Series: Dig Deeper - Hard Work Pays Off
Subject: Interesting Instructions (Digging Past Personal Comfort)
Scripture: Luke 9:1-6 (New Living Translation) "One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. 2 Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 “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. 4 Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. 5 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.” 6 So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.
Introduction: The superficiality of the modern church is sickening. We want the allure of anointing without the authenticity. But God is calling for us to dig deeper! And digging deeper requires hard work; and hard work pays off! It gives us a sense of satisfaction and it makes us stronger in the process.
Transition: The tension of this text, is Jesus' charge vs. his disciples comfort. His directive vs. their desire. The truth is, that our actions far to often are contrary to God's divine design. However, when we hear his voice, anything we're doing that's inconsistent and incongruent with his instructions should and must be disregarded. His instructions are interesting, because they're against our logic. We attempt to rationalize divine directives, but our logic will never understand God's directives. Isaiah 55:8-9 says "“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
So, the only thing we can do is trust God, when we can't trace him!
Exposition: interesting instructions from the Lord are in the least, triune...
1...God's instructions call us to positions of power (verse 1)
This power isn't about prestige that strokes your ego. This power is given from God, to help somebody other than yourself, to be better! This was a liberation of mind (demons) and body (diseases).
2...God's instructions commission us to preach promise (verse 2)
-The disciples were tasked to cast a wide net, when sharing the gospel (tell everyone).
-They were to help them first, so that they'd hear them (reference verse 1's mental and physical implications, prior to any transformative talk).
3...God's instructions challenge us to practice partiality (verse 3)
Our partiality should be geared toward, complete dependence on God alone. This is a challenge because we're accustomed to being independent. But God always makes proper provision for his children, when he sends them on kingdom building missions.
Conclusion: The resolve the Lord is seeking is obedience to his voice, even when what he instructs makes no logical sense. First Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
We just can't give any better offering to the Lord, than doing what he says!
*These sermon notes were prepared and presented by Pastor Antonie E. Walker, at Grace Corner Church in Macon, GA. The sermon was preached in Café Grace and Bloomfield Chapel on 01/10/2016.
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