Laborer Training School 2018
John the Baptist
- Mal. 3:1; 4:5-6; Lk. 1:13-17, 41; Jn. 1:32-34; Mt. 11:11 – John = “Very Important Person”
- John 3:27 – I must become less for him to be more
- Matt. 11:2-3 – at time of need, doubts
12 Apostles
- Lk. 6:12-16; Mt. 19:28; Lk. 22:29-30; Rev. 21:14 – Apostles = “Very Important Persons”
- Mark 7:17-18; 8:14-21; Luke 9:43-45; Acts 1:6-7 – clueless about Jesus’ mission
- Matt. 16:13-23 – Peter’s revelation; then used by Satan
- Matt. 10:1-4 – all did signs and wonders (even Judas)
- Mark 14:17-19, 35 – They were certain they’d never deny Jesus
- Mark 14:31-32; Matt. 26:56 – All left him at his darkest hour
- Mark 14:66-72 – Peter denied 3 times
- Mark 14:27-28; 16:7 – Jesus stays faithful
- John 18:10 – Peter hacked off a man’s ear with a sword
After resurrection
- Mt. 28:17; Mk. 16:11, 13-14; Lk. 24:11; Jn. 20:25 – doubted resurrection
- Did not recognize Him unless He allowed it (see also Matt. 11)
- Luke 24 – were told they were unqualified for ministry on their own
- John 10:11 – Good Shepherd = Jesus → saves sheep
- 10:1, 10 – Thief = False Minister → destroys sheep
- 10:12-13 – Hired Hand = True Minister → abandons sheep
Paul
- Gal. 1:1 – Called by God as a True Apostle
- Acts 9:1-19 – while called: blinded; dependent on others; praying
- Acts 15:36-41 – still has irreconcilable conflict
David
- 1 Sam. 16:1-13; David vs brothers
- 1 Sam. 15; 2 Sam. 11 – Saul’s disgrace vs David’s disgrace
- Matt. 1:1; Acts 13:22; Rev. 22:16 – David is commended
- See also Moses (Exodus 2:11-15; 4:10); Gideon (Judges 6-8)
Conclusion
- Gal. 2:20; Phil. 3:1-14; 1 Cor. 1:26-31 – “Not I, but Christ,” “Boast in the Lord”
- Zech. 4 (cf. Luke 24:44-49) – “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit”
- Acts 4:13 (and Psalm 8) – “uneducated, common men…they had been with Jesus”
- Hudson Taylor (1832 – 1905): “I often think that God must have been looking for someone small enough and weak enough for Him to use, and that He found me.”
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