Freely Given, Freely Received

Text: Matthew 10:1-15

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (10/14/01)

Introduction:   

Give brief description of the events in our text.

Matthew 10:8  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

EXPLAIN what Christ is saying to the apostles with this statement.

They were not to make a money-making business out of their ministry.

BTW – It is the same to expect anything in return for our “so-called” good deeds, whether we expect reciprocation, praise or a Thank-You!!

FREELY – means undeservedly or without a cause.  The primary thought is the grace of the giver.

Romans 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Revelation 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

We have received FREELY!!  - We have reached out to claim and obtain some things from God,  His grace has been appropriated in our lives!!

Salvation / Sanctification / Calling & Ministry / Tender Mercies

NOW we must give FREELY!! – We must care for the interests of others.  We have something we can furnish or supply to those in need.  We can do so of our own accord, no one needs to force our hand.

2 Corinthians 11:7  Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

PURPOSE STATEMENT:  To move the congregation from freely receiving the grace of God to a desire to freely give that same grace to others.

Everything you have received in Christ is worth being passed on, and ought to be passed on!!

To our Family….Church……Community/World

This is certainly true first and foremost of the gospel message, but the application does not end there.   What about daily grace, mercy and forgiveness?

This is where we have a problem!

We may be keen to share our faith, but are we willing to demonstrate the love of God in our daily encounters with the unsaved?

EXAMPLES:  What if they do us a wrong turn?  Ruin a borrowed item w/o replacing it? 

How will you deal with their rejection of the Gospel? Or disagreement on some more trivial item?

…With Other Church members?

EXAMPLES:  Will we love them if they don’t pass our test of Christian character or conduct?  Have you passed God’s test?

Can we love those who are difficult to love?  Are you easy to love?

Can we extend grace one who fails is some area of the Christian life?  Have you always succeeded?

1 Peter 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

There are several principles on giving and receiving in our text.

I. God will Provide Everything we Need in order to Give Freely unto others.

The disciples were called (vs.1), empowered (vs.1), sent (vs.5), and provided for (vs.9-10).

It is easy to preach to those who will receive the message.  But not everyone desires to hear the message.  Some will reject it, others will violently oppose.

Christ prepared the disciples for the reality of these various responses. And He also provided for them as they went.

A. Material Provision vs.9-10

Many today want vs.8 without 9 & 10!

They were not to be concerned with their own provision.

1. The smallest of coins (Brass)

2. The extras (coats & shoes etc..)

3. The laborer is worthy of his meat.

1 Timothy 5:18  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

4. Those ministered to would be God’s means of provision.

If we could just see that everything we have is from God, and that He will provide!!

Proverbs 3:27  Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

B. Spiritual Provision

They were called, empowered and sent.

John 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Some may say, “I just can’t love and serve as Christ loved and served”.

Romans 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

2 Peter 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

II. Our Giving is not to be based on the Worthiness of the Recipient. Vs.11-13

Vs.11 Addresses the likemindedness of certain recipients of the apostles’ message.

Vs.12-13 Demonstrates the disciples inability to determine worthiness.

A. Salute Each House  - “Love (even) your enemies”

B. Your Peace does not determine worthiness.

You are not God’s gift to mankind!!!

Matthew 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

C. The peace upon a house is determined by it’s worthiness.

Romans 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

D. In either case you are blessed.

Acts 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Rather, it is based upon what and in what manner we have received it from the Lord.

Ephesians 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

It is not a mark of holiness to look down our noses at a brother or sister in sin.  It is unadulterated pride!

Galatians 6:1-2  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

2  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

III. Grace is only effective when it is both Given and Received. Vs.14-15

Not literally to shake dust off our feet.

Not all will receive the gospel message, some refuse.

There is always another who will hear.

“No one deserves to hear the gospel twice, until everyone has heard it once”. – J. Oswald Smith

Christ gave the apostles an accountability for the message and the mission, but not for the results.

LOOK UP & READ Romans 10:16-18

1 Timothy 4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

APPLICATION: Other benevolent acts…..

Matthew 6:3  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

LOOK UP & READ Luke 6:30-36

Conclusion:     (Review)

ILLUS: A good illustration of Christ-like patience is seen in the life of Abraham Lincoln. From his earliest days in politics, Lincoln had a critic, an enemy, who continually treated him with contempt, a man by the name of Edwin Stanton. Stanton would say to newspaper reporters that Lincoln was a "low cunning clown" and "the original gorilla". He said it was ridiculous for explorers to go to Africa to capture a gorilla "when they could find one easily in Springfield, Illinois." Lincoln never responded to such slander; he never retaliated in the least. And when, as President, he needed a Secretary of War, he selected Edwin Stanton. When his friends asked why, Lincoln replied, "Because he is the best man for the job."

Years later, that fateful night came when an assassin's bullet murdered the president in a theater. Lincoln's body was carried off to another room. Stanton came, and looking down upon the silent, rugged, face of his dead President, he said through his tears, "There lies the greatest ruler of men the world has ever seen." Stanton's animosity had finally been broken. How? By Lincoln's patient, long-suffering, non-retaliatory love.

ILLUS: Testimony of Dr. Carl Hatch.

“The preacher kept coming back with love.”