God's Plan to Reach the World Matthew 9:35-10:15

Intro:

If you watch any comedies like Austin Powers there is always a evil villan liker Dr. Evil

They are always plotting ridiculous schemes that are foiled by the hero

Their sole goal is to take over the world

Today we look at God’s plant to reach the world

If you submitted this plan to the military they would look at you like you were crazy

If you submitted it as a business proposal it would get rejected

Even in some churches this plan is looked at as unfeasible

Your plan is to use common people to share the gospel? That’s preposterous

You need a charismatic leader, a big name athlete, lights and loud music

But Jesus shows us that when He is gone the method to reach the world is with the people of the church

Read Matthew 9:35-38

Transition

Jesus tells his disciples that the harvest is ripe

Disciple = Mathetes

It’s the root word from where we get our word Math

It means from what one learns

Mathētḗs means more in the NT than a mere pupil or learner.

It is an adherent who accepts the instruction given to him and makes it his rule of conduct

One of the criticisms of Christianity is that it is a polished marketing plan

They planned and staged everything

If that is the case God wouldn’t have chosen who he did to change the world

A bunch of fisherman and others from Galilee is not the most appealing group to start a movement

God chooses the least likely to do HIs work

His plan to reach the world is to work through everyday normal people

The ones the world over looks because they don’t fit a mold

The one who has an open heart

I. The Harvest is Ripe vs. 35-38

The first step in God’s plan to reach the world is to understand the harvest is ripe

Jesus wants us to see the great need

There are tons of lost and needy people in your world that God wants to use you to reach

How do you reach them?

vs. 35 They need the Gospel

Jesus went to the cities and villages proclaiming the Gospel

The Good news of Jesus is that God sent His son to rescue people from the punishment of their sin by taking their place. Forgiveness is freely given because died on the cross

Jesus saw the masses and knew that his mission was to preach the Gospel

He healed people, but he wanted people to hear the good news

It is the gospel that changes people’s lives

vs. 36 Compassion for the Masses

As Jesus was met by the masses he was moved with compassion

They were harassed by the Romans and the Pharisees and were helpless to do anything about it

He saw them as a sheep without a shepherd

Sheep only move as a herd

They are easily influenced and spooked which leads them into precarious situations

A Shepherd has to keep them together in safe pastures

If God is going to use us to reach the world we are going to need more compassion and less criticism

We need to see less of their sins and shortcomings and more of their helplessness

We need to be a church filled with compassion

vs. 37-38 Pray for Haversters

The need will always be greater than the supply of workers

If we are going to reach our community we need to see the ripe harvest

There are souls that are going to hell and we are turning a blind eye

We need to start with prayer

Two Saturdays a month we have prayer and they are lightly attended

The times are powerful and I think God is moving in our church because of these times, we just need more people coming

II. Anointed Messengers vs. 1-4

The second step in God’s plan for reaching the world is recognizing the anointed messengers

The church was built on the backs of 12 anointed messengers

11 of the disciples here and Paul

The word apostles messengers

This was a special group of guys with a special anointing

They were Apostles because they had seen Jesus

Jesus made them the founding fathers

vs. 1 Authority to Cast Out & Heal

Here he puts them through training by anointing them with a special authority

Jesus sent his twelve disciples out and gave them authority to cast out and heal

This anointing was temporary here but it would become permanent at Pentecost

vs. 2-4 Twelve Apostles

III. The Sacred Mission vs. 5-10

The third step in God’s plan to reach the world is to understand the sacred mission

In the movie “Mission Impossible” Ethan Hunt would be delivered an electronic message

It would describe the mission and what his objective was

At the beginning of the message it would say “Your mission, if you choose to accept it.”

As disciples we have sacred mission if you choose to accept it

vs. 5-6 Go to Lost Sheep

Jesus instructed the disciples to stick to the Jews

He wanted them to go to the lost sheep of Israel

If we are going to reach this community we need to go to the lost people

Find them in your workplace, your neighborhood

Start praying that God will give you opportunities to share the Gospel

Pray for boldness when you do

There is a mighty harvest of lost and hurting people in Lompoc

vs. 7 Kingdom is at Hand

Then Jesus tells them to say the kingdom is at hand

This is an interesting saying

Jesus was the initiation of the kingdom of God

vs. 8a Heal the Sick

The disciples were given the power to heal the sick

These healing would confirm the credentials that Jesus had given them

When a church prays for someone to be healed and God does it ministers to people beyond the healing

We serve a God that is living and able to heal people today

We bring the need before the Lord and let him do the work

The disciples didn’t heal one person

It was the work of Jesus thru them

vs. 8b-10 Take Nothing

There were a lot of con-artists that were using all kinds of tricks to get people’s money

Jesus tells them to take nothing

They were to give without pay

And trust the Lord for all of their provisions

This would elevate them above the conartists and show legitimacy

IV. Be Discerning vs. 11-15

The final step in God’s plan to reach the world is to be discerning

Not every opportunity is the right opportunity

Jesus wanted his disciples to be discerning

Greet everyone warmly and let the peace you bring rest, but if it isn’t right then shake it off

vs. 11-12 Greet Warmly

vs. 13 Let Peace Rest

vs. 14 Shake it Off