Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
Notes
Transcript
Opening Illustration
Opening Illustration
The following is the words of a former substitute teacher:
“I used to be a substitute teacher.
Most of the time, I had good classes.
Sometimes I had bad classes.
But one day, I had a horrible class.
Kids were running around the room, throwing paper wads, screaming and yelling.
One kid ran out the side door into the courtyard and came back in tracking mud all over the classroom.
I think that was the day I started losing my hair!
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But all of a sudden, the principal shows up!
It gets really quiet.
He said to me ‘Who are the five biggest troublemakers?’
I could have easily picked out ten troublemakers.
But I picked out five.
The principal points a thick finger at the five kids and says ‘Come with me!’
And I never saw them again.
And I never had another problem with that class.
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I was amazed at the authority of that principal.
That’s how the disciples feel about Jesus!”
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Do you remember our last few lessons on the Gospel of Luke, Beloved?
Jesus had authority and power over nature, demons, sickness, and even death!
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Can you imagine what the disciples probably thought to themselves?
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“Wow!
Jesus is AMAZING!
We wish WE could do that!”
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Well, as we will see in our message today, Jesus does allow them to do that!
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So, please turn your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke.
We will conduct our study in Chapter 9 and focus on verses 1 through 6.
Our message this morning is titled, “Jesus Sends Out the Twelve”
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This message today will focus on Jesus gathering the twelve disciples for the purpose of a special assignment...
And we will explore what lessons we can learn from this event.
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So, this morning we will cover three main points:
1) The Equipping...
2) The Instructions...
And...
3) The Obedience.
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Before we consider our text, please join me in prayer...
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Heavenly Father...
You are mighty, awesome, and beyond words!
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Thank You for equipping Your children to accomplish Your desire and will...
We want to be a tool in Your hands...
Yes, we just want to be used by You!
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You have given us hope due to the sending of Your Son into our broken world...
You have given us comfort and guidance by sending the Holy Spirit into every born-again believer...
And You have given us words of life in the form of the Scriptures that are truly the Word of God!
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And it is in Jesus’s name we pray all these things...
Amen.
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Let’s turn to our text for today:
Reading of the Text
Reading of the Text
1 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,
2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
3 And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.
4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.
5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”
6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
So, let’s look at our first point...
1) The Equipping
1) The Equipping
Verses 1-2: And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
So, we see from this passage that the Twelve are evidently not together all the time...
The reality is that some had homes and families...
However, for this important mission, Jesus gathers them all.
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As Pastor John MacArthur says:
“Jesus delegated His power and authority to the apostles to show clearly that He and His kingdom were sovereign over the physical and spiritual realms, the effects of sin, and the efforts of Satan.
This was an unheard of display of power, never before seen in all redemptive history, to announce Messiah’s arrival and authenticate Him plus His apostles who preached His gospel.
This power was a preview of the power Christ will exhibit in His earthly kingdom, when Satan will be bound and the curse on physical life curtailed.
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[Additionally,] this passage marks a significant transition for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Approximately half of His three-year ministry is over, and His death on the cross is about eighteen months away.
Up to this point, Jesus had ministered by Himself.
He alone performed miracles, preached the gospel, answered questions, and handled conflicts with those who opposed Him.
His ministry was isolated to wherever He was, since He was the only preacher, teacher, and healer.
As a result, the crowds that followed Him all over Galilee grew larger and larger.
In addition, the Lord’s Galilean ministry was rapidly drawing to a close.
As Luke 9:51 indicates, He was about to leave Galilee for Judea, adding time pressure to that from the increasing crowds.
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Obviously, the one who created the universe in six days could have continued to minister effectively on His own.
Instead, Jesus chose to multiply His ministry by using the twelve men whom He had called to be apostles.
In an internship that would prepare them to minister later on their own without Him, the Lord sent the Twelve throughout Galilee to preach His kingdom.
Up to this point they had been hearers and learners; now they needed to begin the transition to becoming preachers and messengers.
The apostles needed to be trained to carry on Jesus’ ministry after His death.
They were ordinary, common men, with no human credentials to qualify them for the most monumental task in human history.
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The Twelve were granted power and authority the likes of which only Jesus (and briefly the seventy) ever possessed.
If their message was to be validated and believed, there needed to be a way to attest its divine origin.
Since the completion of the New Testament, a preacher’s message can be measured against its inspired, infallible, inerrant standard.
The Twelve’s authenticity was verified by their God-granted ability to perform the same kind of miraculous signs that Jesus performed.
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The divine power they manifested proved that the apostles were preaching divine truth.
Such miraculous confirmation was no longer needed after the completion of the New Testament.
Even by the end of the book of Acts, miracles were fading from the scene as the apostles disappeared.
Paul healed people early in his ministry, but toward the end of his life, he did not heal Trophimus and advised Timothy not to find a healer, but to treat his recurring stomach ailment with wine.”
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I like how Matthew’s account of this same event says in Matthew 10:1:
1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.
The Twelve were not just called to heal some diseases and some afflictions...
They were called to cast out some demons...
They were truly called to heal every disease!
They were truly called to heal every affliction!
They were truly called to cast out every demon!
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The incredible power and authority that Jesus performed to prove He was truly the long-promised Messiah and the true Son of God...
That same power and authority is able to be given by Him to the Twelve to prove their claim that they are truly His followers...
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The final book in the New Testament was completed around 90 AD...
Up until then the canon of Scripture was not yet closed...
So, faithful teachers and preachers of God’s truth had a harder time than we do today to prove that they were not just making up claims in the 1st century...
We have a true gift with the completed inerrant and infallible whole council of God...
But for those who were preaching and teaching in Jesus’ time it would have been extraordinary miracles that would have proved one’s claim...
So, here Jesus gives power and authority to His twelve disciples and we will even see later in our study her will even do the same for the seventy-two followers of His...
We know this from passages like Luke 10:1 which says:
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.
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As the New International Commentary on the New Testament on Luke says:
“Because He is the divine Leader, He is not only able to perform powerful miracles Himself, but also to give to His apostles the power and authority to go and do in wider circles what He has done and is still doing.
An ordinary human leader, no matter how wonderful he may be, cannot communicate to his followers physical or spiritual powers to do what he is doing.
But Christ Jesus does it, and thereby we see yet again His divine greatness and also his compassionate love—because through His apostles He causes His work of mercy to be continued.”
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Additionally, we learn from Mark’s Gospel account that the Twelve were sent out two by two as recorded in Mark 6:7 which says:
7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
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In fact, as believers, we too receive certain gifts from the Holy Spirit...
Consider what it says in 1 Corinthians 12:4–11:
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
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Now, for this assignment, Jesus will give unique instructions to the Twelve...
Let’s take a look at what those instructions are and what the purpose of those were...
So, this will take us to our second point.
2) The Instructions
2) The Instructions
Verses 3-5: And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”
Let’s start this section by look at how the NLT renders verse 3-5 which is done in this manner:
“‘Take nothing for your journey,’ he instructed them.
‘Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes.
Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town.
And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.’”
So, the twelve are to take the barest minimum...
They are to totally rely on God’s provision...
This is a true act of faith and trust.
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As the Expositors Bible Commentary on Luke says:
“The instructions indicate the urgency of the task.
The severely limited provisions Jesus allows the Twelve to take with them may be intended to express their dependence on God alone.
Without bread or money they would need to be given daily food.
The forbidden “bag” (pēra) may be the kind frequently used by itinerant philosophers and religious mendicants for begging.
The disciples are learning to trust God for food, protection, and shelter.
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The disciples should receive hospitality graciously.
Hospitality was important as well as necessary in days of difficult travel conditions and poor accommodations at inns.
The disciples are not to move about from house to house, a practice that might gain them more support but would insult their hosts.”
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In Matthew’s Gospel he records the instructions that the disciples receive like this in Matthew 10:5-15:
5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,
6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts,
10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.
11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.
12 As you enter the house, greet it.
13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.
15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
Now it should be noted that the specific commands regarding what to bring and not bring on this trip was temporary...
This was intended for the Twelve’s training and not the norm...
This is clear made from the Lord’s reference to this event in the upper room...
Reminding the apostles of His charge to them in this passage Jesus said to them in Luke 22:35-36:
35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.”
36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.
So, in verse 36 of the passage we just read Jesus establishes the pattern for the Twelve's future ministry when He said, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.”
In our passage, the stringent rules the Lord enforced during this first training mission was meant to teach the apostles to trust and see the Lord provide.
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Furthermore, when Jesus said, “And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart” it was meant to show how Christians were supposed to act in contract to false teachers...
You see Beloved, in that day travelers stayed in people’s homes...
Hotels did not exist, and inns were dangerous and often little more than brothels...
Wherever they traveled, whatever house they happened to be invited to stay in, the apostles were to stay there until they left that city...
That would distinguish them from traveling false teachers, who moved from house to house collecting money from everyone they could...
The apostles, and by extension all Christians, are to be content with their circumstances.
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Please also note that Christ did not forbid the disciples to preach to Gentiles or Samaritans if they encountered them on the way...
However, they were to take the message first to the covenant people, in the regions nearby...
We now this to be true from passages like Romans 1:16 which says:
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
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Additionally, note that the passage we just read says, “You received without paying; give without pay.”
Jesus was giving the twelve great power, to heal the sick and raise the dead so they were not to sell these gifts for money...
The reality is that they could easily make a fortune selling their gifts but that would have obscured the message of grace Christ sent them to preach...
That is why He forbid them to charge money for their ministry...
However, they were permitted to accept support to meet their basic needs, for when know that as 1 Timothy 5:18 says:
18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
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Furthermore, the restrictions on what they were to carry were unique for this mission...
We know this because on a later mission Christ gave completely different instructions...
You see Beloved, the point here was to teach them to trust the Lord to supply their needs through the generosity of the people to whom they ministered.
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When Luke records in our passage that Jesus said that the Twelve should “shake off the dust from your feet” it would have brought to mind what strict Jews did...
They would remove defiling dust from their feet when they returned from Gentile lands...
So, the disciples’ action symbolize that those who rejected the preachers did not belong to God’s people...
We see this action later in Scripture used by missionaries as a sign of judgment on those rejecting the gospel in Acts 13:51 which says:
51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.
Additionally, look with me at Acts 18:6 which says:
6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
Again, the New International Commentary on the New Testament on Luke has a helpful note for us to consider:
“In order to make the hearers realize the earnestness of their preaching and work, they must, where they are not received, shake the very dust from their feet as a testimony against them—
By this action they will indicate that they break all ties with them, and show in this decisive and irrevocable manner that they do not wish to have even a dust-speck from their streets upon them.
This grave action will then serve as a last and urgent call to repentance.”
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So, if there is no response, the disciples are to leave and symbolically say in other words “good riddance” to those they leave behind...
This is the harsh reality for those who reject the Gospel...
So, we must earnestly pray that those resistant to the Good News of Jesus will have their hearts softened and act the only truth that saves!
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So, after receiving instructions, what do the disciples do?
Let’s take a look at our third and final point for that answer.
3) The Obedience
3) The Obedience
Verse 6: And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
So, the Twelve are faithful in the preaching of the Gospel message and in healing the individuals they interact with...
But this was not easy by any means...
In Matthew’s account we have a lot more dialogue that is recorded that Jesus tell His Twelve...
For example, one of the costs of preaching the Gospel is experiencing persecution...
Look with me at what it says in Matthew 10:16-25:
16 “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.
19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,
22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant 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 those of his household.
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Within this reality of persecution that will be part of the lives of all believers...
We receive form our Lord and Savior words of encouragement...
We receive form our Lord and Savior the command to have no fear!
Matthew 10:26-33 says:
26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,
33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
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For the follower of Christ we have eternal promises to hold onto...
However, if we deny Him then we will have to experience His wrath...
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This truth of both the Bad News and the Good News needs to be shared with all that we have the opportunity to...
And even that will not be easy...
Jesus made it clear that He did not come to bring peace to the world...
No, our Lord and Savior came to bring a sword!
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So, read with me the true words of Christ that many today are afraid of reading for fear of offending others...
Read with me the words of Jesus that many are ashamed...
Read with me the truth we all need to know!
Read with me what it says in Matthew 10:34-39:
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.
37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
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Jesus ends His conversation with the Twelve by revealing the rewards they will experience if they are faithful in preaching and teaching the Gospel...
He also shared the rewards of the hearers who accept the Gospel message with joy!
So, look once again with me at Matthew 10:40-42 which says:
40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.
41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.
42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
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Beloved, keep the wonderful words of John 14:12 on your mind:
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
And as Matthew 19:29 says:
29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
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Wow, isn’t that incredible and a promise to hold on to!
Closing Illustration
Closing Illustration
So, as this message comes to a close...
I would like to share this that I came across in my study this week:
A German pastor during the time of Adolf Hitler's reign was sent to prison for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Before being sent to prison the pastor had a 30 minute visit with Adolf Hitler.
Hitler tried to persuade the pastor to join his forces and turn from the stupidity of Christianity.
For thirty minutes they discussed philosophy and the ideology of the minister.
The pastor would not give up his living faith in Jesus so Hitler sent him to prison.
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Years later the man of God was released form prison.
He testified he had visions that haunted him.
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He dreamed that he saw Hitler standing before the judgment seat of God and the pastor was standing off to the side watching the panorama of events.
In his vision he saw Christ turn to Hitler and say,
“What is your excuse for all your crimes.”
In reply Hitler says:
“No one told me the Gospel.”
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The pastor said he wasted 30 minutes arguing philosophy with Hitler.
Yet, he never told him about the love of Jesus Christ.
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May all of us say with all our heart,
“I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Jesus is the only way to salvation and eternal life.
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So, Beloved, remember that there is a Great Commission...
We already have our marching order!
As Matthew 28:18–20 says:
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We must share with others that it was the one true God who created us all and we were created for his glory...
We must share with others that it is the chief end of man and the duty of every human that we should live for God’s glory...
We must share with others that despite this very real truth every single one of us have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory...
We must share with others that due to this Bad News we all deserve eternal punishment...
We must share with others that the story has not ended their and that our merciful God sent his only Son Jesus Christ into the world to provide for sinners the way of eternal life...
And we must share with others that there is Good News for eternal life is a free gift to all who will trust in Christ as Lord and Savior and supreme Treasure of their lives!
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All this is made possible because Jesus volunteered His life as a sacrifice...
He literally carried His cross and then hung on a tree naked for our sins...
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And it is now about Christ’s sacrifice that we bring our attention to.
Communion
Communion
As we begin our communion service, I want to invite every genuinely born-again believer in the room to partake in this act together.
If you do not yet know the Lord and do not have a relationship with Him...
Or if you are under church discipline from this church or another church...
Then I will ask that you wait until you have resolved your issue before participating.
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As you came in you should have picked up a communion packet if you are joining us.
This has both the bread and juice in a convenient package.
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If you have not received one of these, please raise your hand and someone will get you one.
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Before we join in communion together, I would like us to consider 1 Corinthians 11:24-25:
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Pastor John Piper says that the phrase, “This is my body” means from Jesus’ perspective:
“Let this representation of my body and blood remind you of me.
First, the death of Christ is proclaimed.
And then by this proclamation we are reminded of Christ.
Remember me, Jesus says, sitting with you in fellowship.
Remember me being betrayed - and knowing all along.
Remember me giving thanks to the God who ordained it all.
Remember me breaking the bread just as I willingly gave my own body to be broken.
Remember me shedding my blood for you so that you might live because I died.
Remember me suffering to obtain for you all the blessings of the new covenant.
Remember me promising that I would drink this fruit of the vine new in the kingdom.
Let the memories of me, in all the fullness of my love and power, flood your soul at this table.”
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So, Beloved...
Let’s all take a moment right now in silent prayer to thank the Lord for all He did for us...
(MOMENT OF SILENCE)
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Tom will you pray before we partake in the bread:
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The Word of God says in Luke 22:19:
19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
(TAKE THE BREAD)
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Adrian will you pray before we partake in the cup:
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The Word of God says in Luke 22:20:
20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
(TAKE THE CUP)
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With that we conclude the communion portion of our service.
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
Let’s pray...
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Heavenly Father...
If anyone hearing this message right now does not know You in a saving way...
Soften that stone heart...
Remove the horse blinders...
Peal back that veil...
And give then that Damascus Road experience!
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I appeal to Your Name’s sake!
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For those hearing this message who already know You...
Tighten our Belts of Truth...
Strengthen our Breastplates of Righteousness...
Lace up our Boots of the Gospel Peace...
Widen our Shields of Faith...
Reinforce our Helmets of Salvation
Sharpen our Swords of the Spirit
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Again, I appeal to Your Name’s sake!
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And it is in Jesus’s name we pray all these things...
Amen.
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To God be all the glory.
Amen.
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Please join us for one more song from the Praise Band.