ANDREW-THE WORTHY MISSIONARY

12 Disciples

12 Imperfect men

One Perfect Plan

Let’s start with the definition of a disciple:

Disciple: Comes from the Greek word “ma-thay-tas” which

means learner, pupil, student, or follower.A disciple has to accept and agree with what their

teacher teaches.

A Disciple

* Has a relationship with the master – Mark 3:14And HE appointed twelve so that they might be with HIM...

* Under total authority of the master – Luke 14:27Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after mecannot be MY disciple.

* Learns from master – John 8:31...if you abide in MY word, you are truly MY disciples.

* Is useful to master – Luke 10:3Go your way; behold, I am sending you as lambs in the midst of wolves.

Apostle

Sent one – After this learning is finished the Master decides when the disciples are ready to be sent out. Then they become Apostles of Ambassadors of the King of Kings.

Mark 3:14- Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach

As the others mentioned it is important to realize there was a reason for the number of disciples being 12. Three groups of four.

Significance of TWELVE:Firstly

There is 12 tribes of Israel. So this is significant but that is not where it ends.

See in heaven in the new Jerusalem there will be 12 gates.

Rev 21:12-14 12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve

angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east,

three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Gates through which to

enter, it will be build in a square with 3 gates on each side. On the top of each gate will be the name of one of the tribes and at the bottom the

name of one of the apostles.

They will have their eternal tribute in heaven.

Remember: nothing you do and nothing that happens on earth is coincidence... Nothing happens for

nothing!!!

Every decision on earth influences your eternal reward.

Secondly:It was to represent the different kinds of people within the Church and Kingdom of God - God wants us to understand that He made all of us

differently for a reason.

-There is something in everybody that He wants to use

-God loves diversity –different types of people and personalities are necessary for His plan to be executed.

If all were leading who would follow ?If all were prophets who would evangelize?

If all were servants who would teach?

The official commissioning of the 12Jesus calls His disciples one or two at a time to follow Him but the

official appointment of the 12 only follows laterafter Jesus prayed for a whole night. -Mark 3:14 14

Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: 16 Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; 17

James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; 18 Andrew, Philip,

Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed

Him.

From this it is clear that careful selection of those you surround yourself with is critical.

THE CALLING OF ANDREWFirst calling

John 1:35-40Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He

walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned,

and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You

staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and

remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). 40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s

brother.

From this we gather that Andrew was the first to follow Jesus even though he wasn’t really called to be his disciple yet.

That is why he is called “protokletos” meaning – first called – in Greek.

Second calling

Matt 4:17-22From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven

is at hand.” And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and

Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their

nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them,

22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

Jesus calls Peter and Andrew while they are busy with their nets.He calls them together, knowing their strengths and weaknesses.

BROTHERS FROM BETHSAIDAThe bible speaks of Bethsaida – meaning fishers home, where Simon

and Andrew lived. This was a little village in Galilee. At least four of the 12 disciples were confirmed as fishermen named

Simon Peter, Andrew, James & John.

These men were also the first four called and the most intimate group among the disciples. The disciples are always named in the same order in all the Gospels. These four always formed the most intimate group.

ANDREW – SEEKING THE CHRISTAndrew was very privileged to meet Jesus on the very day he was

announced as Messiah. Before the others even knew Jesus Andrew and an unknown disciple of

John the Baptist followed Jesus for a whole day.

Andrew was a devout Jew, a God fearing Jew. He knew the scriptures and he immediately recognised Jesus as the

Messiah when John declared “Behold the Lamb of God”

He was looking for Jesus – that is why he was a disciple of John the Baptist who was “preparing the way for the Lord”

After spending the day with the living Christ he was hooked – never to be the same again.

He starts evangelizing immediately – His first words is to Peter telling him he found the Messiah.

ANDREW THE MANThere is not a lot said about Andrew in the Gospels but

what there is, says a lot.

Andrew

It means manly. He had to be a man of character to be the brother of

Simon Peter and hold on to his own identity.

Ανδρεας ανηρ

Firstly:Simon and Andrew lived in the same house close to the synagogue.

Mark 1:29.Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the

house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

Andrew lived his whole life in the shadow of Peter, Never in the spotlight.

When you think about it, it would have been easy to keep Jesus to himself. You see, he knew his brother, He knew once he introduced

Jesus to Peter he would again move into his shadow. But he was fine with that.

He could see the bigger picture. This was not about Andrews fame.

This was about serving and sharing Christ.

Secondly:He had an eye for a potential miracle. In John 6: 8-10 Andrew brings a

boy with his lunch box to Jesus to feed 5000.

He knows what we have is all Jesus wants from us. - He will do the rest.

Thirdly: He has no prejudice. In John 12:20 we read that Philip brings the Greeks to Andrew who takes them to Jesus even though he knows the gospel

was for the Jews first.He is just so involved with finding and sharing Jesus all were equal in his

eye. Whenever we see Andrew in the gospels he is leading people to Jesus.

Thirdly: There was no prejudice in Andrew.

In John 12:20 we read that Philip brings the Greeks to Andrew who takes them to Jesus even though he knows the gospel was for the Jews first,

gentiles second.

He is just so involved with finding and sharing Jesus, all were equal in his eye.

Whenever we see Andrew in the gospels he is leading people to Jesus.

WHO WAS ANDREW:

• He is the picture of those who labour quietly in humble places. Not to impress people but to serve Jesus.

• He was in the most intimate group of 4, but never in the inner circle.

• He was one of those rare people who could take second place –by God’s Grace.

• He was the kind of man all leaders depend on.• He was humble.• He was dependant on Christ not people.• He was a small part of a big picture.• He got his crown form God• His heart’s desire was for people to meet Jesus.• He did the will of God

• He was respected –

Phillip knew he would know what to do with the Greeks

• He was a “ fisher of men”

• He witnessed Jesus' resurrection and ascension into Heaven

• He was one of the disciples who took Jesus aside to ask about the destruction of the temple

• One of the first apostles

• He was restless until meeting Jesus

• Had a natural straining for more.

WHO WAS HE NOT:

• He was not a leader of the pack• He was not a pillar like his brother• He was not a part of the inner circle of 3 but always on the edge• He didn’t crave honour• He didn’t see the transfiguration of Jesus• He didn’t have the ambition to be seen and heard• He never recorded a gospel • He never wrote a epistle• He wasn’t one of the 3 to watch outside Gethsemane.

But He was fine with that. It was never about Him – it was about Jesus.

WHAT WE KNOW FROM HISTORY

• Andrew later became a preacher

• He was given power to heal sicknesses and cast out demons

God can make much of little

• He suffered for his dedication to Christ and his loyalty to the gospel.

• He preached the gospel in Asia Minor, in Greece and beyond.

• He raised 39 dead sailors form the dead after a shipwreck

• History implies that he evangelized this wife of a roman governor and was crucified.

• His cross didn’t look like that of Jesus it was a X, and today it is called a St Andrews cross.

• While he was suspended on this cross, in agony, he preached for 2-3 days staying true to the gospel, spreading the good news while dying for it. .... always bringing people to Christ – even in death.

LEARN FROM ANDREW

• Andrew encourages the hearts of most Christians.

• He never compared himself to the other disciples

• He was true to who God made him to be

• He loved God

• He had faith

• He did what he did to spread the gospel

• In all 3 instances he is mentioned in the bible he is introducing people to Jesus

• He shared in Peters victory.

• If he didn’t introduce Peter to Jesus , where would the rock be for the church to be built on?

CONCLUSION:

• Don’t despise the day of humble beginnings

• Today He is the patron saint of Scotland

• St’ Andrews Golf course (Golfers Heaven on earth) is named after Him

• His Gate in the new Jerusalem is the same size as that of John and Peter

• He was Kingdom minded

GOD is calling YOU!

Do YOUR part.

STOP COMPARING !

Be who YOU are!!!!!