The Disciples Obedience
Notes
Transcript
Plan and prepare, prepare and plan. These things go on and on and we spend much of our time preparing for things and very little of the time actually being busy about the things that God calls us to do. Many will spend years planning to do what God called them to and have only days left to perform the work He called them to do. We spend so much time making sure that we will be Okay, but what is God calling you to do? Does God call us to take care of ourselves then go help others? Does God call us to take care of others regardless of what it cost us? These are answers that are better solved in Scripture. We can debate all day long what we think is the right answer and many of us can give good reason why we believe what we believe. The thing about scripture though is that it cuts through all of our life experiences and calls us to change our lives to match scripture. This morning We will be in Mark chapter 6. In Mark chapter 6 we are going to find Jesus sending out his disciples. Jesus had just been rejected by His own hometown . He then called His disciples together and sent them out after giving them the authority. In this scripture we are introduced to a different mindset than we are accustom to. Obedience when it comes to our Father calls us to have the perspective that Jesus was teaching His disciples.
A canny Main farmer was approached by a stranger one day and asked how much he thought his prize Jersey cow was worth. The farmer thought for a moment, looked the stranger over, then said: "Are you the tax assessor, or has she been killed by your car?"
Perspective can affect our effectiveness. We tend to see things from the perspective of being good stewards of God while at the same time denying God’s power to be the best steward of His people. Jesus was going to take His disciples and He was going to teach them a new perspective. This perspective would make them the most effective men of the Word there had ever been. The disciples would be forced to view things differently. In Mark chapter 6 Jesus teaches His disciples that First, it is a spiritual world. Second Jesus teaches the disciples that God provides. Turn with me in your Bible this morning to Mark 6:7-13
7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
Its Spiritual
Its Spiritual
7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
Perspective changes everything. If we continue to view the world around us from a physical perspective we will always see the solution as a physical solution.
If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.
This is true of every problem and every challenge that comes our way. If we view the struggles in our lives as physical struggles we will try to solve them from a physical view point. The problem when it comes to believers is we are called to react in the way of the spirit. As Jesus was sending out His disciples He desired that they first understand that what they were going to be doing was of a spiritual nature. The first thing that Jesus did was to give His disciples the authority over unclean spirits. Jesus was setting His disciples up for success by setting their perspective right to start. What are the challenges in your life that you continue to approach from a physical perspective? I need 3 volunteers to meet me up here on stage.
Hand each volunteer a piece of paper
Explain to the volunteers that you will give them 40 seconds. In that 40 seconds they are to take that paper and make a flying object. After the 40 seconds they will then test their flying objects and the one that flies the furthest will be the winner.
Start timer and allow it to go for 40 seconds.
After 40 seconds have the volunteers show what they made.
Ask them to test their objects.
If no one balled their paper up, then ball it up and throw it across the stage.
Explain that their perspectives determined what they made. They understood the instructions given to them based on their perspectives and life experiences.
We often take this same approach when it comes to our faith and the things in our life that we face. We respond based on the experiences we have had and the way we know to live. The problem with that approach is that when we accept Christ, we are now spiritual beings. We may be in the flesh but we are in fact spiritual beings.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
If we are now spiritual beings then we are called to understand the world around us from a spiritual perspective.
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
We are called to no longer view things from the perspective of the flesh. Those who are not of the spirit cannot understand the things of the spirit and those who are of the spirit should not live in the way of the flesh.
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
We must view the world around us from a spiritual view and not a physical view. The first thing Jesus did with His disciples was to tell them that they were going into the world but when they went into the world their primary objective was to cast out the unclean spirits and to heal those afflicted. It was not the objective of the disciples to go and overthrow governments or to challenge religious leaders, it was to make a spiritual difference. What areas in your life do you need to approach from a spiritual perspective. What things do you keep trying to solve with the flesh perspective and getting the same result.
Rita Mae Brown in her book wrote this, many attribute it to Einstein but he was not smart enough to think it up.
“ The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
Scripture tells us to live in the spirit.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Is your perspective that we must view things from the spirit? Jesus made the primary objective to view the world from a spiritual perspective. Jesus did not stop at telling the disciples that they needed to view the world from the perspective of the spirit. He also made them understand that when living in the spirit God will provide.
God will Provide
God will Provide
8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
To enforce His point even further, Jesus told the Disciples that they were to leave and go out with no provisions. No money bag, no bread, nothing but their staff, sandals, and one tunic. Jesu was sending them out with a complete dependence on God. Because we view things from a physical perspective we often times say that we need to have provisions prepared and spend time getting things ready to serve God. When is it that you will start living in obedience and trusting God? This is where faith comes to the line. Faith stands at the line and says you either believe it or you do not believe it. Jesus wanted the disciples to get it. Are you understanding the level at which God will provide if you will live in obedience? We have for 2 weeks discussed on Wednesday night how God breathed out the stars and we have explored some of space’s most amazing features. One of the most amazing things that we have not talked about is how all of it works in perfect coordination. The sun and the stars all move where God tells them to and not one is out of place for God’s design. If God can handle all of that then why do we act as if He cannot handle the important aspects of our life.
3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
Jesus wanted the disciples to understand that their primary objective in life was no longer to provide for themselves. To no longer carry on in the ways of the flesh but to carry on in the life of the Spirit, depending on God for even their most basic necessities. The disciples were not told to go and collect enough money to get them though. They were told to leave with only the clothes and shoes they had on and their staff and trust that God would take care of them. What a way to live. I have to be honest, I think I would do it if I had a direct command from Jesus to do it but what about now in my life? What about the fact that I can justify my unbelief by saying that Jesus did not tell me to do it. Are you a person who lives by faith? Really lives by faith, not just the type of faith that says I can help as long as I can still take care of the things I need. The type of faith that says I am going to follow God with only the clothes on my back and whatever I need God will provide. When God provides, do you know what it is called? Providence. Do you know what Providence means?
PROVIDENCE
The word 'Providence' is made up of two words:
* "Pro" means "Before" and "Video" means "to see";
* The word 'Providence' simply means "to see before"
* So when we talk about the providence of God;
* We mean that God 'sees before' and plans accordingly.
When we see things from a spiritual perspective and we chase the things of the spirit, God Himself will provide for your needs. Are you living in a way that calls you to live for others and live for God with no regard for yourself because you trust that God will take care of all of you needs? Now lets’s take this and set the stage correctly here. I am not telling you to go out and to sell everything you have and walk around casting out deamons and healing people. If God has told you to do that then by all means please do what He called you to do. For some in here though God is simply calling you to love others more than you love your things. For some in here God is calling you to love others more than your pride. For others God is calling you to love others more than food and drink. Only you can determine what it is that God is desiring that you trust Him in. For the Disciples Jesus knew they were accustom to traveling with Him and having provisions met with money. What things bring you a sense of security? What things of this earth are you placing your trust in? Is it time to place your trust in God and use those things to bless others and make a kingdom impact? Jesus expected the Disciples to put complete dependence in the Father. When they did this what did the Bible say happened?
13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
The kingdom purpose was fulfilled. Notice it does not say, and the disciples did not go hungry, or and the disciples did not go without a place to sleep. No it comes full circle and says because they put their trust in God, God provided spiritually. The perspective is a kingdom driven perspective. We must be willing to see life differently and the rewards of the kingdom differently. It does not mean that you need to go give up everything that God has given you, it does mean though that everything God has blessed you with is His for His kingdom. All of it, not some of it, not most of it, all of it. Are you living a life that understands God’s provisions are for you to make a kingdom impact?
Missionary statesman Hudson Taylor had complete trust in God's faithfulness. In his journal he wrote:
Our heavenly Father is a very experienced One. He knows very well that His children wake up with a good appetite every morning... He sustained 3 million Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. We do not expect He will send 3 million missionaries to China; but if He did, He would have ample means to sustain them all... Depend on it, God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply.
The Bible tells us about God’s provisions
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
You see this is where the prosperity preachers get it wrong. Their perspective is all wrong. They believe that the provisions of God are for them and for their followers. They believe that God blesses so they can have more. Followers of the Word of God believe that all of God’s blessings are for His Kingdom and His glory. Consider if you will the blessing of healings in the New Testament. What was the purpose of those healings? Was it to save the lives of people? I am sure it gave them a better quality of life. Ultimately thought the healings were to bring glory to God. You want to know why I believe healing happens less and less? It is not because the spirit is over 2000 years old and He is lacking in any way. It is because we continue to turn inward and see ourselves as the primary purpose for God’s blessings. God will heal me so I can have a better life. God will bless me with finances so I do not have to struggle in my life. We do not think about things from a kingdom perspective. Jesus taught his Disciples 2 things and is teaching us the same things if we will listen and adapt to them. First, all things are spiritual. There is nothing you will face that is a physical obstacle or challenge, it is spiritual. They only thing that changes is how you view the problem or challenge in your life. Second, God provides for His Glory. God provides in ways that bring Him praise and honor. Your blessings are for the Kingdom and should be used for the Glory of God.
