Key Text: "And he (Jesus) ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might SEND THEM FORTH TO PREACH." Mark 3:14

INTRODUCTION: The Lord has always worked on His plan and will that was set forth before the foundation of the World. He Ordained His Will in the first eternity and He is executing it in time. There isn’t anything that takes God by surprise or perchance. He knows and sees the Past, the Present, and the Future all at one time. This is true in the work of the ministry and the Preaching of God’s Word! The work of God then is planned by God and He brings people into His work to do His will.

Here then is a personal calling for a personal work with a personal yielding. This and this alone makes true disciples. Going up the mountain, the Lord called them and they yielded, they followed.

1. Peter

2. James, son of Zebedee

3. John, brother of James

4. Andrew

5. Philip

6. Bartholomew

7. Matthew

8. Thomas

9. James, son of Alphaeus

10. Thadaeus

11. Simon, the Canaanite

12. Judas Iscariot

He called them unto Him, and they came. But there was an election within the chosen circle. Now, on this special occasion, the Lord surrounded Himself with that inner circle and with these early disciples preaching and teaching the Word of God, the World was shaken and from that day until now, it has always been. It is His calling, man’s acceptance, God’s Word and God’s Work! Herein is the preacher’s assignment. It is the pleasure of the minister and the interest of heaven.

The noted Methodist preacher,

Samuel Chadwick, said, "I would

rather preach than do anything

else in the world. I would rather

preach than eat my dinner or have

a holiday. I would rather pay to

preach than be paid not topreach.

It has its price in agony and sweat

and tears, and no calling has such

joys and heartbreaks, but it is a

calling an archangel might covet.

Is there any joy like that of saving

a soul? Any thrill like that of opening

blind eyes? Any reward like the love

of children to the second and third

generation? Any treasure like the

grateful love of hearts healed

and comforted?

This brings to an end Doubt and all Uncertainty!

"And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would..." Mark 3:13

The Lord calleth them and not only that. He calls them away form the attractions and worldly duties to bring them into His Work.

Ministers must be set apart in a spirit of solemn prayer, a place where there is quietness and the out pouring of the Holy Spirit.

1. DISCIPLES: They are called by voice! The Lord Jesus goes up into a mountain and called the disciples. The purpose is to promote them to the World’s highest calling.

2. DETERMINATION OF CHOICE: "He called unto him whom he would..." Not such as we would have called by choice. Because we look upon the outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart. We look upon what a person is and God looks upon what the person can become by His Grace. We see the Now, but God sees the Future. God calls because it seems good in His eyes. He calls whom He will, for He is a free agent, and His grace is His own.

3. DELIVERANCE: "And they came unto Him." Verse 13. They left their old jobs, they separated and departed from the old ways and left the former life behind.

4. DEPENDENCE: They were to look to Him, rely upon Him and by faith expect Him to support them. Their utter support was to be found in Him. Their supply for their very existence was to come from God and so was their courage and power to preach! Whatever they needed, God would supply.

Mark 6:7-9 "And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse. (Mark 6:8)

"...And calleth unto him whom he would:..." Verse 13. They are chosen, elected, picked out and set aside to be called unto the Lord for a special work of Preaching The Gospel!

John 15:16 "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and Ordained you, that ye should go forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you."

Acts 9:15 "But the Lord said unto him, (Ananias) "Go thy way: for he (Saul, Paul) is a Chosen Vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the Children of Israel:"

"...Whom He Desired..." Verse 13 - The thought is, "whom, He, Himself desired. The idea or thought is, He did not allow any to offer themselves. He did not allow any to offer themselves. He did the choosing. Being a Gospel Minister is special when compared to any other calling. We all have different talents and God, I believe does call different people to do different things, but these are called to full time Gospel Work. They are sent forth to Preach and that should be their first and foremost work. When Chosen and Called To Preach, God enables us to do it. This invitation was to leave the crowd and follow the Lord Jesus up the hill to the mountain top. There are many high mountains to climb in the ministry and when He calls, He strengthens and when He calls, He gives courage. Then there is the highest of all mountains, that is Mount Calvary. We are to climb that Mount, just as Abraham climbed Mount Moriah in Genesis 22.

1. Choosing: This was done in the first eternity God sees us in His Son before the foundation of the World.

4. Consecration: They came unto Him in order that He might give them the Word Of Ordination! That He might give them His blessing and Spirit.

What is the challenge? It is twofold:

1. That they might be with Him. The world is shut out, the door of our hearts are closed to the World and filled with His Spirit and Word.

2. That they might Go Forth To Preach. To preach means to make a Public Proclamation.

2 Timothy 4:1 "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom."

It is only after we have been with the Lord, away from the daily routine duties that we can be sent. It takes time to fit a person designed by the Lord to Preach. They were not to preach until they had been sent and that is true to the Holy Scriptures. The ministers of God must be much with Him and then sent.

Romans 10:14-15

"And how shall they preach, except they be sent?..." Romans 10:15

"The preaching of the gospel is God’s chosen agency for the salvation of souls. But our first work should be to bring our own hearts into harmony with God." Testimony For The Church Vol. 5, Page 87, E. G. White.

"We are never to forget that Christ teaches through his servants. There may be conversions without the instrumentality of a sermon. Where persons are so situated that they are deprived of every means of grace, they are wrought upon by the Spirit of God and convinced of the truth through reading the Word; but God’s appointed means of saving souls is through the ‘foolishness of preaching.’ Though human, and compassed with the frailties of humanity, men are God’s messengers; and the dear Savior is grieved when so little is effected by their labors. Every minister who goes out into the great harvest field should magnify his office. He should not only seek to bring men to the knowledge of the truth, but he should labor, as did Paul, ‘warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom,’ that he may ‘present every man perfect in Christ Jesus’. Testimony For The Church, Vol. 5, Page 300,

E. G. White.

Mountains: Scenes of Great Events!

1. ARARAT, the ARK rested. Genesis 8:4

2. MORIAH, Abraham sacrificed Isaac. Genesis 22:2

3. SINAI, the law was given. Exodus 19:11-12

4. CARMEL, occurred Elijah’s sacrifice. 1 Kings 18:19

5. TABOR, Christ was transfigured. Mark 9:2

6. CALVARY, Jesus was crucified. Matthew 27:

7. OLIVET, this was the mountain where the Lord of Glory ascended back into heaven to be with the Father.