SF057 - PREPARING FOR SERVICE (Matthew 10 1-15)

Matthew 10:1-15

Introduction

Those whom Jesus had called to pray for workers He then called to become workers. As they began to see the world as He sees it, looking out on lost humanity through their Lord’s eyes and with His heart of compassion, they also began to see that they themselves were called to go out and warn that lost world of the coming harvest of judgment and to invite them into the Lord’s kingdom.

Vital as it is, prayer is not all that is required. The believer who prays for God to send workers but is unwilling to go himself, prays insincerely and hypocritically. The Christian who genuinely prays for God to send witnesses is also willing to be a witness.

William Barclay reports that when Martin Luther became convinced that the biblical way of salvation was by God’s grace working through man’s faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, he began earnestly preaching and contending for this doctrine that became the hallmark of the Protestant Reformation.

A friend of his was equally convinced of this truth, and the two men agreed that Luther would spend his time out in the world preaching, writing, and debating, while the friend would spend his time alone in a monastery upholding Luther and the cause of the Reformation in prayer. As Luther visited the friend from time to time and reported the difficulties and obstacles of the work, the friend would intensify his praying.

One night the friend had a dream in which he saw a gigantic field that stretched over the whole earth. But only one lone figure was working in the field, and when he looked closer the man saw that the lone figure was his dear friend Luther.

When he woke up he immediately went to find Luther and tell him that God made clear to him through the dream that it was not enough simply to pray. He, too, must give himself directly to the work of spreading the good news of salvation. He did not forsake praying, but he set aside his pious solitude and began to labor beside Luther in the heat and dirt of battle.

In this text our Lord instructs us in how to Prepare for Service:

1A. The Master’s Men (10:1-4)

1B. Their calling (10:1)

“summoned” is proskaleoô, a compound of kaleoô (to call) and pros (toward, or to). It is an intense term that means to call someone to oneself in order to confront him face to face.

They were chosen sovereignly

John 15:16 “You did not choose Me but I chose you…”

Ø That has always been and will continue to be God’s way!

They were chosen after prayer (Luke 6:12)

Ø He chose these because they were the Father’s choice.

John 17:6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.”

They were chosen to be prepared (10:1)

Ø “disciples” Matheôteôs refers to those who learn under the instruction of a master teacher.

They were chosen to be sent (10:2).

Ø “apostles” Apostoloi refers to qualified representatives who are sent out on a mission.

Ø They had to be learners before they could be sent as representatives.

2B. Their identity (10:2-4)

“The greatness of God’s grace is seen in His choosing the undeserving to be His people and the unqualified to do His work. We are tempted to become discouraged and disheartened when our spiritual life and witness suffer because of our sins and failures. Satan attempts to convince us that those shortcomings render us useless to God; but His use of the apostles testifies to the opposite. They did not lead the church in turning the world upside down because they were extraordinarily talented or naturally gifted, but because—in spite of their human limitations and failures—they surrendered themselves to God, whose power is perfected in man’s weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).” (MacArthur)

Always 3 groups; the first name in each group is always the same, Peter, Phillip, and James the son of Alphaeus.

The brothers (10:2)

Ø Peter and Andrew

Peter the leader

Andrew the soulwinner

Ø James and John

James the first martyr

John the revelator

The friends (10:3)

Ø Philip and Bartholomew (Nathanel)

Philip the servant/leader

Bartholomew a genuine follower of Christ.

Ø Thomas and Matthew

Thomas the doubter

Matthew the tax collector

The others (10:3b)

Ø James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus

James the lesser; may have been related to Matthew

Thaddaeus also called Judas the son of James

Ø Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot

Simon the Zealot, member of the Zealots

Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Christ

2A. The Master’s Mandate

1B. The mission (10:5-6)

The commission – “Jesus sent out…”

Ø How can I know that it is the Lord calling and sending me?

A strong desire to serve the Lord (1 Timothy 3:1).

The confirmation by the church (Acts 13:1-4)

An opportunity to serve (1 Corinthians 16:9)

The command (10:5b-6)

Ø The reason for the limits

Because of the Jews were the covenant people

Because the immaturity of the disciples.

Because of the prejudice of the Jewish leaders

Ø The application of the principle

We must focus our efforts; no ministry can be all things to all people.

We must have specific Bible based objectives and make them our priorities.

2B. The message (10:7)

What it is

Ø The central theme of the kingdom is the King. It is all about Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

What it does – the message of the kingdom:

Ø Manifests itself in the conversion of the sinner (Matthew 18:3).

Ø Demonstrates itself in consecration as believers live out the divine principles of God’s revelation by obedience to His Word. (Romans 14:17).

Ø Will be complete in His eternal kingdom (Matthew 25:31; Acts 3:19-21; Revelation 11:15; 20:4).

3B. The miracles (10:8)

The purpose

Ø These were the same works that Jesus had done and they were for the same purpose that is to prove that this ministry was from God.

The application

Ø They demonstrate the love and compassion of God.

Ø They also force us to go to those in need of the Savior.

4B. The method (10:9-15)

Trust God for everything (10:9-10)

Ø They were not to take either money, food, or extra clothing with them.

Ø They were to trust the Lord for even the essentials of life.

Share the gospel with everyone who will listen (10:11-13a).

Ø Go to those who are open to the gospel message.

Ø “worthy” refers to the moral character of a person

Ø The gospel should be taken first to those who are most receptive.

Move on when the gospel and the messenger are rejected (10:13b-15).

Ø Discern their spiritual condition (10:13b)

Ø Demonstrate their rejection of the gospel and God’s rejection of them (10:14).

Ø Declare God’s judgment (10:15)

Application

Are you prepared to serve?

Begins with conversion

Is accomplished by consecration

The story is told that after a famous artist finished his painting of the Last Supper he asked a friend to comment on the work. When the friend remarked that the cups were the most magnificent parts of the entire painting, the artist was dumbfounded. He picked up his brush and painted over every cup, explaining, “I failed. I wanted you to see Christ, but you only noticed the cups.” It is a wonderful thing to be a vessel fit for the Master’s use, but the vessel is not the source of spiritual power and should never be the focus of attention.

Matthew 10:1-15

1A. The Master’s ___________________ (10:1-4)

1B. Their _____________________ (10:1)

They were chosen sovereignly (John 15:16)

They were chosen after ________ (Luke 6:12; John 17:6)

They were chosen to be _____________ (10:1)

They were chosen to be ____________ (10:2).

2B. Their ______________________ (10:2-4)

The ___________________ (10:2)

Ø Peter and Andrew; James and John

The friends (10:3)

Ø Philip and Bartholomew (Nathanel); Thomas and Matthew

The others (10:3b)

Ø James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot

2A. The Master’s __________________________

1B. The _______________________ (10:5-6)

The commission – “Jesus sent out…”

Ø How can I know that it is the Lord calling and sending me?

A strong desire to serve the Lord (1 Timothy 3:1)

The confirmation by the church (Acts 13:1-4)

An opportunity to serve (1 Corinthians 16:9)

The _______________________ (10:5b-6)

Ø The reason for the limits

Ø The application of the principle

2B. The _________________________ (10:7)

What it is

Ø The central theme of the kingdom is the King. It is all about Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:23)