“Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. ”
“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. By this time, it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”
In this month of March 2021, we will focus on what we have been called to do as a church. We all have a place in God’s vineyard and we must therefore navigate to determine why, when, and where we have been called to occupy until he comes.
Hear his Voice and Answer the Call: There is a general call to salvation and a call to service. For the call to service, God knows the heart of everyone he calls and gives them different assignments (see Ephesians 4:11-13).
Luke 5:1-3,8-11 “One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”
In this passage, Jesus was speaking to a crowd but his heart was set on some people he could train and work with. If you notice, these were ordinary fishermen who identified themselves as nothing but sinners. What is interesting is that Jesus acknowledged their job and demonstrated how they can get a bigger produce. He tested their faith at the same time and asked them to follow him. They heard and were broken in heart and answered the call. They left everything and followed him. I know people may say what about my job? How will I pay my bills? These are valid concerns. Answering the call for service full time or part time is not for everyone and it does not mean one gets up and just goes. You must hear from God every step of the way as to what to do, when to set out, and when to settle. Apostle Paul for instance had a part-time job (1 Corinthians 4:12)
Deny self, Carry Cross and Follow Him: Mark 8: 34 “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Deny Self: Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
One must come to the end of self-death: According to this quotation, one must come to the place of death, that is why Paul says here; “I have been crucified”. It’s not, “I am going to be” or “I will be”. It means before you go out on this journey to do the things of God, you are not going on your own because you are a dead man (spiritually). Dead to your will, knowledge, decisions, plan, thoughts, reason etc. You have handed over everything about you to Jesus. He takes over everything about you, he uses you as a vessel where he invests into, pours into, and uses your body (container) for his glory. Romans 6: 5-6: “For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” We are united (joint together spiritually) with Christ unto death and resurrection. We die to sin and unrighteousness of the old man, and upon resurrection, we are made new in Him; the old sinful body dies and we are given a new body in Christ. At the place of death and resurrection, there is an exchange made; Jesus takes over as the new government and gives us a new body that is alive and righteous in Him. So we owe allegiance ONLY to him. The sinful old man becomes powerless and the new man is empowered to live a new sinless life. The new body becomes a slave to righteousness and not to sin.
Carry the Cross: As Christians, we must have an understanding as to why Jesus died. It is not a physical status to wear and go around, but a constant reminder that if we choose to follow him, we must put to death everything about us and for us in our journey to seek and know him, and become participants of the work left on earth which is now done through us as vessels by the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” The cross represents the place where Jesus declared “it is finished”, completing the work of salvation. To carry the cross daily and follow him means we mindfully and unceasingly remind ourselves that we are dead. We put everything about us to death, yet we are alive by faith in Christ in every aspect of life. We do everything in him and through him. We manifest the work of salvation done in his name. In summary, it is a way of acknowledging and committing ourselves to the work we are called to do. Philippians 3:8 &12 “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ” “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me”. In summary, carrying the cross daily and following Christ is a way of CONSTANTLY SURRENDERING to Jesus and IDENTIFYING with HIM, ACKNOWLEDGING the completion of the work, AND COMMITTING TO THE WORK WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO DO. It becomes a choice placed on us; to do as he wants or to leave.
Follow Him: 1 Kings 11:38 “If you listen to all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight in order to keep My statutes and commandments as My servant David did, then I will be with you. I will build you a lasting dynasty just as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.” Training yourself to listen and allow the Holy Sprit to guide your every step and decision, discernment to understand what the Lord says, walking in obedience, and doing what he has commanded.
Learn How to Wait, led by the Holy Spirit, Walk in Power, and Authority of the Word of God: Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed”. The work of the Lord can only be done through the power of the Holy Spirit. If Jesus himself acknowledged the role and power of the Holy Spirit, what about us? John 5:19 “Jesus gave them this answer: "Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does”. John 14:10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works.” It is dangerous to depend on the arm of flesh. God the father is the originator and owner of the work on earth, thus if we answer the call to work in his vineyard, we must seek him for instructions and follow his lead. The Apostles were called but they waited for the infilling of the power of the Holy Spirit to begin their work.
Go Out and Proclaim the Message of Salvation: Matthew 28:16-20 “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” When doing the work of God, we must understand that we have been sent. It is not our business, but the Lord’s. Thus, we cannot do it on our own terms. When we pray or draw people to God, it is not by our power or ability, it’s only by the Power of God at work in us. There should therefore be no self-seeking, boasting or pride. John 20:21 “Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." Jesus completed the work of his father without adding anything of his own. So as we answer the call, we must follow in the same direction.
Maintain a life of Prayer and the Word: Luke 11:1 “It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” Everything about Jesus was his father’s business and he kept that constant communication with him. The disciples saw this and wanted him to teach them how to do it as well.
Provide for the Poor: Faith without works is not faith. Jesus fed the needy while he ministered. James 2:14-18 “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” The Gospel can never be completed without taking care of the physical needs of those around us. We cannot preach the gospel without also looking at the physical wellbeing of the people.
Be Ready for Persecution: Mathew: 10:16-23 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you”. “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” This may sound horrible but this is just part of our identity in Christ.
Understand Your Service is to God: We should NEVER do the work of God for what we will get physically in return. Hebrews 6:10 “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.” God knows what you do, so do not spend time draining people and asking them to provide for your physical needs. God knows your needs and knows when to provide.
Mathew 19:27-30 “Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first”.
Finally make yourself available on our weekly prayer line as we explore these truths further.
Blessings
Ennette Heaggans