Faith that Works
Discipleship Nights • Sermon • Submitted
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19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
We are in the midst of a study on discipleship. In our text we read what we call the Great Commission. Jesus spoke these words, telling the disciples what was expected of them.
Jesus did not say, go and make church members or Christians. Instead, His plan is that we would go and make disciples.
What is a disciple?
A disciple is a student of a teacher.
Jesus’ plan for His disciples unfolded through the book of Acts. He empowered them with the Holy Spirit, enabling them to fulfill the great commission.
But I want us to imagine an alternate ending. What would have happened if the disciples had strong FAITH in Jesus as the Son of God, but not works?
What would have happened if they waited in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost, recieved the power of the Holy Spirit and then returned to their normal live becoming nominal Christians who met at church on Sundays?
The church would not have grown and it is likely the message of Jesus would have died with the disciples. Therefore, Jesus expected them to take their FAITH and reveal God’s power through their WORKS.
As disciples, we have to have faith and works.
Our doctrine needs a supernatural demonstration.
What would our world look like if we did not have faith that works? SHOW VIDEO.
Tonight, we will look at the first time Jesus sent out His disciples. It happened during the second year of His earthly ministry.
At least a year before HIs death, Jesus allowed the disciples a glimpse into their future as followers of Christ.
1. Faith that Works requires Compassion for God’s People
35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
At least a year before HIs death, Jesus allowed the disciples a glimpse into their future as followers of Christ. He did not wait until after His resurrection to say, “oh by the way, don’t forget to go and heal the sick, etc.”
Instead, He showed them how to marry their faith with works. Per His usual method of ministry, Jesus went and preached the gospel to everyone around.
When he saw the multitudes who were sick and diseased, he had compassion for them.
Jesus showed His disciples how to have compassion for people.
How does Jesus show compassion for us?
Jesus saw their pain and suffering and met their need.
But Jesus knew He could not meet every need on His own. Therefore He spoke to His disciples about what they could do to help meet the needs.
The harvest is plentiful. There is not a shortage of hurting people. Therefore, Jesus wanted to SEND out laborers into His harvest.
What did Jesus mean?
He expected His disciples to have compassion for all God’s people. How would they show their compassion?
2. Faith that Works requires Depending on God’s Power
1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
After modeling a Godly compassion, Jesus sent His disciples to show compassion.
It is interesting that the first time Matthew names the twelve disciples, he does so after showing Jesus’ compassion and their commission to go and follow His example.
They had a tall order, heal the sick and diseased. How were they to fulfill their assignment?
Jesus gave them necessary power to display faith that works.
Jesus asked them to do what was humanly possible. Humans cannot heal other humans. In our own strength, we cannot even think of wrestling with unclean spirits.
BUT, if we depend on the power of the Holy Spirit, we can do anything Jesus calls us to do.
Why do we need God’s power?
Jesus gave them a chance to learn from Him. For over a year they watched Him preach the Gospel. Then He worked miraculous signs. Now He enabled them to do the same.
Without God’s power, we are unable to see works accompany our faith.
We have faith in God, but He wants to work through us. This requires compassion for God’s people and depending on God’s power...
3. Faith that Works requires Confidence in God’s Provision
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. 11 “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
When Jesus instructed them to go and heal the sick:
Jesus gave specific instructions.
They were not to walk aimlessly from here to there looking for people. Instead, they were to go the lost sheep of Israel.
Jesus gave them the message.
Instead, they were to go the lost sheep of Israel.
They were to preach the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. That required strong faith. By announcing the coming of the kingdom, they told the people the promised Messiah was here.
Why would people believe their message? Because God WORKED through them to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out demons.
But Jesus followed this up with, do not take anything with you. Do not bring any money, clothes, or food. Just have confidence that I will provide.
Jesus told them to expect persecution.
Though they had faith and though Jesus promised God would work through them, Jesus told them not everyone would accept their message.
When they did not believe, they were to kick the dust off their feet and move to another town. (A SIGN OF BEING WORSE THAN GENTILES…)
Why might it be hard for the disciples to go with confidence?
One benefit the disciples did have though, was they watched Jesus work and they witnessed God’s provisions.
16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! 26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
Matthew 10:
Before sending them out, Jesus provided some explanation, though persecution would come, they would be okay because just as God provided for Jesus, He will provide for them.
Remember, as disciples, they were students of Jesus, who was their teachers. Therefore, they could learn how to fulfill this assignment.
The only way the could fail is if they walked in fear.
Close:
The idea behind this discussion on faith that works centers on this question:
I believe like a disciple, but do I act like a disciple?
Jesus calls all of us to be His disciples. Therefore, we have to have FAITH that He will work through us.
The call to let God work through our faith is not limited to the original twelve disciples.
Jesus sent out other groups to let God work through their faith:
Jesus sent out seventy people.
1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.
9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
Jesus sends out us.
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Like the disciples, we have to let our FAITH work. Jesus told us to GO and make disciples.
John 10:
His instruction was not to GO to church ONLY. We are to GO and live the gospel, the good news:
Let’s go out to our community and witness
Let’s show Jesus to our family members
Let’s pray for people who are sick and believe God to use us to see them healed
Let’s model our faith to others
It is not enough to say we believe, we need to let Jesus works through us.
We are not saved by works, but we are saved for works.
Doing good will not get us into heaven. But on our journey to heaven, God wants to do good through us.
He wants us to have compassion for His the lost
He wants us to depend on His power
and when we go and fulfill the Great Commission, He will provide for us.