We Are Sent

Introduction

Please turn your Bibles to Luke 10:1-20 that is Luke chapter 10:1-20. That is on page 815 if you are using one of the Bible’s scattered throughout the chairs. That Luke 10:1-20 and that is on page 815 if you use on of the Bible’s in the chairs.

John G. Paton was a Scottish missionary who labored for the cause of missions in the South Seas from 1858 until his death in 1907. He served in the New Hebrides islands, a string of small islands in the South Pacific Ocean. The New Hebrides which were inhabited by known cannibals, and then first missionaries who attempted to reach these people were killed and eaten also as soon as they landed on the shore.

Before becoming a missionary Paton served in a poor Urban community in which few people had success. The Lord greatly blessed his efforts, and hundreds of young people attended his Bible classes. However, in the midst of this ministry success Paton was overcome with a burden for the “heathen of the South Seas” He would write, “The wail and the claims of the Heathen were constantly sounding in my ears. I saw them perishing for lack of the knowledge of the true God and His Son Jesus,” Yet, he was resolved to not make an emotional decision. After more prayer and consideration he offered himself to the task. The mission board rejoiced to have him, but others tried to dissuade him.

He was offered a house and increase in salary to stay. And one older gentleman a Mr. Dickson cried out to him, "The Cannibals! you will be eaten by Cannibals! ' Patton replied, " Mr. Dickson, you are advanced In years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms ; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honouring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms ; and in the Great Day my resurrection body will arise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer." The old gentleman, raising his hands in a deprecating attitude, left the room exclaiming,— " After that I have nothing more to say!

John G. Patton was a man, sent on a mission from God. He was convinced of the Lord’s call, and he like these we read about in this text was a man sent as a lamb among wolves. Sent to a place we the harvest was plentiful, but the workers too few. He would record, ““Disappointments and successes were strangely intermingled.” He was a man who would proclaim the Gospel to many who would reject him and to some who would receive him. He would not rejoice in this world’s successes, but rather rejoice that his name was written in heaven. When I read of the life of John G. Patton, and then I read this text the parallels are eery. I wonder to myself what it was like for Patton to read the Bible. To be able to read it, and so easily be able to apply it to his life.

I fear for us. I fear that often we read a text like this and we can’t quite seem to build the bridge from it, to our own lives. We are forced see the text a vague metaphor if we ever hope to actually apply it. The problem isn’t the text. The problem is that for many of us in this room, our lives are so risk adverse, so consumed by temporal things, and so comfortable that we don’t feel like lambs in the midst of wolves. We have become lazy and content to let the harvest rot on the vine. Brothers and sisters let’s read this text and let us stir up in us a passion for the mission of Jesus. Jesus expands his mission from the 12 who he sent in Luke chapter 9 to the 72 here in Luke 10 and in Luke 24 he will expand it to all who follow him. To follow Jesus is to be sent.

And are sent to be dependent.

Sent to Be Dependent v. 1-7

Luke 10:1–4 “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.”

After Jesus encounters three disciples who fail to see the great cost of following Jesus, he turns to 72 followers who have left home and safety for His sake. He sends them out to every town and place where he himself was about to go. And tells them three things that quite frankly are just not that encouraging. You would think right before a big intiative like this that Jesus would give a pep talk about their impending success. Rather, he tells that they will not have enough laborers to do the job, that they will not be physically safe, and that they can’t prepare adequately for this mission.

He tells them that the harvest is plentiful, that is there are a lot of people who need to hear the good news about Jesus. But the workers are few. There are not enough people to go speak to them all. Therefore, they are to pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest that He would send out more laborers. He has seventy two people willing to go, and he tells them you will not be enough. There needs to be more than you, in order to reap the entirety of the harvest. Doesn’t this feel like ministry today. Most church planting teams just don’t have enough people, there never seems to be enough volunteers for any church, and there are billions with to no access to the Gospel and yet only thousands are willing to go to them.

When we boast of 3,000 plus missionaries sent by our International Mission Board it sounds impressive. But it only takes a preliminary look at the vast amounts of people without access to the Gospel to know that 3,000 is a far cry from enough. I once was at conference in which a high profile denominational leader stood on stage and told a group of 800+ pastors that his missions organization had more money than people to send. They had fully funded positions, but no one qualified to fill them. He begged us to send him people.

We pray every week for what God is doing in the world through our missions partners. We pray because God answers our prayers, but we pray because it is the prayer of this pastor that the Lord in his kindness might see fit to move people from this church out of comfort, out of ease, and out of this country. It is my prayer that in this church as we pray that the wail and claims of unreached people would sound in your ears. The harvest in plentiful, but the workers are few. Perhaps in God’s kindness, some of you would take one small step and sacrifice one day on a busy holiday weekend and host an international student to a meal. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. So let’s keep praying the Lord would raise up workers for the harvest.

But let us not send these workers naively. You see, if you take up the call to share the Gospel with the unreached it will cost you. You are sent like a lamb in the midst of wolves. Wolves you are hungry and will devour you. You will be defenseless against them with no tooth or claw to fight back with. If you start working in this field, you best know that there will be discomfort and danger. We often pray for more salvations and baptisms, but are we willing to Colossians 1:24 fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body… Are we willing to be endangered for the sake of Christ. Are willing to take risk be that physical, financial, or relational. We are lambs sent out amongst wolves.

And yet, Jesus tells them to carry no money bag, knapsack, no sandals, and to greet no one on the road. Don’t take anything that you would normally take because there is an urgency to this task. They are to go now, and they are not to stop for anyone. And as they go they will see the supernatural hand of God provide for their every need.

Luke 10:5–7 “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.” They take nothing with them, but there will be those who are sons of peace who will receive them. They are to remain in these houses and eat and drink what is provided for them, and in this God will ensure they have all they need. They can eat freely and without guild, because the laboror is worth his wages. Their Gospel work is result in material compensation as their needs are provided by these homes of peace. They are to go totally dependent on God to provide, to protect, and sustain them in this work. And they go to declare his message.

Sent to Declare v. 8-16

Luke 10:8–11 “Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’”

Notice that Jesus tells them of two different receptions that they will receive. Some will receive them and others will reject them. Yet, first notice what is similar between the receptions whether good or bad. The message does not change. For those the receive them they are to say, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” To those who reject them the are to say, ”… that the kingdom of God has come near.” The announcement does not change.

What changes is whether or not the announcement is good news or bad news. The kingdom of God coming near to you is either good news or it is bad news. For those who receive the messengers, and thus receive the message, the kingdom coming near brings healing and peace. But those who reject the message the kingdom brings judgement. The messenger is to publicly shame the rejecting household and wipe the dust of his feet off against them. Since they are not received and therefore not shown the honor of hospitality in which the household would have had washed a travelers feet. The messengers are to wipe that shame or that dust, off against them. It would be to say, in shaming me, I know shame you for your lack of hospitality. It was a way to pronounce judgement of that house. And by house I do not mean the building, but the people who live in the home.

They declare the message that the kingdom of God is near, but whether that is good news or bad news all depends on the reception of the host home. If they receive the message then they will experience peace and healing. If they reject it, they receive judgement and shame. Jesus, Luke 10:12 “I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.” Sodom was a city in the Old Testament who God sends two messengers (angels) (going out two by two) to, and instead of showing these messengers hospitality they attempt to show them great shame by sexually harassing them. God intervenes and saves his angels, but later the entire city is destroyed by burning sulfur from heaven. It is judged by God for its great shame. Jesus says, to reject his messengers and his message is to incur this kind of wrath.

He warning continues, Luke 10:13–16 ““Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. These are Jewish cities in which Jesus has done many great works. And Jesus is saying they will incur a greater judgment because they reject the son of God though they have been shown these great signs. Tyre and Sidon are non-Jewish cities and as this book unfolds we will see that Jesus will send his messengers beyond Israel and into the world. And his message will be announced throughout the whole world. And wherever it goes will need to be either accepted or rejected. He says in verse 16, “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.””

We go and declare the message to all people. And this message will be received by same and rejected by others. To those who receive the message of Jesus there is the promise of peace and healing. For those who reject him, remains his holy wrath.

If you are here today, and you have not accepted the message of Jesus, then I implore you. Receive him today. The message is that the kingdom of God has come near through the perfect life of his Son Jesus. You have broken God’s law and you are guilty before him, you deserve his wrath. But Jesus came and fulfilled all of God’s law on your behalf. He died in your place on the cross, and he rose from the dead. If you receive him by faith, if you bring him into your life, like these people brought his messengers into their homes. If you accept him, he will bring you peace. He will heal you sin. And if you reject him, then you will be shamed by your rejection of the Son of God. You will receive his wrath and judgement and be condemned to Hell.

T/S - This is why we must go! This is why we are sent. Heaven and Hell are real. God’s reward of heaven awaits all those who receive him and the punishment of Hell will consume all who reject him. We must go and plead with every man, woman, and child to repent and believe. We must tell them, the kingdom of God is near. It is an urgent task wrought with danger and difficulty. And yet, we can do it rejoicing.

Sent Rejoicing v. 17-20

Luke 10:17–20 “The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.””

Something amazing happens! Seventy-two men are sent and they are told it will not be enough. They are sent as lambs amongst wolves. They are sent with none of the necessary provisions and they all return with joy!! How is that possible! How can seventy-two go out against such odds and seventy-two return with joy! Because they serve the God who does the impossible.

Jesus rejoices with them and speaks in a metaphor. I believe he is saying that through their work the kingdom of God has come near and there is nothing that stop it. Satan has fallen like lighting. A bright flash and then no more. Serpents and scorpions are being trampled, and through Christ these disciples have power of the enemy. The kingdom has come! And it will not be stopped. All of the world will hear, and the kingdom will come.

Yet, we cannot be naive about the task of global evangelization. It is hard, it will produce martyrs, it will result in imprisonment, it is result in illness, it will result in accidents, it will result in beatings, it will result in seasons of depression for missionaries and church planters. It is hard and grueling work. If you take up the task in Columbus, you might lose your job or a promotion, you might be rejected by your family, you might lose friendships, and you will get tired. It is like being a lamb in the midst of wolves.

However, there will be lives changed. We will see mighty works of God, and even when we don’t we can rejoice. Why? Because we do not rejoice in results. Rather we rejoice that our names are written in heaven. The outcome is secure. Christ will have the prize for which he died the inheritance of nations.

We are more than conquerors, as we read from our public reading this morning. Romans 8:37–39 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Conclusion

John G. Patton spent his first four years of missionary service on the island of Tanna. The people of Tanna reject Patton and his message, and while there he lost his wife and infant child to fever. After the birth of his son Patton writes, “….for two days or so both mother and child seemed to prosper, and our island-exile thrilled with joy ! But the greatest of sorrows was treading hard upon the heels of that joy! My darling's strength showed no signs of rallying… ….altogether unexpectedly, she died on the 3rd March. To crown my sorrows, and complete my loneliness, the dear baby boy, whom we had named after her father, Peter Robert Robson, was taken from me after one week's sickness, on the 20th March, Let those who have ever passed through any similar darkness as of midnight feel for me ; as for all others, it would be more than vain to try to paint my sorrows !” Patton himself grew ill during this time and writes, “But I was never altogether forsaken. The ever-merciful Lord sustained me, to lay the precious dust of my beloved Ones in the same quiet grave, dug for them close by at the end of the house ; in all of which last offices my own hands, despite breaking heart, had to take the principal share !” That is heart broken and sick he dug the graves himself.

I built the grave round and round with coral blocks, and covered the top with beautiful white coral, broken small as gravel ; and that spot became my sacred and much-frequented shrine, during all the following months and years when I laboured on for the salvation of these savage Islanders amidst difficulties, dangers, and deaths. Whensoever Tanna turns to the Lord, and is won for Christ, men in after-days will find the memory of that spot still green,—where with ceaseless prayers and tears I claimed that land for God in which I had "buried my dead" with faith and hope. But for Jesus, and the fellowship He vouchsafed me there, I must have gone mad and died beside that lonely grave.

We are lambs sent among wolves to places in which the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are too few. The odds are ever stacked against and yet… Satan will fall like lighting. We are sent, but we are sent dependent are the one who has overcome! We declare the good news that the kingdom is near, and it is a joy! It is the greatest life to live, because of the joy that is found in Christ alone. Let us go and do the impossible, through the power of God. Let us suffer and still yet, rejoice. Rejoice because our names are written in heaven! Let’s pray.