WEBVTT 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:12.800 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:19.120 Good morning, welcome. 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:27.920 Take your Bible with me, please, or your device if you have it, and make your way to the Gospel of Matthew in chapter 10. 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:30.640 Matthew chapter 10. 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:35.439 I need to take every opportunity I can to make fun of Anton. 00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:40.880 Last Sunday he had the audacity to jump ahead of me. 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:54.880 No, we we felt like that was the appropriate move to make because last Sunday was the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, and the next section in Matthew deals with that, and so that was the appropriate thing to do. 00:00:55.039 --> 00:01:02.479 And this morning we're going to then move backwards to the beginning of chapter 10 and pick up that section we skipped over. 00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:09.760 So if you have your Bible again, it's Matthew chapter 10, beginning in verse 1, we'll make our way through verse 15 this morning. 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:14.319 So if you have your Bible open, I'll read that if you'd like to follow along. 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:28.560 It says, And he, that is Jesus, called to him his twelve disciples, and he gave them authority over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal every disease and every affliction. 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:31.599 The names of the twelve apostles are these. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:49.920 First, Simon, who was 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 Thaddeus, then Simon the Canaanean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 00:01:50.239 --> 00:02:08.560 These twelve Jesus sent out, commanding them, go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go, rather, to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and proclaim as you go, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:13.840 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:18.319 You received without paying, give without pay. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:28.240 Acquire no gold, nor silver, nor copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:35.199 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay there until you depart. 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:37.840 As you enter the house, greet it. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:43.919 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:51.439 And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 00:02:51.759 --> 00:03:00.479 Truly I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:01.439 Amen. 00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:06.639 Well, what we have here is leadership development. 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:12.960 This is Jesus training his disciples for the work of ministry. 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:25.039 So we get to see then how the greatest leader, the greatest teacher who has ever walked this earth, trains, prepares his own followers to go out and to do his work. 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:33.680 That's what I'd like to walk through with you this morning as we begin to look at this passage beginning in verse 1. 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:42.639 We have this situation where Jesus takes these 12 men who at this point in time are unknown. 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:44.879 Jesus is popular. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:46.240 Jesus is well known. 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:49.280 His disciples at this point in time, not so much well known. 00:03:49.599 --> 00:03:56.400 In fact, 130 years ago, a man by the name of Alexander Bruce wrote a book entitled The Training of the Twelve. 00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:57.599 Here's what he wrote. 00:03:57.840 --> 00:04:12.639 He said, Here is exhibited to our view the infant church in its cradle, the tiny sources of the river of life, the earliest blossoms of the Christian faith, the humble origin of the mighty empire of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:12.800 --> 00:04:21.439 Then he says, all beginnings are more or less obscure, but none were ever more obscure than those of Christianity. 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:25.759 That's an important point for us to remember as we dive into this. 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:28.720 We are used to thinking about Christianity. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:31.120 We are used to thinking about the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:34.079 We are used to thinking about how all of this began. 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:44.560 But at this point in time, this is a very small group of people in a very small part of the world, relatively unknown, obscure. 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:52.560 And from this small beginning, the world has changed. 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:59.759 It begins in chapter 10 and verse 1 with Jesus sending out his disciples. 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:01.279 Why? 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:03.759 Why does he send them out? 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:05.600 Well, the answer is in our context. 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:08.480 We go back to the end of chapter 9. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:13.920 Jesus had seen the crowds harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:16.399 And so he said to his disciples, Pray. 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:20.800 Pray that the Lord over the harvest would send out laborers into his harvest. 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:23.199 And so apparently the disciples prayed. 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:24.959 So Jesus sent them. 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:27.040 This is an answer to prayer. 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:31.680 Jesus used the prayer of his disciples to send out laborers to send them. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:33.439 So be careful what you pray for. 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:34.160 Right? 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:36.399 Jesus might just answer it. 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:40.639 This is an answer to prayer. 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:50.160 But if we think larger than that, Jesus is sending out shepherds because there are not enough godly shepherds. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:55.600 He's sending out laborers because there are too few laborers. 00:05:55.759 --> 00:05:57.920 You see, the mission is large. 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:04.800 And in his humanity, Jesus does not accomplish all of the humanity or all of the mission. 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:06.560 He uses other people to do that. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:07.920 The mission is large. 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:10.240 He needs more workers. 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:12.319 The mission is short. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:16.399 We don't know exactly when this is in the ministry of Christ. 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:23.759 It's probably between his first and second year of ministry, which means he's probably within about 18 months of dying on the cross. 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:28.959 There's 18 months left to do everything that he needs to do. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:32.160 The mission is short, and the mission is dire. 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:36.240 If you look at verse 15, we begin to see that this pertains to life and death. 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:37.360 This is about judgment. 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:40.720 This is about life and judgment after life. 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:49.680 Jesus is sending out laborers, he's sending out shepherds because the mission is large, it is short, and it is dire. 00:06:49.839 --> 00:06:54.800 And so he sends this group of twelve obscure, unknown men. 00:06:55.439 --> 00:07:02.879 This is the first time in the Gospel of Matthew, and so the New Testament, that all twelve of these men are grouped together. 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:09.360 We've seen some of them here and there at points in the Gospel of Matthew, but this is the first time they are mentioned together. 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:15.040 And if you look closely, you will notice that they're put together in pairs, groups of two. 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:20.800 It's probably because the other Gospels identify Jesus sending them out in pairs. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:22.720 Matthew doesn't tell us that point. 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:25.600 Instead, he just links them together in groups of two. 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:31.040 And they represent the tribes of Israel, the twelve tribes of Israel. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:34.480 They're common men. 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:36.879 They're normal people. 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:41.600 They come from the poor. 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:44.160 They come from the middle class. 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:46.879 They come from the rich. 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:49.360 There are business owners. 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:50.959 There are common laborers. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:54.480 There are government workers, and maybe even one mercenary. 00:07:56.720 --> 00:08:00.399 Origen is a church father writing in the second century. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:04.240 He wrote about the explosion of Christianity. 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:12.319 He said, even the teachers of it themselves neither were men of skill, nor were they numerous. 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:20.399 And yet these words are preached throughout the whole world so that Greeks and barbarians, wise and foolish, adopt the doctrines of the Christian religion. 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:26.160 Jesus is changing the world with these 12 men, and we're seeing the very beginning of it. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:33.600 But if you think about it from a human point of view, this is pretty risky what Jesus is doing. 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:35.679 He's taking a risk. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:49.440 If we were to begin an entirely new movement today with the intention of changing the world, turning the world upside down as it's recorded in the book of Acts. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:51.919 We wouldn't choose these guys. 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:56.480 We would go choose the MBAs from Harvard. 00:08:57.519 --> 00:09:01.279 We would choose the guys that are starting up their businesses in Silicon Valley. 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:04.159 We would choose the movers and the shakers of the world. 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:09.440 These are not movers and shakers unless you're talking about gathering up nets on a boat. 00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:14.960 Not unless you're talking about raiding homes and beating people to pay their taxes. 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:23.440 See, Jesus is choosing common people, everyday people from all classes of society. 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:24.799 He's taking a risk here. 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:28.240 He's taking a risk that these 12 men are going to pan out. 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:29.919 Now he knows one isn't. 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:37.360 But it's also risky because these would become the base, the foundation of the church. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:41.200 And they're just getting started. 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:47.279 They've been following Jesus for maybe 12 months, maybe 18 if we give them a little bit more time. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:56.080 And yet God is taking them and he's empowering them and he's enabling them to do the work that Jesus has been doing. 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:57.440 Look at it in verse 1. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:05.360 He gave them authority over unclean spirits to cast them out, to heal every disease and every affliction. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:08.159 That word authority is important in the Gospel of Matthew. 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:12.240 It goes all the way back to the end of the Sermon on the Mount in chapter 7. 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:15.200 Jesus came down from the mountaintop after teaching the people. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:19.440 And it says the crowds were amazed at his authority. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:38.080 The same authority that healed the lepers, the same authority that gave sight to the blind man, the same authority that raised a girl from the dead, the same authority that amazed crowds with his teaching is now given to these 12 men to go out and dispense God's message to the world. 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:41.759 They are commissioned to carry on the same ministry. 00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:42.799 In fact, they're commanded. 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:48.720 Verse 5, Jesus sent out the 12, instructing or literally commanding them. 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:51.039 You're going. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:56.720 You've had enough of an internship walking with me and watching me and learning from me. 00:10:56.799 --> 00:10:59.039 Now you go out and do it yourself. 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:04.000 That's actually a, I think, a fulfillment of prophecy. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:22.960 If you look back at chapter 4, when Jesus called Peter and Andrew, chapter 4, verse 18, says, While walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers, Simon, who's called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:28.240 And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:33.039 Emphasis on make. 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:41.840 Jesus has been spending time with these 12 individuals, making them into the men that he wants them to be. 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:47.759 Training them, developing them so that they will go out and make a difference. 00:11:48.799 --> 00:12:04.559 And I think that's instructive for us, whether we're talking about our lives as parents, whether we're talking about being leaders in business, or whether it's in the church or in any kind of organization. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:14.159 We want to be developing people, moving them along, growing them so that they can take responsibility, take ownership, so that they can take the lead. 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:18.639 Jesus is giving these 12 men a chance to serve. 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:20.159 He's giving them a chance to lead. 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:22.720 He's giving them a chance to go. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:27.120 First, he called them to come and follow him. 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:29.440 He taught them, he gave them instruction. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:31.360 They observed what he did. 00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:33.840 They assisted him in all of his ministry. 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:36.960 And then comes the go and do likewise. 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:48.559 Jesus is taking these twelve unknown, obscure men, and he's raising them up to become changers of the world. 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:56.559 Do you want to be trained? 00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:59.120 Do you want to be prepared? 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:02.559 Because we want to be a church that does that. 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:11.039 Do you want to be to be raised up to be used by the Lord in whatever way he wants to use you? 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:12.639 We want to help with that. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:14.399 Let's instruct. 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:16.720 Let's give opportunities for observation. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:18.559 Let's encourage people to serve. 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:23.519 Let's empower and enable them to grow in service and leadership and ultimately in going. 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:28.320 Wherever that going might be, it might be across the street, it might be across the world. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:39.600 Jesus is taking the time, he's spending the energy to invest in 12 obscure men, and then he sends them. 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:43.679 But he doesn't send them without instruction. 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:48.000 He, in fact, gives them some parameters, some boundaries. 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:52.240 He limits the instruction. 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:55.919 He does so first by limiting the scope. 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:58.399 He says, go to the house of Israel. 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:04.879 Don't go to the Gentiles, don't go to the Samaritans, stay here in the house of Israel. 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:06.559 That is in Judea. 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:13.679 The ministry areas that Jesus has already gone and stay here. 00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:14.960 He's limiting the scope. 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:16.639 But that's just part of God's plan. 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:18.240 Don't be surprised by that. 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:26.879 You might remember Romans chapter 1, verse 16, that well-known passage where the apostle Paul says about the gospel. 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:28.480 He says, I'm not ashamed of it. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:30.159 I'm not ashamed of the gospel. 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:31.519 Why is he not ashamed? 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:39.679 He says it's the power of God for salvation to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:42.799 That was God's plan to go first to Israel. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:48.559 That's why Jesus said, and in John chapter 1, the word became flesh and he came to his own. 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:50.320 The Jewish people. 00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:52.879 And his own did not receive him. 00:14:55.679 --> 00:15:06.639 We find the reason for that in Romans 15, verses 8 and 9, where God said, He did that in order to confirm the promises given to Israel in the Old Testament. 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:08.879 That's why he did it. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:16.399 In fact, in the New Testament, in Acts 13, verse 46, we find that coming to fruition. 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:24.559 The Apostle Paul and Barnabas were speaking to a group of Jewish people in a synagogue and they were getting heckled for it. 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:34.720 The Apostle Paul said, It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you thrust it aside, we're going to go to those who want to have it. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:37.279 He says, Go, go to Israel. 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:40.240 But specifically, go to the lost sheep. 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:44.720 That ought to take us back to the end of chapter 9. 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:46.960 The sheep without a shepherd. 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:50.879 The disciples had been with Jesus when the crowds gathered. 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:58.320 They ought to have been able to understand what Jesus meant when he said, The sheep, he says, I see them, and they're like sheep without a shepherd. 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:00.559 They're beaten down. 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:07.120 They're like they're harassed by an enemy. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:10.799 They're not led, they're not guided, they're not shepherded. 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:13.279 Go to them, be a shepherd to them. 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:16.960 So Jesus is fulfilling, he's answering the prayer. 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:21.600 Send out laborers to bring in the harvest, send out godly shepherds. 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:24.399 So he's telling his disciples, go, do this. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:31.440 And their going comes with a warning to Israel. 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:32.799 Verse 15. 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:40.799 Listen. 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:48.960 Because yes, Israel's gonna have the attention first, but if they reject it, they're gonna be treated like Gentiles. 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:53.360 So don't get too focused on that. 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:56.480 Instead, focus on who receives the gospel. 00:16:56.639 --> 00:17:00.399 In fact, look over at chapter 11, verse 21. 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:08.880 Jesus began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done because they did not repent. 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:18.559 Woe to you, Korazan, woe to you, Bethseida, for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:24.000 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:26.799 There will be degrees of judgments, friends. 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:35.680 At least in part, based on whether or not you and I or anybody else hears the gospel news and responds to it. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:40.960 Notice the more bearable parts. 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:46.480 Jesus says, listen, you're gonna go out and you're gonna proclaim the good news of the kingdom. 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:50.400 If they don't receive it, they're gonna be judged in that way. 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:53.599 Let's bring that a little bit closer to home. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:18:01.519 The gospel has been proclaimed here in Grand Forks for decades and decades and decades. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:05.359 By church after church after church. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:14.480 Think of all the people who have heard the good news in our community and have not responded. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:25.519 It'll be more bearable on the day of judgment in the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for those who do not respond in faith. 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:28.000 What is our response? 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:29.920 How do we respond to the word of God? 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:36.799 Do we do we open ourselves up to it, to be convicted by it, to be challenged by it, to be changed by it? 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:39.200 There's no excuse. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:47.200 And the more of the word of God that we have, the more responsible we become for responding to it. 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:53.759 Now remember, this sending out of the disciples is still early in Jesus' ministry. 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:57.759 Probably in the first year to year and a half of his ministry. 00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:01.279 So his focus is still on his own, right? 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:03.519 It's on the Jewish people. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:08.480 So being sent out to the nations comes later at the end of the Gospel of Matthew. 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:14.319 But I wonder if there's not a practical element here for leadership development, for growing people. 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:21.759 And that is that being sent to Israel, to the lost sheep of Israel, was preparation for being sent to the nations. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:31.039 That they were sent out first in familiar, more comfortable contexts before being sent out into what was unfamiliar. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:35.359 And that's just the kindness of God at work. 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:41.680 I think too often as churches, we have failed in that when we send people out. 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:54.160 As we send people out without giving them experience in familiar, more comfortable contexts, without training them and raising them up here before they go out into what is unknown to them. 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:57.759 I have personal experience with this. 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:04.640 So I had no escape from it. 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:07.279 It was what I grew up in. 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:15.039 So you might think, okay, I knew what to do going into a local church, but I didn't know what I was doing. 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:25.279 But the Lord was so gracious to me, and that the first church that I pastored when I was 23 years old was a small country church with about 30 to 40 people. 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:28.400 That was a wonderful place to fail. 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:33.119 They loved us, they encouraged us. 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:38.880 It was a great place to learn and to understand what God expects in ministry. 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:44.559 And I can't help but think that that's what Jesus is doing in part here as he trains these disciples. 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:56.799 He's sending them out to a place where they understand, a place where they're comfortable, a place where they can interact and receive encouragement and grace and support along the way before being sent out to the world. 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:01.359 But that's not all that Jesus did. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:05.279 He also limited the purpose of their mission. 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:08.640 He limited the purpose of their mission to one thing. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:10.079 To one thing. 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:11.519 Verse 7. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:15.039 And proclaim as you go. 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:16.880 He said, You're gonna go. 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:25.440 You're going from city to city, you're going from village to village, and as you go, proclaim, saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:27.920 This is exactly what Jesus has done. 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:31.599 He's asking them to do nothing more than what he has already done. 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:33.680 Look back at chapter 4 again. 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:35.279 We've seen this several times. 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:38.079 Chapter 4, verse 17. 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:43.920 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.599 Verse 23. 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:53.839 He went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:58.160 That continues on all the way to the end of chapter 9, verse 35. 00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.759 Jesus went throughout all the cities. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:05.440 In villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel, and healing every disease and every affliction. 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:10.240 Jesus is saying, You've watched me, you've walked with me, now go and do the same thing. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:13.119 I'm giving you the authority, I'm empowering you to do this. 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:15.599 Now go and do everything that you've seen me do. 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:17.839 It's mirroring Christ. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:23.920 That is what disciples do, is they mirror Christ. 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:26.880 They go and do the same thing. 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:31.519 He says, go and declare that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:48.480 This is a particular statement because the tense of the verb here indicates that the action has occurred, that the kingdom of heaven has happened, it's here, it's come, but it has continuing effects, it has following ramifications. 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:55.599 That means that everybody who hears has a responsibility to respond. 00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:04.079 Because something has happened, and it's not just that, oh, it's all contained right here. 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:12.240 No, it's like an atomic explosion that has radiation effects that continue on. 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:14.480 This is just in a good way. 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:21.839 Jesus says, go and proclaim the primary ministry, is the ministry of the Word of God. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:24.720 He didn't say go out and make friends. 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:32.880 He didn't go out and say, He didn't say to them, go and as you go, make sure that you take the time to develop relationships. 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:40.319 He didn't say, go out and make sure that you understand the culture and learn the culture so that you can identify with the culture. 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:44.559 He said, no, go out and proclaim. 00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:48.960 The kingdom has come, and the king is here. 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:55.200 The ministry is all about the ministry of proclaiming that good news. 00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:58.799 Now you might argue with me and say, well, preacher, look at verse 8. 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:00.960 That's not all he says. 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:06.319 He also gives other commands: heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.519 What about that? 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.680 What about that? 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:19.519 The miracles are intended to confirm the message that's proclaimed. 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:23.839 Those aren't different ministries. 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:27.599 Those are there to confirm the primary ministry. 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:31.039 Let me show you what I mean in Mark chapter 16 and verse 20. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:39.119 It says, and they went out and they proclaimed everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message. 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:39.759 How? 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:42.160 By accompanying signs. 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:52.880 And he confirmed that word. 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:55.519 He confirmed that he was authorizing it. 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:59.599 He confirmed that he empowered it by the signs. 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:10.640 You can also look at Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 4, where it says, God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles. 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:19.759 God himself became a testifier in the miracles, to confirm the authority and the basis of the message. 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:28.960 See, these miracles of healing and of cleansing lepers and of raising the dead, they're more than just acts of kindness. 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:31.839 They're more than just acts of mercy. 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:38.160 They're there to prove the message authentic. 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:46.319 So then the next objection might be: well, why aren't we healing? 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:49.039 Why aren't we raising the dead? 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:51.279 Why aren't we cleansing lepers? 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:57.200 Well, the answer is that we have enough confirmation already. 00:25:58.720 --> 00:26:03.680 You doubt that, you can look at 2 Peter chapter 1. 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:17.359 Peter was describing here a miraculous experience that he had along with two other disciples, where he and two other disciples were up on top of a mountaintop and they saw Jesus transfigured before them. 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:19.039 He was changed. 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:30.079 He was changed as though every human aspect of him was gone, and all that was left was the divine being of Jesus, the eternal Christ. 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:36.799 As if they were seeing Jesus as Isaiah saw him in Isaiah 6, high and lifted up. 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:43.279 That gives support to a message. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:46.079 But listen to what Peter says. 00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:49.680 We have something more sure than that. 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:57.039 The prophetic word to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place. 00:26:57.279 --> 00:27:02.559 He says, listen, this word that we now have in our hands is confirmed already. 00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:06.240 Look to it. 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:09.759 God has spoken through his son. 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.799 He's confirmed it. 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:12.000 He's recorded it. 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:15.519 The same kind of confirmation isn't needed today. 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:19.359 Instead, he says, go out and proclaim. 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:23.440 Proclaim the good news of Christ. 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:26.319 This is hugely important today, folks. 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:31.519 We have all kinds of mercy ministry organizations. 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:33.680 We have all kinds of mission organizations. 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:40.640 We have missionaries buying into trends that minimize the proclamation of the Word of God. 00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:58.240 They are squashing it and replacing it with things that the culture is trying to sell us, like a social gospel, elevating social justice over biblical justice, elevating other elements of society to push Scripture out. 00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:03.279 Jesus says, go. 00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:07.759 As you're going, speak. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:10.880 Speak. 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:16.160 And as Anton laid out for us so clearly last time, speaking gets you in trouble. 00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:24.559 If you open your mouth about the gospel, if you open your mouth about the word of God, it is going to be so antithetical to our world system. 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:33.680 It's going to be anti-culture, it's going to be anti-society, it's going to be anti-country, that you're going to get yourself in hot water. 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:40.400 Encourage you to listen to last week's recording if you missed that. 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:44.319 Beloved, churches are no different. 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:57.119 Yeah, churches have become so self-focused that they have forgotten the word of God. 00:28:57.759 --> 00:29:02.720 And it's being pushed aside and replaced with something that's more comfortable. 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:10.000 So as we prepare men and women, we must prepare them for the work of God, for the ministry of God with the Word of God. 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:17.119 Jesus also gave limitations to their mission. 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:20.400 He gave limits to their mission. 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:27.680 You can see this in the next section where he tells them, you know, don't worry about packing a bag. 00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:29.599 Don't pack a suitcase. 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:40.799 There we go. 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:42.400 Limited the provisions for the mission. 00:29:42.640 --> 00:29:44.480 So don't pack a bag. 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:49.839 Don't go to the bank and make sure that you got enough money for the trip. 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.920 Just go. 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:54.240 Just go. 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:59.359 Remember, this is in a day and age where there weren't ATMs at every corner. 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:06.079 It says, go and trust me that I'm going to provide for you through the people that you meet. 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:10.960 Trust that Christ is going to meet your needs. 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:12.880 Maybe there's some practical implications. 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:13.759 We don't know. 00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:17.039 Maybe he's thinking about the speed with which they can travel. 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:18.240 Maybe it's about safety. 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:19.839 We don't know those things. 00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:27.759 What we do know is that Jesus most likely wanted them to be different than everybody else that went. 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:44.960 Because at this time in history, there were false teachers, there were false prophets, there were swindlers of all kinds going through communities, making themselves seem important, seem significant, and all they were doing was robbing from the sheep. 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:48.400 They were abusing the sheep. 00:30:49.759 --> 00:31:00.799 We have some very clear proof of that from the very first Christian catechism, you might say, written about 40 to 50 years after the book of Matthew. 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:03.759 It's called the Didic, the instruction. 00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:12.160 And it in this section that describes when teachers come to different locations and different churches, here's what it says. 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:17.839 Therefore, whoever comes and teaches you all these things that have been said before, receive him. 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:26.640 But if the teacher himself turns and teaches another doctrine to the destruction of this, do not listen to him. 00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:32.960 If he teaches to increase righteousness and knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord. 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:44.240 But then it says this let every apostle that comes to you be received as the Lord. 00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:48.240 But he shall not remain except one day. 00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:52.960 If there's need, he can stay a second day. 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:57.200 But if he stays a third day, he's a false prophet. 00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:00.720 He's a false prophet. 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:02.319 It goes further than that. 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:07.039 When the apostle goes away, let him take nothing with him but bread for his journey. 00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:11.279 But if he asks for money, he's a false prophet. 00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:16.799 Now that's 40 to 50 years after this, so it's already going on. 00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:22.000 Matthew's writing to his churches to say, listen, you understand this, you know this. 00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:25.359 Jesus told us, trust in him, depend in him. 00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:29.279 Now, that was specific for this mission. 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:39.680 Later, the apostle Paul would affirm earning pastors, teachers, apostles earning their money through the proclamation of the gospel. 00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:40.960 That's 1 Corinthians 9. 00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:42.079 You can look at that. 00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:44.799 But at this point in time, this is instructive. 00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:50.960 Jesus wants his followers, he wants his disciples to know that God pays for what he orders. 00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:58.799 If he's going to send you out, if he's going to call you to do something for him, he's going to give you everything you need to get that accomplished. 00:32:58.880 --> 00:33:04.400 It may not be everything that you think you need, but it's going to be everything that you need. 00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:14.240 Now we're not as bold in our cultures today of walking up to somebody's home and knocking on the door and saying, hey, can I stay here for three days? 00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:16.160 And will you feed me? 00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:20.720 But that was very common in that day and age. 00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:26.240 In fact, the the guests were guests of literal honor. 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:30.240 We have to wrap this up. 00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:32.799 Jesus also defined the results. 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:39.759 He said, as you go, there's going to be blessing and there's going to be cursing. 00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:44.480 See, Jesus knows what he's sending them into. 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:51.440 He knows because he's received the same reactions himself. 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:56.799 Their mission was singular, to proclaim the good news of the kingdom. 00:33:56.880 --> 00:33:58.799 And compromise wasn't allowed. 00:33:59.119 --> 00:34:03.519 If they spoke, they would receive consequences, positive or negative. 00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:06.400 He says, go out and speak. 00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:09.679 This is not about building relationships, it's about proclaiming. 00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:13.280 And the response to the proclamation determines eternity. 00:34:15.760 --> 00:34:20.159 Building relationships with people isn't necessarily the catalyst to faith. 00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:23.199 The catalyst to faith is the word of God proclaimed. 00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:26.320 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. 00:34:27.199 --> 00:34:32.079 Success in the ministry is not defined by the number of connections that they made. 00:34:32.239 --> 00:34:34.559 It's not by building your leadership connections. 00:34:34.719 --> 00:34:36.559 It's not by building relationships. 00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:41.360 It's defined by the proclamation of the word that brings faith by hearing. 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:46.719 And Jesus says, blessing and cursing is going to come as a result of it. 00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:54.159