Twelve Ordinary Men

TITLE: TWELVE ORDINARY MEN

SCRIPTURE: ST. LUKE 6:12-16

(There is no claim as to originality as many sources were drawn from for the development of this message. I have adapted to my style and transitions in support of the theses statement of this message)

This morning we begin our walk through this new year of 2020 and the start of a new decade. As I think back over the past decade, we have all lost loved ones during that time, we have all been affected. As we begin this new journey for the year and the decade, we simply say Thank You Lord. I have spent much time seeking God’s face as to the direction for this first sermon of the New Year. I asked the Lord to help me in giving focus to this ministry and understand what the Lord is saying to us as we begin a fresh start once again. With this fresh start of the year let’s leave some stuff there as well.

I want to talk to us this morning from the subject – TWELVE ORDINARY MEN. I believe this will be a message we can look back upon for the duration of this year and perhaps years to come. I pray we find ourselves in the message this morning. I want to begin with a fairly simple Question -- How Many Of You Can Name The Twelve Apostles?

• Some of their names are familiar

• Others are not remembered

• The average church member cannot name more than one-half of the twelve

• Most mistakenly include Mark and Luke

Many in the church today have the wrong ideas about the twelve.

--A group of tourists in Europe gazed at the stained glass windows of a lovely church.

Each window displayed the portrait of a different disciple.

Noting halos around their heads, their angelic expressions, and beautiful smiles,

someone remarked, "What saints the apostles must have been!"

But this is a misconception

The disciples were ordinary men.

• They were real people

• Faltering mortals who lived on Second Avenue in some Galilean town

• They were not old men

• They were young -- probably in their twenties

• Perhaps, John was in his late teens, and Peter was near 30

• They came from the lower or middle classes, earning their livelihood by ordinary occupations

• They were all Jews

• They were imperfect men

• The Gospels picture the disciples as men with imperfections and weaknesses

By the time Jesus begun his public ministry he was quickly surrounded in controversy, yet the people followed and followed in great numbers because of the miracles He had performed and teaching as one who had authority. Many things were going on in the ministry of our Lord at this time.

• He’s been calling people to repent

• He’s been forgiving sin

• He’s been preaching the Kingdom of God

• He’s been healing every disease

• He’s been casting out demons

One would think everyone would love Jesus and be on his side.

• You would think all of Jerusalem would rally behind Him and listen and obey

• But that’s not the case

It’s not the case today either. You would think when Jesus offers the opportunity to have sins forgiven, people would jump at such a chance - but most don’t.

• We would line up for miles to have our Credit Card Debt Forgiven

• We would stand in line for hours to have our Student Loans Forgiven

• We would wait in line all night long to have our Mortgage or Car Notes Forgiven

• But Sins Forgiven – many have no interest in that at all

When hearts have been hardened by Sin and Pride, they will not yield in submission to Jesus. That’s the catch. Jesus does offer to forgive sins but along with this forgiveness is one catch. The catch is in the Bible.

• Along with seeking Christ as Savior, we must Submit to Him as Lord

• You can’t slice Jesus up and say, well, I like the Savior part but not so much the Lord part

• I like having my sins forgiven and I really like the thought of going to heaven, but I really don’t have a desire to conform my lifestyle to His teaching

• Rather than being a unifying force, Jesus has always caused division

Let’s visit the text -- IN THESE DAYS HE WENT OUT TO THE MOUNTAIN TO PRAY, AND ALL NIGHT HE CONTINUED IN PRAYER TO GOD. We are not told specifically what Jesus prayed for. However, it’s not too difficult to discover.

• This was a rare occasion in which Jesus prayed all night

• Like most, when night-time came, He was tired and slept