Greetings again my Brethren. This month we will continue to look at the call of God in our lives and in particular the call of the Apostles. When we think of the Apostles we think they were great men of faith far above us in spiritual ability, but in reality they were no different than us. They had the opportunity to walk and talk with Jesus which I believed strengthened their ability to believe greater than us. It seems with each passing generation there seems to be less and less faith moving in the lives of Christians. In Luke we find Jesus; words on this topic, “And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:6-8) I can see how this will be true because over my many years (almost 60) I have seen less and less faith moving in the lives of people. This verse (eight) should be a warning to us all to take heed (me included) and not allow the truth of this verse to be active in our lives. We have the authority of whether or not this truth will be moving in us not God. God intends for us to be filled with faith, however, whether it happens or not is not up to God, but us. Will we do the things to allow faith to be activated in us. Remember faith comes not by a mighty wind, good intentions, singing, dancing, working for God, etal, but hearing. In the KJV first we read, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17), but I know people who read the Bible, hear the Bible preached, even hear the Bible on CD or tape yet have no faith. It is more than hearing. Now in the Greek version of the Bible we read from Romans, “So then faith cometh by hearing a word from God.” (Romans 10:17 (Greek)) Do you see the difference? When we hear a word from God we will have all of the faith we will ever need to do that which God has called us to do because in the “word” is contained our strength, resources, faith, whatsoever we shall need. No wonder Jesus was so submitted to the Father in harmony with His divine purpose for His life. We see this with divine purpose when the Apostles were called, “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 14Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.” (Luke 6:12-16) Please note Jesus called ALL of His disciples (more than 12 present) and then He selected 12. This selection was not based on them being good men, but because God had a purpose and plan for their lives. But the point I would like to make here is Jesus’ ability to select the correct apostles was based on the submission Jesus had with the Father. Please notice Jesus did not select them, His Father did, “that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” When He (Jesus) finished in prayer then Jesus selected the apostles. Harmony in divine purpose with the Father is only accomplished when we send time with the Father.
Then when we are in harmony with the Father’s divine purpose signs follow those who have answered God’s call. Luke picks back in Chapter six, “And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; 18And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. 19And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.” (Luke 6:17-19) Jesus, the 12 apostles (which are also disciples), and the remaining disciples showed up somewhere and “a great multitude of people” showed up. In Africa they say if you build it they will come. Well in God if you build Him a tabernacle God will dwell in it not the one made of stone, but the one made of submission and commitment. The word “virtue” in verse 19 is “strength.” The people wanted to touch the strength of the LORD. Tangible strength that the people could feel came out of Jesus as He (Jesus) touched them and as they (the people) touch Him. Where is this today? Oh to have this power today, well it is ours (LORD help my unbelief) for the hearing not for the asking.
Next month we will continue to look at the call of the apostles as we look at the expectation of their response and that they should be with Him. Can you hear Him now?
