Mathew Ch9v35-Ch10v42 - Sent Out

This morning, thanks Chris.

Our reading this morning is taken from Matthew chapter 9 beginning at verse 35 and continuing on into 10 on to verse 8.

Matthew 9 · chapter mention

So that's Matthew 9 beginning at verse 35 and that's page 974 of the Church Bible.

Matthew 9 verse 35.

Matthew 9:35

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and illness.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Then he said to his disciples, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

Jesus called out, called his 12 disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and illness.

These are the names of the 12 apostles.

These 12 Jesus sent out with the following instructions.

Jesus sent out with the Holy Spirit, but the Lord of the apostles.

Jesus sent out with them and gave them free to heal them and heal them.

Jesus sent out with the Lord of the apostles.

Jesus sent out with them, therefore, to the lost sheep of Israel.

As you go, proclaim this message.

The kingdom of heaven has come near.

Heal those who are ill.

Raise the dead.

Cleanse those who have leprosy.

Drive out demons.

freely you have received

freely give

thanks Chris

let's pray

Father give us

give us hearts

that will listen carefully

to your word today

may words that may

be familiar to us

strike

deep down into our lives

so that we have

a vision

that you have

that we are filled

with your desires and priorities

that they would shape

how we live

and how we go about

our day to day

Father we've come in

to this building in one way

and we want to go out

changed

and transformed

and so we ask that the power

of the Holy Spirit would work in

each of us

individually

and corporately

as a church

and do an amazing work

in all of our lives

may each one

be truly changed today

Amen

well as we

think about what we've seen

on the news

in these recent days

and we see the

desperate

impact of war

and the destruction

it causes

and we think about

our own country

and

our own families

and

troubles that people

are in

we long

to see change

we long

to see transformation

we long

that things

would be different

and I want

to encourage us

all today

to say to us

that we can

all be part

of an amazing

change

an amazing

transformation

in three simple

ways

by how we

see

how we pray

and in how we

obey

in three simple

steps

by seeing

as God

wants us

to see

by praying

the kind of prayers

God wants us

to pray

and by obeying

the commands

he gives us

God can use

us

to bring about

an eternal

change

to the community

we are in

and the world

around us

I truly

believe it

and I hope

that we will see

that this morning

so the first thing

that we're going

to look at

is seeing

forget

all of that

seeing

with compassion

that's the first

thing we want

to think about

when you walk

around Carragoline

imagine you're

going into

to Lidl's

or into Dunn's

or you're driving

through the village

how do you

see the people

around you

maybe you see

them as people

who are to avoid

just in case

they have COVID

maybe you think

of them as

frustrating

because they're

slowing you down

of where you

want to go

or maybe you

just see them

as there to

serve you

to get you

what you need

how do you

view people

well when

Jesus looks

at people

he sees

sheep

look at verse

36

when he saw

the crowds

he had

compassion on

them because

they were

harassed and

helpless

like sheep

without a

shepherd

shepherd

now sheep

without

shepherds

wander

we don't

have to

know too

much about

farming

to know

that

they get

lost and

they get

themselves

into trouble

they don't

do very

well on

their own

and people

are no

different

in verse 36

he describes

us as being

harassed

and helpless

to be harassed

is to be

overcome with

anxiety and

fear

it's the

consequences

of living a

disordered life

that has been

corrupted by

sin

constantly

overwhelmed

and frantically

trying to

control our

life and our

future

we're not at

peace

always searching

never finding

we live

aimless

and empty

lives

we're

harassed

but we're

also helpless

helpless to

see how

serious the

situation

actually is

helpless to

do anything

about it

because our

sinful condition

means

that we're

in danger

of God's

judgment

and the

problem is

people

cannot

see it

we're in a

helpless

situation

on one of

my mountain

walks

I stopped

to take in

the views

and just

over to my

right

in the

grassy

heather

I heard

what I

thought

was a

frog

it was

kind of

like a

croaking

sound

so I

went

wandering

off to

investigate

and as

I pulled

back the

grass

all I

could see

was this

beady

little eye

looking up

at me

it was a

sheep

almost

submerged

in the

bark

wrestling

and

struggling

well that's

how Jesus

sees people

no matter

who they

are

where they

come from

what their

background

may be

we are

all

wandering

sheep

harassed

because of

sinful choices

and decisions

and helpless

to do

anything

about it

but thankfully

we have a

compassionate

shepherd

because the

response of

Jesus to

these

wandering

leaderless

sheep

is

compassion

again look

at verse 36

when he saw

the crowds

he had

compassion

compassion

on them

compassion

is much more

than just

having concern

for somebody

or care

for someone

it's a deep

feeling

that churns

within you

from the

inside

and that

feeling is

not quelled

until something

is done

it's an emotion

a strong emotion

that leads

to action

in other words

it's feeling

a need

and wanting

to alleviate

that need

as one

writer put it

the compassion

of Jesus

is his

spontaneous

reflex

to move

towards

sinners

and sufferers

he is

compelled

into action

he sees

and he is

moved to do

something about

it

you see

Jesus is

the shepherd

that has

come

the shepherd

we all

need

the prophet

Ezekiel

helps us

to understand

this

you can keep

your finger

in Matthew

and go back

to Ezekiel

the prophet

if anybody

has a page

number

that might

help

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 34 · chapter mention

chapter 34

anyone got

a page

number

no

different

bible

sorry

866

thank you

Ezekiel

34

and here

God

through the

prophet

Ezekiel

is showing

the damage

that is

caused

to people

where there

is the

absence

of healthy

leaders

where people

do not

have

the instruction

and the love

and the care

of the Lord

we'll pick it up

in verse 4

God is speaking

against those

who've led

people astray

verse 4

you have not

strengthened the

weak or healed

those who are

ill

or bound up

the injured

you have not

brought back

the strays

or search

for the lost

you have

ruled them

harshly

and brutally

so they were

scattered

because there

was no shepherd

and when they

were scattered

they became

food for all

the wild animals

my sheep

wandered

over all the

mountains

and over

every high hill

they were

scattered over

the whole earth

and no one

searched for

them

or looked

for them

verse 11

for this is

what the

sovereign

Lord says

I myself

will search

for my sheep

and look

after them

as a shepherd

looks after

his scattered

flock

when he is

with them

so will I

look after

my sheep

I will rescue

them from the

places where

they were

scattered on

the day of

dark clouds

and darkness

verse 16

I will

search for

the lost

and bring

back the

strays

I will bind

up the

injured

and strengthen

the weak

but the

sleek

and the

strong

I will

destroy

I will

shepherd

the flock

with justice

let's go

back to

Matthew

you see

Jesus is

making it

abundantly

clear

that he

is that

shepherd

he's saying

I know

your sin

I see

your suffering

I feel

deeply

for your

brokenness

and disorder

and I have

come to

meet

that need

you know

as I

watched that

sheep

wrestling

and struggling

as it

slowly

submerged

beneath

the bog

I was

moved

I

reached

down

and

grabbed

a hold

of that

sheep

and

grabbed

a hold

of its

horn

and I

just

pulled

with all

my

might

taking

it

away

from

danger

away

from

further

harm

and

certain

death

these

things

how much

more

has God

reached

down

with us

through

his mighty

hand

through

his

son

Jesus

he has

seen

people

as harassed

and helpless

he has

been compelled

into action

he has

taken

our sin

and died

for us

he has

risen

from

the dead

and given

us

life

he has

given

us

his

spirit

so that

we

might

be

with

him

He has moved towards sinners and sufferers like us

and with compassion he has helped us.

So as we want to see change and transformation in our community,

amongst our families and within this dark, broken world,

we need to see people with the compassion of Jesus.

To stop running around so frantically, running about doing our things

and living my life the way I want to,

but have our eyes open and see people with compassion

and point them to a shepherd who alone can save.

What brokenness there is.

If we have our eyes open, what change we can bring.

So seeing, praying, the next step in seeing change in our world.

Jesus moves from his metaphors, from sheep to one of harvest,

from people who are helpless to a people who are now ready.

Because he tells us in verse 37 that the harvest is plentiful.

As Jesus scans the crowds, he sees not just harassed and helpless sheep,

but now he sees as if it were an orchard full of ripe fruit trees.

A harvest that's ready for picking, which tells us two things.

That people are actually ready to hear.

They're ready to hear the good news about Jesus and his kingdom.

The people that we bypass every day.

They're fed up with empty promises and false hopes that the world offers.

They're tired by the weight of expectation that they put on themselves

and that everybody else puts on each other.

People scrambling as they search for an identity,

longing to be accepted,

striving for some kind of purpose in life

that somebody will say your life matters.

People are harassed and helpless,

crushed and broken,

and they're longing for somebody who would come and say to them,

you have a saving king

who will lift your burdens

and will give rest to the weary.

There is one who will bind up your wounds,

who will strengthen the weak,

a shepherd king who has given his life for you

that he might live.

people are ready to hear that message.

And not only are they ready to hear,

but people are ready to repent.

They're ready to turn from themselves

and turn to Christ

because repentance is the door into God's kingdom.

They just need to know how.

They need somebody to come alongside them

to share,

to tell them of a saviour

that will never fail them,

who forgives all their past

and gives them a secure future.

These sheep

are ready to follow a shepherd.

Rico Tice,

who's an author and evangelist,

put it like this.

He says,

there is an increasing hostility

to the gospel message today.

But something else is going on too.

There's also an increased hunger.

The same rising tide of secularism

and materialism

that rejects truth claims

and is offended by absolute moral standards

is proving to be empty and hollow.

And that means,

excitingly,

more and more people

are hungering

for the content

of the gospel.

You see,

I can become very cynical.

Cynical with the world

and everything that's going on.

But I need to see what Jesus sees.

Rather than a barren land,

we're in a fruitful orchard.

A plentiful harvest.

Well, you see,

if it's so plentiful,

then where are all the new followers

of Jesus?

Wrong question.

There's a problem.

Let's read verse 37.

There's a problem.

He said to the disciples,

the harvest is plentiful,

but the workers are few.

You see,

the problem isn't out there

with people.

The problem is here.

There are few workers.

There's a harvest that is ripe

and ready,

but there are few

who are willing to go.

And what I find

incredible about this is

Jesus doesn't come along

with a big stick

and berate us

and scold us

and say,

I want you to do better

and I want you to do more.

In grace,

he simply says,

look at verse 38,

Ask the Lord of the harvest,

therefore,

to send out workers

into his harvest field.

Couldn't be easier.

could it?

Rather than knock us down,

Jesus says,

Ask me.

Come to me in prayer

and ask me to raise up

more workers.

Because our priority

to the needs around us

is not to start running

more outreach events.

Our response is not to go

into a big recruitment drive.

It's not to guilt people

into service

or berating them

into service,

but to gather together

and to pray

for new workers.

You see,

this isn't our mission.

We don't get to make it up.

This is his mission.

He is,

verse 38,

the Lord of the harvest.

He's the one

who's sovereign

over all things.

He's the one

that will change

any heart

so that they follow Christ.

And he is the only one

that can change

or move any of us

to do

what he calls us to do.

And so,

through prayer,

we are depending on God

to do what we can never do.

And that is

to send out

workers.

Now,

while we're all called

to go and serve,

and I deeply believe that,

I think there is

a particular need

for full-time workers.

And by that,

I mean pastors,

teachers,

evangelists,

church planters,

people who will

specifically

lead gospel work

and equip

their churches

to do the same.

That's the great need.

There are people groups

all over the world

who remain unreached.

There are towns

scattered

throughout Ireland

without a gospel witness.

Carragaline

is a town

of 16,000

plus people.

It's in need

of more workers.

And how is this

huge need

ever going to be met?

Very simply,

Christ says to us,

ask,

ask the Lord

to provide

and to send out.

So instead of

getting frustrated

and complaining

about the lack

of workers,

pray.

Instead of thinking

it's all up to me

and getting overwhelmed

with all that's

around me,

pray.

Instead of trying

to guilt people

to do more,

pray.

Ask God

that he would

provide workers

and send out

workers.

The third step

in bringing about

the change

and seeing

people enter

the kingdom

of God

is not just

seeing,

not just

praying,

but obeying.

Look at verse 10.

Jesus called

his twelve disciples

to him

and gave them

authority

to drive out

impure spirits

and to heal

every disease

and illness.

It's like

a general

calling his

soldiers

to action

and sending

them out.

Now I don't

know about you

but that's

the kind

of mission

I want

to be on.

Authority

to drive

out impure

spirits,

heal every

disease

and illness.

Grab your

attention,

does it?

In fact,

it gets even

better.

Look at verse

seven.

As you go,

proclaim this

message.

The kingdom

of heaven

has come

near.

Heal those

who are

ill.

Raise

the dead.

Cleanse

those who

have

leprosy.

Drive

out demons.

Freely

you have

received,

freely

give.

Is this

our mission?

Is this

what we're

expected to

do as we

walk out

through that

door?

Could it

happen?

Well,

let's think

about that

for a moment.

first,

the priorities

we have.

You see,

we need to

think about

the miracles

that Jesus

has done.

We looked

at some

of them

last week

through

chapters

eight and

nine.

And the

primary

purpose

of the

miracles

is to

confirm

who Jesus

says he

is.

Have a

look at

chapter

11.

Just have

a look

ahead.

Chapter

11,

verses

2 to

5.

Chapter

11,

verses

2 to

5.

When

John,

this is

John the

Baptist,

who had

baptized

Jesus,

was in

prison,

he'd been

put in

prison because

he'd been

preaching

about

Christ.

when he

was put

in prison,

he'd heard

about the

deeds of

the Messiah,

the miracles

that Jesus

had been

doing.

And he

sent his

disciples to

ask him,

are you

the one

who has

come or

should we

expect

someone else?

Are you

the Messiah?

How do

we know

if Jesus

is God's

King?

Jesus

replies,

verse 4,

go back

and report

to John

what you

hear and

see.

The blind

receive sight,

the lame

walk,

those who

have

leprosy

are

cleansed,

the deaf

hear,

the dead

are raised,

and the

good news

is proclaimed

to the

poor.

You see,

how do we

know Jesus

is the

Messiah?

By the

miracles he

did.

They

affirm and

confirm that

Jesus is

God's

King with

absolute

power and

supreme

authority and

we can

trust him.

That's why

Jesus did

all those

miracles.

Now,

in a

similar way,

Jesus now

gives his

chosen

disciples the

authority to

do miracles.

That's what it

says in 10

verse 1.

He gave

them authority

and we see

these lists of

disciples,

the names are

given to us in

verses 2 to

4.

These are

ones who

would become

apostles.

They were

the first

eyewitnesses

of Jesus

and his

message.

Some of

these very

men would

become authors

of scripture.

Even Matthew

who's mentioned

there,

were reading

his gospel.

How do we

know that we

can trust

Matthew's words

that he's

written down?

The miracles

that the

disciples did

confirm they

authenticate

their eyewitness

account.

disciples.

You see,

this was a

particularly

unique time.

This is not

a blanket

command for

all disciples

of all times.

It's not that

we're to go up

to every funeral

and raise

the dead.

Just because

something is

written in the

Bible doesn't

necessarily mean

it still applies

to us today.

For example,

look at

chapter 10

verse 5.

These 12

Jesus sent

out with the

following

instructions.

Do not go

among the

Gentiles or

enter any

town of the

Samaritans.

Go rather to

the lost sheep

of Israel.

He gave them

a very specific

command.

Just go to

the Jews.

Nobody else.

Are we

meant to

follow that

command too?

Well,

clearly not

because Jesus

has made it

clear as time

has gone on

that we are

to reach

all people,

all nations.

This was a

particular time

in history

given to a

particular group

of people.

But yet,

I think it

does set

the pattern

for us,

for mission,

for the

command that

we have been

given.

Because we

are to both

proclaim the

word and

demonstrated

in need.

Proclamation

and

demonstration.

The good

news of the

kingdom is

a message,

it's a

word.

The kingdom

of heaven

has come

near.

Repent.

So we

proclaim that

same good

news.

We tell of

a great

king who

has come.

We must

open our

mouths that

God has

given us

so that we

can speak

about Jesus.

But our

message should

also be

accompanied by

good deeds.

We are to

care for the

most needy,

to help the

poor, to

stand up for

the vulnerable.

We are to

hate evil and

love justice.

We are to

care for the

sick and

dying.

We are to

pray for them

and we can

pray for their

healing.

And if they

are not, we

continue to

care for

them.

In other

words, the

gospel is to

be proclaimed

through our

words and

demonstrated

through our

deeds.

We are to

look like the

message that

we are talking

about.

What's the

point in

talking about

a God of

love if

there is no

action of

love?

What would

it look like

for us to

proclaim the

word and

demonstrate it

in need?

Well, let

me give you

one.

We've seen

the streams

of people

coming out

of Ukraine.

No doubt

many of

these people

are going

to find

their way

to Ireland.

No

home,

no

belongings.

Where would

they stay?

Would we

as a

church,

would you

consider

getting

involved in

opening up

your home

and giving

of your

finances

to

give a

home for

a family?

Demonstrating

love and

good deeds

and at the

same time

trusting that

God brings

people across

our path

that maybe

they could

meet the

King,

the King

Jesus.

God's

love and

love and

God's

love and

love.

You see,

our priority

is clear.

We are to

obey the

command of

Jesus,

our Captain,

displaying the

love of God

through our

lives and

declaring the

truth of God

through our

words.

Jesus.

How are we

ever going to

see change

in our

families,

in our

communities,

in this

world in

which we

live?

Open our

eyes to

see people

as Jesus

sees them.

Pray.

That's why we

meet for our

home groups.

That's why we

gather together

to pray.

and obey

the command

to go.

Get involved

in Rock

and Rooted.

Become a

teacher in

Sunday school.

Pray for

your children.

Not just

that they

will have a

good career

and that

they'll have

a good life

and have

their own

house,

but would

you dare

as a

parent to

pray for

your children

that they

would go

to the

unreached

peoples of

the world.

the harvest

is plentiful.

The workers

are few.

Let's pray.

Let's pray.

Father,

there is

so much

need,

but wonderfully

we have

been shown

today through

your word

how that

need is

met.

So would

you start

by changing

us,

changing

me.

Give me

eyes to

see people

as harassed

and helpless.

Give me

eyes to

see people

who are

ready to

hear and

listen.

We pray,

Father,

that you

would send

out workers

into your

harvest field,

convict and

change the

hearts of

people,

raise up

new leaders,

pastors,

church

planters from

within this

congregation.

congregation.

We pray it

for our

children.

And we

pray,

Father,

that you

would supply

us as a

church with

a new

worker.

prayer.

And we

pray that

together we

would obey

the command

to speak

your truth,

to love

others well,

just as

you have

loved us

and have

spoken your

truth to

us.

Help us,

Father.

We ask

this in

your name.

Amen.

Well,

we're going

to sing.

It's a

task that

is unfinished

because the

Lord Jesus

has not yet

come again.

The task

remains.

Let's sing

this as a

prayer.

Let's sing

this to each

other to

encourage each

other in

all that God

has called

us to do.

Let's sing.

Sorry,

John.

Let's stand

if we can.

Thank you.