Sunday Morning Service

Matthew 10:1-20 (Click title for audio access)

"Being The Answer" • 8.1.10 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- Jesus has shown us an incredible vision: There are brutally treated, abandoned sheep without a shepherd wandering all over the world. The harvest is coming and the laborers are few.

- He has told us to pray that God would send laborers out into the field. Pray that He would fill His field with His workers.

- No sooner had some men prayed, but Jesus heard their prayer and decided to answer it using their very lives!

- We want to avail ourselves to God. We want to have a purpose to our Christianity. Today, Jesus will address the promises that are given to those He sends and the principles that they live by.

Text

• Matthew 10:1-4 : "And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him." : From all of the rest of the people who were casually following Him, twelve became more than followers. They had become His disciples.

- These men are answers to prayer, perhaps even their own. Jesus was choosing the men to enter into that plentiful harvest work that He has been talking about!

- These men were equal part students, equal part apprentices. A disciple is a person who wanted to take their master's teaching as their own and then, reproduce it in others.

- This is the heart of being a disciple. I want to take on the responsibility of learning Christ's heart and then to take it to others around me.

- To these men, Jesus gave power that was like His own. Power over unclean spirits. Power to heal sickness and disease. He had called them to represent Him in every way.

- Now, He empowers them to that end. Notice, HE GAVE THEM power! He gives them the abilities that they will need when performing their Kingdom tasks.

- I find that this is eternally true for each of us: There has never been a person in Christ's employ that has not first been equipped for service! That is a promise that you and I can hold onto.

- Matthew tells us a little bit about Christ's approach with these men. Note that the disciples are listed in pairs. These are the different groupings that would go out before, or in advace of Christ.

- Jesus sent them out together, one praying, the other speaking. There were no lone rangers!

- Note also the diversity of the men that Jesus employed. This group includes several fisherman, a government worker, and a nationalist, also known as a "zealot."

- They come from all walks of life. Working class, blue and white collar men. Fighters and passivists. Doubters and thieves.

- Missing from this group were the seminarians, the Pharisees or the Sadducees. Jesus chose common people to represent Him. He has done the same thing today.

- Paul told the Corinthians that not many of them were noble or wise. In fact, God had chosen them, the foolish things, to confound the wise! These disciples were among the first foolish!

- Jesus takes people from diverse backgrounds and unifies them under Himself. These men had one thing in common and that was Jesus Christ. Many of us can say the same thing today.

- We can be encouraged as we look at this group. If ever there was a "if they can do it, we can" moment, this is it! Ever have a problem with doubting the Lord? So did Thomas!

- Have a bad temper? So did James and John, the Sons of Thunder! Have a big mouth? So did Peter? Want to work in the background? Lebbaus was your man!

- Jesus can use anyone! He wants to use you!

• Matthew 10:5,6 : "These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: 'Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." : Christ called them, discipled them and now He sends them. They go from being disciples to apostles.

- The word "apostles" literally means "sent ones."

- Today, we cannot be apostles in the same way that these men were. They are unique in history, as they were literally picked and specifically sent by Christ for work.

- At this juncture, I want to suggest that there is a natural progression in the life of those who have come to Christ. There is a time when you are compelled to come to Him for salvation.

- Then, you are drawn to know Him more, to learn of Him. That is discipleship.

- But then, there is an overwhelming sense that comes upon Christians that must be satisfied. Those who have learned and established themselves in the faith, need to exercise!

- They desire to be called and commissioned. They want their life to count for Christ! These disciples are allowing Christ to express Himself through their lives! Many of us desire the same

- That is a good goal to consider! Lord, is there something to send us into?

- This first mission for these first apostles was very focused. It's focused first in it's audience. These men were to go out looking selectively for those of the house of Israel.

- Jesus had commented that the sheep were weary and scattered. Christ is taking action to draw them back in.

- His statement to the disciples does not represent an anti-Gentile sentiment. The principle here is one of priority. Focus first on those who are closest. Your own family, your own culture.

- An appropriate way to view this would be under the heading: "Be Fruitful Where And With Whom You Are Planted!"

- Christ was physically here on Earth, calling unto His people, the Jewish race. All these men were Jewish, so He says, "Start here."

- Aside from this, the disciples were not yet equipped to minister to nations. Even after the Holy Spirit had been given, there was much to learn for these men.

- The gospel had to be offered to the Jews first.

• Matthew 10:7-10 : "And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food." : They had been given the same power as Christ, which was to accompany the same proclamation. They were to go, preaching.

- Their proclamation was an announcement: "The kingdom of heaven is at hand!" What did they mean? The King was near, their Messiah Jesus Christ.

- They were to perform all of these works to show that they were authentic disciples of Christ.

- As disciples, they were to act toward people the way that Christ acted toward people. He had given them abilities and they were expected to use them.

- They had to do something about what came before them. Those that we sick, were to be healed. Lepers were to be cleansed, etc.

- We must remember that we are agents of His healing touch. We are the ones that God has endowed with His power, perhaps not to the same degree, but with the same spirit.

- Our heart should be, "Lord bring me into contact with the sick, so that I might pray." "Bring me into contact with spiritual lepers, that I might touch them and offer your love."

- Imagine the faith that this must have required. "Did Jesus really give me this power? Can I really affect anything positive in this person's life? Through the Lord's power, you can.

- Notice that Jesus says this in a very matter of fact sort of way. "Heal the sick, cleanse..."

- He is telling them to do these things! They can do what He is telling them to do!

- Jesus wanted them to practice, not just to point to Him! They had been given gifts of healing, Kingdom power.

- As they went out, they were to exhibit the same power, express the same proclamation and live on the same provision. Freely they had received, freely they were to give.

- They were to go out dependant upon the Lord for their provision. They were to go out believing that He would give them what they needed.

- The principle here is that one who is sent should never consider offering ministry for a cost.

- The gifts, the operation of His ministry should come with no thought of compensation on the mind of the minister. I have been graced with something from God for you. I offer that free of charge.

- Think about this for the Apostles. These gifts would have come with great temptation to line their own pockets. "Let's see, the going rate on raising the dead..."

- Don't make someone pay for that which was free to you!

- NOW, that being said, in the very next phrase, Jesus offers the balance. A worker is worthy of his food. Their ministry would be covered by the Lord, through those who they ministrered to.

- Those who are ministered to should provide for the one ministering to them.

- I am glad that Jesus calls it what it is: It is work! To set one's mind toward a calling, to sacrifice to make that a reality and to endeavor to be faithful in it, is work.

- God's work, however gratifying, however insignificant to our minds, is still work!

• Matthew 10:11-15 : "Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!" : The disciples were to go out, focused on the house of Israel. They were to become even more focused.

- They were to ask about who might be worthy, a person with a good reputation, one who wanted the Kingdom to come. They were to search the right person out and stay with them.

- Jesus was telling them to seek out those who were interested. They had little time to haggle or argue. Jesus would only be on earth for 3 years!

- Be focused on where your energy will be most effective! The ministry of the gospel is not about fighting and arguing. It's about proclamation! Hold onto this thought.

- The disciples were to stay in one place if the person was worthy. In the process of time, it may have been that they rejected the gospel proclamation.

- This happens often. People misunderstand the gospel, or perhaps, they misunderstand their own standing before the gospel. Before long, they see that the gospel is not for them.

- Jesus prepares them to understand that their proclamation and power might still be rejected. Some would receive with gladness, but others would not receive nor even hear them.

- This is something that we are often not cognizant of. Some do not want to hear. Some would rather you did not come into their life if you are going to share Christ.

- What does Jesus tell them to do? "Keep trying! If you keep at them, you'll probably wear them down eventually!" No, Jesus tells them to depart. Leave! Don't stay where He is not wanted!

- I am intriqued by people who continue to bang their heads against proverbial walls. There are some who have no interest in Christ. They have said this. They have waved you off.

- Move yourself on! Don't stay there. For the literal cities that hosted the disciples and rejected Christ who was literally, physically near them, their doom was going to be horrific.

- The same can be said of those who reject Christ today.

• Matthew 10:16-20 : "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you." : Jesus gives it to His disciples straight. He was sending them out amongst a group of hostile people. They are going out as sheep before a crowd of wolves!

- Because of that reality, they were to be as wise as serpents. Watchful, wise, not too quick to trust. Combine that with "harmless as doves" being gentile and gracious.

- This is not the picture that I would want to hear if I were the disciples! Don't think for a moment that the world is going to stand up and applaud for your devotion to God's plan.

- The Apostles faced all sorts of opposition. Jesus lays out civil, religious and we'll see next week, familial persecution! This would be done on account of Christ, in His name, for His sake.

- When did this happen? There is no record of this happening during Christ's earthly ministry.

- This set of statements is prophetic for the disciples after Christ had ascended.

- The book of Acts chronicles the events where the disciples were brought before councils and scourged. The final Apostle, Paul would end the book of Acts on his way to stand before Nero.

- It's entirely possible that in our lifetime, we'll be treated the same way. Jesus is saying that being sent requires an ability to understand what that might cost us personally.

- When these men came into these circumstances, God was providentially placing them in these places to provide testimony to these rulers and to the Gentiles that surrounded their thrones.

- There was a purpose in their imprisonment. God wants to reach people in high places. He wants to create opportunity where He might speak to these men and women.

- This is why He says that they should not worry about what to say in that time. God would literally speak through them.

- The final principle that needs to be understood: He will be with you wherever you find yourself! In those moments, God is there and will speak through you.

Conclusion

- God has commissioned us to preach not just to a specific race, but to an entire world. Pray that you would be useful to Him.

- Start where you are, stay until there is acceptance, leave when there is rejection, knowing that God will show you the difference.

- Wherever you go, understand that God places you there to be His witness. Let Him start to witness through you!