Living in God's Sufficient Provision and Purpose
Summary
In the sermon, I was reminded that God doesn't always provide abundantly, but He does always provide sufficiently. This is to ensure that we rely on Him for provision. The ultimate ministry resource is the Lord's power and not our own provision. Jesus's agents are called to live simply, not extravagantly, but also not with nothing. They must go expecting to be poor but to have enough because of God's provision through people. There was also a discussion about the tension between going everywhere and being strategic. Jesus told his disciples to focus on the lost sheep of Israel, not because He didn't care about the Gentiles, but because He wanted them to focus on their own people first.
The sermon also touched on the balance between compassion and confrontation. We are called to share both the compassion of Jesus and the offense of Jesus. There's also a balance between preaching the Kingdom of Heaven is near and healing. The church can't do its work without the support of God's people. Those in full-time ministry should see what they do not as a wage that they earn but rather the generosity and the gift of God's people. The message of the kingdom is not for sale.
Key takeaways:
- God provides sufficiently, not always abundantly, to ensure we rely on Him for provision ([25:53])
- Jesus's agents are called to live simply, not extravagantly, but also not with nothing ([26:31])
- There's a balance between preaching the Kingdom of Heaven is near and healing ([24:35])
- Those in full-time ministry should see what they do not as a wage that they earn but rather the generosity and the gift of God's people ([25:16])
- We are called to share both the compassion of Jesus and the offense of Jesus ([05:52])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 10:11-15 - #!!03:55!!#
2. Matthew 9:36-38 - #!!04:33!!#
3. Acts 1:17 - #!!32:37!!#
Observation Questions:
1. What does Matthew 10:11-15 tell us about how the disciples were to interact with those who did not welcome or listen to their words?
2. In Matthew 9:36-38, what is Jesus' response to seeing the crowds harassed and helpless?
3. How does Acts 1:17 describe Judas' role among the disciples?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Matthew 10:11-15 reflect on the disciples' mission and the potential challenges they might face?
2. What does Jesus' compassion in Matthew 9:36-38 reveal about His character and His expectations for His disciples?
3. What implications does Judas' role in Acts 1:17 have for understanding the dynamics among the disciples and their ministry?
Application Questions:
1. Reflecting on Matthew 10:11-15, how can you respond when your faith or beliefs are not welcomed or listened to in your own life?
2. Considering Jesus' compassion in Matthew 9:36-38, how can you demonstrate compassion towards those who are harassed and helpless in your community?
3. In light of Judas' role in Acts 1:17, how can you ensure that your actions align with your faith and the mission of Christ?
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace Your Unique Ministry
God has equipped each of us with unique experiences, weaknesses, and failures to reach people that others can't. There are hands only you can hold, tears only you can cry, and encouragement only you can bring. Even in the face of resistance and hostility, remember the Lord who endured the cross for the joy set before him. [07:40]
Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 - "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work."
Reflection: Reflect on your unique experiences and weaknesses. How can they equip you to reach people others can't?
Day 2: Share Both Compassion and Offense
We are called to share both the compassion and the offense of Jesus. His compassion is seen in his healing, touching, and involvement in people's lives. His offense is seen in the scandalous nature of the gospel, which requires us to confess our sinfulness and need for a savior. [43:41]
Bible Passage: 1 Peter 2:21-23 - "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 'He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.' When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly."
Reflection: How can you better embody both the compassion and the offense of Jesus in your daily life?
Day 3: Rely on God's Provision
God doesn't always provide abundantly, but He does always provide sufficiently. The ultimate ministry resource is the Lord's power, not our own provision. We are called to live simply and rely on Him for provision. [25:53]
Bible Passage: Philippians 4:19 - "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on God's provision?
Day 4: Be Strategic in Ministry
While we are called to reach the world, we must also be strategic and focused in our ministry. Jesus instructed his disciples to focus on the lost sheep of Israel, not because He didn't care about the Gentiles, but because He wanted them to be strategic in their mission. [27:08]
Bible Passage: Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Reflection: How can you be more strategic and focused in your personal ministry?
Day 5: Fulfill God's Promises
Jesus came to fulfill all the promises, prophecies, and hopes of the Old Testament. He didn't come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. As followers of Christ, we are called to continue this fulfillment in our own lives. [28:53]
Bible Passage: Matthew 5:17 - "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."
Reflection: How can you better fulfill God's promises in your daily life?
Quotes
1. "Your race, your experiences, your weaknesses, your failures equip you to reach people I can't reach. There's some hands out there that only you can hold, there's some tears that only you can cry, there's some encouragement that only you can bring." - 43:22
2. "The Jesus of the Gospel is offensive because of his inclusivity and the Jesus of the gospels is offensive because of his exclusivity. I think the church very much is offended by just how inclusive Jesus was and I think the world is very much offended on just how exclusive Jesus was and is." - 00:02
3. "The gospel means that you have to confess you're a sinner, the gospel means that you have to recognize that you can't save yourself, the gospel means you have to recognize that therefore you need a savior." - 39:46
4. "God is able to use people even if their names are never published in the annals of History. So as we move off this first point I have to ask you, what's your excuse? If you believe God can't use you in the light of all that we've looked at, then you've actually said more about God than you've said about yourself." - 18:17
5. "Your mission is not to the healthy, your mission is to the sick and I want you to go to the sick and I want you to heal them. Your mission is not to those who are so clean and got their act together, your mission is to the lepers, to those who are goddess Untouchable and I want you to go and to put your hand on them and to touch the Untouchable, the despised." - 18:17
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