Are You A Disciple?
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What is a Disciple?
What is a Disciple?
Do you consider yourself a disciple of Jesus?
We all say that we are disciples of Jesus!
I follow Jesus!
Christian discipleship is developing a personal, lifelong, obedient relationship with Jesus Christ in which He changes your character into Christlikeness, transforms your values into kingdom values, and involves you in His mission in the home, the church, and the world.
MasterLife: Developing a Rich Personal Relationship with the Master.
0.
Words of Jesus
Words of Jesus
Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!” So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!” Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison, brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother.
A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”
Characteristics of a Disciple!
Characteristics of a Disciple!
luke 14.25
1. Renunciation
“If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14.26).
Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.
“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”
“Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
“By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by.
2. Self-denial
Luke 10:28-31
2. Self-denial
And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
2. Self-denial (v.27).
Luke 14.27).
The cross here does not symbolize suffering, but rather the decision to do the will of God whatever the cost. When we deny our "old man's" drives and desire to choose God's will for our lives, we take up our cross. By that choice we lose our old self, and we begin to become the new self that God will enable us to be. By losing our (old) life, we find our (new) life in Jesus Christ.
Bible Reader's Companion.
3. Thoughtfulness—counting the cost
“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.
).
3. Thoughtfulness—counting the cost (v.28-32).
4. Forsaking all
So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”
4. Forsaking all (v.33-35).
).
5. Love to others:
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
5. Love to others: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another"
6. Steadfastness:
Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
). 2. Stedfastness: "If ye continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed" (). 3. Fruitfulness: "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" ().
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Luke.
6. Steadfastness:
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.
7 Fruitfulness: "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" ().
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Luke.
7. Fruitfulness:
When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
).
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Luke.
You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”
The bible talks about the fruit of having the spirit, but the fruitfulness here is talking about people coming into the kingdom
The fruitfulness here is talking about people coming into the kingdom
The fruitfulness here is talking about people coming into the kingdom
In Luke chapter 9 we see Jesus
One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases.
Luke 9.
(NLT2) 1 One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out 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.
We see Herod’s confusion; thinking that Jesus was John the baptist come back to life
Jesus feeds the 5000
Peter’s declaration of who Jesus is!
Jesus predicts his death
Jesus predicts his death
The Transfiguration
Jesus heals a demon possessed boy
Then this conversation pursued
As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
How many times have we said this?
But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”
Luke 9:57
But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”
He said to another person, “Come, follow me.”
The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”
Luke 9:
He said to another person, “Come, follow me.”
The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”
Luke
But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”
Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”
But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
Then in verse 1 it makes this statement “After these things, referring to what we just talked about; he began to appoint individuals
This word appoint occurs in twice in the NT, : and :
Theological dictionary of the New Testament (electronic ed., Vol. 2, p. 30). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
Theological dictionary of the New Testament (electronic ed., Vol. 2, p. 30). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 37.96 τάσσω; ὁρίζω; ἀναδείκνυμι; τίθημι
to assign someone to a particular task, function, or role—‘to appoint, to designate, to assign, to give a task to.’
Schlier, H. (1964–). δείκνυμι, ἀναδείκνυμι, ἀνάδειξις, δειγματίζω, παραδειγματίζω, ὑπόδειγμα. G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley, & G. Friedrich (Eds.), Theological dictionary of the New Testament (electronic ed., Vol. 2, p. 30). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 37.96 τάσσω; ὁρίζω; ἀναδείκνυμι; τίθημι
to assign someone to a particular task, function, or role—‘to appoint, to designate, to assign, to give a task to.’
What if Jesus walked among us today and began to appoint us and began to send us out 2 x 2 , would we go?
What would be our excuse?
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.
The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit.
Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen
Acts
You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
john 15
A good illustration of this interplay between heart and life is found in the way Matthew's gospel calls attention repeatedly to the importance of regard for others, of mercy and compassion, of forgiveness and restoration as a distinguishing mark of one who does God's will. In the Beatitudes, which provide insights into characteristics of a disciple, Jesus referred to blessing for the merciful (5:7) and the peacemakers (v. 9). Being angry with a brother is tantamount to murder, and establishing reconciliation is a matter of the highest priority for a disciple (vv. 21-26). On the other hand, avenging evil or retaliation in kind is not to characterize the behavior of disciples (vv. 38-42; cf. 26:50-52). The enemy, in fact, is to be loved and prayed for (5:43-44).
A Biblical Theology of the New Testament.
He asks them to go to places that He is going to visit.
A good illustration of this interplay between heart and life is found in the way Matthew's gospel calls attention repeatedly to the importance of regard for others, of mercy and compassion, of forgiveness and restoration as a distinguishing mark of one who does God's will. In the Beatitudes, which provide insights into characteristics of a disciple, Jesus referred to blessing for the merciful (5:7) and the peacemakers (v. 9). Being angry with a brother is tantamount to murder, and establishing reconciliation is a matter of the highest priority for a disciple (vv. 21-26). On the other hand, avenging evil or retaliation in kind is not to characterize the behavior of disciples (vv. 38-42; cf. 26:50-52). The enemy, in fact, is to be loved and prayed for (5:43-44).
A Biblical Theology of the New Testament.
What is the Lord’s harvest?
Matt 16.24-28
Do we see the value of the Lord’s harvest?
What keeps us from reaping the Lord’s harvest?
And then He asks them to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send more workers.
LUKE: DIVISION VI THE SON OF MAN'S GREAT JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM (STAGE II): HIS TEACHING AND PUBLIC CONFLICT, 13:22-17:10 »Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline »Index F. The Cost of Discipleship, 14:25-35 (14:25-35) Introduction: Christ is not interested in cheap invitations and discipleship. Too often the call to discipleship is to receive the great benefits and advantages offered by God. There are eternal benefits and advantages, but salvation and discipleship involve much more. They involve an unbelievable cost, the supreme sacrifice. A person must pay the ultimate price, all that one is and has to follow Christ. Just what does it cost to follow Christ? This is the all important subject of this passage. 1. Huge crowds followed Jesus and He challenged them (v.25). 2. A man must put Christ first: before family, even before self (v.26). 3. A man must bear the cross of death: death to self (v.27). 4. A man must give thought to discipleship: count the cost and the consequences (v.28-33). 5. A man must have the salt of discipleship: the salt of self-denial (v.34-35). (14:25-35) Another Outline: The cost or conditions of discipleship might be outlined as follows. 1. Renunciation (v.26). 2. Self-denial (v.27). 3. Thoughtfulness—counting the cost (v.28-32). 4. Forsaking all (v.33-35). There are three other conditions for discipleship given by Christ elsewhere. 1. Love to others: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (; cp. ). 2. Stedfastness: "If ye continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed" (). 3. Fruitfulness: "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" (). 1. (14:25) Discipleship: huge crowds were following Jesus. The cross and the desperate needs of the world were upon His mind (). The enormous sacrifice and cost it was going to take to reach the world consumed His thoughts. He must have followers who would sacrifice themselves totally if the message of salvation was to be carried to the world. He could not have second best. God would not accept any place other than first place in a man's life. He must make clear what it meant and what it cost to be His disciple. 2. (14:26) Family— Self-Denial— Dedication— Discipleship: a man must put Christ first, even before his family and himself. (See outline—• and note—• .) The words "hate not" (ou misei PWS: 1880) are strong. They mean not showing preference, indifference, aversion, disregard (cp. , ; ). Christ was not saying that one's family and one's self were to be literally hated. The true believer is to love even his enemies (). What then did Christ mean? Very simply... ⇒ Christ is to be first in a person's life: before family, even before self. ⇒ Christ is to be put before family: even if one's family opposes his decision to follow Christ. ⇒ Christ is to be put first: before the companionship and comfort and pleasure of family and home. ⇒ All—even family and self—are to be put behind Christ and His mission. All must be denied and put behind a person's love and devotion to Christ and His cause. "Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, We have left all, and have followed thee" (). "And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him" (). "And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, follow me" (). "And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting" (). "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (). 3. (14:27) Self-denial: a man must bear the cross of death—to self. (See note—• and Deeper Study #1—; outline—• and note—• for discussion and application.) 4. (14:28-33) Decision— Discipleship— Thought— Mind: a man must think and give thought to discipleship; he must count the cost and the consequences. Christ used two parables to get His point across. 1. A man who wants to build a tower, first sits down to think about the project and to count the cost. Does he have sufficient resources, enough of what it takes to finish the task? He has to make sure, or else he will not be able to finish the task and will end up being mocked. The point is clear: before a person begins to follow Christ, Christ wants that person to think about it. He wants the person to be sure, absolutely sure. Can he afford to follow through; does he have what it takes to build the tower (life)? Why? Because a false profession damages the Kingdom of God. A false profession causes... • the world to mock and charge true believers with being hypocritical. • prospective believers to turn sour. • believers to be hampered and hindered in their ministry. • some believers to become discouraged. 2. The second parable concerned two kings at war. The king being attacked had only ten thousand soldiers, whereas the king marching against him had twenty thousand soldiers. The defending king sat down and thought long and hard about his resources and the consequences. He was forced to think about the loss of life and property even if he did win. Note: this king had to make a decision. He was being invaded. He had to decide to fight against the invading king or to surrender. He had to think through the consequences both ways, the consequences of fighting or surrendering. (Cp. the invading king to Christ and the defending king to the individual.) The point of the two parables is clear: a man must pay the ultimate price. He must forsake all, renounce and give up all that he is and has; or else "he cannot be my disciple." When a man counts the cost of following Christ, he needs to think about two things. 1. It will cost him all he is. The man must be willing to center his life around Christ and His mission to reach a world lost and full of desperate needs. It will cost the man... • his heart: total devotion and commitment. • his mind: being permeated and controlled by Christ. • his eyes: watching what he looks at. • his ears: watching what he listens to. • his hands: watching what he touches and picks up. • his feet: watching where he goes. • his mouth: watching what he eats and drinks and says. • his desires: watching, controlling, and changing his urges and desires. • his energy: committing his strength, initiative, and will to Christ. • his effort and work: dedicating and centering all in Christ, using his efforts and work in the cause of Christ. "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (). "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (). "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak" (). "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (). "Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth" (). "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (). "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (). "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (). "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (). 2. It will cost him all he has. The man must be willing to give everything he has to Christ, without watering down the cost. It is this point that will cause so many to be lost and doomed (see outline—• and notes—•; outline—• and notes—• ). To really follow Christ will cost... • family: being put after Christ. • friends: being put after Christ and centered around Christ. • home: all the comforts and extravagances. • job: being centered around Christ and being used to earn enough to give to those who do not have (). • cars: not being extravagant, so as to have more to give to a needful world. • investments: using for God's cause. • money: taking care of personal necessities and then using the rest for God's cause. Whatever a person has, it will cost him. He must surrender it to Christ, which is to say, he must be willing to use it in the Lord's mission, the mission of helping a world lost and reeling under the weight of enormous needs. When a man counts the cost of following Christ, he must think about the consequences of both fighting against Christ and surrendering to Christ. If the man chooses to reject Christ, to struggle against Him, the man will... • never experience abundant life, deep satisfaction (). • never know God, His love and care, on a daily basis. • never have an eternal sense of purpose, meaning, and significance. • never know nor have the assurance of eternal life. • never be free from the uncertainty of life. • never be free from the dread and fear of death. • never be free of some sense of judgment and of what lies ahead. • never be freed from a sense of false security. The consequences of surrendering to Christ are, of course, the very opposite of the above. "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me" (; cp. ). "And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful" (). "Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (). "And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold" (). "Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved" (). "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" (). "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition" (). "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (). 5. (14:34-35) Decision, Half-hearted— Dedication: a man must have the salt of discipleship which is self-denial, renunciation, the sacrifice and giving, of all one is and has. (See note—• ; note—• for more discussion.) Christ said three very pointed things. 1. A half-hearted choice is worthless. It cannot season or penetrate; it cannot help anything or anyone. "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (). 2. A half-hearted choice is to be cast out. Salt that is worthless and useless is always cast out, for it is good for nothing. "But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (). "Then said the King to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (). "And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (). "But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity" (). "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned" (). "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" (). "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul" (). "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning" (). 3. A man with ears needs to hear the invitation. Hearing spiritual truth is a choice which a man must make. He chooses whether to hear or not to hear the truth. "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (). "The good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience" (). "And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead" (). "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" (). "For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was" (). "The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise" ().
Pray to the Lord of the Harvest
There are several commands here
Ask Him to send more workers
Go to the places Jesus wants to visit
a. Jesus had many disciples, many more than just the twelve often pictured. There were at least seventy disciples who followed Jesus so closely that He could send them out as witnesses for Him.
How closely are we following Jesus?
b. Jesus sent them out two by two for mutual encouragement and help.
b. Jesus sent them out two by two for mutual encouragement and help.
c. Jesus saw a tremendous need, a need so great that a great corps of witnesses was needed. d. Jesus sent the seventy forth as forerunners. They were to prepare the people for His coming
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary -
So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”
The word sent gives a urgent meaning of being dispatched
A good illustration of this interplay between heart and life is found in the way Matthew's gospel calls attention repeatedly to the importance of regard for others, of mercy and compassion, of forgiveness and restoration as a distinguishing mark of one who does God's will. In the Beatitudes, which provide insights into characteristics of a disciple, Jesus referred to blessing for the merciful (5:7) and the peacemakers (v. 9). Being angry with a brother is tantamount to murder, and establishing reconciliation is a matter of the highest priority for a disciple (vv. 21-26). On the other hand, avenging evil or retaliation in kind is not to characterize the behavior of disciples (vv. 38-42; cf. 26:50-52). The enemy, in fact, is to be loved and prayed for (5:43-44).
A Biblical Theology of the New Testament.
Jesus has sent us
So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”
Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans,
“Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me.
Are we going?
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Luke.
What keeps us from going?
You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!
John
As we go we are to pray to the Lord of the Harvest
As we go we are to pray to the Lord of the Harvest
We need the compassion and vision that Jesus has
The mission of Christ was to share the vision of a world in desperate need. The vision of the Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest challenge known to man.
1. The vision of a great harvest. All men everywhere are fainting, weary, bewildered, scattered, and are as sheep without a shepherd.
Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.
; ).
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
The harvest is needful work.
The harvest is needful work.
1) It is great, that is, plenteous. There are fields and fields of people growing in the valleys and hills of the world.
2) It is a ripe harvest, ready and desperate to be reaped .
3) It has to be reaped in its season, that is, in its generation. There is only a short time when it can be reaped; otherwise it will rot and die in the field where it grew.
I was born in the 1950’s, and according to www.worldmeters.info, the population of the world in 1950 was 2,556,000,053. Today its 7, 638,990,666, and by 2050 it’s estimated to be 9,771,822,753. Others have it to be 10 billion by 2030. Yesterday around 9:18 AM there were 62,062 deaths and 150,092 births. By 9:20 there was a population growth of 88,076. That was yesterday alone.
Every generation has to be reaped in its generation.
Every generation has to be reaped in its generation.
1) Everyone has only a certain season (generation, life-span) when he can be reaped. His season for being reaped is short, ever so short.
How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
2) Everyone has a peak season, a time when he is really at his peak and ready to be harvested. It is so much more fruitful and joyful to harvest a man in his peak season than to try at other times.
2) Everyone has a peak season, a time when he is really at his peak and ready to be harvested. It is so much more fruitful and joyful to harvest a man in his peak season than to try at other times.
The harvest is plentiful.
1) A harvest of children needs to be reached and taught.
2) A harvest of young people needs to be reached and grounded in the Word.
3) A harvest of women needs to reached and taught the confidence and protection of God's love.
4) A harvest of men needs to be reached and taught the strength and security of God's direction and care.
There is a world of opportunity out in the harvest. There are fields and fields of localities, nationalities, classes, professions, health, abilities, appearances, emotional states, and mental conditions—and all are lost, spiritually sick, and unreached. There is no end to the fields of harvest.
We need a vision of a great need for laborers. Christ needs people, that is, believers: men, women, boys, and girls. Laborers are few. He needs many laborers and He needs them now. Unless there are reapers to go forth, the harvest will die and rot upon the earth.
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
romans
You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.
There is an unlimited amount of work to be done, but there are so few to do it.
1) The harvest will never be reaped unless laborers go forth.
2) The harvest will rot in the field where it grows (the earth).
Why are there not more laborers?
1) Some reject the call of God.
2) Some postpone the call of God.
3) Some deny the call of God; they close their minds entirely.
4) Some seek a profession, a position, or a livelihood instead of really reaching out and ministering to people.
5) Some preach false gospels. They seek to propogate their own rationale and ideas instead of the truth of God.
6) Some just lack enough commitment to reach out and minister.
7) Some are satisfied with the traditional ritual and approaches of religion.
8) Some are more concerned with the bureaucracy than with laboring, more concerned with carrying things on as they have always been.
We need a vision of a great need for prayer.
God's call and God's appointment are needed. Christ is saying, "Pray that God will raise up enough laborers to reach your generation, the generation for which you are immediately responsible."
What keeps us from praying to the Lord of the harvest?
1) Christ Himself prayed all night before choosing the first laborers and before sending them out on their first missionary journey
1) Christ Himself prayed all night before choosing the first laborers and before sending them out on their first missionary journey ().
2) The number of laborers for any generation depends upon the prayers of God's people in that generation. If God's people are concerned for their generation, they pray for laborers to reach and minister to it. If they lack concern, they do not pray and laborers are few. Compare the deadness of religion in Christ's day and how few true laborers there had been for some four hundred years.
Three things should drive us to pray for laborers with all fervency.
1) The good news, the gospel of the kingdom
2) Compassion for the souls of men, for those who have fainted and are scattered and are without a shepherd.
3) Love for Christ and appreciation for what He has done
The harvest is God's. He can reap the harvest if several conditions exist.
1) If there is enough concern within our generation for the multitudes of people who are lost.
2) If there is enough prayer for laborers.
3) If there is enough commitment to surrender to His call to go.
4) If there is enough dedication to follow Him day by day and hour by hour.
5) If there is enough faith to believe Christ and the truth of the Scripture.
6) If there is enough conviction to stand true and firm through all.
What would happen if we commited ourselves to pray for each other to get the compassion of Jesus for the lost?
What would happen if we commited ourselves to pray for each other to receive a new love for Jesus and a deeper appreciation for what He has done for us?
What would happen if we commited ourselves to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth workers in our generation?
Here what could happen!
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