Functional Fitness

Functional Fitness Functional Fitness Michael Morse / General Cross Fitness / Ambassador; Mission; Evangelism; Proclaim; Rejoicing Person / Luke 10:1-16 Functional fitness is fitness that the movements are designed to be functional for everyday living. It would be a shame to spend time working on fitness but the fitness achieved isnt useful. Spiritually we desire to be crossfit but Spiritual CrossFitness is also a functional fitness, a fitness that readies us to be used functionally for mission by Christ. Introduction 1. Crossfitness has gained much popularity since its inception a. I believe the popularity is due to several reasons but one for sure would be my top pick i. The strength and fitness garnered using the crossfit methods and principles is what would be described as "functional" ii. This is because crossfitters use exercises where the muscles work together in movements that mimic what might be done or needed in a typical day at home, work or in athletics b. It is great to be fit but if that fitness isnt functional its all for show and of little help in daily living 2. Our passage of scripture in Luke takes us to the point where Jesus sends out 72 disciples as ambassadors. a. The cross fitness and discipleship that Jesus has given them - is for functional purpose i. Jesus does not have sideline disciples or inactive disciples ii. Jesus called these 72 to be His ambassadors and He is calling us today to be His ambassadors in this world - in our family, in our work, and also in our leisure. b. In the same way crossfit develops functional strength for everyday living - as we seek to be crossfit spiritually we must remember it is developing strength in us for everyday discipleship - everyday spiritual living in our position as ambassadors for Jesus i. As ambassadors we are to be active for Jesus - not sidelined ii. Our spiritual crossfitness is not for show it is for function lets look and see what to expect as ambassadors for Jesus. › SLIDE Luke 10:1-3 CSB 1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others, and he sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 He told them, "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. 3 Now go; I'm sending you out like lambs among wolves. › SLIDE Luke 10:4-7 CSB 4 Don't carry a money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals; don't greet anyone along the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' 6 If a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Don't move from house to house. › SLIDE Luke 10:8-11 CSB 8 When you enter any town, and they welcome you, eat the things set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, 'The kingdom of God has come near you.' 10 When you enter any town, and they don't welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 'We are wiping off even the dust of your town that clings to our feet as a witness against you. Know this for certain: The kingdom of God has come near.' › SLIDE Luke 10:12-14 CSB 12 I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town. 13 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. › SLIDE Luke 10:15-16 CSB 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will go down to Hades. 16 Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." › SLIDE Assignment › SLIDE Luke 10:1-3 CSB 1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others, and he sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 He told them, "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. 3 Now go; I'm sending you out like lambs among wolves. › SLIDE Luke 10:4-8 CSB 4 Don't carry a money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals; don't greet anyone along the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' 6 If a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Don't move from house to house. 8 When you enter any town, and they welcome you, eat the things set before you. 1. Jesus appointed 72 others -meaning other than the disciples or Apostles a. Appointed - designated, assigned, tasked, commissioned i. Jesus commissioned these seventy-two others - not as apostles but to assign them as Ambassadors of the King 1. An ambassador is the accredited diplomat or representative to a foreign country or government › SLIDE An "ambassador" for Jesus Christ is a representative of the King of Kings and the kingdom of God to this world ii. These appointed go beyond the 12 commissioned as apostles who were to be sent as His messengers 1. The number 72 is debated - in fact if you look in the KJV or NKJV it states 70 were sent 2. Not a contradiction of the Bible as this doesnt change the meaning in anyway simply explained a. Masoretic manuscript - says 70 - could be due to many reasons one of which being to be in line with the 70 elders of Moses? b. Septuagint says 72 3. The most likely of the number is best explained in that it relates back to Genesis 10 a. This chapter is known as the table of nations list 72 descendants (73 but verse 14 says the Philistines are a mixed nation) b. The number chosen of ambassadors for Christ - correlates to the number of nations of the world - which is the overarching theme of Luke's Gospel - › SLIDE Luke's Theme - Jesus Christ is the savior of the whole world - all people and every nation b. Jesus sent the 72 out ahead of Himself i. He sent them in pairs two by two 1. I believe in this arrangement - they learned the necessity of concord among themselves as representatives of Jesus a. They might support and comfort one another in their mission › SLIDE - Perhaps an allusion to what Jesus would later speak to His disciples Matthew 18:20 CSB 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them." 2. To allow for lawful, truthful testimony - as it is stated that in the mouths of two witnesses everything might be established › SLIDE Deuteronomy 19:15 CSB 15 "One witness cannot establish any iniquity or sin against a person, whatever that person has done. A fact must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. › SLIDE - Reiterated by Paul 2 Corinthians 13:1 CSB 1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 2. Jesus gave them instructions as His ambassadors as He sent them ahead of Him a. Pray i. Jesus says the harvest is abundant but the workers are few 1. The harvest is many much plentiful - huge, innumerable 2. In other words Jesus is saying the harvest is massive, overwhelming and requires many workers 3. Jesus is speaking metaphorically about people - the harvest of souls › SLIDE When the work to be done is overwhelmingly massive - we must go to the Lord in prayer ii. Pray specifically that the Lord would send out workers into His harvest 1. This is needful for us to remember - this is the Lord's harvest 2. Jesus instructs us not to complain that there is too much work and not enough workers - but instead we are to pray for more workers to be sent 3. The workers are few - because the work is laborious and hard - not always glamorous either, but most often we find spectators coming - not workers - we must pray for more workers b. Now Go i. Almost as if Jesus is saying as you ask for workers to be sent out - notice that I am sending you out. 1. Dont miss the connection here between praying and going - often we think praying is about God answering the things we want - when in reality we are to be praying for God will to be done and sometimes - more often than not we are part of that will 2. The heart to pray for a matter is the heart to be sent for a matter 3. Pray first and then go a. The Lord may use us to answer our own prayers › SLIDE - Wiersbe Too many Christians are praying for God to send somebody else to do a job they are unwilling to do themselves! c. Go in faith › SLIDE We are always sent on assignment as ambassadors in faith i. The assignment from Jesus is risky and dangerous 1. Jesus sends us out like lambs among wolves 2. Lambs are defenseless and dependent a. Among wolves lambs are vulnerable - more vulnerable than even sheep › SLIDE Jesus sends His ambassadors out at great risk to self; the assignment is dangerous and in hostile enemy territory ii. Trust God for your provisions 1. Jesus says dont carry a money bag, traveling bag or sandals (extra pair) a. Money bag obviously represents finances - trust God for money b. Traveling bag is usually brought for provisions or food - trust God to satisfy your hunger c. Sandals - extra pair - in case the others wore out - perhaps because it was short term or more likely I see Jesus as saying trust your comfort to God also iii. Understand the Urgency 1. Jesus instructed them not to greet anyone along the road - which seems odd - trust me when I say Jesus is in no way saying be unkind, rude, or ignore anyone 2. In those days a roadside greeting would be time consuming and required much ceremony a. Their assignment and message as we will see - requires them to make haste and observe the upmost urgency b. We must sense the urgency of our assignment iv. Your assignment is not self-serving 1. Assume the best of people - enter the house and offer your peace 2. Remain in that very house - eat and drink what is offered a. You can enjoy what is given - as you are worthy to receive it b. Do not demand beyond what is offered 3. Do not go from house to house - trying to better your accommodations 4. As you are welcomed - eat the things set before you › SLIDE To operate on assignment in this place of peril, importance and urgency requires faith but more than it requires a disciplined faith › SLIDE Message › SLIDE Luke 10:9-11 CSB 9 Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, 'The kingdom of God has come near you.' 10 When you enter any town, and they don't welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 'We are wiping off even the dust of your town that clings to our feet as a witness against you. Know this for certain: The kingdom of God has come near.' › SLIDE Luke 10:12-13 CSB 12 I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town. 13 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. › SLIDE Luke 10:14-16 CSB 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will go down to Hades. 16 Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." 1. For those who receive you a. Verse 8 denoted that verse 9 is in connection with those who welcome or receive the ambassadors b. Heal the sick i. The specific healing is a gift in operation today around the world - but it is not specifically given to everyone - but we do have healing that we can provide outside the miraculous (unless you have that gift) › SLIDE - ministry we must remember Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10 Freely you received, freely give. ii. Healing can be done simply through ministering › SLIDE 1 Thessalonians 5:14 CSB 14 And we exhort you, brothers and sisters: warn those who are idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. c. Proclaim to them - the kingdom of God has come near you i. This can be understood as the kingdom is coming - be prepared or the kingdom has arrived or is here ii. Essentially they are going before Jesus into these towns and those who welcome them - receive the message that the Messiah is near and is coming - even now iii. Personally - notice the addition of the word you 2. For those who do not receive you a. The town who does not welcome you - the message changes for when they reject you i. Go to the streets and say - we are discarding even the dust of your town - and it is a witness against you ii. Know for certain the kingdom has come near - notice the message is not personally directed - the "you" is missing 1. The kingdom has come near but you were unwelcoming - unreceptive - unwilling b. Notice something that Jesus says here though - He doesnt tell them to try to give the message harder or share a different message i. He says their unwelcoming to the message will be on them - in fact He points to a day that they will face 1. On that day - is a reference to the Lord's Day - the day the Lord returns to judge those who rejected Him and He says on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town › SLIDE We are not called to be successful, we are only called to be faithful - in assignment and the message ii. Why is that some will reject the message - if it not on us the messengers? 1. Look at verse 13 - Jesus says the reason is unrepentance c. Jesus points to a day of judgment and He gives example of some places being judged harsher than others i. This points to several truths we need to understand › SLIDE Knowledge and revelation increases responsibility and guilt › SLIDE On that day some will receive worse judgment than others. No one will have it good in hell, but some will have it worse than others › SLIDE There is no telling how many chances you will have receive to hear the Gospel and repent before it is too late 3. How the ambassador is received is how who they represent is received a. When we are received as ambassadors - they receive the one who sent us b. When as ambassadors we are rejected - they are not rejecting us and therefore we dont have to take it personally i. Jesus tells us that whoever rejects us rejects Him - because He sent us and to reject Him is to reject God - because God sent Him as well › SLIDE 1 Thessalonians 4:8 CSB 8 Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. › SLIDE - 2 slides It is helpful for all servants of God to not hold either praise or rejection too tightly. If they truly represent their Master, the success or rejection of their work is more due to Him than to them. 2nd slide here - Their greatest concern should not be with success or rejection, but with properly representing their Master. Conclusion The harvest is still ripe and the laborers are still few. Pray for the Lord to send more workers - and look also to yourself if He might be sending you Our crossfitness is a functional fitness we must go and do - we must work the harvest We who are disciples of Christ are all called to be ambassadors for Christ - its in the name - Christian - like Christ - we represent Him. You cannot wait until you feel ready and equipped to go be His ambassador, you will never feel ready or equipped or even fully prepared - but Jesus is still saying Go Now - if we wait until we feel ready, equipped or prepared we will never go As ambassadors - we must remember our duty is to carry Jesus's message and represent Jesus to the world. Our duty is to give His message - not our own - we represent Him, not ourselves. › SLIDE We must be sure that we do nothing in our position as ambassadors to add to, or subtract or detract from, His message The seventy we looked at today declared the first coming - we declare now His soon return. Our calling as ambassadors is one of privilege and responsibility. It is quite similar that when war is breaks out - the ambassadors are called home - in that day - the Day of the Lord God will war with the world who has rejected His son by rejecting His ambassadors and as His ambassadors we will be called home. If you are listening and you havent yet decided for Jesus to be your Lord and Savior - the message today is clear - the kingdom of God has come near - Jesus comes near - do you welcome Him? Do you receive His ambassadors and their message and in turn receive Him to yourself? Dont wait to receive the message for soon the message will be that you are too late. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:40 PM July 4, 2020.