LUKE 6:12-16 ON THE MOUNTAIN That crowd of men going up that mountain; what is happening and why are they going up there? Disciples are "learners" who are following the Master-Teacher. They know they belong where their Teacher is. As the sun goes down, the disciples search for a place to rest and settle down for a night's sleep. But one solitary Person goes to a special place to pray. Hostility and popularity often go together as people are divided by the Person and teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. Fellowship with God is always important to maintain when either hostility or popularity influences us. In perfect fellowship with the Father, Divine Persons come together and look ahead to all that is to follow in the future. A foundation is about to be laid. On this foundation a great world-wide building will rise composed of "living stones" built on the foundation of "the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone." Apostles are those who were with the Lord Jesus "from the beginning" - the baptism of John, were witnesses of the resurrection of Christ, and were sent by the Lord personally to take the Gospel to the Jews. Twelve men were selected after that night of prayer.
Many prayers are made at night when the distractions of daylight activities have ceased and there is nothing to see in the darkness. Faith then has a clean slate to work on as the soul and spirit are lifted unhindered to God in prayer. Communion with God in the silence of night becomes more real and more intimate. There is an undeniable focus on God Himself as the silent pray-er says, "My Father in heaven..." Words are expressed and then the thoughts of the heart begin to rush forward to the throne of grace faster than the words can be spoken. The urgency of each matter is taken up by the intercessory work of the Holy Spirit who separates each area of concern and makes them acceptable to a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God. There is also the dignified Mediator who by virtue of His Person and work, speaks for the one praying in the darkness, and makes that case His own. Even the "accuser" has to go away as "Jesus Christ, the Righteous" takes up His work on behalf of the petitioner.
On the mountain that night, names were mentioned. On that mountain when our Lord prayed, the personalities, abilities and the possibilities of apostleship were probably discussed by Holy Persons who in communion, identified those who would be apostles to the Jews. These were ordinary men from Galilee (except for Judas Iscariot) who would become extraordinary in their service for the Master who chose them "to be with Him, and He would send them forth to preach." Each of those men was unique. They came from different walks of life and had very different personalities. None was a "rubber-stamp" of the others. The divergence of personalities, background and temperament made each one useful in the purposes of God.
When the night of communion had passed and daylight began to shed light on the scene, the voice of the Master called all of those disciples together and out of their number, twelve were identified as apostles. They didn't know at the time what that designation would involve, but they did know that to be called an apostle meant a new occupation lay before them. Fishing, tax collecting or whatever they had done before was now a thing of the past. Their Master-Teacher did not intend for them to return to their former occupation. When the Spirit of God raises up a person to do a special work for God, it is no light matter. Those who lead the people of God in assemblies, those who are called to be evangelists, pastors and teachers, dare not treat that calling as something taken or left at one's own will. The "gifts and calling of God are without repentance."
That morning may have started out as a normal morning to those twelve men, but when they were designated by name to the calling of apostleship, everything was changed. The training time began as they learned who their fellow apostles were. Their divergent personalities and ambitions had to be altered in order for them to work together. They had to realize ultimately that each one had a unique role to fill, and yet when they all filled that role, the coordinated effort was a successful work for God. No one has all the gifts and no one has reason to be proud of what God has equipped them to do. When God places a work in our hand, it is a time for humility and yielding to His will. We must trust Him to guide us in the work to which He has identified for us. It is His divine appointment we are obligated to fulfill. It is His work we are called to labor in. Anything of value that will come from any effort we might make, is reason to give God all the glory and honor. We humbly acknowledge the privilege we have had to be able to participate with Him in such a holy work.
Far be it for me to look with pride on a work God allows me to do. It is God working through clay vessels like me who is glorified when it is through. He is the One who called in the first place, He gave the gifts to fulfill The work He wanted to be started - when and where - and He is working still.
God makes no mistakes in gifting and calling, He has a work to complete. Each different person and each different work are to fulfill something - not to compete. Even though we are different, He works on each stone to make it fit with others around. When it is placed where it should be, the purpose for it then can be found.
The apostles were different, each one unique, trained and sent forth to preach. There are no apostles now, the foundation is laid, gifts given are that we might reach The people of our day wherever they are found, who have a ear to hear God's Word. Our responsibility now is to speak and introduce them to Jesus as Lord.
The Lord who called apostles and prophets is the same Lord who calls out to me, That I might use the gifts He has given to further His work wherever it be. One does one thing, another does another; each when and where they are united as one. The results will be what God intends when the building of the Church is done.
I don't know when that time will be, all I know is that here and now God is doing His work of grace and my work will fit in it somehow. So it is up to me to do what I can and make sure that fits in His perfect plan.
The final result will testify to His "exceeding riches of grace" far beyond the labor of man.
Twelve ordinary men were the foundation upon which the building is laid. New stones are being added day by day to which attention is paid, So, they fit and fill a place in the design that will bring glory to God in view. When we look back in a coming day, we will be glad for what God allowed us to do.
"Father, there is no doubt the building is still growing. Please help those in India, Nepal, North, South and Central America - and everywhere the work is going on - to realize, how important the work is, in which they are engaged. And please bless them all in it - and us here too, as we seek to fill the role, we have given by Thee. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."