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10.18.20 Luke 10:1-16 Pastor Nathan Anderson · HBCWestminster

• 0:00
  We will be in Luke 10 today. And for the last month plus, we have been plodding along through the chapter 9 of the Gospel of Luke, a chapter rich, really dripping with nutritious words, which have been an absolute joy to study together. Chapter 9, as we saw several weeks ago, begins with the sending out of the 12.
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  It then goes on to Christ's feeding of the 5,000, where he gives those disciples an opportunity to display the power with which he has endowed them with through the Holy Spirit. We see Christ in chapter 9 a couple times actually talk about the cost of discipleship.
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  following after him. This comes alongside the transfiguration where Peter, James, and John get to see Christ transfigured, glorified. We have seen over again, actually, in the last couple weeks, the failures of the disciples as those whom are following Christ seek to decide who's the greatest and miss the mark.
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  over and over again, as well as the failures of those in a place like Samaria, a town which rejects him as he comes through. In the final section of chapter 9, last week we saw the second explanation of Christ to the cost of discipleship. And for those of you who thought that we might be in chapter 9 for the remainder of the year, I have good news. We have not only, as Danny said last week, turned the page,
• 1:48
  or actually two weeks ago said that we turned a page, but we are now entering a new chapter, chapter 10. We will begin this morning. And this morning as we begin this new chapter, I hope to answer a question many of us as Christians, I think, often ask. What in the world are we supposed to do? Or what in the world does a Christian do?
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  That question comes directly from the title of Warren Wiersbe's commentary on the Gospel of Mark on this chapter, What in the World Does a Christian Do? With a reminder of where we have been, and as we begin this new chapter, and with our stated question I hope to answer for us this morning, allow me to read our passage.
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  Pray and begin. Luke chapter 9, if you are able to stand with me in the honor of God's word, I ask you to do so. We're going to read chapter 10, verses 1 through 16. It says this, After this, the Lord appointed 72 others and sent them out on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.
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  And he said to them, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest. Go your way. Behold, I am sending you out as lambs into the wolves, in the midst of wolves. Carry no money bag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.
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  Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you and remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near to you.
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  But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless, know this, that the kingdom of God has come near. I tell you, it is more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. Woe to you. Woe to you.
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  Bethsaida, for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable in the judgment day for Tyre and Sidon than for you and you, Capernaum. Will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. The one who hears you hears me. The one who rejects you
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  rejects me and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me. Allow me to pray for us now, God in heaven. Lord, as we come together for this time in your word, Lord, I pray that you would direct our minds, Lord, to truth. Lord, I pray that you would guide my words, that they are reflective of your heart and your word, that the study done would be honoring to you and the presentation of it might be fruitful for those who hear it.
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  God, bless our time now in your name. Amen. Well, as I said, my hope this morning is to answer that all-important question, I think, for us as Christians. What in the world does a Christian do? And I believe the answer to that is simple. We live with urgency. With urgency.
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  We will look at four aspects of that urgency that I think are revealed to us in our passage today. As we consider that, what in the world is a Christian to do? We live with urgency. Allow me to talk to you guys about a time in Carla and my life when we were having our third son. Carla was pregnant with Oren, and I was working at an organization in Lakewood.
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  And I got a call from her in the middle of a meeting with my boss and some of the other higher ups. And we were talking and I got a call from Carla and took it. And she said that her water had just broke. Now, normally when your wife is pregnant and you receive word that her water broke, this is an exciting time. This, however, was very early in her pregnancy.
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  happening was very concerning. I was overcome at that moment with worry and concern for my wife as well as for our son.
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  I hung up the phone and just looked at my boss and said, I have to go. Carla's water broke. She immediately said, it's really early. I said, yeah, it's really early. And so I didn't walk out of the building. I ran out of the building. I didn't drive slowly. I drove faster than the speed limit to get home and get to her. Got in the car and off we went to the hospital again, going faster than the speed limit would allow us. But because of the situation, we knew there was.
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  urgency we didn't stop for coffee on the way we didn't stop for a meal the situation dictated to us what we should do there was an urgency because the situation called for it as we enter our study today my heart for us is that we would feel the urgency of christ and in so doing feel the urgency of the call on our lives today our first point in how how
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  do we live with urgency and what are the aspects of urgency comes from verses 1 & 2 urgency understands the situation urgency understands the situation as Christ sends out these disciples two by two into every town and place where he himself was about to go verse 2 says and he said to them the harvest is plentiful plentiful but the laborers
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  few this statement from Christ has been used over time by many a missionary many a pastor have put out a call to evangelize saying the harvest is plentiful but who will go this statement this is a statement the the harvest is plentiful I believe must be properly understood in order for us to grab a hold of and understand the situation and why it calls
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  urgency when Christ says the harvest is plentiful what is he referencing are these souls ready to believe waiting for that missionary that faithful churchgoer to share the gospel with them allow me to read a couple other portions of Scripture if you would like to turn to Joel chapter 3 Joel chapter 3 as you're turning there let me just set give the setting for this Joel again is
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  preaching judgment the day of the Lord is coming Joel 3 verses 12 through 14 speak of this judgment let's see how it references it in Joel 3 if you're looking for it it's in between Hosea and Amos Joel chapter 3
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  Verse 12 says this. Let the nations stir themselves up and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat. For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. He says, put in the sickle for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread for the wine press is full. The vats are overflowing for their evil is great. If you'd like to turn with me to the other.
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  passage here in revelation revelation chapter 14 revelation 14 last book in the bible if you're looking for it revelation 14 and chapter 14 verse 14 says this then i looked and behold a white cloud and seated on the on the cloud one like a son of man with a golden crown on his head and what in his hand a sharp sickle in his hand
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  And another angel came out from the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe. These two portions of Scripture are very informative as to what the harvest is. This is the harvest of the souls, yes.
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  But it is not the harvest of believing souls, brothers and sisters. This is the harvest of souls for judgment. Turn back with me to Luke chapter 10. Christ says the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. And as Danny pointed out and has pointed out several times in the last few weeks, Christ's Galilean ministry is coming to a close as chapter 9 comes to a close.
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  And he has set his face towards Jerusalem in his coming crucifixion. As Christ knows the path he must walk, his urgency ramps up in the training and sending of his disciples. Christ knows his earthly mission is coming to a close. There is less than a year left to be about the work and prepare the soil. The situation is this then. Christ is nearing crucifixion. The disciples are still knuckleheads.
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  whom we're just arguing over who was the greatest. And Christ knows the harvest of the souls for judgment is graced. And thus the work in front of these disciples is great and immense. Thus Christ calls on the disciples to pray earnestly. Pray earnestly. 1 Thessalonians 5, 17 comes to mind. Pray without ceasing. Pray without ceasing.
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  So I think in a sense, we have misunderstood what this harvest is. It is a harvest and the harvest is plentiful. Unfortunately, this is a harvest of the soul that has not believed, the soul that is destined for judgment. God Christ says this harvest is plentiful and we need workers.
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  So while I believe there has been a misunderstanding of what the harvest is, the use of this passage for a call to action from believers is nonetheless accurate. The situation is this, the harvest is plentiful. There are a great many whom are just as the boy we saw in chapter 9, ready to hurl themselves in the fire of destruction. Because of this, Christ calls us to an urgency as we understand that our soul desires this as well. We desire destruction.
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  The bent of our heart is not towards God. It is towards the enemy, towards sin. Christ knows unless the gospel is preached and understood, this will not change. Thus, the workers must be earnestly, urgency, prayed for because the situation calls for it. Urgency understands the situation, brothers and sisters. The situation is dire. Souls are at stake.
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  urgency also understands the opposition urgency understands the opposition verse 3 goes on and he says go your way behold I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves Christ then says to them I am sending you out in the midst of wolves as lambs amidst of wolves urgency understands that there is opposition understands that that opposite what that opposition
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  As we gain a greater understanding of the opposition to the gospel message, it will inevitably fill us with a greater urgency to preach the gospel. Brothers and sisters, this is not a benign enemy. This is not a benign enemy to the gospel. The enemy of our souls, and especially to the unregenerate soul, is Satan, whom has nothing but destruction on his heart.
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  First Peter 5 8 comes to mind as we consider Who the enemy is Peter says of Satan be sober minded be watchful your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone
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  to destroy. Brothers and sisters, as we understand the substance, the character of the opposition, a greater urgency is birthed in us. Christ knows exactly who the devil is and his demons are. They are wolves seeking to devour lost sheep. And can I remind us all right now, I know you've heard this before, but sheep must have a shepherd. They must have a pen. They will wander even off a cliff without it.
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  if not guided sheep are unaware of the enemy which sits crouched at the door in the shrub ready to spring forth and devour their souls urgency understands the opposition we must remind ourselves daily that those whom we work with
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  Those whom are in our neighborhoods, our families, are destined for destruction apart from the saving message of the gospel that Jesus Christ, God incarnate, came, lived perfectly, died a death meant for us, had the sins of the entire world poured out on him. The very wrath meant for us was poured over him, the perfect son of God.
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  After paying the penalty of sin and dying on that cross, he conquered death and rose again and thus has the power to save us from the wolves whom seek to devour the unregenerate soul. Urgency understands the situation. Urgency understands the opposition and acts. May we, though, as we are filled with passion to act, never forget where that action begins. It begins...
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  with prayer, earnest prayer. Christ tells them to pray. Paul says, pray without ceasing. This is where it all begins. Prayer for the soul of our loved one, your neighbor, your coworker, parents, prayer for your kids. We must have urgency, but our first step must be prayer.
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  Praying earnestly without ceasing, as Paul did, asking God to use us in the gospel story, which he has been writing since the creation of the world. So urgency understands the situation and the opposition. I see next that urgency understands the resource. Verses 4 through 8, we're going to read 4 to start us off. Urgency understands the resource. Carry no money bag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.
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  We first see in this section that Christ again calls on the disciples to take nothing with them. He did the same thing he does now with the 72 as he did with the 12 when he sends them out. He sends out these gospel preachers with no provision so that they must trust in God.
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  We will see later on in Luke, though, that Christ does not always call on the disciples to go out in this manner with nothing with them. However, in this first missions trip for these 72, he desires to prove himself to them so that their faith is strengthened and they see that this provision is only from the Lord. To, in essence, force them to confess God as the provider and take away any opportunity for them to be self-reliant.
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  take nothing with you now there is a statement at the end of verse 4 which might seem a little peculiar in fact there's a couple statements in this section that might seem a little odd the first that we come to is this statement at the end of verse 4 where he says greet no one on the road greet no one on the road what in the world is Jesus saying here
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  Well, turn with me, if you would, to 2 Kings, 2 Kings chapter 4, 2 Kings chapter 4. And in 2 Kings 4, we meet Elisha, the prophet, and he has befriended this Shunammite woman and has...
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  conversed with her this Shunammite woman confesses to him that she has not been able to bear a child and she is advanced in age and Elisha tells her promises her that she will indeed have a child and she kind of laughs at him but a year later she's got a son her and her husband have a son and
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  We find out that this son is out working in the field with his dad and he becomes ill. His head begins to hurt and he actually passes away. The Shunammite woman, though, has faith that the man of God, Elisha, will be able to help them. And so she sets off on a journey to find him. And she catches up with Elisha, comes and tells him what has happened. And Elisha looks to his servant, Gehazi.
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  And in verse 29, as he gives him instructions to go on ahead, gives him a very similar instruction that Christ gives his disciples in Luke. Verse 29 of chapter 4 of 2 Kings, he says this, he said to Gehazi, tie up your garments and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, do not greet him. And if anyone greets you, do not reply. Why would Elisha tell
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  his servant not to greet anyone and not to reply if he is greeted. This instruction from Elisha to his servant was because he knew the situation, the urgency. This child had perished and needed to be rescued, thus no time was to be wasted. Christ, as he gives this instruction to the disciples, is not one to be rude with people, but rather instruction not to become distracted along the way because there are those who will perish without the message.
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  the gospel Christ knows the resource that they are taking with them that is the truth the kingdom of heaven the kingdom of God has come and is near the gospel is the resource that will save lives save souls and thus these disciples must not get distracted their resources too precious in this section we also see
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  some other what might be Peculiar instructions from Christ to these disciples. He sent out He says and remain in the same house eating and drinking what they provide and he says don't go from house to house Don't go from house to house verse 7 the end of verse 7 says that What is this about and what does it have to do with our overall message? Christ is calling these 72 to not jump from house to house seeking
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  better or more accommodations, more gifts, more profit. Brothers and sisters, unfortunately, there are many, many whom use the gospel and the church to profit. They misuse the resource they have been given and use it not to preach the word, not to preach the gospel, but rather to profit.
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  You can imagine that as these disciples go out and if they are received well as verse 6 references, and if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon them. If these people understood that they were sent, that these disciples were sent by Christ and they were receptive to that and to the message they would have been given, they would have been extremely excited to take in the followers of Christ into their homes and to bless them with gifts and provision.
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  Brothers and sisters, this is a blessing which can be enjoyed, the blessings that come along the way as we follow Christ. Absolutely, we can enjoy those blessings. Jesus, our Heavenly Father, loves to bless his kids. But to move from house to house would have been to seek to take advantage of the generosity of those happy to receive the messenger of God.
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  This portion is really a warning to pastors, to vocational gospel workers. As some of you know, I came on staff not too long ago, about two years ago, about two and a half years ago. And since then, I've been really quite shocked, honestly, at the generosity of people that I meet. People both in the church and outside the church. Also the generosity of really people towards pastors in general. It's kind of embarrassing at times, honestly.
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  Humbling certainly, but times embarrassing and how kind and generous people are to me since I became a pastor. I think to myself, I'm still just Nathan Anderson, right? Still the same person. I can remember one time early on, I went to a trial of somebody to just to be there to support them.
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  They didn't have any family. They were going through a very hard time. And so wanted to go and be there for the trial and got there early and had the opportunity to just talk to the judge. He was out in front and was getting ready for the trial. This is before it started and just conversed with him for four or five minutes. Very, very short. And he found out that I was a pastor. And then when it was time.
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  to start the trial as everyone was going to stand up in the room as this is the custom he said oh he said i'm i'm no one special to stand for in fact no one really is and then he said except maybe that pastor in the back corner there this judge had just spoken to me for only five minutes pretty much all he knew about me was i was a pastor and i had simply come to support someone i knew i share this with you all because
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  While certainly the position of pastor is admirable, it is a tremendous blessing to be considered a minister of the gospel. That even is what it says on my license in my office, a licensed minister of the gospel. I am privileged to be that and considered that. I do see, though, the tremendous ease with which this position could be misused. As people are generous and kind, they do so because the position is admirable, not because I am.
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  They do so because the message that God has given to shepherds is life-giving, not because my message is. Christ warns the disciples not to go from house to house, not to seek out gain from this calling with which they have been placed into and on their lives, but rather to allow the Lord to be the resource with which they entrust themselves to.
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  so doing these disciples would stand out from among those false teachers who sought selfish gain I want to pull our focus to the last verse in this section verse 8 verse 8 wherever you enter a town and they receive you eat what is set before you eat what is set before you now
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  This statement from Christ, whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat whatever is set before you, apart from being a fantastic verse for parents to use with their picky eating kids. That is not what it is about. However, it's pretty handy all the same. Why does Christ say to eat what is set before them? And how does this connect with the message of resource? Urgency understands the resource. Christ says, if they receive you.
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  If they receive you, this is informative in building our understanding for the meaning of this statement from Christ. If they receive you, if we connect this with verse six above, this means that they are a son of peace, meaning they have received the message. If they receive you means that.
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  that what is then set before you is from God. They have received the message, and thus they have received you as from God. And what they set before you is a blessing, a gift from your heavenly Father. Christ is saying to eat what is set before you. He is saying to eat what is set before you because it comes from God. Brothers and sisters, in our lives, in our culture, envy is so easy. Discontentment comes naturally to us.
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  It's rampant. Carl and I recently, back in April of this year, we moved houses. We changed homes, sold our other one, bought a new house. And in that process, we wanted to bless our kids a little bit and make the move a little bit easier on them. Moving is not fun for anyone. It's especially hard for kids. And so during this, we offered to them a little budget that they could pick out some items to make their rooms, their new rooms special.
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  During this process, they were very diligent. They were very mindful. It was really neat to see them do all of this. They were so excited. And when we got to the new house and we got to put those items in and install them, hang them on the wall, all that stuff, they were just elated. It's funny, though, that new shine has worn off. And on occasion, I have to remind them of the joy they had when they first got those things.
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  Discontentment comes easily in this life. But what we have is a gift from the Lord. It is his chosen provision for us. What we have, we have because it is what is best for us in this time and this place that we find ourselves in. May I encourage us, what is set before you, eat. What God has blessed you with is his provision that he has chosen to bless you with.
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  I know that might feel as a bit of a side note to our overall message today, but I felt we must touch on it as it's in our passage and it is pertinent, I believe, to our lives as we consider the resources we have been given. So urgency understands the situation. It understands the opposition. It understands the resource, both the spiritual and physical resource we are given from God. And lastly, urgency understands the message. Verses 9.
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  Through 10, urgency understands the message. Verse 9 says, Heal the sick in it and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near to you. This understanding is a twofold thing. Urgency understands the message we are to bring, but it also understands the importance of that message. And as we gain understanding from the message, a greater accountability comes because the message is so important.
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  First, we must ask ourselves, what is the message? Verse 9, Christ says to them, the kingdom of God has come near to you. The message is that the Messiah, the King of Kings, has come. Christ is on his way to their town, and so be prepared to receive him for us today, for you right now. If you have yet to come, faith,
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  To faith in Christ, hear this now. The gospel has come near to you. Christ has come. He has paid the penalty for your sins, offers forgiveness for your sins. Will you receive this message? Will you confess Christ as your Savior, putting faith in Him, in His finished work on the cross and in the grave?
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  If you have yet to put faith in Christ, now is the time. Today is the day. This can be the moment of your salvation, even as you watch at home. It is near to you, but you must receive it. James 4.13 says, Come now, you say, today or tomorrow you will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make profit, yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life?
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  For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Proverbs 27.1 says, Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what tomorrow will bring. This is not meant to scare you into the kingdom. No one can do that. But to bring to the mind the urgency of the situation. We do not know what tomorrow will bring. You may say, not now. But if not now, when?
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  The message of the gospel has come near. Will you receive it? The second part of this two-fold message from Christ in this section is this. For each one of us today and whom come regularly as you visit us online regularly and hear the word preached. May we read this next section with great respect and perhaps a little fear and trepidation. Verses 10.
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  through 16 say this but whenever you enter a town they do not receive you go into its streets and say even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you nevertheless know this that the kingdom of god has come near i tell you it will be more bearable on that day the day of judgment for sodom
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  than for that town woe to you woe to you Bethsaida if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long ago sitting in sackcloth and ashes but it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you and Capernaum will you be exalted to heaven you shall be brought down to Hades Christ builds on this message
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  shortly in Luke chapter 12, as he tells the disciples, everyone to whom much is given, of him much will be required. And from him to whom they have entrusted much, they will demand more. The message in Luke 10 to 16 has, I see two parts. The kingdom has come near. Listen, receive it. To those whom hear it and do not take action, woe to you.
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  Christ sets out an example by contrasting three evil Gentile nations and three Jewish towns. Each for their evil. Each received judgment.
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  Sodom was judged for their evil. Tyre and Sidon were judged for their evil. However, these three towns which had the kingdom come near to them, these three Jewish towns which had the kingdom come near to them and yet rejected it, did not accept it, and did not act upon it, would be judged even more severely than these evil Gentile cities. So the message to us this morning is this.
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  You come to church regularly. Great. You come to Thrive. That's wonderful. You should. You read your Bible daily. That's tremendous. What are you doing with it?
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  Brothers and sisters, we have been entrusted with much and thus much is required from us. If we come here on Sundays, hear the truth and fail to understand the urgency of the situation, the urgency of the opposition and the urgency of the resources we have been given and thus don't preach the message, preach the gospel, we will be judged for that. Not in the sense of loss of salvation, but brothers and sisters, why would we be as the servant who goes, digs the hole and hides his gift?
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  If we desire to hear those words, well done, good and faithful servant, we must preach the message. We must use the training we glean from the word. I am so thankful for all of you who have chosen to be here and watch this message, join in this study of the word together, but make no mistake about it, by us being here, we are accountable to act on hearing and understanding the message.
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  urgency understands the situation the opposition it understands the resources it has been given and the message it must share with this understanding comes a compelling of the will
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  Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 5 14 for the love of Christ controls compels moves motivates us because he says we have concluded this that one has died for all therefore all have died and he died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and rose
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  Again, as we conclude this morning, what in the world are Christians to do? Live with urgency. Understand the opposition. Understand the resource. Understand the message. I want to go back to that situation. The sickle is raised. The harvest is ripe. The souls of many are ripe, ready for judgment.
• 38:48
  We must as the father of that son did in chapter 9 Be ready to snatch souls out of the fire by the power of the message of the gospel John MacArthur says this evangelism is born out of a proper understanding of the character of the problem meaning as we begin to gain a greater understanding of the judgment we have been saved from and That those whom have not trusted in Christ finished work are destined for
• 39:20
  we will become more and more passionate for the lost soul. May we think as Nehemiah did. In Nehemiah 6.3, as plots to distract him from the work given him by God come, Nehemiah responds this way, I am doing a great work. I cannot come down. Why should the work stop?
• 39:51
  Brothers and sisters, there is a great work happening. Christ is building his church as souls are brought to life through the power of the gospel. Why should the work stop? Why should we come down? May we understand the situation, the opposition, the resources we have, and the message we are called to preach so that people might come to a saving knowledge.
• 40:19
  Christ and his finished work on the cross and in the grave let's pray God in heaven I pray that as we feel the weight God of the reality of the sickle being raised ready to write to reap that harvest of souls that have not yet known you God compel us move us motivate us
• 40:48
  to share the love of Christ, which we have experienced in our own lives, that others might come to know you and be brought to fullness of life through your Son. May we live with urgency. Pray these things in your name. Amen.