Sermons in Brief - Mini Messages from Pastor Harmon
“Big Decisions” - Luke 6:12-16
Jesus was about to make one of the biggest decisions of his ministry. It is no accident or coincidence that immediately following the remark concerning the plot against Jesus by the Pharisees (verse 11) Jesus makes biggest decision of his ministry. Which men will be his inner circle? Who will be the leaders of this new movement? Who is he going to send as his ambassadors for the Kingdom of God?
Notice that this most momentous decision was begun in prayer. Verse 12 says "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God." That’s what I would like us to think about this morning--our big decisions and prayer.
1. Big Decisions Require Big Prayers (12)
Selection of those who were to be his ambassadors was no minor step and no minor pronouncement. It became a matter of prayer. His choices followed a night of prayer. No other New Testament passage speaks of all-night prayer! Something major is going on here. Why did Jesus pull an all-nighter? BIG DECISIONS REQUIRE BIG PRAYER.
He prayed because he desired the Heavenly Father’s guidance. He had to have the right men. Jesus had many disciples (learners, students, apprentices) but he handpicked 12 “apostles” under the Father's direction. (A Sunday school teacher asked “who were the apostles?”. A little girl raised her hand and answered “husbands of the epistles.”) An "apostle" is a “sent one”--a chosen messenger sent with on special assignment . Jesus wanted his Father’s direction and guidance for these special "sent ones" who were to be the foundation of his church and the mouthpieces of his message. Big decisions require big prayers
.It would be hard for me to believe Jesus spent the entire night talking! If we want the Father’s guidance prayer requires listening. Bill Hybels, popular pastor of Willow Creek church, says when he studied prayer and prayed he sensed God saying to him “if we enjoy a relationship, why are you doing all the talking? Let me get a word in somewhere.” We need to understand that prayer is listening much and speaking also and if we are praying big prayers for big decisions a lot of our praying must consist of listening.
Listen to His Word
In the Bible God has already given us broad, practical guidelines for all people everywhere. Has it ever struck you that the vast majority of the will of God for your life has already been revealed in the Bible? Follow its counsel and you’ll be in God’s will. If we know and understand the scriptures, we will be well on our way to having His guidance. He never guides His people contrary to the clear principles of His written Word. A.W. Tozer pointed out that we should never pray for guidance in areas that God has already forbidden. Nor should we pray for guidance in the areas where God has already given us positive commands. Then Tozer suggests that in most other things God has no preference.
Listen to His People
God speaks to us through his people. Proverbs 27:9 says "Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel." Proverbs 19:20 says "Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise." Seek the guidance of wise, mature fellow believers.
Listen to His Heart
We really need to get to know God--to find out wat pleases Him, what brings Him joy and what grieves Him. There is no substitute for becoming God’s friend. Some of our choices would be crystal clear just by asking—“Would this bring a smile to the face of God?”
Listen to His Voice
We need to listen to his Spirit witnessing to our spirit. He guides by communing with out heart. While we know that we must be very careful in saying "God told me. . ." it’s pretty sure God is speaking and leading when 1) What you hear is consistent with His Word God will not ask you to do anything against scripture. 2) What you hear is consistent with the person he made you to be. Most likely God is not going to contradict who he made you to be. He is not going to lead you into music ministry if you can’t sing or play instrument! 3) What you hear is consistent with servant ministry. Counterfeit leadings are most often selfish, egotistical, self serving and self-promoting. God’s leadings are loving, caring, serving, giving—other focused!
"If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can’t make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do. (James 1:5-8, NLT)
2. Big Prayers get Big Results (13-15)
Someone wrote: "This motley crew of a ragtag band of young men were nothing more than mere fishermen from what we know. With the exception of one however, Levi, who was a tax collector. Bethsaida, Capernaum, and Galilee were the three primary towns and villages these men lived, all of which were bustling fishing villages at the time. After witnessing firsthand the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, they went on to become perhaps the most influential and inspiring men the world has ever known. They became the very pillars and foundation of the most widespread and popular religion of the world." BIG PRAYERS GET BIG RESULTS
THOSE APOSTLES WERE NOT A BAD RETURN FOR THE INVESTMENT OF A NIGHT OF PRAYER. Big deciscions require big prayers—big prayers get big results!