Called, Appointed And Changed By The Master

Jesus calls those whose hearts are ripe to be melted and molded. He calls, He appoints, He changes them and He empowers them. He empowers them BEFORE the changes are complete…

Look at verse 13... Now I think we need to understand that the disciples were Plain, ordinary men…called by Jesus.

I really want you to see three things about what happened.

Look at verse 13. The first thing we see is: The Call

I want us to see three things in this verse.

1. Only a few were called: Jesus didn’t call the crowd.

Jesus calls those out of the crowd, who show more interest and more commitment. He is looking for those who show a willingness to change.

He notices those... who listen with more attention… who are more awake and alert… who respond with a motivated or excited heart.

Jesus will use those who show more connection to Him after the crowds have gone. In other words when no one is looking…

He is looking for those who want to serve God with meaning and purpose. He is not looking for “clock watchers” …

**Jesus does not look at the importance of people, or at their appearance, not even at their ability and education.

Jesus looks at the heart of people. When He sees a person listening, motivated and wanting to serve, He calls that person.

2. The One Who "called them” It was not some committee. Jesus is the One who calls.

He does not call those whom the world sees as more fit and educated. He calls those whose hearts are right and responsive. Those He can use, regardless of what the world thinks.

3. The disciples "came to Him: When He calls, we need to answer…

The Greek translation means "they went away unto Him." This is the idea of forsaking their former work and taking on the new work assigned by Jesus.

When Jesus calls you…He calls you to a new life. This means that we must forsake the old life…our former things for a relationship with Jesus that is real and personal.

Too often, these days, what we find is many people want Jesus but are unwilling to let go of the “old man” BUT that’s not how it works…

Lk.9:23-26 “23Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

24For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

25For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

26For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”

The second thing we see is in verses 14&15: The Appointment:

Jesus appoints us for four specific purposes

1. We’re appointed to be with Jesus. You will never accomplish the other three if you by pass This first step.

This is the first lesson we need to learn: God wants a personal relationship and devotion before everything else.

According to ls.43:1O God willed men to "know Him, believe Him and understand Him" above all else.

“10“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me,

And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.”

We are to live in His presence, daily learning from Him and drawing our spiritual nourishment and strength from Him.

Ph. 3: 8-10 “8Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

10that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,”

2. We are appointed to be sent NOT to be seated.

We are to be His ambassadors, His representatives who move out into the world for the soul purpose of representing Him in our own little piece of the world

2Cor.5:20 “20Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

3. We are appointed to be the messengers of Jesus Christ.

He has a message for the world, and you and I are to proclaim His message to the world