The Apostles Whom Jesus Chose - Zac Poonen
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Summary
The sermon encourages listeners to overcome discouragement by studying the example of Jesus choosing the twelve apostles. The central message is that major life decisions, especially those with long-term consequences, require deep reliance on God's will rather than personal opinion or reason. The speaker emphasizes that true wisdom involves waiting on the Lord through extended prayer, mirroring Jesus' example, and trusting God's sovereignty even when others are offended.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Why did Jesus pray all night before choosing the disciples?Even with a perfect and sinless mind, Jesus did not lean upon His own reason when taking a major decision, instead spending the whole night in prayer to ensure His choices aligned with God's will.
Trusting God instead of our own understandingBelievers are instructed to trust in the Lord with all their heart and avoid leaning on their own understanding, following the example of Jesus in seeking God's direction for critical life decisions.Proverbs 3:5–6
Simon Peter's great failureSimon Peter committed the grave sin of denying the Son of God, yet Jesus chose him to be the leader of the apostles and powerfully use him on the day of Pentecost.
James and John as the sons of thunderJesus named James and John Boanerges, meaning sons of thunder, because of their vehement opposition to others, yet He redirected their zeal away from destructive anger.Mark 3:17
Philip tested in the feeding of the five thousandJesus tested Philip's faith regarding how to feed the large multitude, showing that believers often miss miracles by turning to human resources instead of God.John 6:5
Nathaniel's honesty and lack of hypocrisyDespite Nathaniel's initial cynical reaction about Nazareth, Jesus commended him as an honest man in whom there was no hypocrisy.
Matthew the tax collector and Thomas the doubterJesus called Matthew the tax collector and met Thomas in his doubt, proving that God's grace reaches crooked and questioning people alike.
Simon the Zealot and Judas IscariotJesus included a former terrorist zealot among His apostles and chose Judas, whose eventual betrayal serves as a sobering warning against hypocrisy.
The transformation of Paul from a violent aggressorPaul went from being a blasphemer and violent aggressor on a witch-hunt against Christians to becoming one of the greatest apostles through God's mercy.
The leprosy test in Leviticus as a picture of spiritual honestyAccording to the test for leprosy in Leviticus, a person whose body was covered entirely in infection was pronounced clean, picturing how acknowledging our total sinfulness brings God's cleansing.
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