Spotters

Spotters Spotters Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Sacrifice; Give; Support; Discipleship; Disciples; Women following Jesus / Luke 8:1-3 In lifting weights or working out, spotters support you so you can lift heavy and finish your workout. Luke brings us to an obscure reference of Jesus teaching tour and His spotters, the people supporting Him. Jesus as God didnt need spotters, but He needed to train others to be spotters as they would be invaluable for the church. Introduction - Good Spotters 1. Weightlifting - especially crossfitting - can be dangerous a. One way to mitigate this danger and to encourage and support a trainer in growth is a spotter i. With a spotter - it is possible to complete all reps (maybe a few extra) without sacrificing form or risking injury ii. A spotter is a support for the trainer 1. They are to be there for them 2. A good spotter is one who is focused to help you - not focused on themselves in the mirror 3. They are familiar with the lift and able to be in the best position to help if the trainer cannot complete a lift or wants to try a new heavier weight b. Sometimes you can rely on the gym to have people willing to spot you or at least pretend i. The best course of action is to have a workout partner or several and you all workout together 1. Ideally you would surround yourself with those who share your goals or support them ii. These guys are usually a great source of encouragement and aid in your ability to push through and mark off new personal records - like lifting heavier, more reps, more sets 2. Our passage in Luke this recounts - the transition of Jesus preaching ministry a. What I believe we see here is spotters supporting Jesus in His lifting i. No analogy works forever but I couldnt help but see some similarities here b. Jesus didnt need help to complete His mission but I do believe He was intentionally training His disciples and us to be spotters within the church i. That as spotters we would be critical in helping the church to achieve and do more ii. Lets look at our passage and see how we can continue being or learn to become better spotters for the workout and lifting of the Church - big "C" › SLIDE Luke 8:1-3 CSB 1 Afterward he was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out of her); 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions. › SLIDE The Lift › SLIDE - Luke 8:1a Christian Standard Bible Chapter 8 Afterward he was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. 1. Traveling a. Afterwards - after the events of chapter 7 - Jesus went traveling i. Jesus went traveling from one town and village to another ii. Perhaps this was what is considered His second tour of the region of Galilee b. Galilee was a small province i. It was 70 by 40 miles - or 2,800 sq miles 1. Which would only take a couple of days to traverse it ii. However this small region had about 204 towns and villages 1. This second tour of Galilee would begin the tour from outside the synagogues 2. There was no reception to the message there - so now it would be the hillsides, open roads and lakeshores 2. Preaching a. Jesus continued about His Father's business i. Preaching and telling the good news 1. Literally evangelizing - sharing the good news of the Gospel 2. This was Jesus main ministry a. It wasnt miracles and healing - but preaching the kingdom of God There are many definitions of the kingdom of God. I like the definition given by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, because it is short and simple. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that the kingdom of God "is best defined as the rule of God. The kingdom of God is present wherever God is reigning." In other words, the kingdom of God does not refer to a geographic territory but rather to a relationship. › SLIDE Jesus didnt come to do miracles and heal - He came to bring about the Gospel message and preach it - the healing and miracles helped point to His authority and authenticity › SLIDE Luke 4:43 CSB 43 But he said to them, "It is necessary for me to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because I was sent for this purpose." ii. Some of us may need to know that because we are looking and longing for healing and to see miracles - but the most important thing is the Gospel message b. This was Jesus main ministry and purpose until the time of the cross i. This was a duty Christ bore during His earthly ministry 3. Whole Group a. We see that Jesus traveled with others i. The 12 were with Him - the Apostles ii. Some women also iii. Finally we hear there were many others too 1. Possibly 70 or more traveling with Jesus or even more 2. Possibly the same group (plus some who joined) since the town of Nain b. Jesus travelled with all these people - itinerant speaking town to town and village to village i. Think of the logistics this requires 1. Food 2. Water 3. Shelter for sleeping ii. Some had left everything to follow Jesus › SLIDE The Spotters › SLIDE - Luke 8:1b-3a Christian Standard Bible Chapter 8 The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out of her); 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward; Susanna; and many others 1. The Apostles - the twelve a. Those who Jesus prayed for, and that He called to follow Him - to what we would call full time ministry i. We don't know the previous vocations of all the apostles. 1. However, we do know that Peter, James and John were partners in a fishing business before Jesus called them to his service. Luke told us that "they left everything and followed him" (5:11). 2. Levi, also known as Matthew, was a wealthy tax collector when Jesus called him to service. "And leaving everything," Luke said, "[Levi] rose and followed him" (5:28). ii. It does not seem that the apostles were bi-vocational. 1. They were full-time apostles, following Jesus and learning from him b. The disciples supported Jesus by helping Him and learning from Him 2. Some women - who had been healed a. Healed of evil spirits and sicknesses i. They had already experienced the life giving and life freeing power of Jesus and the message He proclaimed. ii. Now they wanted to follow Jesus and support him b. Mary Magdalene i. Mary from the area of Magdala which until recently they didnt know where it was - it is a fairly new site to visit when you travel to Israel 1. Located on the western shore of the sea of Galilee between Capernaum (in the North) and Tiberius (in the South) ii. She was said to have had 7 demonic spirits - a rather special malignity and the number of completion or perfection - totally insane and mad 1. Demonically possessed until Jesus freed her 2. This is the only thing known of Mary Magdalene - the idea that she was a prostitute or anything else is pure speculation and had 0 basis in the scriptures a. Insanity - Mental and Physical behaviors often associated with demon-possession b. But never immorality c. Joanna i. She was the wife of Chuza 1. Who was Herod's steward, which made him a nobleman or an official 2. He was the official who looked after the king's financial interests a. None was more trusted or important ii. Here was a follower of Jesus from the house of Herod Antipas 1. Her husband served the king but she desired to serve and support the King of Kings 2. The proclamation of the Gospel reaches even into the palaces of powerful kings d. Susanna i. Mentioned only here with nothing else known 1. We know only her name and that God decreed that it would not be forgotten. 2. we only know her name is remember and other are simply remembered as "others" ii. Her service and support of Jesus has forever immortalized her name 1. Her deeds of love and kindness towards Jesus and the others brought a blessing a. Perhaps Jesus proclaimed the same "Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she has done, in ministering to the Lord on His Galilean tour - shall be spoken of as a memorial to her › SLIDE The Spot › SLIDE - Luke 8:3b Christian Standard Bible Chapter 8 who were supporting them from their possessions. 1. Supporting Financially a. There were many others supporting them from their own possessions i. In addition to those listed 1. We know Levi was wealthy (former tax collector) 2. Peter, Andrew, James, and John perhaps were as they had hired men 3. These three women as the sentence is structured are believed to have been women of means - especially Joanna ii. These others - perhaps had not accompanied on the itinerant travels - yet they still supported 1. Perhaps staying behind to work or continue to collect and serve so that their support could continue b. A sacrificial support i. Out personal ground of gratitude to Jesus and the message of the Gospel ii. It would have taken a lot of money to keep this group taken care of as they traveled to over 204 towns and villages iii. They gave from their own means - its one thing to give of someone else's means and usually its easy for us to say - well they should be able to give look at what they have and we consider ourselves and we dont say look at what I have - i too can give something › SLIDE Rabbis and teachers were often supported by those whom they had affected their lives and those whom they were discipling King David sought to build a house for his Lord as a act of worship to His God. Someone saw this and offered to give him the property - David's response should be the response of our hearts › SLIDE 2 Samuel 24:24 CSB 24 The king answered Araunah, "No, I insist on buying it from you for a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for twenty ounces of silver. › SLIDE 1 Chronicles 21:24 CSB 24 King David answered Ornan, "No, I insist on paying the full price, for I will not take for the LORD what belongs to you or offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing." 2. Serving alongside a. A straight through reading of this we see that they were supporting from their possessions which is talking of financial or resource costs, but when we look deeper we find another way they were supporting b. Support - is the Greek word diakoneo - from diakonos - Deacon/Deaconess or Servant is the word we have in English i. Now some may have done both - given financially and served alongside - but some maybe couldnt give financially and that is ok 1. Some may have had the experience where giving has been spoken of in such a way that we feel God is going broke unless we give - even if we cant give financially - and we wear the guilt 2. Some of us have been told that unless we give in the same way we arent sacrificing enough or giving at all 3. Some of us may feel unless we give in a particular way we are wasted or wasting › SLIDE 1 Corinthians 12:12 CSB 12 For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body-so also is Christ. › SLIDE 1 Corinthians 12:14 CSB 14 Indeed, the body is not one part but many. There was an old shoemaker who had once wished to become a minister but the way had never opened up. He was the friend of a young divinity student; and when the young man one day was called to his first church the old man asked him for a favour. He asked to be allowed always to make his shoes so that he might feel the preacher was wearing his shoes in that pulpit into which he himself could never go. 4. It is not always the person in the foreground who is doing the greatest work a. Many who occupy public positions - myself especially included could not sustain their place for one week without support b. There is not gift which cannot be used in the service of Christ › SLIDE Many of His servants are in the background unseen but ESSENTIAL to His cause ii. What I see here is that Jesus was being supported by spotters who were putting their heart into the ministry of the Gospel › SLIDE When our hearts are in the ministry of the Gospel then we are supporting and spotting Jesus 1. We must be careful we dont just go through the motion or do anything half-hearted - Jesus wants us wholehearted and whole-heartedly Conclusion The analogy of these three verses relating to spotting someone at the gym - breaks down when used for Jesus - because Jesus doesnt need us we need Him. But in His foresight of omniscient foreknowledge He knew we would need each other. Jesus purpose was to preach the kingdom of God and then pass on the ministry to His apostles and to the Church Jesus traveling and preaching with this entourage wasnt trying to show He was important - He was training us to be Spotters for one another This is a picture of the flavor of the coming church - It is one of the supreme achievements of Jesus that He can bring together the most diverse groups of people to live together without losing their own personalities or qualities Tax collectors and zealots coming together supporting and serving one another to accomplish the lift - the Preaching of the Gospel Saved by the message and transformed by the message and now united under the message to preach the message. • We must learn to be spotters - Notice that those supporting and the women - they didnt complain about what they couldnt do or werent allowed to do What is remembered and recorded in scripture is that they helped and minstered in the way they were able to Sometimes we focus on what we cant do - neglecting the very tings we can do - right now with the means and gifts we do have • We must learn to humbly accept a spot also The humility of being supported and served by others - as displayed by Jesus He didnt have to - He could have created money or food He humbled Himself to receive the help and support How many of us are too proud to receive help from others? › SLIDE Sometimes the ability to humbly receive is a better measure of Jesus in our life than the ability to give Giving is a higher place - but to receive you must lower yourself The whole act of love consists of giving and receiving. First we receive from God Himself. We are loved just the way we are. Because of that assurance, we move out to love a handful of people to whom we are accountable. Next, we begin to reach out beyond our usual spheres to those, rich or poor, who are in need. Finally, we are free to receive the love others need to give, and to enjoy it. - Preachers Commentary • To spot someone correctly we must be aligned to their goals Do we preach His Kingdom Do we support its preaching? Are we committed to it? Serving Giving A loving service for one is to give sacrificially out of their own means Our support for the kingdom may come from serving inside the walls of the church or it may be we are called to support the kingdom from outside the walls of the church Martin Luther said a Christianity that costs nothing is worth nothing Do we believe there is a kingdom of God? Have we been reached by it? Nothing will make you cling to Jesus and be united in His goals like deliverance Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:20 PM March 28, 2020.