A Journey to Joy

Introduction

What’s the Bottom Line up Front (BLUF)? : How do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God?

Today’s Lectionary Texts carry with them two very central themes: 1) the Kingdom of God is near and 2) Joy. Central to today’s Lukan passage is this declaration from Jesus to witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God. He says, “Wherever you go, enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God has come near to you.’” And as our Hebrew Scriptures pronounce, that in doing what Jesus asks, all will experience joy.

How do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God?

But the his begs the question, (BLUF) How do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God?

Allow me to suggest that we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God (per today’s text) by:

What’s the Bottom Line up Front (BLUF)? : How do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God?

Going in pairs (to harvest and pray)

Going in faith (as lambs amidst the wolves)

Going with the right attitude

then return, rejoicing

Before we delve into this idea of witnessing to the coming of the Kingdom of God, let us go to God in prayer.

PRAYER

Center us, O God on your holy Word and let your Spirit come. Come Holy Spirit Come! (2X) ...And fall afresh on us. May the Words your Scripture open our hearts, our minds, and our souls so that we may witness to the coming of your Kingdom. O'Lord, my preparation be worthy to you. Speak now either through me or in spite of me. Either way, reveal your Glory! And all of this we pray in the Jesus’ name. Amen.

We go in pairs (to harvest and pray)

- We

How do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God? - We go in pairs (to harvest and pray)

Our passage opens by saying that Lord Jesus appoints seventy others and sends them out in pairs. In the same way that God, in God’s self, never operates alone, but as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Jesus sends out his followers in pairs.

When I think about this idea of pairs, I think about God creates life in pair, man and woman. He ushers on to the ark, the animals Two by Two. In the Army, every Chaplain is assigned an assistant, every commander has a senior enlisted advisor. Because two heads are better than one; and because we are safer when we have a battle buddy.

Pray for more labourers

Now note, when Jesus sends these 35 pairs out to the harvest He implies or promises that the harvest is abundant and plentiful and that it calls for a large work force to reap the crops before they spoil.

What should draw our attention as Christians is that Jesus sees abundance where others might see poverty/scarcity (that is, with and among the wolves). This is decidedly not because he is an optimist but, rather, because of his faith in the 'Lord of the Harvest.' Its is important that we also realize that Jesus does not commission his disciples to prepare the harvest (God's grace does that... that remains forever God's responsibility). Rather, Jesus commissions his disciples to go in pairs to 1) gather the harvest in, and 2) pray/ask for more laborers.

In reality, the point should be made that "harvesting" implies coming to full maturity and being gathered into the reign of God.

Reflection Question: What exactly does it mean to be "harvested?" or to “Spiritually harvest?”

Remember, as these pairs are sent out, "their single purpose is to harvest those who ready to encounter Jesus. (i.e. to witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God) This done peacefully, through grateful presence and conversation. The apostles must be relational and respectful in order to be invited into others' homes, where they might be share the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Theirs is a vulnerable position, for they can not force receptivity or hospitality on the part of others." Elaine Heath Pg 218 YR C, Vol 3 FoTW

Note that Jesus implies (promises) that the harvest is abundant/plentiful and that it calls for a large work force to reap the crops before they spoil. What should draw our attention as Christians is that Jesus sees abundance where others might see poverty/scarcity (with and among the wolves). This is decidedly not because he is an optimist but, rather, because of his faith in the 'Lord of the Harvest.' Its is important that we also realize that Jesus does not commission his disciples to prepare the harvest (God's grace does that... that remains forever God's responsibility). Rather, Jesus commissions his disciples to 1) gather the harvest in, and 2) pray/ask for more laborers.

In reality, the point should be made that "harvesting" implies coming to full maturity and being gathered into the reign of God.

- "Their single purpose is to prepare others to encounter Jesus. This done peacefully, through grateful presence and conversation. The apostles must be relational and respectful in order to be invited into others' homes, where they might be share the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Their is a vulnerable position, for they can not force receptivity or hospitality on the part of others." Elaine Heath Pg 218 YR C, Vol 3 FoTW

In , Paul writes reminds us that if

"Their single purpose is to prepare others to encounter Jesus. This done peacefully, through grateful presence and conversation. The apostles must be relational and respectful in order to be invited into others' homes, where they might be share the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Their is a vulnerable position, for they can not force receptivity or hospitality on the part of others." Elaine Heath Pg 218 YR C, Vol 3 FoTW

When applying this thought to our own congregational community, we must remember that God is inevitably responsible for the growth of our community; yet we are called to be open to this growth... to plan, to organize, and to work in a way that anticipates rather than impedes such growth; and to pray for and invite others to join us in gathering the harvest God has prepared. - Richard Shaffer and David Lose Pg 216/217 YR C, Vol 3 FoTW

Therefore, the first way we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God is to go in pairs to harvest and pray for more laborers.

How do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God?

How do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God?

Going in faith (as lambs amidst the wolves)

How else do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God? We go in Faith (as lambs amidst the wolves)

Jes

Jesus commissions the pairs to go where He would go and do what He would do. He calls the pairs to enter into inescapable vulnerability. Jesus acknowledges that He is sending his disciples into places of potential hostility, and what he expects is "a nonviolent response to any rejection at the hands of others" (to 'turn the other check) - Elaine Health Pg 216, YR C, VOL3 FoTW

Jesus acknowledges that he is sending his disciples into places of potential hostility, and what he expects is "a non-volient response to any rejection at the hands of others" (to 'turn the other check) - Elaine Health Pg 216, YR C, VOL3 FoTW

When disciples are sent out, they not only share in the mission of Jesus, but also in its deprivation, dangers, and risks. They must go in faith (as lambs amidst the wolves). But remember the One who sends them is also the Good Shepherd. Hardship and Danger may exist, yet in faith we must believe that He will not leave us (thy rod and thy staff will protect). See

If we are to witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God, we must remember that Isaiah prophesied about the “peaceable Kingdom of God” in and .

The New Revised Standard Version The Peaceful Kingdom

6 The wolf shall live with the lamb,

the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

the calf and the lion and the fatling together,

and a little child shall lead them.

The New Revised Standard Version The Peaceful Kingdom

6 The wolf shall live with the lamb,

the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

the calf and the lion and the fatling together,

and a little child shall lead them.

The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.

and a little child shall lead them.

This statement seems to also allude to the understanding of the "peaceable kingdom" that Isaiah prophesied about

This statement seems to also allude to the understanding of the "peaceable kingdom" that Isaiah prophesied about

Therefore, the second way we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God is to go in faith (as lambs amidst the wolves)

Going with the right attitude

How else do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God? We go with the right attitude

Contrary to the prosperity Gospel, this commissioning of God's people sends them out with courage to go forth not only in faith, but also in state of vulnerability and intentional poverty, to travel lightly, and to depend on others hospitality.

Jesus is suggesting that though theses pairs go to places of notable danger, he will protect them and in-turn their nonviolent, non-anxious, peaceable demeanor will help to bring the "kingdom of God near" as they are to proclaim in .

Remember Jesus says the “harvest is plentiful” but what is lacking are the laborers who are prepared to go forth in the apostolic spirit described in the text, i.e. into potential harm with limited personally possessions trusting fully on the God and the hospitality of others.

What is powerful about these instruction from Jesus is very lack of power that is presence. Living of the gospel is very counter-cultural. Jesus is not suggesting the pairs do an assessment as to whether the people they encounter will be receptive to them. They are simply called to be present among the people, to bless their homes with peace, the very peace of God embodies them on this mission. This more than just being calm, we are talking about that which Scripture describes as surpassing all understanding.

And these pairs of harvesters are also called to Table Fellowship… to eat and drink together... as we do weekly. Because where people eat together, they grow together.

Therefore, the third way today’s text suggest we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God is to go with a right attitude (non-anxious and peaceable)

When the text says to go with "no purse" it suggests nothing to which accumulates wealth. This aspect of the mission is perhaps the most subversive in our contemporary, consumeristic culture.

Consider what it would look for the church to embrace an ethos of intentional poverty?

We return, rejoicing!

And when we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God, We must return, rejoicing!

God gives power to succeed

"Today we rejoice that the authority of His name is still the powerful means by which our lives are transformed." Richard Shaffer, Pg 214, YRC, VOL 3 FoTW

"...to this day, wherever we attend faithfully to our Lord's mission and accomplish acts of mercy in Jesus' name, the Kingdom of God is being announced, the reign of evil is being challenged, and the promise of God's consummation is being made (just like in prayer Jesus taught us: “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it in heaven)." David Lose Pg 219, YRC, VOL 3 FoTW

BUT "The church must be aware that the message, not the messenger, is the focus of our existence. ...the disciples focus was to be on the gifts that came from God, not the personalities of the messengers who brought them." In essence "the burden of persuasion is no longer on us, for we are not the focus....the focus of our message is on the coming of Christ and our call to live each day in His name." Richard Shaffer, Pg 216&218, YRC, VOL 3 FoTW

So this begs some personal reflection, where does your focus lie?

Rejoice not earthly accomplishments but that your name is written in heaven

In , Paul reminds us that if one sows to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. Paul goes to encourage the church to “not grow weary in doing what is right.... and whenever we have opportunity, let us do work for the good of all...”

Once we acknowledge that God-given gifts inside of us, the hard part is not turning our focus towards the earthly results. When the seventy returned with joy, their joy was misplaced in authority and power.

Jesus acknowledges the great gifts he has given, the power and authority his followers now yield, yet he also reminds them to not get ‘big-headed’ because its not about them, its about the glory of God. Jesus says ‘do not rejoice is at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Rejoice not earthly accomplishments but that your name is written in heaven

See, "The coming Kingdom of God demands a change in perspective... seeing the challenges of life through a lens provided by God, rather than a perspective built on human endeavors (It's not about me)." We rejoice, not in the power of our accomplishments, but in the knowledge that our 'names are written in heaven' by the One whose name is the most powerful of all." Richard Shaffer, Pg 216&218, YRC, VOL 3 FoTW

We rejoice in salvation made possible through Jesus Christ

"what matters more than the earthly and spiritual successes of Jesus' followers is the eternal relationship with God they enjoy through him (Jesus). This relationship is theirs by grace." David Lose Pg 219, YRC, VOL 3 FoTW

Conclusion

So, How do we witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God (per today’s text)?

We witness to the Kingdom when we

Go in pairs (to harvest and pray); when we go in faith (as lambs amidst the wolves); when we go with the right attitude (non-anxious and peaceable); and when we return, rejoicing (not in our accomplishments but in our salvation by grace through faith).

Goin faith (as lambs amidst the wolves)

Going with the right attitude

then return, rejoicing