Come, Be with Me

Ron Walters

Discipleship • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

Luke 10:1–17

Luke 6:12–16

Luke 9:1–10

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Recap

So far, we have learned that Jesus developed His disciples in four phases/stages. In the Come and See phase, unbelievers had the chance to hang out with Jesus without any commitment whatsoever. We talked about those who were willing to follow Jesus would commit their lives to Him, get baptized as sign of this commitment, and would begin telling others about Jesus.

In the Come, Follow Me phase, we learned that Jesus began teaching these new believers all kinds of things about God to both strengthen their faith and increase their understanding of eternal things. Evidence of having completed this phase occurred when a person had a pretty good handle on faith, their sin, and the power of God, along with regular involvement in the ministry of reconciling people to God the father, through Jesus Christ.

Our Situation

Jesus knew that if He wanted to maximize the time he had with His disciples, he would need to prepare them to eventually launch out into ministries of their own. The Come, Be with Me phase “. . . was primarily [one of] doing . . .” (T-NET, p. Participant M4.30)

Two main areas where Jesus focused were:

1. deploying them in ministry, and

2. letting them do ministry

Personal Example

I was trained in my enlisted days as an Aircraft Fire Control Repairer. In short, I worked on Armament systems of AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopters. Although I received months of training on aircraft systems and subsystems, I still lacked the hands-on experience of working on a broken system on the flight line or when out in a field environment. I needed the experience to go along with the training.

In the Come, Follow Me phase, the disciples learned primarily by watching Jesus, with little hands-on training during their 9 months. It was their classroom training session. However, in the Come, Be with Me phase, the disciples were then ready to be launched into ministry. It was time for the hands-on portion.

(NLT) “One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names: Simon (whom he named Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the zealot), Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

14 Simon (whom he named Peter),

Andrew (Peter’s brother),

James,

John,

Philip,

Bartholomew,

15 Matthew,

Thomas,

James (son of Alphaeus),

Simon (who was called the zealot),

16 Judas (son of James),

(NIV) “12One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 6Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.”

Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

, (NLT) “One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples* and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money,* or even a change of clothes. Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate. So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick . . . When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida.”

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

6 So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

, (NLT) “The Lord now chose seventy-two* other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road. “Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’ If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you. Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay. “If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you. Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!’ . . . When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”

5 “Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’ 6 If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you. 7 Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

8 “If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you. 9 Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ 10 But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!’

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Prayer

Jesus’ Plan for Discipleship

The Come, Follow Me phase began with Jesus’ choosing of the 12, where He designated them apostles (). It concluded with Jesus’ arrest in Gethsemane () (T-NET, p. Participant M4.30).

There comes a time in everyone’s life when what we need to learn, has been learned and when the people needed to be in place, are in fact, in place and are ready to move. It is at this time that we are ready to be launched in ministry or into a new direction.

Parents of seniors, whose son or daughter is nearing completion of high school, no doubt, can relate to this well. For what seems like 18 short years, their child has been under their constant and watchful eye. They have watched their son or daughter grow in more ways than they can count. And one day, a statement is made referring to what college, trade school, or specific line of work that they will begin in the next few months. This shocks a parent’s heart and mind that in a very short time, they will be launching their son or daughter into the world, trusting them to put into practice those hours and hours of training and nurturing they so lovingly invested in them.

Jesus came to this place and time. I imagine it was a time that was filled with excitement, hope, anticipation, and wonder, as well as, many questions. One question that would seem to be lurking in the shadows: Had they indeed, grasped the things Jesus had showed them and taught them?

There were at least 5 things that Jesus did just prior to launching His disciples.

First, Jesus prayed

A. (NIV) “One of those days [referring to one of the Sabbath days of , ] Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God”.

B. He found a place to be alone with the Father

C. His first response or thought was to consult the Father before He did anything

D. Jesus would prove this later, when He said in (NLT), “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet, I want your will to be done, not mine.”

E. We don’t know what He prayed for specifically. All we know is what He did after He came down the mountain

F. We do know that He spent the night in prayer

G. QUESTION: When was the last time that a decision you needed to make warranted an all night prayer?

H. Jesus’ first thought was to seek the Father’s will before He made any decisions

G. I would imagine that not many of us would even think of it, let alone do it.

But Jesus’ first thought was to seek the Father’s will

Second, Jesus called His disciples

A. (NLT) “At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles.”

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.”

B. I would imagine that Jesus was consulting with the Father regarding who was ready to be launched for ministry

C. Who had internalize His teachings and could therefore, be turned loose/entrusted to minister in His name?

D. No doubt, not all of His disciples were fully trained. There were those who had recently been invited—people who weren’t yet ready; there were those who still had things to learn before they were ready; and there were those who were ready to be launched

E. Of these, which ones would follow through?

F. Jesus choose 12, out of who knows how many

G. Interesting: Jesus did not ask for volunteers (Life Application Bible Commentary: Luke, p. 145). He didn’y consult a committee. No one voted on the candidates. He simply chose the 12.

H. “Most interpreters assume that Jesus intended the number of apostles to correspond with the number of the tribes of Israel, thereby indicating that a new people of God was coming into existence” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Mathew, Mark, Luke), vol. 8, p.889.

I. Nevertheless, Jesus called the 12 together.

J. QUESTION: I wonder, would Jesus have chosen you or I?

K. QUESTION: Do our lives exemplify the characteristics that Jesus identified in the 12?

Third, Jesus empowered His disciples for ministry

A. (NLT) “One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority ...”

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers. ”

B. It was significant for the 12 to have both power AND authority to accomplish the ministry Jesus sent them to do.

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers. . . .”

B. It was significant for the 12 to have both power AND authority to accomplish the ministry Jesus sent them to do.

C. QUESTION: Why?

D. Paul would later encoaurge the Ephesian people by saying in , (NIV) “10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. [Why?] 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (underlining added).

D. , (NIV) “10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. [Why?] 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (underlining added).

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

E. His disciples were going to take on an enemy that could easily overpower them . . . IF . . . they were to rely on their own strength, wisdom, insight, or their own resources

F. QUESRION: But, what was Jesus empowering His disciples to do?

F. (NLT) “. . . to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. 2 Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick” (underlining added).

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.” (underlining added).

G. Jesus empowered the 12 for ministry.

H. Jesus knew that even His disciples had the inclination to rely on their own strength to accomplish things

I. In (NLT) “13 A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. 15 But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.”

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

J. Sometimes, the greatest lesson Jesus helps us learn, is what happens when we try to do things in our own strength

K. I am watching the Supergirl series on Netflixs—the journey of episodes I’m in has the characters trying to be superheros, commenting on how they can all be superheros. . . but, it is fraught with failure and increased arrogance in what they think they can do on their own. Even the character of Supergirl has moved from a position of humility in the beginning of the series to one of arrogance.

L. Church, if we are ever going to do something big for God, it will not occur without God (REPEAT)

Fourth, Jesus gave them final instructions

A. (NLT) “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money,* or even a change of clothes. 4 Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. 5 And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.”

B. No staff—something used for both protection and for walking

C. No bag—something that many beggars used to carry their things. The disciples were not to appear to be beggars.

D. No bread—food for the journey

E. No money—which would be used for food and shelter

F. No extra tunic—for extra warmth if they should need to sleep outside

G. Jesus’ disciples were not to rely on themselves; they were to trust that God would provide for their needs, without exception

H. These instructions also included: Their finding a place to stay and staying there

I. “The disciples were not to offend their hosts by moving to a home that was more comfortable or socially prominent” (Life Application Bible Commentary: Luke, p. 231).

J. In the event that some rejected the message, and Jesus knew that some would, they were to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony to them

“The implications of this action were clear and had eternal consequences. It showed that the disciples had properly discharged their duty, had nothing further to say, and would leave the people to answer to God [for their rejection of Him]” (Life Application Bible Commentary: Luke, p. 232).

Fifth, Jesus sent them out

A. (NLT) “So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.”

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.”

B. They were to travel from village to village

C. Nothing is said about how many villages they were to go to. Perhaps, Jesus had a particular set of villages that He Himself either hadn’t been to yet, or wouldn’t have time to visit.

D. Nothing is mentioned of how much time it took them to travel to these villages or how long they stayed in each one.

E. However long it took, there came a time . . .

F. “When the apostles returned, [and] they reported to Jesus what they had done.”

G. records another time when Jesus sent His disciples out—this time He sent out 70 (2X2).

H. says that, “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

I. I would guess that the 12 returned in the same way as the 70 did

J. They all returned to acknowledge that it all occurred “in your name [Jesus]”

What Jesus Offered

K. They gave glory to Jesus, not their approach, nor their wit; nor any other ablity within themselves

L. QUESTION: When Jesus does something through us in our ministry, who gets the glory?

What Jesus Offered

Maybe you’re not yet at the Come, Be with Me phase and ready to be launched into ministry. Maybe you’re in the Come, Follow Me phase and still being trained. Maybe, you’re in the Come and See phase and here this morning just checking this Jesus thing out.

Regardless of where you're at this morning, welcome! Jesus desires to reveal Himself to you, but He won't force Himself on you. He even lets us decide how close we want to walk to Him. We are reminded in , to first, count the cost before making a commitment to Jesus.

Your Response

So, regardless of where you’re at this monring, the question is the same: Will you trust Him? Will you take Him at His word?

Will you Be with Him? If not, will you Follow Him? And if you are still not sure about Him, will you take the time to hang out and learn from Him?

The important thing is to keep seeking Him and when the time is right, you will be ready for whatver next step is appropriate for you.

(WITH HEADS BOWED AND EYES CLOSED) Maybe, you’re here this morning and you know that you need to take the next step, but you have made excuses . . . you’ve grown content with things as they are . . . you’re afraid that Jesus is going to ask you to do something that you would really rather not do.

Why not, . . . just take the step and trust Jesus?

Closing Prayer

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