A Disciple's Call

  The commencement of Jesus' ministry in Matthew 4:12-17 is followed by a brief account of the calling of the first disciples in Matthew 4:18-22.  A disciple means "follower of Christ" and the word "follow" is severally used in the passages that describe the calling of the twelve (Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17; Luke 5:27; John 1:43). Unlike the Pharisees and Sadducees, Jesus was not calling men to attain a religious or political status, but rather, He was simply calling men to Himself.  Even today, He beckons us to Himself with open arms and unconditional love.

Later on in the same book of Matthew, chapter 10 focuses on Jesus sending out the twelve disciples on a ministry assignment.  This chapter is written in the context of Matthew 9:35-38 which states, “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

In this section of scripture, Jesus was modeling to the disciples what He would have them do as regards the great commission: teaching the word; proclaiming the good news of the kingdom; healing every disease and sickness; being moved by compassion for the harassed and helpless in society.  A Christian leader must never loose sight of the ultimate goal of his/ her leadership- the great commission!  Our leadership must point people to Christ; it must demonstrate and model out God’s word; and it entails exercising authority over the devil’s schemes and destroying them for the advancement of the God's Kingdom.

Christian leaders inspire, mobilize, motivate and direct people to Christ and His purposes.  Matthew 10 can be summarised as follows:

 

God calls then prepares and qualifies.  The disciples (vs 1) were first His followers before they were apostles (vs 2).  1st Corinthian 1:26-29 states, “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”  If you have been feeling weak and insufficient for the calling of God upon your life, you are actually right, you are!  God called us in our state of weakness so that no one may boast before Him!

Please note that in verse 1a, Christ called the disciples to Himself.  Our first and foremost calling as leaders is to God.  He is calling us to Himself.  Not to good paying jobs; high positions of leadership; successful entrepreneurship etc.  These material blessings are good but can never compare to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.  God is calling us to Himself!  He is enough!  He is all we need for life and godliness!  What an honor it is to be called to God!!  Worldly leaders (Boards of Directors, Senior managers, Army commanders) call us to duty but God calls us to Himself.  God’s kingdom is not of this world and so are God's principles different from worldly principles.

For example, when Paul was called as a teacher and apostle of the gospel, his response was to go into the Arabian desert to seek God, rather than Him proceeding to Jerusalem where the other apostles were (Galatians 1:15-17).  Paul prioritized knowing God and this was a sure way to start his ministry.  There is a surpassing worth in knowing Christ.  Phil 3:8, 10 states, “I consider everything loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ. …I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”

Believers that are to serve Christ in their leadership must first be with Him.  Kenya does not have a shortage of leaders.  However, there is short supply of leaders who know God; who understand the power of his resurrection; who gladly share in the sufferings of Christ; and are dead in the flesh.  John 12:16 states, “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. …”

Matthew 1b states, “… and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness."  God desires that Christian leaders walk not merely with positional power but more importantly, that they walk in their God-given spiritual authority and power.  Spiritual power was so important that Jesus instructed the disciples, despite having been with Him for three years of active ministry where they earned invaluable experience and sharpened their gifts, to wait in Jerusalem for the infilling of the Holy Spirit.  Matthew 28:18-19 states, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations ….”  Also, Mark 16:17 states “And these signs will accompany those who believe.  In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; …; they will place their hands on sick people and they will get well.” 

Christian leaders who have a growing, intimate relationship with God exhibit spiritual authority and power.  Just like Moses in the desert, they speak the oracles of God.  Their words are not merely eloquent words of wisdom, but are in demonstration of the Spirit and power.  Psalms chapter 91 is written for those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High and rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  Numerous promises are given about such believers.  In verse 13 of that Psalm, a promise is given regarding their spiritual authority and power: "… You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.”

Such leaders are not afraid to speak from God’s heart and swim against the grain of the majority.  The righteous are as bold as a lion- Prov 28:1.  They understand who their master truly is- their Heavenly Father, and thus they need not walk in the fear of men.

In verse 2 of Matthew 10, the names of the twelve disciples are listed.  This happens in two other gospel books in the New Testament.  Why did Matthew list the names of the apostles to whom Jesus had called, given authority and instructed?  Individually, they mattered to God.  Individually, we matter to our Father.  God is not an unjust Master who wants his servants to produce fruit and pays no thought to their well being.  God loves you and cares for you, no wonder He first calls you to Himself.  Our relationship with God as believers is not that of “master-servant” but rather of “father-son” and of “friends”. 

Some believers are afraid to surrender to God.  They say to themselves, "I don't want to surrender and then God sends me to Somalia!"  Such thoughts are informed by the "master-servant" mentality.  John 15:15 states, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”  God calls us, empowers us and sends us out into His harvest field in love.  Isaiah 49:16 states, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; …”  Your name is ever before Him.

Christ gave instructions to His disciples prior to releasing them to the harvest field.  Matthew 10:5 states, “… and commanded them saying ….”  According to David Guzik, the word which is used in the Greek for Jesus commanding his men, or giving them orders is "paragellein" and has four special usages:
•    It is the regular word of military command. . . .
•    It is the word used of calling one's friends to one's help. . . .
•    It is the word which is used of a teaching giving rules and precepts to his students. . . .
•    It is the word which is regularly used for an imperial command."

God is calling us to a higher place of influence for His Kingdom’s advancement. We must lead by His rules and not by worldly rules.  2nd Timothy 2:5 says, “…, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.”  Many worldly principles has permeated our lives as believers and corrupted our hearts.  These worldly principles to a significant extent influence our judgments, values and approaches in various aspects of our lives, including ministry.  God desires that we carry out His mandate by His principles.

The following is a summary of Jesus' instructions:

a)    To whom am I sending you? The disciples, in this particular assignment, were sent to the lost sheep of Israel.
Reflection question: To whom is Jesus sending you?

b)    What are you to do? The disciples were instructed to preach, heal, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, drive out demons
Reflection questions: What does God require you to do in your current place of planting/ influence?  Are you doing what God requires you to do?

c)    What message are you to preach/ teach? The disciples were instructed to preach that "The Kingdom of heaven is near."
Reflection questions:  What message are you preaching/ teaching, both verbally and by your lifestyle?

d)    How are you to do his mandate?  The disciples were guided on the "how" of their assignment: freely they had received and freely they were to give (vs 8b); they were to trust God for their providence by not taking with them gold, silver or copper; bag, tunic and sandals (vs 9-10); they were to partner with other believers wherever they went (vs 11); and they were to ignore distractions and keep obeying the call (vs 13-14).
Reflection questions: Are you freely giving away your spiritual gifts, talents, abilities, time, finances etc. for the advancement of the Kingdom? As you carry out God’s mandate, is your trust in Him for providence?  Are you partnering with fellow believers to accomplish God’s mandate in your area of influence?  Are you keeping your focus on the call

e)    Which principles must you abide by?
 

• Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves- Matthew 10:16
• Expect persecution- Matthew 10:17-25
• Set your eyes on the eternal hope of salvation- Matthew 10:22 “… but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
• Work with urgency for the Son of Man Comes- Matthew 10:23b
• Be strong and of good courage- Matthew 10:28-31
• Do not love your life, even unto death- Matthew 10:34-37
• Crucify the flesh daily- Matthew 10:38-39
• Be confident of your identity- Matthew 10:40-42.  You are a Son of God; Christ indwells you; you are a prophet; a righteous man by reason of what Christ accomplished on the cross; a follower of Christ.

The disciples having responded to God's call to Himself, were empowered, instructed and then released to the harvest field (Matthew 10:5).  Christ is the Lord of the harvest and He sends us wherever He wills, for His glory.  When we hear His call, our human mind and the devil may lure us to disobey, but the proper response is "Yes".  The journey of being a vessel for God's noble purposes begins by a simple "Yes" in response to God's love and not to a mere call to duty.  John 20:21 contains some of Jesus' last words to His disciples, after His resurrection and before His ascent.  He said, “… as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you (KJV).”

There is sufficient grace for God’s set out path for you.  It is a path of fruitfulness, increase and influence/ dominion (Genesis 1:28).  However, as John 15:5, apart from Christ we do nothing.  We must learn to dwell in His shelter, rest in His shadow and rely on His blessed Holy Spirit for divine empowerment.  In so doing, we shall witness Jeremiah 1:10 being fulfilled in our lives- “See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”  Amen.
      

Truths About a Wilderness Experience

  "Anyone who travels the 'spiritual path' of sanctification- being conformed to the image of Christ- will ultimately discover something known as the wilderness experience" (Dr. D. W. Ekstrand).  Jesus, despite being the Son of God, was not exempted from the wilderness experience as depicted in Matthew 4:1-11.   This confirms the position that believers, rather than being surprised by such seasons, should actually expect such experiences and count it joy that God has counted them worthy to teach and test them in the 'school of suffering'.   If the Son of God learned obedience from what He suffered (Hebrews 5:7-10), how much more are believers in need of such refining through suffering?

The text in Matthew chapter 4 thus serves well to give us valuable lessons about the wilderness experience from our greatest role model, Jesus Christ.  Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness/ desert.  While Jesus was led to an actual desert, the wilderness/ desert in this passage is also an imagery that describes times of scarcity, hardship, distress, doubt, affliction and alienation.  Please note that it is the Spirit of God and not Satan that led Jesus, the Son of God, into the desert.

Many believers interpret wilderness seasons to mean that they have fallen away from God and are subsequently under punishment.  Worse still, there are those who interpret such a season to mean that God has forsaken them and therefore allow their hearts to brew anger and bitterness against God.  The seasons of our lives are in God's hands (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) and through all seasons, He upholds His promise towards us: "I will never leave you nor forsake you"- Hebrews 13:5.  Even in the desert, God is Emmanuel, God together with us.  He is to us a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, directing us in His divine plan and into His victory!

Believers whose lives are submitted to the leadership of the Spirit are like dhows whose sails are driven by the wind of the Spirit to wherever God wills.  John 3:8 states, "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."  Seasons of financial distress, joblessness, loneliness, rejection, sickness, marital difficulties, loss of loved ones, are some of the seasons that many, if not all believers, will have to go through in their journey of faith.  These seasons, just like the seasons of victory, abundance, increase and joy, form part of God's grander plan for our lives.  Quit looking for a quick exit from your situation.  Instead, ask God for grace to fully go through your desert experience, learning as much as there is to learn and in submission, allow God to refine you and conform you to His image.

The word "led" as stated in the phrase, "The Spirit of God led Jesus", is derived from the Greek word "drove" which has a nuance of compulsion.  Our human nature loves not suffering and hardships, thus the 'wilderness' is not a season that we look forward to, and yet the benefits are immense.  In the wilderness, faith and character are built up.  Romans 5:3-4 states, "...we also rejoice in our suffering because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."  If we who are fallen in sin know how to prepare our sons and daughters for life by working on their character, how much more God whose love for us is incomprehensibly deep?

Jesus had just been baptised in water by John the Baptist in Matthew chapter 3, and had received much encouragement, as He witnessed the heavens open, the Spirit of God lighting on Him, and God the Father testifying, "This is my Son, whom I am love; with him I am well pleased."  This was an awesome experience where Jesus was anointed for ministry.  African Bible Commentary makes a pertinent observation that, "It may seem strange that the first port of call [for Jesus] after being anointed for ministry should be the wilderness."  Just like Jesus' experience, it is in the wilderness that temptations on lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life abound.  There in the wilderness, as we submit to God and resist the devil, our character is molded and our eternal hope in God becomes so vivid and real.

John 12:24 states, "I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."  God desires us to die.  In the wilderness, such death is more easily achieved because our hearts are broken and contrite before God, and in earnest prayers, we look to God for divine intervention and grace.  The magnitude of our weaknesses and sinfulness become so clear, that we realize the full extent of our fallibility and need for God.  Dr. D. W. Ekstrand states that sifted saints understand the value of the process that takes them from the heights of self-sufficiency to the awareness of God's firm hand in conforming them to His image.

In the wilderness, God reveals Himself to us in a very personal way.  Hosea 2:14b and16 states, "... I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.   ... In that day, declares the Lord, you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master'." A significant number of the revelations I have of who God is, have been received while I went through a wilderness experience.  Such knowings ceased to be mere head knowledge and became strong convictions that I am willing to pay a high price for, perhaps even my very own life.  Such personal revelations may be compared to hidden treasures and fine pearls that a man discovers, and for which he joyfully sells everything to keep (Matthew 13:44-45).  No wonder Paul could consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8).

The wilderness is a place of 'religious detox'.  We are emptied of our religious baggage and we set out on a new beginning (William Barclay).   We are emptied of ourselves and all our securities- human wisdom, self-reliance on our abilities- and are made into new wine skins which can contain new wine.  Matthew 9:17 states that men do not pour new wine into old wine skins, because if they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wine skins will be ruined.  God desires to preserve us through His refining process, so that we can contain His new wine- His anointing.

In fact, the wilderness is a sign of new beginnings!  There are numerous biblical examples that ascertain this.  For example, the children of Israel, prior to entering the promised land went through the wilderness.  Hosea 2:14 highlights that God, in His restoration work upon the Children of Israel, would lead them to the desert.    John the Baptist, who was God's prophetic voice after a four hundred years silence, preached repentance in the desert of Judea.  Apostle Paul started his ministry in the Arabian wilderness.   It is no wonder that Jesus' wilderness experience in Matthew 4:1-11 is followed by commencement of His ministry in Matthew 4:12-17.  I hope that these examples serve to encourage you that the wilderness is not the end of the road for you, but instead, a sign of a new beginning!

In the desert, we are vulnerable to sin, thus temptations linger.  Dr. D. W. Ekstrand states that, "the very power of the devil lies in the fact that he breaches our defenses and attacks us from within, and he finds his allies and his weapons in our own inmost thoughts and desires."  Thus, the proper response when we are led to the wilderness by the Spirit, is to intentionally seek to abide in God's presence, through prayer and fasting.  The devil attacks us when we are most weak.  In the wilderness, our physical man often becomes weary, but we must vigilantly guard against spiritual slumber and weariness.  Cognizant of the spiritual intensity of the season in which He was, Jesus prayed and fasted (Matthew 4:2a).  Paul refers to the prayer and fasting discipline as "pommeling the body and making it your slave" (1st Corinthians 9:27).   

For emphasis sake, allow me to reiterate that many wilderness seasons, require that believers soak themselves in prayer and fasting.  It is during these quiet moments in the secret place with the Lord that our inner man is strengthened, our spiritual eyes are enlightened to see Him and Know Him a new, and our spiritual ears made alert to His still small voice.  1st Kings 19 narrates Elija's wilderness experience, as he ran away from Jezebel.  In Elija's distress and disappointment, God appeared to him and instructed him to stand on a mountain.  As the Lord passed by, there was a great wind that tore the mountains apart and shattered the rock; then there was an earthquake and thereafter a fire.  God was however not found in all these drammatic happenings.   Instead, He was in the gentle whisper.  In the wilderness, it is not only imperative to be at the mountain of the Lord where His presence abounds; but to also be still to hear His gentle whispers.

God commands us to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power (Ephesians 6:10).  This is only possible if we choose to focus on Him and Him alone.  During a wilderness experience, focus on the goodness of the Lord.  Proclaim of His goodness and ascribe Him the praise due His name.  Praise shifts our perspective and we gain God's eye view for our circumstance.  Praise is a lethal spiritual weapon that among other things, brings down Jericho walls as well as sends confusion into the enemy's camp.  It silences the foe and the avenger (Psalms 8:2).

Declare God's word to whatever confronts you during a wilderness experience.  It is the deception of the devil that makes some believers think that they can adequately deal with things in the physical without addressing the spiritual aspects of such things.  Christ countered the devil's deception with God's word and not with eloquent words of human reasoning.  God's word is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, and cuts to the division of the soul and the spirit, the bone and the marrow (Hebrews 4:12).  Exercise your spiritual authority by prophesying God's word into your situation and counter the devil's schemes to lure you into sin with God's word.

Jon Courson states that the devil will question God's word upon your life to create doubt.  For example, in Matthew 4:3, Satan told Jesus, "If you are the the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."  Satan was question what God had earlier said about Jesus in Matthew 3:17.  The same scheme was used to create doubt in Eve at the garden of Eden.  Jesus countered all the three temptations with God's word.  Also noteworthy, Courson states that quoting/ reciting God's word does not scare the devil away.  Being submitted to that word is what makes the devil tremble.

In the three temptations directed to Jesus,  Satan questioned God's provision, protection and promise.  Also the three corruptions of the soul (1 John 2:16 - lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life) were tested.  No wonder Hebrews 4:15 states that Christ has been tempted in all things, yet is without sin.  In this regard, He is a compassionate High priest and is able to help us when we are tempted.  You are not alone!  Christ's victory over sin is upon you for where sin abounds, grace abounds more (Romans 5:20).

For fourty days and fourty nights, Jesus spent time in the desert (Matthew 4:2).  Fourty is frequently used in scripture in the context of testing, chastening and probation.  For example, During Noah's time, it rained for fourty days and fourty nights; Moses was in the wilderness for fourty years in Midian being prepared to lead Israel from Egypt to Canaan; The children of Israel were in the desert for fourty years; Moses was on Mt. Sinai for fourty days and fourty nights to receive the law; Elija travelled in the desert for fourty days and fourty nights until he reached Mount Horeb where God revealed Himself in a gentle whisper; Goliath taunted Israel's army for fourty days; and Ninevites were given fourty days to repent.  The truth is that our wilderness experiences will vary in duration.  However the fundamental issue is whether we submit ourselves to God for Him to accomplish His purpose in us, or not. 

God is not ignorant of what we go through during a wilderness experience.  He is not numb to our sufferings, tears, pains, struggles and fears.  He cares; He understands.   That is why God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (1st Corinthians 10:13).  He understands the intensity of your season and in the darkest hour, He is with you though you may not perceive of Him.  Just like in the case of Jesus, God sends angels to minister to us and comfort us after wilderness experiences.  Hosea 2:15-16 states, "There I will give her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.  There she will sing as in the days of her youth ...."

Matthew 4:11 marks the end of the narration of Jesus' wilderness experience.  While in such an experience, time may seem stagnant; a person can easily resign to their circumstance and loose sight of God's greater purpose.  You ought to always remember that a wilderness experience is a season; it is temporary.  Notwithstanding, it is not a one off event that comes once in a believer's journey of faith.  On the contrary, believers can expect to go through more than one "wilderness experiences" in their journey of faith.  Our comfort is in God's word that preserves us!

2nd Corinthians 4:8-11 states, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body."  The refiners' fire that we go through will only make our faith as pure gold and not destroy us, to the praise and glory of His name.  Nothing shall separate us from God's love- no trouble, hardship or persecution; no famine, nakedness, danger or sword; not life nor death; not angels nor demons; not the present nor the future; no power nor principality; no height nor depth!