When I was at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, working on my Master’s degree, one of the things stressed in almost every class was that we, as followers of Christ, are sent out to share and live out the gospel of Jesus daily. It is the Lord who sends each of us to our daily mission fields. Too often, most in the church think of missionaries and pastors as the ones who are sent, but the truth is that every single follower of Christ is sent for the sake of the gospel. In our scripture passage today, we see that the 12 were sent with instructions that I believe will help each of us as we go for the sake of the gospel. Today, I want to point out 4 things of application from the text to apply to our lives as we look to be sent.
Don’t Go Alone
Jesus sent out the disciples in pairs of two. The text doesn’t tell us why pairs of two, but I think we can think of some application of why we should always surround ourselves with other believers as we go for the gospel. First, when we go with others, we are held accountable for our words and actions. What we say matters, and when we are surrounded by other believers, we are encouraged to be bold in our witness. Secondly, we have other witnesses that can testify to the work of the gospel in our lives. The more people who share about Christ and what he is doing in their lives, the more focus we have on the grand scope of the work of God in our lives. Lastly, when we go with others, we have some personal security. Unfortunately, we live in a dangerous world, in which Christians are often the target. When we are in bigger groups, it brings about a more secure environment. Now these are not the only reasons for application, but they give us a good start on why we should go with others as we live life for Christ.
Go with the Word as the Focus
Jesus told the disciples to take nothing except what they were wearing. The focus was on how long they were gone or even on how to be prepared for the trip. The focus was strictly on taking the message and healing of the Kingdom from town to town and house to house. I think when we weigh ourselves down with things that are not primary to the gospel, we forget the reason that we go. We go so that others may hear and experience the grace of God through the gospel. We must go with a focus on Christ and his Kingdom.
When they don’t Receive
Jesus gave his disciples some advice that I think we as followers of Christ today need to hear. In verse 11, Jesus says, “And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” We are so afraid of rejection when it is not us they are rejecting; it is Christ they are rejecting. What each of us needs to remember is that the gospel does one of two things: it either draws people to Christ, or it becomes a stumbling block for rejection. There is no middle ground when it comes to the hearing of the gospel. The apostle Peter says it this way in 1 Peter 2:7-8: “So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not receive, ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’ and ‘a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.’ They stumble because they disobey the word as they were destined to do.” When someone rejects Christ, we need to walk away with a brokenness because of the deep sorrow we feel for their soul. I think showing that brokenness is like shaking the dust off our feet; it gives indication that we have presented the truth, but their rejection is of utmost danger.
The Kingdom brings healing
The disciples had a unique gift in that healing happened when they touched people. I do not believe that gift was passed along to others in the church, but I do believe that God still heals. As the church and as followers of Christ, we should be prayer warriors for those who are afflicted. We should go before the Lord and ask and seek for his mighty hand to work in the lives of others. It is the work of Christ and his Kingdom that brings about healing. For some, the healing is physical; for others, it is emotional or mental, and for all it is spiritual. When followers of Christ are obedient in our going, then we will see the impact of the Kingdom in more ways than we could ever imagine.
Conclusion:
God never saves anyone to sit on the sidelines. Every single person that comes to Christ is sent out for the sake of the gospel. Some will be sent around the globe; others will be sent just to their community, but all are sent. As a follower of Christ, you have a testimony that you can share with others. If you have come to faith in Christ, you have all you need, knowledge-wise, to tell someone else how to come to Christ. If you don’t know how to share how you came to Christ, then it is possible that you have never come to Christ yourself. Let us go with courage and focus as we are sent for the Kingdom.
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