Following In His Footsteps: Sent to Serve

READ (LUKE 9:1-9)

During WWII, General MacArthur once asked his chief engineer how soon he could get a bridge across a certain river. “About three days,” was the reply. The engineer was told to go ahead and draw the plans. Three days later MacArthur asked for those plans. The engineer seemed surprised. “Oh, the bridge is ready. You can cross it now. If you want plans, you’ll have to wait a little longer. We haven’t finished those yet.”

Sometimes we devote so much time to planning that the job doesn’t get done.

The Bible has much to say about preparedness. But Jesus also wanted his disciples to realize that the time is short. The Kingdom of God is at hand today. Therefore, the heart of every disciple is to serve in the kingdom today.

Several months ago, we learned from the story of Moses and Israel and how believers are to step forward in their faith. Following in the footsteps of Jesus is how we do so.

1. Equipped with power and authority.

Power (dynamis) - ability, supernatural, strength.

Authority (exoousia) - freedom permitted; liscense in; qualification.

“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.” - (Matthew 7:28-29)

In the ninth chapter of Luke, Jesus is coaching his disciples in the midst of his three year ministry.

He qualified and authorized the twelve to go and ministry to the surrounding villages.

According to the book of Mark, they went in groups of two.

His ministry was local to the area at this point.

Primary objective: To proclaim the kingdom of God

Secondary objective: To heal the sick, diseased, and demonized.

Neva Chrishna - “We heal people so we can have an opportunity to tell people about Jesus.”

Can you imagine being a disciple in this moment? “I’m going to do what?”

We are not going to understand God when he sends us to serve. You will often be asked to accomplish service for the kingdom that seems above your personal ability. This is the point.

“Authority exercised with humility, and obedience accepted with delight are the very lines along which our spirits live.” - C.S. Lewis

As we walk in God’s plan, we accept that we are simply an extension of his ministry to the community and the world.

2. Serve with an urgency.

The limitations of what the disciples were to accept meant that they were to be dependent on God alone for the journey.

Not to move from house to house, but stay in one place until the time of ministry was complete.

What was needed for the day and nothing else.

“Shake the dust” - As solemn symbol of judgment, the disciples shake of the dust off of their town off their feet, just as Jewish travelers might do on returning from pagan territory.

Verse 6 does not indicate if the disciple were ready for such a journey, but we do know that they obeyed.

“Went” (dierchonto) Imperfect middle, continuous. Expresses the wide extent of the work throughout the villages of Galilee.

For this particular journey, the disciples were given a simple strategy.

There are two types of people in this room. Prepared people who need a plan and laid back people who can let the plan develop. You both drive one another crazy.

There are other times in scripture when people were encouraged to live responsibly and develop plans.

What is the point?

There is a time for responsible preperation and a time to move out and capture the moment with no thought of the details.

Listen to God when he tells you to serve urgently. Whether the plan makes sense or not is not always the point.

Conclusion

Herod the tetrarch was the ruler of the territory in which Jesus would do most of his work.

What can we see about the effect cause by the disciples obedience? It was working!

People were hearing the message and being healed. Jesus’s ministry had aroused a lot of interest.

Had John the Baptizer come back from the dead? Was Elijah raised?

“I have no idea what I am doing.” - Tricia

There is something very interesting about Christianity…

God always finds a way to use his people to make things work out according to His plan.

“Many are the plans in a mans heart, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” - (Proverbs 19:21)

When we are willing to say yes, and walk down the road of discipleship with Jesus, he will handle the impact.

Stop asking “what if” so often.

“Christians are like manure: spread them out and they help everything grow better, but keep them in one big pile and they stink horribly.” - Francis Chan

Christianity is designed to scatter throughout the world. Walking in discipleship is how we scatter along God’s path.