith in Christ’s word by coming to Him and obeying His word to… “Stretch out your hand” and he was healed. What an encouragement to us to respond to God’s word in faith… “As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). Christ centered teaching blesses the heart.

Jesus’ teaching revealed the heart. The same teaching that healed a withered hand also revealed some withered hearts in the synagogue that day. Jesus’ teaching was founded in the truth of God’s word. It was rooted in the law and the prophets. But the deep truths of God’s word must be spiritually discerned… “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:12). Jesus set the bar high for those serious disciples that would learn from God’s word. We must follow His example and trust the Holy Spirit to teach us… “But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him” (1 John 2:27). The standard is even higher for those called to teach God’s word… “And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13). We must also understand and accept that not everyone will joyfully receive God’s truth. Those unwilling to trust the Spirit of truth to be their teacher will, like the Pharisees, experience the heart convicting work of the Spirit when they hear God’s word… “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). Christ centered teaching convicts the heart.

As we grow up into Christ we are nurtured and strengthened in the faith by…

Teaching that Provokes the Heart.