SELECTED TO SERVE JESUS
Luke 6:12-20
COMMUNICATING WITH GOD THROUGH PRAYER
V:12. One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
A. Jesus set the standard for communicating with the Father.
1. He went to a place where He could be alone with God.
2. He prayed all night.
B. There are times in our lives when a short prayer want do.
1. There are times when we really don’t know what to pray for.
2. Sometimes long prayers will help us clear our mind and
put some perspective on our situation.
3. The longer the prayer, the more time God has to intervene in our
thought process.
4. Directions from God will come to you quietly as you pray to Him.
5. There have many times after prayer and I fallen asleep , that God
gives me His answers or directions.
LET YOUR DECISIONS BE GOD DIRECTED
V:13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
A. Before we make any important decision, God should be consulted first.
1. We see the outside of man, but God sees the hearts.
2. We know what man has done, but God knows his motives.
3. God, from the beginning has decided each man’s worth.
B. The meaning of Biblical names may give us an indication of God’s
thoughts.
1. Peter; a rock or stone
2. Andrew; a strong man
3. James; same as Jacob, that supplants, undermines
4. John; the grace or mercy of God
5. Philip; war like, a lover of horses
6. Bartholomew; a son that suspends
7. Matthew; given, a reward
8. Thomas; a twin
9. James son of Alphaeus; a thousands, learned, chief
10. Simon called Zealot; that hears, that obeys: full of real,
a Cannanite
11. Judas son of James, surname Thadaeus
12. Judas Iscariot; a man from kerioth, the one who betrayed Jesus.
C. What get from the names is that each of Jesus disciples were different,
with different personalities and gifts.
1. Jesus had many disciples, but few were selected as apostles.
2. The word apostle means a delegate or ambassador of the Gospel or
commissioner of Christ.
3. The apostles witness the death and resurrection of
Jesus and were selected by Him.
Today there are no apostles because none of us witness His death
and resurrection.
4. I can imagine that part of Jesus prayer to the Father was the selection of
His apostles.
5. His apostles would be the start of the Church after His crucifixion
and resurrection.
REACH OUT TO JESUS
V:17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases.
A. The job of a good leader is to teach you how to do the job.
1. Jesus give His newly appointed apostles examples of the work they
would be required to do.
2. Serving Jesus is dealing with needs of the people.
3. The gifts that Jesus has provided us are to be used to give Him
glory through service.
4. Those who serve Jesus at times will be bombarded with requests.
5. We have to rely on God to give us the strength to get through
each day of service.
B. Of the many reasons, to come to Jesus, He points out two for the
Church.
1. We come to hear the Word of truth presented by Jesus.
2. We come to be healed and made whole.
C. The popularity of Jesus had spread to a large area in a short period
of time. A distance of about 75 miles from Galilee was the partial
radius of influence.
1. A walk time of 3 to 5 days to get to Jesus was not uncommon.
a. We must keep in mind, that there were no trains, cars
or buses.
b. The means of transportation was donkeys and walking.
c. We must also keep in mind, that there were no telephones.
TV or internet.
d. The only means of communication was word of mouth.
f. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
2. Nothing should stop us from getting to Jesus.
3. He has the solution to all our needs.
4. No one was required to change to get blessed by Jesus.
5. It was their desire to be with Jesus that got them blessed.
6. Since the Lord does not change, He expects us to come as we
are and be blessed by His presence.
COME TO JESUS JUST AS YOU ARE
V:18b. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried
to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
A. The Lord is no respecter of person.
1. He did not judge the sins of the crowd, though they were many.
2. Everyone in the crowd was healed who came to be healed.
B. Anytime you are in the presence of the Lord, there is an opportunity
For a breakthrough.
1. Everyone who reached out to Jesus was healed.
2. All we have to do is reach out to Jesus to be noticed by Him.
3. His power flows to you because of your reaching.
C. The right place to be on Sunday Morning is God’s house.
1. The right place to be on Wednesday night is God’s house.
2. You never know when God is going to open up the windows
of heaven and bless every hand that is extended to Him.
3. Jesus is in the mist when believers come together to worship Him.
THANK GOD FOR THE PRESENCE OF HIS SON
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway
Houston, Texas 77041
