Matthias: The new apostle

The twelve apostles Jesus chose were people from all walks of life. They lived with Jesus, travelled with Him, evangelized with Him, saw Him perform several miracles. They also encountered the pain of Jesus, saw Him arrested and some saw Him die. Among the twelve was Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus and opened the door for the temple police to take Jesus away. According to the scripture, Judas became remorseful of his actions but it was quite late. He had already sold his Master for 30 pieces of silver and the Sanhedrin would not agree to a return. In ‭Acts 1:18-19, we are informed that “With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood. So Judas Iscariot died in such a disgusting condition. The betrayer killed himself as a result of his actions. Imagine Jesus moving along with the man who would orchestrate his crucifixion. Yet, Jesus never expelled Judas Iscariot from the ministry.

Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. (‭Acts 1:26)

After the ascension of Jesus, Peter reminded the apostles of the need to replace Judas Iscariot. According to Peter, the villainous ministry of Judas Iscariot was even stated in scripture. Peter said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and shared in our ministry. For it is written in the Book of Psalms: “ ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “ ‘May another take his place of leadership.’‭” (Acts 1:16-17, 20). This prophecy had to be fulfilled. Judas Iscariot needed another to take His place. This Was Peter’s advice for the selection: “Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” (‭Acts 1:21-22). The apostles nominated two men based on this criteria: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias (Acts 1:23). After the nomination, the apostles went ahead to pray, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” ‭(Acts 1:24-25).

Prayer was a critical component of choosing the replacement of Judas Iscariot. Remember, Jesus also spent all night praying before selecting the twelve (Luke 6:12-16). It was after the apostles prayed that they cast lots. The lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles (‭Acts 1:26). Matthias wasn’t a novice to the ministry of Jesus. From the criteria the apostles used to make their selection, Matthias had been with Jesus since John baptized Jesus. In other words, Matthias experienced the ministry of Jesus. He might have followed Jesus on some of His trips. He might have witnessed the diverse miracles, the signs, the wonders. Matthias witnessed the crucifixion, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. He wasn’t one of the core twelve, but he was willing enough to follow Jesus from the beginning of His ministry to the end. Matthias’ name wasn’t mentioned prior to the ascension of Jesus. He was a silent follower, yet he was the one who replaced Judas Iscariot.

There are several Matthiases in the house of God. Committed, dedicated, persistent, consistent and dependable members who do not have acclaimed positions neither are they known by many. There is always a time for each and everyone’s ministry to be brought to the limelight. Continue doing what you have been called to do. Your works are definitely being seen in heaven.

Lydia: A marketplace believer

One of the unique platforms for workplace ministry is the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) which draws business people on every continent to work together to transform their communities, cities, and nations through the message of the gospel. The FGBMFI has impacted lives and transformed ordinary marketplace believers into a global movement of people who seek to make the world a better place with their exemplary lifestyle and Christlike approach to business and ministry. FGBMFI is a reminder that wherever you are, Christ should be seen in you. Apostle Paul is known as a tentmaker and yet throughout his career, he was seen as an apostle of the gospel. Making and selling tents did not stop Him from transforming the world with the gospel of Jesus. In the 21st century, it has become increasingly difficult for believers in the marketplace (especially in the Western world) to publicly declare their faith. However, we cannot hide because we have been called the light of the world. This post will consider a business woman who was also a worshiper of God and opened her home for ministry.

One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. (Acts 16:14)

Paul’s ministry in the city of Thyatira took a different dimension. According to Acts 16:13, when Paul and his team arrived in Thyatira, on the Sabbath they went outside the city gate to the river, where they expected to find a place of prayer. The team sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. Taking advantage of the woman gathered at the river, Paul delivered the message of the gospel to them. One woman stood out from the riverside congregation. Her name was Lydia. Acts 16:14 states that “One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” Lydia believed in God and when Paul presented the message of the gospel of Jesus, the Lord opened her heart to respond positively. One distinct feature of Lydia is that she was a business woman; a dealer in purple cloth. Lydia was engaged in a professional venture yet she was a worshiper of God.

After Lydia’s conversion to Christianity, she and her entire household believed and were baptized. Lydia went ahead and invited Paul and his team to her home. She said to them, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” (Acts 16:15). Lydia opened her home to the missionaries. She might have provided for their needs and still went about her purple cloth business. Paul and the team continued their ministry in Thyatira until another woman’s exorcism landed them into trouble. Paul and his companion Silas were imprisoned in Thyatira but even there, they continued with ministry. “After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left” (Acts 16:40). Lydia house might have been the initial meeting place for the church in Thyatira. Before Paul and the team left Thyatira, they had established a church. One woman’s hospitality led to doors of ministry. The church in Thyatira grew bigger and it was one of the seven churches that were sent letters through the vision of John the Apostle.

The recommendation from Jesus to the chain Thyatira was this: “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” (Revelation 2:19). Like many other churches, the church in Thyatira was rebuked by the Lord for some sinful infiltration. The Lord sees all churches and fellowships.

Like Lydia, we must all be intentional about seizing every opportunity to be a blessing to the body of Christ. Our workplaces should be our mission field. Our lifestyles should lead even unbelievers to desire to be like us. Instead of becoming like everyone, we should desire to be like Christ. Proclaiming one’s love for the Lord is one thing, but living it out even in the marketplace is another. Can Jesus be seen in you even at your workplace?

Mary: Who are my mother and brothers?

The Son of God came to the earth to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). The mission statement of Jesus is clearly portrayed in His approach to ministry. Jesus made use of every opportunity and even created opportunities where there were none. After the pregnancy announcement, the labour and birth event, the visit of the shepherds, the visit of the Magi, the flight to Egypt, the return to Nazareth, the visit to the Temple at age twelve, we seem to have a blank screen until Jesus began his ministry at age thirty. Luke 2:51a-52 states that, after the visit to the temple at age twelve, Mary, Joseph and Jesus went down to Nazareth and Jesus was obedient to his parents. Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. So for about eighteen years, Jesus learned under his father Joseph to train as a carpenter. Those years would have also been the years of training, equipping, preparation and waiting. Jesus would have listened to many sermons in the temple and even if he opposed the behaviour of the religious people, he waited patiently for his season of manifestation. 

Mary on the other hand would have watched her God-man son grow in wisdom, stature, and in favour. She would have been looking forward to seeing him start his ministry. At the time Jesus began his ministry,  his earthly father Joseph was out of his life. The Bible doesn’t clearly state what happened to Joseph but some historians claim Joseph died before Jesus began his ministry. Mary experienced  her son attracting people of all classes. She saw the sick healed, the death raised to life and the gospel preached. She saw demons flee, critics silenced and unbelieving people turning to God. She also saw her son tired, pressed and working on his mission around the clock. Even though she knew the power and authority Jesus welded, as a mother, she also felt the physical and emotional pain of seeing her son going through all that pressure.  

Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. (Mark 3:31)
While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. (Matthew 12:46)

On one faithful day, Mary and her other sons (Jesus’ brothers) experienced a fully attended ministry of Jesus. Mark 3:20-21 states that Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” The family did not oppose Jesus’ ministry. Even if some of his brothers believed in Jesus later, they had no doubt that Jesus carried the miraculous. However,  Mary and her sons went to show genuine concern for the health and safety of Jesus. Both Mark and Matthew record this encounter. Matthew states that while Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him (Matthew 12:46). Mark states that Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived and standing outside, they sent someone in to call him (Mark 3:31). This was Jesus’ reply:

He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:48‭-‬50)

“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:33‭-‬35)

Jesus did not reject his family. He gave a profound truth. Although he came through Mary, his family is not just Mary and her descendants. His family is whosoever believes in him. The Apostle Paul explained this truth in Colossians 1:15‭-‬20:

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Jesus, the Son of Mary is the firstborn over all creation.  Whoever comes to Christ is a brother and sister of Jesus. Glory be to God!

The prophetess: Wife of Prophet Isaiah

The scriptures are very specific when it comes to the titles of the women who were in the Bible. For example, Rahab was referred to as the prostitute because of her past life in Jericho.  Ruth was referred to as a Moabite because she was from Moab. We shall consider the wife of Isaiah in this post. As we saw in the previous post, Isaiah had a profound ministry of both local and international perspective. His focus was to bring the people back to God. He spoke in plain words and he also used signs and symbols to make known the mind of God. Throughout the messages of Isaiah,  we see that God is just and yet merciful. We see God’s heart for His people and how He goes all out to bring the sinner back to Him. Isaiah’s prophetic ministry made him a voice to the kings of his time. His wife might have been an active part of his ministry. 

Then I made love to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the Lord said to me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. (Isaiah 8:3)

Who was the wife of Isaiah? The name of Isaiah’s wife was not given in the scriptures. But, her title was given, she was a prophetess. In Isaiah 8:1, the Lord said to Isaiah, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary pen: Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.” The name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz means “quick to the plunder” or “swift to the spoil”. In Isaiah 8:3, Isaiah says this: “Then I made love to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the Lord said to me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.” Thus, Isaiah and his wife were in the same prophetic ministry. Prophetess Mrs. Isaiah was operating in her calling. She was a wife to a national prophet and that did not overshadow her ministry. Her ministry was active and her husband referred to her by her ministry.  It is possible that the wife of Isaiah also birthed their son Shear-Jashub. In Isaiah 7:3, the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. Shear-Jashub means a remnant will return. The names of the children of the prophetess are all symbolic to the revelations God was giving about Israel. 

The  wife of Isaiah did not live a rosy life because she was married to a prophet.  Imagine the fact that her husband was unashamedly to criticize the kings of her day, she would have lived with constant criticism from the people who refused to listen to Isaiah’s prophetic words. The prophetess was also unashamed to give prophetic names to her children.  She knew that even though a name like Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz might call for attention,  she understood their ministry. She was not ashamed to be married to a man of God and she supported his ministry with her own ministry. Her daily life must have reflected her calling. When you identify the call of God in your life, you don’t need a special ordination and anointing ceremony to propel you into your ministry. Like Isaiah, when you hear the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” You will joyfully reply, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). 

When we understand that our whole lives are dedicated to God, we will not shy away from the call of God in our lives. No wonder Isaiah says, “Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.” (Isaiah 8:18).

Isaiah’s prophetic ministry influenced the people of his day and he gave vivid prophecies about the Messiah. Isaiah’s wife was a daily testimony of their call. The prophetess cared for the prophet and together, they birthed children who were signs of God’s presence. Remember, when God calls the husband,  He doesn’t leave the wife behind and vice versa.  Each person must be ready to go through the school of Jesus in order to be a confident and unwavering ministry partner. Don’t say, “it is his or her calling” both of you have been called. Even if you are not at the forefront, you’re definitely at the backstage supporting spiritually, emotionally or physically. 

And after Pentecost day… boldness, miracles etc.

Peter had a “wow” experience on Pentecost day. He delivered an amazing Gospel sermon and three thousand people gave their lives to Jesus Christ. There were no microphones to project his voice and no social media to send invitation cards. With the infilling of the Holy Spirit, Peter and the rest of the disciples were on fire. The power of the Holy Spirit baptism was not a one time quick fix. No! The disciples were filled up for ministry and no wonder they did amazing things even at the peril of their lives. “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts” (Acts 2:46a). “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon” (Acts 3:1) and they met “a man who was lame from birth” (Acts 3:2a).

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6)

When this lame man saw Peter and John, he asked them for money. The man had been sitting at the gate called Beautiful and all that he does is to beg people for money. His only source of livelihood was to beg. “Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.” (Acts 3:4‭-‬8)

What a miracle? The man wanted money but he was given healing. He was able to walk! This miracle caused people to gather around Peter and John in awe. Peter once again admonished the people with the Gospel message. He told them to “repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19). Even when Peter and John were arrested and sent before the Sanhedrin, Peter boldly told these Jewish religious leaders that “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Such boldness can only be from the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Even till now, the church has faced countless persecution but believers have not given up. Recently, a group of believers faced their deaths on Pentecost Sunday. We need to draw strength and power from the Holy Spirit to stand even to the point of death.