Text: Lk. 9:1-5, “And he called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. And he sent them forth to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats. And into whatsoever house ye enter, there abide, and thence depart. And as many as receive you not, when ye depart from that city, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”
Intro. We live in a nation of 311,591,917 people; a county of 998,881 people if you live in St. Louis Cty & 219,084 if you live in Jefferson County. We are surrounded by people....people that are part of the prime target of the mandate God has given to every child of God present today.
Listen to the words of the mandate...”5And he said unto them, GO ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mk. 16:15;
“GO out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”
Lk. 14:23
He didn’t ask us or make a request of us....He gave us a command....”GO”. To do anything less is not acceptable.
Note: In Revelation the Church is represented by lamps; they hold the oil and the fire, and dispense the light. A lamp is not light in itself, it is only the instrument of dispensing light, and it must receive both oil and fire before it can dispense any; so no Church has in itself either grace or glory, it must receive all from Christ its head, else it can dispense neither light nor life. The Church must continue to have the oil and the light, that it will continue to burn and send forth Divine knowledge! In vain does any Church pretend to be a Church of Christ if it dispenses no light; if souls are not enlightened, quickened, and converted in it. If Jesus walks in it, it’s light will shine both clearly and strongly, and sinners will be converted unto him; and the members of that Church will be children of the light, and walk as children of the light and of the day, and there will be no occasion of stumbling in them. (Adam Clark Commentary)
We Are Not Alone: Lk. 9:1-5 “And he called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. And he sent them forth to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats. And into whatsoever house ye enter, there abide, and thence depart. And as many as receive you not, when ye depart from that city, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”
Jesus gave the disciples a mandate, to “GO”. In these verses He gave four directives that assured them they were not alone and a promise of victory in the war for the souls of mankind.
1. He enabled them....v. 1, "And he called the twelve together, and gave them power (The ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something) and authority (a right delegated or given) over all demons, and to cure diseases."
2. He gave them a directive, v. 2, “And he sent them forth to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal
the sick.”
3. He made them dependent, v. 3, “Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor wallet, nor bread,
nor money; neither have two coats.” God will supply all of your needs... Phil. 4:9
4. He secured them, v. 4-5, “And into whatsoever house ye enter, there abide, and thence depart.
And as many as receive you not, when ye depart from that city, shake off the dust from your feet
for a testimony against them.”
He secured them by informing them that once they had been obedient in doing what they
were called to do they were then free from the consequences of the lack of response. Their
job was secure...."shake off the dust...". They were to be guilt free. Guilt comes in many forms
but the results produced is always the same....control. Controlled by doubt... insecurity... fear...
inadequacy, etc.
We must learn to "shake it off"! Note Isa. 52:2, Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit on thy
throne, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bonds of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
Isaiah 52:2 ASV
Conc. “GO.....preach......win the lost.....is our Mandate.....it is our purpose. To fail to do what we have been placed in this community to do is not an option. Failure means your sons...daughters.... neighbors....friends....would not only spend eternity in torment but would also never know the joy there is in serving Him here. We know what we are called to do......let’s shake off what is hindering us and “GO”!
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