How The Kingdom Works: Part 1 – Transformed to Transform
Luke 10:1-20 Feb 4, 2007
Intro:
Several months ago, when considering whether I should be a part of the short-term missions team to Bolivia, I said to Pastor Sue, “I’m kind of worried that if I go, my heart might get so broken by the poverty and need that it might not get put back together. I might get wrecked.” Her response, blunt but exactly right, was, “oh, and God’s not big enough to handle that?”
I’m pleased to report that the opposite has happened! Instead of being wrecked by the poverty and need, I’m energized by the response of successful, Holy Spirit empowered ministry that is making significant differences in the face of poverty and need.
I’m energized that children who are forced to live in a crowded, confined, economically unstable prison environment are getting a chance at life in the name of Jesus. Our ministry, and I consider it a humble privilege to use the word “our” as we join in partnership, is breaking the cycle of poverty and hopelessness. The Casa de la Amistad meets the need of 170 children – physical needs like food (inmates are provided 3.5 bolivianos, the equivalent of about 50 cents per day from which to meet all their needs for food); and physical needs like medical care (I was incredibly excited to learn that the Casa purchases medical insurance for each child registered in the program, which ensures they have access to the medical care they require). The ministry meets emotional needs like loving relationships with Christian adults who live normal lives, psychological needs through trained Christian counselors, and practical needs like space to do homework and help with that homework, or even as simply as being the liaison between school and home – something impossible for a parent in prison. And, of course, the ministry meets spiritual needs through teaching and modeling Christlikeness.
I’m energized at the difference that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the full Gospel of redemption of heart and soul and mind and emotion and body, can make in the lives of people. And I’ve come home with a new enthusiasm to see the Gospel make that kind of a difference in the lives of people here in Canada.
Transformed to Transform:
Last week we introduced you to Ivan, CBM staff in Bolivia with whom we spent almost all of our time. He did care for all of our practical needs, but he was far more than a translator, doctor, driver, etc… He led us spiritually. Early on, in one of our morning sessions, he expressed his deep desire that the six of us would be transformed by this experience, SO THAT our church in Canada could also be transformed. Since our relationship with the Bolivian church is a two-way partnership, whenever we introduced our church we asked that our partners would pray for us, that God would transform us and enable us to look out and minister to the people around us in the Name of Jesus. And they did, and continue, to pray that for us.
So What is it Going to Take?
As my heart “catches up” to being back in my own culture, I’m starting to ask the question, “what is it going to take” to bring that prayer to reality?
Luke 10
1 The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. 2 These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. 3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road.
5 “Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’ 6 If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you. 7 Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.
8 “If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you. 9 Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ 10 But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!’ 12 I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day.
13 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 14 Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. 15 And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead.[b]”
16 Then he said to the disciples, “Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.”
17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”
18 “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20 But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”
It Takes Prayer:
“Pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest” (vs 2). The first thing that we need if we are to transform into a church focused outwardly on meeting the needs of people is prayer. The prayer is specific – that God, the Lord of the harvest, would send people to work. You see, I can invite, I can call, I can persuade, I can lead, we as a church can make decisions and have the best of intentions to do ministry, but it will not be enough. It has to come from God. Hopefully, if I am doing my job right and as a church we are making decisions following the guidance of God, then we will be a big part of the call of God and the sending of God, but it still needs something more: the whisper of God to you.
You see, it is too hard. It is too dangerous – we put our hearts and souls into something for God, and we take a risk. Lambs among wolves. It is work! Hard work, good work, meaningful work, but work all the same, which we must want to do for God. And it is too important. God must be the one who sends.
So here is the application question: are you listening for God’s call? For His whisper to you? In your life, is there regular, quiet space where you come before the God of the Universe, your Father, and say, “Here am I. Today, I’ll do whatever You ask, I’ll speak to whomever You direct, I’ll serve anyone who comes across my path in Your Name.” That, my friends, is a prayer that is exciting.
It Takes Faith:
“Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals.” (vs. 4). The second thing that we need if we are to transform into a church focused outwardly on meeting the needs of people is faith. Jesus sends the 72 out on a journey of faith, so that they might learn that God provides. This is the element of faith – when God calls, He will equip, He will provide, and He will bless.
This was one of the big lessons I learned in Bolivia, because Christians there live this way. Their mindset is, “God sent, God will provide.” And guess what – He does!
It Takes Focus:
“don’t stop to greet anyone on the road” (vs 4). Third, it takes focus. As I reflect, I think one of the biggest enemies to ministry is distraction. This part of Jesus’ command was not about ignoring people, our turning a blind eye to needs, it was about staying focused and doing what God has sent us to do. In our lives and culture, this is a huge discipline. We are bombarded by options, information, entertainment, all of which scream “pick me and I’ll make you happy” – whether it is clothing or a ring tone or a website or a movie. We are bombarded to such an extent and we are overwhelmed with so many choices that we easily miss the fact that those options are based on a wrong premise. The promise that doing these things for yourself will make you happy – and then they don’t deliver. Certainly not in any lasting way – we get bored, disappointed, and sucked in to trying to find the next things that will make us happy. But joy comes not from seeking our own pleasure but rather from serving others in the name of Jesus. Every other pleasure is worthless compared to being used by God in the life of another. And in the face of our culture, it takes disciplined focus to follow God’s voice instead.
It Takes Teamwork:
Verses 5-7 describe teamwork and mutuality. It is about cooperation. One person can’t do everything, so let others help – accept their gifts, cooperate. Don’t get caught up making demands of each other, but rather stay focused on meeting the needs and fulfilling the mission.
It Takes Actions and Words:
“Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’” (vs 9). It isn’t enough to just help people with needs, and it isn’t enough to just tell them about Jesus. Our actions must be accompanied by words, and our words must be accompanied by action. If we are to transform into a church focused outwardly on ministry, we have to find this balance together.
And more importantly, we have to do it: we have to help people, and tell them why. We have to show people that God really does make a difference, that God really can help, that there really is a way of living that is meaningful and significant and worthwhile, and that way is found in loving God and loving others. We demonstrate that in our actions, and we affirm it with our words.
It Takes Perspective:
Verses 8-12 contrast a good reception to ministry with a bad reception – I just want to point out one thing which brings perspective: the message is the same. Verse 9 tells the town which welcomes the message that “the Kingdom of God is near”, and verse 11 says the same thing to the town that rejects the message.
The other passage that brings perspective is vs 16: “Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.” Here is the perspective: ministry, people’s responses to it, all the work and struggle, is not about you. It’s not about me. It is about Jesus. And it is about God the Father. It is His ministry, His work, His harvest – you and I are workers, participants, but not owners. We aren’t responsible for anything other than our complete obedience to our Lord.
If we are going to focus on ministry beyond ourselves, we need this perspective. We need it when things go really well, so that we don’t get full of pride and full of ourselves. We need it when things are hard work, so that we don’t give up in frustration. And we need it when things are resisted, people reject us, and the results are disappointing. It is about Jesus.
Two More Things For Two More Weeks:
There are two more essential elements to us being transformed: people resources and material resources. I’m going to leave those for the next two weeks, and we’ll talk about them each in depth as we explore how the Kingdom of God actually works.
Conclusion:
The story of the 72 ends in rejoicing – these disciples return, and they are pumped. They are full of joy, enthused, celebratory. Because it worked. Ministry happened. People were healed, were set free, and heard and accepted the message that in Jesus, the Kingdom of God is near.
2000 years later, nothing has changed. It still works. Certainly, the methods are different, the cultures are different, the activities are different. But Jesus still heals. Jesus still sets people free from slavery. Jesus still forgives. Jesus still fills people with forgiveness and love and purpose and significance.
And Jesus still looks out at His disciples – you and I – and sends. He gives us gifts, gives us resources, and gives us opportunities to lead people one step closer to Him. And when we use those gifts, steward those resources, and embrace those opportunities, we see the same result: we “return with joy” because we saw God do incredible things through us!
