July 11, 2021
Morning Service

The disciples who accepted Jesus’ invitation to “Follow Me” have seen some pretty amazing things so far.  They have seen Jesus heal the sick, cast out demons, calm the seas, and last week even raise the dead.  This time period in which they are walking with Jesus is a time of preparation for them.  After only a short three-year ministry, Jesus will leave the disciples to spread the gospel message on their own with only the help of the Holy Spirit.  Here is Chapter 10, the Master invests into the students instructing on the challenges that lie ahead.  Though we are not one of the twelve chosen apostles, these instructions can also apply to each one of us along our path of following Jesus.  Notice He does not promise an easy road along with health, wealth, and popularity.  The apostles faithfully fulfilled their journey experiencing all of these things we will talk about today.  Things are changing in the society we live in and I believe these trials are soon coming our way if things continue as they are.  We have lived in a basically persecution free country for a long time, but the winds are changing quickly. Matthew begins this chapter by listing the twelve.

Mat 10:1-4 And when He had called His 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.  (2)  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; (3) Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; (4) Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

 This was the rag tag group of men Jesus was going to trust to carry on for Him upon His departure.  Twelve ordinary men who had their love for Jesus and their desire to follow Him in common.  Each one of these men had their own story and each one had devoted their lives to following their Lord, Savoir and Friend.  All but John were martyred for their faith. Jesus “gave them power” to do the same things that He had been doing.  It is different to be the one watching to now becoming the one doing these miracles.  This is also the purpose of the church’s teachings.  To prepare each one of you to grow in your faith and mature in your walk to the point you can begin to be the “doer and not the watcher.”  Each of you need to find ways to get active in our Fellowship in some capacity to grow even more. A sponge can only hold so much water, but when you squeeze it out, it can then hold even more.  Jesus now begins His teaching.

 

Mat 10:5-8These 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.  (6)  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  (7)  And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'  (8)  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

            This is God’s plan to first go to the children of Israel with the gospel message and then later in the Book of Acts it becomes available to all people beginning with Peter and the household of Cornelius (ch.10).  The message is simple “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” and they are given the ability to perform these miracles to give power to the words.  Jesus tells them to freely give as they had received; a gift from a loving God.

 

Mat 10:9-13 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, (10) nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.  (11)  "Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.  (12)  And when you go into a household, greet it.  (13)  If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.       

For the planners in the group to not take money, clothes or food with them had to be a difficult act.  Jesus was teaching them to trust in the Holy Spirit to provide all they needed in their journey.  That meant relying on other believers to give them a place to stay and feed them along their way.  We are not alone along our journey of following Jesus and those alongside of us are there to help if needed.  Why is it we find it so hard for us to ask others for help?  It is pride mostly.  We don’t want others to know that we have a problem or just don’t want to “bother” someone with our troubles.  But put the shoe on the other foot and we are ready and willing to help others when asked.  We are better together, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it from your church family.  We are eager to “give” but we must also be able to humble ourselves to “receive” blessings from others.  The apostles were instructed to grant peace to those who were “worthy” and remove their peace from those who were “not worthy.”  I believe He was speaking of the attitude of generosity that they displayed.  Did they give willingly and in a loving manner; then they were blessed.  If they gave dutifully with a spiteful manner, then give no blessing to them.  “Mercy is greater than sacrifice” and attitude is everything.  Remember that as you give unto others in need.

 

Mat 10:14-15 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.  (15)  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!

            We are called only to share the message, not to be responsible for others to accept it.  As Dallas Jenkins the writer of the Chosen says, “our job is only to provide the loaves and the fish.”  It is the Holy Spirit that calls others to believe, not the effectiveness of our words or delivery. Jesus told them that if they do not receive the message, then “shake off the dust from your feet” as they leave.  It was a gesture meant to show them that they were making a bad choice in rejecting the message of salvation given to them.  Judgement for the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will fare better at the judgement than these who were exposed to all these miracles and still did not believe.  Jesus now spells out clearly that the path ahead is not one covered with rose petals.

 

Mat 10:16-25 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.  (17)  But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.  (18)  You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.  (19)  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; (20) for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.  (21)  "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.  (22)  And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.  (23)  When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.  (24)  "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.  (25)  It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!

            It is fitting that Jesus calls those who will oppose them “wolves.”  They, as sheep, have no protection from them, except to look to their Good Shepherd for help.  They were to be constantly on guard watching for trouble ahead.  He pulls no punches here as He tells them plainly that they will be scourged, put on trial, hated and persecuted along their future journey.  All this will be done, not because of who they are, but because of Who they are following.  These troubles will come “for My name’s sake;” Jesus told them.  It is a spiritual battle that we are in and the darkness fights against the light.  This is the price He is asking us to be willing to pay in order to be found faithful to the end.  “But he who endures to the end will be saved.”  Endurance to stay faithful even through these trials shows our commitment to follow the One who called us to Him.  He has given us the Holy Spirit to do things beyond our own abilities and each other to help along the way.  Jesus is telling each of us today that we too in some manner will be scourged, put on trial, hated and persecuted in our future journey with Him.  Does that cause you to fear, or does that fire you up to be even more faithful?  Are you in it win it?  OR in it for as long as it does not cost me anything?  Persecution that came upon the early church did not slow down its growth but accelerated it.  Listen to how the apostles reacted to this coming to fruition as the religious leaders had them in custody for questioning.

 

Acts 5:40-42 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  (41)  So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.  (42)  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

            We all need to strive to grow in our faith to be at this point when (not if) persecution comes.  Put Him first in everything in your life and fully trust Him and you will be rewarded with the power to overcome anything that comes against you.

            The road ahead for us church is not an easy one.  I foresee things getting more difficult for us to practice our faith without persecution.  We as a church must be ready and to do that each of us individually need to be ready.  Get into the scriptures, be in prayer, and keep your spiritual eyes wide open as we go forward; be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”

 

Heavenly Father thank You for this call to be ready for lies ahead and thank You that You speak only truth to us.  Empower us to be overcomers and remain faithful until the end.