Transcript

Definites To Define A Disciple-Part One

Matthew 10:5-23
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Pastor Randy Smith

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A few weeks ago I shared with you some of my recent concerns pertaining to the struggles with my lower back. My body is fairly banged-up from decades contact athletics, but as I affirm with many of you, nothing has been more difficult than back problems.

Specifically for me, potentially more agonizing than the physical discomfort is the emotional pain of not receiving any clear answers. For every thirty well-meaning people I have spoken to I have received forty different solutions. And the doctors, well, let's just say they have been even less definite. All of them believe the problem is different and none of them will guarantee a specific treatment will remedy the situation.

About the only thing that feels good is when I lay on my back have each child grab a limp and stretch me out in both directions. Last week I was toying with the idea of building a decompression machine for myself (kind of like an old fashioned rack from the torture chambers) and Julie was totally convinced that I had officially lost my mind!

It's difficult when you have something this serious and you find yourself groping for answers because you are unable to glean any clear direction.

Well, physical ailments are one thing, but nothing is more serious than our relationship with the living God. Spiritual ailments in that one and you will find yourself in a whole lot of trouble. It is essential that we get it right, but how can we possibly know what is right?

It can't be based on feelings or popular opinion. And unfortunately it can't be based on observing other churches. It seems everybody has a different message and different method and a different expectation. So should we assume that God approves of serving Him in different ways? Should we assume that it is so confusing we just need to do our best and hope we occasionally hit the mark? Should we assume that God would not give His children clear directions?

For the past two weeks we studied the twelve apostles. Jesus selected these men to learn from Him in order to carry His message to other outermost parts of the world. But in-between the choosing and the ultimate sending at Pentecost they would spend months in the school of Jesus' discipleship. This would be a time of preparation. And one element of that preparation would be a few short-term mission trips. But just prior to sending them out on their first tour, Jesus taught them specifics about their duties. In verse 5 the Bible says, "These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them." Jesus wanted them to understand that they had clear responsibilities.

Our section of Scripture this morning pertains directly to the original disciples. Yet what we see here can in many ways also pertain to our roles as well. As I mentioned last week, Jesus is still calling disciples like you and I to Himself and still sending them out to build His kingdom. So in the span of two sermons I wish to present to you six definites of a true and effective disciple; six principles that are clear and necessary to our calling as Christians.

1. A DEFINITE TARGET

Let's begin with the first principle which I am calling, "A Definite Target."

When Jesus sent out the twelve on this training mission He said to them in verses 5 and 6, "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Now we may seem a bit uncomfortable with these words especially as we are a church, to the best of my understanding, comprised entirely of Gentiles. Rest assured, Jesus died for all people groups in the world and came to be a "light of revelation to the Gentiles" too (Lk. 2:32). Yet here He provided a definite target for His disciples for a definite purpose. They were to target the Jews in Galilee. Why?

First of all the Gospel is always to the Jew first. We see that in the ministry of Jesus in the Gospels (Mt. 15:24; Mk. 7:27) and in the ministry of Paul in Acts (Ac. 13:5, 22-28, cf. Rom. 1:16). Second, the twelve were not equipped to take the gospel to the Gentiles. Even in Acts it took severe persecution to scatter them among the heathen nations. It is clear from this text that the disciples were given a specific target audience and that target audience was the Jews in Galilee.

That target eventually changed, but the apostles always had a target. Church history tells us that after our Lord's resurrection they all went in different directions with the gospel. Each was given a vision for a different location. Even Paul was a "missionary to the Gentiles" (Ac. 13:46; Rom. 1:5; Gal. 1:16) and a calling to "preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that [he] would not build on another man's foundation" (Rom. 15:20). Again, a specific calling with a specific target. I think of the great missionary, John Knox, who said, "Give me Scotland or I die!"

We too need a definite target from the Lord.

I am afraid the majority of American Christians are wandering around without any direction. Few seem to have any purpose or precision dabbling in a lot of stuff and accomplishing very little - a mile wide and an inch deep. I am not surprised methods seem so unorganized, people seem so frustrated and the gospel seems to rarely gain a foothold. If we are to make any deep and lasting impact we must aim our primary forces at a specific target. So what is our target? As I shared with you pertaining to the new building I believe our target is reaching Central Jersey for Christ.

On a given month I receive dozens of requests to financially support worthwhile ministries. And while Julie and I do on occasions send some money, the overwhelming majority of the funds we give to the Lord are dedicated to the work of the Grace Tabernacle. This is our Jerusalem. This is our frontier mission field. And apart from all of us channeling our prayers and resources and service, we will not make any significant impact in the geographical location where God has providentially planted us.

I got excited when Sergio told me he taught the teens this week about the nine-millionth chapter in Acts. It's not that the man is adding inspired literature to the 28 chapters we presently have in our Bible. His point was simply that the book of Acts is still being written in the annals of heaven. And when it's all said and done what will the records say about what we accomplished in our own backyard?

No target means no impact!

2. A DEFINITE MESSAGE

In addition to a definite target we also need a definite message.

This one is even less subjective. All Christians regardless of where they are laboring are to be proclaiming the same message. The divine message given to the apostles is the same one given to us today. As Jesus said in verse 7, "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"

We are to be declaring that God has made a specific way for us to enter His kingdom. Once estranged because of our sins, God is now accepting people who enter on His terms. Those terms are commonly called the gospel. And the core message of the gospel is the concept of repentance. We enter God's kingdom through repentance, a steadfast faith in Christ that gives us the passion to obey His Word.

The testimony throughout Scripture is unmistakably clear: John the Baptist: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Mt. 3:2). Jesus Christ: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Mt. 4:17). The parallel verse of our account in Mark says the twelve, "Went out and preached that men should repent" (Mk. 6:12). Paul's message to the Gentiles: "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent" (Ac. 17:30).

It's as clear as the day, but you would be surprised how many gospel presentations I hear and how many tracts I read that never even use the word or discuss the concept. God's message is not a wax nose that we can bend and shape to our own fancy. Entrance to the kingdom hangs in the balance as to whether or not we get the message correct in our sharing, but moreover in our personal belief.

And as we consider the definite message, we must remember that our calling as a church is to be centered on that message, the gospel. There are many good causes out there but our primary mandate is to be sure we prioritize the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1). It's not politics. It's not human rights. It's not creating a moral nation. It's not the environment. It's not psychology. It's not even the sanctity of marriage or the rights of the unborn as crucial as both of those causes are (by the way, that's why I am excited about the good work being accomplished at Solutions Pregnancy Center because they integrate their efforts with the gospel). We are called by God to tell people by our words and actions Matthew 10:7: "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." Read the New Testament, that is where all the apostles devoted their energy.

Please do not misunderstand. There is a valid place for all these issues that concern all of us (Mt. 5:13-14). I am only saying that we must be careful not to get pulled in a thousand directions whereby we lose the message that defines us as a church. Many have gone down those roads and Satan would desire nothing more.

3. A DEFINITE ATTITUDE

Third, Jesus left with the apostles a definite attitude. In verse 8 He said, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons."

As it is also spoken of in verse 1, these acts were limited to the original apostles and their close associates. As 2 Corinthians 12:12 teaches, they were "the signs of a true apostle." As the Lord performed these feats they did as well to confirm that their message was truly of God. Why would the world believe the Man from Nazareth who rejected the religious thought of the day really be the Messiah?

Does God still perform miracles today? Absolutely! But we see a clear cycle in Scripture when He chooses to do them through specific individuals. It always happens during periods of biblical revelation: Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha and Jesus and the apostles. As we see in our case these signs and wonders gave the apostles credentials to validate their message as God's emissaries before the New Testament was composed and then validate them as authorized writers of inspired Scripture.

Any of you raise the dead lately?

So is there any application in there for us? I believe there is as the heart behind the miracles represents a specific attitude for us. We are living testimonies for the gospel (2 Cor. 3:2-3). The way we act will either discredit or adorn our message (Tit. 2:10). The way we act will also give evidence that we truly have accepted the message ourselves (Mt. 5:16). In other words, there is a definite attitude expected from among all Christ's followers. We see this attitude in the DNA of the miracles.

When I look at the nature of the miracles they all demonstrated compassion and power.

Compassion: I suppose Jesus could have had the disciples do all kinds of miraculous feats to validate their credentials. Yet He didn't make their skin turn purple or levitate them twenty feet above the ground. He had them perform acts of compassion: helping the sick, cleansing the defiled, purifying the possessed. Does an unbelieving world see this attitude of compassion in us?

Also implicit in these miracles was acts of power. Again, does the world see the power of the gospel in us? Can we rejoice in the Lord always (Phil. 4:4)? Can we say, "I'll follow You Jesus even when You don't give me what I want?" Can we overcome sin in our lives (1 Cor. 10:13)? Can we believe with Paul that "Power is perfected in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9)? Can we be content (Heb. 13:5)? Can we raise over a million dollars during these difficult times without any gimmicks (2 Cor. 8:1-5)? Beloved, to display these traits is gospel power!

Jesus also said in verse 8, "Freely you received, freely give."

Here is another clear attitude for all disciples. All that we have, we have received from God. None of it belongs to us. All of it belongs to Him. True believers understand they are accountable as to how they use their gifts and talents and time and finances. We have freely received so much not to be cul-de-sacs. We have freely received to freely give as conduits of God's grace. That which was expected from the original twelve is expected from us today. You have freely received, freely give!

4. A DEFINITE FAITH

A definite target, a definite message, a definite attitude and fourth, we are to have a definite faith. Look with me at verses 9 and 10. Jesus said, "Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support."

First Corinthians 9:14, "The Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel" (cf. 1 Tim. 5:17-18). God has decreed it in such a way that His servants have their needs met through the people they minister among. Not paid to do ministry, but freed up from a second job so they can devote themselves fully to the ministry. Now this sounds like a great situation, but it also takes a lot of faith when you are called to a specific people and you need to depend on God moving those people to provide.

Jesus wanted the apostles to trust His provisions in this area. Imagine yourself in the same situation. Being sent on a short-term mission trip and subsequently told you can't bring any money or anything beyond the clothes on your back! Wow, when I went to Armenia I had a whole bag of American food to prevent me from getting deadly sick like I did on the first visit! This situation was unique to the apostles. Jesus wanted to teach them a lesson. Jesus wanted to test their faith.

Yet when all of us minister (and all of us should have a specific ministry) we too need to trust the Lord. Does He recognize my service when no one else seems to appreciate me? Will He give me the words and courage when I am scared to death to speak publicly? Will He give me the strength to serve effectively in this ministry when I am trying to balance a full-time job, a house and three children? Will he use my service to bear fruit even when it appears I am making little impact? There is no doubt that all Christian servants need a definite faith.

As the Lord permits, we will continue this sermon the next time we are here together. But in closing we need to remember that in this age of mass confusion our Lord has not left us without clear direction. He has given us a definite target and a definite message and a definite attitude and a definite faith.

Just as Jesus instructed the apostles He instructs us. We too are under a divine orders and are obligated obey Him with all of our heart. And then He through us, when we do things His way, faithfully builds His kingdom. Can we ask for a clearer commission? Can we desire a more fulfilling mission?