PREPARING YOUR WORLD TO MEET JESUS-IV—Luke 10:1-16
Need:
It takes much more than one ‘lone wolf’ to bring down the prey.
A lot of basic Christian tenets in this section!
Jesus ministry expansion began with a mission briefing.
Preparing your world to meet Jesus requires mission briefing.
What must your mission briefing cover to prepare your world to meet Jesus?
23 principles to prepare your world for Jesus.
‘Envisage’—‘To have a mental picture of especially in advance of realization.’
When preparing your world to meet Jesus, Picture...
1. The Appointment to the Harvest(:1a)
2. The Pairing for the Harvest(:1a)
3. The Kept Itinerary for the Harvest(:1b)
4. The Harvest(:2a)
5. The Labor in the Harvest(:2b)
6. The Labor Force of the Harvest(:2c)
7. The Head of the Harvest(:2d)
8. The Force Behind the Harvest(:2e)
9. The Risk in the Harvest(:3)
10. The Provision in the Harvest(:4a)
11. The Task of the Harvest(:4b)
12—When preparing your world to meet Jesus
PICTURE THE ACCEPTANCE IN THE HARVEST(:5-8)
Explanation:(:5-8)
:5—“And whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’”
‘Wishing them all happiness & prosperity, temporal, spiritual, & eternal’
:6—“And if a man of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him; but if not, it will return to you.”
Recognizes the grace of God in you.
Nothing is lost in the offer of God’s peace.
:7—“And stay in that house, eating & drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house.”
“Eating & drinking what they give you”—
:8—“And whatever city you enter, & they receive you, eat what is set before you;”
Php. 4:11-16—“Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, & I also know how to live in prosperity; in any & every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled & going hungry, both of having abundance & suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving & receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.”
“For the laborer is worthy of his wages”—
Ministry to Homebounds—Poor—Ghettos— Third world/
Venezuela/Each group supplied our food needs/Fish eyeball soup—Great honor/
“Do not keep moving from house to house”—
—Center your ministry—Make it available to all.—Call attention to those who are willing to house, feed, clothe & otherwise provide for you.
—Focus on one/your area & do it well.
SATISFACTION
Peace that comes over you as you respond mutually to a shared love for Jesus with others totally different from you.
REWARD
The best of others comes to you, regardless of whether their best is esteemed by the world as the best.
For Money, Pat on the back, Public recognition, Self-fulfillment—Wrong reasons
For God’s will—Right reason
FREEDOM
Acceptance is a Confirmation of your calling.
Argumentation:
Mat. 10:41—““He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; & he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.”
Jn. 1:11-13—“He came to His own, & those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
1Pet. 2:6—“Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
Illustration:
Travel to a Community/Welcome/ACCEPTANCE
New business in Cairo—Taste & See/People flock in/Happy/Welcomed/ACCEPTANCE
Application:
?You pictured the ACCEPTANCE of the Harvest of souls?
?You preparing your world to meet Jesus?
13—When preparing your world to meet Jesus
PICTURE THE MESSAGE OF THE HARVEST(:9)
Explanation:(:9) Impact/Winnowing
:9—“& heal those in it who are sick, & say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”
HEALING
“Heal the sick”—*Physical healing pictures the all-encompassing healing present in the fullness of God’s Kingdom in eternity.
Isa. 53:5—“But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.”
Rev. 21:4; 22:2-3—“& He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; & there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”...“in the middle of its street. And on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; & the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall no longer be any curse; & the throne of God & of the Lamb shall be in it, & His bond-servants shall serve Him;”—There is a curse—Sin—& it can be healed!
GOD’S KINGDOM
“Kingdom...near to you”—
Love’s authority wielded & encompasses all.
Argumentation:
Think of all the people to whom the Kingdom has come near...thruout all the ages.
Evokes personal decision & elation for the accepting
Illustration:
Saddam’s defeat/Healing & offer of New Kingdom/Christian context of Democracy’s freedom has come near/Healing & better kingdom are definite possibilities/MESSAGE of the Harvest
Application:
?You pictured the MESSAGE of the Harvest of souls?
?You preparing your world to meet Jesus?
14—When preparing your world to meet Jesus
PICTURE THE REJECTION OF THE HARVEST(:10)
Explanation:(:10) Intolerance
:10—“But whatever city you enter & they do not receive you, go out into its streets & say,”
“But...& they do not receive you”—
Argumentation:
2Tim. 4:2-4—“preach the word; be ready in season & out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience & instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; & will turn away their ears from the truth, & will turn aside to myths.”
Acts 17:32-34—“Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this.” So Paul went out of their midst. But some men joined him & believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite & a woman named Damaris & others with them.”
Rev. 9:20-21—“And the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, & the idols of gold & of silver & of brass & of stone & of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; & they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.”
Jn. 1:12-13“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”—Some will trust in “Bloods”, “Flesh”, & Man’s will!
Illustration:
Application:
?You pictured the REJECTION of the Harvest of souls?
?You preparing your world to meet Jesus?
15—When preparing your world to meet Jesus
PICTURE THE BRASHNESS OF THE HARVEST(:10b-11)
Explanation:(:10b-11)Audacious/Bold/Reckless/Tactless honesty
:10b—“...go out into its streets & say,
:11—‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’”
“Even the dust”—
—The most miniscule remnant of rejecting mindset
“Wipe off”—
—No part of your rejection will taint this ministry.
—Let them know n no uncertain terms, that they are totally dissociating themselves from God!
“Yet...”—
“Kingdom of God has come near to you”—
—They thus have Responsibility/Condemnation/ Wrath/Demise.
Argumentation:
Jer. 1:8, 17-19; 2:4, 13, 23-24; 3:1—“Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.”...“Now, gird up your loins, & arise, & speak to them all which I command you. Do not be dismayed before them, lest I dismay you before them. “Now behold, I have made you today as a fortified city, & as a pillar of iron & as walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its princes, to its priests & to the people of the land. “And they will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.”....“Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, & all the families of the house of Israel.”....““For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns, That can hold no water.”....““How can you say, ‘I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals’? Look at your way in the valley! Know what you have done! You are a swift young camel entangling her ways, A wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, That sniffs the wind in her passion. In the time of her heat who can turn her away? All who seek her will not become weary; In her month they will find her.”....“God says, “If a husband divorces his wife, And she goes from him, And belongs to another man, Will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot with many lovers; Yet you turn to Me,” declares the LORD.”
Ezek. 2:3-7—“Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me; they & their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. “And I am sending you to them who are stubborn & obstinate children; & you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ “As for them, whether they listen or not--for they are a rebellious house--they will know that a prophet has been among them. “And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles & thorns are with you & you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. “But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.”
Illustration:
Dressing for job interview/Honestly honey, that is the ugliest tie I’ve ever seen/BRASHNESS of the Harvest
A person Confronted with the cold hard facts of the Gospel/Authoritatively yet ignorantly & inexperienctially respond....‘I do the best that I can’ & that’s the best anybody can hope for’/I must respond How is rejecting Jesus, ‘doing your best’?/BRASHNESS of the Harvest
Application:
?You pictured the BRASHNESS of the Harvest of souls?
?You preparing your world to meet Jesus?
16—When preparing your world to meet Jesus
PICTURE THE DECISION OF THE HARVEST(:11)
Explanation:(:11)
:11—“‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’”
Decision to reject God’s healing & kingdom
Argumentation:
In Pisidian Antioch—Act 13:44-16—“And the next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, & began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, & were blaspheming. And Paul & Barnabas spoke out boldly & said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it, & judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.”
Illustration:
All Father gave his son for high school graduation was a Bible & instructions to read the Gospel of John/Son thought it foolish & Never opened it/Son Bitter for all years following high school/Dad died/Son opens Bible & discovers an envelope/Inside check for $50,000 stating ‘Son I love you.’/DECISION of the Harvest
Application:
?You pictured the DECISION of the Harvest of souls?
?You preparing your world to meet Jesus?
CONCLUSION
Action:
When preparing your world to meet Jesus, Picture...
The Acceptance in the Harvest(:5-8)
The Message of the Harvest(:9)
The Rejection/Intolerance in the Harvest(:10)
The Brashness of the Harvest(:10b-11)
The Decision of the Harvest(:11)
Your Appointment to the Harvest(:1a)
Your Pairing for the Harvest(:1a)
Your Kept Itinerary for the Harvest(:1b)
The Labor in the Harvest(:2b)
The Labor Force of the Harvest(:2c)
The Head of the Harvest(:2d)
The Force Behind the Harvest(:2e)
The Risk in the Harvest(:3)
The Provision in the Harvest(:4a)
The Task of the Harvest(:4b)
Presented 05/04/03pm to:
Providence Baptist Church
975 Providence Road
Whigham, GA 39897
