The Disciples’ – What They Learned Through Their Experience
If someone is desiring to be launched into ministry, be careful about how fast you jump out there. Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and David learned lessons, along with their experiences, and it certainly didn’t happen overnight.. When it comes to the ones that Jesus taught, the principle was and still is the same.
Let’s start with Jesus and the disciples. Even though the disciples were with the living Jesus in the physical realm, they were taught spiritual principles.
The Disciples
They disciples watched Jesus for three years as He ministered to the needs of the people. Example: Jesus Heals Great Multitudes (Matthew 15:29-39). Jesus also sent His disciples out two by two on their own, and they were able to minister what they had been taught.
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick (Luke 9:1-2). Notice that they did not go out until they had been trained.
However, the experiences were not always pleasant; they came back and told Jesus about their experiences, So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:20-21), although Jesus gave them power over the demons (Luke 10:19).
When it came time for Jesus to go to the cross, die, be buried, and raised from the dead the disciples were prepared to go out into ministry. And on the day of Pentecost Peter preached a powerful message. Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them (Acts 2:41).
On another occasion, God added five thousand souls to the church. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
So, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added [e]to the church daily those who were being saved(Acts 2:44-47) .
But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, these who have turned the world upside down have come here too (Acts 17:6).
They made mistakes and wrong choices, but it did not stop their ministry from prospering. That was some powerful preaching!
This was the same Peter who denied Jesus three times (Luke 22:61-62). This same Peter was the one who along with other apostles cast lots to select an apostle to replace Judas, instead of seeking God.
And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles Acts 1:26). You never see Matthias mentioned again, because God had chosen Paul; if the apostles had been praying and seeking God, He would have shown them who the apostle was. This was a big mistake the apostles made.
What can we learn from the last verse? God wants us to pray and He will answer us.
Call Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3).
Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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