Usefulness

[ICNHEAR]

There came a time for selecting a definite number of followers who might be recognized with Christ and who might be prepared to carry on His work after His deptarture . The twelve were chosen to be Christ's witnesses to the world , from personal klnowledge to bear testimony to what Christ had been , said , and done-to the facts of His life , death , and resurrection . They were also to be messengers of His Gospel and His instruments in laying the foundations of His church . The twelve were Peter , James , Andrew , John , Philip , Bartholomew , Thomas , Matthew , James , Judas , Simon , and Judas Iscariot . All the apostles were men from the humbler ranks , yet not illiterate . Within the disciples there was a strong contrast in the types of character . A few examples are the impulsive Peter , the meditative John , the matter-of-fact Philip , the cautious Thomas , the zealous Simon , the conservative Matthew , and the administrative Judas . The reason for their diversity of character may have been so that Christ would be able to use them in different ways to tell of His love and salvation for mankind to reach every type of individual . This is still true today - no two Christians are exactly alike . Each one is able to tell someone about Christ that perhaps no other Christian could win to the Master . Permit the Holy Spirit to motivate your redeemed and indwelt personality . Mark 16: 13-19 16:13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Eph. 2:10 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.Father , use me today in helping those about me . :amen: