Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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Reminder to self: God will never ask me to do anything that won't glorify Him and is not good  for me.

[Breaking down one verse (Mark 6:7) in observation, interpretation and application while in preparation for the World Race. The journey begins now.]

And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. 8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— 9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.

10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. 11 And whoever]”>[]”>a]”>] will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them.]”>[]”>b]”>] Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. Mark 6:7-13

My Observation:
 

  1. Jesus called the 12 disciples to Himself. Jesus called only the 12. Jesus called them. Jesus called them unto Himself.
  2. Then He began to send them out two by two. Jesus first called them, then sent them. Where? Out.  How many? All 12, but in pairs. Two by two.
  3. And Jesus gave them power! Power over unclean spirits. Jesus didn't send them without pairing them up or preparing them or giving them power…over demons.

My Interpretation:

The calling came from Jesus. No doubt. He was physically present as He gathered His disciples. He called them over to Himself; this makes Jesus the focal point of the calling. He didn't say "hey, meet up at the well," or "go over there and wait for me." No, He purposely called the 12 unto Himself.

And Jesus had a plan and a purpose for calling the disciples unto Himself. It's like He's saying: "COME TO ME, here where I am at. All eyes on Me. Watch, learn, listen…NOW GO."

In between Him calling them and sending them, I believe some sort of preparation and coaching took place (verses Mark 6:8-11) and His instructions were probably clear to them, concise and easy to follow (but maybe not so easy to obey.) This shows me that Jesus will not call and send without preparation and without purpose and without equipping for the mission ahead.

He sent out the disciples in pairs. Two by two. Not alone and neither in a crowd. I believe He carefully selected each pair to perfectly yoke. I believe He chose complimentary pairs and disciples who would learn from eachother and love eachother. I do believe Jesus picked the BEST match for each pair.

If we let Jesus do the calling, rather than us doing the searching, if we let Jesus do the pairing better is His choice than our own.

I wonder if the disciples questioned His choice for picking partners? I wonder if they were excited for the mission?

But Jesus gave them power…over the demons. It seems quite clear He gave them everything they needed in the face of opposition. He gave them the calling, the training, the perfect team and the power…

My Application:

  • First of all, trust Jesus. Trust Jesus. When He calls, He is calling unto Himself. Just go to Jesus.
  • Believe that He calls with a plan and a purpose. And the calling is perfect.
  • Remember He calls to send out on a mission. God is a missionary God. Jesus was a missionary.
  • Don't worry about the team or the pairing; again Jesus picks perfectly and with a plan and a purpose.
  • Jesus does not make mistakes, don't you forget!
  • Jesus has given me power; it needs to be used, unleashed and exercised in His authority towards ALL unclean spirits and evil opposition.

Now go…