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PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE

Introduction

We have been studying through the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ.

1. Peter the man of Zeal

2. Andrew the Soul-Winner

3. James the Hot-headed

4. John the Beloved

5. Philip, the Active Apostle

6. Bartholomew, or Nathanael as he is called in the Gospel of John

7. Matthew, the Tax-Collector turned Gospel Reporter

8. Last week, it was Thomas.

Tonight, we focus on three men we know extremely little about. But that doesn’t mean that they were unimportant. Nor does it mean that there is nothing to learn from these men.

We will look at these three apostles tonight, then next week, Lord willing, we will study the life of Judas Iscariot. After that, we will spend a little while and study the life of the Apostle Paul.

We have not just been looking at the men themselves, but the impact that Jesus Christ had upon their lives, and then the impact that these men had on the world.

We could call these three Apostles that we will look at tonight the Unknown Apostles, but that is probably not a great way to refer to them. They are known to God, but just not much to us.

These three men are barely mentioned at all in the Scriptures. Yet Jesus says He hand-picked not just 9 well written about men, but TWELVE men (John 6:70) to follow Him, and turn the world upside down.

So even these three have to have something for us to learn from!

Who were these three men that we know so little about? We’ll call them the Obscure Disciples.

I.    WE KNOW THEIR NAMES. (Matthew 10:1-3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15,16; Acts 1:13)

            James the Son of Alphaeus or James the Less.

Thaddeaus also known as Lebbaeus and as Judas, not Iscariot, the brother of James.

            Simon the Canaanite also known as Simon Zelotes.

            A.      James The Son Of Alphaeus Or James The Less.

                        1.   He is the second James in the group of Apostles.

                        2.   He is known simply as “James, the son of Alphaeus.”

                        3.   We don’t know anything about Mr. Alphaeus, but we do know that he had two (and possibly three sons) in the ministry (what an accomplishment):

                                     1)  James the Less.

                                    2)  And Judas the brother of James, also known as Thaddeaus, and Lebbeus

                                    2)  Matthew, the Tax collector

None of these men were “great” men whom the Lord called because of their abilities. Rather the Lord called them because He wanted to show what He could do with ANYBODY!

                                    That ought to be an encouragement to us all!

That is how and why God calls nobodies to become somebodies for Him- to bring glory to Him; to show His greatness. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

B.     Lebbaeus, Whose Surname Was Thaddaeus, Also Known As Judas, The Brother Of James Or Judas, Not Iscariot.

                         1.   Why people would have 3 or more names is beyond me – but many do.

                                    I suppose it is for tax reasons or for when we are in trouble.

(Whenever I heard my mom address me as “Jerry Nelson Thrower” I knew I was in trouble!)

                        2.         Most of us have three names: Jerry, and Nelson, and Thrower.

                        3.   Some have four and FIVE names.

                                    (Exp. Former President George Herbert Walker Bush)

                        4.   There was a Dutch father who named his son “Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddeaus, Simon, Judas” – can you imagine the shock to those who had to record that birth certificate?!

                                    I am sure they probably just called him Peter when they needed him!

                        5.   Speaking of names:

There was a man who named both his sons Ed. When asked Why, he replied, “Well, haven’t you heard, Two ‘Eds’ are better than one”

In Los Angeles, a Federal Judge Yankwich had to deal with a case that would make a grown man cry.

Luther Wright and Hermann Rongg appeared before Federal Judge Leon Yankwich, claiming ownership of a patent.

                                    The judge declared, “Well, one of you must be wrong.”

                                    “That’s right,” declared Rongg. “I’m Rongg, and I’m right.”

Then Mr. Write interrupted: “No, He’s wrong, your honour, I’m right, and Rongg is wrong.”

After extensively reviewing the evidence, Judge Yankwich ended the dispute by ruling:

“Paradoxical as it may appear, in this case, Mr. Write is wrong, and Rongg is right, and I so enter judgment!"

                        6.  Judas is only known for his interest in how the Lord would reveal Himself to the believers after He died. (John 14:20-24)

                                    a)     If they would stay in love with the Lord – so important.

                                    b)  And stay at obeying His word – trusting when it is darkest.

                                    c)   They would know and experience the love of God.

                                    d)  And would be filled with the person of the Lord.

                                    e)   Which is what Pentecost was all about.

                         7. The same is true for us.

                                    a)   We need to fall in love and then stay in love with the Lord Jesus.

                                    b)  We need to persevere at obeying His word – live His word – trusting Him completely to be true to His word.

                                    c)   And then we will enjoy the fruits of a personal, intimate, Spirit-filled life!

            C.   Simon the Canaanite, also known as Simon Zelotes. 

Both of these names connect Simon with a radical and revolutionary party among the Jews. If he had lived in New England during the revolutionary war days he would have been called a patriot!

The Zealots were a group of fanatical men who declared that Rome had not merely destroyed the independence of Israel, but had made it difficult for them to observe many of the ceremonials prescribed by the Law of Moses.

From their headquarters in Galilee, they stirred up sedition and rebellion and at every opportunity, seized upon anything they could to inflame the people against their conquerors.

The Zealots stood alone, and were ready to resist, even with arms, the Roman government.

                        At times they were highly applauded by the people

Yet, under this name of Zealots, innumerable murders, and horrible wickedness were committed in the name of zeal.

Simon was one of this sect before his conversion, and still retained the name afterwards. It unfortunately stuck to him.

But his zealousness was now for the Lord, not for liberation of the home country from Roman rule, but for the liberation of souls from the ravages of sin.

Thankfully, his cause was changed from exacting vengeance and revenge, to making a way for people to be saved from hell!

            So these three have their names etched in Scripture for all time and eternity.

            (Psalm 119:89)

            Their names proclaimed in heaven – written in the Book of Life (Luke 10:20) – Why?

            For no other reason than:

                        Because they responded to Christ’s call to follow Him (Lk 5:27; Jn 6:70)

                        It was the same call every time – Follow Me.

                        It was for the same goal every time – to make them different than they were.

If we are not following the Lord Jesus, what right do we have to be called Christians?

            WE KNOW THEIR NAMES.

II. WE KNOW THEY WERE APOSTLES.

            A.     They had a special job to do: that was to get the New Testament church going - and they did it by the power of the Holy Ghost.

            B.     They had special abilities to get the job done: miracles; signs and wonders.

It was only for until the New Testament was completed– It was not passed down.

III. WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THESE THREE MEN?

            A.   God’s Call.

                        1.   It was to these 3 men just as clearly as it was to Peter, James, and John!

                        2.   It’s not what they were, or what they became known as (title: apostles), but what God called them to do, and whether they did it that matters.

                        3.   Think about it – what is your calling in life?

                        4.   Is it God’s call that you are following, or are you just doing what you can do?

                        5.   There is nothing greater than fulfilling God’s design for your life

                        6.  The question is, are you doing God’s will, little by little, day by day?

                        God’s Call.

            B.   God’s Conditioning.

                        God had these 3 little known men in a team.

                        They were not just individuals, they were part of a team.

There are all kinds of people on a team – some very prominent, some not prominent at all – but they are still needed on a team

It is the same in war – frontline soldiers, Generals, drivers, mechanics, pilots, and – all together make an army.

God calls Christians to “assemble together” so that we can as a team, as an army, as a body of believers, can make a difference in a world gone bad!

                        God’s Call.

                        God’s Conditioning.

            C. God’s Concern.

                        Was that they do what He called them to do – nothing less.

                        To do anything less, would be a wasted life.

IV.  WHAT DIFFERENCE DID THEY MAKE?

            By 95 A.D., the whole known world had heard of the Gospel. (Colossians 1:4-6)

By 300 AD, half of the Roman Empire was Christian! So much so that Constantine had to give in and join them in order to stay in power.

It didn’t happen by accident, or by just Peter preaching, or even Paul. It happened because multitudes of Christians were willing to give their lives so that all men might hear the Good News!

But it only happens when we work together as a team. The apostles and early church did!

            It only happens when churches work together in supporting missionaries.

            It only happens when there are a LOT of unknowns working.

Tradition says that Simon Zelotes preached the Gospel in a distant country of Mauritania, on the coast of western Africa, and even up into Britain, in which latter country he was crucified, in A.D. 74.

Thaddeaus preached and ultimately was crucified at a city called Edessa, Macedonia, in A.D. 72.

These “unknowns” get a seat right next to the Lamb, and have a layer of the New Jerusalem named after them!

            Even though they were not the most outstanding of apostles – they still did pretty good!

Conclusion

What will be the result of our life when it is over?

            A lot of money in a bank account that our kids will fight over?

            A selfish, self-centred, self-serving life that was miserable?

An empty life with nobody ever loving us for anything more than our money, or our abilities?

Jesus died to give us a new life that will count for eternity – the abundant life

What difference will all the things done after the flesh amount to in eternity? NOTHING!!!

This world desperately needs to hear once again about the finished work of Jesus Christ for man’s sins!

The world is NOT going to hear just by the Paul’s and Peters, but only when the Simons, and Thaddeaus’ and James the less’ get busy for God as well!

Are you discouraged because you can’t show any GREAT things being done by your life yet?

1.  Become part of a team – part of the ministries of this church.

2.  Get all the way in – become passionate for souls, and soul-winning, and teaching, and helping people know Jesus.

3. You will never be the same, and neither will your heart!

We need to remember it’s not accomplishment, but faithfulness that counts!

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD