Luke 10: 1-3 Ambassadors for Christ

 

Intro: I would like you to imagine for a moment this morning - that you just found out from the doctor - 6 MONTHS TO LIVE.

  1. What would you do? What would change in your life? What would be your plan of attack - how would you spend those last 6 months?
  1. Take that trip that you had always planned to go to Hawaii - or perhaps Europe?
  1. Would you set your mind to finishing off the house projects / leave things set & in order for your family.
    1. Visit some people that you haven’t seen in a long while?
  1. Would you make sure that you went sky Diving or had the opportunity to Bungi Jump - What would your plan of attack be.

 

In that same thought - What would be your mindset toward those closest to you / closest friends & family.

  1. Would your tendency be to pull them in/ hang real tight for the next 6 months - extra time & attention.
  1. Barbecues & parties - mini vacations & outings ?
  1. THESE ARE INTERESTING QUESTIONS TO PONDER.

 

The Reason I am asking these questions is that Luke Chapter 10 puts us 6 months before the death of our LORD!

  1. At this particular point in Jesus’ life / Lk.9:51 He set his face - steadfastly toward Jerusalem where He knows that He is going to be crucified.
  2. What I find really interesting is what we see Jesus doing in the first part of Luke Chapter 10 - He isn’t thinking vacation / not thinking - relax
    1. He is thinking of the world !
  1. So what does He do ? He takes his closest companions at this time & He

doesn’t pull them in but He sends them out.

  1. See He knew that if the world was going to be reached/ if the mission was to be accomplished - if good news was to go out /
    1. These guys needed to be trained up / needed to experience ministry first hand.
  1. See Jesus lived w/ Eternity in View / HEAVEN WAS ON HIS MIND!
  1. Luke 9:56 summed up his heart well - didn’t come to destroy men’s

lives but to save them.

  1. He saw man kind broken down & ripped off by Satan / defeated / searching - His heart went out

1) ( WANTED TO TAKE THEM TO HEAVEN)

  1. So in view of His final 6 months He sent His closest companions out that they might get more in -

1) He would use them to prepare men for the KINGDOM.

Now what does this have to do w/ us here today? EVERYTHING

 

Luke Chapter 10 presents for us 3 pictures of what our mindset & focus should be / we who are living in these last days.

  1. 1st part v.1-24 We see the 70 being sent out as Ambassadors of Christ/ / 2nd part v.25-37 Neighbors like Christ / 3rd v. 38-42 Lovers of Christ
  1. If these 3 mindsets / these 3 things are a part of our lives - we are going to find ourselves living exciting fruitful lives for Christ

1) First part Ambassadors take in 2 studies / today calling / Equipping

Here we see Jesus selecting a group of men to represent Him in the places He was going to -

  1. They were sent by Him / they were going before Him / they were to

    2. prepare the way for Him. They were Ambassadors of Jesus.

  2. Paul called himself an ambassador of Jesus in 2 Corinthians 5:20 / Eph.6
    1. Ambassador is a representative. - ( Reps of a Country )
  1. That is what we are in this world - AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST.
    1. If taking notes 4 things I believe the Lord would have us consider about our Calling as Ambassadors of Christ .

 

1st It is PRIVILEDGED CALLING

A)The word Ambassador means Representative.

In 1936 a radio broadcast was transmitted to America from England. Just before the voice of King Edward VIII was to be heard, someone stumbled over a wire in the control room of -WABC, New York) and snapped the only line of communication between the two great countries. The engineers were frantic. Then, with only a few moments remaining before airtime a quick-thinking apprentice grasped the two broken ends of the wire and bridged the gap. Seconds later the King addressed the nation.

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

  1. It is truly an amazing thing to think about that we have been chosen by God to Represent Him to this dark World. Radical thought
  1. that the God of all the universe has chosen to work through people like us !
  2. In Ancient days & even today - when a King or leader was going to choose those who would be His Ambassadors /
    1. He picked the top of the Class
  1. Smartest / most gifted communicators / often times the best looking -

since they were going to represent - the King & his Kingdom.

  1. But God looks for those to represent him not on the basis of ability but availability -
    1. Then He supplies us w/ all that we need to do the task / He has

called us to.

Spurgeon

The ambassador is not an ambassador from man to God, but an ambassador from God to man. "We are ambassadors"-- not for you, but "for Christ." That word "ambassadors" suggests to us a few reflections. First, every true minister of Christ is engaged upon royal business. He is doing business for the King of kings, the great Lord of all. He does not come in his own name, nor in the name of any Church, nor in the name of any earthly potentate; but he comes in the name of Him who made heaven and earth, and who governs all things by the word of His power.

It is privileged calling Now these guys were sent out by Jesus to go and prepare the way for Jesus’ first coming into those towns

  1. We have been sent out in the same way by the Lord to prepare the way for His 2nd coming . Prepare men’s hearts to meet the Lord.
  1. Ready for his return. ( Living in the last days )

 

I shared at the Crusade Time Article about the Omnic Card - -

  1. OMNIC CARD - Question WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF MONEY ?

Basically stated that there is no future -

  1. We are moving towards a time when A single electronic card will

replace everything in your wallets - including -your CASH /

    1. your CREDIT CARDS / Your ATM - CARDS/ ID CARDS /

YOUR INSURANCE CARDS/ HOW?

  1. On this card is a little micro chip that has all the info any one would ever need about you -
  1. The article stated that this microchip can be placed onto one of these cards so that is all you will need / all info on your life accessed.
    1. But then the Article added that in the not to distant future the microchip will be implanted under the skin.

 

Amazing since the bible has prophesied that in the last days there will be a one world monetary system put into place

  1. In that system no one would be able to buy or to sell unless they had a mark in their right hand or in their forehead.
  1. Could this little micro Chip implanted under the skin be the mark the Bible was talking about . - Scan your Hand -
    1. I don’t know but definitely getting closer.
  1. I just received an insider article from B of A - Employee news letter -

radical article - about Europe moving to a EURO CURRENCY

The EU ( The European union ) Has officially selected it’s 11 founding nations for economic & monetary union & B of A is poised to play a key role in turning integration into reality for its clients

11 Nations Portugal / Spain / Ireland / Italy / France / Germany / Finland / Austria / Belgium / Netherlands & Luxembourg.

The Article went on to say that A single currency called the Euro will be introduced Jan.1 1999 / National currencies will remain in circulation for 3 more yrs & will be entirely replaced by 2002 when it becomes the only legal tender . Over time the Euro could evolve as a meaningful rival to the U.S. dollar as a global currency.

So Here we see an 11 nation union - moving Europe towards a single currency.

  1. Euro Dollar - woman riding on a beast - dragon
  1. Bible says that in the last days there will be a 10 nation confederacy through which a world leader will emerge / set up a global currency
    1. World military force / world monetary union.
  1. Again - the things I am sharing - merely signify we are moving closer in that direction.
  1. And We have the wonderful Privilege of being our Lord’s representatives living here in these times - Exciting Privilege
    1. PRIVILEDGED CALLING

 

2NDLY PROTECTIVE CALLING

Here is what I find that is interesting - When the leader of a country is about to launch a war against a particular country

  1. What does he do w/ those who are his Ambassadors in that country?
    1. Answer is He gets them out of there ! He brings them home - before

the war is started.

  1. Now we know that the time know as the tribulation is a time where God is pouring out His wrath on a Christ rejecting world
    1. It is a time of 7 yrs where God is going to declare war on the world
  1. Isn’t it only logical that He would call His ambassadors home before the bombing begins
    1. What King would leave His ambassadors stuck in a country He was bombing.
  1. Bible says 1 Thessalonians. 5 that we are not appointed unto wrath - Whole chapter Dealing w/ rapture & 2nd coming.
  1. I believe the scriptures are very clear - God is going to take us out/ before the Tribulation Starts & Everything I have shared is stuff go on in Tribulation.
    1. So the next event on the prophetic calendar - is the RAPTURE of the Church - the stage is set .

Rapture - Called up - meet the Lord in the Air.

Privileged calling / Protective Calling / Also a Productive Calling.

  1. V. 2 Sent them out to Harvest - 2 Then He said to them, "The harvest

truly is great,
  1. Note that He didn’t send them out to sow seeds - no He declared the harvest was great / it was ready for the picking.
  1. I think that we have been wrongly intimidated by the enemy into thinking that people are not interested in coming to Christ.
    1. We can find ourselves duped into thinking that people are not really interested in what we have to say -
  1. JESUS SAID OTHER WISE - Jesus said the HARVEST IS GREAT / it is ready to be harvested . Jesus was saying to them & I believe to us
    1. I want you to look at men like a field of wheat - that is ready to be

picked - or a field of corn - ripe

Joel 3: 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

  1. Man is searching - wandering / & we know What man is searching for we have the answer

A few weeks ago I took a 18 yr. Old neighbor of mine who is an agnostic out for a Coke - & to talk .

  1. Mom showed up at my door asked if I could talk to him.
  1. Enemy was telling me - he is not going to want to talk to you / but not only did he enjoy talking w/ me but he wants to get together again.
  1. Crusade Sat. night w/ Miles amazed - because we had such a great response at the purity conference. Kids making commitments
    1. We had - more kids in the day than we did that night - I thought no one is going to get saved - more did this yr. Than yr. Before

D)Sunday night - low turn out - looked out thought I know most of these

people - I should change my message.

  1. Do a Bible study - even thought about not preaching at all - just have music - GOD SAID YOU PREACH - Gave me a BOLDNESS
    1. Invitation - People came - radically saved - This is radical
  1. Why does that happen ? Setting ? Great music ? I know it has Nothing to do w/ myself or Miles - why?
    1. The Harvest is ripe ! It is ready - Gospel given out simply & clearly no pitch for money - people respond.

 

The Harvest is RIPE & we have been given the great privilege of being harvesters / Productive calling - Harvesters / Privileged Calling

Protective calling / Productive calling / Also Problematic calling

  1. There are also PROBLEMS that accompany the work. PROBLEMS ?
  2. 1st there is the Challenge of the task - again v. 2 the harvest is GREAT but the laborers are few
  1. Someone - once described the Christian Church in this way like a

football game - 22 guys on the field & 40,000 in stand cheering them on

  1. Jesus is painting a similar picture here / of fields that are ripe / massive fields ready to be harvested - but there are only a few guys in the field.
  1. It is not that there are not enough opportunities / the problem is there are not enough workers .

 

What does Jesus tell them to do ? PRAY !!!!

  1. Pray that the Lord would send workers into the Harvest -
  1. Listen you can do more than pray but you cannot do anything until you have prayed .

C) Quote: Prayer is the MOST powerful means of advancing the Kingdom of God WHY? Because it is something that EVERY believer CAN do

Not all of believers have MONEY that they can give to SEND missionaries/ Not all believers have the appropriate calling and gifts

BUT - ALL believers can PRAY for the success of the Gospel

  1. But guess what happens when you pray - often times you are called / notice Jesus said pray in v. 2 & go in v. 3

 

What happens as you get a burden that causes you to begin to pray for your neighborhood / your work place/ some country

A) As you begin to pray God will say - Guess what I’m calling you.

  1. Harvest is great so pray - but don’t be surprised if you end up being called to Go.

So 1st PROBLEM IS THE CHALLENGE - Harvest is great……

  1. 2nd - Problem is you can COUNT ON ATTACK

  1. Notice V.3 / I send you out as lambs among wolves .

  1. Listen when Satan knows that you are serious about - harvesting He will launch a full scale attack against your life.

  1. You can count on it - Satan hates attack on fire Christians - if you want to make a difference in some bodies life for Jesus

  1. Satan is not going to be happy

The Christian life is not a playground; it is a battleground. W. Wiersbe

E) Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the World.

 

Not only Satanic attack but also by the wolves of the world -

  1. Listen there are going to be those who don’t want to have anything

to do w/ you because you become a Christian .

  1. Because of your faith - co- workers might mock you / family members might disown you / friends will abandon you -

1) but Jesus said I will never leave you nor forsake you.

  1. New family friends - great reward - there are things that we might lose in coming to Christ / Living for Christ/ serving Christ

  1. But the blessing that come from serving & the rewards that await us in Heaven far out weigh - anything that we lose here on earth.

  1. Sent them out as lambs - among wolves - count on be ready for opposition

  2. Now I find it interesting that Jesus uses this word picture - Lambs among wolves - think about that - have you ever seen a lamb beat up a wolf.

  1. Used to have a Cat that beat up dogs / but never seen lamb …. Wolf

  1. In fact He didn’t even say - Sheep - sheep are full grown - lambs are babes. ( In other words lambs are even more vulnerable)

  1. What is the Reason for this word picture ?

 

Two things Close - 1st Reminder / - Who is the one that protects the lamb from the Wolves - Answer is it is JESUS the Good shepherd .

  1. Jesus said that I am the good shepherd - …… no one can snatch the sheep out of my hand.

  1. Remembering that we are Lambs reminds us that we are in need of being constantly dependent on our shepherd.

  1. And we need to stay close to our shepherd.

  1. We cannot do anything of any value for the Lord - when we try to do it on our own.

  1. We are sent out as lambs - need to be filled empowered by His spirit to make any impact what so ever.

  1. And the lambs are Only safe when they are near their shepherd - sending

you out but don’t lose sight of me.

1) Keep your eyes on Jesus - / look at yourself/ men/ theology / JESUS

 

2nd Remind us that Jesus doesn’t send us out to be these Militant / arguing / demanding / Pressuring people.

  1. Doesn’t send us out to get into peoples faces & picket peoples houses / not LAMBO -

  2. That is not the way that the world is going to be won. - Lamb speaks of that which is meek -

  1. How is the world won ? See Jesus the Lamb of God reflected in us .

  1. What happened to Him ? He was slaughtered / but because He was slaughtered we have been saved.

  1. People might want to slaughter you & me / Gang up on us / but when they see us responding in meekness & humility / still loving .

  1. Impacted because that is the opposite of what the world does.

I used to work at Alpha Beta - night crew ( rock concert ) Gang up on an Isle - attack .

  1. Made fun at me because I didn’t party / wasn’t having sex w/ my girlfriend

  2. I would just share Christ - ( didn’t need those things ) some of my

co- workers got saved .

  1. Martyrs in Rome - singing - march into Lions den - people joined them.

 

Problems Solved / Look to Christ / Depend upon Christ / Abide in Christ