Sermon Central
-
From Mission Impossible To Mission Accomplished!
Contributed by Victor Ramlall on Aug 2, 2014 (message contributor)
Summary: God is delighted and able to take the misfits and rejected of society, and patiently turn them into world shakers and world changers for the Kingdom of God! All he needs is a surrendered and committed life.
Acts 4:1-13 KJV And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. 5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Jesus Handpicked His Misfits!
In Luke 6:12-16 we have an account of Jesus selecting his twelve.
Luke 6:12-16 KJV And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
Jesus' disciples were picked by Him after a night of prayer!
What kind of men would you interview and employ for your business? If you wanted to make a success of any venture you would go out of your way to find the best persons for the job!
The disciples were as ordinary a bunch of misfits you will ever come across, yet it pleased the Lord, Who knew all men, to pick those men!
They were deliberately handpicked!
They did not look like world conquerors.
They did not look like anything!
They were constantly arguing and squabbling over who would be the greatest in the kingdom, sleeping when they were told to pray, denying that they knew Him, running away when Jesus was taken in Gethsemane, doubting His Word of His Resurrection! The women showed more courage than these men who Jesus picked. Yet Jesus was planning to start a world shaking mission with these very men!
The bunch of misfits that Jesus picked were a delight to Him! He enjoyed picking what the elite referred to as "unlearned and ignorant men". They were a bunch who had no idea what to do, and they kept getting it wrong! But The Lord was patient and loving with them...all the time!
They were always thinking in fleshly and earthly terms and He delighted in demonstrating the unlimited resources of His Father! Our Father!
They wanted to know where and how they going to get bread to feed the thousands! He showed them where and He showed them how!
They thought they were going to their death when He decided to visit Lazarus. Instead He took them to a resurrection party!
Peter toiled all night and caught nothing! Jesus said launch out into the deep and let down the nets! Against all odds and natural laws He showed them how to really fish! He had to remind Peter of this after His resurrection!
They worried about taxes! He literally fished it out for them!
Their physical limitations cried out at the life threatening storm! He showed them that He was Master of the wind and the waves!
Connected by Commission to Draw on His Resources
Jesus may have been limited by His physical body but His resources were unlimited! He was connected! He knew how to withdraw from the resource, when to withdraw, and why to withdraw!
