Matthew 10:1-20 Sending out the Twelve
What
do you see when you go to a baseball game at Petco? –
Stadium full of pp there to watch a ball
game
A)True, but it is more than that!
B)What see – Movie theater packed for IJ – PP there to see a movie
C)Crowded pp people enjoying the sun – More than that
Jesus
sees each setting differently than we do!
A)Sees behind the obvious – sees below the surface!
Matt 9:36-38
36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion
for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the
laborers are few. 38 Therefore
pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
B)Jesus saw the crowds as sheep without a shepherd
1)Wandering aimlessly- looking for food – satisfaction
C)That is what Jesus sees at Petco/ Movie / Beach
D)Jesus saw a crowd – as a harvest – ready to be pulled in – Need for more
laborers
That
is how Jesus wanted His disciples to see the Multitude around them – that is
how He wants us to see the pp around us
Thru
the eyes of Jesus! –
As
we come to Chapter 10 – Jesus is going to send out His disciples to harvest –
A)Same way He sent them out He sends us out
B)Note several things as we go thru
V.1 Called to Him - before
sending out He calls us to Himself – before – service he desires fellowship
Fellowship with Christ
serves as the catalyst and the fuel for our service.
V.1
He gave them power!
A)He is going to equip them for what would be necessary for their task
B)Power = Dunamis – dynamic power – Acts 1:8 Power of the HS – Baptism { to be witnesses
Upon
us –
C)Their Power resulted in healing / authority over demons
D)Our Power results in gifting thru the HS –
1)Manifestation of the Spirit – gifts – healing – boldness –Words of wisdom and Prophecy
E)Power
for the need at hand! – Healing / Deliverance etc
RD
V.2-4
Names the disciples, rough
group – not the cream of the crop – Foolish things to confound the wise
Mark
6 says He sent them out in two’s
1.)
For ENCOURAGEMENT.
2.)
For ACCOUNTABILITY.
3.)
For CO-OPERATION.
They
could share the labor - They could take turns
EXAMPLE:
Street
witnessing - One shares while one prays.
Sent
with a Specific mission: V. 5-6
They
were told where NOT to go and where TO go.
They
were NOT to go North to
They
were limited to the Jewish region of
They
weren’t ready to go to the Gentiles –
Not
the time to take the gospel to them
App:
General call / Specific sphere { You today
Note it says Jesus COMMANDED them.
LITERALLY:
Jesus gave them orders.
KEY
INSIGHT: This
word has 4 uses in the Greek New Testament.
1.) Military term - The order of an
officer to those under him, requiring unhesitating obedience.
2.)
Legal term - An
official court summons, much like a Subpoena…. Not an option.
3.)
Medical term – A doctors prescription or instruction to his
patients.
4.)
Royal term - A
monarch giving orders.
KEY POINT: This word always
carries the idea of ultimate authority, requiring obedience.
KEY
APPLICATION: As
Christians, you and I must realize that
We
are to respond like a
Soldier
to superior officer
One
in courtroom to the
judge
Patient
to a doctor
Servant to king.
Next
notice He sent them with a message RD V.7-8
A)Preach = to herald – Proclaim
B) Powerful message – Gospel
is the power of God unto salvation……
Just share it
1)Doesn’t return void
C)Don’t get
hung up on your effectiveness – You not being articulate – etc – see, the power
is in the message
In 1936 a radio broadcast was transmitted to
In a real
sense, his words were being transmitted through the body of that man!
So too in a real sense Christ words are
being transmitted through the bodies / through the lives of people like you and
me - Ambassadors
we
ARE TO PROCLAIM the message that there are TWO DOMAINS in this universe
The
Those
in it are servants of the King!
It
is characterized by LIFE and LIGHT.
The kingdom of this world….
A)It is in rebellion against the
B)It is ruled by the god of this age… Satan…
Those
in it are slaves to Satan, Self and Sin
C)It is characterized by DEATH and DARKNESS.
You
are in ONE of these two kingdoms.
Next
He sent them out in Faith: RD V.9-10
A)Not calling them to be irresponsible – but to walk by faith
B)NO Excuses – don’t have……..
Some
of my most favorite times in ministry have occurred God supplies my lack –
Provision
A)Times in sharing –
B)Also a sense of urgency here!
1)Some pp will say – I will let God use me – I will get involved after I
graduate college
C)After I buy my first house – After my kids grow up
D)THE TIME IS NOW!
Next we see He wants them to be
A)They were to waste
time trying to convince pp who weren’t interested in hearing the truth
B)Went to Yugo PC focus on the Youth – more open
1)Model we have followed in every country
C) This is a common mistake
I see pp in ministry make – Pour into pp who could
care less
D)Jesus says don’t do that, focus on those who are receptive
1)Discipleship – Only works with someone who wants to be discipled
Going into the house suggest
communion – relationship evangelism
Note
V.15 See the Huge emphasis placed on the importance of the word – those who
reject – worse than
Next
He sends them out with a REALITY CHECK
RD
V. 16
Sheep in the midst of wolves
{ Attacked
NOTE
WELL: NOT -
I send you forth ‘as attack sheep’!
Sheep…
Doves - These are harmless. Not a
hint of militancy there.
That’s how we are
sent forth.
There
is no such thing as the Christian version of Jihad!
But
we have all seen people professing to be Christians that are just flat out ANGRY
…. Mad at the world!
They
get their faces on the news and in the papers/magazines….
Somehow
I get the feeling that it’s not really accomplishing what could be accomplished
with spiritual power instead of the flesh.
Wise as serpents-
Serpents are hard to catch off guard – always alert –
So
we are to posses this combination – Sheep and doves are not threatening –
disarming
A)They are approachable – inviting
B)Combine that with a serpent who is always alert
Not going to be caught off
guard
Next
He sent them out in confidence V. 17-20
A)The HS WILL SUPPLY WHAT YOU LACK
B)This is awesome when it happens – verses – insight
Stop there for tonight { close Bibles bow heads
How
many of you here – Have never led someone to Christ?
Never even shared your
faith?
You want to experience that!
A)Starts with seeing pp the way that Jesus does!
You need a burden { Stand pray
B)How many of you would say{ I sometimes have that
burden, I just am so scared?
C) You need to be baptized
afresh in the HS
Stand, lets pray
Maybe
you are here tonight – sharing – facing a lot of opposition - You need to press on –
A)Stand pray for you tonight