Based upon Making

Disciples by Tony Pullin

Making Disciples #7
#7 The anointed
servant
What is
anointing?
1. Peter fulfils his
call
The story:
John tells us of Jesus’ first meeting with
the disciples after rising from the dead.
John 20:19-22
Pullin suggests this meant,
“Now it’s your turn!”
Luke has Jesus saying,
“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the
gift my Father promised, which you have
heard me speak about” (Acts 1:4),
Pullin argues that Jesus’ act in John 20
was prophetic living, powerful words that
would be fulfilled a few weeks later at
Pentecost.
Acts 2:1-5,14,
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they
were all together in one place. 2 And
suddenly there came from heaven a sound
like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the
entire house where they were sitting. 3 And
divided tongues as of fire appeared to
them and rested[a] on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in other tongues as the
Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there
were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout
men from every nation under heaven...14 But
Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his
voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea
and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be
known to you, and give ear to my words.
On the Day of Pentecost a restored Peter,
empowered by the Spirit, stands up with
the Eleven and begins to fulfil all Jesus
saw in him, and prophesied for him three
years before.
He boldly proclaims the risen Lord
and three thousand people
respond to the Lordship of Jesus.
Peter is beginning to live and serve
under the anointing of the Spirit.
The servant had become a little more like
the Master—he had been discipled.
Discipleship and anointing
complement one another.
Peter speaks again to the Jerusalem
crowds in Acts 3, and says something
quite remarkable:
Read his speech and tell me what is
remarkable.
While he clung to Peter and John, all the people,
utterly astounded, ran together to them in the
portico called Solomon's. 12 And when Peter saw it
he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you
wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though
by our own power or piety we have made him walk?
13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the
God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his
servant[b] Jesus, whom you delivered over and
denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had
decided to release him.
14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous
One, and asked for a murderer to be
granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author
of life, whom God raised from the dead. To
this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by
faith in his name—has made this man strong
whom you see and know, and the faith that
is through Jesus[c] has given the man this
perfect health in the presence of you all.
“You disowned the Holy and Righteous
One and asked that a murderer be
released to you” (Acts 3:14).
What is amazing about this?
I think if I had been there I might have said,
“Hold on, Peter — you disowned him! And
after all you had heard and seen!”
Peter was in such a place of forgiveness
that he was free in his spirit to stand and
deliver the Lord’s message. That was real
restoration!
Peter is a wonderful example of a servant
of Jesus, “ransomed, healed, restored,
forgiven” and fruitful.
Discipleship had achieved the goal of
Jesus. The anointing of the Spirit had
empowered a servant who was ready.
Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven;
To His feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing:
Praise Him, praise Him, alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King.
The story goes on:
Peter and John spend the night in jail—
next morning they are taken before the
Sanhedrin.
Peter speaks before Annas and Caiaphas
(in whose courtyard Peter had denied the
Lord),
“we cannot but speak of what we have
seen and heard.”
(Acts 4:20).
This is a new Peter.
Soon after they suffered the first flogging
after proclaiming more of Jesus, Acts
5:40-42,
“when they had called in the apostles, they
beat them and charged them not to speak
in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 Then they left the presence of the
council, rejoicing that they were counted
worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
42 And every day, in the temple and from
house to house, they did not cease
teaching and preaching that the Christ
is Jesus.”
 - People brought their sick people on to
the streets so that Peter’s shadow might
fall across them.
 - The people living in surrounding towns
brought their sick and demon-tormented
into the city. All of them were healed.
 - The miracles performed by Jesus in the
power of the Spirit are now being
performed by Peter, in the power of the
same Spirit.
Acts 9,
36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named
Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.[d] She
was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In
those days she became ill and died, and when
they had washed her, they laid her in an upper
room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the
disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two
men to him, urging him, “Please come to us
without delay.”
 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And
when he arrived, they took him to the upper
room. All the widows stood beside him
weeping and showing tunics[e] and other
garments that Dorcas made while she was
with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside,
and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the
body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened
her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And
when he arrived, they took him to the upper
room. All the widows stood beside him
weeping and showing tunics[e] and other
garments that Dorcas made while she was
with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside,
and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the
body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened
her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
 - The revelation and courage of Peter led
to the vital visit to the house of Cornelius
and of the gospel reaching the Gentiles
(Acts 10).
 - In Acts 12, Peter’s old fishing partner,
James, dies on the orders of King Herod of
Judea. (He was a nephew of Herod
Antipas, the ruler of Galilee who ordered
the beheading of John the Baptist and
became friends with Pilate during the trial
of Jesus.)
Peter was meant to be next, but the Lord
sent an angel to deliver him from prison.
His time would come as Jesus had
prophesied, but not yet.
 - Acts 15 sees Peter (this is his last
appearance in the book) as part of the
Council at Jerusalem. The Jerusalem-
based apostles and elders, along with Paul
and Barnabas, had met to discuss the
important question of whether new Gentile
converts should be circumcised and
required to keep the Law of Moses.
James (the Lord’s brother) was the leader
of the Jerusalem church.
Peter makes a contribution to the
conference that helped change it’s
direction and policy—it reflected his
journey.
7 And after there had been much debate, Peter
stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know
that in the early days God made a choice
among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles
should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness
to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as
he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction
between us and them, having cleansed their
hearts by faith.
10 Now, therefore, why are you putting
God to the test by placing a yoke on the
neck of the disciples that neither our
fathers nor we have been able to bear?
11 But we believe that we will be saved
through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just
as they will.” (Acts 15:7-11)
Peter learned grace from Jesus.
Here he carries it on in his
handling the keys he had been
given.
2. Go and disciple
the nations
We began with Jesus, commissioning his
disciples just before he ascended to
heaven: Matt. 28:18-19
 - We have seen the example of Jesus
discipling the Twelve—they knew what they
had been called to do.
 - We saw Jesus discipling Peter—it was
personal, authentic, challenging and very
encouraging. It was intentional and
strategic. It changed his life.
The Lord asks people who love him:
“Are you ready for this?
Do you want to be discipled at this
level?”
To those walking as disciples, he asks:
“Who are you discipling?
Are you being strategic? Jesus chose
carefully those he would disciple.
Maybe for you the challenge is about
receiving and giving.
We have seen Jesus give a discipleship
Masterclass. Now ask yourself,
“how does this affect my life, my
church and my generation?”