Working Alongside of God - Apr 26, 2020

Working Alongside of God

Text: Mark 6:6b-13

Thesis: It is a privilege to be “Working Alongside of God”! May each one of us embrace it and run with it. It is God’s divine plan for our lives.

I.  Jesus modeled ministry prior to sending the disciples out. (vs6b)

“Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.” (vs6b)

1. In Mark’s gospel, chapters 1-6:6a, Jesus has been doing all ministry himself.
2. Jesus modeled mentoring.
3. The Apostle Paul was Timothy’s mentor.
4. The disciples only observed during this period of Jesus’s ministry.
5. From this point on Jesus would begin to include His disciples in building the Kingdom.
6. Every believer should be mentoring someone for the Kingdom’s sake.
7. There is a personal satisfaction in helping someone develop into all that God intended them to be.

II.  Jesus sent the disciples out. (vs7)

1. “Jesus called the twelve to him.”
2. No one was exempt from doing ministry.
3. Jesus gives his disciples and all of those who follow the
   “Great commission”.

           “He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)

1. “Jesus sent them out two by two.”
2. We learn a principle from scripture that there is strength in numbers. Two people can accomplish way more than one.

           God reveals through Solomon: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

III. Jesus provides for the disciples through the families they ministered to.  (vss8-10)

1. “God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, (Psalms 50:10)” and they may be in your bank account. God, in reality, owns all things.
2. We may think what we own is ours, but according to the big scheme of things as revealed in scripture, God does!
3. God has the power to take our lives and divide up what we have and   give it to others. It is the same for Sinner and Saint.
4. Jesus explains this principle in Luke 12: 13-21.
5. Jesus instructed them not to take provisions with them but reside in the homes of those who were open to the gospel. (vss8-10)
6. We are never to demand, take, or steal, but receive with thanksgiving, as a worker that has justly earned, because doing the work of God is of  great value!