Evangelism: Part 8 – Pray, Pursue, and Be Uniquely You
July 9, 2023 Matthew 10:1-4
Introduction & Recap
Recap on evangelism series: compassion/mercy, called to teach/proclaim/heal, harvest
is plentiful, laborers are few, called to pray earnestly, called to minister to our neighbor
o Evangelism: wisely and discerningly teaching the gospel with the aim to persuade
Helping people take one step closer to Jesus in the opportunities the Lord
gives us.
Encouragement to congregation: neighbors being met, work social groups starting,
spiritual conversations occurring, folks speaking to their family about the gospel, gospel
being shared, and folks submitting to Jesus by faith.
Pray
In the gospels Jesus begins His ministry and almost immediately meets several of the
men who would eventually be His disciples (see e.g. John 1:35-51). Jesus later calls folks
to follow Him (see e.g. Matthew 4:19), including the twelve disciples. Jesus gathers to
Himself many followers in His first year or so of ministry before He actually sets apart
the 12 as His particular “sent ones” or apostles. As hostilities rise against Jesus, He
knows that it’s time not just to share truth, but to specifically equip others to share
truth.
Matthew 10:1-4 “1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority
over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2
The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and
Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and
Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and
Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”
Prayer of Direction
We miss some details in Matthew that are provided in Luke and Mark.
Jesus had just instructed his disciples in Matthew 9:38 “to pray to the Lord of harvest to
send out laborers into his harvest”.
Luke 6:12-23 “12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he
continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose
from them twelve, whom he named apostles…”
Luke shows us that Jesus immediately puts His very exhortation into practice as Jesus
spent an entire night in prayer prior to selecting the twelve men who would form the
core of his focus for training and sending out.
o If you read through the gospels, and especially the gospel of Luke, we see that
prayer was a constant and integral aspect of Jesus ministry.
See Luke 3:21; 5:16; 9:18, 28, 29; 11:1; 22:32, 40-46
Jesus was committed to only doing the will of His father (see John 6:38)
Jesus knew that prayer was critical to align Himself with His Father that He
would know and understand how the Father was directing.
o One of the ways we can measure our dependence on God is by evaluating our
frequency and depth of prayer. Jesus prayed all of the time. How do we do in
going before the throne of grace in prayer?
How have we been doing with praying for our neighbor?
How have we been doing for praying for opportunities to share truth with
others?
How have we been doing with praying for the Lord to direct our steps and
for us have a sensitivity to follow the Spirit’s leading?
How have we been doing with praying in general?
Perhaps one day we’ll do a sermon series on prayer, suffice to say
that prayer is one of the most critical disciplines within our spiritual
lives.
If we are serious about having opportunities to share truth with others, we must get
serious about prayer.
Pursuit of Discipleship
But not only did Jesus model to us earnest prayer for direction, He also modeled to us
an intentional pursuit of discipleship
Mark 3:13-16 “13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he
desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named
apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and
have authority to cast out demons. 16 He appointed the twelve…”
o More accurately the Greek says “He summoned those whom He willed” – the
point is that Jesus intentionally pursued those who the Lord told Him to pursue.
God is sovereign and in control and had a plan for these men. Jesus
received guidance and pursued them. The twelve weren’t volunteers nor
were that applicants – which was the usual way of rabbinical process.
Culturally, Jewish rabbis never called disciples. Instead, rabbis had
disciples audition and apply to be their followers and then the rabbi
judged whether they were worthy of learning under them.
Jesus bucked this norm and intentional sought after His disciples, and
Jesus reminded them of this in John 15:16 “You did not choose me,
but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit
and that your fruit should abide…”
And praise God, His disciples then made the choice to respond
in obedience and humility to Jesus’s call…and they did so right
away. The verse 13 simply says “and they came to him.”
o As we so often do in scripture, we see here the beautiful and
mysterious interplay between God’s sovereignty and man’s
responsibility to choose rightly.
But the point is that Jesus intentionally pursued and called these men. Once Jesus knew
the will of the Father, He pursued the ones that were set before Him…and they then had
the opportunity to choose to follow Jesus more deeply or to walk away.
o This is always how evangelism works. The Lord will give us an opportunity and our
only responsibility is to obediently pursue the one set before us. We must lovingly
and humbly seek to be instruments of the Holy Spirit to teach, preach, and heal
(Matthew 9:35) in those divinely appointed situations and circumstances and
then we wait and watch how that person responds – what that person chooses as
the Holy Spirit works on their hearts and mind.
How are we doing with seizing on the opportunities the Lord is giving us?
I have been hearing many stories from many seed groups of
opportunities to see people take one step closer to Jesus. Praise God!
That should be encouraging to all of us.
Yet, by the grace of God, He will show us how we can grow more bold,
more winsome, more wise, more patient, and more loving with those
whom He brings across our path. That we may grow more intentional to
call people to follow Jesus.
Jesus did that here and the 12 men that became Jesus’s closest disciples – the apostles
or sent ones – were a ragtag group that show how much God loves to use broken
people of all walks of life.
Picture of Diversity
I’m going to quickly go through each of the 12 apostles as they appear here just so we
can see what scripture shows us about them and shows how diverse they were as a
group. If anyone is interested, I have a ton more research on these guys and would be
happy to share it. But I want us to hear a little bit about each of these men and how God
used them.
o Simon Peter
Peter was a fisherman, who was the brother of Andrew, and in business
with James and John. The house in Capernaum that is historically
associated with Peter had a courtyard, which means that his fishing
business was likely successful (though scripture mentions nothing of this).
He is the only one of the 12 that scripture specifically tells us was married.
Dr. Alexander Whyte sums up Peter nicely, “The four gospels are full of
Peter. After the name of the Lord Himself, no name comes up so often as
Peter’s name. No disciple speaks so often and so much as Peter. Our Lord
speaks oftener to Peter than to any other of His disciples: sometimes in praise sometimes in blame. No disciple is so pointedly reproved by our Lord
as Peter, and no disciple ever ventures to reprove his Master but Peter. No
other disciple so boldly confessed and outspokenly acknowledged and
encouraged our Lord as Peter repeatedly did, and no one ever intruded,
and interfered, and tempted Him as repeatedly as Peter did. Peter’s Master
spoke words of approval, and praise, and even blessing to Peter the like of
which he never spoke to any other man. And at the same time, and almost
in the same breath, He said harder things to Peter than He ever said to any
other of His twelve disciples, unless it was to Judas [Iscariot].”
Peter wrote 2 letters of the NT and was the front man of the apostles in the
early church.
Church history tells us that Peter ministered throughout the Roman world
until he was killed by Nero in AD 64 in Rome. Tradition states he was
crucified upside down, not wanting to die in the same manner as Jesus.
o Andrew
Was the first named disciple to follow Jesus in the gospels (John 1:40). A
fisherman who was the brother of Peter, who he told about Jesus and
brought to hear Jesus teach. So in one sense, Andrew was the first disciple
of Jesus to evangelize another.
Everywhere in scripture we read of Andrew, he is always bringing people to
Jesus or serving someone. Daniel McLean writes that “[Andrew was] simple
minded and sympathetic, without either dramatic power or heroic spirit,
yet with that clinging confidence in Christ that brought him into that inner
circle of the Twelve; a man of deep religious feeling with little power of
expression, magnetic more than electric, better suited for the quiet walks
of life than the stirring thoroughfares. Andrew is the apostle of private
life—the disciple of the hearth.”
Church history tells us that Andrew ministered primarily around the Black
Sea in the areas today known as Turkey on its Southern shores and Ukraine
on its Northern Shores, with Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece on the Western
shores.
Tradition holds that Andrew was crucified in the shape of an X in AD 60 in
Patras, Greece.
o James
James was the older brother of John. Together they were the sons of
Zebedee. They were fisherman, and partners with Andrew and Peter. The
Zebedees were wealthy enough to hire servants (See Mark 1:20) and had
some relationship with the religious elite in Jerusalem, including the high
priest (see John 18:15). They may even have had a second home in
Jerusalem (see John 19:27).
Scripture doesn’t record any of James’s words other than when spoken
together with his brother. Interestingly, in the Gospel of John – James’s
brother – John doesn’t even mention his brother’s name.
James is killed by Herod in Acts 12:2 by the sword, the first of the 12 to be
martyred.
o John
The younger brother of James, a fisherman of course. One of the more
prominent of the 12…in fact, he gives himself the title of the “disciple
whom Jesus loved”. He and James were known as the sons of thunder,
likely for their zeal in following Jesus. Scripture indicates that they had a
prideful ambition to rule alongside Jesus (see Matthew 20:22-24) and
perhaps struggled with racism toward the Samaritans or at least a
condemning pride toward those who were not with them following Jesus
(see Luke 9:49-56)
John wrote the gospel of his same name as well as Revelation and the three
epistles of his same name.
John cared for Mary, the mother of Jesus, and then church history tells us
that he led the church in Ephesus for a time before being exiled to Patmos
at the age of 90. According to tradition, several attempts were made to
martyr him during his life – including boiling him in oil – before he died of
old age – the only such apostle not to be martyred.
o Phillip
Phillip is another fisherman and the only apostle with a Greek name and no
mention of his Hebrew name. Phillip is regularly paired with
Bartholomew/Nathanael – some even think they may have been brothers,
though scripture does not state as such. Phillip’s only words are recorded in
the gospel of John (see e.g. John 1:45-47, 6:5-7, 12:20-23, 14:8-11).
Most commentators are harsh on Philip: Lockyer states, “Philip was a plain
man, slow in arriving at a decision, reluctant to act on his own initiative.
Simplicity of heart and mind is shown in his every gospel appearance.
Although he had a Greek name, he had none of the brightness in
perception, and incomparable cleverness of a Greek. He is revealed as a
slow-witted plodder.”
Church tradition says he ministered in and around Syria and Greece before
he was martyred either by beheading or crucifixion.
o Bartholomew/Nathanael
Bartholomew, another fisherman, is only listed in the synoptics and nothing
else is said of him. However, in the gospel of John there is no Bartholomew,
but a Nathanael which is said in connection to Philip and the consensus is
that Bartholomew = Nathanael.
In John 1:47, Jesus said that Nathanael/Bartholomew was a man of honest
integrity as he quickly recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy.
Church history tells us that Bartholomew ministered in Armenia, Turkey,
and Iran before he was martyred. Depending on the tradition, he was either
crucified upside down, flayed alive, or beaten and drowned in the sea.
o Thomas
Another fisherman from Galilee, Thomas is famous for his doubting of
Jesus’s resurrection and needing to touch the wounds in Christ’s body (see
John 20:24-29).
Apart from the episode of him doubting, only one other passage records
him speaking (see John 11:16). Church history tells us that he left the
Roman empire as he ministered through Persia before entering into India
when Buddhism and Zoroastrianism were gaining influence. Tradition holds
that after some time there ministering to the Indian people and
purportedly converting one of the kings, he was eventually martyred by
being speared in Bombay.
o Matthew
Also known as Levi, was from Galilee but is the first non-fisherman in the
group. He was a tax collector – working with the Romans and most likely
reviled by his fellow Jews. Matthew was wealthy in his home base of
Capernaum, yet, like the other apostles, left everything to follow Jesus.
Matthew wrote the gospel of the same name, of which 3/5 of it are the
words of Jesus…more than any of the other three gospels.
Church tradition tells us he went into Africa, specifically Ethiopia and the
surrounding lands before he was martyred by sword.
o James the Son of Alpheus
He is only ever listed as one of the 12. There are no words or stories of him
in the gospels. Thus we don’t really know much about him.
Church history tells us he ministered in Spain and Persia, where tradition
says he was martyred.
o Thaddeus
Thaddeus speaks one time in the gospels in John 14:21-24 where he asks a
question of Jesus, as would be typical of a disciple of a rabbi. Otherwise,
scripture gives us no further insight.
Church history tells us he ministered in Armenia, where he healed the King
of an incurable disease and led many to faith in Jesus. After the death of
the king, tradition states that he was martyred in Armenia.
o Simon the Zealot
Like James, son of Alphaeus, not a word or deed is recorded of Simon the
Zealot. He only has his nickname. If we said “He’s X political party” or “She’s
Y political party” we’d have a flood of preconceived notions about that
person’s behaviors, culture, etc. Same with saying, Simon’s a zealot. A
zealot was a red-hot, fanatical patriot for the Jewish cause. They were
always ready to resist, bear arms – even murder the Romans – and join a
Messiah who they believed would come to save their nation from Rome.
Note that Simon the Zealot would not have looked very fondly on Matthew
the tax collector as a collaborator with Rome.
Tradition has Simon the Zealot preaching in many places – Egypt, Africa,
British Isles and then in Persia where he was martyred by being sawn in two
for not sacrificing to the sun god.
o Judas Iscariot
Only one of the 12 seemingly not from Galilee (though some we don’t know
where they were from). Karioth was a place near Jerusalem. We don’t
know his profession, but it is unlikely he was a fisherman. He was the
treasurer of the group and many conjecture that he was a wealthy
businessman of some sort.
Of course, he betrayed Jesus and ultimately killed himself in his shame and
worldly sorrow (Matthew 27:5).
Though he was similarly empowered to do the work of ministry alongside
the other apostles, his pursuit of Jesus was only intellectual and did not
result in a saving faith of submission to the King of Kings.
Every one of these men was flawed. All struggled with pride and a lack of spiritual
understanding that Jesus had to repeatedly correct and refine. Yet, each was unique and
gifted in different ways and used by the Lord to accomplish His will. The 11 who were
submitted to Jesus by faith and trusted and followed Him until the end of their days had
powerful ministries of fruitfulness even as they experienced terrible difficulties and
martyrdom (or attempted martyrdom in the case of John the son of Zebedee).
Conclusion
Why does any of this matter as we study evangelism? As we grow in our faith and trust
in Jesus as we learn to walk more and more by the Holy Spirit, we don’t need to be a
Peter or John….simply be yourself.
o You may not have had much fruit yet engaging with your neighbors – don’t be
discouraged. The Lord has uniquely chosen you, gifted you, and situated you. Pray
for opportunity. Pray for boldness. Pray for humble obedience when you
recognize a chance to move someone one step closer to Jesus.
Every single person in this room who is a follower of Jesus has someone – probably
multiple someones – who the Lord has for you to minister to. Don’t allow the enemy to
distract, discourage, or dissuade you from walking by the leading of the Spirit.
Prayerfully ask the Lord to direct you to the right people. Intentionally pursue them and
use the gifts the Lord has given you to obediently bear fruit for His Kingdom and His
glory. Amen. Amen.