“Christ Followers, What to Expect”
Christ Followers, What to Expect MT 10:16-42
Scripture
Ephesians 6:12 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. NIV
Hebrews 13:14-16 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. ESV
GI Joe
Pray
I. Persecution and the Accuser that will Come
A. Sharing Jesus will bring persecution
The Apostles and us, were told what to expect persecution
(ON Screen) Mt 10:16-18 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
- Jesus was sending them as sheep in the midst of wolves - Mt 10:16
- You’re going to get the Gentiles by doing it Jesus’s way.
B. Who gives us what to say???
(ON Screen) Mt 10:19-20 When they deliver you over, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. ESV
-Being called, and given authority doesn’t mean you will get to do what you want or do as you see it.
-When you proclaim the Gospel know the Father knows what needs to be said or Not said. Submission to Jesus, may have you stay silent.
Colossians 4:6 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. NIV
-Some may think that they don’t need to prepare, that’s not true. We need to renew our minds on his scriptures so we can be prepared to answer the accuser.
C. Standing Firm in the Faith!
(On Screen) Mt 10:22-23 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another.
-To believe in Jesus and stand firm to the end, will take perseverance because our faith will be challenged and opposed. Server trials will sift true Christians from fair weather believers. Enduring to the end does not earn Salvation for us, but marks us as already saved.
Acts 14:22 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said NIV
D. Student and teacher
(On Screen) Mt 10:24-25 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant[f] above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign[g] those of his household. ESV
As His disciples, they should expect similar treatment to what He had received - Mt 10:24-25
- In the Jewish culture they thought that the Roman God’s were demons and the head of that Demon was Beelzebul or Beelzebub Know as the Lord of the Flies.
- The accuser will call good, evil. They are of the World, not of those that have been called to God, yet…
-Jesus was preparing the disciples to react in the proper way
1. To rejoice that they were worthy to suffer in Christ’s name - Mt 5:10-12
2. To rejoice knowing that trials can make them better - Ro 5:3-5
3 Blessing those who curse you, praying for those who despise you - Mt 5:44
E - Story of the Accuser- when you under the pressure of the Accuser
II. Where does my Help come from?
A. Holy Spirit and His Knowledge.
(On Screen) Mt 10:26-27 26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.
- The Lord speaks in Dreams, visons, believers and his Holy Scriptures!
- The Lord will teach you and train you as you fast and pray to Him.
B. THE APOSTLES WERE TOLD WHOM TO FEAR.
(On Screen) Mt 10:28-31 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
- They were not to fear those who could physically kill them - Mt 10:28
- They were to fear God if they desired to be free from the fear of men
- For God had the power to destroy both body and soul - Mt 10:28
- But God also knew everything about them and valued them highly - Mt 10:29-31
C. We are Called to proclaim Jesus!
(On Screen) Mt 10:32-33 32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
WE THE NEED TO BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT GOD THINKS...
1. The Fear of rejection often hinders many evangelistic efforts
a. We want to be accepted by friends, family, neighbors
b. We don’t want to be turned away from them
-- But they are Not the ones who will judge us in the last day!
- Confessing Jesus before men would ensure being confessed before God - Mt 10:32-33
- Paul reminds us that pleasing God rather than man is what makes one a servant of Christ - Ga 1:10
- Christians need to have a healthy reverence for God - cf. Ph 2:12
When we revere God more than we fear man, the fear of rejection will not hinder our efforts to share and with others
Take a pause, - Persecution and the Accuser that will Come. But the Help does come. Jesus sometime delivers a softer message, but not today. This next passage maybe where some have a lot of pain may be in being a Christian.
III. Not Peace, But a Sword
(On Screen) MT 10:34-39 34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[c]
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
A. We are told that the Lord must come first
- Jesus described the kind of conflicts that would often arise - Mt 10:34-36
- His coming and the gospel of the kingdom would often divide family members
- The members of one’s own household might become enemies
- To be worthy, they must love Him more than family and self - Mt 10:37-39
- They must be willing to take up their cross and follow Him
- They must be willing to lose their life in service to Him to truly find their life
B. The cost of Discipleship
(On Screen) John 12:25-26 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
- A cost Jesus encouraged all to count before becoming His disciples - Lk 14:25-33
- A cost Jesus reminded one disciple who sought to put family first - Mt 8:21-22
C. Applying to us today
- Service to God is hindered by allowing family and personal interests to come first
- You see this in how some put relatives and family before the church
- We have a responsibility to our families (1 Ti 5:8), but we must not let that get in the way of serving Jesus
- Evangelism, especially foreign evangelism, will never be what it should be as long as we allow family and personal considerations hold us back
- Think of the early Christians, who “went everywhere preaching the word” - Ac 8:4
- Likely there were children, parents, and others saying “Don’t go”; but neither persecution nor family ties kept them from spreading the Word!
IV. This is not Our Home
(On Screen) MT 10:40-42 40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
A. THIS WOULD ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO RECEIVED THE APOSTLES...
- For in receiving them, they receive Christ and God who sent Him - Mt 10:40
- They would share in the rewards of the prophets and righteous men they supported – Mt 10:41
- Even a cup of cold water would not go unnoticed - Mt 10:42
B. The Sermon on the Mount of who we are to be
13 “You are the salt of the earth,
14 “You are the light of the world
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[b] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
- Thus those who support have fellowship in both the work and reward of those they support!
C. Applying to us Today
- Never underestimate the role of supporting those who go (“How shall they preach unless they are sent?”) - cf. Ro 10:14-15
- If you cannot go or teach yourself, then do what you can to support those who can
- Take comfort in knowing:
- It is Christ you are serving, not just a servant of Christ!
- You can receive a prophet’s reward without necessarily being a prophet!
This is not our home.
Hebrews 13:14-16 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. . ESV
Close
- Don’t expect everyone to gladly receive your message of salvation in Christ.
- But being forewarned is forearmed, able to respond in the proper way
- Blessing those who curse you, praying for those who despise you - Mt 5:44
But Christ Church is the place to have the Spiritual Fellowship that no other place can have! To train, teach encourage, and share in the Spirt of Christ!
Acts 2:42 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Please Pray Earnestly that the Lord will bring you to speak to the Lost helpless sheep that the Wolves have been harassing and misguiding. To point them to the Savior.
As disciples, as churches or as individuals, success in evangelism can be increased by remembering what our Lord told His twelve apostles before He sent them out to share the good news of the kingdom
As Christ Followers now we know what to Expect,
And knowing is half the battle.
