Sermon Tone Analysis

Opening Illustration

Alert But Not Alarmed!

Opening Illustration

One of the most memorable Olympic Athletes of the 1968 Mexico City Games was a marathon runner from Tanzania.

John Stephen Akhwari… Even though he came in last.

Half way through the race Akhwari fell.

And badly gashed his calf, and injured his knee... after a few minutes John Akhwari picked himself up.

Strapped up his leg.

And kept running.

By the time he got to the stadium, the race had long finished.

Bandaged, bloody; every step agonizing... the regulation laps around the stadium circuit...

And at last, Akhwari crossed the finish line.

And finally collapsed.

The small crowd left in the stadium clapped and cheered him on.

As Akhwari limped off the track.

And finally collapsed.

The next day John Akhwari was interviewed by the world media.

The fact is, in every marathon, lots of athletes drop out.

With far less reason than Akhwari.

They said, why didn't you stop?

And Akhwari said this.

He said, "My country did not send me 7000 miles here to Mexico City to start the race.

My country sent me here to finish the race."

The Christian life is a marathon .. running the race will be tough sometimes .. especially as we try and talk to people about the gospel .. well get battered .. try and live in a Christ-like way and we have to be prepared to be treated as Jesus was treated

This next section in Matthew’s gospel reminds us that godliness attracts a reaction and we must be prepared for that and hang on .. see the end .. cross the line .. even when some of the race brings us to the end of our tether

Review

Last week we were reminded us of the seriousness of the condition of the car crash that is our world .. DEATH.. DISEASE.. DEMONS… we need to see the world as Jesus does ..

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

We need the compassion.

There is a TIME BOUND aspect to this scene and also a TIMELESS aspect too

This is a SPECIFIC HISTORICAL MOMENT .. over 2000 years ago Jesus to wept as He surveyed this blessed nation Israel .. they are SHEPHERD-LESS SHEEP .. the instruction then was “the harvest is plentiful … the labourers are few” … Jesus sends His twelve disciples to the lost sheep of Israel .. they are to declare a message THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR .. and they are to draw attention to this momentous news with the signs and miracles that Jesus was doing .. healings .. raising the dead.

And over 2000 yrs later on the message is the same “the harvest is plentiful … the labourers are few” but now the MISSION FIELD is the WORLD .. and the message sharpened up .. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” .. “Christ crucified .. buried and alive on the 3rd day ..

He is RISEN!

For DISCIPLES then .. and now .. there is a CALLING and a COST

The CALLING of the DISCIPLES of the KING

We're stepping back in time to the very first Christian mission.

It's a mission exclusively to Israel.

They're leaderless, they're rudderless, they're heading for destruction.

.. but they don’t know it

The long awaited Messiah.

Here's the good shepherd in person.

The Israelites have got scrolls full of promises that this Messiah's going to come, that he's going to heal their diseases, that he's going to make their lame walk, that he's going to give sight to the blind.

And now He's here.

How do you get this message out?

Jesus the KING calls his 12 disciples.

Which I guess is provocative, isn't it?

One for every tribe of Israel.

.. Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

What do you notice about these guys?

They are ORDINARY .. FRAIL .. some of them SMELL .. they’re uneducated fishermen .. one is a despised TAX COLLECTOR .. one will eventually BETRAY Jesus the Messiah, totally disillusioned

Hardly the elite of Israel .. yet the are SENT by Jesus .. hence called APOSTLES (sent ones) and EQUIPPED .. and how!!

7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.

You received without paying; give without pay.

9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the labourer deserves his food

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

().

Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Lord will provide .. and give them POWER .. these are the Messiah’s messengers who come with his UNIQUE ability .. make no mistake the KINGDOM has come

And he's sending them out, saying the time has come.

Time to repent.

So what do you reckon's going to happen?

Well you’d think that if someone was going to bring you GOOD NEWS you’d welcome them with open arms .. but Jesus knows exactly what will happen … And he spells it out.

You'll be welcomed by some.

Some will accept these followers of the KING and enter into His PEACE .. others will reject the messengers and the message

So FOREWARNED is to be FOREARMED … Jesus says BE ON YOUR GUARD .. watch out .. BE ALERT … BUT don’t be ALARMED .. expect the push back from people .. this is a SPIRITUAL BATTLE .. COSMIC CONFLICT

Read from verse 16.

It's a bit like the zoo.

Have a look what he's saying.

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.

Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

He's saying it's a jungle out there.

It might be Israel, they might be meant to be the people of God.

But when you go out to the towns of Israel you'll be surrounded by people who want to make a meal of you.

So be smart.

As well as innocent.

.

And I guess Peter and James and Andrew and John and the other guys are saying, What have we got ourselves in for?

..

ead from verse 16.

It's a bit like the zoo.

Have a look what he's saying.

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.

Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

He's saying it's a jungle out there.

It might be Israel, they might be meant to be the people of God.

But when you go out to the towns of Israel you'll be surrounded by people who want to make a meal of you.

So be smart.

As well as innocent.

"Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues.

On my account you'll be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles."

V.17-18

But he says, Don't worry.

DON’T BE ALARMED .. Verse 19.

Because you're not on your own.

And the reality is, God is with you.

He says "When they arrest you don't worry what to say or how to say it; At that time you'll be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."

Jesus is telling his apostles they're going to do what he's been doing.

That they're going to be treated the way he's treated.