7 Things Churches Do: Jesus Sends

Intro

I am desperate to see the body of Christ live as the body of Christ. What does that even mean? The body of Christ is living and active. It pursues what the head is tells it to pursue and every member does its part. Can I tell you though that it is no one’s part to sit and listen? No one’s. When the body of Christ hears the words of Christ opinion no longer matters. You either follow the words of Christ or you are not part of the body of Christ. If Christ says go, you go. If He says stop, you stop.

EXP

I am not trying to make this another sermon about how you are supposed to evangelize the world… which you should be. My intent is to simply tell you what Jesus did, and by extension what we are to do. I am not attempting to increase guilt, but I am trying to increase health. This is the close of 2 different series. The 1st was the 4 “E” ssentials. the 2nd is our current series.

In the 1st one we talked about 4 characteristics of a great church:

We Exalt the Lord.

We Encourage one another.

We equip and we get equipped to do the will of the Lord for ministry.

We Evangelize.

Churches that don’t do those things and by default Christians that don’t do those things are sorely unhealthy.

In this series we talked about 7 Things Churches Do:

Penance/Repentance. Give opportunity for people to reconnect with the Lord so He can make them into what they were created to be.

Baptism. We provide opportunity for a person to publicly say “I am a new creation… and I am not going back.”

Communion… We are reminded how the sacrifice of Christ and how it fulfills everything we need and completely payed the price for our sinful condition and set us free.

Confirmation.. Baptism of the Spirit where we actually play a role in praying for one another so that the Spirit can lead and guide and counsel and comfort the Body of Christ.

Pray for the Sick - We provide a place for the sick to go.. in body, in mind, in Spirit so that we can anoint them to be set apart for God to perform His purpose first by forgiving their sins and allow God to do what He wills.

Marriage - we talked about the simple answer but the difficult practice of the perfect marriage.

Today we talk about Holy Orders. Or as some churches call it “Ordaining” or as I call it… Being Sent

Ordaining

In churches this is typically a ritual in which a body of believers places the mantle of leadership on an individual and grants them authority to lead a body of believers.

The first time it happened for me, I remember the larger Body of the North Country Ministers Fellowship and a few other churches came and gave me a piece of paper, but more importantly, they prayed and agreed with the Lord that I was called to minister and they agreed to help me pursue that calling. The piece of paper hangs on my wall. It was just like when I became the pastor here this church and my old church met on a special Sunday serve where we agreed with the Lord to do His bidding in this body and we prayed and committed to God’s cause in my life and in the life of this church.

But can I say that those events are just a picture of what Jesus does for believers...

What Jesus Did

Luke 10:1–24 ESV

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. 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. 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.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. “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. “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.” 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.” In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Luke 10:

Let’s Describe the Scene

A Turn In the Book

Jesus begins His journey to Jerusalem

He had been ministering in Galilee

Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum

Most of Christ’s Miracles happen here

walks on water

calms the storm

the woman with the issue of blood

the centurion’s daughter

feeds 5000

heals all the sick and cast outs demons

Legion....

That will become important later.

Jesus has sent out the 12

Gives them the power to cast out demons, cure diseases, heal the sick

Send them to do those thing and preach the kingdom of God

They were so effective that Herod got confused because he already killed John and yet the miracles kept on happening.

More miracles

Jesus feeds the 5000

Healing of boy with evil spirit

The Last Verse

Luke 9:62 ESV

Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Lk

He’s weeding out his real followers of which we have … 72

The Story

Luke 9:1–3 ESV

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.

Luke 10:

Luke 10:1–2 ESV

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.

luke 9:

Luke 22:35–36 ESV

And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.

Luke 22:

Differences and Similarities

Luke 10:1–20 ESV

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. 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. 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.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. “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. “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.” 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.”

Lk 10:1-20

Who they are being sent to

The Gist of the Story

to the 12..

Sends 72 - just like he sent the 12

Matthew 10:5–6 ESV

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matthew 10:6 ESV

but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Don’t take anything

to the 72

Every town ahead of Jesus - the samaritans

In

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The circle starts close to home. You have a circle of influence and as you minister to it your circle of influence will grow… and it’s supposed to.

What they are being sent with.

in the first 2 they are supposed to take nothing

in the last one they are told to take their purse, their bag, and their sword.

Take away, don’t get hung up on technique. What to bring, and what not to bring. because in all of them He is sending you.

The Harvest is Plentiful

There is never a time when blazing a path for Jesus is not desperately needed.

The laborers are few… this is not a guilt trip, because what He is really saying is 2 things.

No matter how many labors you have, it is not enough.

No matter how many are being sent… some simply aren’t going.

The assignment is not for sissies. (lamb among wolves)

remember “No on who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.

we don’t like this because we want to thing that God will let us escape this but your litmus test is are you all in or only partway in. Because if you are not all in, you might as well get out.

When You Enter a House. (individual or close to it ministry)

What is the message? The message is shalom … not REPENT YOU LOSERS

What is the message? The message is shalom … not REPENT YOU LOSERS

This is a deep word. The history of the word is almost completely found in religious texts. So when we go out the message is “I come offering peace in the middle of every storm. That peace only comes from God and he desperately wants to give it to you. It will make you whole and complete.

If I could get a point across to us, The message is not a message of violence and warning. It is a message of peace.

Let me show you how this works...

upon meeting some kind person saved or unsaved, immediately say some bold thing like, “God wants to give you His peace.’ That’s it.... let it rest. Continue to talk about sports, the weather, kids, grandkids, etc. But make sure they hear you say something like “God wants to give you His peace.”

Something WILL happen. And they will notice peace, or the lack of it, but they will remember “God want’s to give you His peace.” and it will change their hearts.

When You Enter a City (Larger group ministry)

Be polite - eat what’s put in front of you… even if you don’t like it.

Heal the sick — this is like we talked about 2 weeks ago, body, mind, spirit.... forgiveness of sins and the results found —

What’s the message.

The Kingdom of God is near you.

This if not violent, there is no argument, it is simply a factual statement… The kingdom of God is near you.

Just like above.. Christ came humbly to the lost… as should we.

What happens if your rejected.

Leave. Shake the dust off you your feat.

Luke 10:11 ESV

‘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.’

lk 10:

This is not an angry thing. This is not a argument thing. We are basically saying, “We did the thing we are supposed to do.. You rejected. That’s okay, but remember… “The kingdom of God is near”

The next verse, “It will be more bearable for Sodum than that town” is Jesus to the disciples not the disciple to the town.

Curse Pronouncements

Korazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum

Lk 10:

Luke 10:13–16 ESV

“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. “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.”

Jesus was basically saying to these towns.. “I performed all or these miracles for you to demonstrate the kingdom of Heaven to you and out of all these town… 72 are following. “

Main point: They aren’t rejecting you, they are rejecting Him. You are giving them a simple opportunity and in fact, you are leaving them with a permanent opportunity.

sheep wolves. bring a sword. Now we talk about how horrible our world is today but it was way worse back then. If you preached Christ as Lord you were and enemy and could be killed on sight. In our circle, we might get ostracized and picked on. Can I say that I don’t know anyone who was fired for telling someone that God wants to give you great peace through Him?

Now I have seen people in trouble for really being a bit of a jerk, or not doing their job, but for the most part we are safe in this country.

If they accept the message stay… if they don’t leave.

Luke 10:11 ESV

‘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.’

luke 10:11

ALWAYS GIVE THE HOPE — THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR.

They aren’t rejecting you they are rejecting Him

The Real Flavor of the Story.

Some times we get lost in the details of the story, but the the last point before we close, I want to kinda step out the way the astronaut might see the earth. They don’t see the nitty gritty details they see how beautiful the earth is.. I want to tell you the beauty of this story.

Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem with a small group of people following him.

He give them a few instructions and some time later they start filtering in.

Dave says, “I was nervous at first and didn’t know what to say but someone invited me in and I did the best I could. I couldn’t remember if you said peace or grace so I said both. Immediately they broke down and said they knew that Jesus was coming but they were afraid because they weren’t married and had 2 kids. I needed to know that Jesus give grace and mercy.... I didn’t even say mercy!”

Someone brought their possessed boy to me. At first I was nervous because I remember even your 12 couldn’t cast one of them out but that boy was set free. They invited me out on their boat to go bullhead fishing… I hat bull head, but I went and so did their cousins and aunts and uncles.... They cant wait to see you...

The list would go on and on

Heres the point, do you have to? No, but you looking at it all wrong.... YOU GET TO.

Jesus closes the meeting with the main point.

As you keep going, Satan keeps falling.

Yes you can trample on serpents and scorpions

The enemy has no hold on you.

But really rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

Conclusion

I said alot of stuff so let me round it up.

Jesus sends everyon out to the harvest.

We have 2 tasks (both of them not one of them)

Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more harvesters.

Be a harvester.

The final verses

Luke 10:17–20 ESV

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.”

lk 10:

What excitement that must have been … You sent us and this guy got healed. This person with demons was set free.

But we rejoice on the bigger thing… our names are written in the lambs book of life.