"Lambs Among Wolves"

Lambs Among Wolves

(Luke 10:1-3)

Introduction:

A.  Last week I began a series that centers around what it means to be in the body of Christ.  Being a Christian is more than simply attending the worship on Sunday morning and having nothing to do with the family of God or God for the rest of the week.  It is more than simply putting in your time or giving your money.  What we as body need to realize is that God has a plan for us.  His plan is not unique to our congregation, but is plan for all churches at all times in all places.  There are some stylistic differences in congregations, but what it means to be a church wholly devoted to God will look similar everywhere, because it is God’s plan not mine.

B.  The role God has given to church leaders is to give us a congregation the tools to get His plan done.  Good leaders promote every Christian to grow, get involved, share, so we can all attain the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

C.  The following statement has been put together by the elders and committee leaders as we strive to provide the tools for us as individuals and as a congregation to grow.  (Read document intro)           D.  Last week I shared the church was devoted to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer.  Those fit into these categories we are seeking to use as stepping stones to wholehearted devotion.

E.  There was a large article in last Sunday’s Trib called, “More churches seek new ways to give praise.”  The point of the article was to let our collective worship become more social, comfortable and in a different setting than our traditional buildings.  I don’t argue the need to think outside the box of buildings when we think about evangelism, but the point of worship is not about you and me being comfortable, but neither is it about you and me being uncomfortable.  It is about God.  When we as church grow in our devotion to God we will realize that a building is simply one tool that can be used to glory of God and the building up of the body.

F.  The church belongs to Jesus and He has a plan for his church.  That plan is to transform human lives into divine lives.  It is to take us from being along to being filled with the Holy Spirit.

I.  The Process

A.  So how does God change lives?  When you examine the life of Saul of Tarsus becoming the apostle Paul of Jesus we see a transformed life.  When you look at fisherman named Simon becoming a bold proclaiming apostle named Peter, what happened?  The process of transformation happens when people experience the divine.  When you develop a personal relationship with God the father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit you being to change.  You can’t be who you were when you are surrounded by God.

B.  The presence of God in your life pushes you, prods you, and pokes you to keep on moving, changing and experiencing what it means to live in grace and truth.

C.  I don’t know of anyone who does not need more of that in their life.  Even Paul, who changed so much, realized that he had not already attained all that he desired, but pressed on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of him.  He faced his past and placed in the past as he welcomed the grace that came in the forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

D.  If transformation takes place in Jesus through the Spirit, then what tools can God’s church leaders use to enable you and me to mature?  Not many of us drive down the road and get in an accident because of a bright light and then see and hear Jesus talking to us.  We are not up on a holy mountain when God comes down in a cloud and tells us to listen to his Son.  But the goal of wholehearted devotion to God remains.

E.  Last week as we read in Eph. 4 we saw what a growing and mature congregation is to look like.  One that is under the authority of Jesus and a place where the whole body is joined together by very supporting ligament, growing and building itself up in love as each part does its own work.  That is the key.  The keys is for each of us do the work that God has prepared for us to do.

II.  Proclamation and Service

A.  Part of our work is seen in sharing the Gospel of Jesus with a lost and dying world, and serving others who are in need.  What is that so important to our devotion to God?  Let me put it in the words of Jesus.  In Matt. 25, Jesus talked about separating the sheep from the goats.  What made the difference? Serving others.

B.  When other people become more important than self, we have made a great stride forward in our personal and collective transformation.  Paul told how the grace that God has given to him compelled him to share Jesus with others.  Devotion to God is devotion to doing what God does.  God desires all men everywhere to be saved.  I don’t have the luxury of deciding with whom I will share the message of Jesus.  I will share that message to everyone.

C.  As Jesus sent out, not just the 12, but the 70/72.  As the 12 represent the 12 tribes of Israel, the 70/72 must represent the number of elders that Moses appointed in the wilderness upon whom the HS came on and they prophesied.  My point is simply this, Jesus chose this larger group to represent the whole of Israel.  Today, we are the 70, we as the church represent the whole and we go into the world with the Spirit of God upon us to share the good news.  We don’t all do that the same way.  God gave some to be evangelists, not all, but some.  God uses you and me in different ways.  Don’t feel bad if you don’t preacher, not all are preachers.  But we as whole church are maturing and realizing that part of our God designed role is to be lights to the world and sharers of truth.

D.  As a church we do that right now in many ways.  We have a great missions committee that works hard to find places both in the USA and abroad to help financially support works where Christians are spreading the Gospel.  Look at their board and see God at work.  We also have a wonderful outreach committee that seeks to find ways of sharing the gospel right here in our local community.  They have found the web to be one tool and are putting together a new webpage for the church, they also have set aside 10/10/10 as a Friends Day where we will have a special service designed specifically for people want to “check us out.”  But this committee needs your help.  You may not teach a Bible study, but you can invite people, help with set up, write notes/letters to guests who come, provide transportation for people who want to come.  There are so many ways you can help in just this one Sunday.  But there is more (I feel like an infomercial), Jesus taught us to do good to all men, especially to those in need.  We have a hard working food pantry that serves people every week.  If you would be willing will help with bread pick up, working on a Tues/Fri, or in some other fashion, then see Shirley.  It is a great way to share this church w/the community.

E.  Brethren, Jesus wants to send us out.  He chose them and told them the honest truth, “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”  That is truth.  It is sad that people can accept the grace of God in salvation and have no desire to share that same grace with those who need it.  The workers don’t have to be few here.  You and I can step up in ways we never have in missions, outreach, benevolence, and service.  We can be the workers in field, but let me share the second half of the truth, “Go, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.”  If you expect being a worker for the Lord to be easy, then you have not been a worker before.  It is exhilarating, nerve-wracking, exciting, and scary, but it is not easy.  Darkness does not desire light.  Our job is to be wholly devoted to God.

F.  Can you be wholly devoted to God without proclaiming Jesus to the lost or serving those in need?  God says, “no.”  To be his disciple requires us to proclaim and serve for in doing so we become sons of Light.

Conclusion:

A.  Maybe you are here today, and you are hearing us desire to share Jesus with you.  Maybe that touches your heart and you want to have this Jesus we love so much.  Don’t leave today without letting us know how we can help you on your spiritual journey.

B.  Maybe you are here today, and you realize that wholehearted devotion to God is something you have refused.  Rededicate your life to Him this day.  Don’t leave here feeling guilty, leave here with a sense of purpose and dedication to becoming all that God has called you to be.

C.  Maybe you are here today, and have given yourself to him in this manner of proclamation and service.  Then be the encourager this body needs and help to mentor and edify others to step up like you have.  No bragging, but expressing the love God has shown you.

D.  Whatever the reason, God brought you here and today you begin to understand his plan for wholehearted devotion.  If you are in need of our public support or help, then come as we stand and sing.