THE COWARDLY DOZEN
April 13, 2001
GOD HAS BEEN SPEAKING TO US RECENTLY ABOUT HIS CHURCH AND WHAT HE WILL DO.
Ÿ HE IS GATHERING A PEOPLE
Ÿ IF WE STAY HOLY, HE WILL ADD
Ÿ HE WILL SEND HIS SPIRIT BEFORE US
Ÿ HE WILL GIVE US THE WORDS TO SAY
OBVIOUSLY, GOD HAS BIG PLANS IN STORE.
I HAVE BEEN PREACHING TO YOU FOR 7 MONTHS THAT GOD IS GETTING READY TO ADD TO THIS CHURCH.
BUT GOD DOESN’T JUST RAIN PENNIES FROM HEAVEN!
AND NEW CHURCH MEMBERS DON’T JUST FALL OUT OF THE SKY!
CHRISTIANITY DID NOT BECOME THE WORLD’S LARGEST RELIGION SIMPLY BECAUSE PEOPLE BELIEVED THE GOD WOULD SEND PEOPLE!
THE EARLY CHURCH MIXED THEIR TRUST WITH THEIR ACTIONS AND GOD PROVIDED THE INCREASE!
2nd Chronicles 7:14
then, IF my people, who bear my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land.
GOD HAS ALWAYS HAD A PLAN.
GOD’S PLAN HAS ALWAYS HAD CONDITIONS!
Isaiah 1:19,20
If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the lord has spoken.
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GOD HAS SET US ON THE COMMON ROCK OF JESUS.
GOD HAS SET US UP TO RECEIVE THOSE WHOM HE HAS CALLED.
GOD HAS GIVEN US PEACE AND TAUGHT US LOVE.
AND GOD HAS PROMISED THAT HE WILL ADD TO THIS CHURCH.
THE QUESTION TONIGHT IS THIS: HOW DO WE FIT INTO THE PLAN OF GOD?
WE FIND OUT BY LOOKING AT THE COWARDLY DOZEN: THE 12 APOSTLES.
ANDREW
Ÿ son of Jona and brother of Peter.
Ÿ lived in Bethsaida and Capernaum.
Ÿ he was a fisherman
Ÿ was originally a disciple of John the Baptist
Ÿ John 1:35-41
35 The next day, John was again standing with two of his disciples.
36 On seeing Jesus walking by, he said, ”Look! God’s Lamb!”
37 His two disciples heard him speaking, and they followed Jesus.
38 Jesus turned and saw them following Him, and He asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to Him, “Rabbi!” (which means teacher) “Where are you staying?”
39 He said to them, “Come and see.” So they went and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him the rest of the day - it was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
40 One of the two who had heard John and had followed Jesus was Andrew the brother of Simon Peter.
41 The first thing he did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We’ve found the Messiah!”
THE CALL OF THE TWELVE BEGAN WITH GREAT EXCITEMENT!
ANDREW WAS EXCITED BECAUSE HE HAD FOUND THE LAMB OF GOD!
PETER
Ÿ son of Jona, brother of Andrew
Ÿ lived in Bethsaida and Capernaum
Ÿ fisherman, partners with James and John
Ÿ originally a disciple of John the Baptist
Ÿ Led to Jesus by Andrew
Ÿ John 1:42
He took him to Jesus. Looking at him, Jesus said, “You are Simon Bar Jona; you will be known as Peter.” (The name means “rock.”)
PHILIP
Ÿ lived in Bethsaida
Ÿ instantly followed when Jesus called.
Ÿ led Bartholomew to Jesus
Ÿ John 1:43-45
43 The next day, having decided to leave for Galilea, Jesus found Philip and said, “Follow me!”
44 Philip was from Bethsaida, the town where Andrew and Peter lived.
45 Philip found Bartholomew and told him, “We’ve found the one that Moses wrote about in the law and the prophets - it’s Jesus the son of Joseph from Nazareth.
BARTHOLOMEW
Ÿ John 1:46-49
46 Bartholomew answered him, “Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?” “Come and see” Philip said to him.
47 Jesus saw Bartholomew coming toward him and
remarked about him, “Here’s a true son of Isreal - nothing false in Him!”
48 Bartholomew said to Him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.
49 Bartholomew said, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Isreal!”
THE CALLING OF THE TWELVE BEGAN WITH EXCITEMENT!
THEY WERE RUNNING AROUND TELLING EVERYONE WHO JESUS WAS!
WE HAVE FOUND HIM! COME AND SEE!
JAMES & JOHN
Ÿ fishermen, partners with Simon Peter.
Ÿ when Jesus showed his power by the number of fish they caught, they left everything and followed Him.
Ÿ led to Jesus by Simon Peter.
SIMON ZEALOTES
Ÿ member of the revolutionary Jewish Zealots
THOMAS ALSO KNOW AS DIDYMUS
Ÿ the doubter
JAMES
Ÿ possibly the brother of Matthew
MATTHEW
Ÿ also known as Levi
Ÿ tax collector just outside Capernaum
Ÿ wealthy yet despised because he was a tax collector
JUDAS
Ÿ son of James
Ÿ from Galilee
JUDAS ISCARIOT
Ÿ son of Simon
Ÿ a thief
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COULD THERE BE A MORE UNLIKELY GROUP?
THE 12 WERE CALLED FROM DIFFERENT SITUATIONS . . .
THEY HAD ONE THING IN COMMON: THEY ALL DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS!
THEY WERE EXCITED!
THEY KNEW THAT THEIR LIVES HAD BEEN CHANGED!
AND THEY SAW THE HAND OF GOD MOVE!
THE DISCIPLES WERE THERE WHEN JESUS
HEALED THE SICK!
CLEANSED THE LEPERS!
RAISED THE DEAD!
THEY WATCHED HIM
WALK ON THE WATER!
FEED 5,000 WITH JUST A FEW FISHES AND BREAD!
SPEAK TO THE STORM!
AND THEN, JESUS GAVE THEM POWER TO GO AND DO AS HE HAD DONE!
Luke 9:1,2
Calling together the Twelve, Jesus gave them power and authority to expel all the demons and to cure diseases;
and he sent them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal.
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CAN YOU REMEMBER WHEN JESUS FIRST CALLED YOU?
CAN YOU REMEMBER WHEN HE SAID: “FOLLOW ME.”
WE HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT OF DARKNESS . . .
WE HAVE FOUND JESUS AS OUR EVERYTHING . . .
WE HAVE SEEN THE HAND OF GOD IN OUR LIVES . . .
JUST LIKE THE DISCIPLES, WE KNOW THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH, THE ONE AND ONLY SON OF GOD!
BUT WE ARE MORE LIKE THE DISCIPLES THEN WE REALIZE.
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READ
Matthew 26:47-56
47 While Jesus was still speaking, Judas came, and with him a large crowd carrying swords and clubs, from the head priests and elders of the people.
48 The betrayer had arranged to give them a signal: “The man I kiss is the one you want - grab him!”
49 He went straight up to Jesus, said, “Peace, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” then they moved forward, laid hold of Jesus and arrested Him.
51 At that, one of the men with Jesus reached for his sword, drew it out and struck at the servant at the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52 Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back where it belongs, for everyone who uses the sword will die by the sword.
53 Don’t you know that I can ask my Father, and he will instantly provide more than a dozen armies of angels to help me?
54 But if I did that, how could the passages in the scriptures be fulfilled that say it has to happen this way?”
55 Then Jesus addressed the crowd: “So you came out to take me with swords and clubs, the way you would the leader of a rebellion? Every day I sat in the Temple court, teaching; and you didn’t seize me then.
56 But all this has happened so that what the prophets wrote may be fulfilled.” THEN THE DISCIPLES ALL DESERTED HIM AND RAN AWAY.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MESSAGE, I CALLED THE DISCIPLES THE “COWARDLY DOZEN.”
NOW YOU KNOW WHY!
THEY SAW FIRST HAND WHAT GOD HAD DONE THROUGH HIS SON, JESUS!
BUT WHEN THINGS GOT BAD, THEY RAN LIKE A BUNCH OF SCARED RABBITS!
THEY WATCHED JESUS RAISE THE DEAD
BUT THEY FEARED FOR THEIR LIVES.
THEY WATCHED JESUS STAND AGAINST OPPOSITION
BUT THEY RAN AWAY FROM THE DANGER.
THEY WATCHED JESUS CHANGE PEOPLE’S LIVES
BUT THEY HELD ON TO THEIR OWN & FLED.
WHEN EVERYTHING WAS GOING GOOD,
WHEN THE PREACHING WAS POSITIVE,
WHEN THE WORD WAS UPLIFTING THEM,
THEY STOOD LIKE GRANITE!
BUT WHEN THINGS GOT DIFFICULT,
WHEN THE WORD OF GOD BROKE THE YOKE,
WHEN IT CAME TIME TO STAND,
THEY FALTERED AND RAN AWAY!
BUT DON’T JUDGE THE COWARDLY DOZEN TO HARSHLY . . .
WE ARE MANY TIMES JUST LIKE THEM!
THE TAX COLLECTOR, THE REVOLUTIONARY, THE DOUBTER, THE FISHERMEN, THE POOR AND THE RICH HAD ALL STOOD TOGETHER WITH JESUS!
NOW THEY FLED FROM HIM TO SAVE THEMSELVES!
AND ALL OF US, INCLUDING MYSELF, HAVE DONE THE SAME THING AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER!
BUT CHURCH LISTEN CLOSE!
HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD!
I HAVE COME TO BRING YOU GOOD NEWS!
I HAVE COME TO SHOW YOU THE END OF THE MATTER!
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I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT WAS HAPPENING JUST A FEW YEARS AFTER THAT FEARFUL NIGHT:
Acts 17:1-6
1 After passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue.
2 According to his usual practice, Paul went in; and on three Sabbaths he gave them sermons from the scriptures,
3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and that “this Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.”
4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and threw in their lot with Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the Greek men who were “God-fearers” and not a few of the leading women.
5 But the unbelieving Jews grew jealous; so they got together some vicious men from the riffraff hanging around in the market square, collected a crowd and started a riot in the city. They attacked Jason’s house, hoping to bring Paul and Silas out to the mob.
6 But when they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city authorities and shouted, “THESE MEN WHO HAVE TURNED THE WHOLE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN HAVE COME HERE TOO!
PAUL AND SILAS WERE NOT AMONG THE ORIGINAL 12. BUT THEY WERE CONVERTED BECAUSE OF THE ORIGINAL 12.
HOW DID THIS FEARFUL GROUP THAT DESERTED JESUS BECOME SO STRONG?
THE DISCIPLES WENT FROM COWARDS TO CONQUERORS!
WHAT HAPPENED?
THE DISCIPLES WENT FROM COWARDS
TO CONQUERORS . . .
“ “ “ “ FEARFUL
TO FEARLESS . . .
“ “ “ “ SAVING MY SKIN
TO SAVING THE WORLD . . .
HOW DID THE COWARDLY DOZEN
BECOME THE CONQUERING ARMY OF THE LORD?
IF WE FIND THIS OUT, WE CAN BE THE SAME WAY!
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THE CHANGE BEGAN WITH A PROMISE:
Acts 1:3-8
3After His death He showed Himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. During a period of forty days they say him, and He spoke with them about the Kingdom of God.
4 At one of these gatherings, He instructed them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for “what the Father promised, which you heard about from me.”
* * *
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; you will be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, indeed to the ends of the earth!
WHY DID GOD SEND US THE HOLY SPIRIT?
COMFORTER . . .
TEACHER . . .
GUARANTEE OF OUR INHERITANCE . . .
POWER TO BE WITNESSES FOR JESUS CHRIST!
THE HOLY SPIRIT
Ÿ TAKES THE FEARFUL AND MAKES THEM FRUITFUL!
Ÿ TAKES THE COWARDLY AND MAKES THEM COURAGEOUS!
Ÿ TAKES THE SHY AND MAKES THEM SHOUT!
Ÿ TAKES THE INTROVERT AND MAKES THEM EXTROVERT!
Ÿ TOOK THE DISCIPLES AND MADE THEM TURN THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN!
Ÿ CAN TAKE YOU AND TURN YOU INTO A POWERFUL WITNESS FOR JESUS CHRIST!
JESUS IS OUR PERSONAL “I AM”
NOT “I WAS” . . .
NOT “I WILL BE” . . .
HE IS OUR “I AM”!
NOT JUST YESTERDAY! NOT JUST TOMORROW!
JESUS WANTS TO WORK TODAY!
ONE FINAL PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE:
PETER & JOHN, TWO COWARDS TURNED INTO CONQUERORS!
Acts 4:18-31
18 So they called them in again and ordered them under no circumstances to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered, “You must judge whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God.
20 As for us, we can’t help talking about what we have actually seen and heard.”
21 They threatened them some more but finally let them go - they couldn’t punish them because of the people, for everyone was praising God over what had happened,
22 since the man who had been miraculously healed was more than forty years old.
23 Upon being released, they went back to their friends and reported what the head priests and elders had said to them.
24 When they heard it, they raised their voices to God with singleness of heart. “Master,” they prayed, “You made heaven, earth, the sea, and everything in them.
25 By the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David, your servant, you said,
26‘Why did the nations rage and the peoples devise useless plans? The kings of the earth took their stand; and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against His Messiah.’
27 “This has come true in this city, since Herod and Pontius Pilate, with gentiles and the peoples of Isreal, all assembled against your holy servant Jesus, whom you made Messiah,
28 to do what your power and plan had already determined before hand should happen.
29 So now, Lord, take note of their threats; and enable your slaves to speak your message with boldness!
30 Stretch our your hand to heal and to do signs and miracles through the name of your holy servant Jesus!
31 WHILE THEY WERE STILL PRAYING, THE PLACE WHERE THEY WERE GATHERED WAS SHAKEN. THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND THEY SPOKE GOD’S MESSAGE WITH BOLDNESS.
PETER, WHO HAD DENIED JESUS OUT OF FEAR . . .
JOHN, WHO HAD FLED FROM THE GARDEN . . .
BOTH OF THEM HAD BEEN CHANGED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD!
I’M HERE TO TELL YOU TONIGHT:
THIS IS A NEW BEGINNING . . .
FORGET THE PAST . . .THE FAILINGS . . .
DON’T BE AFRAID . . .
LET THE HOLY SPIRIT FILL YOU WITH BOLDNESS AND BECOME A WITNESS FOR CHRIST!
CHARITY WAS SPEAKING WITH A DOCTOR THIS WEEK WHO ATTENDS CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER.
Ÿ WHEN SHE BEGAN, VERY FEW PEOPLE
Ÿ ONE DAY, THOSE PEOPLE DECIDED TO GO TO WORK.
Ÿ THEY STARTED WITNESSING, KNOCKING DOORS, USING EVERY OPPORTUNITY.
Ÿ “IT WAS WORK”
Ÿ NOW THEY HAVE AROUND 300 FAMILIES AND SHE SAID: “THAT’S ENOUGH FOR NOW.”
IT CAN HAPPEN!
GOD WANTS IT TO HAPPEN!
IN EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE:
Ÿ LET THE HOLY SPIRIT TURN YOU FROM DOUBT TO DETERMINATION!
Ÿ FROM FEARFULNESS TO FRUITFULNESS!
Ÿ FROM COWARDICE TO COURAGEOUSNESS!
THE COWARDLY DOZEN DID NOT REMAIN THE COWARDLY DOZEN!
WHATEVER YOUR NEED TONIGHT . . .
WHATEVER GOD IS CALLING YOU TO DO IN LIFE . . .
DO NOT REMAIN AS YOU HAVE BEEN - LET THE HOLY SPIRIT CAUSE YOU TO HAVE BOLDNESS IN ALL THINGS!
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED TO SOME OF THE COWARDLY DOZEN!
Andrew was bound to death. He preached until his death in 74 A.D.
James , son of Zebedee, was beheaded in Jerusalem by the sword.
John was banished to the Isle of Patmos, 96 A.D.
Phillip was crucified at Heirapole, Phryga, 52 A.D.
Bartholomew was beaten, crucified, then beheaded by the command of a king, 52 A.D.
Thomas was run through by a lance at Corehandal, East Indies, 52 A.D.
Matthew was slain by the sword in the city of Ethiopia about 60 A.D.
James son of Alphaeus, was thrown from a pinnacle, then beaten to death, 60 A.D.
THEIR LIVES HAD BEEN CHANGED WITH POWER FROM IN HIGH!
TONIGHT, THAT SAME POWER IS AVAILABLE TO YOU!
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER TO PRAYER:
JESUS SAYS “I AM”
IF YOU WANT THE BOLDNESS TO DO WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO:
JESUS SAYS “I AM”
