(March 17, 2024) Richard Winter shares and encourages…

Shhhhhh… did you hear that sound?

Did you hear Jesus speaking even above the cacophony of noise we have in this modern world? Or even in the middle of a great Sunday church service?

For that matter, has Jesus ever spoken to you? And if He has, what did He say?

Actually,  we can hear a voice from our memory. I will never forget my mom standing outside and calling us inside for supper: ‘Time to come home.’ I can remember my dad calling out to me when I was playing football…  Do this, do that, come on! While I can’t remember the cadence of their voice, from my memory I can still hear what they had to say.

Many times you will hear preachers begin some point with ‘Jesus said…’ Well, Jesus spoke audibly to people 2000 years ago and while I wasn’t there I can still hear His voice! How, you ask? Simple –

• Each time I read His word.
• Whenever I sing a hymn of praise.
• Each time I listen to a sermon.
• When I interact with another Christian.

1. Authorised by Jesus
Here’s a situation where Jesus spoke to the original twelve disciples, authorising them …

‘And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease … These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”’ (Matthew 10:1-6).

They heard Him… and accepted His commissioning! But you’ll  note that here Jesus directed His disciples to only go to the Israelites, the tribal areas only. The Gentiles would be reached later, starting with Peter (Acts 10:1-11:18) and then by Paul (Acts 18:6) and other younger disciples… off into the Roman world.

The original twelve had a specific location to go to and preach to God’s own people. Those disciples were instructed not to go into Samaria, the Samaritans having a false view of God’s revelation. The Samaritans were excluded at this time, but would be reached later.

Interestingly there is a comparable selection of twelve leaders in the Old Testament – Joshua, a former spy who spied out the Promised Land was commissioned as Israel’s new leader and would lead the twelve tribes into Canaan land. As directed by God, he authorised 12 leaders with authority, one from each tribe (see Joshua 3:12 and 4:4), and the old kingdom of the Israelites’ would be established in time.

Now Jesus authorises and commissions twelve disciples as representatives of His new kingdom and sends them as twelve apostles into enemy territory with power and authority. They’re a team – Team Jesus! Luke 10:1-12 tells that later Jesus would send out 72 others, who reported back to Him of their accomplishments (v17). They too were authorised by their coach (‘I have given you authority to…’ v19). After Christ’s supernatural resurrection others would also begin reaching out to the world!

2. Aligned with Jesus
In Matthew 13:16, Jesus told this team,  ‘… blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.’ If you hear the voice of Jesus, in whatever manner, you too are blessed so listen carefully! He maybe wanting to commission you!

Note: Jesus calls us first and foremost to Himself – the first call, the invitation, is to Jesus, to be with Him. He is the greatest coach! As we align ourselves with Him, as the twelve did, then we will move on together with our Lord in life and in Christian service and its commissioning. His Holy Spirit will be our strength wherever He directs us to serve Jesus the one we’re aligned to (Acts 1:8).

God calls people to be united with Him first in every aspect of our lives. Checking up is a call to look into ‘the mirror of Christ’ and see…

• What we trust about the revealed word of God.
• What we are committed to.
• Where we have failed.
• How much God loves and forgives us, and wants to use us in developing His kingdom and the church of Christ.

Are you checking if you’re aligned with Jesus and His teachings? To do that… hang out with Jesus!

The religious leaders said that Jesus’ disciples were ‘uneducated and untrained’ (Acts 4:13aNKJV). Actually, the only ‘qualification’ they needed was that ‘They had been with Jesus’ (v13b).

Not that ‘education’ in itself is bad but…  

• Even the devil has a good education about Jesus.
• Sadly he can quote the scripture better than many Christians.
• And he knows how to attack a Bible-believing Christian who wants to serve Jesus!

We need to ensure we are aligned with Jesus and engage in sound church Bible studies, and talk with Jesus through prayer. The disciples learned so much sticking close to their master, the one they called ‘Teacher.’

3. Appointed by Jesus
We’re talking about teams here! Do you want to serve Jesus by being on His Team Jesus… dedicated followers, servants?

Who makes it to Team Jesus? Just a select group of super saints? No! Jesus knows us… our hearts, our dedication to Him. He looks for those who are willing to serve Him in whatever capacity or calling He chooses for us. Our ‘education’ is based on our desire to know Him, follow Him, and serve Him!

So who and what were those first team of 12 disciples? They were commoners… such as fishermen, a tax-collector, and even a zealot! None was a rabbi or holding a priestly position. Really, they were an unusual mixed-up group. But Jesus did not disqualify any of them, not even the one who would betray Him!

If you keep thinking that you’re not good enough or not really to be a disciple, then you will keep rationalising and justifying why you are not called, or will not be called. Jesus did not choose the twelve because they had superpowers… He chose them and then appointed them with kingdom power to do His will (Matthew 10:1 above). So why should you disqualify yourself? Jesus appointed that mixed-up twelve… He’ll appoint you too, empowering you too! Be encouraged.

In biblical numerology, twelve is a very significant number that symbolises God’s power and authority. The first Team Jesus represented the King and His kingdom breaking in to establish God’s kingdom in troubled Israel.

Today, we born-again Christians represent the King and His kingdom in 2024’s troublesome, dark days wherever we are. Praise God that there are many more Team Jesus groups appointed and located all around the world, in cities and villages and homes.

But… a question arises – are we truly representing Jesus where we live?

Team Jesus, like every other team, requires its members to be team players –

• To know how to interact with other team members for the common good.
• To never let the team down by not turning up when they are needed.
• To be proficient in their area of responsibility.

Name the game – all players will have different responsibilities. In the church it could be greet, tidy up, take up the offering, distribute communion, lead the worship, preach, teach…

Having a personal time and a relationship aligned with Jesus is good, but being part a Christian community eg your local church, adds dimension to your spiritual walk and growth. You learn differently when you need to relate to others and to serve with others, to submit to one another for the sake of a higher cause. Your agenda and prejudices will be revealed as you spend more time in the community.

Any activities that is done for Christ and His church are done in smaller sub-groups, or in pairs, or small groups. Jesus is the reference point. The key is to lead and direct with a kingdom agenda and heart, with the King’s agenda and the King’s heart.

4. Assigned for Jesus
Let’s go back to Jesus assigning His first disciples, the original Team Jesus. Their assignment – area of operation – was confined to the children of Israel, the people of the kingdom. They were to declare the Messiah is present  and His kingdom is present… but not yet fully fulfilled.

When Israel rejected Jesus, the commission expanded and extended through the great commission of Matthew 28:18-20 to ‘make disciples of all nations.’ As indicated above, this sharing of the good news would really expand after the resurrection of our Saviour.

Take Paul’s assigned ministry experience for example… his journey in serving Jesus began with always preaching to the Jews in the synagogues. When rejected, he then offered the kingdom to the Gentiles (Romans 1:16).

Paul’s experience allows us to consider that how God is currently using us may change as time goes by. In simple terms, you may be assigned by Jesus to be fulfilling some particular ministry, service, now… but this may be a forerunner for some new ministry as you grow in Christ!

The main thing here is knowing your current assignment for Jesus! Do you? Have you heard His voice, His leading, are aware of His assignment for you?

Your Invitation
We are all invited to be a part of Team Jesus, to be…

• Authorised by Jesus – receiving our commissions from the Lord.
• Aligned with Jesus – spending time with the Lord (that ‘hanging out with Jesus’).
• Appointed by Jesus – available for our appointment, or new appointment.
• Assigned for Jesus – knowing and fulfilling assignments.

The three big questions now are:
1) Hearing: Did you hear the voice of the Lord speak to you as you read this article?
2) Understanding: Did Jesus whisper to your heart ‘Do you understand my mission for you?’
3) Responding: Did you respond ‘Yes, Lord!’

To help you hear His voice clearly this week and grow in your relationship with God in seven days, the following Monday-Sunday Guide suggestion will help –

Monday:
Go on a prayer walk, praying for each house or pray for your needs, your church’s needs, your country’s needs.
Tuesday:
Listen to only worship music.
Wednesday:
Confess any sins to the Lord that you’ve been holding onto.
Thursday:
Pick a psalm to pray to the Lord. Repeat it several times.
Friday:
Post prayer requests on sticky notes all around your house and pray as you read them passing by.
Saturday:
Pray for a friend and reach out to them, letting them know you are thinking about them.
Sunday:
Make a list of all the things God has blessed you with.

 My prayer this week, based on Colossians 1:9-11, is –

‘Father, I ask that you give me complete knowledge of your will and spiritual wisdom and understanding. That way I will always honour and please you and my life will produce every kind of good fruit, as I learn to know you better and better.

I also pray that you would strengthen me with the power that runs heaven so that I can have all the endurance and patience that I need in order to be filled with joy.’

May this prayer will be yours too!
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Dr Richard Winter pastors The Connection Church, Huntington Beach, California. Link: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com  
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