Ready For Anything. Called, Prepared And Sent - Matthew 10.1-23 Series

2025.03.30. Sermon Notes. READY FOR ANYTHING. MATTHEW 10.1-23

CALLED, PREPARED and SENT

William Akehurst, HSWC

BIG IDEA: JESUS Calls and Empowers HIS disciples and sends them out as HIS Apostles with HIS Power and Authority. Called, Chosen, Commissioned and Preparation for Rejection, Opposition and Persecution.

SCRIPTURES: Matthew 10:1-26, 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, Matthew 19:28, Revelation 21:14, Romans 1:16, Isaiah 53:6, Jeremiah 50:6, Matthew 4:17, Exodus 4:10-12, Philippians 4:13, Philippians 1:3-6, Philippians 1:9-11

Matthew 10:1-26

1-4 THE TWELVE CALLED AND EMPOWERED.

1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

When He had called His twelve disciples to Him:

Jesus chose His disciples from a diversity of backgrounds and life experiences.

Common ground was that none were of high status or privilege. These were common people.

POINT: GOD uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease

Jesus not only called the 12, HE gave them POWER to accomplish what HE called them to do.

POINT: Whom GOD calls, GOD equips.

ILLUS: BGEA TVTM workers receive calls from individuals facing life issues that the worker has already been through, so the worker is equipped to help the caller.

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these

These 12 apostles (not Judas) have an important place in God’s plan of redemption.

Matthew 19:28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Revelation 21:14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

NOTE: This is Matthew’s only time referring to the 12 as “apostles”.

Apostles means “One who is sent out”. Similar to Ambassador.

They are called disciples in Matthew 10:1 Disciples = followers, students;

and apostles in Matthew 10:2. Apostles = sent under/with authority.

(CLARKE) “It is worthy of notice, that those who were Christ’s apostles were first his disciples; to intimate, that men must be first taught of God, before they be sent of God.”

POINT: Called; Taught (Prepared & Equipped); Sent

5-6 WHERE TO GO

Sending Out the Twelve to the Jews of Israel Only (Mark 6:7–13; Luke 9:1–6)

5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

These twelve Jesus sent out:

Jesus was working the region of Galilee teaching, preaching, and helping people in need.

Sending the 12 expanded that work.

Now the work of Jesus was being done by many more than Jesus alone.

And commanded them…Do not go into the way of the Gentiles

Romans 1:16 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Later, the gospel would go to both the Samaritans and the Gentiles, but it had to begin with the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The JEWS first

Who were the lost sheep of Israel?

In a sense, all of them were.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way.

But there were also lost sheep who were neglected by their spiritual shepherds, the religious leaders, priests and Pharisees.

Jeremiah 50:6 My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray.