The 12 Apostles
Week 11
Simon the “Freedom Fighter”
Introduction:
“To arms, to arms... the war’s begun! They’re heading toward Concord!” Paul Revere’s voice could be heard even above the sound of the horses hooves beating the ground. The year was 1775 and the british were approaching with great numbers of troops. Sending volley after volley of shots into the air aimed at the Minutemen. Paul’s group of men were just ordinary farmers, bankers, fishermen, tradesmen... who had been trained to go to war within a minute. Thus they were called minutemen. They were always ready to protect their families, homes, land, country and faith against any force which would attempt to place them under British bondage. The Minutemen were vastly outnumbered, but on that day the 19th of April, these ordinary volunteers scurrying through the bushes and brush continued their assault on the enemy until they had driven back the british from taking Concord. These Minutemen were courageous, faithful, willing, and able. They were faithful to their country and zealous for their religious freedom. (The End)
When we study the Bible we also find a group of individuals, volunteers who were always ready in a moment’s notice to defend their faith and fight for the freedom of their country.
They were the Zealots.
In about 6 AD a Jewish man called “Judas the Galilean” assembled a group of men to fight against Rome’s heavy taxation of the Jews. It was at this time that they led a bloody revolt against the Romans, the affects of which could be felt for the next 60 years.
You see, both groups (the Minutemen and the Zealots) were volunteers who were ready at any given moment to press back the enemy of their freedom. They were courageous, contagious and they were zealous.
Interestingly, that as we look at our next Apostle we find each of the three synoptic gospel writers characterize him in this very same way.
Matthew 10:4
4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Mark 3:18
18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot
Luke 6:15
15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,
also in Acts 1:13
13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
The term Zeal means “to have an eager and earnest desire for something.”
Zeal for a principle, a nation, or for God.
The bible tells us that we should be zealous in our relationship with God.
Romans 12:9-11
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Titus 2:11-15
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.
12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God,
13 while we look forward to that wonderful event when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing what is right.
15 You must teach these things and encourage your people to do them, correcting them when necessary. You have the authority to do this, so don’t let anyone ignore you or disregard what you say.
Titus 3:8
8 These things I have told you are all true. I want you to insist on them so that everyone who trusts in God will be careful to do good deeds all the time. These things are good and beneficial for everyone.
Hebrews 10:24
24 Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.
I think that it’s obvious that God wants us to become zealous in our Faith.
And this is the characteristic, this is the predominant trait that stood out in Simon’s life.
He was zealous... he was a freedom fighter. Another way of saying this would be: He refused to be under the control or in bondage to the enemy. In that day it was Rome... who is it or what is it today!!!
Is it familiarity that places us in bondage to change? Maybe it’s Financial concerns? Could it be the past? Or possibly worry about the future? Is it some perpetual sin that keeps you in it’s bondage, instead of experiencing freedom in Christ?
Jesus said,
John 8:32
32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:36
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free.
Jesus came to set us free.
In the ’70’s a research document was written which gave percentages of the world that were deemed free, partly free or not free from extreme oppression... the results back in the ’70’s was that out of all the world only 42% of the people were considered free.
But, I wonder if anyone ever calculated how many individuals were emotionally or spiritually free?
Sandee and I traveled up the coast this past week and I had an interesting epiphany. Mile after mile we tooled down highway one, hugging the coastline and I grew thirsty, with nothing to drink until we arrived in the next town. Funny, here we were right next to billions, upon billions of billions of gallons of water... but none that I could drink.
Isn’t this a picture of the Christian life? We come to Christ. He promises that if we will accept Him, out of our very souls will flow rivers of living water.... billions, upon billions of gallons of life-giving water....
but more often than not, maybe because of busyness or shortsightedness, but many times we come to the well but walk away thirsty. We read, we pray but at times we walk away parched.... still needing God’s quenching water of life for our soul!
It’s like we’re talking to God but He’s not listening!
It’s like He’s saying “talk to the hand, ’cause the ears aren’t listening!”
Why is that?
Psalm 66:18
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.
(moral corruption that falls short of God’s standard)
That was God’s diagnosis; But God also has a prescription for us:
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The word “confess” here is homologeo and it means: “to agree with or to say the same thing about something.” (here’s the key... it’s present tense and so is God’s faithfulness).
Here’s what typically happens...
2 Peter 2:20
20 And when people escape from the wicked ways of the world by learning about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up with sin and become its slave again, they are worse off than before.
At times we feel like we have the freedom to sin, when in reality it’s the...
Sin that takes away our freedom!!! Sin separates us from God!!! The word tells us to be freedom fighters, to be minutemen, to be zealots for God. To stand firm against the enemy, and against falling into sin. To be in a constant state of confession before God, to keep lines of communication open and lines of blessing open between us and God.
And if we’ll do this, here’s the blessing that God promises us if we’ll remain free:
Galatians 4:7
7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.
Simon was known for being a freedom fighter... how about you?
