The Equipping of the Saints

Introduction

The famous Swiss theologian, Emil Brunner, wrote: “The Church exists by mission, just as a fire exists by burning.” [1]

A pile of wood isn’t a fire if there are no flames. And, no matter how many Christians gather together, there is no church if there is no mission. Jesus did not bring twelve disciples around him for protection, or for pleasant company, or because he liked having followers. Following him was fundamental, but he also had a purpose for them, and that purpose was mission to the world.

Dear church, ponder this thought:

We are called to grow in the Lord for the end purpose to go for the Lord. Those truths we learn of the things of God are only purposeful if they are applied for His glory and purpose. Amen.

Jesus spent three and a half years with the disciples in preparing them for an end result.

The disciples were “learners, pupils”, mathetes or models for us that we learn what it means to be a follower of Christ. Was that not in fact what they were? They followed Christ to learn His teachings, to learn His ways, to learn His mission. The Word apostle means they were messengers sent to do the work of the Lord here on earth.

Luke 24:46–48 NKJV

46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things.

Acts 1:8 NKJV

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

These words offered up from Jesus was His commissioning for the Church age. They were torch bearers of one that knew Jesus and wanted to share the kingdom of God with others.

This is our assignment today.

We are to do as Matthew 28:19-20 “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” reminds.

Ill. Barbara teaching piano lessons. Many may not be aware that Barbara is teaching Johnny and Jackie’s grandson piano lessons. Mason is already a gifted musician in his own right. I believe he plays the drums.

Let’s assume that Barbara has been teaching:

Notes, chords, placing of hands, the pedals or refrains, single notes, quarter notes, 1/16 notes, 2 beats, 4-4 time, etc. He does the scales she teaches, he shows up to every practice, etc.

Mason-Chopsticks, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Alphabet Song. Progression.

Then comes intermediate learning:

Moonlight Sonata, To A Wild Rose, and Ave Maria. He becomes totally accomplished and she has him play. He becomes advanced, level 10 and he plays the Entertainer, he plays a couple different Sonatas, and he ends his testing period with Claire De Lune, various Mozart and Beethoven pieces.

Barbara makes over him. Not only does he play with the exactness of the pieces, but he plays stylistically, and there is something different about his play. He feels the music and his manner of play brings the music alive.

And she says, “Oh, we are ready, we are ready to take it to a recital, we are ready for a concert. And Mason states very nonchalantly, “Oh no, I never intended to play before crowds”. Barbara says, you really do not understand how good you are. You could play for the largest churches, corporate functions, wedding and celebration functions. You could play for any major music superstar vocalist today. Let me be candid with you, you have risen above your teacher. You have a tremendous gift, you need to share it with the world.

Oh dear church, may we learn today that we have been given a tremendous gift. God has gifted us with the talents, the resources, the abilities to offer His gift of salvation to a dying world. Our lives would be no less tragic than the young man that has been given the ability to rain down emotion by his playing of the piano and never use it to stir the emotion of audiences.

Oh dear church,

The Church is not a Club, the Church is a Commissioning for His Service

This morning we read for the first time the disciples being sent out independent of Jesus’ physical presence with them. They were making their first steps on to the mission field. We as well, God’s church has been called to share His message with others, to spread His kingdom here on earth. Please turn in your Bibles to Luke 9:1-6 to see how the Lord has called us believers to share His kingdom here on earth.

Luke 9:1-6

Luke 9:1–6 NKJV

1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. 4 “Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Prayer

Message

We find ourselves at a time immediately following the healing of Jairus’ daughter and the healing of the woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years. Peter, James and John were able to go into the home of all the hurt and tears and mourning over the passing of Jairus’ daughter. The family and friends basically said, “its all over, there is no need to bother Jesus anymore, there is nothing He can do.” Oh, that people would not wait until the last moment, but the first moment to see what Jesus would do if they only reached out in the beginning. Amen.

Can you imagine what it must have been like to be in that room? No breathe, no heartbeat, t lifelessness that quickly comes across the skin tone. Unfortunately, I have been at those scenes far too often. And Jesus’ says “Little girl, arise”. And all of a sudden the girl raises her head and begins to eat. Can you imagine Jairus’ and his wife hugging that little girl for all she’s worth and quickly getting her something to eat? The Scriptures stated they “were astonished.” Oh, the time that my Lacey was under the water too long and we got her to spit up water and breathe, or the child that we found lost and running frantically at Gayfers that had loss their sense of direction and you finally find them and embrace that reunion”. But, oh the emotion, I can only imagine, one who was dead and is now alive again.”

Peter, James, & John were front and center, and almost with a childlike spirit, can you hear Peter who always speaks up with such confidence, “we want to try, we want to try, Oh Jesus that we could do that on your behalf.”

Jesus wants us to have that burning desire to share Him with others.

The Equipping of the Believer vv. 1-2

In our preparation to witness for the Lord, let’s look at certain principles this morning.

We first must grasp this calling that has been placed on our lives. We were not merely saved for fire insurance. We were saved with a faith infiltration to share Jesus with others.

What gives me hope is how the disciples progressed over time. They were not what they would ultimately be day one, they were a work in progress. There were times that Jesus called them out, ‘where is your faith?”

The Hemphills wrote the song:

He's still working on me To make me what I ought to be It took him just a week to make the moon and stars The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars How loving and patient He must be 'Cause He's still workin' on me

Luke 8:25 “25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!””

There were times the apostles could not perform certain miracles recorded in the Bible because they did not have sufficient faith. I can relate to the apostles because they recognized their insufficiency and would confer with God after a failure.

Luke 17:5 “5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.””

Witnessing Calls for Preparation

So, this morning we find ourselves halfway through the earthy ministry of Jesus’ time with His disciples. Now the word, disciple, mathetes which means that they were pupils, learners. We know that they will be referred to as “Apostles” in verse 10 of this same chapter. Apostle means messenger, or sent out. In other words, they were named Apostles in Luke 6:13, “13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:”

But, they couldn’t be called apostles until they were actually sent out and spoke and acted on the Lord’s behalf.

So, let’s not ignore that there is a preparation aspect of witnessing to others. But, what is interesting is none of the preparation lies with us.

If He calls, He equips.

“Then He called His twelve disciples together....”

Preparation is the Coming Together of the Church

Too many times we want to be the Lone Ranger in ministry. We just find it easier to get an email or text. “Just tell me what you want me to do and I will do it.” Many times we think it is easier to work independently over the responsibility of gathering others to complete the task.

Oh dear church, we are better together than apart. We draw strength from each other, we are encouraged by each other, we are held accountable by each other.

Matthew 18:20 “20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””

Oh dearly beloved, do not conclude that if you call on the Lord by yourself that He will not speak to you, but we are guaranteed that when we come together as the church, the Lord will be present. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 “12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Ill. Bucket List during semi-retirement

Working with wood. Miter saw, table saw, jigsaw, router, sander, etc. MY greatest high is to accomplish something I am not good at and see the progression of skill. Handicap ramp projects.

Now understand something very important: unless I use the tools and take in all the YouTube videos, but never drive the first nail or place the first piece of wood, nothing has been accomplished.

Jesus self imposed all forms of preparation on the disciples. What is interesting is they had only two things in their preparation to be witnesses.

Two things we must do to prepare:

Conform to the Will of God in our Calling.

Commit to share what has taught us.

Disciple-mathetes learner, pupil

Matthew 10:24 “24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.”

What does that mean?

When we are called, we are also committing to a call of conformance, allegiance, following the will of God in our lives.

Something came over me as I prepared this message. I was reading in Isaiah this week about Lucifer.

Isaiah 14:12-14 “12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’”

Ezekiel 28:12-19 “12 “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. 16 “By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. 17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corr…”

Our first enemy in following God’s call is submissiveness, a submissiveness to His call in your life and a submissiveness to the call of your local church and your role and responsibilities here. The enemy is pride and selfishness, placing yourself above the will of God. Think about this for a moment, Satan is no different than us in that pride was His fall. Praise God, a holy righteous God loved us and sent His Son Jesus to reach out and save us, and others, every day need the grip of Jesus in their lives, but somebody has to offer the hand.

-halfway through Jesus’ earthly ministry, Jesus began sending out the twelve. We tend to forget that the disciples had families. They were family people like you and me. They would have responsibilities to meet at home. They were itinerant missionaries for the cause of Christ.

Jesus prepared them by “giving power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.” Now let me say at this point that this was not the final instruction for the disciples. We read later that their instructions changed:

Luke 22:35–38 NKJV

35 And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” 36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” 38 So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”

Your Preparation Comes from His Power and Authority

Power-δύναμις dýnamis, doo'-nam-is; from G1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):—ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

Dear brother and sister, those disciples did not serve the Lord in their own strength. Peter is the most notable example of a man operating in his own might vs. the might of the Holy Spirit. Peter in his carnality and life before the empowerment of the Holy Spirit was a man that tripped over himself. He spoke before he thought, he acted before he thought, he committed sins he stated he would not commit (The cock crowing three times, cutting off the ear of Malchus). John 18:10.

But oh, when the Holy Spirit came upon him at Pentecost, Peter opened his mouth in the power of the anointing of the Holy Spirit and 3,000 were added that day. What is interesting, listen to Jesus’ promise to these men He called.

JOhn 14:12 “12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

Jesus was saying that what I will do in my time here on earth will only break the ice as to what you will accomplish in your life time.

Acts 1:8 “8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””

Listen dearly beloved, I am no different than you. I am a sinner saved by grace. The only difference I have been called to preach the Word, others here have been called to sing, to teach, to use hospitality, etc. I battle the same fleshly desires you battle every day.

When I stand in this pulpit this morning, I stand here in two postures of God and God alone:

His Power-His dynamis

His Authority-His Word.

I believe many times people are so fearful of sharing because they either think they are inadequate or they will be rejected. Firstly, God promises here the fact that you are operating under His authority and power.

The world mourned last week over the passing of Queen Elizabeth, 70 year reign. She was not the power and the authority of England in and of herself. She represented the power and authority of England as a delegated power and authority of the people.

And think about this a moment. My daughter Lacey served as a manager at my Montgomery store for a time period and later had two boys and was out of the workplace for about 5 years. She found a job she absolutely loves. She works at New Leaf furniture and Consignments in Wetumpka. Once you have ridden a bicycle you do not forget how to ride. She started there reclaiming old furniture by giving the distressed look and remodeling it if you will working in the back. She was given sporadic opportunities to work the floor and quickly produced great sales numbers for the store. She now has keys and opens and closes the store, makes videos on Facebook and she is ecstatic that the owner has entrusted her and offered her the opportunity to expand her wings in the company.

On the other hand, when I am called to Undershepherd God’s people here at Mt Zion and they have so much potential, it can be disconcerting when someone will not commit and fulfil the potential God has in store for someone.

Oh dear church listen, God has entrusted you will all the dynamis, His power to speak, His words, to say, His Bible, his authority to share and if they reject you, they are not rejecting you, they are rejecting Him.

But I wonder, I just wonder, If God sits on His throne among the angels discussing us down here and He says, “they have so much potential, they are so gifted, they have so much to offer, if they would only engage and give me just a smidgen of faith and speak and watch what I will do.” Oh, that they would share and gain the excitement of seeing me work in them and bringing one to Christ.”

Instructions for the Believer vv. 2-4

So, Jesus sent the disciples out and He called them to “preach the kingdom of God and heal the sickness.”

One of the excuses you may make not to share your faith is that you state these words:

“I do not know any lost people. I do not come in contact with lost people.”

Do you remember that last week I shared a point that Jesus calls you to share with places and people you are already comfortable with? In other words, the ministry moved back into Galilee at Jairus’ house, within their locale and with a person they knew, a “ruler of the synagogue.” Jairus’ was a good man in need of God.

We learn in John 3 that another good man, a man everyone would have thought was saved, was not really saved. It has been stated by the late Billy Graham for example that 70% of people that profess Christianity are not saved.

There are many good people around you that you assume are saved, but the fact is, if you cannot see any apparent change in their lives from their salvation, most likely they are not saved. If they act, talk and walk as everyone else in daily life, most likely they are like everyone else in daily life, they are lost.

Nicodemus came by night to visit Jesus for numerous reasons: embarrassment possibly that being a man that was studied of the OT, the Torah, that he did not enjoy the liberality he was feeling from his association with Jesus. Or, the fact that he realized that nobody but himself could address this spiritual deficit he was feeling, he had to go at it alone and address it head on. Or lastly, he was fearful of what others would say.

Jesus began to describe to him that he must be born again, to be born of the spirit. In other words,

Acts 4:12 “12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””

Write this down:

Witnessing has Nothing to do with What You Possess, but what He Possesses in You

Luke 9:3 “3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.”

Look what Jesus states to them, there is no protection you need:

Deuteronomy 31:6 “6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.””

there is no provision you need:

2 Corinthians 9:8 “8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

Matthew 6:33 “33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Witnessing is not Dependent on a Particular Place

Luke 9:4-5 “4 “Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.””

The Lord has placed you here for a reason. Not only is this text a plea to profess where you are planted, but also to bloom here where He has you planted in church. God is the great orchestrator. He is divinely working in our lives despite ourselves. When yo and I sin and we exercise free will and change His plan for our lives, by following our own plans in our lives, He has a way in His mercy and grace to cover us over and get us on track.

You may say under your breath this morning, the Lord doesn't have a clue where I am today. He doesn’t know what a low place I find myself in, He doesn’t know just in what bad shape I am emotionally, mentally and spiritually. And I will say, Oh yes He does and He is working on your behalf this very moment. God both has a message in you and a message for you this day where you find yourself.

Luke 9:5 “5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.””

You might say this morning, I have so much working against me to be used of Jesus with others. There is so many around me that will not be responsive and non-supportive and I am going to catch a lot of flack if I become sold out for Christ. Oh listen, knock the dust off your feet and find a place that is responsive, that is supportive, that is encouraging for you to follow Jesus.

Witnessing is Sharing the Person of Jesus

Luke 9:6 “6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.”

In closing, if you will understand that when God called you He equipped you. He provides the needs and offers the instructions we need in serving Him, and if we simply share the love of Jesus with a lost world, The power and authority of the Holy Spirit in concert with our Heavenly Father, there will be “healing everywhere”. Amen.