A Checklist While Serving the King

No water down the message don't dilute the gospel. We got to get over this infatuation that our culture needs to appreciate the comfortable with, so I don't want to be too large for the Gospels were just gonna explain the benefits no.

How do we tell our world as we deliver the true gospel that part of it involves the message of the king is to reject the king and that invites coming judgment will come to wisdom for the hearts the great commission is more than just an abstract concept.

It's a practical command for us to obey today, but does the idea of preaching the gospel and witnessing to others sometimes seem too daunting for you to do the disciples felt the same way after teaching them for two years. Jesus sent them out to do the work of the kingdom. But Jesus didn't leave them or us unprepared. He gave a practical checklist to use as we make disciples. This message is called a checklist while serving were arriving today and the study of the gospel by Luke. It's a brand-new phase in the ministry of Christ. He begins his third year. By the way things were dictate that in your mind there is this particularly significant moment when you arrive at the ninth chapter of Luke where this new phase begins where the disciples are given their first assignment, though you're turning the Luke chapter 9 of Matthew's gospel adds that they were directed in this first trip to the house of Israel.

This is all along according to God's plan that they will first of all, be delivered the news that their king is arrive the nation will reject this legitimate offer of the king, then ultimately the commission will go to all the nations of the world, not to this point disciples of been in the classroom. They been listening to the Lord teach that they been in and in the observation room. They been watching the Lord Minister now the Lord is about to send them out and is going to send them Mark's gospel tells us to buy to let six teams are going to be going on what we would call her out here in our church a global impact trip that this is going to be a regional trip more than likely lasting summer between 4 to 6 weeks.

The narrative just sort of gives you the sense that there is urgency here. So let's go and notice verse one then he called the 12 together seem like there's a lot of notice here, gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases and that he sent them out now before he sends them out. Sure, their hands are raised they got some questions and so he essentially gives them what I want to sort of break out of the checklist for those who are representing the King there are immediate implications. There are ongoing implications to you and me as we represent our king and I broken the narrative down to seven points on a checklist that have immediate bearing on them and in a way on us. The first one is this number one of the checklist.

Don't forget you are helpless on your own if you go back to verse want to get is obvious that there given everything they need, but the sources outside themselves.

It's Jesus. He grants them you notice authority. These are his messianic credentials representing the king to give you authority to do what I ask you to do it to somebody you believe you well.

I'm going to give you power as well.

He says here to command the demons to heal the sick, essentially to reverse the curse which is a foretaste of the kingdom to come, authority and power will validate their message. It will validate authenticate these messengers that they are truly messengers of the king want you to know that there's the implication here, and I'm sure that they didn't miss it. Initially I think they miss it later talk about that in a moment Jesus is essentially saying without me you can do nothing. Delegate to you authority and power to fulfill this mission by the way, that's wonderful reminder to you and me today. As we live for him. Everything you need to run your race has been given to you through Christ, your source number two on the checklist would be this. Don't try to be original and I will stick to the script. Here it is.

Verse two and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God, you might notice down in verse six were told they departed and went through the villages preaching the gospel, proclaiming the kingdom of God is preaching the gospel. That was the script the king arrived what you know surrender lay down your arms. You know, to the authority of this King and the disciples are really coming up with a message are they, these original apostolic messengers were never original effect. The word proclaim here in verse two is a word that refers to I Harold this would take us back. Even early American days certainly to these ancient days where I Harold would appear and write in this village square, and they would take that scrawl and they would unroll it and they would read the message from the king that was there script so to speak. So the disciples or centerstage there in the spotlight but don't forget them and for us today, faithful teachers, faithful preachers, faithful Bible study leaders, faithful disciple others do not have an original message all your doing for brief period of time is getting in the spotlight and reading the message of the king third.

Don't depend on what you can pack. Notice the next verse, verse three and he said to them, take nothing for your journey, no staff nor bag bread, nor money, do not have to tunics. I think I hear Nathaniel saying a lot of in the back of the room. I don't think I heard you quite correctly did you say take nothing up.

Sure you didn't need that, yes, take nothing for your journey, and since nothing needs definition, the Lord breaks it down for that. Don't take the staff an extra step one used as they often were for protection. Don't take it back. The word used for bag was used by beggars for soliciting funds to go around begging him to take care of you could refers is translated later in Luke's gospel knapsack, so it is that you could think about it you don't, you get to go that don't even take carry-on goes on to tell them don't pack any food or bread. Don't take any money don't take an extra tunic which effectively means don't take a change of clothing which Jesus is doing here is telling them to travel light and depend entirely upon God.

You see this 4 to 6 week trip is going to be that an exercise of faith and he wants them to learn early on this invaluable lesson that God's commission always includes God's provision.

It might come at the last moment for the dogs. God will not send you and then abandon you. Don't misunderstand Jesus is suggesting here that you you're not the plan. Anything just go out there and wing it. Somebody say that later on chapter 22 even changes of the guidelines he allows them to take a stab, he allows them to take the money back. He allows them to take money and food and even a sword for protection, but here on this initial road trip. The Lord wants to press on them. The sense of urgency he got to go guys. It's as if the mission can't wait. There's also the sense of dependency. He's teaching you can't prepare ahead well enough you can't prepare for every contingency.

You're going to run into every encounter. So this time out. I just want you to know that entirely on me every every trip Jan, this is going to get a little easier later on in Luke's gospel chapter 22 the Lord refers back to district and he says to them, do you remember what I sent you out without any money or knapsack or staff did you lack anything and they responded nothing Lord we lack anything they never got over never forgot that the Lord is another item to the checklist open at this. What don't become a snob. There is in verse four whatever house you enter, stay there and from there to part is you can stay there.

Unity involved in the village and when you eventually leave leave from the same home you enter now. Matthew's gospel gives us a little clarification in chapter 10 verse 11 whatever town or village you enter find out it was worthy in it and stay there until you depart the idea of someone worthy someone who is receive the message of the king. They believed the following now the Lord Jesus. If somebody that believes your preaching or your teaching and they they believe the gospel by faith and they invite you to stay in their home accept their invitation, but here's the caution. There will be others who believe in that village. Perhaps I need to be tempted because somebody might have a nicer home you live in this first I'll be sleeping on the floor and they got a guestroom. Maybe air-conditioning maybe a hot dog by I don't know.

It's just going to be, you know Lord's leading me over there.

Don't do that, or the village chef did say even in the home.

The same food every night. That's all they can afford you the lot. Praise God for that shaft, sensing the Lord's leading don't do it. Remember, the disciples were allowed to pack any food. So this principle here is going to be ongoing. The Lord's provision comes through the Lord's people. The principal exists today. We as a body of believers are funding the work of the Lord and into this church, and certainly were supporting other ministries along the way. Growing up in a missionary and I've often share with you is a good education for me as I looked at this again because we would be visiting supporters in Iowa and Illinois and Minnesota because my father came from the North and we would pull into a driveway. I've told you before, my mother would always look back at the four boys and she's in the boys remember where he leads me I will follow what he feeds me.

I will swallow. I never like that poem. That's the principle be careful. Don't use people don't go after perks don't use them as steppingstone for your own comfort staying in that first house. If you leave you to develop a reputation as snow.

Your justice careful checklist number five. Don't expect a standing ovation from everyone. Verse five and wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.

In other words, get ready for trouble. Be prepared for trouble you get all right village of that one person can believe not one person's going to invite you all. Not one person can offer you any food you're hungry and tired and they don't accept the message that the king has arrived they they want you out there that want to leave to shake the dust off your sandals.

This is a formal act going back to these ancient days of separation. We don't even want the dust from your village clinging to us because you're heading for judgment. We want nothing of we be willing to deliver that kind of terrifying message to our community. I think it's interesting the Lord doesn't say after that. Now you don't think that they send you way it may be because you know you you may be presold to harder meet and explain all the benefits of the kingdom. He should have done a better sales job or maybe one positive Jesus is preparing them ahead of time. Some villages will invite you home to dinner. Some villages will want you to leave town and when that happens, don't water down the message don't dilute the gospel. We gotta get over this infatuation that our culture needs to appreciate be comfortable with us so I don't want to be too hard for the Gospels were just going to explain the benefits of the gospel. No, how do we tell our world as we deliver the true gospel that part of it involves to reject the message of the king is to reject the king and that invites the coming judgment of the king you deliver the gospel at some point, you can expect that a standing ovation everywhere you go. JC Ryle adds this encouraging perspective from this text from the Lord's direction. He wrote this more than 100 years ago. His notes on the gospel of Luke, all ministers, missionaries, visitation workers, Sunday school teachers would do well delay the Lord's instructions. Your heart but them not be cast down of their work seems in vain. But them. Remember that the very first preachers of Jesus commissioned were given a distinct warning that not all believe. So let us work patiently and so the sea without fainting duties are ours results are God's. What happens when the results are wonderful.

He wants to prepare them for that as well and I find this in this narrative as it relates to hear what you do notice numbers for seven now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening to get that with the disciples are doing is make is making headlines.

The headlines of reached into that fortress where here is vacationing. Luke says that he was perplexed because it was said by some to Johnny been raised from the dead by some, that Elijah had appeared by others in one of the prophets of old and risen parents that John and I beheaded John the Baptist but who is this about whom I hear such things the Lord was the king and what is hearing about the representatives of the king you are supernaturally and down seeing this.

He was excited. He wanted to see a miracle so it does and he sought to see him literally seeking to see him means he is making repeated attempts repeated invitations. He wants the disciples the, bring the Lord wittily wants to arrange a meeting. He wants to see Americo back later on I was gospel. He finally has a as an encounter with the Lord Jesus at the trial in.

He's excited he wanted to see because he wanted to see a miracle.

And it's interesting that Jesus never said one word to Herod, but I want to see this rolled out the red carpet for the 12 beautiful Ludlow had a private showing of their miraculous power and can you imagine just getting kicked out of the village. Now you're invited to the palatable.good or what I would been a distraction to go to the palace doesn't were the Lord was sending slip into their sandals for a moment would be like if God gave you the ability for six weeks to heal every sick person you came in contact with command every demon with a word every demonized person is set free. Every person you meet with cancer is immediately healed the lame walk. When you touch them. The blind see you. The first person they see how grateful they are you matching the frenzy. Can you imagine the crowd.

Imagine the news reports mean this is heady stuff in there looking at you. This is dangerous stuff and they will fail in that regard. In a few months or give me arguing among themselves who is the greatest among us from this trip. Did you know what I did in that village high-yield free wrappers and what our involvement is not that I had for breakfast thousands, preacher, I will get believe the number of people that believe why Mary gave me a key to the city. The great dangerous. There is within us off the road and idle making machine and success can be as dangerous is suffer Jesus is preparing for both. Who's the greatest they forgot their helpless without there can be nothing more dangerous, and it resides in our hearts them the desire to be somebody. This final point in the checklist is vitally important than number seven.

Don't forget to tell Jesus about everything that happens here at the end of their first trip verse 10 on the return, the apostles told them all they had done and he took them and withdrew a part to a town called Beth site come back excited. Jesus wisely and and graciously takes them aside for some rest. Debriefing each team of disciples had no doubt experienced different things.

Some had more exciting results than others.

Some had more conversion stories that up so that more dramatic healing encounters than others.

Some inexperienced more rejection than others. Some were hungry others will fit kind of the Lord here. Don't forget a beloved Jesus already knew all the details of every experience in the invites them aside so that they can tell them everything that happened. Which by the way, gives the Lord an opportunity then to teach them to talk about responding to encourage them to affirm them to correct them to prepare them just a little bit more for next to their timeless truth is bound up in this opening scene where they step out on stage and represent the king like you and I today. Don't forget you are helpless on your own.

You can't do this, apart from the source, who is the Lord, don't try to be original stick with the script. The gospel don't don't depend on what you can pack. Travel light. Trust the Lord don't become a snob. People are objects to be used. Don't expect a standing ovation everywhere you go. Be prepared for trouble. Be prepared to be rejected and appreciated. Don't get distracted by success. Don't let it go to your head. Remember number one helpless without lastly, don't forget to tell Jesus everything. Imagine he wants you to tell everything father, thank you for the record of Scripture and the sweet Lord whom we represent kind, gracious, thank you for the privilege we have of representing the king one day one day you will take us aside even now waiting fighting us to tell you father I know in an audience. The size there are people who come in here. Having experienced rejection suffering of some sort. Wondering if needs would be in the test of face even even arriving here this morning is a statement of faith as they continue to look to pray spirit of God that you encourage us as we prepare to go back on stage were into our world.

Some are facing bright, hot spotlight others more in the shed that was to be faithful stewards and messengers ambassadors came. Thank you Jesus. This message was called a checklist while serving the king. It's the first message in a 13 part series called into the spotlight will be bringing you the rest of this series. In the days ahead. Stephen is the president of shepherd's theological seminary shepherd's seminary is equipping and training pastors and Christian leaders for a lifetime of service, but even if you don't feel called to full-time Christian ministry, shepherd's theological seminary can equip you to better understand God's word.

You can study online right where you live.

There is also a very unique one year program where you can relocate to this area for a year.

During that time you would study God's word experience authentic community growing discipleship take a trip to Israel and do some study there and earn your Masters degree in theological studies. You can do all of that in one year. We also have an opportunity for you to save a little bit of money because we have a discount code you can use to get a free application to shepherd's seminary. When you apply simply use the word wisdom and that will give you a free application to shepherd's seminary. If you navigate to our website wisdom online.org and then scroll to the bottom of the page there is a link to shepherd's theological seminary where you can learn more, you'll be able to access the complete library of Stephen's 36 years of Bible teaching all of that material is free and on-demand for you to listen to. Or you can read Stephen's sermon manuscripts again that address is wisdom online.org. If we can help you personally are number is 86 648 Bible and were in the office. Join us next time from more wisdom for the heart