MODULE 8: SPIRITUAL APPOINTMENT AND PROMOTION

Jesus Christ chose seventy disciples from five hundred brethren and twelve

apostles from seventy disciples. He chose three disciples, (Peter, James and

John) from the twelve and one (John) from the three. There is a difference

between the seventy and twelve, between the twelve and the three and

between the three and one.

Five hundred is represented with the biggest circle. Inside it is the circle of

seventy. Inside this is the circle of twelve, then three and lastly the circle of

one – I Corinthians 15:6.

THE FIVE HUNDRED BRETHREN

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his category of people represents the church members. They are brethren,

born again but follow Christ from afar off. They go to the church when it is

convenient for them. They are so close to the world that they can easily

backslide because the part of the world is still attracting them. In an

unfavourable situation they can easily deny Christ – John 18:18, 25-27.

As Peter followed Jesus Christ from afar off, he denied Him when there

was sudden danger. This is the spiritual standard of these five hundred

believers. If you remain in this group, you are not sure you can stay to the

end – Prov. 9:16-18. Sin may appear attractive but the end result is death.

Those who are still afar off from Jesus Christ, occasionally, still go back and

taste the world and they came back again to Jesus Christ. Often they are up

today and down tomorrow. Most of the time they fall and never return. It is

easier to fall than to stand.

To have tasted God and then fall back again is a very unpleasant thing

indeed because all the joy that they have will be gone forever – II Pet.

2:20-22.

The five hundred brethren are just like people coming to the church

and going back to their houses.

THE SEVENTY – Luke 10:1-11

16The second group of people is the seventy. They were fully

instructed about what to do on their journey, how to begin,

how to behave and what to say. The first thing we learn about

this seventy is that they were fixed for service. They were not

just bench-warmers. God looked at them and saw that there

was something special that this seventy could do; so He set

them apart. He found that they would be useful, obedient and

be able to take instructions. If you want to move out of the

entire congregation, you must obey instructions (i.e. be

obedient).

For example, if after this training you are found fit, you will be asked to join

the workers. Then, suddenly, you discover that you have to obey the Pastor

more than before. You have to make up your mind whether to obey the

Pastor and remain with the workers or to disobey and join again the

ordinary members who are represented by the five hundred.

When you are just in the congregation (five hundred), you can travel

anytime you like or anywhere you like. You do not need to tell the Pastor.

However, the moment you join the workers (seventy), even if you are going

to see anyone over the weekend you have to inform the Pastor.

Even if there is a work to be done by workers that requires the presence of

every worker and you have your own programme, you have to choose

either what others are doing or you choose your own programme

and go back to the congregation (five hundred). It is a question of choice.

To be among the workers, you must be there forever. You may decide

voluntarily not to be a member anymore but once God has made you head,

may you not become tail again. If you cannot do what the seventy did today,

you cannot go farther than the five hundred. The Gideon’s Army were

chosen because they were disciplined.

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SEVENTY

Those who will be among the seventy must learn to serve continuously.

When Jesus sent them out, He did not follow then Himself. This means

anyone who belongs to the seventy must learn to serve without

supervision – Phil. 2:12.

Wherever he is, he will perform well as if Jesus is there. Whether the

Pastor is there or not, he will still be working for God because he knows

17he is not working for man and It is only God who will reward him – Col.

3:22-24.

Jesus asked them not to take any money with them because He was

trying to teach them how to endure hardship. When you are sent

somewhere you do not know and you are asked not to take any money

with you, you know you have to endure. Nobody can join the workers

unless he can fast. Occasionally, you will come to the church and think

that after the service you will eat but you discover that there is no time for

eating till the evening. Fasting is one of the responsibilities of workers.

Fasting helps you to grow spiritually. If you want to join the group of

seventy, you must be ready to endure hardship and be ready to fast.

Anyone who wants to join the work-force must be ready to serve God

with all his ability – Matt. 5:20-23. You cannot do more than your best but

God expects you to do your best. If you do your best, He knows you cannot

deceive Him. The seventy were asked to go without taking anything with

them. It means they were supposed to use whatever they had for God.

Anything you have, you must be willing to use it for God. Nevertheless,

make sure you take the best for God – Mark 14:3-9.

Also, Jesus sent them without supervision so that they might serve Him

without seeking recognition. They worked for God without eye service (I

Peter 4:11). In other words, when you belong to the circle of seventy, you

must be doing things only to glorify God, not seeking the praise of anybody;

not that anybody may see you. You must learn to serve with humility. (John

13: 14). It is one of God’s ways of teaching humility. You cannot be in the

group of seventy without the teaching of humility. If you still consider

yourself as someone indispensable, God cannot use you.

Those that God will use must be ready to serve Him joyfully (Psalm

100:2). If you want to be in the group of seventy, you must learn to serve

God with JOY. When you are asked to do something, you must do it

joyfully.

Finally, you must remember that your efforts are not in vain. In your

running up and down, praying and fasting, remember I Cor. 15:58, When

God asks you to go out and work, you can be sure He is going to reward

you in the end. Whatever you do for Him, you can be sure that the reward

is on the way.

18Those who are in the group of seventy must:-

(i) Serve continuously.

(ii) (iii) (iv) Learn to serve without supervision.

Be ready to endure hardship.

Be willing to work to the best of their ability.

(v) (vi) Be willing to use whatever they have and their best for God.

Learn to serve without seeking the praise of anybody because all

glory must belong to God (i.e. avoid eye-service).

(vii) (viii) (ix) (x) Learn to serve with humility.

Be willing to serve Him with joy.

Constantly remember that their efforts will not be in vain

Know that they need prayer to make all the above possible.

John 15:5. Christ says,” without me you can do nothing. ” Mark 3:13-15.

THE TWELVE (THE AMBASSADORS)

Jesus chose the twelve to live with Him and sent them out to preach, to

have power to heal and to have power to cast out evil spirits. These are the

four things that Jesus said the twelve should do – Mark 3:13-15.

Anybody who thinks ahead of the present and who thinks about what

will happen tomorrow, will not have a friend. This is because worldly

people believe in the food that is ready i.e. they prefer to enjoy now and

later face hardship. Jesus Christ preferred to endure hardship and later

enjoy the rewards. He knew that a day was coming when He would be

crowned, when He would be glorified. This was why He had no friends.

This was why He arranged to select the twelve that would move together,

come in and go out, with Him. Sometimes He was homesick; He was

constantly talking to the Father, “that glory we have together, I do not

forget, do not let this glory pass me by.” Occasionally, He sneaked out to

pray alone to the Father. Those who want to deal with Jesus must be

sanctified.

He chose the twelve because they had something special. They deserved

being His Ambassadors because:

191. They were of humble character; (gentle) very truthful, prayer

warriors, holy within and out.

2. Their only ambition was to make their Captain happy, to please Him

joyfully (II Tim. 2:4). Our own ambition too is to please Him.

3. Whatever they did, they did like their Captain. An African adage says,

if the leaf stays so long with soap, it automatically becomes soap.

Because they lived with Christ, their action was like Christ. (John

2:6).

4. Anyone who saw them knew that they had been with Jesus for long.

(Acts 4:13). If someone sees you in a market-place, will such one say

you are a child of God?

THE THREE

From among the twelve, Peter, John and James were chosen on several

occasions to accompany Jesus Christ – Mark 9:2-9; 5:37, Matt. 17:1-9;

26:36-38.

THE ONE

John the beloved was privileged to be the closest to the Master from among

the three disciples – John 20:2, John 21:7, 20