Pastor A

Simon never had a problem getting excited about things. He was called a “zealot” meaning a Jew full of passion, enthusiasm and activity. Simon’s problem was one of direction. His energies were being channeled in the wrong way. But when he yielded to the Master, Jesus Christ, the rebel became a soldier of the Cross. The fiery patriot became a dedicated disciple. Simon’s hatred of social corruption was turned into hatred of moral corruption, sin.

His natural strengths and energies, when placed under the total control of Christ, were changed into channels of spiritual power. He hated sin with the same intensity he had hated corrupt government. He was as dedicated and loyal to his new Master as he had been to the Zealots. He abandoned himself totally to the cause of Christ, just as he had done for the cause of patriotism.

When you as a Christian allow Jesus Christ to master your abilities and enthusiasms, loving Him and His will above all else, you will begin to taste the same kind of spiritual victory and power in your life that Simon the Zealot knew in his. The choice really is yours and yours alone to make.

Galatians 2:20, ‘I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.“

They called themselves the Zealots and the name fit them well. This feisty little band of men somehow got the idea that they could take on the entire Roman army. Many of them died trying, but the Empire shook when they fell. Their lives burned with devotion to a cause they believed to be just.

One of these Zealots was called by Jesus to be one of the Twelve. His name was Simon, and the fiery passion which already gripped his heart was remarkably transformed. God changed his dreams for social change into an exciting vision for spiritual change. Simon was a “hot” disciple for Christ.

What kind of disciple are you? As you think about the question, consider something God said in Revelation 3:15-16, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.“

This forceful statement is bad news for the majority of professing Christians. Think about it: God says that if you are spiritually lukewarm you make Him vomit!

The church is not really making the impact on the world God intends. America has not experienced widespread revival in more than 100 years. In fact, most Christians do not believe such a spiritual awakening is even possible today. The God of Elijah can bring revival today just as He had done so many times in history. But where are the Elijahs of God? Where are the Christians who will become torches burning with the fire of the Holy Spirit? Will you be one? Will you do what Simon did?

Simon became a soldier for Jesus Christ. He had been a soldier of the Zealots, but he exchanged his uniform and weapons to fight in a more important battle. Paul instructed the Ephesians to “put on the whole armor of God.” He explained that Christians are to be real soldiers who fight in a real battle against a real enemy. The objective is spiritual victory.

Nobody likes to lose. It is just not a normal reaction. Neither is it normal to accept a loss complacently; yet the majority of Christians go down to spiritual defeat time after time without realizing it can be different. God wants to give us a victorious, consistent life.

Tomorrow we will look at what is really necessary for spiritual victory to take place in the life of the believer.

Peter was, without a doubt, the most “human” of all the disciples. Perhaps this is why he demonstrates so well the whole idea of being controlled by the master. Peter’s “self” was dynamic, aggressive, ambitious, talented, successful. But “self” on the throne of his life had led only to inconsistency and spiritual defeat.

How did the Master gain control of Peter’s life? How did Jesus transform the unstable Simon Bar-Jona of the Gospels to Peter, the Rock of the Book of Acts? It began when Peter quit running his own life and quit operating by his own ambitions, his own ideas, and his own strengths. When Peter let God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, control him completely; Peter’s life changed forever.

How will Jesus control your life as a Christian in this twenty-first century? Just as he did Peter’s: when you stop doing it yourself and yield to His control in every area. Then He, through the Holy Spirit, will fill you, empower you, and use you in ways you could never have imagined. It won’t be easy to die to self. But Jesus cannot control you unless you willingly step aside and make Him your Lord and Master.

Acts 1:8, “But ye SHALL receive power, AFTER that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…“

During the time Jesus was tried, crucified, buried, and resurrected from the dead, Peter was living a tumultuous life on earth. However, something happened in Peter’s life after the roller coaster ride of denial of his Lord. For forty days Jesus lived with the disciples prior to His ascension into heaven. For ten more days, the disciples stayed in Jerusalem, waiting and praying. Some have suggested that the new power in Peter’s life was his knowledge of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Unquestionably, that was a thrilling thing to know; but it was not the key to Peter’s consistent spiritual victory. He had known about the resurrection for all but three days of those seven weeks and had experienced no new power. The “secret” was what Peter and the other disciples were waiting and praying for during those ten days in Jerusalem. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, before He ascended into heaven, had said to them in Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.“

The new power in Peter’s life was not the result of something: it was the result of Someone – the Holy Spirit. Once Peter was controlled by the Holy Spirit, he became a powerhouse for his Lord. No longer did he have to rely on his own abilities to motivate and lead others. Now he was charged with the very power of God Himself. Of course, Peter sinned and blundered even after his discovery; but these failures were the exception, not the rule.

Maybe you are riding a spiritual roller coaster like the one Peter rode for such a long time. You want to get off, but you do not know how. Take heart, because you can experience in your life the same transforming power that changed Peter from an unpredictable disciple to the “rock” of the early church.

Of all the men portrayed in the drama of the Scriptures, Peter is perhaps the most popular. He was the kind of guy you would vote for as “Most Likely to Succeed.” He was the extrovert of the twelve disciples. Peter was impulsive, aggressive, dynamic, enthusiastic, and more! But Peter was not perfect, not by any stretch of the imagination. He has more than his share of faults. He was very accustomed to doing the wrong thing at the wrong time in the wrong way. Maybe this is why we can identify with Peter. When we think about the tremendous way in which God used him, in spite of his failures, the thought occurs: “Maybe there is hope for me, after all!”

The turning point in Peter’s life was the day he discovered a “secret” which revolutionized his service for his Lord. The Gospels reveal the “old” Peter, riding a spiritual roller coaster. The book of Acts reveals the “new” Peter, experiencing consistent spiritual victory.

In the Gospels we read of Peter denying the Lord, spiritually defeated by a young servant girl in Matthew 26:69-75, “Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. 73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.“

But in the book of Acts we witness thousands being saved and baptized after Peter boldly preached the Gospel. Acts 2:41, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.“

Tomorrow we will examine, what happened in the seven short weeks between Peter’s denial and his first sermon!

Philip was not quick to understand spiritual things or attempt to live by faith. In fact, he was probably the “slowest” mentally and spiritually of all the disciples. At the feeding of the five thousand, when Jesus asked him where they could get enough bread to feed the people, Philip did not respond in faith. He did not say, “Why, You can provide bread for them, Lord. We saw You turn water into wine. This should not be too hard for You.”

No, all Philip could say to the Son of God is found in John 6:5-7, “When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.” When the searching Greeks came to him at the feast, wanting to find Jesus, Philip did not even have the spiritual boldness to deal with them himself. He had to take them to Andrew, who helped him introduce them to Christ.

John 12:20-22, “And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.“

But, Philip never gave up. Every day he stayed close to the Master, getting to know Him more perfectly, obeying His teaching as it became plain to him. And before too long, it all fell in place for him. Philip found the will of God… not because he was full of faith, abundantly talented or spiritually brilliant. Because Philip’s heart was right and because he daily obeyed and learned more from the Master, Philip found God’s will for his life.

You may not be the outstanding Christian in your church. You may never be recognized for your talents or abilities. You may even share with Philip the reputation of being “slow”, and “underachiever.” But when it comes to knowing and doing the will of God, you have the same opportunity and capability as anyone. God’s will does not belong to a favored few; it belongs to all who from the heart of trust and obey the Master completely.  

Philip was a Jew with a Greek name. Historians suggest that he was probably given his name in honor of Philip the Tetrarch, a Greek king who had ruled the region where the disciple was born. Understandably, there had been a strong Greek influence in Philip’s life, and this was to play an important part in God’s will for Philip’s ministry. One Bible passage illustrates this fact:

John 12:20-21, “And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.“

Was it coincidental that these Greeks came to Philip and not to Peter or John or some other disciple? No. It was a part of God’s plan for Philip’s life. The Gospel was to be shared with all people (Greeks included) and Philip was to be instrumental in spreading the good news throughout the Grecian world. God used Philip’s knowledge and understanding of the Greek culture to accomplish this vital mission. The most reliable records of Philip’s later life show that his ministry was centered in the areas populated with Greeks. The life of Philip is a simple yet significant example of the way God directs His children into His will.

God has a wonderful plan for your life. To say that He does not is to insult His character. It is ridiculous to question whether the God Who so masterfully created and redeemed you would fail to also provide a plan for your life. The simple truth is that the primary reason for your existence is to live according to His plan, which is called, “the will of God.”

Jesus Himself said, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me.” John 4:34. So, the purpose of your life is identical to the purpose of Jesus’ life – to do the will of God. But perhaps you are confused about how the will of God is revealed. Certainly there are a lot of wrong ideas about this; but it is safe to say that much confusion can be cleared away by understanding the two aspects of God’s will: written and unwritten.

Tomorrow we will have a few thoughts regarding God’s written will.

Thomas has endured a lot of character abuse through the years. He has been condemned as a hopeless doubter and criticized for his lack of faith when the resurrected Jesus first appeared to his followers. But Thomas was really no worse than the other disciples. They, too, forsook Jesus when He was arrested in the Garden. Matthew 26:56, “But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.” None of them believed in the resurrection until they had seen Jesus alive again.

John 20:19-20, “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.“

When the disciples told Thomas they had seen the Lord and that He was live, Thomas did not accept their testimony as the truth. He said in John 20:25, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Thomas wanted a personal conviction, a personal knowledge of the truth, carefully thought out and tested by personal experience. It was not that he doubted the word of the other disciples, it is just that he wanted to know for himself.

And perhaps this is the main point of Thomas’ life: that faith must be personal, based upon a personal knowledge, and application of the Word (both the Living Word, Jesus, and the written Word, the Bible) to your own heart and mind. You as a Christian cannot live off someone else’s faith; your parents, your pastors, your friends. You must know for yourself. When you take your doubts and your honest desires for the truth to the Living and the written Word, you will find the answers.

You, like Thomas, will be able to know Jesus really is the Master. You really can serve Him with the utmost of confidence.

He was the original “Doubting Thomas.” When the other disciples came to him and excitedly shared the news of Christ’s resurrection, he said, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:25. He demanded proof before accepting their remarkable claim. But eight lonely days passed before he knew the truth. Then, on the eighth day he was with the other disciples when Jesus appeared in their midst.

The Lord spoke to Thomas and invited him to touch His hands and side. But Thomas did not need to, because just the sight of the risen Master was evidence enough to convince him. He looked into the eyes of the Savior and said, “My Lord and my God.“

The Bible says that, “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Thomas believed because he met face to face the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ. Of course, we cannot meet Jesus face to face as Thomas did, but we can meet Him through the written Word of God, the Bible. This perhaps was the most important lesson in the life of Thomas; learning faith through the Word of God.

There is an oldie but goodie that goes like this: Curious little Johnnie discovers a large dust-covered family Bible in the living room and asks his mother: “Mommy, whose book is that?”

“Why, that God’s book, Johnnie.” With childish brilliance he answers, “Well, why don’t we give it back to Him? Nobody seems to be using it.”

Sound familiar? Chances are you live in a household much like Johnnie’s. The Bible is there, but it is just a part of the furniture, not a part of the lives of the people who live in the house. By now you are probably shaking your head in agreement, and that is good. The first step toward solving a problem is recognizing what is wrong. But first, let’s personalize the issue: What role does the Bible play in your everyday life? Do you read it daily? Do you study it daily? Do you live by the belief that “a verse a day keeps the Devil away?”

If the Bible is not an indispensable part of your life, you have a real problem on your hands. Dozens of reason for the absolute necessity of Bible study could be listed. Over the next couple days we will examine some of the reasons you need to study the Bible.

John, the impetuous young disciple whom Jesus called “the soon angry one,” outlived all his contemporaries. He was the only one of the Twelve not to die a violent martyr’s death. But he did live a martyr’s life. He was beaten, persecuted, and finally exiled to the Island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea.

And yet, what was the overriding theme of John’s life? What filled his heart and mind? The love of God! Not anger or bitterness or resentment; just love. Over 50 times in I, II, and III John, letters he wrote, he talks about love; the love God has for us and the love we share with our brothers and sisters in Christ. He shared the love we are to carry to a world full of hatred and strife. In submitting yourself to the Master, you are filled with the very God of love Himself.

When you allow Jesus Christ to totally control your heart, your thoughts, your actions and reactions, then you, like John, will walk in love. Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.“

Although Jesus chose twelve men to be His disciples. He devoted much of His attention to three of the twelve: Peter, John, and James Zebedee. As a member of this “inner circle,” James Zebedee was privileged to witness several important events in Jesus’ ministry. He was with the Master when He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead.

He was a witness to the incredible Transfiguration of Christ on a Judean mountain. He was there during Jesus’ lonely experience in the garden of Gethsemane. And, undoubtedly, James Zebedee was present during numerous events in Jesus’ ministry which are not recorded in the Scriptures. Every day for more than three years in the school of discipleship, he was taught by the Master Himself. But, like the others, James Zebedee was a “slow learner.”

Not until after the Resurrection and the life-empowering experiences of the Day of Pentecost did he begin to live in “total identification” with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, James Zebedee did allow the Master to control him completely; and once he had done this, he was ready to serve, to suffer, and to die for Christ. Although his ministry was brief, James Zebedee holds the honorable distinction of being the first disciple to die for his faith.

You may never have to suffer physical punishment and death for your faith in Christ. But you must be willing to, if necessary. By willingly yielding your life each day into the Master’s control, you will be prepared to live the life of identification with Jesus Christ. As you die daily to self and to sin, you can discover the joyous truth recorded in Galatians 2:20.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.“

Eleven of the greatest men in the Bible never guessed there was a phony in their midst. They had lived with him as a brother for three years, and had even trusted him with their group’s money. He had done everything they had done: he had preached, he had cast out demons, he had healed the sick as we see in Matthew 10:1-4, “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.“

Never once in all those activities was he “exposed.” Even at the Last Supper when the disciples were told one of them would betray Jesus; they all wondered who it was. No one knew: no one except Jesus and Judas himself.

But Judas didn’t have to remain a phony. The sop Jesus handed him at the Last Supper was a ceremonial bread reserved for the meal’s honored guest. When Judas planted the kiss of betrayal on Jesus’ cheek in the Garden of Gethsemane, the ever-loving Son of God turned to him and said, “Friend, wherefore art thou come?” Jesus never stopped loving Judas. He always left the door of repentance and salvation open. Judas himself slammed it shut by refusing to yield to Jesus as Master of his life. Oh, he had called him “Master” many times; even at the moment of betrayal, but his heart had said, “I will not have this man rule over me.”

How is it with you? Are you like Judas, saying all the right words, doing all the right things? Are you feeling empty, fearful, and guilt-ridden inside? Jesus waits to receive you, if you will only yield to Him as Savior and Master of your life.

If Judas could return for just one hour to speak to you personally, undoubtedly he would try to persuade you to make the decision he did NOT make. He would talk to you about your eternal destiny. There is a good possibility he would ask you: Do you know for certain that if you were to die today, you would go to heaven?

Tragically, many people have the idea that even if God made eternal life possible, He would not let us in on the secret. The good news is that God does offer eternal life and that you can be sure of receiving it. In fact, one reason the Bible was written was to get this message to you. The Bible states, “These things have I written unto you that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” I John 5:13.

Suppose that you were to die tonight and stand before God; what reason would you give Him for allowing you into Heaven? Would you tell Him about all the things you have done for Him? Would you mention your tithes and offerings, your work for the church, your baptism, your perfect Sunday School attendance? Many people would. But the Bible says that none of these answers are acceptable. There is only one answer and it is given in great detail in the Bible. This answer is known as the Gospel, which means, “Good News.”

Imagine yourself as an artist painting The Last Supper. You have spent many long hours painstakingly brushing in every minute detail. The canvas is beginning to come alive. The dimly lit room, the massive table surrounded by Jesus and the Twelve; it all seems so real. You have just one figure to portray before the portrait is complete: you have not drawn Judas. His chair is empty. Thoughtfully you study the scene and wonder: “What did he really look like?”

What do you think? Practically every portrait of Judas reveals a man dressed in black. His face is twisted in anger; his expression is sinister. His picture looks like one you would find in the mug file at the police station.

Contrary to what most people think, Judas could not have looked like that at all. In fact, he was the opposite. When the time came for the disciples to choose a treasurer, they picked Judas. he probably looked more trustworthy than any of the others! He was different and that is without question. He was the only disciple not from Galilee. He was from Judea and he probably felt like a Southern gentleman in New York City!

But we do not remember Judas for this difference. We remember him for the difference, not in his personality, but in his character. Judas was a traitor. That is what we think of when his name is mentioned.

But Judas did not have to betray Jesus Christ. He had the same opportunities offered to the others. He was, after all, chosen to be a disciple after Jesus spent a night in prayer. But Judas sold out. He made a decision and he paid the price for it.

Judas wrongly used the greatest power God gives to man: the power of choice. God has given to you that same power of choice. He offers you the same opportunity He offered Judas. On the surface, Judas was probably one of the most “spiritual” of the disciples, but he was a counterfeit Christian. He was 100% phony. And, unfortunately, a staggering number of professing “Christians” today are just like Judas.