Preached on Wednesday, 10 January 2007
At Greater Faith Church-Baptist
Waukegan, Illinois
(v.57) And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
(v.58) And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
(v.59) And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
(v.60) Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
(v.61) And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
(v.62) And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Subject: Start Spreading the News
Introduction
If I were to take a poll tonight, I am sure that most you would agree that news travels fast. Whether it is good new or bad news ... or even the wrong news ... news travels.
Oh yeah ... we live in a dispensation or should I say timeframe whereby we can sit on our sofas or even lye in our beds and watch news 24 hours a day. Whether it is the same news or new news ... the point of the matter is that we have access to news all the daylong.
You know ... one thing that never ceases to amaze me is the fact that all of these news channels whether it be FOX News, CNN, Headlines News, CBS, ABC, NBC or even PBS ... they all boast that they are the only ones who are able to provide you the viewer with the most up-to-the-minute coverage on a particular story.
Nevertheless, what I discovered ... is the fact that they use this tactics in an effort to keep you watching. In other words, they want to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Well, let me help you -- here is an example ... it does not matter the channel but at the top of the hour -- you know when the news first comes on ... the weatherman says well it looks like snows in the forecast ... but they want show the complete weather segment until 1020 ... in an effort to keep you locked in.
Some even boast to have a special story ... one that no other station can provide you. Oh yes ... they boast that they are the only ones with the inside scoop ...they often times title it EXCLUSIVE...
Well brothers and sisters I got some breaking news for you tonight ... in fact, we interrupt this sermon for a word from our sponsor ... regarding some good news.
You see ... the news that I got for you this evening maybe old news for some and new news for others ... but there is one thing certain about this news unlike other news ... this particular news never plays out.
Yeah ... some news get old but this news is always fresh ... some news I am tried of hearing about. Oh yeah, I’m tired of hearing about Anna Nicole Smith, I’m tired of hearing about never seen before picture of Tom and Kate’s wedding, I tired of hearing about Lionel Richie’s alcoholic daughter ... oh yeah, I’m even tired of hearing about James Brown, and I’m especially tired of hearing about Oprah and her new school for poor Africans. Oh yes ... I tired of hearing about that news. Enough is enough...
But there is something about THIS NEWS found in our scriptures that never, EVER gets old...
This NEWS is what some refer to as some GOOD NEWS ... but the only problem with this news is that fact that although it is Um, Um GOOD ... you just can’t seem to find enough reporters willing to tell it.
On yeah ... reporters are quick to tell you about sextuplets; stem cell research, or Whitney Houston’s drug addition. They even interrupt your favorite television program to show you a police chase on the California highways ... but when it comes to telling the news of the Kingdom of Heaven (repeat) ... you just can’t seem to find correspondents or shall I say people willing to tell the story.
...and that refusal to report the story leaves us with huge job vacancies. They refusal to report leaves with tremendous employment opportunities. Don’t believe me watch this ... Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 9:37-38
The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Oh yes ... this lack of coverage ... this lack of reporting has left us with tremendous job opportunities...
Well ... may I submit to you tonight that there are some job vacancy / opportunities in this church? Oh yes ... we are looking for those who are willing to start spreading the news.
In fact, bear with me for a moment while I hang up my help wanted sign. (Illustration: Hang up HELP WANTED SIGN on front of podium)
You see ... in order for us to win to 500 sould in 2007 ... we need to fill some job vacancies. We need some folk welling to start spreading the news.
Well ... let us take a look real quickly at our first applicant found in our text [v.57] who goes by the name someone (certain man, KJV)
[v.57] As they were traveling on the road someone said to Him, I will follow You wherever You go (Christian Standard Bible)
Now this is a pretty bold statement.. and my I summit to you tonight that this one of the reasons why we have such a Hugh vacancy in the church.
Oh yeah somebody (Certain Man) joined the church made a lot of promises about what he was going to do for the Lord but when he heard of the possible hardship; when he heard that he might have to go to prison when he heard that he might have to die ... then he refused to deny himself. Oh yeah ... he refused to accept the job to start spreading the news.
NEXT ... call in our second applicant found in [v.59] whose name is Another.
Well Mr. Another ... I read your application and everything appears to be in standing order ... there are not a lot qualification on your part that is needed to fill this position ... all I need for you to do is FOLLOW ME
FOLLOW ME ... Another, did you hear me, I said FOLLOW ME ...
But watch another’s response ... [v.59] ... BUT he said, first let me go bury my father
Well Another ... I didn’t require you to have any special qualifications ... I simply asked you to FOLLOW ME ... and you seem to have a problem with that. In fact ... if you truly wanted to be my disciple you would have known what I said in Matthew 6:33 --- but you seem to be more concerned about your personal situation.
You see ... this applicant was more concerned about a funeral ... oh yes he should have denied himself and took up his cross and obeyed God’s will.
Watch Jesus response [v.60]
Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Now this may seem like a hard saying but think about it, Jesus being God already knew that this man father was on his death bed ... not just physically but also spiritually ... hence why we have the possessive tense "let the dead" (spiritually dead ) bury THEIR (possessive) own dead ... but you start spreading the news...
In other words ... Yes there is some funeral arrangements that need to be made ... you see there is about to be a crucifixion ... and these funeral arrangement have nothing to do with your already spiritually dead father ... now what I need for you to do MR. ANOTHER if you want this job is to start spreading the news... of the Kingdom of God.
Oh ... you can’t do it ... oh okay. NEXT. Let us hear from our final applicant...
[v.61] Another also said...
hold on stop the presses are you any relation to the man name Another in verse 59? OK no relation ... I was about to say that this was going to be a real short interview because that guy had the never to come up in here and tell me he wanted the job, and after I hired him he told that before he could start working he need go and take of some personal family business...
You just cannot find good help these days...
Watch this ... [v.61] ... Notice that Jesus did not go to this particular applicant ... he came to Jesus talking about what he was going to do.
In other words ... this is the type of applicant that comes in off the street takes your help wanted sign down and hand it to you and make all kinds of bold statements like ... YOUR SEARCH IS OVER ... IM YOUR MAN!
Watch this ... [v.61]
And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but ...
NEXT ... no need to complete your sentence, I have heard enough. NEXT! Am going to stop you right here. Your sure you ain’t no kin to the man name Another in [v.59] because ya’ll are start to look and sound a whole lot alike. Both of ya’ll done came up in here with a whole lot of excuses...
You come up in here and take my help wanted sign down and tell you that you the man ... that my search is over and you have the audacity to say that you will do what I say ... BUT
- that you will obey my commands ... BUT
- That you follow me ... BUT
- That you will start spreading the news BUT
Oh I got something for your BUT ... NEXT, get the stepping ... depart from me ye that worketh iniquity.
Brothers and sisters as you see ... there is still a huge vacancy ... unfortunately there are as many buts ... Lord I’ll follow you
But ... I’m too young
But ... I’m too old
But ... I’m not a preacher
But ... I’m not a teacher
But ... outreach is not my calling
But ... the Lord knows my heart
But ... I’m not willing to work for you
I’m gong to stop right there because it really does not matter what come behind your but ... what matters is the fact that there is a BUT (and a but is simply your excuse or refusal to deny yourself).
You see ... when it comes to working for / doing God’s will there can be no BUTS. You see ...
- But ... says that I want to work for you Lord but there are some things that I need to straighten out first.
- But says that ... I want to work for you Lord but I’m a little tired up with school right now ... maybe when I graduate. By the way ... can you help me on my next exam. I don;t want to work for you .. but I could sure use a blessing (an A)
- But says that I want to work for you Lord but I’m a little burned out from all of the work that I have been doing around here ... all these years.
Oh but Jesus ... answers the but of our excuses in [v.60] ... BUT GO AND PREACH THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
In words ... forget your buts ... you go and start spreading the news.
And that’s what I stopped by to tell you tonight ... is to Start spreading the news...
You see ... there are some job vacancies here at Greater Faith ... we are looking for a few good men and women and children ... who ain’t shame to hold up the blood stained banner of Jesus Christ and shout EXTRA, EXTRA ... read about a man name Jesus
- Who walked these mundane shores for 33 years
- HELP WANTED ... I’m looking for someone who is willing to start spreading the news about a man who dies on a hill call Calvary to save you and me
- HELP WANTED ... I’m looking for somebody who is willing to tell the story of how they stretched Him wide and how He bowed His head and died ... loving the whole world to himself.
- HELP WANTED
- I’m looking for somebody to tell the story wherever they go and to whomever they met ... about and man name Jesus who died to set them free.
- No only that ... HELP WANTED
- I need somebody who is will to tell the story of how Jesus was buried in Joseph’s borowed tomb for 3 days and three night ...
- I know you know the story but this is that GOOD NEWS that I was telling you about earlier that never get old
- HELP WANTED ... I need somebody willing to the story of how EARLY SUNDAY MORNING ... he got up will all power in HIS hand ... O death where is thy sting, O grave were is thy victory.
EXTRA, EXTRA ... read all about it ... there is a Savior and His name is Jesus.
Oh yes is name is Jesus
- The Lilly of the valley
- The Wonderful Counselor
- The mighty God
- the everlasting Father
- The Prince of Peace
- Balm of Gilead
- The Alpha and Omega
- The Beginning in the End
Jesus my all and all ...
Brothers and sisters ... the vacancy still remains are you willing accept this position and start spreading the news.
For truly the harvest allotted to Great Faith is plentiful but the laborers are few ...
Let us pray...
Lord you told us in your word to pray to you the Lord of the Harvest that you would send worthy labourers into your harvest. It is my prayer Lord that those under the sound of my voice will answer the call of this vacancy announcement and start boldly spreading the good news of Your Son Jesus. This is my prayer ... Amen.
