Sending out the 12… vs. 1-6 (3 things)

• 1^st – Sent out with power & authority…  vs. 1-2

• Jesus called the 12 apostles together – gave them power and authority to…
  • Heal the sick – cast out demons…  (Imperfect/Active/Indicative)
  • Jesus had healed all kinds of sickness/disease – even raised the dead…
  • He had shown He had ultimate power over all demons (Legion)…
  • Having given them the example – now He was calling His disciples to step out…
  • Cause they had been with Jesus and seen the impossible – they could do the impossible!
  • When we spend time with Jesus – He shows us things we never thought possible…
  • Having seen the ‘impossible’ (provide/preach/heal) in Him we can do the impossible…
• It was not just about going – they went to share the message…
  • Preaching people should repent of their sin – and believe in Jesus for forgiveness…
  • It was not enough to heal the people physically – they needed the cure for sin…
  • We are called as believers to practically reach out in love / help out those in need…
  • If someone is hungry and we say – God bless you – what good does that do – James 2:16
  • It is through showing the Love of God – we have the opportunity to share the Gospel…
  • But its not enough just to help – the greatest need everyone has is for Jesus…
  • We have the answer that the World needs – that our friends / family need…
  • Why would we not share the hope of salvation – the hope of Jesus!
  • * I Corinthians 9:16–“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!”

• 2^nd – Don’t bring anything with you… vs. 3
  • Travel light…
    • Don’t bring money  / don’t bring a staff or bread (food and provisions for the journey)…
    • Don’t even bring a change of clothes (2 shirts/coat/ extra sandals)…
  • The reason – God will take care of all your needs!
    • The needs of the pastor/missionary…
      • If God calls someone to work for Him – it will be God who will pay his way…
      • If you asked me to build you a bench – I would expect you pay me for the work…
      • But if someone else asked me to build it for you – they would be the one to pay!
      • If a pastor is truly called by God – then God will provide for all his needs!
      • If a pastor has to ask for money from the people – whom is he really working for…
    • The needs of the church…
      • To often in the church – money is the focus – tithes / offerings – the reason…
      • The church is trying to do something that’s their idea…
      • I have seen many churches that have ‘fund raising drives’ for a new church building…
      • I always am left to wonder – is God broke – why do we have to raise money for Him…
      • God created the universe – why is it that He cannot afford to put up a building…
      • If it’s out idea we have to pay for it – but if its God’s idea He will pay for it…
      • Therefore if God is not providing the needed funds – it must not be His idea!
      • Much better to seek the Lord on what He wants to do – then He’ll provide the needs!
        
• 3^rd – When you enter a house – stay… vs. 4-6
  • Whatever house you enter – stay/abide (Present/Active/Imperative)
    • Matthew 10:13 – “If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.”
    • The idea of worthy – is someone who is interested in hearing about Jesus…
    • If the people are interested in hearing about Jesus – stay / if not – move on…
  • Jesus did not want the disciples just sharing the Gospel – but to also making disciples
    • Not everyone will want to hear about the Gospel – but when someone does…
    • That is where you stay – not just sharing the Gospel – but teaching them about Jesus
    • Make disciples by living your life before them – example to them – I Corinthians 11:1
  • Not everyone whom they shared with was going to listen…
    • It was not the disciples that were being rejected – it was their Message…
    • If the people rejected the Gospel – shake off the dust off your feet…
    • A poetic way of saying that even dust of the town is not worth anything…
    • We are called to share the message – Parable of the Sower – give the seed to everyone!
    • You never known who will be good soil – hungry to grow in Jesus!
    • But not everyone that we share Jesus with will receive the Gospel…
    • They may even attack us personally – but it is not us they are refusing – its the Gospel
    • It doesn’t mean they can’t be saved – but you can’t force them to believe…
    • It is God who does the work of changing their hearts – allowing the seed to grow!
  • The disciples departed – preaching the Gospel and healing everywhere!

The death of John the Baptist… vs. 7-9

• Herod the tetrarch…
  • Herod really confused – he heard rumors about the ministry of Jesus…
    • Son of Herod the Great (builder of the 2^nd temple / who tried to kill Jesus as a baby)
    • Herod Antipas ruled the area around Galilee – ¼ the kingdom of his father (Tetrarch)
    • With the sending out of the 12 – the ministry of Jesus was becoming more known…
    • No longer just noticed by a few Jewish leaders – but also by Roman rulers
  • Some were saying Jesus was John the Baptist resurrected…
    • John the Baptist had never performed any miracles…
    • Nothing about the ministry of Jesus suggested He was John resurrected…
    • The problem with Antipas was that he had a guilty conscience about John…
    • When we choose to sin – there are always consequences – Galatians 6:7
    • We may think that we get away with it – even if there are no apparent consequences…
    • There is our conscience – we become overly sensitive about our sin…
    • Ever notice when someone talks about a sin you struggle with – you become defensive…
    • When I do counseling – we will often talk about many different subjects…
    • When the person becomes highly defensive on one topic – we have found the problem!
  • A guilty conscience – Herod had arrested and thrown John the Baptist into prison…
    • The reason – John had confronted Herod about his adulterous marriage to ‘Herodias’
      • ‘Herodias’ was the granddaughter of ‘Herod the Great’ – (Herod Antipa’s niece)
      • But she divorced him to marry her other uncle – ‘Herod Antipas’ – brother of ‘Philip’
      • The bottom line is she divorced one uncle in order to marry another
    • At a Birthday feast of Antipas – Herodias set up Herod – inviting powerful men to attend
      • Salome the daughter of Herodias and Herod-Phillip – danced before Herod… 
      • Herod was so pleased with the dance he offered her – up to ½ of his kingdom…
      • Her demand (really Herodias) – ‘Give me the head of John the Baptist on a plate’…
  • Rather than repent from their sin – they chose to silence the messenger…
    • When we choose to sin we tend to try and stay away from reminders…
    • We don’t want to open the Bible – we don’t want to pray…
    • We don’t want to go to church – we don’t want to see other Christians…
    • In the end we are only really trying to hide from God…
    • The only thing that sin does well – is separate us from God!

Feeding of the 5000… vs. 10-17

Give it all to Jesus – He will meet every need – with enough left over – to fill you up too!

Return of the Apostles… vs. 10-11

The Apostles returned from sharing the Gospel – telling Jesus all they had done…

Jesus and the disciples had been so busy they hardly had time to rest…

So Jesus had them go by boat to a deserted place where they could rest for a while…

Life can be VERY busy sometimes – all the more reason to get some time with Jesus…

In a busy and sometimes hectic life – Jesus is where we find clarity and direction…

Take a walk by yourself / on the way to the field / grab the time to talk with the Lord!

The multitudes saw Jesus departing – and followed them…

And Jesus received them – teaching them about the Kingdom of God…

Jesus left to be alone – He left to get away – but He could not ignore the people…

Coming home from a long day – the last things you want is people waiting for your help…

I love that even when Jesus was exhausted and worn out – He still loved the people…

Never turned them away – never asked them to come back (buas lang)…

He still does not today – He is always there anytime we need Him!

Feeding the multitudes… vs. 12-17

It had gotten to be late in the afternoon and the people had not eaten…

They were in an isolated place so there was nowhere to buy food…

The disciples solution – have Jesus send them away to find their own food…

This was a perfectly logical solution – there really was no other reasonable option

If they had not asked Jesus – that is exactly what they would have done…

Often we will find ourselves having to make difficult decisions…

We may do the best we know how to find the most logical solution…

If we don’t take the problem to Jesus – we are limited to OUR best option…

Instead Jesus gives them a simple command – you feed them!

This was an absurd command – there were 5000 men (plus women and kids)

The disciples only had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish – not nearly enough…

They asked Jesus if they were supposed to go buy 200 days wages worth of bread!

There simply was not enough food to go around!

The problem we face when trying to make a decision – limited to our own resources…

We only have so much time – so much money – so many talents…

Often they are just not enough to take care of the problems that we face…

God tells us to teach a Bible study to our family – and we say we are not smart enough!

God tells us to help out a neighbor who has no food – yet we have nothing ourselves!

God asks the impossible of us – because it is impossible on our own…

Five loaves and two fish…

Jesus did not care what they had – all that mattered was that they gave it to Him!

If the disciples had 500 loaves of bread it would not have been enough…

But when they took the little they had to Jesus…

He made it more than enough to take care of the problem…

So often we get caught up with looking at what we have…

We may think that we may not have enough money – enough time – or talent…

But our problem is we are focused on ourselves – it is not about us…

It is about whom we give what we have to – Jesus!

When we give whatever we have – Jesus makes it more than enough!

The story of the auction of the old fiddle (in the hands of the master)

Jesus took the what little had been given – blessed it – and gave it back

What started as 5 loaves and 2 fish – became enough to feed thousands!

The disciples gave the little they had – Jesus gave abundantly in return

So much so everyone was full – and there were 12 full baskets left over!

When we give all we have to Jesus – not only is it enough – plenty left over!

If you are here and overwhelmed – feel like you have nothing to give…