The Team

Then He went up the mountain and summoned those He wanted, and they came to Him. He also appointed 12-He also named them apostles-to be with Him, to send them out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons.
He appointed the Twelve:
To Simon, He gave the name of Peter;
And to James the son of Zebedee, and to his brother John,
He gave the name "Boanerges" (that is: Sons of Thunder);
Andrew; Phillip and Bartholomew;
Matthew and Thomas;
James, the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus;
Simon the Zealot, and judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him. Mark 3:13-19

Some of these we hear of no more, one infamously so. It is interesting that Peter, James and John were the three who were closest and who received nicknames. Andrew, Peter's brother, was one of the first to join Jesus, along with his brother Peter. Yet he is not in the close three. Why not? What happened? Did he have responsibilities that distracted him, was he the eldest son who had to manage mum and dad as well as the business from time to time? Or was he a quiet individual that stood behind his brother Peter. We know that Peter, James and John were out there in personality. Peter was not given the name 'Son of Thunder,' but he could have been given 'Impetuous'.

Yet Andrew was one of the Twelve. Phillip we hear about in the book of Acts. if he is the same man is in the book of Acts as the man who preached to the Erhiopian eunuch and was responsible for the gospel going to Ethiopia.

None of the twelve were Jesus' family. They did not believe until He had been risen from the dead. This would have been hard for Him and His family.

The team was not perfect. Judas betrayed Him, the others failed in many ways, yet He chose them and persevered with them. Do you have a team that you wonder about? Do you become frustrated with them? Jesus did! Many times He admonished them for their littleness of faith, yet He persevered.

Jesus had gone up the mountain to pray before choosing he twelve. He now had to trust the Father for their development and faithfulness, speaking over them in faith.

I have a close team of three and at times they make me want to pull my hair out, yet I speak over them. I speak of what they are to become, rather than what they are now.

I read a lot about ditching people if they fail to measure up, but at what cost to me, to them? If I am given who I believe I am to work with, then I must do all I can to see them mature and grow. Part of that is laying aside frustration and speaking faith. Amen!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Who Rules?

The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers, I will pout out my fury on them like water. Hosea 5:10 World leaders of church and state are now all highly visible. When they are not open to consultation or do not listen they make judgements that are judged as foolish by both God and man. In Australia we just celebrated Australia Day and at this time various people are honoured for their contribution to society. Our Prime Minister, Mr Abbott, without consultation, conferred a knighthood on the Queen of England's husband, Phillip. Almost to a person, Australians judged this to be foolish. Even supporters have now distanced themselves. Imagine what it is like when church leaders follow their own emotions or the emotions of their people and change what is acceptable to God. For example, no longer considering adultery something that precludes a man from ministry. We might think we are clever, but actually going with a sinful flow. Where is God in all this? My emotions ar...
Read more

Know Your Sword!

So he took Him to Jerusalem, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "if you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: 'He will give His angels orders concerning You, to protect you, they will support You with their hands, so that you will not strike Your foot against a stone.' And Jesus answered him, "it is said: 'do not test The Lord your God." And the Devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him for a time. Luke 4:9-11 In this third test Satan quoted scripture but Jesus knew His scripture and was not going to be deceived by his enemy twisting the truth. I am amazed at what Satan tempted Jesus with. He did not know Christ. He had succeeded in tempting the first Adam yet he was thwarted in this attempt. Jesus had lived 30 years and been tutored in godliness with contentment, he was prepared, baptised in the Spirit and sold out to the Father's purpose. Every time our enemy comes against us we ...
Read more

Little Things Grow

The boy's mother said to Elisha, "as The Lord lives and you yourself live, I will not leave you. So he got up and followed her. 2 Kings 4:30 The Shunamite woman had travelled to Mt Carmel to find Elisha after the death of her son. Although Elisha had sent his servant Gehazi to the boy with his staff the woman had come to find Elisha and was not leaving without him. I like this lady's spirit. I am sure The Lord God Almighty also valued her heart. She had a heart for God and made room for Him in her world. Now, having lost her son she knew what to do: find Elisha and not let him go until he came to restore her son. What made the Shunamite woman believe that Elisha could raise her son? Was it the same faith that made her provide him a place to stay in her home? I believe it was God working in her life. I am grateful for her faith, I can read and be encouraged. We do not know her name yet her story lives in scripture. What a little thing it was to feed Elisha and then provide ...
Read more