Matthew 10:16–23
16“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. 17“But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; 18and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19“But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 20“For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22“You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
23“But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.
Focused Thinking:
What was the invitation to the mission?
16“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.
Notice the invitation:
- Jesus isn’t trying to sale them on the mission.
- Jesus isn’t redefining the mission.
- Jesus isn’t compromising the mission.
- Jesus presents the challenge of the mission and sends them out.
- Jesus presents the difficult of the mission and sends them out.
We need to unapologetically send people out as sheep in the midst of wolves.
We must embrace the mission.
We must equip people for the mission.
We need to be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.
- The Egyptian symbol of wisdom is a serpent; the serpent has great skill in avoiding danger.
- To be “shrewd” speaks of prudence or cleverness.
- To be “innocence as doves” is to have pure intentions.
What does Jesus tell them to beware of?
They will hand you over to the courts.
They will scourge you in their synagogues.
They will even bring you before governors and kings for My sake.
How do we recruit disciples to the mission today?
We try to minimize the commitment.
We try to make it fit into their life.
We try not to inconvenience them too much.
We try not to interrupt their ungodly priorities too much.
We lower the standard instead of raising the standard.
We must quit apologizing for the mission.
We must be unapologetic for the mission.
They will do all of this to you, BUT DO NOT WORRY…
Do not worry about how or what you are to say.
- It will be given you in that hour what you are to say.
- It is not you who speaks.
- It is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
What is the cost of following Jesus?
For some, brother will betray brother to death.
For some, a father will betray his child to death.
For some, children will rise up against parents to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name.
Are you willing to count the cost?
Are you willing to endure to the end?
but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
Personal Application:
We must be more confident and courageous with our message.
We must challenge people to step up.
We must define specific missions and equip people.
We must define specific missions and empower people.
We must quit accepting “no” for an answer.
We must present a better vision.
We must present a better mission.
We must present a better story.
We must invest more time, energy and resources into the mission.
Interactive Prayer: Ran out of time
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