Disciples are Mission Ready - Part 1

Dare to Be a Disciple

Maybe it is because “crossing the berm” was such a vivid picture. Our encampment at Camp Udairi had sand pushed up by the engineers all the way around. “Crossing the Berm” meant that we were leaving the safety of the camp and going into the unknown.

Matthew 10:1–5a NIV

1 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. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.

We gathered our gear, loaded the HUMVEE’s and 2 ½ tons, lined up the vehicles into files and a large convoy and set out for Baghdad.

“Crossing the berm” meant that we were going into the combat area, and that realization was almost overwhelming.

Matthew 10:

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.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions:

Let’s stop here just for a moment. We don’t know a lot about the disciples except that some were fishermen, one was a tax collector, another a zealot (likely a nationalist). The others were not described. It would be safe to say that they were not groomed to be door to door salesmen of a message that was not going to be popularly received – not to mention, as we will see, could cost them their lives. And, yet, here they were, ready to be launched into their world on a mission from Jesus. I don’t know about you, but there would be a thousand thoughts running through my head.

For any mission, the team prepares for the operation. The team will define what the mission is and isn’t. The routes will be determined with secondary routes prepared. Intelligence reports will let you know what type of activity is going on in the area. Communications are ensured. Frequencies are kept open for your team. The team members will designate zones to defend and weapons will be made ready for the operation. Lock and load!

Let’s see what Jesus is asking the disciples to do…

Matthew 10:5 NIV

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.

Matthew 3:1–2 NIV

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Matthew 4:17 NIV

17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

“Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Jesus defines the mission to be to the lost sheep of Israel. It is not the time for the Gentiles, that will come but this mission on this day is for the Jews.

The message of the mission is to announce that the kingdom of heaven has come near. Although not stated, this implies repentance. Jesus and John the Baptist had made this very clear early on:

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Repentance

Wabush, a town in a remote portion of Labrador, Canada, was completely isolated for some time. But recently a road was cut through the wilderness to reach it. Wabush now has one road leading into it, and thus, only on one road leading out. If someone would travel the unpaved road for six to eight hours to get into Wabush, there is only way he or she could leave---by turning around.

Each of us, by birth, arrives in a town called Sin. As in Wabush, there is only one way out--a road built by God himself. But in order to take that road, one must first turn around. That complete about face is what the Bible calls repentance, and without it, there's no way out of town. Brian Weatherdon.

“Never REJECT yourself due to the sins you have committed. REGRET will do nothing; REPENT and do something!” ― Israelmore Ayivor

Isaiah 52:7–10 NIV

7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” 8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the Lord returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. 9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:7-10

Matthew 10:9-

How beautiful on the mountains

are the feet of those who bring good news,

who proclaim peace,

who bring good tidings,

who proclaim salvation,

who say to Zion,

Matthew 10:9–15 NIV

9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

“Your God reigns!”

8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;

together they shout for joy.

When the Lord returns to Zion,

they will see it with their own eyes.

9 Burst into songs of joy together,

you ruins of Jerusalem,

for the Lord has comforted his people,

he has redeemed Jerusalem.

10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm

in the sight of all the nations,

and all the ends of the earth will see

the salvation of our God. [1]

“The Kingdom of heaven is near” is the message that the Lord has come!

The disciples had a tremendous message to share with the nation but getting that message out there was not going to be easy.

Let’s read on

9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Matthew 10:16-18

We live in a hostile world.

On our trip home from Albuquerque in September we listened to Dr. Michael Brown describe the similarities of our nation with the times of Jezebel. Dr. Brown was a part of the Brownsville revival. He has written a book recently titled Jezebel’s War with America. Jezebel is a character in the Bible from 3,000 years ago. Through her influence, Israel became bloody and evil. She is the most wicked female character in the Bible. Because of her influence, Israeli children were sacrificed to the false god Molech. Dr. Brown points out the situation in our culture in its attitude toward abortion and prostitution:

Rather than writing headlines, Teen Vogue magazine is making them., the magazine geared toward girls, teens and young women published an article titled, “Why Sex Work Is Real Work,” comparing “selling your body for cash to the practice of medicine—just another profession, just another choice,” according to USA Today.

Then, a June Teen Vogue response to a letter in an advice column about “How to Get an Abortion If You’re a Teen” included these words: “(I)t’s only logical that if teens are mature enough to become parents, they are mature enough to decide whether or not they want to give birth. Having access to abortion should be your right, regardless of your parents’ beliefs.” The writer even went on to “talk logistics.”

(Brown writes) “These two brazen articles geared toward young women should serve as substantial evidence that our culture has fallen so far that telling girls that working as a prostitute or having an abortion without parental knowledge is not only accepted—but should be celebrated!” Brown said. “If we don’t think there is an evil spirit after the hearts and minds of our young women, we are fooling ourselves.”

As disciples of Jesus we need to be aware of the Area of Operations where we have been sent by Jesus. This is not to intimate us because Jesus has equipped us, it is just simply wisdom.

16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

Matthew 10:19–20 NIV

19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Jesus makes it clear to the disciples that, among the wolves, they needed to be both shrewd and innocent. Shrewd means that they needed to be wise in their mission. Innocent meant that they needed to operate with integrity.

I think about the varieties of methods that missionaries and churches are using today to spread the Gospel. Dave Roever has used his tragedy as a door into communist China, the military, and public schools. Other missionaries have used colleges throughout the world to access the future generations. Others are broadcasting on Christian TV, radio, and podcasts. Some are on Visa’s as teachers. Churches are just as creative as they provide activities for the community and target needs within the community. We still need to be both shrewd and innocent in today’s environment.

Let’s read on

19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Matthew 10:21

As Christians we are even more specially equipped – the Spirit of God. Brother Andrew smuggled Bibles into the Soviet Curtain during the worst of the Cold War. On one famous occasion he was going into the nation of Romania. He was in line at the border checkpoint. His car was packed with illegal Bibles. Each car in front of him went through a lengthy inspection with the contents being taken out of the car and opened for inspection. Even the hubcaps were checked. As he pulled forward he prayed:

“Dear Lord,” Brother Andrew remembers praying, “What am I going to do?”

Matthew 10:21–25 NIV

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

As he prayed, a bold idea came to Brother Andrew. “I know that no amount of cleverness on my part can get me through this border search. Dare I ask for a miracle? Let me take some of the Bibles out and leave them in the open where they will be seen.”

Putting the Bibles out in the open would truly be depending on God, rather than his own intelligence, he thought. So when the guards ushered Andrew forward, he did just this. “I handed him my papers and started to get out. But his knee was against the door, holding it closed.”

And then, the almost unbelievable happened.

The guard looked at Brother Andrew’s passport and abruptly waved him on. “Surely thirty seconds had not passed,” he remembers.

Brother Andrew started the engine and began pulling away, all the while wondering if he was supposed to pull over so the car could be taken apart and examined. “I coasted forward, my foot poised above the brake. Nothing happened. I looked out the rear mirror. The guard was waving the next car to a stop, indicating to the driver that he had to get out.”

God had cleared the way for Brother Andrew to smuggle the Bible to Christians who had no access to God’s Word.

All the equipment of this world is great but I want to have what Brother Andrew had – the power of the Spirit of God!

Let’s read on

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! [2]

What comes to mind as I read these verses and think about enduring for the sake of Jesus are the promises of .

Give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God

Wwill not be hurt at all by the second death

Will not be hurt at all by the second death

2. will not be hurt at all by the second death

I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

3. I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

Give authority over the nations and the morning star

4. give authority over the nations and the morning star

He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels

5. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels

Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.

6. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne

7. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne

Part II Next Week!

[1] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[2] The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Disciples are Mission Ready - Part 1

Crossing the Berm

Focus:

Crossing the Berm

Jesus Issues the Order

Jesus Issues the Order

The Operation

The Operation

The Mission

Repentance

The Kingdom of Heaven

The Area of Operation

The Area of Operation

The Rules of Engagement

Specially Equipped

Fight On! – Endurance

To the Overcomer: