A Cup of Water

Receive Who?

You (the 12)

Matthew 10:1–4 ESV

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 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; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

We are not Apostles Capital A, and yet are being sent

A Prophet

OT Prophet

Jeremiah 28:9 ESV

As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”

NT Prophets

Acts 13:1 ESV

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Not only pastor/preachers

Acts 21:8–9 ESV

On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.

So then a prophet in the NT church is not necessarily an office as in the OT. It rightly corresponds to preachers and teachers in the church, both men and women; those who speak from the Word of God.

A Righteous Person

Romans 6:16–18 ESV

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

So then a righteous person does not mean some ascetic monk or charismatic preacher, but rather a born again child of God living consistently in obedience to God and His Word

Receive Why?

Because they are righteous

Not because what they do for you

Not because they make you righteous

Because they are a prophet

Substance not style

Acts 17:10–11 ESV

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Because Jesus

Matthew 25:39–40 ESV

And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

A Cup of Water

Supporting the ministry

Elijah cared for by the widow

Collection was taken for jerusalem

Paul was constantly given hospitality

Even debate is benefitted by fellowship

Even a cup of water

Grand gestures are not required (those tend to be for show anyways)

If Jesus can take a small portion of fish and bread, and with it feed thousands, imagine how much He can bless the lives and ministries of His People with even small acts of kindness