“…I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, AND ALL THE POWERS OF HELL WILL NOT CONQUER IT.” (Matt. 16:18)
Jesus was about to set His Church in order, so He SPENT THE NIGHT in prayer, “At daybreak He called together all of His disciples and CHOSE (eklegomai: separated to be peculiarly God’s own) TWELVE of them to be apostles.” (Luke 6:13)
“When they came down from the mountain, the
- DISCIPLES stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by,
- MANY OF HIS FOLLOWERS and by, (many believers but not yet chosen)
- THE CROWDS. (Potential believers)
There were people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon.” (Luke 6:17)
“After these things the Lord appointed SEVENTY OTHERS also, and sent (apostellō: go to a place appointed) them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.” (Luke 10:1) These men were also apostles sent out by the Lord. “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with ONE ACCORD (homothumadon: a compound of two words meaning to “rush along” and “in unison” people who share “like precious faith,” ) IN ONE PLACE.” (Acts 2:1)
Jesus gave us a responsibility, He spoke this to His Church, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES of all the nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, TEACHING them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham