Sunday Sermon - Advancing the Kingdom Has a Price

Okay, good morning. Welcome to Calvary Heights. We are so glad you are with us today. I don't know I was teasing Chris to his preacher through mask. I feel like I'm a gospel Bandit. Like I'm you know, you're not here to get everybody going for that. But we are in the Book of Mark. So if you've got that go ahead and turn to Mark chapter 6 and

we will be there where we in verses 7 through 29 this morning to Mark chapter 6 verses 7 through 29. And here we go. Turn the verse 7 and he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their Journey except to staff. No bread. No bag no money in their belts what to wear sandals. And not put on two tunics. And he said to them wherever you enter a house stay there until you depart from there and if any place you will not and if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you when you leave shake off the dust that is on your feet. As a testimony against them. So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and Anointed with oil mini who are sick and healed them. Verse 14 King Herod heard of it for Jesus the name had become known some said some said John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous Powers aren't working him. But other said he is Elijah and other said he is a prophet like the like the prophets of old but when Herod heard of it, he said John whom I beheaded has been raised. What was Herod would sentences John and bound him in prison for the sake of herodias is brother Phillips wife. Because he had married her. 4 John has been saying to Herod it is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. Rhodius had a Roadies had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death, but she could not for Herod beard John. Knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him he was greatly perplexed and yet he heard him gladly. Opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his Nobles and Military commanders and the Leading Men of Galilee. Berwyn herodias daughter came in and dance. She pleased Herod and his guess in the king said to the girl asked me for whatever you wish and I will give it to you and he vowed to her. Whatever you ask me. I will give you up to half my kingdom.

And she went out and said to her mother what shall I ask for? And she said the head of John the Baptist and she came in immediately with haste to the king and a saying I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter. And the King was exceedingly sorry, but because of his Oaths and is guess he did not want to break his word to her and immediately the king send an execution with orders to bring John's head and he went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl and the girl gave it to her mother when is disciples heard of it. They came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. About me forward apparel.

Probably think you this morning 1 just to be able to gather physically together with one another again. I know there's some odd circumstances and there's some things that are just not quite the same and father. We understand that in your sovereignty and in your will and in your foreknowledge, you knew that this is going to be this way and you were okay with it. All the teachers to be is okay with it as you are. He just understand that the proclamation of your word is more important.

Then a building we may meet in. or Anything of those concerns father I pray that is we we enter into this time or we dig into Mark chapter 6 you would speak to our hearts. So you would teach you something so that you would open us up and in a luminous to to your message to what is happening here in the scripture. Fathers week we look at this. We see that there are men advancing the kingdom for your sake and For Your Glory father. Let us be the same way moving our hearts to do the same and it's in Jesus name. I pray amen.

So here in Mark chapter 6 what we've got as we've got two different stories that are kind of interconnected. And in these are two stories about people who Advance the kingdom of God. Both of these are sent out by the authority of God to tell about his coming Kingdom. In the temperate zone because the ladder store in the one of John the Baptist really foreshadows. What's going to be happening to the men in the first story? As we look at what happens with the disciples and so we're looking at this scripture. We see that really the whole first half of Mark chapter 6 everything from 161 all the way through 229 is about how you deal? Being rejected for proclaiming the word of God. Mark 6 1 through 6 is about Jesus going back and in teaching in the synagogue on his own, Hometown, right? And there was like this is just Joe's kid right knowledge. Is that is this is Mary's kid. We know his brother James, you know, his brother Joseph. We know his brother Judas we knows brother Simon and we know his sister's why is he here? This isn't making any sense, right? 7 through 13 the apostles are sent out in groups of to claim the the gospel Jesus Christ claimed that people are to repent of their sins. And then we see the consequences of that in summer garden. We see what happens with John and verses 14 through 29. John had been proclaiming proclamation of of repentance for a long time. And here we see. A potential outcome for that. So we see this it that the followers of Jesus have the honor nothing about this is an honor and a privilege of advancing the kingdom of God. That works more call to do we have this honor and it's a privilege to do that. Jesus calls us and we obey I like what happened to see there's there's no wavering and he called the 12 and he began to send them out by 2 by 2 and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits verse 7. There's no wavering on this. He called we go. There's no the quote on disciples are like are you sure we're ready Jesus? We had enough we need to go through another class on discipleship to do know he calls they go there's no pussyfooting around with this. They just get up and they go he sends them out under his authority and he provides for them on the job training. They don't know what's happening and they just know they're supposed to go. They have the message that they have received their to take that message and tell it to others may go See when we go understand. This is huge when we go we extend the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Right as we proclaim the gospel and minister to those in need. We are continuing the work of Jesus Christ. And we're continuing the work that Jesus began.

And there are rewards for following Jesus. Don't miss those if you were to read through this and just as it is and be like man.

Jesus gets rejected at home and then his buddy John gets beheaded. I don't want to fall this guy know there are rewards and they're great reward and Mark 10 2930 is truly I save you that there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands? For my sake you will not receive a hundredfold now in this time houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and land with persecutions and in the age to come. You will be rewarded for following Christ in the age to come you will be rewarded and having it may not show up here on Earth, but the rewards are going to be there are rewards and they are important. He also says that it's important person roasted. He says there will be persecutions. The reward is great for advancing the kingdom of Jesus Christ, but it does come with a price.

Verse 7 again. Jesus is sending out the apostles to buy to other several reasons why he would do this right? It's safer and it's wiser.

Dumb reasons serving alone makes you an easy target for the evil one. There aren't Lone Ranger's out there serving God and the when there are Lone Ranger's out there swimming. It's interesting how quickly they fall. Whether whether or not to do their own temptations that are around them or or whether or not it's too just whenever there's it's safer and wiser to serve God in groups. Why we have the church. That's why it's here is so that we can be together. In Deuteronomy, this is actually kind of an odd thing but it reflects back to the deuteronomic law back to Deuteronomy back in there and has an account even goes back to that did it? It's just the law requires two witnesses for verification. So if it's two people go on and something happens. You have witnesses who can collaborate this is what we really went down. It's a safety thing. It's a fertilizer. Jesus was asking the apostles here as he sent them out to do something. That was culturally appropriate. This is what people did you didn't travel? 2000 years ago by yourself and expect to come out unscathed. Didn't happen. Can't lock the doors when you're walking through a bad neighborhood at night, right? It's not how that works. They sent him out. It was a safety thing as a cultural norm and it was as well as to help them make wise decisions in their Ministry. There was somebody there to hold them accountable for what was happening. Jesus also gives the Apostles of the Apostles authority over demons and spirits. Evil spirits specifically, right the 12 are his authorized and appointed Representatives. They are an extension of Jesus and his work as are we that's important. If you claim Jesus Christ, you are an extension of him. Write in in this time is his the apostles were living here. A man's representative was viewed as the man himself if I sent my Representatives. 22 Russell for a contract That was me being there. It wasn't my Representatives. It wasn't just your people. I call Mike know my people were me. His people are him. It works that way. Jesus Jesus has Paul says we are ambassadors of Christ later on it and in his letter to the Corinthians church right that we are an extension of Jesus Christ. This is a huge honor to consider yourself an extension of Jesus Christ is representative, but it's also a huge responsibility.

Like what happens in verses 8 and 9? Jesus tell the apostles to take only the bare minimum as they go with no packing for this trip, right? There's there's there's grab your overnight bag. There's no where's my go bag. There's nothing get your jacket on don't even take a spare right take your staff. Don't wear two tunics make sure your sandals are laced up at out.

They are certainly not traveling first class. This is not private jets. This is in the first class tickets where they're going Ministry is not a means for accumulating things in life. And it's interesting as Jesus tell the apostles to go out. This is exactly what God told the Hebrews to take an exodus 12:11 after the plagues. Adjust these things. This is an emphasis on God's provision for you in Ministry. This is an emphasis on on God providing here. You take just the bare necessities on Jesus tell the apostles where to stay in and it went to move on is he is we move on and verses 10 and 11 a receptive home means stay until the work is done. How long is it till the work is done? Till it's done. There's no time limit on things being done in this manner. It's done when it's done and God will move you on.

How does the results of the idea of going back to 89 taking the bare minimum, right? That they're just saying that receptive house at first house. They find this warm and inviting they stay there so that they're not out seeking nicer accommodations. Isn't a game of bigger better. I got a penny. Can I get can I get a nickel for my penny? Can I can I trade up I think of a time that we played bigger better one time and and high school when we started out with a paperclip and by the end we've gotten rid of a 75 Buick LeSabre, right? I mean it was you even trade up for all these crazy things.

That's not what he's asking the apostles to do. Start with the lowly start the humbles to teach them to be lowly and humble as well not to seek out nicer accommodations. This is about showing honor to those at their ministering to the begin with the sauce about not disgracing the gospel in doing so when I think about our International missionary through the Southern Baptist convention, it's amazing to me how it doesn't matter where they're going in the world. allowed one suitcase

They're allowed one suitcase per family member.

This is what Jesus is talking about.

all the stuff they have Is useless to the ministry of God? If it keeps them from serving God.

And he can get rid of it.

Now Jesus is encouraging his followers to live among the people there ministering to hear as well. I think that's important for us to see this means staying there. They live in this community. They're dependent on that Community. They are accountable to that community and they are to be transparent and show Integrity within that community. Some do remember who those that Jesus has sent out the apostles on a short-term mission trip. This isn't this isn't the full mission that they're getting ready to we still got a little bit before we get to the book of Acts in these guys live on Mission. They're going on Mission. This is a short-term mission trip and this is important for what Jesus has to say next, right? This is so important for us to remember that and it's important that Jesus has the same next Jesus tell the apostles not to waste time in the places where the gospel and its carriers are not welcome.

It is important to remember that about short-term mission that this is about short-term mission trips is about short-term Ministry. But when they leave there to give the people of warning of what they are rejecting right? This is this doesn't mean they ignore them forever, but they move on for now and they try again later. You don't keep beating on that door. If it's not going to be open to you their other doors, that will be open in the short-term time.

Here's the thing and it's tough. He talks about specifically shaking the dust off their sandals. This was an act that was seen in the Old Testament or people would literally I didn't Moses describes the times that he would shake his robes and shake the dirt out of his robes. It was literally up you stand in somebody's doorway when they would disagree with you the human language shake your dirt off your clothes and off your shoes into their doorway, and it was a warning that you are acting in Rebellion against God. You see the shaking you wait, he's got a big one coming for you. That's what Jesus is kind of telling the apostles to do here. Just shake it off c and end it sounds like it's a horrible like it's me, but know this is active love. Sounds bizarre, but this is an act of love because we are to love the people who reject the gospel enough. Somebody were the gospel message to Jesus Christ. We are to love them enough to warn them of the dangers of rejecting Christ.

We are to love them enough to warn them of the Judgment that is to come because of their rejection of Christ.

This is a heartbreaking thing, but it's a necessary for the proclamation of the Gospel is necessary for the growth of the Kingdom.

Let me see verses 12 and 13 until they went out and they proclaimed that people should repent and they cast out many demons and Anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

It's interesting. So the apostles here they go out on their little mission trip wonder how long it was could have been a month could have been a few days. You just send them out and then they gather back together. But in these two verses 12 and 13, we see this summary of all the things that Jesus has been doing. a summary of What his ministry is? What are you doing? He preached repentance.

He cast out demons and Jesus healed the sick.

That's it. Do they they went out? Preaching repentance by the authority of Jesus Christ. Now, this is the first thing that both Jesus and John preached matter whether or not they would be rejected or persecuted. It matter that they were faithful and obedient and if they have the courage. Proclaim the truth of the Gospel that when we're out there. We need to be preaching repentance. We need to be for claiming a repentance in Jesus Christ declaring that I am sinful your sinful. And you can't be with a holy God until you repent of that. Now I want to tell you I can probably do 40 minutes on those two verses I'll be gracious and not do that to people with the idea of repentance is huge and it's so important. Manila Zoo, look at this this story. I've always see here at the the 12 is this thing bracket? And what happens with the next passage this next chunk? Hear the kingdom of God is Advanced through Obedience of the Apostles preaching a message of repentance.

In the next section, we see a preacher who had already been preaching a message of repentance and we see the tragic outcome of that. Oswego looking in here to eat 2 verses 14 and 15. I think it had heard about the Apostle's have done in Jesus name and he began to wonder who Jesus was right? You see John the Baptist raise from the dead or is he Elijah? Is he a prophet? He's scratching his head trying to figure out what's happening Herod was not a Jew. He was an appointed King over a certain small region of Palestine by the Roman occupying Army at the time. right She granted the Jews some privileges because they already had their own Law and Order the Romans didn't want to mess with it. They thought well, they've got their own thing is been working for them for several thousand years were it's not worth our headache. It's kind of how the Romans treated the Jews when it came to their religion and in that sort of stuff. It's a hair didn't understand a lot of it.

but what he did see

was that there was something happening. So this preaching and the doing of the work of the Kingdom had made Herod nervous the supernatural Deeds that had been witnessed could not be denied. And it left people asking questions what happened Sears when we see this it starts at 10 and then be told in a flashback use that literary term flashback work John's already dead in verse 14. But we start to see him tell the story of why John died and how it happened. And so we see this in that this that it's this flashback. So Mark then tells the end of John's life in the spice rack to the story of John's death is is really kind of soap opera like right it is it's a it's a story of corrupted power is the story of Pride. It's a story of lust insects. It's a story of Revenge right and it gets really gross when he start reading it closely. So I love them exciting in the Bible. You need to read Mark 6 verses 14 through 29, cuz that's some interesting stuff. If you watch reality TV, turn it off read. This this is interesting, right? So Herod had married his still living brother's ex-wife. Big Brother Philip who is married to herodias is still alive. And Herod here says I like her. I think I'll make her my wife.

You think so. She does that now John goes to Harrington dude, that is wrong. He probably pronounces. That's that's not right man. That's that's not okay. You shouldn't know he does it several times and summer guards John to hair. It was very much like the prophet Nathan was to David. And proclaiming and calling out Davidson. Now the difference was David turned his heart to God. CARiD never does we never see the hair does but he was very much in that regard. And so they're there was some honor there that that John feared or hair and I'm sorry dear John Herod. John because he knew him as a man of God. He knew that this guy was saying good and righteous and true things that he just didn't know how to process it in his own evil heart.

So you probably were announced them in and herod's wife herodias. She wanted John dead because of it. demer Is a scheming woman she wanted him dead and but Herod fear John left it that he didn't kill him. He just locked him up in prison instead now. Is where it gets really weird. Herod throws a birthday party Roman-style birthday party

It was huge and invited all the movers and all the Shakers of the region military leaders Nobles wealthy prominent men of the area. These parties were known to be drunk and celebrations. The Israelites actually considered birthday parties Pagan rituals. To be avoided because of this right? So here's here's this drunken Pagan celebration. And at some point we learn her name from Josephus history's salame herodias daughter comes in. And dances for the minute the party now. This is herod's wife's daughter, but herod's wife. Is his ex-sister-in-law so this girl is his niece now stepdaughter.

You see what I'm talking about?

Better Nanny reality TV show you'll see better than any soap opera in DC can come up with and it's hearing the word of God. Right, so she comes in and she dances for a drunken group of men.

And it's more than likely that she was sent in there to do it by her mom.

In the dancing pleases them greatly.

Again, going back to Josephus history. He kind of Asher's us that this dancing wasn't just like, you know, she comes in and she doesn't Cotton Eye Joe and steps out know. This was a seductive dance. That was its purpose. So think about this this is this you see how vile this is becoming do you see how disgusting this is you see how evil and twisted and corrupt. These people are better mother sends her daughter into a drunken party to strip for her uncle step dad. And his buddies who then get turned on.

So that Mom can get what she wants.

And what she wants is John's head on a platter.

In the sinfulness of these people. That's exactly what she gets as well. Right Herod was sorry for what he had done since he was exceedingly. Sorry. He's not repentant. He's sorry. And there's a difference.

Is more sorry that he was probably played by his wife and her daughter. Then he wasn't killing John.

He's more sorry what the circumstances were cuz he couldn't lose face in front of all those people when the girl asked him to kill John for.

Then he was being repentant and turning from his evil ways.

Understand that John had been Faithfully proclaiming a message of repentance. John was a man of great moral character and courage see evidence here that Herod was not Can't even stand up to his own wife and stepdaughter. John love God and boldly proclaimed his word. Era did not. John decried sin and called for repentance.

Eridan reveled in sin and murder John for the crying it. Parent knew his guilt and he knew John's blood is on his hands the whole time. We need to understand this church. This is important that as we Faith or faithful to advance the kingdom of God. We will see opposition. Jesus on his own Hometown in Nazareth when he went into the synagogue. He gave you the apostles instructions here in 7 through 13 on what to do when they saw it and here we see the ultimate version of it and John that there's going to be opposition.

To the proclamation of the Kingdom opposition to the proclamation of the Gospel. Jesus told the apostles that he told them in the short-term move on. Oec in the existing example of John we see that persistence is still needed to fulfill the call that they still has to be that persistence there when we seek to be obedient to God by proclaiming his kingdom. Some people will fear what we do. Dear John She's not going to understand and that misunderstanding is going to lead to fear. We will not need to defend ourselves. Did John do anything other than continue to preach? just preached Two we don't need to defend ourselves if we are obedient to God and walk with him. Unlike the unjust who will oppose us. We will not need to resort to violence or corrosion to represent Jesus. We shouldn't our good works will be our honor. And that honor that we have through our good works will haunt those who oppose us. That's okay.

We need to swing we seek out to be obedient to God by proclaiming his kingdom. Some people will try to stop what we do.

I never will forget it was years ago. We were we were on a short-term mission trip in Panama City Beach and we were providing free rides to drunk kids during spring break. You've never experienced that that's an interesting thing. Nothing like cleaning vomit out of a 15 passenger van at 4 in the morning. But it's okay. But what I remember is that people were upset because we were pulling cab fares away from the taxi drivers. And it was actually a court injunction filed against us.

We have sinned arbitrator college kids trying to figure out how to get an arbitrator right then to send somebody to talk to the police department and in the in the local taxi Union. Look, we're trying to help you guys cuz you don't want them out. We just cleaned up out of our van in the back of your cab. Do you? We're trying to help you guys cuz you guys don't want to have to put these kids in the back of your squad car to take him back to the hotel room or fill your jails up in your drunk tanks up.

Are we going to do is proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ? They tried to stop us it all got worked out. And by the day to we were back on the mission. God will work it out for us, but there will be people who will try to stop out. We do hatred and guilt that opposition. The message of Jesus John and the apostles was what is repent. Do you know what message you already use when you're advancing the kingdom? Repent it's the same message.

When you are calling people to repent of their sins, they're going to get angry.

Are you going to be angry about that? Because you call people repent of their sins, they will be confronted by their sinful nature and guilt. They will have before holy and just God.

Do you remember remember what I said about John's story of Kingdom advancement and how that's a foreshadow, right? Understand this this is a 4 shadow of what was happening with the apostles in their lives. According to what? We understand about history. The Apostle John is the only Apostle who died a natural death.

All of the other apostles were martyred for their faith for the proclamation of Jesus Christ.

And that's just the beginning.

Do when we seek to be obedient to God by for claiming his kingdom. Some people will want to see you destroyed.

The ungodly will use ungodly methods to stop you from doing the work of God. The ungodly make it your head on a platter. Jesus declared John the Baptist the last and greatest prophet. He never once performed a recorded miracles in Scripture.

In his ministry was maybe about a year old before hair guy.

He died in his early thirties.

It's tough and we don't like it, but the truth is bad things happen to good people. Life is unfair. I love school nurse Suzy Lee her her thing to always say when the kid was sick, but that's not fair. Mrs.lee. She'd come back with a honey life's not fair the first you go to ride the rides and see the pigs. And that's the truth life is not fair. The righteous do suffer. That's hard for us to accept as well. But God sees this and he knows this and we are called to advance the kingdom of God all the same. See if your true Kingdom Advance or no matter what happens to you. You will not be silenced.

Your life will be a testimony to God's Redemptive power. And as we advance the kingdom of God when we are rejected and we are persecuted. It should be our prayer to have the heart of these Apostles be counted Worthy. to be Dishonored for the sake of Jesus Christ

great things do happen to godly people who put it all on the line for the truth of God's word and for the glory of his name. Are you going to be one of those people today? Please pray with me. Father we thank you so much for the state of giving us we think for this time to have been in your word to have seen. that while it is important for us to Be Kingdom advancers to assure that there is a price we pay. father that prices so worth it

die is to gain Christ. I put it in our hearts to see it as a great desire

to be Dishonored there on Earth for the sake of the Kingdom

Let us be worthy. Of that call. Saint Jesus name I pray amen.