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Report of the Apostles

Text: Mark 6:30-32, Luke 9:10
2 March 2014

REPORT OF THE APOSTLES

1. Principles of Ministry Established

a) Sending
b) Tasking
c) Reporting            Mark 6:30; Luke 9:10
i) Gathered to Jesus
ii) Told Him all things
iii) What they had done
iv) What they taught

2. Significance of Reporting

a) Accountability
b) Evaluation
c) Correction (if needed)
d) Plans
i) Immediate
ii) Future

3. Rest for the apostles

a) Physical rest needed
i) Many coming and going
ii) No time to eat
b) Spiritual renewal
i) Waiting upon the Lord            Isaiah 40:28-31
ii) Prayer
iii) Time out with the Lord Jesus
iv) Reflection
v) Further teaching arising from experience
vi) Further knowledge and insight

POEMS FROM THE GOSPEL OF MARK – Charles Tan

#2 YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON

The prophets had foretold that God would send a specially Anointed One,
They knew Him as the Messiah, but did not know that He would be God’s Son.
The years rolled by and the prophecies remain unfulfilled,
Until one day, when Jesus was born to do His Father’s perfect will.

The task that God had given His Anointed, the Messiah, to do was a difficult one,
The Messiah would have to become the Son of Man, and have privileges none.
He would have to endure poverty, hardship and other privations of life,
He must seek to overcome all of them, no matter how hard the strife.

Thirty long years had passed when Jesus sought to be baptized,
He went to John the Baptiser, and he was most surprised!
John recognized Jesus for who He was- the Anointed One of God,
Who was he that he should baptize Jesus whom he must address as Lord?

He saw the Holy Spirit of the Lord descend on Jesus as a beautiful dove,
He heard the voice of God the Father, speaking from heaven above.
Those were the most precious and tender of words that could be heard,
“You are My beloved Son…” those words caused the heart to be greatly stirred.

Jesus was indeed God’s beloved Son in more ways than one,
He would walk in humility and in full obedience till His work was done.
There was no need to speak more than those few words of approval and of love,
Jesus basked in His Father’s approval and was filled with power from heaven above.

Inspiration: Mark 1:11

POEMS FROM THE GOSPEL OF MARK – Charles Tan

#34 COME ASIDE AND REST A WHILE

Jesus had established a powerful pattern of life and ministry,
In prayer, each morning, He would seek His Father’s presence unhurriedly.
Long before the disciples had woken up to begin their day,
He had prepared His heart and mind for the challenges that would come His way.

There were indeed many challenges to meet each day as He ministered for the Lord,
Some were burdened with illness, while others were attacked by a wicked spiritual horde.
All were laden with sin and the travails that are a part of human existence,
All need to know the significance of having faith in God and enjoying His Personal Presence.

The disciples struggled hard to keep up with Jesus each and every day,
They knew they lacked the faith that Jesus wanted them to employ along the way.
They worked hard and they even sacrificed time for daily food and rest,
The workload kept increasing, the disciples were obviously under stress.

Spiritual ministry to souls is tiring work, Jesus knew that His disciples needed rest,
He wanted them to know that He truly cared for them and so He ordered a recess.
They were to go aside and rest a little while, for they were obviously under strain,
With a little rest they would be refreshed and be as right as rain.

The disciples understood and appreciated their Master as they heard His words of love,
They liked to serve with Him, but they knew their limitations and their reserve.
In their hearts they were grateful that they had a loving Master who truly cared for them,
What a Teacher they had, what great power He possessed, but now they loved Him as a Friend!

Inspiration: Mark 6:31