Behold the King: It A Hard Knock Harvest
Notes
Transcript
And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
And when ye come into an house, salute it.
And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Lily was a curious and a tiny bit mischievous. One day she wanted to try her hand at farming. Instead of using the proper tools, she decided to be mischievous and used unconventional items like a feather duster, a toy pirate sword, and oversized sunglasses. The villagers found her antics amusing as she danced and twirled in the fields. While her unconventional methods didn't yield a traditional harvest, they brought laughter, joy, and shared memories. Lily's unique approach reminded everyone to embrace creativity and find happiness in unexpected moments.
Are you trying to reap the harvest using the right tools?
In order to reap the harvest God has called you to, you must first learn what tools to use.
If you do not learn how to study the Bible properly, you could end up working in your own power to try to produce miracles and produce that only God can.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
For the Apostles
For the Apostles
If you will allow me to give you a quick help for your daily Bible study and application this morning. When you go to any part of the Bible you cannot properly apply it to your life until your first ask “Who is God talking to and why?”
Our tendency is to read the bible existentially (what is God saying to me?). This is not terrible but it can lead to misunderstandings.
Once upon a time, there was a man eager to receive guidance from God. With anticipation in his heart, he opened the pages of the Bible and began searching for a sign. His eyes darted from verse to verse, seeking a message that would resonate deep within his soul. But as he flipped through the pages, he encountered passages that seemed too challenging, too perplexing, and too....out of his comfort zone.
There was a moment when he stumbled upon a Matthew 19:21 instructing him to sell all his possessions and give to the poor - a daunting request that made him pause. Another verse, Numbers 24:19, spoke of destroying survivors of a city, far from the gentle guidance he sought. Flipping through the pages in search of solace, he landed on Song of Solomon 1:2, “Let him kiss me with kisses of his mouth! for your love is better than wine.” This was too filled with passionate love and intoxicating metaphors.
Determined to find a message that felt right for him, he continued his quest. And finally, after turning yet another page, he found it - a verse speaking of God's benevolent thoughts towards him, filled with peace and hope for the future. In that moment, he knew that God had indeed spoken to him through His Word, offering him the clarity and comfort he had been seeking all along.
This is an extreme example of reading your Bible without first asking “what is the historical meaning of this passage? Or, what did God say to those who first recieved this revelation?
This revelation was specifically to the disciples
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Six times in from Matthew 9:37-11:1 this passage mentions that this was revelation to and for the disciples or the twelve disciples
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
These names are not given to us so that we could name hospitals or churches after them. But that these were the individuals that Christ used to begin building His Church.
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
This is important for two major reasons:
Apostolic Authority
Apostolic Authority
Jesus does not extend these miraculous gifts to anyone other than the apostles
And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
These individuals would be given authority in order to prove to the Jews that their message was from God.
Remember that Jesus has “all authority” and He free gives some to the apostles for a specific cause.
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
After Christ’s resurrection He gives the Great Commission.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
In this commission we do not find “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons, or speak in tongues.
These sign gifts were not the norm even in the first century. In the Book of Acts we have people doing these great miracles, but it is never expected, and it is not what normally happened throughout the life of a believer.
Another proof that we do not have the office of an apostle any longer is found in the study of the New Testament epistles.
Paul, the apostle to the gentiles, tells us in two separate passages that there are only two offices to be filled, the office of pastors and deacons.
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
This was not something granted to every believer.
The severity of their mission
The severity of their mission
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
They were to limit their preaching to just the Jews.
After Jesus rose again the sope of the mission went to all the world.
When Jesus states Matt 10:23
But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
He is most likely saying that His sacrificial death would take place before the disciples could preach the Gospel to every city.
The apostles would end up giving their lives for the Gospel.
Matthew—All Authority in Heaven and on Earth Two Major Differences
Christian history all but Judas (who would hang himself) and John (who would be exiled to the island of Patmos) died a martyr’s death: Bartholomew and James, the son of Zebedee, and Matthias (Judas’s replacement) were beheaded; Thomas and Matthew were speared to death; Peter, Andrew, Philip, Jude, Simon the Zealot, and James, the son of Alphaeus, were crucified.
This passage is revealing a conversation/commission given to the apostles. They were to trust solely upon God for their provisions.
When we ignore this truth we will be tempted to reap a harvest in ways God did not designate us to. We end up frustrated because we miss the miracles right in front of us in an effort to produce something we were not called to produce.
For Faithway
For Faithway
Once you have answered the question, “Who was God talking to? And what is the historical application?” Then we can see how the truths in the passage apply to our personal situations.
We will be like this guy: “Video on screens”
We can now clearly see what God has said to us and how we are to live in light of that truth.
Here are four World View Principles that help us in the Hard Knocks Harvest.
Preach the Gospel
Preach the Gospel
In a world filled with darkness and uncertainty, there is a glimmer of hope waiting to be shared. Just like the little boy comforting his sister in the depths of the cavern, we have the power to bring light into the lives of those in darkness. The message of the gospel is like a beacon of light, offering hope and salvation to all who are lost and in need of direction.
Imagine a world where every stranger you meet is like that crying little girl in the dark cavern, longing to find the light. By sharing the gospel with them, you have the opportunity to be the one who knows how to turn on the lights in their lives.
Don't be afraid to step out in faith and share the good news with those around you. You never know whose life you might impact or how you might bring light into someone else's darkness. Just as the little boy assured his sister that someone knew how to turn on the lights, we can assure others that there is a way out of the darkness through the love and grace of Jesus Christ. Let your light shine and be a beacon of hope to those who are lost and seeking for the light.
Bob Woods, Pulpit Digest
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
When you share the gospel you are sharing the life changing power of God!
The Unfailing Grace of God
The Unfailing Grace of God
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Phil Wickham wrote a song entitled “This is Amazing Grace.”
Who breaks the power of sin and darkness?
Whose love is mighty and so much stronger?
The King of glory, the King above all kings
Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder?
And leaves us breathless in awe and wonder?
The King of glory, the King above all kings
This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That You would take my place
That You would bear my cross
You laid down Your life
That I would be set free
Oh, Jesus, I sing for
All that You've done for me
Who brings our chaos back into order?
Who makes the orphans a son and daughter?
The King of glory, the King of glory
Who rules the nations with truth and justice
Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance
The King of glory, the King above all kings
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy, worthy, worthy
Jesus teaches the disciples that they have not earned this authority or even the right to stand in His presence. But He freely gave this grace to them and they must freely give this powerful message to others.
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Gospel Goers Need Gospel Givers
Gospel Goers Need Gospel Givers
God still dispatches Gospel Goers! But in order for these Goers to keep going, God also dispatches Gospel Givers.
Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
Once upon a time, there was a young man filled with ambition and a deep desire to honor his commitment to God. He approached his pastor, W.A. Criswell, and shared that he had made a promise to God to give a tithe of his income. Together, they fervently prayed for God's blessings to be poured upon the young man's career.
At that time, the young man was earning a modest sum of $40.00 per week, and he faithfully gave $4.00 as his tithe. As the years went by, his income began to soar, and he found himself earning a staggering $500.00 per week. Overwhelmed by the increasing cost of his tithe, he sought guidance from his pastor.
With a heart full of love and wisdom, the pastor gently responded, "My dear friend, I understand the weight of your burden. However, I cannot release you from your promise. Instead, let us approach God with a different request. Let us ask Him to reduce your income back to $40.00 a week, so that you may continue to honor your commitment of tithing $4.00."
The young man was taken aback by the pastor's response, but he soon realized the profound truth behind it. In that moment, he understood that giving to support the spread of the gospel in their local community was not a burden, but a privilege. It was an opportunity to partner with God and be a channel of His blessings to others.
With a renewed perspective and a heart filled with gratitude, the young man embraced the joy of giving. He continued to faithfully tithe, knowing that every dollar he contributed would make a tangible difference in the lives of those who needed to hear the gospel message.
This story serves as a beautiful reminder of the transformative power of giving. It compels us to open our hearts and generously support the efforts to spread the gospel in our own local community. Just as the young man discovered, giving is not about the cost, but about the love and impact it brings to those in need.
Let us be inspired by his example and embrace the joy of giving, knowing that our contributions will help bring the life-changing message of the gospel to countless lives in our local community. Together, we can make a difference and share God's love in a powerful way.
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
The Terrible End To Gospel Refusers
The Terrible End To Gospel Refusers
And when ye come into an house, salute it.
And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
The consequences are laid out clearly. You can choose Christ and have life, or you can choose anything else and have eternal damnation.
The final principle that keeps the Gospel Goers going, and the Gospel Givers giving is that we serve a God Who is worth serving.
We don’t get caught up in the cares of the world, we get caught up in the Glory of the Savior.