INVITATION FROM:
GOOD NEWS IN THE MORNING
To listen to our latest weekly podcast, or to listen to any of the podcasts in our extensive archives, please connect to our main website link at: http://www.gncm.ca/
By Rev. Dave Kemp Pastor of Eternal Hope Anglican Church Church |
_______________________________________________________
Matthew 10: 38 –
42, I am sending you out like sheep
among the wolves!
Jesus is teaching the
apostles in preparation for their stepping out into their mission
field. Their mission is now clear—share the gospel. Jesus charged
them to go to the ‘lost sheep of Israel’, God’s chosen people, who were
in servitude to the Roman occupation of the holy land. Preach this
message to the downtrodden, and disadvantaged,
Jesus instructed: The Kingdom
of heaven is near, heal the sick, the lepers, raise the dead
and drive out demons. Give them comfort knowing they are God’s
children.
There were six humble
fishermen, one tax collector, political activist and four
others whose occupations are not identified and they are all
following a carpenter from Nazareth and they were charged with some
highly unusual instructions.
Can you imagine telling
your parents or wife or children that you are going to drive
out demons and heal the sick? But this is Jesus asking, this man has
a divine calling, he is doing these supernatural things and they
are convinced that following his example they would accomplish his
Kingdom on earth.
You and I have
instructions to lead people to the Kingdom of heaven also and we must
be aware of Jesus' next statement in vs 16,“Look, I am sending you out as
sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves”. Hey
guys, be “intelligent, wise, prudent, aware of the people you are
surrounded by and their interests.” Don’t be naive or immature among
the wolves.
The world, then as now,
was hostile to believers—not incidentally hostile, but purposefully hostile.
Wolves are intentional about the harm they inflict
upon sheep. Jesus taught His followers that, to be Christ-like in a
godless world, they must combine the wisdom of the serpent with
the harmlessness of the dove. The dove is thought of as innocent and
harmless.
Charles Simeon, a
powerful 19thevangelical Anglican priest, in
Cambridge England, writes about the snake and dove, simile Jesus
used, “the wisdom of the one and the harmlessness of the other are
very desirable to be combined in the Christian character; because the
Christian will be enabled to cope successfully with his more powerful
enemies”.
I agree with his
statement. It takes wisdom and humility and it takes courage to be
a recipient of God’s grace and forgiveness, by Jesus death on the
crossand be willing to share it with those you love.
But know, as Jesus
states, that people will hate
you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end
will be saved.
When we are sharing the
good news of salvation, we should strive to be gentle without
being pushovers, and we must be generous without being taken
advantage of. We must take the high road, be compassionate in
sharing with unbelievers what Jesus can do for them.
Jesus, God’s son, can
deliver you and me from our fear of sharing. Jesus declares You are a
child of God, Jesus is your brother and the Holy Spirit is in you, so take
heart.
This mostly mild
mannered carpenter is not being ambiguous when he declares, If
you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not
worthy of being mine. If you cling to your worldly life,
focusing only on your self-interest and money and possessions, well, there
are consequences—you will lose your life.
But if you give up your focus on the worldly life by following Jesus teachings, be loving, kind, generous, peaceful, then—you will find what really matters—shalom, the peace and confidence that can only come from God.
Jesus assures us with this promise, “Anyone who receives you, as a believer, (Melvin, Mary, Dolly, Ivan or anyone watching this day,) they will receive me, Jesus also.
And anyone who receives me, Jesus in their heart, receives my Father who sent me and receives the power of the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us. Makes it worth sharing as friend, wouldn’t you say?
My friends, during times of persecution of Christians, and it has been going on for centuries, 20 so far, hospitality was always a mandate. Warmth, welcome and kindness and generosity was and is our identifier. But Jesus also knows and it can be, and is, dangerous, even now to stand for with him in our communities.
You may see objectors torch your churches, protest your beliefs, denigrate and scorn your God-inspired Bible teachings. You may be mocked, belittled and treated poorly by others who want to undermine your stand as you live in an increasingly belligerent, confrontational, godless community.
So when other people raise their voice against your message, lower yours—. That’s called strength under control.
The Bible says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger”(Proverbs 15:1 NIV).
Jesus reminds us, don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered by deception—their profane, ungodly lifestyles will be revealed for what they are. And there are serious eternal consequences.
We are not to give in and turn tail before these challenges, but we are not to act as they do either.
Don’t give up trying to offer salvation to your loved ones or others despite what receive. Because Jesus states, if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” That means you! You will be blessed, not only on this planet but also in heaven. That is the good news brothers and sisters. Stand strong, you are on the right side of history and heaven. Amen.
Reference
Scriptures: Matthew 10: 38 – 42
38 And whoever does
not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever
finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find
it.
Rewards
40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
____________________________
To listen to the broadcast, click on the following link:
http://accm.ncf.ca/images/21.05.09.mp3
__________________________
Now be sure to
worship in a church where the gospel is soundly proclaimed and lived out with
compassion integrity and resolve.
I do pray that the
Lord will hold your heart and you would know Jesus personally and profoundly.
May the Holy Spirit reside deep within your heart, may the heavenly Father
surround you with his constant and abiding and accompanying love.
Good News In The Morning is produced by Good News
Christian Ministries
- Rev. Dave Kemp
Eternal Hope
Anglican Church, Carleton Place, Ontario
http://www.eternalhopechurch.org/
________________________________________
To listen to the
above broadcast, click on the following link:
http://accm.ncf.ca/images/21.05.09.mp3
By Rev. Brian Wilkie Pastor of St. Andrew's Christian Church Rockland, Ontario |
By Rev. Brian Wilkie Pastor of St. Andrew's Christian Church Rockland, Ontario |
by Rev. Canon George Sinclair
Pastor of the Church of the Messiah, Ottawa, ON. www.messiahchurch.ca |
Rev. Canon George Sinclair |
2 How the Lord in his anger
has set the daughter of Zion under a cloud!
He has cast down from heaven to earth
the splendor of Israel;
he has not remembered his footstool
in the day of his anger.
2 The Lord has swallowed up without mercy
all the habitations of Jacob;
in his wrath he has broken down
the strongholds of the daughter of Judah;
he has brought down to the ground in dishonor
the kingdom and its rulers.
3 He has cut down in fierce anger
all the might of Israel;
he has withdrawn from them his right hand
in the face of the enemy;
he has burned like a flaming fire in Jacob,
consuming all around.
4 He has bent his bow like an enemy,
with his right hand set like a foe;
and he has killed all who were delightful in our eyes
in the tent of the daughter of Zion;
he has poured out his fury like fire.
5 The Lord has become like an enemy;
he has swallowed up Israel;
he has swallowed up all its palaces;
he has laid in ruins its strongholds,
and he has multiplied in the daughter of Judah
mourning and lamentation.
6 He has laid waste his booth like a garden,
laid in ruins his meeting place;
the Lord has made Zion forget
festival and Sabbath,
and in his fierce indignation has spurned king and priest.
7 The Lord has scorned his altar,
disowned his sanctuary;
he has delivered into the hand of the enemy
the walls of her palaces;
they raised a clamor in the house of the Lord
as on the day of festival.
8 The Lord determined to lay in ruins
the wall of the daughter of Zion;
he stretched out the measuring line;
he did not restrain his hand from destroying;
he caused rampart and wall to lament;
they languished together.
9 Her gates have sunk into the ground;
he has ruined and broken her bars;
her king and princes are among the nations;
the law is no more,
and her prophets find
no vision from the Lord.
10 The elders of the daughter of Zion
sit on the ground in silence;
they have thrown dust on their heads
and put on sackcloth;
the young women of Jerusalem
have bowed their heads to the ground.
11 My eyes are spent with weeping;
my stomach churns;
my bile is poured out to the ground
because of the destruction of the daughter of my people,
because infants and babies faint
in the streets of the city.
12 They cry to their mothers,
“Where is bread and wine?”
as they faint like a wounded man
in the streets of the city,
as their life is poured out
on their mothers' bosom.
13 What can I say for you, to what compare you,
O daughter of Jerusalem?
What can I liken to you, that I may comfort you,
O virgin daughter of Zion?
For your ruin is vast as the sea;
who can heal you?
14 Your prophets have seen for you
false and deceptive visions;
they have not exposed your iniquity
to restore your fortunes,
but have seen for you oracles
that are false and misleading.
15 All who pass along the way
clap their hands at you;
they hiss and wag their heads
at the daughter of Jerusalem:
“Is this the city that was called
the perfection of beauty,
the joy of all the earth?”
16 All your enemies
rail against you;
they hiss, they gnash their teeth,
they cry: “We have swallowed her!
Ah, this is the day we longed for;
now we have it; we see it!”
17 The Lord has done what he purposed;
he has carried out his word,
which he commanded long ago;
he has thrown down without pity;
he has made the enemy rejoice over you
and exalted the might of your foes.
18 Their heart cried to the Lord.
O wall of the daughter of Zion,
let tears stream down like a torrent
day and night!
Give yourself no rest,
your eyes no respite!
19 “Arise, cry out in the night,
at the beginning of the night watches!
Pour out your heart like water
before the presence of the Lord!
Lift your hands to him
for the lives of your children,
who faint for hunger
at the head of every street.”
20 Look, O Lord, and see!
With whom have you dealt thus?
Should women eat the fruit of their womb,
the children of their tender care?
Should priest and prophet be killed
in the sanctuary of the Lord?
21 In the dust of the streets
lie the young and the old;
my young women and my young men
have fallen by the sword;
you have killed them in the day of your anger,
slaughtering without pity.
22 You summoned as if to a festival day
my terrors on every side,
and on the day of the anger of the Lord
no one escaped or survived;
those whom I held and raised
my enemy destroyed.
George Sinclair George is the Lead Pastor at Church of the Messiah.
