Mark 6:7-13
Mission-minded Living
And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. 7
He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. 8-9
Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.
And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” 10-11
So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.12-13
Missions, to many people, is what we do “over there” in some foreign country. The truth is we should be doing missions in our own backyard. It’s a shame that we go off to another city, state or country to “do” missions because the lost need to hear the Word. Listen to what Ed Stetzer says about that.
“Many church leaders, however, see evangelism as “something that takes place near us, while missions takes place overseas,” Ed Stetzer and David Putman write. “Our paganized, secularized, spiritualized North American culture should be seen as a mission field.” “The missionary studies the culture, looking for the ways God is already revealing Himself to the people,” the authors recount. “When that ‘bridge’ is found, the missionary can express the eternal truth of the Gospel in a way that is indigenous to the culture. People respond with joy and the Gospel spreads like wildfire through the network of their relationships.” A “missional” church, then, is one that acts like a missionary in its community.” Quoted from “Breaking the Missional Code sees churches as ’missionaries’” written by Mark Kelly (Oct 11, 2006 BP)
Introduction – Missions Motives with Hudson Taylor
When Hudson Taylor was director of the China Inland Mission, he often interviewed candidates for the mission field. On one occasion, he met with a group of applicants to determine their motivations for service. "And why do you wish to go as a foreign missionary?" he asked one. "I want to go because Christ has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," was the reply. Another said, "I want to go because millions are perishing without Christ." Others gave different answers. Then Hudson Taylor said, "All of these motives, however good, will fail you in times of testings, trials, tribulations, and possible death. There is but one motive that will sustain you in trial and testing; namely, the love of Christ." Source Unknown.
We are in a mission field. Jesus modeled how we are to love others. That makes Him our teacher and…
Their TEACHER 7
Jesus is our teacher. We find in Him the great qualities of a teacher. A great teacher is patient, persistent, perceptive and practical. He finds the best in people and draws it out of them. A great teacher will Challenge us, Cheer us onward and of course, Confronts us when we need it!
Secondly, the Word is our guide. It directs us in the way we behave, believe and battle. We are to aspire to godly behavior. We are to believe what our teacher has entrusted us with. And our battle is not with flesh and blood but the spiritual world.
Then, the Spirit is our supplier. He gives us everything we need. Our need is to faithfully request the supplies we seek. He does all the rest.
Finally, the World is our field. A sign at the exit at the Glorieta Conference Center in New Mexico states, “You are now entering your mission field.” And we have a huge mission field in front of us! Remember that He supllies all our needs.
Illustration – Teacher and boots
It seems that one day a kindergarten teacher was helping one of her students put on his cowboy boots. He asked for help and she could see why. Even with her pulling and him pushing, the little boots still didn’t want to go on. Finally, when the second boot was on, she had worked up a sweat. She almost cried when the little boy said, "Teacher, they’re on the wrong feet." She looked down and sure enough, they were. It wasn’t any easier pulling the boots off than it was putting them on. But she managed to keep her cool as together they worked to get the boots back on - this time on the right feet. And it was only then that he announced, "These aren’t my boots." She bit her tongue rather than scream, "Why didn’t you say so?" like she wanted to. And, once again she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting boots off his little feet. No sooner had they got the boots off then he said, "They’re my brother’s boots. My Mom made me wear ’em today." Stifling a scream, she mustered up the grace and courage she had left to wrestle the ill-fitting boots on his feet again. Helping him into his coat, she asked, "Now, where are your mittens?" To which he replied, "I stuffed ’em in the toes of my boots." The article ends by saying - Her trial starts next month.
Every place we serve will have its challenges. Our purpose is to serve the least of these; no matter how small!
Now notice in verses 8-9…
Their TOOLS
We discover five tools that the Spirit gives us in working accomplishing our work in our mission field.
First, there is their Character. The Spirit develops our character in the anvil and the furnace of life. Character is who you are when no one else is watching.
Then there is their Confidence. Our confidence is found in the person of Christ. He has established the means, method and message we deliver. I can because He has.
And there is their Courage. He also gives us the courage we need when we need it. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross provides us the courage no matter what we face.
Note also their Compassion. They care for others because Christ cared for us when no one else did. We have compassion because he had compassion.
And finally there is their Companion. God seems to always provide for us a helper. For the man it is his wife. For the Pastor it is his associates. For the evangelist it is his witnessing companion. Jesus sent us out two-by-two. It helps us in equipping, encouragement and empowering.
Illustration – AWL for the good
In 1809, Simon Renee Braille and his wife Monique welcomed their fourth child into the world-- a lively boy named Louis. They lived in a small stone house near Paris where Braille was the local harness maker. Leather working tools are dangerous, so the toddler had been instructed not to go into his father’s shop alone. But when Louis was still small, he slipped into the shop, and with curiosity started to handle all the fascinating tools. As Louis was inspecting an awl, the sharp tool used to punch holes in leather, he slipped and punctured a part of his eye with the tool. The injured eye became infected. The little boy could not keep his hands from rubbing and scratching the wound, and soon the infection spread to his other eye as well. When Louis was only 4, he became completely blind. Louis was fortunate enough to study at the Royal Institution for Blind Youth in Paris. He excelled as an organist, and at twelve years old began asking the question “How can the blind read?” Over his summer break at home, Louis was determined to find the answer. As He moved and groped around his father’s shop in search of the right tool for his task, the awl presented itself as perfect for the job. The awl would make the raised dots he had seen in the French military system of “night writing.” And with the very instrument that had blinded him, Louis worked and worked until he had created a system of dots whereby the blind could read and write, work math problems and compose music. What is your awl--The thing that has crippled you, either by your own doing like young Louis, or someone else’s? Is it a divorce, the death of someone you love, a lost career? Let God take it, and use it in your life for good—to reshape you or comfort others. Source: SermonCentral staff. www.braillerman.com/louis.html
The Christian has the Bible as a doctor has a stethoscope. God has given us all the tools we need to carry out His purposes! Even when it doesn’t make sense we live faith and not by sight!
Not only do we notice their majestic Teacher and marvelous Tools but we also note…
Their TRADE 10-11
It is their Duty to carry out their trade. My dad was a welder and faithfully carried out his responsibilities even though it has cost him his health. As believers, we too have a responsibility to carry out our duties of serving Him!
With their duty comes their Diligence. Jesus commanded them to go out. He had patterned this for them for about three years. Now it was their time to be diligent in their duties.
In their trade we see their Dedication. Jesus was the object of their trust. He had equipped them. He authorized and sent them. They were dedicated to Him and the mission He had given them.
And finally we see their Determination. They accomplished the task He had given them. Even Judas would have finished his work.
Illustration – Examples Count
A missionary reported that one native resisted baptism, saying: "I will wait and see just what this means in their lives." After many watchful weeks, the native said: "I, too, want to be baptized. I have watched those persons who were baptized, and it has made a difference. I want Jesus to do for me what He has done for them."
Our responsibility as believers is not in our success but in faithfulness in our trade.
In verses 12-1, we see…
Their TRUST
They Committed themselves to His mission. Although they may not have understood everything (and we know they didn’t) they followed Jesus.
They also Confronted sin. A message of repentance confronts sin. It can’t be compromised or negotiated. It means we live differently through His power.
And finally, they Conquered sickness. It’s not the kind the T.V. evangelists summon. The type they dealt with was the same kind Jesus dealt with…real sickness with complete healing.
Our trust rightly belongs in the person of Jesus Christ. It does not belong in our own strength, personality or resources.
Illustration – Heaven; I’m Here!
The Rogers are devout Christians who have built a strong family. The father has a special interest in the spiritual condition of each of his children and often would quiz them in order to know if they were sure of their salvation. Occasionally he would ask them to share in their own words about their relationship with Jesus Christ.
One day it was seven-year-old Jimmy’s turn to express how he knew he had eternal life. Jimmy told his version: "I think it will be something like this in Heaven. One day when we all get to go to Heaven, it will be time for the big angel to read from the big book the names of all the people who will be there. He will come to the Rogers family and say, ’Daddy Rogers?’ and Daddy will say, ’Here!’ Then the angel will call out, ’Mommy Rogers?’ and Mommy will say, ’Here!’ Then the angel will come down to call out Susie Rogers and Mavis Rogers, and they will both say, ’Here!’"
He paused, took a big deep breath and continued. "And finally that big angel will read my name, Jimmy Rogers, and because I’m little and maybe he’ll miss me, I’ll jump and shout real loud, ’HERE!’ to make sure he knows I’m there."
Just a few days later there was a tragic accident. A car struck down little Jimmy Rogers as he made his way to catch the school bus. He was rushed by ambulance to the hospital, and all the family was summoned. He was in critical condition.
The little family group gathered around the bed in which little Jimmy now lay with no movement, no consciousness and no hope for recovery. The doctors had done all that was in their power. Jimmy would probably be gone by morning.
The family prayed and waited. Late in the night the little boy seemed to be stirring a bit. They all moved closer. They saw his lips move; just one word was all he uttered before he passed from this life. But what a word of comfort and hope for a grieving family he was to leave behind. In the clear voice of a little boy, loud and clear enough so all could hear and understand, little Jimmy Rogers said the one word: ’HERE!’ And then he was gone to another life beyond this world, where a big angel was reading the names of all those written there.
As everyone faces the reality of eternity, what are you doing in your mission field? Are you waiting until you go overseas or are you actively involved in missions in your hometown backyard? What is the spiritual life of your next-door neighbor? Do you really care? Will they be able to answer… “Here!”?
Challenge: Find your mission field!
