The answer for an unsaved nation! - Matthew 10:1-15
The answer for an unsaved nation! - Matthew 10:1-15
By Pastor Lee Hemen
October 27, 2019
We live in a time where it seems our Nation has lost its way. Young people do not know what to believe in and so tend not to believe anything or rather have others do their thinking for them. Free speech, honest debate, and simple social manners have gone to the wayside. A few radicals are driving the herd to the cliff of societal destruction. It is a time where Christian beliefs are dismissed and superstitions are rationalized. What is the answer for our Nation?
Here in Matthew’s gospel he recorded how Jesus met the very same societal and national problems head on. Jesus knew he could never get the good news out unless others were willing to do so. It takes those who are willing to see their nation and world changed by the love of God armed with a plan and willing to do the hard work of saving a nation. These same principles can be applied to our Nation; let’s discover the answer for an unsaved nation…
READ: Matthew 10:1-15
It is one thing to gripe about our national condition but it is another thing to do something about it. We learn that…
I. An unsaved nation needs willing messengers! (Vv. 1-4)
He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
1. We look at America today and have a tendency to think that people do not act very “Christian” but the real problem may be that Christians are not acting like Christians. We are called to be the salt and light in a sin-darkened world around us and we have failed in the past several generations to be just that by allowing our children to think whatever they want and to do whatever they want. The Scripture plainly teach us to “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6 NIV)” The idea conveyed is one of steering a boat and the parent is to steer their children in the way of their faith. Notice here that Jesus recognized that his nation needed to come back to God and so “He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” Now contrary to some Pentecostal notions and heretical teachings Jesus was not giving every disciple and every single believer from then on the same abilities. This was for those he chose at that time in order for them to impact their nation with the good news of the Messiah! Israel needed a good kick in their collective spiritual pants and Jesus knew he was not going to be around much longer. These 12 men: “Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him” were the first spiritual shock troops in a spiritual battle that continues to this very day. But these men were extremely important because they would be the ones to establish his body, the church, in the world. At this point in time Jesus needed each one of them, including Judas, to do the work he assigned them to do in order for his message to get out and his plan to be enacted. Just like today, Jesus is using you, his disciples, to do his work and will in this world. Why? To “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)” Jesus has commanded! An unsaved nation needs willing messengers!
EXAMPLE: Many believers are willing witnesses only as it suits their needs for the moment. Are we to buttonhole or coerce every person we come into contact with during the day? Nope. When Jesus told his disciple to “go and make disciples of all nations” the terminology is literally “as you go”. He meant as you go about your daily lives. For the disciples they were specifically charged with being missionaries and while some of us may be given that task, most of us have not. However we are to share the good news as we go throughout our day. We are to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading and share as he directs. Are you willing? An unsaved nation needs willing messengers!
It truly is not complicated. The message is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow: Jesus. And we are to be its messengers. It’s as simple as that. We discover that…
II. An unsaved nation is conquered with a simple plan! (Vv. 5-10)
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.”
1. We have forgotten that the gospel, the good news of Jesus is simple. We do not need to embellish it, vehemently inflict it on others, or slyly be used-car salesmen in order to get the worldly rubes to swallow it. We are to share it honestly and openly. We learn however that “These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: The kingdom of heaven is near.’” These men were given strict instructions. They were not to mess with those who did not want to hear the message they had to share. At this time it was important that Israel hear the good news first and they were to keep the message simple: “The kingdom of heaven is near.” Their job was to be simple as well: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” Jesus knew they would gain an interest from an unbelieving populace if they were able to do the things Jesus did. It is interesting to me that Jesus fully trusted all of them from Peter to Judas to be able to do what he asked of them and I believe the same is true for all generations of believers. Jesus knew that all disciples could do the task. How could these simple men do these things? Jesus gives them the simple answer: “Freely you have received, freely give.” All believers have the abilities that Jesus has given them to do the task required of them. These men would be able to do what Jesus did in order that Israel would come to its spiritual senses and realize who he was. In doing so they were not to take anything with them that could hinder them in doing the simple task asked of them. Jesus tells them: “Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.” It is easy for us to get distracted by the things of the world just as it was for Jesus’ disciples. Remember Judas had a problem with money and the other disciples were always asking about the rich verses the poor. When sharing our faith, like them, we are to depend upon Jesus. An unsaved nation is conquered with a simple plan!
EXAMPLE: When I was in seminary our preaching instructor told us to “stand up, speak up, shut up and sit down.” It was his version of the old acronym K.I.S.S. as in keep it simple stupid. Far too often we either allow others or ourselves to muddy the waters when we share the good news by getting into useless arguments, silly discussions, or unnecessary worry. I’ve learned that the world needs an answer and that answer is Jesus. It is as simple as that. Never forget that you are the result of one of Jesus’ disciples winning one person to Christ and that person won another and so on until you came along centuries later. An unsaved nation is conquered with a simple plan!
Frankly, I do not care if someone wants to debate me about Creationism, if God is female or not, or if he can make a rock bigger than he can lift. I’ve learned that…
III. An unsaved nation is saved by not getting side-tracked! (Vv. 11-15)
“Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
1. We have so many more things in life to sidetrack us from sharing our faith than the disciples did. I am not making excuses it is just a simple fact. The world has gotten almost instantaneous in the information age, science and technology has revolutionized both the quality and quantity of our lives. Yet as complicated as things have gotten the message of the gospel is the same. Jesus related to his disciples that “Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.” The word used here for “worthy” really means “suitable”. Jesus knew there would be wolves in sheep’s clothing that would lie to his followers but they were to go to those who were worthy enough to want to hear the good news and stay there. If they had gone to someone who wasn’t really interested they would get sidetracked into useless arguments or worse. This is true for today as well. We should know enough to say enough and not bother with those who truly have no interest in the good news. The peace they offered is the same we offer: The peace of God found in the good news. He tells them “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.” This has not changed. Do not waste your time with those you know who would rather argue than listen or who delight in discussing nonsense. Shake the dust off and move on. Jesus warns them that “I tell you the truth; it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that town.” Do you understand what Jesus means here? These were the towns that wanted to abuse godly messengers and who were totally destroyed by God for their ungodliness. God will take care of those who want to sidetrack you; just remember an unsaved nation is saved by not getting side-tracked!
EXAMPLE: The other day our neighbor’s cat was chasing a squirrel up our maple tree. She got halfway up and saw a house finch and decided to go after that instead. In doing so she had to turn around in mid-air, lost her balance, and hit the ground with a thud. (And no she did not land on her feet.) She sat there a bit dazed, began to wash her face with her paws when a fly landed on her and the chase was on. It was hilarious to watch because that cat was so easily distracted. Do not get distracted by what is going on in the world today. Stay focused on who you believe in and why. An unsaved nation is saved by not getting side-tracked!
Conclusion:
An unsaved nation needs willing messengers! An unsaved nation is conquered with a simple plan! An unsaved nation is saved by not getting side-tracked!
---
This article is copyrighted © 2019 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
October 27, 2019
We live in a time where it seems our Nation has lost its way. Young people do not know what to believe in and so tend not to believe anything or rather have others do their thinking for them. Free speech, honest debate, and simple social manners have gone to the wayside. A few radicals are driving the herd to the cliff of societal destruction. It is a time where Christian beliefs are dismissed and superstitions are rationalized. What is the answer for our Nation?
Here in Matthew’s gospel he recorded how Jesus met the very same societal and national problems head on. Jesus knew he could never get the good news out unless others were willing to do so. It takes those who are willing to see their nation and world changed by the love of God armed with a plan and willing to do the hard work of saving a nation. These same principles can be applied to our Nation; let’s discover the answer for an unsaved nation…
READ: Matthew 10:1-15
It is one thing to gripe about our national condition but it is another thing to do something about it. We learn that…
I. An unsaved nation needs willing messengers! (Vv. 1-4)
He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
1. We look at America today and have a tendency to think that people do not act very “Christian” but the real problem may be that Christians are not acting like Christians. We are called to be the salt and light in a sin-darkened world around us and we have failed in the past several generations to be just that by allowing our children to think whatever they want and to do whatever they want. The Scripture plainly teach us to “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6 NIV)” The idea conveyed is one of steering a boat and the parent is to steer their children in the way of their faith. Notice here that Jesus recognized that his nation needed to come back to God and so “He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” Now contrary to some Pentecostal notions and heretical teachings Jesus was not giving every disciple and every single believer from then on the same abilities. This was for those he chose at that time in order for them to impact their nation with the good news of the Messiah! Israel needed a good kick in their collective spiritual pants and Jesus knew he was not going to be around much longer. These 12 men: “Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him” were the first spiritual shock troops in a spiritual battle that continues to this very day. But these men were extremely important because they would be the ones to establish his body, the church, in the world. At this point in time Jesus needed each one of them, including Judas, to do the work he assigned them to do in order for his message to get out and his plan to be enacted. Just like today, Jesus is using you, his disciples, to do his work and will in this world. Why? To “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)” Jesus has commanded! An unsaved nation needs willing messengers!
EXAMPLE: Many believers are willing witnesses only as it suits their needs for the moment. Are we to buttonhole or coerce every person we come into contact with during the day? Nope. When Jesus told his disciple to “go and make disciples of all nations” the terminology is literally “as you go”. He meant as you go about your daily lives. For the disciples they were specifically charged with being missionaries and while some of us may be given that task, most of us have not. However we are to share the good news as we go throughout our day. We are to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading and share as he directs. Are you willing? An unsaved nation needs willing messengers!
It truly is not complicated. The message is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow: Jesus. And we are to be its messengers. It’s as simple as that. We discover that…
II. An unsaved nation is conquered with a simple plan! (Vv. 5-10)
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.”
1. We have forgotten that the gospel, the good news of Jesus is simple. We do not need to embellish it, vehemently inflict it on others, or slyly be used-car salesmen in order to get the worldly rubes to swallow it. We are to share it honestly and openly. We learn however that “These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: The kingdom of heaven is near.’” These men were given strict instructions. They were not to mess with those who did not want to hear the message they had to share. At this time it was important that Israel hear the good news first and they were to keep the message simple: “The kingdom of heaven is near.” Their job was to be simple as well: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” Jesus knew they would gain an interest from an unbelieving populace if they were able to do the things Jesus did. It is interesting to me that Jesus fully trusted all of them from Peter to Judas to be able to do what he asked of them and I believe the same is true for all generations of believers. Jesus knew that all disciples could do the task. How could these simple men do these things? Jesus gives them the simple answer: “Freely you have received, freely give.” All believers have the abilities that Jesus has given them to do the task required of them. These men would be able to do what Jesus did in order that Israel would come to its spiritual senses and realize who he was. In doing so they were not to take anything with them that could hinder them in doing the simple task asked of them. Jesus tells them: “Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.” It is easy for us to get distracted by the things of the world just as it was for Jesus’ disciples. Remember Judas had a problem with money and the other disciples were always asking about the rich verses the poor. When sharing our faith, like them, we are to depend upon Jesus. An unsaved nation is conquered with a simple plan!
EXAMPLE: When I was in seminary our preaching instructor told us to “stand up, speak up, shut up and sit down.” It was his version of the old acronym K.I.S.S. as in keep it simple stupid. Far too often we either allow others or ourselves to muddy the waters when we share the good news by getting into useless arguments, silly discussions, or unnecessary worry. I’ve learned that the world needs an answer and that answer is Jesus. It is as simple as that. Never forget that you are the result of one of Jesus’ disciples winning one person to Christ and that person won another and so on until you came along centuries later. An unsaved nation is conquered with a simple plan!
Frankly, I do not care if someone wants to debate me about Creationism, if God is female or not, or if he can make a rock bigger than he can lift. I’ve learned that…
III. An unsaved nation is saved by not getting side-tracked! (Vv. 11-15)
“Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
1. We have so many more things in life to sidetrack us from sharing our faith than the disciples did. I am not making excuses it is just a simple fact. The world has gotten almost instantaneous in the information age, science and technology has revolutionized both the quality and quantity of our lives. Yet as complicated as things have gotten the message of the gospel is the same. Jesus related to his disciples that “Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.” The word used here for “worthy” really means “suitable”. Jesus knew there would be wolves in sheep’s clothing that would lie to his followers but they were to go to those who were worthy enough to want to hear the good news and stay there. If they had gone to someone who wasn’t really interested they would get sidetracked into useless arguments or worse. This is true for today as well. We should know enough to say enough and not bother with those who truly have no interest in the good news. The peace they offered is the same we offer: The peace of God found in the good news. He tells them “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.” This has not changed. Do not waste your time with those you know who would rather argue than listen or who delight in discussing nonsense. Shake the dust off and move on. Jesus warns them that “I tell you the truth; it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that town.” Do you understand what Jesus means here? These were the towns that wanted to abuse godly messengers and who were totally destroyed by God for their ungodliness. God will take care of those who want to sidetrack you; just remember an unsaved nation is saved by not getting side-tracked!
EXAMPLE: The other day our neighbor’s cat was chasing a squirrel up our maple tree. She got halfway up and saw a house finch and decided to go after that instead. In doing so she had to turn around in mid-air, lost her balance, and hit the ground with a thud. (And no she did not land on her feet.) She sat there a bit dazed, began to wash her face with her paws when a fly landed on her and the chase was on. It was hilarious to watch because that cat was so easily distracted. Do not get distracted by what is going on in the world today. Stay focused on who you believe in and why. An unsaved nation is saved by not getting side-tracked!
Conclusion:
An unsaved nation needs willing messengers! An unsaved nation is conquered with a simple plan! An unsaved nation is saved by not getting side-tracked!
---
This article is copyrighted © 2019 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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