Shartel Church

Jesus is coming back! Though the disciples didn’t understand what He was talking about at the time, WE DO! This promise gives us hope, no matter what the circumstances. This promise reminds us that we are living for something bigger, something greater than just the here and now. This promise fills our lives with joy even in the face of death. We are people of hope because Jesus is coming back!

Jesus gave his followers a mission as he prepared them for his death, "Go, make disciples." He let them know they are the ones who will take the mission forward. The path forward relies on those who trust Him and go and make those disciples. His disciples held the key to sharing the good news of what was about to happen. And you do to.

The Christian life isn’t for sissies. Jesus didn’t promise an easy road for those who follow Him. He knew not only what was ahead for Himself, He knew the persecution and trouble that was ahead for those who wore His name. Pain and sacrifice were a price we would all have to pay.

Another major thought Jesus tried to communicate before He left was the importance of the disciples staying connected to Him. It’s a major mistake to believe that we can do God’s work out of our own strength. We need His Spirit. We need His Word. It is not OUR talent the world needs. It’s the Presence and Power of God. That comes from abiding in Him.

Throughout history, there have always been things that distinguished the people of God from the rest of the world. Festivals and feasts, holy days and sabbaths, rituals, and even dietary habits. One of the key points of Jesus’ ministry was that all those other things didn’t really matter. What DID matter was one Big Thing. That big thing was love. Love would be the way the world would know we were His.

One of the ongoing arguments that disciples had was probably the most annoying to Jesus. They wanted to know who would be the “greatest.” Jesus called them back to reality with one of the most unbelievable acts He could have done shortly before He died. He washed their feet. That’s how a true leader leads.

Barnabas is one of the quiet, unsung heroes of the early church. He wasn’t famous for much, but he had an incredible impact on untold lives simply by using his main spiritual gift. Encouragement. He was a lifter, not a leaner. His name was actually Joseph, but his helpful nature and generous spirit earned him the nickname, “Barnabas.” That means, “Son of Encouragement.” Maybe, if WE encouraged more, God would pick us to be a Barnabas.

This passage was a strategic shift in how the Kingdom of God would advance. The Church was growing, and the needs were growing with it. When the disciples faced the dilemma of how to keep the widows fed, they challenged the leaders to pick seven who would take on that responsibility. As those seven stepped up to meet the need, the Apostles were released to do their job. And the Kingdom of God ADVANCED!

Many people think they can’t witness because they’re not Bible scholars or trained in evangelism. But the most powerful witness in the world is OUR STORY! When the demoniac was healed by Jesus, he wanted to hang out with Jesus and the other disciples. But Jesus picked him to go back to those who had known him before and let them see what the Lord had done. His story gave God Great Glory!

The people thought Saul would make a great king because he was tall and strong. But God knew that it’s not what’s on the outside but what’s on the INSIDE that really matters! God picked David because of His heart, not his muscles or his smarts. When our hearts are open and submissive to God, we become incredibly powerful for His Kingdom. David knew what others didn’t. Ultimately, the battle belongs to the Lord!