08 – Love. Live. Preach. Teach.—Preach Him (part 1)
Love. Live. Preach. Teach.
Peter Amsterdam
2012-01-03
We have finished covering the second element of discipleship, Live Him, and nine principles connected to it: Abiding in Jesus, Love, Unity, Humility, Non-Anxiety, Forgiveness, Fellowship, Generosity, and Prayer.
The third of these four elements of discipleship is Preach Him. Some of Jesus’ last words before ascending into heaven were the mission statement for His disciples: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation.”[1]
Forty-three days earlier He had died on the cross, and after three days He had risen from the dead. The purpose of it all was so that humankind could have the opportunity to be forgiven for their sins, to be reconciled to God, and to have everlasting life. Jesus had done His job. He had fulfilled His mission on earth. His death and resurrection had made salvation possible. He had made it possible for us to live eternally with Him.
During the last years of His life, He had enacted a two-fold strategy: to preach the message of the kingdom and salvation, and to find a core group of people who would embrace His teachings and assist in spreading His message to others—in making disciples. He lived the same mission statement He had just given to His disciples. He had come into this world and preached the Gospel. He had found those whom He could train to Love Him, Live Him, Preach Him, and Teach Him. Once He had imparted to them all that was needed, He could leave and the Holy Spirit would then come and empower His disciples to take the message to all the world.
Jesus’ years of public ministry were spent preaching, teaching, and training. In this article we’ll focus on His preaching.
Sometime after having been baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan, and after having fasted 40 days and 40 nights, Jesus went to live in Capernaum in the area of Galilee. From that point on He began, as Mark’s Gospel says:
Proclaiming the Gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.”[2]
Matthew’s Gospel says:
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”[3]
Jesus made it clear that His preaching the Gospel was one of the reasons He was on earth:
He said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”[4]
He said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”[5]
When He visited His hometown of Nazareth and went to the synagogue, He stood up to read from the Scripture. He was given the book of Isaiah and read the following:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”[6]
Jesus was sent to preach the Gospel, and He taught His disciples to do the same.
He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.[7]
As you go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”[8]
What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.[9]
He appointed twelve (whom He also named apostles) so that they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.[10]
Jesus preached the Gospel, and through His example taught His disciples to do the same and gave them opportunities to experience preaching it themselves. After His death and resurrection, He said to them:
“As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”[11]
Right before ascending into heaven, He declared:
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.[12]
Within days the Holy Spirit fell and the early disciples were powerfully preaching the Gospel in Jerusalem, and in time throughout Israel, outside of Israel, and in all the world.
It’s through preaching the Gospel that Christianity spreads. It’s through witnessing that the gift of salvation that Jesus died to bring is given to others. If the first disciples hadn’t preached the Gospel and taught others to do the same, then the Gospel could have ceased to be known. God has given us something so great, so eternally life changing, it’s our responsibility, as disciples, to share it with others, to give them the same opportunity.
Disciples preach the message of the Gospel. As Peter said in Acts 10:
He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.[13]
For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”[14]
Disciples preach through the words they speak, through the lives they lead, and through the manifestation of God’s Spirit within them. Which brings us to:
The Light-bearing Principle
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.[15]
Part of preaching the Gospel is living your life in a manner that people see the light of God in you—the concern you have, the joy, the integrity, the manifestation of God and His love in you, His Spirit dwelling within you. You have the light of life—Jesus—within you, and if you live your faith, then your life will be seen as light-giving. Then when people see you and what you do, they will see and feel the Spirit of God.
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.[16]
As Paul wrote to the Ephesians:
For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true).[17]
And to the Philippians, Paul said:
That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.[18]
We are asked by the Lord to live in a manner that communicates Him to others, not only in words, but in deeds and truth. Words are important, of course, as through your words you will explain salvation, and tell about Jesus’ love; but your deeds, your good works, your example, the love and kindness you show people, your concern for them, all of this will show that the words you speak about Jesus are true, because those you are speaking with will feel Him emanating from you.
As disciples, it’s important that God’s light shines through you, which it will when you Love Him and Live Him, when you Preach Him and Teach Him.
The “In the World” Principle
We are to be active within the world, without becoming of the world.
Jesus, God incarnate, lived in the world. He wasn’t of the world but He lived in it. His being in the world made it possible for Him to interact with those in need, to love others, to help them, to heal them, to be friends with them, to witness to them.
In like manner we are in the world, and we too have the opportunity to love and help others, to bring them God’s love and everlasting life. Loving Him and living Him keeps us from the world but doesn’t take us out of the world. Disciples interact with others, and when the opportunity presents itself, they share the news of salvation.
The principle is to be involved in your world, the society in which you live—the workplace, the mission field, wherever you are—in a manner that makes you a blessing to others.
In the course of being actively involved in our world, we want to make sure we keep the proper connection and relationship with God, giving God, His Word, and the Great Commission the right priority. We don’t want to become absorbed by the ways of the world or its priorities. Jesus addressed this in prayer to His Father when He said:
I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.[19]
The “People in Your Path” Principle
Disciples are ready to witness, pray for, and minister to whomever God brings across their path. 2 Timothy 4:2 expresses this concept quite well with the words “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.” The phrase “in season and out of season” is translated in some Bible versions as persist in it whether convenient or not; keep at it in opportune times and in untimely situations; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable. There’s no telling when you will cross paths with someone who needs the message, and when you do, as a disciple, you should be ready to share God’s message with them.
Jesus was ready to meet the need no matter what the circumstances. He was faced with a multitude of different situations in which He needed to take action immediately—to witness, to love, to win, to heal, to forgive, to do a miracle. He rose to the occasion in every instance.
Some examples of this are the woman of Samaria, the wedding at Cana, Nicodemus’ visit, the woman caught in adultery, the centurion, the Greeks who wanted to speak to Him, Peter’s mother-in-law, the mute person, the Canaanite woman, the children, the rich young ruler, the mother of James and John, the paralytic man, the Syrophoenician woman, the boy with an unclean spirit, blind Bartimaeus, a leper, a man with a withered hand, the woman with the issue of blood, Zacchaeus, Pilate, the thief on the cross.[20] He was ready in season and out. He was there for whomever the Father brought across His path.
Jesus reached out to those He was aiming to help—the sinners who needed salvation. Those He met and ate with were not always the rich, the righteous, or the folks who were “living right.” He was willing to minister to those whom others rejected—the hated tax collectors, the sinners, the unclean and unworthy. He was criticized when He connected with those who were in the margins, but He made it clear how important every soul is, no matter what their circumstances.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”[21]
So He told them this parable:
What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (to be continued)
07 – Love. Live. Preach. Teach.—Live Him, Part 5
Love. Live. Preach. Teach.
Peter Amsterdam
2011-12-06
The last of the principles I’ll present under Live Him—the Prayer Principle—is one that interconnects with virtually all the other Live Him principles, and is central to our Christian lives.
The Prayer Principle
Prayer was a major factor in Jesus’ life and ministry. There are numerous references throughout the Gospels of Jesus praying. He taught His disciples to pray, they saw Him pray, they heard Him pray for them, He gave counsel about praying. Prayer was an integral part of His ministry. The fact that Jesus made a point to pray and to teach His disciples about prayer indicated it’s an important part of discipleship.
Taking time alone in prayer was a regular occurrence in Jesus’ life. He took time away from the crowds, and sometimes from His closest followers, to pray. He also prayed in His disciples’ presence.
Now even more the report about Him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear Him and to be healed of their infirmities. But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray.[1]
Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him, and they found Him and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”[2]
He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed.[3]
Now it happened that as He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him.[4]
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”[5]
Seeing Jesus’ example of prayer had a definite impact on the disciples, as evidenced throughout the book of Acts, which often speaks of them praying. Prayer is important in our lives; it’s part of our communication with God.
Before many of the major events, miracles, and decisions in Jesus’ life, and right up until the time of His death, Jesus spent time in prayer.
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.”[6]
Now about eight days after these sayings He took with Him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as He was praying, the appearance of His face was altered, and His clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with Him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.[7]
In these days He went out to the mountain to pray, and all night He continued in prayer to God. And when day came, He called His disciples and chose from them twelve, whom He named apostles.[8]
Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd. And after He had taken leave of them, He went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and He was alone on the land. And He saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.[9]
Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that You sent Me.” When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”[10]
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on His right and one on His left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”[11]
Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!” And having said this He breathed His last.[12]
Jesus gave His disciples instructions on how to pray.
Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”[13]
Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.[14]
He told them some things they should pray for:
He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”[15]
I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.[16]
He also taught them how not to pray.
When you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.[17]
Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.[18]
Jesus taught about being persistent in prayer.
He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily.”[19]
Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him”; and he will answer from within, “Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything”? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.[20]
He taught the power of prayer, that prayer gets answered, and that prayers should be prayed in faith and confidence—knowing that God is all-powerful and that nothing is beyond His capability to answer and do.
If you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, “Be taken up and thrown into the sea,” it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.[21]
Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.[22]
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! [23]
He exhorted His disciples to watch and to pray against falling into temptation and sin. In other versions of the Bible, watch yourselves is rendered as be on guard, take heed, be careful, be concerned.
Watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.[24]
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.[25]
Jesus prayed for others.
Then children were brought to Him that He might lay His hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and went away.[26]
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.[27]
I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.[28]
As shown by the accounts of His praying before His arrest, Jesus prayed desperately.
Going a little farther, He fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.[29]
He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.[30]
And going a little farther He fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Again, for the second time, He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.[31]
Through the example, instruction, and information Jesus gave to His disciples about prayer, its importance is evident. Prayer is a means of communicating with God, of abiding in Him. It’s a means of connecting to His power. It’s a means of loving and helping others as we pray for them. It’s a means of guarding our spiritual life and health. It makes a difference in the effectiveness of our preaching and teaching as we pray for laborers and then pray for those we are ministering to. It gives us the opportunity to humble ourselves before God, as we pray desperately and implore His help, and when we forgive others and ask Him for forgiveness.
As disciples, we are called to pray, and prayer is woven throughout the elements of discipleship. Loving God, living for Him, preaching Him, and teaching Him, all require prayer.
Disciples pray.
(To read the next article in this series, click here.)
[1] Luke 5:15–16.
[2] Mark 1:35–37.
[3] Luke 22:41.
[4] Luke 9:18.
[5] Luke 11:1.
[6] Luke 3:21–22.
[7] Luke 9:28–31.
[8] Luke 6:12–13.
[9] Mark 6:45–48.
[10] John 11:41–44.
[11] Luke 23:33–34.
[12] Luke 23:46.
[13] Matthew 6:9–13.
[14] Mark 11:2 5.
[15] Luke 10:2.
[16] Matthew 5:44.
[17] Matthew 6:5–8.
[18] Mark 12:38–40.
[19] Luke 18:1–8.
[20] Luke 11:5–8.
[21] Matthew 21:21–22.
[22] Mark 11:24.
[23] Luke 11:9–13.
[24] Luke 21:34–36.
[25] Mark 14:38.
[26] Matthew 19:13–15.
[27] Luke 22:31–32.
[28] John 17:9.
[29] Mark 14:35.
[30] Luke 22:41–44.
[31] Matthew 26:39, 42–44.
Copyright © 2011 The Family International.
Who Is Jesus? (part 2)
1988-01-01
But why would God send His Son into the world?
God loves us and wanted us to know His love. But He knows that He—the great Creator of the universe—is simply too great a concept for us to comprehend or even imagine! He says, “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are My ways above your ways, and My thoughts above your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). He also tells us, “Even the heaven of heavens cannot contain Me” (1 Kings 8:27). None of us can really grasp just how great God is, how marvelous and wonderful He is, far beyond the minds of men and the wildest stretch of our imaginations.
But because He loves us and wanted us to know His love and salvation, He sent His “only begotten son”—Jesus—into the world to show us what He is like.
Although He was literally the ruler and king of the universe, He chose not to be born in a fine palace with the elite and powerful members of the governments of man in attendance. Instead, He was born in the humblest and most lowly of circumstances, on the dirty floor of a barn amidst the cattle and the asses, wrapped in rags and laid to rest in the animals’ feed trough.
His earthly stepfather, Joseph, was a humble carpenter with whom He lived and labored, conforming to our own human ways of life, custom, language, and living. Thus He personally experienced life as we know it, and learned to communicate with us on the lowly level of our own limited human understanding. He saw our suffering and had great compassion on us, longing not only to heal our sick and broken bodies, but also to save our souls and broken hearts.
When Jesus began His life’s work, He went about everywhere doing good, helping people, loving children, healing heartaches, strengthening tired bodies, and bringing God’s love to all whom He could. He not only preached His message, but He lived it among us as one of us. He not only ministered to men’s spiritual needs, but He spent a great deal of time ministering to their physical and material needs, miraculously healing them when they were sick, giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, cleansing lepers, raising the dead. He fed the crowds when they were hungry, and did all He could to share His life and His love.
How could Jesus be God, if He lived and walked on the earth like a man?
Jesus said, “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). Before being born to Mary and living in a fleshly human body, He and His heavenly Father were together in very close personal heavenly fellowship, something He had to forsake while He was down here on earth.
The Bible tells us, “In the beginning was the Word (Jesus) and the Word was with God and the Word was God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made … And the Word (Jesus) was made flesh and lived among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the one and only Son of the Father” (John 1:1–2, 14).
Just before He was arrested and crucified, knowing that He would soon be reunited with His heavenly Father, Jesus prayed: “And now, Father, glorify Me along with Yourself and restore Me to such majesty and honor in Your presence as I had with You before the world was made … for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:5, 24).
Why does Jesus frequently refer to Himself in the Gospels of the New Testament as “the Son of Man”?
He called Himself the Son of Man because He was human, He was born of a woman just like the rest of us. He had the same kind of body that we have, He had the same feelings that we have, the same human limitations we have, He felt the same kind of weariness and pain.
The Creator of all things willingly stripped Himself of His unlimited power and became a tiny helpless infant. The source of all wisdom and knowledge had to study and learn to read and write. He left His throne in heaven where innumerable angels worshipped Him, where all the forces of the universe were at His command, and He took the place of a servant—scoffed at, ridiculed, persecuted, and ultimately killed by the very ones He came to save.
The Bible tells us that Jesus is “a high priest who is touched with the feeling of our weaknesses, for He was in all points tempted the same way we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Imagine! The Son of God literally became a citizen of this world, a member of humanity, a man of flesh, in order to reach us with His love, prove to us His compassion and concern, and help us to understand His truth in simple childlike terms that we could grasp.
What does the Bible mean when it calls Jesus “the Word”?
God has always spoken to people in many ways: through the beauty and wonder of His creation, through His prophets and messengers, and through His written Word. But the clearest revelation of Himself—of His character, of His love—is found in His Son, Jesus, whom He calls “the Word.”
Words are the means by which we express ourselves, by which we reveal our thoughts, our feelings, and our character. And Jesus is the means by which God expresses Himself to us. God’s most outstanding means of communication with us, the way that He chose to communicate His love to the world, was by His own Son, Jesus.
So Jesus came to give us God’s message, to tell us about God’s love?
Yes. But He not only gave us God’s message and God’s teachings, God’s love, but He is God’s message; He is God’s love to us.
Jesus, the Living Word, revealed God’s nature to us in a way that we could understand and relate to. For example, Isaiah 53:3 tells us, “He was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” He wept over the grief of His friends, over the suffering of humanity, and even over Jerusalem, a city that rejected its Savior and was therefore doomed to destruction.
Jesus was so merciful, so kind and kind-hearted. There were times when He was wearied, worn, and virtually exhausted from constantly ministering to the crowds that thronged Him. On one occasion He tried to retire from the busy scene for a little rest and recuperation, but the Bible tells us that when He saw the multitudes who needed His help, He had compassion upon them. He felt so sorry for them that despite the weariness and pain He felt, He went out and healed all that came to Him, and taught them all the wonderful words of God’s kingdom of love (Matthew 9:36; Mark 6:31–34).
There were also times when God’s anger blazed through Jesus, the Living Word, against pretense and hypocrisy. He told the self-righteous leaders of the ruling religious hierarchy of His day, “If I had not come and spoken unto you, you would not be guilty of sin; but now I have come and exposed you, so you have no covering for your sin” (John 15:22).
Actually, most of the time He had very little to do with the Scribes and the Pharisees. Except when they insisted on annoying Him and raising critical questions, doubts and accusations among those He was teaching. Then He unleashed scathing rebukes against them, publicly exposing them as the “blind leaders of the blind” that they were (Matthew 15:14), even telling them on occasion that they were like “whitewashed sepulchers, tombs, which, although they appeared beautiful, clean and holy outwardly, were full of rottenness, corruption, and stinking dead men’s bones within” (Matthew 23:27–28). These religious leaders considered themselves to be the most “righteous and holy” people in town, but Jesus exposed them for the hypocrites, liars, robbers and cheaters of the poor that they were, which of course infuriated them.
But most of the time Jesus avoided the self-satisfied religionists and spent His time helping and loving the poor, the common people, speaking to them, healing them, feeding them, and most importantly, giving them the spiritual answers, love, forgiveness, and truth that they longed for. The Bible says that He preached to the fishermen, drunks, prostitutes, tax collectors and sinners, and “the common people heard Him gladly” (Mark 12:37). But when He went into the temple and gave His message to the religious leaders, they mobbed Him, threw Him out, and finally crucified Him. (To be continued)
04 – Love. Live. Preach. Teach.—Live Him, Part 2
Love. Live. Preach. Teach.
Peter Amsterdam
2011-11-01
We are continuing our discussion of the Live Him element of being a disciple. We’ve covered three principles already—the Abiding Principle, the Love Principle, and the Unity Principle—and will cover two more in this article.
The Humility Principle
Time and again throughout the four Gospels, Jesus speaks to His disciples about humility. The Old Testament also speaks well of humility and almost always speaks of its opposite—pride—in a negative light.
The prophet Isaiah succinctly expressed that God dwells, or abides, with the humble:
For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”[1]
Since God abiding in disciples and them abiding in Him is so vital to their fruitfulness, and since humility plays a role in that abiding, it’s no surprise that Jesus spoke so much about humility.
A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.”[2]
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.[3]
Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.[4]
When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, “Friend, move up higher.” Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.[5]
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.[6]
Jesus set the example and taught the importance of being humble; thus the principle of humility is a key element for a disciple.
The Non-Anxiety Principle
Of all the principles, this is perhaps the most difficult one for me personally, because I tend to worry. I worry about the future, about my children and grandchildren, and if they are going to be okay, and what the future holds. These and many other things weigh on me, wake me up at night, and I have to fight to put them into the Lord’s hands and have faith. So when I talk about this principle, I am preaching to myself as well.
Jesus told His disciples—those that were seeking first His kingdom and righteousness—that they shouldn’t be anxious or troubled or worried about the things of this life; that they should trust in God’s care, His knowledge of their need, and His ability to supply. He instructed them to not feel nervous or afraid about what may or may not happen in the future, but rather to live with peace of heart and mind, knowing that God is in control, that He has our best interests at heart, and that He loves us and will care for us. This doesn’t mean we don’t do our part to fill our needs, but it means that we’re not to fret and worry. It’s the principle of trusting in God and in His promises. It’s the principle of understanding that God is faithful, that what He promises He will perform, and that He, the God of the universe, loves us and will care for us.
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?[7]
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?[8]
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.[9]
Jesus is saying we shouldn’t worry or be anxious about our food, our clothes, or our future. This doesn’t mean to be irresponsible and to never think about such things, nor that we shouldn’t do anything about them, but He’s saying we aren’t to be anxious or fearful about it. God knows our needs. He’s promised that as we put things in the right priority by seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness first, He will take care of our needs. The concept is expressed well in the following anecdote:
It is related that Elizabeth I of England once commissioned a rich merchant prince of her empire to go on an important mission for the crown, promising him rich rewards for his services. The merchant sought to decline the appointment on the grounds that his business would suffer during his absence, but his sovereign assured him: “You go and look after my business, and I will look after yours.” On his return, he found that his queen had kept her promise: he was a richer man than he was before.[10]
As disciples, we are called to do God’s business. When we do, He will take care of us.
Jesus taught this principle to His disciples in a practical manner when He sent the 12 out on their own, and then again when He sent the 72 out.
He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts.[11]
Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.[12]
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place where He himself was about to go. And He said to them … behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals.[13]
Jesus was teaching His disciples the principle of trusting Him for their needs. He wasn’t preaching against money. In fact, on the night before His death He told them they should take money, and a bag, and even a sword. Yet when He told them this, He reminded them that He was more than able to supply for them.
He said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.”[14]
When His disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He taught them the Lord’s Prayer, which included:
Give us this day our daily bread.[15]
In other words, we are to pray for the basic needs in our lives.
As opposed to being fretful or anxious, Jesus wants us to have peace in our hearts, to trust Him, to know that He can calm the troubled waters of our worries, that we can trust Him for our needs.
Let not your hearts be troubled.[16]
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.[17]
I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace.[18]
God doesn’t want us to be anxious, worried, or fretting, but to trust that as we do His will, as we give Him the right priority in life, as we follow where He leads us personally, He will care for us. He will give us peace of heart, mind, and spirit.
(In the next article we will continue with further Live Him principles.)
[1] Isaiah 57:15 NKJ.
[2] Luke 22:24–27.
[3] Matthew 18:4.
[4] Matthew 20:26–28.
[5] Luke 14:8, 10–11.
[6] Matthew 11:29 NAU.
[7] Matthew 6:25–26.
[8] Matthew 6:27–30.
[9] Matthew 6:31–34.
[10] Good Thots, Commitment, 53.
[11] Mark 6:8 NKJ.
[12] Matthew 10:9–10 NIV.
[13] Luke 10:1–4.
[14] Luke 22:35–36.
[15] Matthew 6:11.
[16] John 14:1.
[17] John 14:27.
[18] John 16:33.
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