The testing of your faith

Still on the subject of faith, we come to the next passage in Mark's gospel:

Then Jesus went round teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.

These were his instructions: 'Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.'

They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. (Mark 6:6b–13)

Matthew tells us that they also raised the dead (Matthew 10:5–10).

The need for apostles today

We're not told when these ministry trips took place: perhaps a year or more after our Lord had called the Twelve to follow him. At some point prior to this he'd taken them aside and appointed them as apostles (Mark 3:13–19). Whilst they'd been with him they'd seen him heal the sick, drive out demons and raise the dead; now it was time for them to do the same. The word apostle, in Greek, is apostolos, which means 'a messenger, a representative or an envoy'. It comes from a word meaning 'to send out'. Jesus sent these men out, as his representatives, to do the same things that he had been doing.

Some Christians believe that apostolic ministries ceased after the first century AD. They believe that once the Church was established and the canon of Scripture complete (the Holy Spirit used apostles to write a large part of the New Testament) there was no longer any need for them. But that opinion is not in line with New Testament teaching.

Ephesians 4:11–13 tells us that Jesus has given apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to build up his Church until we all reach unity in the faith and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ. Has the Church reached unity in the faith? Have we all become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ? I think not.

I believe that task will not be complete until just before our Lord returns. Jesus will return for a bride that has made herself ready for him (Revelation 19:7): a radiant Church without stain or wrinkle or blemish, but holy and blameless (Ephesians 5:25–27). There's a lot of refining to do before that day and the Church needs apostles and prophets to perform that work as much as it needs evangelists, pastors and teachers.

One of the main tasks of an apostle is to plant and establish churches. Because of that, many view the work of missionaries as apostolic in nature. That may be true, but it doesn't mean that all missionaries are apostles. Paul wrote:

The things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and miracles—were done among you with great perseverance (2 Corinthians 12:12).

Signs, wonders and miracles mark a true apostle of God. A New Testament apostle will always have the ability to perform such acts of power, even as our Lord's apostles were equipped to do the same.

The Bible lists the apostolic ministry as first among all ministries:

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing… (1 Corinthians 12:27–28a)

God has appointed in the Church first of all apostles and second prophets. That's not surprising when we consider that the Church is built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus being the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19–20). (We'll be looking at the ministry of prophets in the next study.)

Just before we leave this subject, you'll note that in the above list workers of miracles and those having gifts of healing are listed separately from apostles, even though apostles can perform miracles and heal the sick. The reason for that is because the working of miracles and healing the sick are spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit can give to anyone in the Church (1 Corinthians 12:7–11). Having those gifts does not make a person an apostle.

Not many of us are called to this important ministry, so what can we learn from this passage in Mark's gospel? I believe there are three things we can learn in the areas of righteousness, encouragement and faith.

Judas loved money

First we must realize that Judas Iscariot was among the Twelve that Jesus sent out. He'd been called to follow the Lord and had been chosen as an apostle. Consequently he preached the gospel, raised the dead, healed the sick and drove out demons—all by the power of the Holy Spirit—and yet he went to hell. Why was that? The reason was because he loved money.

Judas was a thief who used to help himself to what was put into the money bag (John 12:4–6) and, in the end, he betrayed Jesus for thirty silver coins (Matthew 26:14–16). Judas couldn't resist the deceitfulness of wealth (Mark 4:19) and he paid the price with his life. Now we can see why Jesus said that a person cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24) and why Paul said that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money (as Judas was), have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Timothy 6:10).

What can we learn from this? Simply that preaching the gospel, healing the sick, driving out demons and raising the dead does not guarantee that a Christian will go to heaven (Matthew 7:21–23): living a righteous life, however, does (Matthew 25:46).

The Bible teaches that we should make our calling and election sure (Greek: fixed, firm, sure, certain; that upon which one may build, rely or trust). We have to do that ourselves, as the Holy Spirit helps us, but it's our responsibility. And we do it by living the life that God has called us to live. If we make every effort to do that then, in accordance with his Word, we will never fall and will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:3–11).

Elijah needed encouragement

Secondly, we can see from this passage that Jesus sent his apostles out in twos. He did the same with the Seventy-Two (Luke 10:1–4). I believe that was for encouragement purposes rather than for safety reasons. Satan is a discourager—he tries to discourage the Church—whereas the Holy Spirit is an encourager (Acts 9:31). One of the prime weapons Satan uses against the Church is that of discouragement. If he can discourage us in our walk with the Lord then we may withdraw from the battle and give up the fight. We can see that clearly in the life of Elijah.

Elijah was a spiritual giant in his day. Single-handedly he'd taken on four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel and defeated them (1 Kings 18:15–40), but one threat from Jezebel sent him fleeing into the desert. That arrow from Satan had a devastating effect upon him. He said: 'I've had enough, Lord. Take my life; I'm no better than my ancestors. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too (1 Kings 19:1–4,10).' Elijah was a very discouraged man.

What was the Lord's answer to that? He told him to anoint Elisha son of Shaphat as the prophet who would succeed him. That wasn't the end of Elijah's ministry, but Elisha then became his attendant (1 Kings 19:19–21), which meant that from that point onwards he had a companion.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 says:

Two are better than one, because they have a good return from their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up.

That was certainly true in Elijah's life. Elijah was a man who depended totally on God. He'd spent up to three years alone with God in the Kerith Ravine being fed by ravens (1 Kings 17:1–6) and yet, when he was engaged in spiritual warfare, he needed the encouragement of others.

Paul needed encouragement

The same was true with the apostle Paul. Paul was perhaps the greatest Christian who has ever lived. The man was totally fearless; he received many threats against his life; he was imprisoned frequently; stoned almost to the point of death; flogged five times and beaten with rods on three occasions. He said he was ready to die for Christ, and he meant it. And yet, on his missionary journeys, he didn't travel alone. His first companion was Barnabas, whose name means 'Son of Encouragement'. Even Paul needed to be encouraged.

Suffice to say that we all need the encouragement of others. The Holy Spirit is the great encourager and is the source of all spiritual encouragement. He ministers to our spirit and encourages us directly in many ways, but he also encourages us through the ministry of others (Romans 12:6a,8a).

Encourage one another

Hebrews 10:25 says:

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

What Day is the writer referring to? He's referring to the Day of the Lord: the Day when Jesus will return for his Church.

Why do Christians meet together? The reasons are many, but it's usually because of what we gain from it ourselves:

We enjoy worshipping the Lord.
We are blessed by his presence.
We are instructed through the ministry of the Word.
We are strengthened through the operation of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:26).
We enjoy the fellowship of believers.

All these are good and valid reasons for meeting together, but they're not the prime reason given by Scripture. The prime reason we should meet together is so that we can encourage one another and spur one another on towards love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). We're told not to stop doing that, but to do it all the more as we see the Lord's return approaching. Remember that when you're tempted to skip a meeting. You may not need the blessing yourself, but others will need you to encourage them. That is one of our duties in Christ.

Trials and testings

The final thing we notice from our text is that the Twelve were told not to take anything with them: no food, no bag, no money, no extra tunic. They were to rely totally on God for everything, even to finding a bed for the night. That would have severely tested their faith. But contrast that with the instructions Jesus gave them in Luke 22:35–38. What can we learn from this?

The lesson is that God will test our faith at various times in our lives, but sometimes more severely than others. Every Christian lives their life by faith in God from the moment they're born-again (Galatians 2:20b): not just faith in God for salvation, but also faith in God for every need, physical as well as spiritual (Matthew 6:31–34).

We may think it's our job that provides us with our livelihood, but it's the Lord who opens doors for employment and gives us the ability and the strength to work. If we doubt that fact then he may prove it to us. Jesus said: '…apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5b).' That is true physically as well as spiritually. As the scripture says: 'For in him [God] we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).'

Even with those who've enjoyed a relatively easy life—successful career, happy marriage, good health, the blessing of God upon them—God will still find ways to test their faith. Why is that?

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2–4)

Do we want to be mature and complete as Christians? Then we need to go through trials and testings of many kinds. Look at Job: a righteous man who enjoyed the blessing of God and the protection of God (Job 1:8–11). Then suddenly, without warning, all hell seemed to break loose against him. What had he done to deserve it? Absolutely nothing. So, why did it happen? God allowed it to happen to bring him to maturity.

James wrote:

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. (James 5:11)

Perseverance is continuing on despite obstacles. Perseverance must finish its work in our lives if we're to be mature and complete, not lacking anything. I ask you: what price spiritual maturity? Trials are not easy. If they were easy then they wouldn't be trials. No one looks for trials, they can be painful and difficult but, when they come, we're to consider them as joy because of the work they are doing in us.

Paul wrote:

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Light and momentary troubles? There was no one in the New Testament who suffered more for his faith than Paul. If Paul regarded what he went through for Christ as 'light and momentary troubles', then so should we.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV Alternative Translation)

If you are a blood-bought child of God, then everything God allows to happen in your life is for your good—even the trials and the difficulties. Satan had to get God's permission before he could do anything to Job (Job 1:6–12; Job 2:1–7). The same is true for us. Every trial, every problem that we face, every difficulty that comes our way, is an opportunity for us to grow in Christ. Just as a muscle only strengthens when you exercise it, so faith only grows when you use it.

Our faith is more precious to God than we realize. Peter wrote:

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6–7)

Do we want a faith that is genuine and will result in praise, glory and honour when our Lord is revealed? Then we must go through trials of many kinds. As the heat of a furnace brings the dross to the surface so that the refiner can remove it, so the heat of a trial brings our impurities to the surface so that God can remove them.

Malachi 3:3 describes God as a refiner and a purifier of silver. Jesus is coming back for a Church that has been refined, purified and made ready for him. Trials and testings are a necessary part of that refining process.

Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. (Ecclesiastes 7:13–14)

God is sovereign over the affairs of men and every Christian needs trials in order to grow. The strongest trees are those that have been exposed to the winds and the storms. In order to survive, they've had to put their roots down deep into the soil. The same is true for us.

Every trial we face brings us closer to God. We're forced to put our roots down deeper into him (Colossians 2:6–7). Any confidence we had in the flesh is soon gone. We end up saying: 'Lord, I couldn't have come through that myself. Surely it's no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me (Galatians 2:20a).' And that's what God wants us to say: he wants us to depend totally on him. When he sees in us what he wants to see there'll be no more need for trials.

Michael Graham
May 2008

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