Sermon #11 Series:
Mark
Title: THE FIRST TWELVE PREACHERS
Text: Mark 3:13-21
Readings: Office:
Mark Henson Auditorium: Bobbie Estes
Subject: The Calling of the Lord’s Apostles
Date: Sunday Evening - February 16, 1997
Tape # T-41
Introduction:
The passage before us tonight
describes the calling of the twelve Apostles by our Lord Jesus Christ. This is
an event which ought to always be remembered and studied with deep gratitude.
No twelve men in history have been so important as these twelve. Noone have
done so much good. None have been of such benefit to us.
J.C. Ryle wrote, “What a vast amount of benefit these few men have
conferred upon the world! The names of a few Jewish fishermen are known and
lived by millions all over the globe, while the names of many kings and rich
men are lost and forgotten.”
It is not the mighty, the wealthy, or
even the worldly wise who are remembered by men. Few people remember doctors,
lawyers, educators, or even politicians, once their time of sparkle and glitter
is gone. Fewer still remember the most famous of athletes or highly decorated
war heroes. But here are twelve humble, righteous men whose memory shall stand
forever. They died nearly two thousand years ago; but their names are known the
world over. Their names are household words around the world. If you young
people are looking for role models, I suggest you pay attention. I set before
you tonight the story of these twelve men (Mark 3:13-21).
(Mark 3:13-21) "And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came
unto him. {14} And he ordained
twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to
preach, {15} And to have power to
heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
{16} And Simon he surnamed Peter;
{17} And James the son of
Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which
is, The sons of thunder: {18} And
Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and
Simon the Canaanite, {19} And Judas
Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house. {20} And the multitude cometh together
again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. {21} And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is
beside himself."
These
apostles were a special order of men. The apostolic office was in existence for
only a very brief period of time, during which the canon of Holy Scripture was
completed. They had distinct gifts of healing, tongues, and inspiration, which
no one has possessed since. In short, the
apostles were men specifically chosen, gifted and ordained by our Lord to
preach during the earliest days of Christianity and to write the New Testament,
explaining by Divine inspiration the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.
They had no successors. When they died, their office died. And when the
Apostles died, all the gifts and signs accompanying apostleship died as well.
Yet these men are held before us as
patterns and examples of what is required and what is to be expected of those
men who are called of God to preach the gospel of his free and sovereign grace
in Christ. It is my intention to use them in just that way. It would be of no
benefit to your souls for me to stand here and talk to you about an office that
no longer exists. But it will, if blessed of God, be of great benefit to your
souls for me to tell you who these men were, what the Lord did for them, and
what they by the power and grace of God for others as The First Twelve Preachers of this gospel age.
Proposition: Here the Holy
Spirit shows us by example how preachers are made, what they must do, and what
may be reasonably expected from them.
Divisions: As we look at these verses together I
will divide the passage into three parts.
1.
Christ’s Choice (vv. 13-19).
2.
Constant Crowds (v. 20).
3.
Confused Concern (v. 21).
I.
The bulk of
our time will be spent on the first point precisely because the bulk of our
text deals with Christ’s Choice.
Mark 3:13-19 "And he goeth
up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom
he would: and they came unto him. (14) And
he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them
forth to preach, (15) And to have
power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: (16) And Simon he surnamed Peter; (17) And James the son of
Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which
is, The sons of thunder: (18) And
Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and
Simon the Canaanite, (19) And Judas
Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house."
It is a sad commentary upon our
deluded society that should have to
call your attention to the fact that the
Apostle, these first twelve preachers were all men. There is not a woman
named among them. That is not an accident. God never called any woman to be a
preacher. I’ll go a step further. They can call it sexism, chauvinism, or
anything else they like. I really could not care less what they like or dislike. But I am here to tell you that a preaching
woman is an abomination! God never called a woman to be a preacher or a
missionary. Women are commanded of God to keep silence in the churches, never
to teach or usurp authority over a man, and to learn in subjection. I cannot
think of anything more obnoxious than effeminate men, except pushy, domineering
women; and among them none are so abhorrent as female preachers!
A. Having said
that, let me show you seven things about those men who are called and gifted of
God to preach the gospel of his free and sovereign grace in Christ.
What I am going to say here applies to
every man who is called of God. It matters not where he was educated, what his
denominational affiliation is, or what his physical appearance is. If a man is
called of God to the worked of the gospel ministry, he must be like these first
preachers in these seven areas. Those
who are called of God to peach the gospel are all…
1.
Converted Men.
I know that Judas was not a converted man. And I know that
our Lord Jesus knew Judas was unconverted. I will deal with those things later.
But Judas professed to be a converted man, as well as Peter, James, and John.
That is the important point here. A call
to the ministry is always preceded by a call to discipleship. You cannot
lead men to follow Christ unless you are a follower of Christ.
We must never attempt to raise men up
for the ministry. We must never entice young men to dedicate themselves to the
work of the ministry by glamorizing it. It is our responsibility to simply
preach the gospel, pray for God to make it effectual, pray for him to send
forth laborers into his vineyard, and wait for him to work. As soon as we start
glamorizing the work, and start trying to get men to go into the ministry, we
will send men who are not called of God, (That would be disastrous!), and worse
than that, we would send men who are not even converted!
An unconverted man is as unfit for the
ministry as an elephant is for flying. How can he talk about grace he has never
tasted that the Lord is gracious? How can he point sinners to the Savior who
does not know the Savior? How can he urge sinners to flee to Christ who has not
fled to Christ himself?
No one does so much injury to the
cause of Christ as lost, unconverted preachers. They promote infidelity. They
are co-laborers with the evil. And they are an offense to God!
2.
Chosen Men.
The Lord called to him “whom he would!” He did not call the
tallest, handsomest, smartest, most appealing, or most eloquent. The longer I
live the more I think old Bro. B.B.
Caldwell was right when he told a bunch of Bible college boys, “God never
called a pretty boy to be a preacher!”
Gospel preachers are not chosen by us
or even as we would choose them. The Lord Jesus calls to him whom he will!
3.
Called Men.
First, they are chosen. Then they are
called. And all who are called by our God to preach the gospel are found
preaching the gospel. The call of our God is always effectual. Those whom he
has chosen as his messengers he makes willing to be his messengers.
This is also a picture of our Lord’s
effectual, irresistible grace in salvation. All the chosen are at God’s
appointed time called. And all the called are made willing in the day of the
power of his grace. Do not ever imagine
that God’s work is vain! God’s works are always effectual. God almighty never
tried to do anything!
·
God’s Election is
Effectual Election.
·
Christ’s Atonement is
Effectual Atonement.
·
The Spirit’s Call is
an Effectual Call.
4.
Communing Men.
Mark tells us in verse fourteen that
these men were called to him “that they
should be with him.” Like the Apostle, faithful gospel preachers live with
the Son of God, has fellowship with him, abides with him, and like Mary sits at
his feet to hear his word. As these men went up into the mountain of prayer
with Christ and went home with Christ, God’s servants must live at home with
the Son of God in prayer, ever thinking of his Spirit, walking in his steps,
studying him, copying him, so that when he steps into the pulpit, he can
honestly say what John said to the saints in his day.
1 John 1:1-3 "That which
was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,
which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (2) (For the life was manifested, and
we have seen it, and bear witness,
and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was
manifested unto us;) (3) That which
we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship
with us: and truly our fellowship is with
the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
5.
Consecrated Men.
These were men who literally left all and followed Christ!
They were not self-serving merchandisers of men’s souls. These men were the
servants of men. They served the souls of men. Look at verse twenty for just a
second.
Mark 3:20 "And the
multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat
bread."
While
there was work to be done and opportunity to do it, for the good of men and the
glory of God, these men did not stop to eat.
“They whose hearts are enlarged in the
work of God, can easily bear with inconveniences to themselves in the
prosecution of it.” Matthew
Henry
6.
Caring Men.
In verse fifteen we are told that
these men were given “power to heal
sicknesses and to cast out devils.”
And that which the Lord gave them the
power to do they did with all their might. You can mark this down. It applies
to anything and everything. It is particularly applicable to the work of the
ministry. Consecrated men are caring
men; and caring men, truly caring men, are consecrated men.
7.
Commissioned Men.
Look at verse fourteen again. "And he ordained twelve,
that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,"
All who are called of God into the
work of the gospel ministry are first and foremost preachers, gospel preachers!
They are not counselors, baby sitters, social workers, or denominational
promoters God’s servants are preachers, faithful, gospel preachers.
Nothing in all the world is more
utterly useless than a pastor who wastes his time on other things. Such a man
is as useless as a lighthouse without a light, a sleeping watchman, or a
painted fire.
Romans 1:15-17 "So, as much
as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. (16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith
to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."
1 Corinthians 9:16 "For though I
preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me;
yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 "And
all things are of God, who hath
reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation; (19) To wit, that God
was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their
trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then we are ambassadors for
Christ, as though God did beseech you by
us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be
ye reconciled to God. (21) For he
hath made him to be sin for us, who
knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
B. What should we
expect to find among gospel preachers; and what should we expect from them?
I am not talking now about Arminians,
free willers, and work mongers. I am talking about gospel preachers. Among
those who are doctrinally orthodox preachers, we can expect to find…
1.
A steady, steadfast, rock of strength, faithfulness, and
courage, like Peter, who will sometimes be very disappointing.
2.
Some bold, courageous sons of thunder like James and John,
who will sometimes seek to promote their own interests above others.
3.
A Thomas who is willing to go with Christ to Jerusalem to
die with him, who will sometimes be weak and doubtful.
4.
An occasional Bartholomew (Nathaniel) in whom there is no
guile.
5.
A whole lot of faithful Matthews, Andrews, Philips, James,
and Simon Somebody or Other, about whom very little is known, without whom much
would be lost.
6.
You will even find an occasional self-serving Judas, who
will give the enemies of God occasion to blaspheme.
Have you ever wondered, “Why did the
Lord pick Judas and put him among the Apostles?” I have. Let me tell you a
least part of the reason why he did it.
·
To Fulfil the Purpose
of God.
·
To Fulfil the Old
Testament Prophecies.
·
To Bring on His Death
for the Redemption of Our Souls
·
To Set a Stumbling
Block before the Unbelieving.
Judas was not something that was out
of God’s plan and purpose. He was as much a part of God’s purpose as Peter or
Paul. And notice this, too: When Judas was gone, no harm had been done. His
betrayal of the Master and his suicide simply made room for the Apostle to the
Gentiles to step into place at precisely the time God had ordained.
II.
Secondly, in
verse twenty, Mark directs our attention once more to the Constant Crowds ever pressing around our Redeemer.
Mark 3:20 "And the
multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat
bread."
I have often read and heard statements
like this - “Whenever the gospel is
preached in power sinners are converted.” I challenge you to square that
with the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was a perfect preacher.
He never had to pause and look for words. He never had to think of an
illustration. He always preached with power. More than that, he healed multitudes,
performed, miracles, and even raised the dead. Yet very, very few were
converted under his ministry. Multitudes heard his words and felt the power of
his words as he preached; but few heard his message and believed him.
A. Powerful
preaching does not always produce conversions.
B. Great crowds
do not always, or even usually, imply that sinners are being saved.
C. It is our
responsibility to prayerfully and faithfully preach the gospel to eternity
bound sinners, and leave the results entirely in his sovereign purpose of
grace.
III. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit directs our attention to some of our Lords
family and friends who acted like Confused
Cowards.
Mark 3:21 "And when his
friends heard of it, they went out to
lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself."
These friends were his kinsmen. They were members of his family,
relatives, who were embarrassed by his gospel and his devotion, and were scared
to death of what the Scribes and Pharisees might think of them because of him.
There is nothing here that should be
of any surprise to anyone. The prophet who came to anoint Jehu as called a “mad fellow” (2 Kings 9:11). Festus told
Paul that he was a madman. I can think of very little that more fully displays
the corruption of the human nature than man’s utter inability to understand
devotion and consecration to God.
If a person is a loyal fan for a ball
team, he is honored for his fanaticism. If a man is zealous about money,
science, business, sports, or even war, he is applauded as a man of discipline.
If he injures his own health because of his consuming passion in any of these
areas, he is admired for his sacrifice. But zeal for Christ, devotion to the
glory of God, the consecration of a redeemed sinner saved by grace to his God
and Savior is looked upon by the wiseacres of the world as a sign of a weak
mind! The world has not changed. The things of the Spirit are now, as they
always have been and always will be, foolishness to the natural man (1 Cor.
2:14).
Illustration:
My conversation with Ed Sturgess
Application:
Let me say just two things by way of
application, and I will be done.
1.
When you have to drink the bitter cup of being misunderstood
and misrepresented by family and friends who do not know God, do not allow
their folly to shake your faith or cause you to turn on them in retaliation.
2.
I remind you once more that there is no greater burden and
no more awesome responsibility in the world than the work of preaching the
gospel. Those who faithfully labor to preach the gospel need our prayers
constantly. No wonder Paul says so often, “Brethren,
pray for us!”