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DISCIPLES: MERCENARIES OR

MISSIONARIES?
SCRIPTURE READING: JOHN 10:11-15
…WOMAN, BEHOLD THY SON! JOHN
19:26
DISCIPLES’ FOCUS: MISSION INSTEAD OF IDENTITY
 MISSION—WHAT YOU DO
 IDENTITY—WHO YOU ARE
 ADVENTISM—MISSION
 CHRISTIANITY—IDENTITY

ISAIAH 4:1
And in that day seven women shall take hold of one
man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear
our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name,
to take away our reproach.
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 SERVICE
 GIVING
 WAY OF LIFE

 DUTY
 TRUST
 CONSTITUTION
 VALUES

“THOSE WHO BECOME MARINES DO SO BECAUSE


THEY WANT TO...”
TOP THREE VALUES

 HONOR

 COURAGE

 COMMITMENT
BOOT CAMP

 PHYSICAL & MENTAL


 MATURE & DISCIPLINE
 BODY
 TEAM
 SUCCESS

 DANGERS
 TOOLS
 FIRST AID
 SURVIVAL SKILLS
 CUSTOMS-TRADITIONS-HISTORY
DO’S & DON’TS

“ NEVER, EVER, MAKE EXCUSES.”

“DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU’RE TOLD,


WHEN YOU’RE TOLD TO DO IT, AND
HOW YOU’RE TOLD TO DO IT.”
FULL COMBAT GEAR

 A RIFLE

HELMET

JACKET

PACK
CRUCIBLE: WHAT IS IT…?

 “IF YOU WANT WHAT YOU’VE NEVER HAD, YOU


MUST DO WHAT YOU’VE NEVER DONE.”
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER BOOT
CAMP?

“A LIMBER AT ITS ADVERSITY,


WILL TEST YOUR TRUE
QUALITY.”
PHYSICAL—SPIRITUAL WARFARE

EPHESIANS 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high [places].

DOES GOD HAVE HIS MILITARY?

MATTHEW 18:20

HEBREWS 10:25

ACTS 11:26 [DISCIPLES—CHRISTIANS]


DISCIPLES: MERCENARIES OR
MISSIONARIES?

WEBSTER’S DEFINITION

 A FOLLOWER OF ANY TEACHER


 HELPS OR ACCEPTS
 FOLLOWER OF CHRIST
 SHEPHERD WHO TENDS SHEEP

 A HIRELING…A HIRED PERSON [ESP. ONE


WHOSE MOTIVE ARE MERCENARY.]
WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF
THEM?
MIND-CHARACTER-PERSONALITY
“…when Betterton, a celebrated actor, was dining
with Dr. Sheldon, [then] archbishop of Canterbury,
the Archbishop said to him, "Pray, Mr. Betterton,
tell me why it is that you actors affect your
audiences so powerfully by speaking of things
imaginary." "My lord," replied Betterton, "with due
submission to Your Grace, permit me to say that the
reason is plain: it all lies in the power of
enthusiasm. We on the stage speak of things
imaginary as if they were real; and you in the pulpit
speak of things real as if they were imaginary.”
{2MCP 582.2}
CONTRAST: MERCENARIES &
MISSIONARIES

 MERCENARIES  MISSIONARIES

 HIRED  SERVE

 SATAN  JESUS

 COUNTERFEIT  GENUINE

 HATE  LOVE
COMPARISONS: MERCENARIES &
MISSIONARIES

 MOVEMENT

 DISCIPLES

 WAR

 BASIC TRAINING

 HONOR—COURAGE—COMMITMENT

 EXPERIENCE DEFECTIONS
WHY IS THERE DEFECTION?
 MATTHEW 13:20, 21
 MARK 15:1
 LUKE 4:25-29
 JOHN 6:54-56, 60, 64-66, 69, 70

FOUR REASONS
 TRIVIAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS & MISGIVINGS
 SELFISHNESS
 DENIAL: JESUS—SON OF GOD
 WORD-ROOT: OFFENSE
JESUS’ DISCIPLES—MISSION

LIFE
 FORTUNE
 HONOR

FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE!


1. What are our reasons for enlisting in
God’s marine corps?

2. Are we asking others to comply even before


we surrender to His Lordship?

Until…
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MATTHEW 2:1, 2 Now when Jesus was born in
Bethlehem of Judaea…behold, there came wise men
from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is
born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the
east, and are come to worship him.

LATEST LASER
HEBREWS 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and
powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,
and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.
AIRFORCE PILOTS
ISAIAH 5:26, 28
And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and
will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and,
behold, they shall come with speed swiftly: …Whose
arrows [are] sharp, and all their bows bent,…, and their
wheels like a whirlwind.

LATEST RADAR
REVELATION 7:2, 3
And I saw another angel ascending from the east,
having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a
loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to
hurt the earth and the sea,…till we have sealed the
servants of our God in their foreheads.
RESERVISTS

ROMANS 11:4
…I have reserved to myself seven thousand
men, who have not bowed the knee to [the
image of] Baal.
NATIONAL GUARD

PSALMS 34:7
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about
them that fear him, and delivereth them.
COAST GUARD

MARK 7:24, 31
And from thence he arose, and went into the
borders of Tyre and Sidon, …And again,
departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he
came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst
of the coasts of Decapolis.
NAVY & SUBMARINE
NUMBERS 24:24
And ships [shall come] from the coast of
Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict
Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

JONAH 2: 1
Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out
of the fish's belly...

SONAR
JONAH 1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great
fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in
the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

PSALMS 91:2
I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge
and my fortress: my God; in him will I
trust.
RIGHTEOUSNESS NOT REBELLION

PSALMS 23:3
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

1 SAMUEL 15:23
For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and
stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry….
DISCIPLES—DANGER

2 CORINTHIANS 4:8-12

 troubled…
 perplexed…
 Persecuted…
 cast down…

…For we which live are always


delivered unto death for Jesus'
sake,…
DISCIPLES’ MANUAL
PSALMS 119:105
Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light
unto my path.
JOHN 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT: LAW


The Spirit of Christ Versus the Spirit of the World
1. Humility Versus Pride
The gospel teaches us to be humble and place the needs and
interests of others above our own. Phil 2:4. A competitive spirit
seeks to place its needs above others and to glorify self. You cannot
be competitive and serve others.

2. Value in Christ Versus Value in Our Own Performance.


This is the key to the gospel. Looking to and trusting in the
performance of Jesus and believing that it is given to us.
Competition is exactly the opposite. It trains us to look to and
develop our performance within ourselves.

3. Peace Versus Aggression


When we are justified by faith, trusting in the righteousness
(performance of Jesus) we have peace. Rom 5:1. Competition is the
source of violence and aggression because we must prove ourselves
at the expense of others. James 4:1-4.
4. Serving Others Versus Serving Self
Jesus constantly lived to serve others. Mark 10:44,45. When we are
performing against others we are forced to serve and focus on
ourselves. Instead of helping family with daily duties we are
“working on our game”.
5. Internal Eternal Focus Versus Temporal External Focus
The gospel focus is on the eternal world. The competitive focus is
on the temporal world. The Christian works on character through
Christ, the competitor on image through self.

6. All Winners Versus One Winner and Many Losers


All who accept Christ are winners. There are no losers. All receive
the prize. Sadly with competition there is only one winner. 1 Cor
9:24. The losers face the shame and fear of worthlessness or the fire
of getting even.
7. True Worship Versus Idolatry

© Adrian Ebens
The gospel teaches us to abide in Christ and keep our thoughts
always on Him. 2 Cor 10:5. Anything that takes a higher priority in

2000
our thinking than worshipping God, is idolatry. The spirit of
competition makes self the centre of thought and action rather than
God.
135
DISCIPLES: TOP THREE VALUES
HONOR
MALACHI 1:6
A son honoureth [his] father, and a servant his
master: if then I [be] a father, where [is] mine
honour?
COURAGE
PSALMS 31:24
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen
your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
COMMITMENT
PSALMS 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD;
trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to
pass.
DISCIPLES: FULL COMBAT GEAR

EPHESIANS 6:13
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of
God, that ye may be able to withstand in the
evil day, and having done all, to stand.
DISCIPLES: BASIC TRAINING

MATTHEW 28:20
Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and,
lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of
the world. Amen.
COMMANDER’S ORDERS: MATTHEW 28

 COMMAND: “GOD”
 POWER: HOLY SPIRIT
 PROMISE: AND LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS
 MESSAGE: TEACH-PREACH-BAPTIZE
 MAP: WORLD
 MANUAL: Basic Instructions Before Leaving
Earth
PAROLE:
1. BELIEVE & BAPTIZE—SAVE
2. BELIEVE NOT—LOST
DISAPPOINTMENTS

 “PESSIMISTS SEE DIFFICULTIES IN THEIR


OPPORTUNITIES; OPTIMISTS SEE
OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR DIFFICULTIES.”

LUKE 24:21
But we trusted that it had been he which should
have redeemed Israel:…

 ON-THE-JOB-TRAINING
HIS METHODS—SUCCESSFUL

Christ's method alone will give true success in


reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with
men as one who desired their good. He showed
His sympathy for them, ministered to their
needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade
them, "Follow Me."--Ministry of Healing, p. 143.
DISCIPLES: PRESENT TRUTH NOT
PLEASANT TRUTH

EW p. 63.... “There are many precious truths


contained in the Word of God, but it is "present
truth" that the flock needs now.”
WHAT IS PRESENT TRUTH?

“In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists


have been set in the world as watchmen and
light bearers. ...They have been given a work of
the most solemn import—the proclamation of
the first, second, and third angels'
messages. There is no other work of so great
importance. They are to allow nothing else to
absorb their attention. ....The proclamation of
these truths is to be our work. The world is to
be warned, and God's people are to be true to
the trust committed to them.” 9T. p. 19
DISCIPLES’ MISSION
1. CALL
2. COMRADES
3. COUNTRIES
4. CLARITY

 WORLD—JESUS—A GENERIC MESSAGE


 JESUS
 HOCKEY
 COMEDIAN
 SUPERSTARS
 INFORMATION-INTIMACY-INVOLVEMENT

 STORY—GRANDMA
 HEAD KNOWLEDGE
 HEART EXPERIENCE
 HANDS—ON
SOME THINGS ARE INEVITABLE:
MERCENARIES AMONGST
MISSIONARIES

EZEKIEL 8:16
And he brought me into the inner court of the
LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the
temple of the LORD, between the porch and
the altar, [were] about five and twenty men,
with their backs toward the temple of the LORD,
and their faces toward the east; and they
worshipped the sun toward the east.
“HYPOCRITES NEVER INTEND TO BE
WHAT THEY PRETEND TO BE.”

 PARABLE: WHEAT & TARES—MATTHEW 13:24-


30

PHILIPPIANS 1:18
What then? notwithstanding, every way,
whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is
preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will
rejoice.
JESUS: SAVIOR OR CHARLATAN

 WORSHIP
 OBEY
 TRUST
 ADORE

 SATAN [JAMES 2:19]


 ATHEIST—PHARAOH [EXODUS 5:2]
 PANTHEIST
 COMMUNIST
 SECULAR HUMANIST
 AGNOSTICS
JESUS—PATRIOTIC: ACT
 JESUS:
ALMIGHTY DOLLAR OVER THE ALMIGHTY GOD

 PAUL:
RELATIONSHIP NOT A RESUME

 PETER:
IMMORTAL NOT IMMORAL

 JOHN:
MEEKER NOT MEANER
BETTER NOT BITTER
 STEPHEN:
IF GOD.....ENEMIES...?

 JUDAS:
SALVATION OR SUICIDE

CHRISTIANITY IS NOT ABOUT EXPOSURE; BUT AN


EXPERIENCE.

 JUDAS: PROFESS—POSSESS

 SPIRITUAL NOT SPIRIT-FILLED

 RIGHT NOT RECONCILE


JESUS: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED?

2 TIMOTHY 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my]
course, I have kept the faith:
SUCCESS—STRUGGLE

 BASKET BALL—FULL COURT PRESS


 GYMNASIUM—BENCH PRESS
 HOME—IRON PRESS

 GOLD...
 SUCKLING BABES...
 GRAPE JUICE...
 WRINKLES...
 WISDOM...
 WHEAT....
 MAN...
SO WHAT’S THE MESSAGE...?

JESUS WANTS HIS DISCIPLES TO AGGRESSIVELY


PURSUE HIS PERFECTION, WHILE HE HEATS,
MELTS, AND STRAIGHTENS OUT THEIR DEFECTS.

JACOB’S HIP
DISCIPLES’ NAMES—GUINNESS
BOOK OF RECORDS

MATTHEW 25:35-40 [LITMUST TEST]

 HUNGRY
 THIRSTY
 STRANGER
 NAKED
 PRISONER
Judas became a representative of the
enemy of Christ. {DA 295.3}

 SIMON-SORCERER [ACTS 8:9-24]

ACTS 19:13-15 [SCEVA’S SONS]


And the evil spirit answered and said,
Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who
are ye?
BETTER THAT JOHN IS LATE,
THAN TO MORN OVER THE
LATE JOHN.

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