Witnessing - Opportunity and Responsibilty

The need for Discipleship

I want to talk a little bit about John Wesley. He was critical to the Great Awakening.

What was the great awakening. It was the a great revival that impacted the British and American colonies. I was at a time when secular rationalism, science, was on the rise and religion had grown stale.

Who was John Wesley: On May 24, 1738, John Wesley was soon banned from preaching in most of the churches in London. The pastors did not want him telling their congregations that we are saved by faith, not good works. George Whitefield invited John to come and see what was going on in Bristol where Whitefield was preaching in the fields. Wesley was reluctant to preach outdoors. He thought it was tacky! When John went to Bristol and saw what God was doing in this “field preaching” he accepted Whitefield’s invitation to preach the next Sunday. Wesley was moved by what he saw God doing in the lives of these poor, simple people who were not welcome in the local churches. Being a High-Church minister, John Wesley consulted the lectionary to discover the assigned text for the Sunday he was to preach. The scriptural lesson for that Sunday was the Sermon on the Mount. Wesley commented, “Well, there is some precedence to this field preaching. Jesus Himself did it!” Wesley preached that Sunday to 3,000 people from a pulpit placed on the hillside. They were poor people who had no church background. They listened gladly as Wesley told them of God’s love and transforming power. And the revival was on!

It is estimated that approximately 140,000 people were saved through Wesley’s preaching and ministry.

He gave twelve rules to the young men who would follow in his footsteps:

May they guide you today:

Q. 26. What are the rules of a Helper?

1. Be diligent. Never be unemployed a moment. Never be triflingly employed. Never while away time; neither spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary.

2. Be serious. Let your motto be, “Holiness to the Lord.” Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking.

3. Converse sparingly and cautiously with women; particularly, with young women.

4. Take no step toward marriage, without first consulting with your brethren.

5. Believe evil of no one; unless you see it done, take heed how you credit it. Put the best construction on every- thing. You know the Judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner’s side.

6. Speak evil of no one; else your word especially would eat as doth a canker. Keep your thoughts within your own breast, till you come to the person concerned.

7. Tell every one what you think wrong in him, and that plainly, as soon as may be; else it will fester in your heart. Make all haste to cast the fire out of your bosom.

8. Do not affect the gentleman. You have no more to do with this character than with that of a dancing-master. A Preacher of the gospel is the servant of all.

9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin: Not of fetching wood (if time permit) or drawing water; not of cleaning your own shoes, or your neighbour’s.

10. Be punctual. Do everything exactly at the time. And in general, do not mend our Rules, but keep them; not for wrath, but for conscience’ sake.

11. You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this work. And go always, not only to those that want you, but to those that want you most.

Observe: It is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that society; but to save as many souls as you can; to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance, and with all your power to build them up in that holiness without which they cannot see the Lord. And remember! A Preacher is to mind every point, great and small! Therefore you will need all the sense you have, and to have all your wits about you!

12. Act in all things, not according to your own will, but as a son in the Gospel. As such, it is your part to employ your time in the manner which we direct; partly, in preaching and visiting from house to house; partly, in reading, meditation, and prayer. Above all, if you labour with us in our Lord’s vineyard, it is needful that you should do that part of the work which we advise, at those times and places which we judge most for his glory.

John Wesley said, “I am more and more convinced that the devil himself desires nothing more than this, that the people of any place should be half-awakened and then left to themselves to fall alseep again.”

I. I want to look at discipleship. Which sometimes in the Bible is just getting glimpses of a persons life as they develop.

Turn to the gospel of Mark 14:43-46 “43 And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. 45 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him. 46 And they laid their hands on him, and took him. ”

Let’s pray.

First look at Mark 14:27 “27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.”

Discuss all of them are going to go through rough times, when the devil strikes the Shepard, the sheep will scatter

Look at Mark 14:20-21 “20 And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. 21 The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.” Speaking of the betrayal of Judas.

First, by way of introduction, Look at Mark 14:29-30 “29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. 30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.”

Then look at Mark 14:50-53 “50 And they all forsook him, and fled. 51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: 52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. 53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.”

Let’s talk about what happens when there shall be offense of what Jesus Christ may ask of you. And like Mark you may run.

Turn to Galatians 5:7-11 “7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.”

The offence of the cross is a real thing and real obstacle. The question is when the offence of the cross gets to you, what will you do?

In 1 Cor 1:18 “18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

And yet, Christ told his disciples in Mark 14:27 “27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.”

I want to preach to you about discipleship, but I must first warn you of when the offence of the cross hits you. What did Peter say in Mark 14:29-30 “29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. 30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.”

First is a warning of the offence of the cross. I would say to you that the offence of the cross can affect you in may ways.

Fear

Unwillingness to spread the gospel

Unwillingness to sacrifice

Putting your own ambitions above the perfect will of God

Pure laziness, and an unwillingness to work

What I am trying to show you is that you must be willing to go through trials and tribulations. This Christian life is not always easy. It is by far the best life, but not easy.

Let’s turn to Acts chapter 12

First, I want you to see the pattern that plays out in Acts, but is very present in our lives.

First, you have the opposition, the Devil.

1 Pet 5:8 “8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

Turn to Acts 12:1-4 “1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.”

James, the brother of John, was the apostle James, and with his brother John, they were called the Sons of Thunder.

Mark 3:17 “17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:”

2. Second, you have the saints making intercession by prayer.

John 16:33 “33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Psalm 50:15 “15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

Look at verse 5

Peter is about to be put to death. Look at Acts 12:5 “5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”

Acts 12:6-8 “6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.”

Now, go down to Acts 12:11-12 “12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.”

This is the first introduction to who I want to talk to you about John Mark.

A this point in time, he is probably a young teen, maybe early twenties. He is not an apostle, nor a leader in the church, just a young man who was among all the other members of the church praying for Peters release.

We are introduced to all three main elements of the church.

Church leadership and those who are actively doing ministry.

The body of the church, actively praying and making intercession for both the leadership and for the gospel to go out.

You have the next generation of leaders who are in training or discipleship.

At this point I want to establish some important truths about the way God’s economy works. I think sometimes its easy to forget.

Look at 1 Sam 30:1-2 “1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; 2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.”

Now look at 1 Sam 30:10 “10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.”

Now look at 1 Sam 30:17-25 “17 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled. 18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives. 19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all. 20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David’s spoil. 21 And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them. 22 Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not…”

Turn over to Matthew 20:1-16 “1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about …”

As far as the text is concerned, we are given no back ground as to who John Mark was. Truth be told it doesn’t really matter either. He was simply someone who heard the gospel, and was saved.

Go down to Acts 12:25 “25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.”

So what does the next chapter of Mark’s life look like? This was Paul and Banabas’s first missionary journey.

Now turn to Acts 13:1-4 “1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.”

Now notice, there is an anointing of Saul and Barnabas by the laying on of hands. It is a way of ceremonially conferring of an office or a calling. Notice John Mark is not part of the ceremony. The anointing, the setting apart was for Saul and Barnabas. John Mark was just going to get experience.

Now go down to Acts 13: 14-15 “14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.”

What is significant about this verse is that it is the time when John Mark left them. The Bible does not say way, we only know that John mark left. We also know that it was not on good terms as we are going to see.

Be aware of the offense of the cross.

Matt 26:41 “41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Hosea 11:7 “7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me: Though they called them to the most High, None at all would exalt him.”

Romans 12:2 “2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

So we John Mark ran at the betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He was then given another opportunity to serve by going with Barnabas and Saul on their first missionary journey, and at Perga, John Mark takes off.

Now let’s look at one of the final mentions of Marks life.

Acts 15:36-41 “36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.”

So yet again, there is struggle, failure, and criticism. In your life, there will be those who will champion you and there will also be those who will say that you won’t make it. Failure will come. It cannot be avoided. It is how you respond to adversity.

Prov 24:16 “16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: But the wicked shall fall into mischief.”

Conclusion:

Look at 1 Tim 1:1-4 “1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; 2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”

Look at Tit 1:1-4 “1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; 4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.”

Some scripture on our responsibilities as older in the faith to those who are younger:

1 Pet 5:2-3 “2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”

1 Cor 11:1 “1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

Rom 15:14 “14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.”

Hebrews 10:24–25 KJV 1900

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.