Ephesians 4:11-12 - Prophets and Apostles

Ephesians 4:11-12 - And he [Jesus] gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.

Message: Prophets and Apostles

Time: Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon. Ephesians deals with topics at the core of being a Christian - faith and practice, no matter the situation.

What the Lord is Saying:

As I continue to look at Ecclesiology - the doctrine of the church - I have thus far done 12 lessons the are broken down into defining the church as Christ's Body and the church we see (visible) and the church we do not see (invisible) and yet Christ knows. Then I looked at defining truths about the Church as seen from the Apostles Creed throughout time and history. The church marches on throughout time united as one people, holy, and one people from every tribe and tongue built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching. Then I saw that the churches today need to have core understandings of their mission. They need to be preaching the Word of God, Administering Sacraments (The Lord's Supper and Baptism) and they need to have a focus on church discipline. Going forward for the last 11 lessons, I will look at the key church leadership offices - apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers, deacons and elders, though the latter will be touched on in a future lesson. Then several lessons on the purpose of the church and finally highlighting key pastors and theologians from church history. 

In the Bible there are discussions about belonging to a church and in this belonging there is service. And in considering service there is talk of spiritual gifts. In a reading of the Old Testament, certain individuals had offices, but in the new covenant we are all to serve with Jesus as our example - For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). There are various lists given of these gifts in Scripture:  Romans 12:3–8, 1 Corinthians 12–14, and Ephesians 4:1–16 and First Peter 4:10–11. And yet there seems to be distinct gifts spoken of for the those that lead the Body. Today's passage begins to list these offices and it says in verse 12 -- to equip the saints for the work of ministry. Thus, I believe there are certain gifts for leaders. Today, I focus on Prophets and Apostles and the belief that while these officers are important they are foundational and therefore do not repeat throughout the age of the church. 

Let's start with Ephesians 2:19-21 - So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. -- Thus, there is a foundation of how the church begins and that foundation is the apostles and prophets. The foundation is a part of the building and building is mentioned by Paul in speaking of the church (I Corinthians 3:9-10). The ministry of the apostles and the prophets and their lives seem to be the basis of the church. Matthew 16:18 speaks of one of the apostles -- And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

As Jesus called his disciples it seems they were to listen and follow and then as his ministry goes on he asks them to do the things that he has been doing. And it also seem significant that the apostles brought about the beginning of the church after Jesus ascended to heaven following His resurrection. Prophets is a little harder to navigate. Paul often mentioned Israel's prophets in his writings, and often in a sense of laying the foundation. But what is not clear from me if these are the prophets he is referring to here. 

There are some belief systems that believe these role of prophets and apostles occur today. But with Jesus as our cornerstone, this distinction seems unlikely. It seems unlikely that there would be new information that would need to be told. And I have previously discussed this idea of the Church in scriptures and the belief of the invisible church only known by God. The foundation is the infallible word of God and I don't thing there are other source books that can be added later, like a Book of Mormon for instance. Or even raising up a certain leader that speaks such as the Pope. 

Hebrews 1:1-2 says -- Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. The last days are the time of Jesus and therefore I don't think last days is extended to include other divine beings. 

Naturally we have leaders in the church but I think we work collectively to define interpretation of the scripture and then applying it to our lives. The danger always is how we interpret it. Once again, I think there are central messages of grace and Jesus as Savior and Lord that cannot be altered, but perhaps whether there are prophets today or whether beliefs in how often the Lord's Supper is performed fall into negotiables. The challenge always then is figuring out what is essential and what is non-essential. 

Summary: There is a foundation of how the church begins and that foundation is the apostles and prophets.

Promise: From Tabletalk, God gave the Apostles and prophets for the good of His people, and they fulfilled their task by delivering to us His infallible Word. If we want to benefit from what these officers have to offer us today, we must pay heed to what they give us in Scripture. There is no other place today where we can find God’s special revelation to His people.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for raising up people like me to deliver your message to all people. Thank you for showing us how these individuals were messengers and were not to be worshipped or set apart. It is you who is to be glorified and praised over and over throughout the ages. Help us always to have our focus centrally on You and the work that You are doing and have done and will do. Continue to help us not to be divided in our world, but to be about a people that is intent always on doing your will. Thank you for the church. Thank you for this Body that you have brought together and thank you for showing us the work that you do continually through us. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May, Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel. The Apostilic Church - we are fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone.

What the Church Does and Believes

Preaching Christ and His Commandments - A church needs to be committed to faithfully preaching the Word of God. Administering Sacraments - Sacraments (The Lord's Supper and Baptism especially) need to be part of a church existing, but they also need to be rightly administered. The Discipline of the Church - We need to be a people that encourage repentance to keep the church pure and set apart.

Ephesians 2:19-22 - The Apostolic Church

Ephesians 2:19-22 - So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Message: The Apostolic Church

Time: Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon. Ephesians deals with topics at the core of being a Christian - faith and practice, no matter the situation.

What the Lord is Saying: 

The final part of the study of the Apostles Creed is in regards to ensuring that what is being taught and in practice with the church is the same as what the Apostles taught. This was the goal of the early church and remains our goal today. 

Previously, I have looked at church unity in many various lessons. The church is one by decree and not one completely. By decree, we are a visible church or the church that we can see with our eyes, and we are also invisible which we can't see, but God sees because He is omniscient. Only He knows who is really part of the church because only He sees into our hearts. We have been declared Holy by God and yet we continue to grow into Holiness. And we are a universal church. Granted, we are often identified by our differences, calling ourselves Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Catholics, Methodists, Church of Christ, non-denominational, Bible churches, and so many others and yet within those identifications we are still one universal church throughout the world, throughout countries, nations, states, and even cities. We have common and shared beliefs resting in the biblical gospel and yet there is diversity in what we hold to and what we emphasize as we belong together. 

In being Apostolic, our hope is that we demonstrate adherence to what the Apostles first wrote and taught. 

Jude 3 - Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. This faith delivered is God's word. In Charles John Ellicott's (1819-1905) commentary he writes the faith - "that which is believed by Christians: not the expression of the doctrine, nor the holding of it, but the substance of it." I love this. It is not the way it is expressed which matters and the way we are expressing it in all of the different forms of identification I mentioned above, but rather what is key is the substance of it and making sure we hold to this. 

Jude is writing with a sense of urgency. He is appealing that the apostles writings is what we focus on and not those of false teachers which have crept into the churches. The Apostles is who the Lord Jesus delivered His Gospel to and those are the ones who wrote it down for ages to come. Thus, what we are to hold to and contend for strenuously is these words. We are to preserve people from error. 

Today's passage from Ephesians cements this idea to us in that we are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. As believers now and then we are (1) fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, (2) united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, (3) with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone. Our allegiance is not simply to people, but it is to Christ. It is to God. We are united in Christ, in Him. 

We must continue through the ages to stand even closer to God's word and continue every day to be even more committed to it. I think there is a danger to align ourselves more with the world in our churches, thinking that we must in order for the gospel to be heard. And yet, in that process, people are being led astray and our separate-ness and distinctive-ness is giving way. Instead, we must continue to stay close to the Word and error on that side of things, not conformity. There must me no doubt what we are about. 

Summary: Fellow citizens built on the foundation of the apostle and prophets, teaching the biblical gospel of Jesus our cornerstone. 

Promise: To stand with Apostolic teaching, we must know it. That can be accomplished only through the regular study of Scriptures. 

Prayer: O God, I continue to love the reading and study of Your Words. And I want our world of believers in you to be United in Faith and I pray that we continue to be about this and work toward this. We get deceived rather to focus on our differences, but let us focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ and it alone. Thank you for the apostles which you called and spoke to and equipped to write these words that I study and learn from and abide by. Thank you for the message that continues to penetrate me. Let there be no doubt to anyone about what I am holding onto. Be glorified in Me and through us as members of your visible church that is hopefully also invisible or your true called out ones. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel.

Mark 16:20 - The Gospel Goes Forth

Mark 16:20
And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.]

Message: The Gospel Goes Forth

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - The Gospel of Mark records Jesus coming on the scene and preaching a message of "repent and believe." Mark records Jesus' 3 year ministry as he navigates through towns in Judea with His 12 disciples. As Jesus goes many come to follow Him and see Him. Some are there in hopes of being healed while many are also there to listen to Him teach. Along the way also scribes and chief priests question Him at various times and seem to be threatened by Him. Jesus speaks in a way that many are not accustomed to hearing. He talks of His authority and refers to Himself often as the Son of Man, thus living as fully man. But, He also does things like calm the sea, cast out demons, heal paralytics, forgives sin, raises a daughter from the dead. Mark often records brief information about Jesus and often focuses on the people around him and the impact of what Jesus is saying. Jesus talks about his death and resurrection 3 times. He challenges the disciples to do as He does but they struggle with this. The disciples struggle with applying the truths that Jesus asks them to do. Eventually Jesus comes to Jerusalem and prepares to die. The disciples still don't believe it. But Jesus fulfills the prophecies. He says one will betray Him and Jesus does. He is seized by the Jewish leaders at night and then turned over to Pilate with the hope that he will die. Pilate takes it before the people and the pronouncement of crucifixion falls on Jesus. He admits he is the Son of God and the people call Him the king of the Jews, something he does not deny. He is beaten, scourged, spit on, mocked and receives much pain. Mark is specific about the crown of thorns and the pain of those thorns from beatings with a scepter. Eventually Jesus ends up at the cross, already very weak. Even on the cross He is mocked. The area grows dark for 3 hours on Friday with Him on the cross as He seems to deal with God's wrath. He feels God the Fathers rejection and cries out and then dies. He is buried that same day, before the Passover and then appears to Mary Magdalene, and the disciples. It takes the disciples a while to believe He has risen. Jesus confronts their hardened hearts, but then also commissions them to preach the Gospel - the message of believing and being baptized. They will do great things in His name. He ascends to heaven and takes His seat at the right hand of God.

This book has been exciting to study as I come now to the end of it. It's a message from Peter through Mark. I think it's the first time I've really studied one of the Gospels. I've listened to sermons before and read through it several times, but it has been great to study it more completely. I've been trying to discover the message that Mark presents of Jesus. He does speak of Jesus being fully man and fully God, as is evidenced by the many attributes of God. There are some very clear statements about Him being God. I'm not sure if people realized though what was going on and who He was. Some did but Mark doesn't always present many details about these occurrences in the life of Jesus. It seems that it will take Jesus leaving for them to really understand His message. But, it is clear Jesus did what He set out to do - come to earth as man, live it, experience it alongside us but with the authority of God and then died on the cross, experiencing darkness on the cross and rejection and then dying finally. He rose on the 3rd day, but not really 2 full days later. He appeared and then went to heaven.

This final verse now speaks of this going forth of the disciples and their message to the world.

And they went out and preached everywhere - they were obedient to His commission to preach the gospel throughout the world. But the did not go alone as they went while the Lord worked with them. Jesus is gone from walking beside them physically but He is still with them spiritually and with us. They walked and He as Lord worked. Jesus' position now is clear. He is God. He is holy. His is on mission. And He confirmed the word by the signs that followed. Much would occur now in future events. Miracles followed them as they went forth. Whether those same signs still follow us today is unclear. Many would say those signs were only present during the earthly lives of the apostles, thus ending around 100 AD. The thought is the throughout history, miracles have been present at some times, but not present at other times.

At this point there is exuberance by the disciples in taking the message. Again, they are beginning to follow Him now that He is gone in the way Jesus expected while He was with them. The faith has been received now. And much will be different going forward.

Summary - The message of the Gospel now goes forth, everywhere.

Promise: From Tabletalk December 20, 2016 - When God saves His people, He equips them to preach the gospel according to their abilities where they find themselves. The gospel message is not something we can keep to ourselves, but we must proclaim the lordship of Christ to our children, our spouses, our friends, our family, and our communities. Let us pray for boldness to preach the gospel, and let us make disciples where God has called us.

Prayer: O Lord, thank you for being with us as the message of You and Your Gospel goes forth throughout this world. There are signs of You all the time. Give me wisdom to see these. Even as the world continues to be contrary to your message, shine bright through Me and all the Christians of this world who are your true followers. I pray we would love you with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and then love one another with the same degree of love that each of us loves ourselves. Continue to help me Jesus understand You and Your message and Your gospel. I do want to carry the light. But you must work with me, through me and in me as you have said you would. I pray your light stays visible for me at all times.

Mark 6:30-34 - Sheep Without A Shepherd

Mark 6:30-34
³⁰ The apostles *gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. ³¹ And He *said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) ³² They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.
³³ The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them. ³⁴ When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

Message: Sheep Without A Shepherd

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is now in Nazareth, his hometown, but he doesn't get the reception that we would think. Instead of welcoming him, people question him. But he continues with his message of repent and believe. Jesus is becoming more and more well known and his message is reaching further and further. With that sometimes comes misunderstanding. Herod Antipas, one of 4 rulers of Rome now, wonders if Jesus is a resurrected John. At this, Mark diverts a little to tell us about John and his relationship with Herod and then his untimely death at the hands of Herod because his new wife Herodias felt shame over John's words about her marrying Herod and leaving her 1st husband in order to move up the social ladder.

Jesus has previously sent out his apostles. Multiplying the gospel message is key and Jesus commissions these men to do the work of the gospel, giving them the authority as well to heal people and exercise demons. The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. The apostles were returning to Jesus to tell him all that they had done and taught. Notice, done precedes taught as if, even with the apostles, there was something more electrifying about the miracles that had been performed than the message that had gone out. 

Jesus' response to the apostles is Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while. Jesus knows that they are probably exhausted from their work, perhaps even defaulting to healing people rather than focusing more squarely on the message. They have a need to retreat and rest. We all have this need. I have this need as I am taking 2 days off from work right now in order to take a rest before my new boss starts on Monday. I need a break as well. Jesus, upon creation, gave us a Sabbath day to rest. 

But, this doesn't mean the people will let people rest: They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves. The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them. It is not clear what the people's motivation was at this time. Was it the radical message or was it the miracles? I'm noticed thus far that Mark is not yet communicating in much detail the message of what Jesus is bringing but he is honed in more on the responses of people. In some ways there is a somewhat hidden message of belief and repentance that is going on in these passages. 

• Jesus performs miracles mostly related to healing and casting out of demons 1:21-2:12
• Controversy is seen in Jesus' friendship with sinners, over Sabbath-work, over Sabbath-healing, Opposition by his Friends 2:13-3:35
• Jesus provides parables that speak to the mission of his disciples but also the various responses that can be anticipated 4:1-34
• Jesus performs miracles more focused on his dominion over the sea, death and dying 4:35-5:43
• Even as the message goes out, there is sometimes misunderstanding of who Jesus is and what he is doing 5:44-6:34

And this is where today's passage brings us. We are witnessing Jesus' power in these passages, his power over lives and people and nature, but that doesn't necessarily mean the message is being received. It is hard to tell. He remarks that they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. As enamored as people were, they were still needing to be taught. 

Perhaps this is what Mark is trying to convey - there is importance in Jesus teaching as he is showing that Jesus keeps coming back to the message. Yet, why is he being so descriptive about the miracles as this is leading up now to the feeding of 5,000 and Jesus walking on the Water. Is this an attempt to build a crowd first and then provide them the message? Is this often what our churches are doing today? Are they providing something fun to bring people into the church? Often, I see this. Whether it is a carnival instead of Halloween or an event at a park, there are these opportunities to bring people in the door. However, the message of the Gospel, of sin, of repentance and believing must be central. We don't do all of those things to then give them a self-help seminar. 

Summary - The apostles have arrived, back from there journey of teaching and doing. Jesus sees that they need a rest, but the masses are still running after them. Jesus remarks that these people are still wondering like sheep without a shepherd. He responds then by teaching them. What they need is to learn and be taught. 

Promise: We need to sit under the solid teaching of God's word. The message is what changes lives, permanently. People will be enamored and flock to Him because of miracles, but the crux is the gospel to believe and surrender, turn from our sin and go continually toward God. 

Prayer: Thank you for Mark Lord and the message that I read from him. At times, I am not sure what I am to learn. I want to know you, through Mark's lens which I know mostly comes from Peter, but I want to know you as these men did in the time you walked the earth. Help me to rediscover you and know you in the way you wanted to be known. Help me to understand your message. Thank you for Godly men and women you have commissioned throughout the ages to teach us. Thank you for equipping and inspiring many. I pray that I too can rest when I need to. Thank you for being my Shepherd and showing me the way.

Mark 3:16-19 - Who Were the Twelve?

Mark 3:16-19
16 And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), 17 and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “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 Zealot; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.


Message: Who Were the Twelve?

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

There is not much known about these 12 men that Jesus appointed. In the preceding verses he mentions the significance of calling them: so that they could be with him, they could hear and see Jesus preach and cast out demons and then so they could do the same after being trained by Jesus (3:13-15). It is interesting that Mark, the writer of this gospel, was not among the 12.

The 12 called had a diverse background as they were made up of fishermen, tax collectors, revolutionaries. But their lives were not important, but just the fact that they were called to accompany Jesus. It is interesting that we know very little about them and that the gospel writers recorded little about what they did alongside Jesus.

Simon -  or Simeon meaning "a hearer", the son of Jonas surnamed Peter or Cephas, the Rock-man; a fisherman, like his father on the Galilean lake, originally from Bethsaida, and later in a house at Capernaum; encouraged by his brother Andrew; after Jesus' Ascension he has a position of special prominence.

James - the son of Zebedee and Salome, from Bethsaida, commonly known as James “the Great,” the first of the Apostolic body to suffer martyrdom, and the only one of the Twelve whose death is actually recorded in the New Testament.

John - the brother of James, who never in his Gospel calls himself by this name, but sometimes “the disciple whom Jesus loved”, sometimes “the other disciple”. To him our Lord committed the care of His earthly mother. These brothers were surnamed by our Lord, Boanerges, i. e. “sons of thunder.”

Andrew - brother of St Peter, native of Bethsaida; three notices of him in the Gospels, (i) On the occasion of the feeding of the 5,000 it is he who points out the little lad with the five barley loaves and the two fishes; (ii) when certain Greeks desired to see Jesus, it was he in conjunction with Philip who introduced them to the Lord; (iii) together with Peter, James, and John he inquired privately of our Lord respecting His future coming.

Philip - native of Bethsaida; one of the first to be spoken "Follow Me.” It was to him the question was put “to prove him,” “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” Together with Andrew and townspeople he brought the inquiring Greeks to the Saviour; it was he who asked “Lord, shew us the Father, and it suffice us.”

Bartholomew - Bar-Tolmai, the “Song of Solomon of Tolmai,”; besides John, he is mentioned by other synoptic evangelists, his birth-place is Cana; has a simple, guileless character, and he was one of the seven, to whom our Lord shewed Himself by the lake of Gennesaret after His resurrection.

Matthew - or Levi, has a separate calling in Mark 2:14; a tax collector.

Thomas - Didymus (a twin), whose character was marked by a deep attachment to his Master and a readiness even to die with Him, but at the same time by a tendency to misgiving and despondency, which made him ever ready to take the darker view of things, and to distrust other evidence than that of sight.

James - James the Less, son of Alphaeus, a distinct person from James the Lord’s brother and author of the Epistle, which bears his name.

Thaddæus - Judas (Jude), a brother, or possibly a son of James, bishop of Jerusalem; surnamed Thaddæus and Lebbæus “a man of energy and courage.” He is the author of the Epistle which bears his name (Jude). Once only in the Gospels do we find any act or saying of his recorded, “Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?”

Simon - the Cananite, or Cananœan, in Greek Zelotes. A a native of Canaan, or of Cana, but comes from a Chaldee or Syriac word Kanean or Kaneniah, by which the Jewish sect or faction of “the Zealots” was designated. To this sect Simon had probably belonged before his call.

Judas Iscariot - sometimes called the son of Simon, more generally Iscariot, i. e. probably “a native of Kerioth” a little village in the tribe of Judah.

Promise: These men were diverse, but more importantly united.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for choosing these 12 men, as you have chosen me. Thank you that they are not all perfect and that the reality is one even betrayed you. 

Mark 3:13-15 - Twelve Apostles

Mark 3:13-15
13 And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. 14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach,15 and to have authority to cast out the demons.

Message: Twelve Apostles

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Earlier, Jesus called 4 men to follow him, stating that he would make them fishers of men (1:16-17). Now here in Chapter 3 is the full calling of all disciples. Mark doesn't mention all by their names. Jesus goes up to the mountain (probably a place for him to pray) and from this high place summoned those whom He Himself wanted. This wasn't a collaboration. He chose the ones he wanted. And they came to Him. He called, they came. They were discovered first before they were apostles.

And He appointed twelve. They were set apart.

1. So that they would be with Him. Will apostles ever be established again, because their purpose was to be with Him. This was the initial reason for calling them - to be with Him. 
2. and that He could send them out to preach; he was called to preach repentance and belief. So, now his disciples would carry the same message. Jesus knew he wouldn't always be around, and he wanted his disciples to preach. He wants to work through and use other men. 
3. and to have authority to cast out the demons. It continues. As I look at these passages, I am a little startled, I suppose, of how much the casting out of demons is mentioned.  

Promise: The words of the Apostles carry the same authority as the words Christ spoke while on earth. 

Prayer: Thank you God for the way you appointed others to carry your message. Thank you that you use people to preach and carry your message. 

Romans 1:1 - Paul's Magnum Opus

Romans 1:1 - "Paul, a bond-servant of Christ, called as an apostle, set apart for the Gospel of God,"

Message: A convert of Christianity, a Pharisee, explains the Gospel of God and speaks of the true and complete message of Jesus Christ.

Time: Romans written sometime in AD 57-58, probably from Corinth, at the end of the third missionary journey. Paul was on his way to deliver monies collected from the Gentile churches to the Jewish church in Jerusalem. After Jerusalem, Paul wanted to stop in Rome to meet the church there before going on to preach the gospel in Spain. This letter is written to the Romans to introduce himself to the church there and to explain the message he preached throughout the world.

What the Lord is Saying:

Paul, is a bond-servant of Christ, as I am likewise. In Galatians 1:10, Paul says, "Am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ." Paul is speaking almost 30 years after the death of Christ on the cross and yet Paul is speaking as if Jesus is present at the same time he is. Bond-servant is the word doulos which means slave.

"God, it doesn’t matter what You tell me to do, I am willing to be submissive to Your will."

Paul is called as an apostle. I am not an Apostle in the official sense, but I am still a called one. I have been called by God.

Paul has been set apart for the Gospel of God. There is a special distinction on Paul's life. His calling is different from others. His mission is to preach the gospel. So, he is a slave, he is called an apostle, but his special purpose is to preach the Gospel of God. As this book begins, we must realize what it is, the Gospel in the truest sense.

Promise: We are people with a mission - to share the Gospel of God.