The Training of the Twelve

Church at Prayer           THE TRAINING OF THE TWELVE                   September 22, 2015

Luke Chapter 9 offers a remarkable snapshot of the ministry of Jesus highlighting both the power of God and the training of the twelve apostles.

It begins with Jesus sending them by saying, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic.”  (Luke 9:3)  In other words they could only rely on the power of God and the good will of others to sustain them. They reported back to him the wonderful things that had happened.

A crowd grew and they asked Jesus to send the people away because, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish-”  (Luke 9:13)  They had seen God work on their earlier mission but failed to connect the dots that God’s power was still available to them.

Jesus then takes them on a mountain to pray, and the apostles witness what is called the Transfigura- tion. Jesus, in his glory, talks to Moses and Elijah. Chapter 9 ends with a word from Jesus about the implications of following Him.

When we arrive at Luke Chapter 10 we discover Jesus again sending his disciples, now seventy of them, two by two, and with similar instructions.

What we see is the progressive discovery on the part of the disciples of the true nature of Jesus as God and the tasks He sent them on to train them as followers.

Think about your own recent “God-sightings” – where you have seen the power of God at work – and
ask yourself, what is our Lord teaching me about my own followership at this time?
                                        Joy to you – E. Stanley Ott, July 23, 2014  Vol. 13, No. 11, THE TRAINING OF THE TWELVE
Prayer Suggestions

We can only imagine having the kind of faith and trust the disciples had in Jesus, making them feel empowered to keep going without knowing what laid ahead of them.  Pray that our faith will be as strong.

Jesus wants a total dedication from each of us.  Most of us fall short.  We need to re-commit every day, if necessary.  Pray and seek advice and guidance from Jesus.  It is our faith in Jesus that allows to go where He leads us.

Pray about your own “God-Sightings”.  Have you seen the power of God at work?  Think about the things you have done in the name of Jesus. Just by giving food to someone in need or similar acts of kindness is, in part, a measure of our faith.

By beings a part of the CAP group, whether at home or in the church sanctuary, we are fulfilling a portion of the discipleship God has asked of us.  We care about, and are concerned for, the
physical, mental and emotional condition of others.

Pray for those on our prayer list.  May they find solace in knowing we are lifting them up, by name, to Jesus.  He doesn’t always do what we ask but He always does what is best them.

Keep in prayer those who have lost so much this summer with the fires in California and the northwest and the floods in Utah.