Always Ready

Jesus said blessed are the persecuted and they are suffering big time right now. This is my believe international in 19-year-old Ari was beaten by her own father and violated by local authorities in order crime was simply that she gave her life to Jesus Christ after leaving radical Islam. They need Bibles in order to endure and persevere and that's why Truth Network and Bible league are teamed up to send God's word to 3500 persecuted believers around the world at five dollars and $500 since 20. Call 800 yes word 800 yes were 800 yes word or give a TruthNetwork.com, this is Hans Schild from the finishing well podcast on finishing well. We help you make godly choices about Medicare long-term care and your money. Your chosen Truth Network podcast starting in just seconds. Enjoy Sharon but most of all, thank you for listening and choosing the truth. Podcast network. This is good Truth Network do you feel like you're on a religious treadmill, you feel like Christianity is just a system of rules and regulations, I can do this but I can't do that.

Do you feel like your efforts to reach God. Find God, and please God do you feel like your faith is dead or alive today.

Pastor Russ Andrews will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose, glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living. For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose could visit us online@findingpurpose.net connect with us on Facebook. Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious oak avocado cannot message always ready we will be looking at Luke chapter 10 verse one through 24/Detective Allen turned her journal or chapter 10 the official Coast Guard not to super power activities means always ready by the hundred years separate parties has been the guiding light for the war. The members of the Coast Guard whose duties often include life-threatening rescues during horrific storms trying to save the lives of those who go down to the sea in ships more than 1/2 a century ago the war spoke about Coast Guard serviceman at the scene of a servlet boat launching and become the unofficial battle cry of Coast Guard Smith to this very day, in the teeth of a Atlantic storm, a large merchant ship founded and was on the verge of sinking a Coast Guard served by was being launched into the surf. In an effort to reach the ship and to rescue the crew and there was a report on the same glass. This particular serviceman who was in charge while they were attempting a mission that seemed almost impossible in the surf and replied they say you must go out and try they don't say anything about coming back.

They say you must go out. They don't say you have to come back. This is the unofficial battle cry of these brave men who dare to go out often at night on rough seas at great personal risk, and this is what they sing as they go will always ready for the call.

We place our trust in the first surf and storm and howling.

Gail, how shall I purpose be separate parties is our God, our fame, glory to to fight to say will fight and die.

I Coast Guard we are for you. I thought about that motto. There's always ready. Think about that that should be the motto of every man who claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ, always ready, always ready to do what first Peter 315 tells us, but in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. As I mentioned last week when you get there. Verse 51 of chapter 9. We reached a turning point in it reset that verse, verse 51 says is the time approach for him to be taken up to heaven this is that Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem so he was headed in Samaria Samara is a region right is north of Judea where Jerusalem is and just south of Galilee. And so he's headed into Samaria and he is telling his disciples that there is a right harvest waiting for them and then handle in the very closing verses of Luke chapter 9, he begins to talk about the high cost of following Jesus about following him and men.

In case you didn't know this, you need to understand that following Jesus is costly if it wasn't everybody would be doing it.

But see, in spite of the Colson Jesus continues to invite invite me to come and follow him.

This is what he is doing in Luke chapter 10. So tonight I want you to say that Jesus is still vying inviting us man to come and follow him and the reason he's doing this is because he wants us to reach out to the world to share the gospel. The question isn't, and I asked a couple guys this at lunch today. Are you ready and are you willing to share the gospel with everyone that you night that's the question what you think about and I know here in Luke 10, you will see the Lord gives a command he gives to warnings and then he gives us a glimpse into his heart so his number one also look at his command. When you choose to follow Jesus.

The first thing you will hear is to command to go and tell others look at verses one through three live rights after this the Lord appointed 72 other men and sent them to back to ahead of him to every town and place where is about to go.

He told them the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Asked the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field and then he says go. I'm sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals, and do not greet anyone on the road and so was it was meant as we have met you before, after spending nearly 3 years in this region known as Galilee, Jesus appointed 72 other men to be disciples and he gave him one command and that command was one simple word. So what did he mean he admitted they were to go out and tell others the good news of the gospel with everyone they encountered in this region that there will headed into Nona Samaria and he wants us to do the same thing man. He didn't want us to keep this treasure to us if he wants to share it with others, and so you willing to do that. I want you to notice two things that Jesus share within the first of all, he said the harvest will be plentiful.

See, Jesus knew that there were man and women and children wedding in Samaria because again is good news of the gospel. What is the good news of the gospel is simply that God you know what his God sent his son into the world on a rescue mission to give us the opportunity to have eternal life and to forgive us of our sins. And if you know Jesus. He has forgiven you of your sense that the question is how can we keep this to ourselves.

This is the greatest news when I get to the end of the night, you will see what the status of great is the greatest news of the world is ever heard.

And people will listen people out there are hungry to hear the message of the gospel that Jesus also said the workers are fee. There are very few followers of Jesus who are ready and willing to share the gospel with others that that let not that the one of us there men and women all around us every day. Steph I was just talk about this. People who need the Lord there there hurting their lost there like sheep without a shepherd and they need to hear this good news why what you think the suicide rate is so high among teenagers. Have you thought about that while the 70 people struggling with anxiety and depression with the reason is because life is hard and so many people have lost hope that they just given up on life and these are the very people meant that Jesus came to say John the you see them all the time. The Raleigh rescue mission people out there that have given up on life there hurting and in this is not just people that are down and out. Even the up and out struggling with life in Matthew 1128 29 Jesus is come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me full and gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.

So if you sit tonight and you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. And you know what it means to have found comfort for your soul.

So why not share this with others. I believe man that the harvest is still plentiful out there, but God needs workers to go and reap the harvest.

Are you ready and are you willing to be one of the nice, don't you notice that Jesus sent them out with a warning. He said I'm sending you out like lambs among wolves wanted to compare them to lambs as a think about a lamp is totally dependent upon the shepherd and that's the way Jesus one of these disciples to be totally dependent upon him. That's why said don't care anything with you. And he also said you don't stop and chat along the way because the mission was urgent. That's why told him not to get involved in idle conversations and I believe there's also a sense of urgency today. The Bible says that now is the day of salvation tomorrow is coming today is the day of salvation.

Tomorrow is not guaranteed.

If you miss several salvation today. You may not get another chance. You believe that again Jesus said I'm sending you out like lambs among wolves. So who are these wolves. Well, they were the religious leaders. The Pharisees and Sadducees who had been questioning Jesus and were already plotting ways to get rid of him.

In Matthew 714, Jesus says, watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves by their fruit you will recognize him we have for about wolves today absolutely. So where we likely to run into wolves will you will run into wolves when you least expect them to be in. Jeff is right, often in churches in divinity schools, and religion departments at major universities.

Just this past Sunday, not Sunday school class.

A lady mentioned a dot about airmen. I'm sure you've heard of him before he's the distinguished Prof. of religion at UNC Chapel Hill and he has stated publicly that is an agnostic, so I question is what is he doing to charge the religion department but he has personally destroyed the faith of countless students who attended his religion courses. In fact I know of some who've been through UNC and it is religion majors and they leave you there little towns in this north Carolina believing and trusting in the Lord and they get to this religion class and also their faith is shattered by this brilliant scholar who is brilliant but not wise. Apparently there are even some churches in Chapel Hill who actually providing counselors on the campus of UNC to counsel the students who've lost their faith is how bad the problem is the houses command to go out like sheep among wolves apply to you and me will. If you choose to follow Jesus. His primary desire. Man is to is that is our mission is to share our faith with others.

We process this treasure knows the gospel more that we have a relationship with God and the gift of eternal life. So how can we keep this treasure to ourselves. USA will rust, brand-new believer and I don't know enough yet to share my faith. I don't feel qualified will listen. Even if you placed your trust in Jesus and he's change the course of your life. You have a personal testimony.

That's all you need, no one can argue with her testimony. Remember, our motto is always ready and we have a very good example in John chapter 4 the woman at the well. You may remember her. She was outside the town of Sarkar when she ran into Jesus and Jesus eventually reveals himself to her as the Messiah and she believes in him and what she doing she's been a Christian for 10 minutes and she goes running back to her town and she tells everyone come and meet the man who told me everything that I ever did. Could this be the Messiah and guess what they did, they all came out to meet this man and minute and believe because of her testimony. You don't have to have a lot of knowledge. All you have to do is say once I was blind and now I see here. Luke 10 Jesus issues a command post to go and tell others. We also he gives it with a warning.

What is a worn look at the Roman to an outline he wants of opposition and rejection. Look at verses five through nine, Luke writes, when you enter a house for say peace to this house. If a man of peace is there, your peaceful rest on you. If not, it will return to you stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. When you enter town in a welcome eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them the kingdom of God is near you, but you when you enter town and are not welcome Joe into its streets and say even than just of your town that sticks to our feet. We wipe off against you get be sure of this, the kingdom of God is near you.

Now the region of Samara was a rural area with a number of small towns and this is where Jesus was headed to guineas headed towards Rosa, but he has to go through Samaria essay since the 72 man ahead of him. He sends an up to about two.

Why did he do that so they would get lonely they would get discouraged. They could encourage each other along the way. But he warned them that there they would be us that some would believe the message and that others would reject it. And by the way, these are the same two response you get a day either acceptance or rejection, but I want you to note this there is no middle ground. If somebody says not interested, they given their rejection. So what do you think Jesus warned them that they would encounter rejection. I believe he want to make sure that they did not get discouraged. It's easy to get discouraged when time after time you share the gospel with someone over and over again for years.

You probably have some of the custom on and yet they refuse to believe after this happened, William Karen William Carey was the first mission or sent to India from anger back in 1793 and I'm sure he arrived on the shores of India. With this great hope and desire that many would come to Christ and yet it was seven long years before he had his first convert.

I would from the tile. After six months. But Jesus told his disciples to be prepared for rejection. But he also wanted to know that it was not the that they were that they were rejecting. Look at verse 16. Jesus, he who listens to you listens to me he rejection you reject me, but he rejects me rejects him who sent me something when you got there to share the gospel and a friend of yours rejects it. He's not rejecting you is rejecting Jesus.

I have a friend that I've known for the four years left share the gospel with him many times that he used to 10 Obama stated that led, but he dropped out and for the most part his company out of his life and how to tell you hurts, but I have to remember that it's not really me is rejecting is rejecting Jesus in his the problem, look at what Jesus says in verses 12 through 15, Jesus issues a very strong warning for someone to hear the gospel over and over and over again and yet rejects it in verse 12, Jesus is I tell you it will be more bearable. On that day for Sodom than for that town well to you course in woe to you, Beth SATA fought the miracles that were performed and you have been performed entire inside and they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes, but it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you and you could partum will you be lifted up to the heavens, no. You go down to Hades.

You may remember that Capernaum was the adopted town of Jesus really got kicked out of his hometown Nazareth and so Capernaum became his hometown and that was where he spent the majority was time for that. Two and half years while he was up in Galilee and while he was in Capernaum. He was preaching he was sharing the truth of the gospel. He was healing the sick. Even though Hebert raised the dead back to life and so those people were given very much light in the Bible says that to whom much is given much is required. So let me ask you, I would be given much light here in America we have churches on every street corner. We have Bibles and Bible studies galore.

We have Christian radio 24 seven and we had the benefit of the greatest evangelists in the history of the world and Billy Graham preaching in in America for 75 years. No one from America will ever be able to stand before God and say what you have a chance.

They guess is the truth of the matter. We know that from other text in the Bible that most people in that rejecting the gospel, but that doesn't mean that the officer stood up plentiful is still plaintiff, a brother, waiting to hear the gospel, but here's what Jesus says in Matthew seven verses 13 and 14 pieces enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But now, but small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.

I've had the privilege of and I don't say this really products is what I've been doing is what God called me today I been laying Bible studies and in Raleigh for cost since I was about 30, I'm getting close to 70 that's almost 40 years, and I've observed this to be true. Most men in Raleigh that I encounter just on interested. They're too busy with other things chasing their career making money… None of those things are bad in and of themselves. You have to make a living and you should work hard, but if you do that to the extent, to the point where you just not interested in anything that has to do with God or particular Jesus. And that's a problem.

They remind me of the rich young ruler in Mark chapter 10. Not wanting to let go of the world and follow Jesus.

However, every now and then one will believe I'm about 10 years ago not share this and never for a friend of mine asked me if I lead a Bible study. My office with about eight of his buddies into those guys were Charles Creighton, Sam Barrow and those guys left to been changed and all their friends know it. And there's nothing that brings more joy than have a friend coming of the Lord you see the light come on in this mind and heart. It just brings you great joy does not. That brings us to our third point when men come to Christ. This brings great joy to Jesus. Look at verses 17 through 2172 returned with joy and said, Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name, verse 18. He replied I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I've given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.

However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. This is at that time Jesus, full of joy is one of the few places in the Bible where it talks about Jesus with his joy is guys picture him laughing with joy laughing. I praise you father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes father. This is what you will place to do, think about many of you in here most of us, we were not wise and learned, but God was please to share the truth of the gospel with men like you and me notice that the disciples are full of joy. What it says here that Jesus they were rejoicing because they been able to cast out demons.

But Jesus says don't rejoice over the over your good works.

The fact that the demon submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Do you know what this means this a book of life is called the Lamb's book of life and is a divine registry of all the names of those who believe in Christ. They were chosen in him before the foundation of the earth, don't you take your bottle with me. I'm going to close with this.

I want you to turn to Revelation chapter 20 with a look at real quick. Marie verse 11 through 15 and by the way, this is the great white throne judgment and that should put fear in you. Although, really, it should because if you are in Christ. You will never stand in the judgment did you hear me clearly this is the judgment of nonbelievers. Do you hear that no believer will stand here except as OSF as a witness. I think we will all observe it, but we will only be of service knows what it says here this is Johnny's amount of Patmos. God is given him a vision of the future and is now sees as a great white throne judgment is coming at the end of the world is.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it best Jesus earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them and also the did great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another but was open, which is the book of what book of life, those first books on the books that record all the words, thoughts and dates of nonbelievers. What happened to our books. Will this was the cross like there they were nailed to the cross. Okay, Romans 81 says therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Another but was in which the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books you want to be judged based on what you've done or based on God's mercy. The sea gave up the dead that when it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that when them and each person was done was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire severity as the book of life, and this explains why Jesus told the 72 to rejoice there. The names are written in heaven.

In the book of life. Jesus, more so than anyone else. Man understands the darkness in the agony that awaits all those who refuse to place the their trust in Jesus Christ and they will spend eternity banished to hell away from God's light and joy in heaven, and peace and how can you imagine hockey describe how wonderful heaven is one of the but as wonderful as heaven is motivated.

Heaven is going to be worse hell is going to be much worse. And that's why Jesus is rejoice that your names are written in the book of life and submit. Let me ask you, do you know the true name is written in the Lamb's book of life. If you're not sure about that. You can see why so important if you want to make sure that your name is written in the Lamb's book of life and place your trust in Jesus. Remember today is the day of salvation. This explains why Jesus was laughing with joy when they 72 returned and they will route and any so the harvest had been harvested. This explains why Jesus wants us to go until others.

There's an urgency in this command like the short people are dying every day in here we stand like those Coast Guard or with a lifesaving gospel message and we need to hit about their battle cry, always be ready submit.

Are you ready are you at the Mott mop prayer and hope is tonight beginning with Russ Andrews listen, I am far from perfect.

If you think I find it easy to go there every day and share the gospel with everyone that I encounter in your long, point my finger it interviewed.

I got three pointer back in the day that we need to get off of our friends take this treasure that we have is life is short and time is urgent, always ready are you ready being a Christian is not about being religious but about having the dynamic alive relationship with Jesus Christ you been listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Sanders glorifying God by helping men and their purpose for living. You can discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources finding purpose.net will connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local men to study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more finding purpose.net. This is the Truth Network