St Matthew, Chapter 10, verses: 2- 4, The Disciples

Our paragraph topic is:  (The names of the Apostles).  

St Matthew, in these verses, tells us who the twelves apostles were that followed Christ.  In Chapter 4 he told us about the call of the first disciples.  They were Simon and Andrew, who were brothers.  Then he also called James and John, who were also brothers.  Then there was the special mention in Chapter 9 when Matthew tells us how he was called by Christ.  These are the five disciples that we already know about.  But then there is Phillip and Bartholomew and Thomas.  There is also another James, the son of Alpheus and also there is Thaddeus.  Last is Simon the son of the Cananean and Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed him.

These were the candidates that Christ chose to lead and to train.  They were the first to work directly with Jesus, to become the shepherds of the new church and the leaders of the flock.  Christ called them the salt of the earth.  They represented the base ingredient in his ministry.  They were mostly fishermen.  Simon, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen, common laborers.  Matthew was a publican, a public servant of the government, a tax collector, a person that all the people hated because of his association with the corruption of the government.

We know that Judas betrayed Christ.  But the others, Bartholomew, Philip, the other James, Thaddeus, and the other Simon we are not told about.  Matthew does not provide any additional information about them.  These were the men that Christ saw as being pillars of his church here on earth.  He taught them.  He trained them.  He sent them out into the field to practise the principles that he had given them.  He gave them power to demonstrate to the people the true message of the kingdom of heaven.  They were his disciples.  They were his apostles.  They were his shepherds here on earth.  And the harvest was great but the laborers were few.

Christ completed his mission of preaching and miracles.  And the dark powers and principalities of this world destroyed him for what he was sent here to complete.  They did not like his mission.  They had to stop him.  So they tortured him.  They beat him.  They abused him and they condemned him to death.  He died a horrible death on the cross.  He was crucified.  And yet he was glorified by his father, God in heaven who raised him from the dead.  Today he sits at the right hand of the Father, in the glory of the power that he had from the beginning of time. 

The disciples watched as Christ was tortured, beaten, spat upon, and crucified.  They were stricken.  They were destroyed.  They were fearful.  They were like scattered sheep.  But Christ returned.  Christ arose from the dead.  Christ appeared to them to show them the power of his father.  Christ then commissioned them to take the message throughout the world.  And he gave them eternal power to exercise here on earth.  Their message is love.  Their message is peace.  Their message is faith, hope, and charity to all mankind.  Can you follow in the footsteps of the disciples and carry the message of Christ today??  Pray that the Lord of the harvest sends forth laborers into the fields.

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 1, Transferred Power.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Power given to the Apostles).
 
The disciples of Christ are finished with their apprenticeship.  They have traveled with Christ throughout the district and watched him heal the sick, cure the lame, cast out demons, and learned first hand his thoughts about his ministry of preaching and miracles.  Christ is keenly aware of the great harvest that is available.  He is also aware of the laborers that are not available to complete the harvest.  He has chosen the few who are qualified and he must work with them to prepare them for the tasks ahead.

So the time has come for the internship to begin.  He has taught them in the classroom.  Now it is time for them to get out into the field and practice what he has taught them.  St Matthew tells us in this verse that Christ gave them power.  He gave them temporary power to cast out demons.  He gave them temporary power to heal the sick.  And he sent them forth to demonstrate the power that he had given to them.  For they would be the laborers in the field.  They would be the workers of great miracles after his mission is complete.  They would become the teachers of tomorrow that would spread the good news of the kingdom of heaven to the sheep.  They would be the shepherds of tomorrow.

So they went forth into the villages and the towns and ministered to the people.  They told of Christ the Messiah.  They told of the kingdom.  They told of the good news.  The told of the beatitudes.  They told of the new principles of life that Christ handed down on the Mount.  And they cast out demons.  They fought against principalities.  They fought against the demons of old who walked the earth and had kingdoms amongst men.  For Christ had given them the power to do so.  And they fought boldly and bravely and had many conquests.  And the Spirit of Christ went with them wherever they went.

Two thousand years later we still fight the battle.  We are still in the war to win souls.  Much has changed since the time of the disciples and much still remains the same.  Christ still seeks qualified candidates.  He still seeks laborers for the harvest and he still transfers power to fight the battles of today.  Will you accept the power that Christ wants to give you today?  Will you join the harvest and reap the rewards of a good and faithful servant?  Christ wants you, just as Uncle Sam wants you.  Come join the fight.
   

St Matthew, Chapter 9, verse: 38, The Apprenticeship.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The mission of the Apostles) Part 4.  

Christ looks out amongst the crowd of people and sees lost sheep.  He sees people that are bewildered.  He sees people that are puzzled.  He sees people that have lost their spirit of life.  There is a need for shepherds to lead them and he is training the disciples how to be good shepherds.  The harvest is great but the laborers are few.  He says to the disciples,  "Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest."   

Christ is looking out over the crowd thinking about those souls that need healing.  But he is also looking out across the land and seeing the hundreds and thousands of people that are just like those that he sees, those who are also lost and in need of a shepherd.  The disciples are only twelve.  Their task is great.  They are the original ones who trained with Christ.  They are the ones who must duplicate themselves and train others, who will in turn train others, and so on.  The need must be met.  Pray that the Lord of the harvest finds workers to help in the harvest.  Pray the the Lord of the harvest sends forth workers in all walks of life to lead the people.  Pray that the workers are open to the head master, who will direct them here on earth.  Pray that the workers will be open to receive the Holy Spirit to guide them and direct them in the tasks that are needed today.

The Lord of the harvest is hiring today.  He is looking for workers.  He is looking for laborers.  He is looking for people who are open to receive the instructions of the Holy Spirit.  It does not matter if you have a degree.  It does not matter if you have a high school diploma.  It does not matter if you are educated in the scriptures.  The Holy Spirit will direct all.  The Holy Spirit will teach all, in the ways of the Lord.  The Holy Spirit will train each worker in their specific task and guide them along the way in their on the job training.  All that is needed is a willing mind and an open heart.

The  pay is unbelievable.  The benefits surpass all.  The rewards are out of this world and you get to see the results of your work.  Come shepherds, the flocks are waiting directions.  They need to be led to greener pastures.  They need to be protected from the wolves.  They need to be led to the waters of life.  They need you.  Christ is calling.  Christ is waiting.  Christ is seeking for workers.  Will you come and work for Christ?