Sent Out to Minister

Reaching Our Community for Christ

When my oldest son was about 8 years old, we had a children’s crusade in the church. The kids got points for doing different things, the most important being inviting friends to church. The child evangelist told the children that the person who brought the most visitors during the week’s crusade would win a brand new skateboard. This is something my son determined that he had to have. So every night Dad had to go around and pick up more and more kids to bring them to that crusade. It was amazing how quickly the children’s group mushroomed as more and more visitors came for this special program.

Jesus wants us to be doing the same thing in our community. We may not be doing it for a skateboard, but we are doing it to serve Christ. In this portion of scripture, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples to reach the surrounding villages. Perhaps we can learn something from the way they did it.

Verse 1

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases.

The church today fails to realize that Jesus has given us his power and authority. Too often we act like we are weak, crippled, and ineffective instead of servants of the most high God. Jesus called the disciples to him and them power and authority - and this was before they were commissioned for the church age recorded in the book of Acts. We have also been given power and authority. Sometimes we act like we’ve been given fear and timidity. But Jesus has given us strength to do the work to which he has called us.

Geldenhuys points out, "An ordinary human leader, however illustrious, cannot endow his followers with bodily or mental powers which will enable them to emulate him; but Jesus could, and in so doing, He gave a fresh revelation of His divine greatness, His mercy and His love."

Verse 2

And he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal.

After giving the disciples power and authority, then he sent them out. God is sending us out. Are we willing to go? Here is the modern version of an old hymn:

I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go - Maybe

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
Real service is what I desire.
I’ll sing a solo any time, dear Lord.
But don’t ask me to sing in the choir.

I’ll do what you want me to do, dear Lord,
I like to see things come to pass.
But don’t ask me to teach boys and girls, O Lord.
I’d rather just stay in my class.

I’ll do what you want me to do, dear Lord,
I yearn for thy kingdom to thrive.
I’ll give you my nickels and dimes, dear Lord,
But please don’t ask me to tithe.

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord.
I’ll say what you want me to say.
I’m busy just now with myself, dear Lord
So I’ll help you some other day.

In verse 2 Jesus told the disciples they were to do two things - preach and heal. We must tell people about Christ and we must help heal them of their spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. We do not do this in our own strength. We do it in the power and authority of Christ. Remember, we must do both. We must share the salvation message, and we must reach out a hand of healing toward others. Some will have faith for healing because of the salvation message. Others will listen to the message because we reach out to help them.

Verse 3

And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics."

Before we go on a journey we like to pack a lot of items. We like to spend hours in preparation and make sure everything is ready. But Jesus is saying, "Just go." Sometimes we spend too much time preparing and not enough time going. Don’t worry about all the baggage. Just go and share your faith with others. Jesus told the disciples not to take a staff, which would protect them from robbers; not to take a bag, which would carry extra clothing and supplies; not to carry bread, which means not to worry about eating; not to take money; which means God would supply all their needs; and not to take any extra outer garments; which indicates they would have to make this journey on faith.

Nyquist wrote, "You do not do God a favor by serving Him. He honors you by allowing you to serve Him."

Verse 4

And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.

Here’s an interesting command. Jesus tells the disciples to stay wherever they are invited to stay. And don’t be looking for better lodging or accommodations. In some towns they may have stayed in elegant homes with sumptuous food. In other towns they probably stayed in poor homes with meager fare. But they were to accept whatever God provided for them. Some of us are looking to invite our finest neighbors to church and have them join us for our special services. But maybe God wants us to invite our poorest neighbors. Let us be ready to treat all people the same.

Verse 5

And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.

When we go out to share our faith, there will be some who will not receive our message. When this happens the disciples were told to shake off the dust and move on to the next town. When our message is rejected, instead of feeling frustrated and dejected, let us shake it off and move on. There will be some who will reject God’s message of hope and love. It is not our job to force them into believing. Our job is simply to go with the message. Our job is to not listen to rejection, but to go wherever the Holy Spirit sends us.

The great African missionary David Livingstone points out, "Luther simply followed the leadings of the Holy Spirit in the struggles of His own soul. He wrought out what the inward impulses of his own breast prompted him to work, and behold, before He was aware, he was in the midst of the Reformation. So, too, it was with the Plymouth pilgrims, with their sermons three times a day on board the Mayflower. Without thinking of founding an empire, they obeyed the sublime teachings of the Spirit, the promptings of duty and the spiritual life. God working mightily in the human heart is the spring of all abiding spiritual power; and it is only as men follow out the sublime promptings of the inward spiritual life that they do great things for God."

Verse 6

And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Notice what happened. The disciples spread out through the surrounding villages and told everyone the good news. Are we willing to do the same? Are we ready to spread out throughout our neighborhoods and our community to share the message of Christ?

Wayland tells the story how after the War of 1812, he was in New York City when word first came of the peace treaty. He wrote, "From house to house, from street to street, the news spread with electric rapidity. The whole city was in commotion. Men bearing lighted torches were flying to and fro, shouting like madmen, ‘Peace, peace, peace!’ But few men slept that night. In groups they were gathered in the streets and by the fireside, beguiling the house of midnight by reminding each other that the agony of war was over... Thus, every one becoming a herald, the news soon reached every man, woman, and child in the city...." He goes on to point out that God has offered the world a treaty of peace. And Wayland asks, why isn’t the church spreading the gospel message through the city just as quickly?

Verses 7-9

Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen. Herod said, "John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he sought to see him.

I want you to notice something here. Herod heard about Jesus. Why? Because the disciples were out spreading the message. The word spread through Galilee because the disciples were obedient to Christ’s command.

As The Biblical Expositor comments, "The acts of the twelve disciples turned the attention of the populace and even of the tetrarch Herod in the direction of Jesus. The most important requirement in all preaching and in all philanthropic work is that it should result in everyone’s speaking of Him. Those who proclaim His Word and those who serve Him, even His Church, should always remain in the background and let Him be the central figure."

What would it take for our city’s mayor and city council to hear about God’s work in our town? What would it take for the news to spread, for people to turn their lives over to Christ, and for many to be healed? It took only twelve men who were obedient to reach throughout the villages of Galilee. We have many more than twelve here in church this morning. Are you willing to be one of Jesus’ disciples? Are you willing to be one who spreads the message of faith throughout our community?

Verse 10

On their return the apostles told him what they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a city called Bethsaida.

The New King James Version renders the last part of this verse, "Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida." After the disciples completed their mission, it was essential for them to spend some time alone with Jesus. He took them to a quiet place of refuge. During the week we may be working to spread Christ’s message throughout the city. But on Sunday we need to return to a quiet place of refuge to be refreshed and renewed. We need to return to the sanctuary. We will spend quiet times alone with God during the week, but gathering together as a church body helps to encourage us and helps our faith to grow. We not only need to share our faith, but we also need to live our faith. That’s why God provided the church - to be a place where we can be instructed, where we can worship together, and where we can draw aside from the cares of this world into the Holy of Holies.

Footnotes:

Livingstone: The Biblical Illustrator, vol. 12, pg. 95, Baker Book House

Wayland: Gray and Adams Bible Commentary, vol. 4, pg. 343, Zondervan Publishing House



	A Study of Luke 9:1-10