Published by admin on 03 Oct 2014 at 12:39 pm
WOULD WE MEASURE UP?
There were so many things the disciples of the Lord Jesus did after He went back to His Father. This small group of men literally turned the world upside down. If it were done likewise today in our age, and the Lord Jesus chose US to be His disciples, would we measure up?
Jesus chose people from all walks of life to follow Him, from the most common to the elite. They were not any different than most of us today; they had families to provide for, jobs to do, they had strengths and weaknesses, and were just ordinary people. What made them so special that Jesus hand-picked them to be His disciples?
They certainly weren’t fearless. There is an account in Mark chapter 4 we can read about them:
Mar 4:35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
Mar 4:36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
Mar 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
Mar 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
Mar 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Mar 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
Mar 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Some of these men were seasoned mariners and yet they were in great fear for their lives. Surely they had endured a storm or two in their time on the water, wouldn’t you agree? They had been with Jesus, and saw firsthand the miracles He often did, and He had empowered THEM to do likewise, and yet they were not immune to fear. And when they awoke Him and He rebuked the storm, the first thing He said to them was Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? Apparently Jesus was upset because there were twelve disciples and only one storm. They should have been able to take care of the situation without waking Him from His nap. But they didn’t, because they were paralyzed with fear. Sounds like a lot of us, doesn’t it?
When the storm comes in our life, fear comes with it. How we react to that fear is what defines us. We can either cringe in fear, and start saying a bunch of trash stuff which the devil can further use against us, or we can rise up in the power of the anointing upon us and calm the storm. It goes on to say the disciples feared EXCEEDINGLY then, saying to one another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
How often we go crying to God to calm a storm in our life when He has given US the authority to calm it. If we are truly disciples of Christ Jesus, the devil should be afraid of us, and not the other way around. Not to say the devil is not a powerful enemy, for he is. But He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world. Or should I say, He that we SAY is in us is greater than he that is in the world. Do we really believe the Greater One is in us, or are we just paying lip service to make people think we are who we are not?
Jesus KNEW He had granted authority to the disciples, and therefore knew they had the power and authority to deal with whatever the devil threw at them. Did Jesus tell the disciples they were going to the other side of the sea, knowing there would be a storm, and feel confident enough in their abilities to go to sleep for a while? Sure He did. Nothing caught Jesus by surprise. They had ample opportunity to deal with the storm, but fear stopped them cold, so He had to get up and deal with it instead. That was not what Jesus expected from His disciples.
Reacting in fear is NOT what Jesus expects from US, either, if we call ourselves His disciples. He expects the rest of the world to act like that, but not us. Let’s read in 2 Corinthians 10:
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
2Co 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.
2Co 10:8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
When fear comes knocking at your door, don’t answer. You see, that’s where most people miss it. Fear comes knocking like a roaring lion at the door, and most just throw open the door, and the lion doesn’t ASK if he may come in, he just roars and charges in, leaving them to pick up the pieces and try to deal with him. Had they been smart, they would have looked to see who was at the door and left him out there to roar his silly head off, and went about their business.
It is a foolish disciple that tries to fight the devil on his own strength. And it is a foolish disciple who faces the devil and doesn’t know IF the Greater One is in him or not. But the one who HAS the Greater One in him and KNOWS IT, has no reason to fear the devil whatsoever. Just yesterday on the news we heard of a man from Africa who brought Ebola to the USA and knew he had been exposed and came anyway. Fear is trying to spread itself here just like it has done in Africa. Do Disciples of Christ Jesus need to fear Ebola? What does the Bible say? After all, if we want to know God’s will concerning anything, we need to see what He has to say about it. We read in Revelation that MANY will die from pestilence, war, hunger and disease, yet not all, but many. What does it say about those who are in the LORD?
It is written in Psalm 91,
Psa 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psa 91:2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psa 91:3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
Psa 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Psa 91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Psa 91:6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
Psa 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Psa 91:8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Psa 91:9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
Psa 91:10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
Psa 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Psa 91:12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Psa 91:13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Psa 91:14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
Psa 91:15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
Psa 91:16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Now, we’ve heard the report of the world, and we’ve heard the report of the LORD. We call ourselves disciples of Christ Jesus, how will we measure up? The first disciples failed until they knew that they knew the power of the Holy Spirit was alive and at work in them. Once they knew, they turned the world upside down for God. Well, the present-day disciples of Jesus will also fail until they know that they know the Greater One is in them. But once they do, watch out devil, they’re coming through!
Ask God, “Would I measure up as Your disciple?” He would say, That’s up to YOU! I have given the Holy Spirit to be in you to give you victory over every situation. If I be for you, who can be against you?