This Worship is for Wimps who are NOT Wimps!

[0:00] please take your Bibles and go to Matthew's Gospel the Gospel of Matthew chapter 10 if you're visiting with us or you left your Bible at home you can pull out that black Bible in the chair in front of you go towards the back and find page 7 page 7 Matthew chapter 10 we're going to start in verse 5 and we're actually going to read all the way to chapter 11 verse 1 chapter 10 verse 5 to chapter 11 verse 1 page 7 to page 8 in that black Bible a large chunk and I thought about splitting it up excuse me but everything seems to flow together so I'm like I really didn't want to break it up so we're putting it all together and we're going to look at that today so chapter 10 verse 5 of Matthew's Gospel and I'll read all the way to chapter 11 verse 1 these 12 Jesus sent out instructing them saying do not go in the way of Gentiles do not enter a city of the Samaritans but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and as you go preach saying the kingdom of heaven is near heal sick raise dead cleanse lepers cast out demons you receive freely give freely do not acquire gold or silver or copper into your belts or bag for a journey or even two garments or sandals or staff for the worker is worthy of his nourishment and into whatever city or village you enter inquire who's worthy in it and remain there until you go away and as you enter the house give it your greeting if the house is worthy let your peace come upon it but if it is not worthy let your peace return to you and whoever does not receive you or hear your words as you go out of that city house or that city shake off the dust of your feet truly I say to you it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah and the day of judgment than for that city behold verse 16

[2:31] I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves therefore be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves but we were of men for they will deliver you to local court councils and scourge you in their synagogues and you should be brought before governors and kings for my sake as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles but when they deliver you don't be anxious how or what you will speak for it shall be given to you in that hour what you are to speak for it is not you who speak but the spirit of your father who speaks in you and brother will deliver brother up to death and a father a child and children will rise up against parents and put them to death and you'll be hated by all on account of my name but the one who endures to the end will be saved but whenever they persecute you in this city flee to the next for truly I say to you you shall not finish the cities of Israel until the son of man comes verse 24 a disciple is not above his teacher nor a slave above his master it is enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher and the slave as his master if they called the head of the house Beelzebul how much more the members of his household therefore do not fear them for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known what I tell you in the darkness speak in the light and what you hear in an ear proclaim upon the roofs

[4:02] I do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell are not two sparrows sold for one sixteenth of a cent yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father but the very hairs of your head are all numbered therefore do not fear you are more valuable than many sparrows therefore everyone who shall confess me before men I will also confess him before my father who is in heaven but whoever shall deny me before men I will also deny him before my father who is in heaven verse 34 do not think that I came to cast peace on the earth I did not come to cast peace but a sword for I came to set a man against his father and a daughter against her mother and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law and a man's enemies will be the members of his household he who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me and he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me he who has found his life shall lose it and he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it the one who receives you receives me and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me the one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive the reward of a prophet and the one who receives a righteous one in the name of a righteous one will receive the reward of a righteous one and whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of the of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink truly

[5:45] I say to you he shall not lose his reward chapter 11 verse 1 and it came about when Jesus finished instructing his 12 disciples he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities wimp to warrior that's the title of the article Natasha the girl who wouldn't cry wolf an article in MMA Inside they interviewed this gal Natasha Wolf talking about her experience on season 2 of the wimp to warrior program last year in Belfast the wimp to warrior program takes people it just really really happens takes people who have no history in martial arts and drives them through a 22 week program that culminates in an MMA fight they go through savage training MMA fights you know it's like a big cage it's like octagon and there's two people that are boxing and kicking and throwing each other and putting each other and some pin

[6:53] I was watching one one time some guy knocked some guy he was bleeding everywhere so that's the MMA fight so they actually train people for 22 weeks and then they put them in the ring in an MMA fight a real MMA fight Natasha was in the depths of postnatal depression when she began this process last year and in the article she relates how she started the program and it helped her come out of her postnatal depression so if any ladies you get pregnant and then you have the baby and you want to go through get out of postnatal depression contact wimp to warrior program and they'll help you through that process some of you are writing that down I see yeah that's good who wants to be a wimp nobody nobody wants to be a wimp by the way she actually lost the fight she actually lost but she's still training it's kind of interesting nobody wants to be a wimp we want to be warriors right we want to be known as a warrior but when it comes to following Jesus guess what it's for wimps and yet when you read this passage it's for wimps who aren't wimps because to follow Jesus is no wimpy thing some of these things that Jesus said are pretty intense shocking statements which is why I titled the message for today this worship worship Jesus the Messiah is for wimps who aren't wimps it's for wimps who aren't wimps this type of worship when you bow down and worship Jesus you have to admit that you're a wimp but following Jesus is no wimpy thing

[8:42] I put in a statement for you this kind of faith worship in King Jesus is for wimps who aren't wimps the weak humble and helpless wimps aren't wimps when it comes to following Jesus specifically and we'll look at these more intense later on when Jesus says I did not come to cast peace but a sword when Jesus says in verse 39 excuse me verse 38 he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me you can't love father and mother more than me or else you're not worthy those are shocking statements when it comes to the gospel message and being one of Jesus followers it's not for wimps the cost of the gospel is high yet it's worth it because the one who loses their life for Jesus finds life abundantly you find life is truly fulfilling these verses were a specific charge to Jesus 12 disciples which is why we must walk cautiously and not simply apply it to us and everything that he says directly apply to our Christian mission in our own circumstances or to put it another way

[10:25] Jesus would send out his disciples to continue his ministry by preaching the kingdom and displaying its power to the lost sheep of Israel this mission was specifically for them at that time so the overall purpose or aim does not directly apply to us yet having said that we will see different principles arise from the text that do apply to us even though for us in the US we have yet to experience the kind of persecution that Jesus mentions here but think about our brethren in different countries they can definitely relate to some of these verses I'll mention a gal later on in the service well how do you know what applies and what doesn't apply we use what's called the analogy of faith or scripture interpreting scripture we see other verses from other passages that say something similar to what we see here in our situation our passage in chapter 10 for example when Jesus says you'll be hated by all that's said many other places in

[11:40] God's word so today what I'll do I'm going to give you 12 principles here are 12 principles that show Christianity is not for wimps alright this is going to show you true Christianity is not for wimps even though we're wimps because we trust Christ he wants to humble people to come to him and yet this is no wimpy thing here's 12 principles that we'll see number one we preach the same gospel message we preach the same gospel message look at chapter 10 verses 5 through 8 they were to go not to the Gentiles not to the Samaritans but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel notice verse 7 as you go preach saying the kingdom of heaven is near so these 12 disciples apostles were to go to the lost sheep of Israel now it's true as we preach the same gospel message it's true ethnicity does not merit God's favor yet

[12:42] Israel is God's covenant people and the eschatological blessings were first promised to them so the gospel is first for them and then to the Gentiles Romans 1 16 I'm not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation for those who believe to the Jew first and then to the Greek if you come in contact with someone who's Jewish if you can take advantage of the fact that to them has been given the oracles of God you have an opportunity more of an opportunity to proclaim the gospel to them even though you'll have a greater opportunity for them to actually persecute you because of the hard heartedness of those who are of Israeli descent but the same message is on the Baptist the same message that Jesus preached repent for the kingdom of God is near repent because God's rule and reign has come in his

[13:43] Messiah King the Lord Jesus they were proclaiming the coming of their master and we preached the same message too this is a principle we can take away from this passage we preached this same gospel and notice it says in verse seven excuse me in verse eight it also included them doing miracles as a way to confirm the truth the kingdom was here this is what it's going to look like in its fullness in the future he says as they receive God's grace freely Jesus called them to give freely you receive without cost give without cost we proclaim the same message we tell people to repent and trust Christ principle number two the financial cost to the gospel the financial cost to the gospel is high notice what Jesus says in verse nine gold silver copper bag two garments sandals all these different things they were to do all this without any kind of payment or preparation on their part they would rely on those who would receive this message their message

[14:55] God's kingdom was not for sale yet those who received it should give freely to his messengers and then notice what he says here in verses 11 through 13 enter a city or a village a choir who is worthy abide there enter the house give it your greeting if it's worthy let your peace come upon it if it's not worthy let your peace what is he talking what does he mean by that worthy worthy that is those who received their message their message and offer them hospitality Jesus is going to bring this up later on throughout his message they would give a greeting of peace to worthy homes but those who rejected the message would not be worthy of them as messengers so they would retract their blessings so you'd be looking for the right ones how do we take this principle how does it apply to us the one who supplies our resources is the Lord and his power we as his followers are meant to live simple lives not plush luxuriant lives as opposed to what those prosperity gospel preachers tell you

[16:04] Jesus wants you to be rich wealthy and wise that's a lie but mind you when we mark ourselves as Christians it may cost us financially to live for Christ may bring financial loss that's the cost of following Jesus Christianity is not for wimps because there's a financial cost to following Jesus but yet know that God will always provide right principle number three gospel rejection happens gospel rejection happens you will be rejected look at chapter 10 verses 14 to 15 whoever does not receive you nor heed your words you go out shake the dust off your feet truly I say to you be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah and the day of judgment than for that city to receive them is to receive their message to reject the message is to reject the messenger and in response shake the dust off their feet which symbolizes them leaving them to

[17:16] God's judgment that's why they would do that because of rejecting the message and his messengers the judgment would come upon them and be more severe for them than for Sodom and Gomorrah but what's the principle that we take from this when people reject the message of the gospel they will face judgment when they reject the message they're rejecting Christ and us as its messengers gospel rejection happens when people receive the message they're receiving us as its people known as we're tied to the message and the message is tied to us in Christ when they embrace Christ they embrace us when they reject Christ they're rejecting us gospel rejection happens which leads to principle number four the political cost to the gospel there may come a day when we have to stand up against our political government for the sake of truth interesting how this comes up today or tomorrow but this weekend is memorial day weekend right those who have sacrificed their lives on behalf of our country and yet there may come a day when our country will be against us there is a political cost to the gospel notice what Jesus talks about here in verse 16

[18:38] I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves therefore be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves those who reject the gospel will not be passive they will oppress us as Jesus messengers so we need wisdom along with integrity we must be shrewd without being harmful and innocent without gullibility that's what Jesus is saying why verse 17 beware of men for they will deliver you to court councils scourge you in their synagogues notice verse 19 you shall even be brought before governors and kings for my sake as a testament to them and to the Gentiles his disciples though they didn't need to worry from verse 19 when they deliver you don't worry about what you're going to say because the father's going to give you the words to say this is true even today that our father by his spirit gives us the words to speak when we're falsely accused by those who reject his message now obviously these verses look to a time when Jesus apostles and his disciples they face this you look at the book of Acts it's very true and yet even today in other countries our own brethren face these circumstances but yet that's why I mentioned earlier there may come a day when we may have to stand up against our own political government for the truth of the gospel there is a political cost to the gospel right now we're enjoying the freedom right now we can exercise it but you know very well just as much as I that can go away real fast there's a political cost to the gospel

[20:38] Christianity is not for wimps Jesus drives it further in verse 21 to verse 25 the familial and social cost of the gospel he says in verse 20 it's not you who speak but the spirit of your father who speaks in you and and he says in verse 21 brother will deliver brother to death father a child children rise up and put their parents to death you'll be hated by all on account of my name the familial and social cost of the gospel the good news of the kingdom is divisive the most intimate relationships will be severed brother versus brother father to child children to parents disciples of Jesus will be betrayed to death by their own family members because of our total allegiance to Christ people will hate us even our own family the social cost to the gospel the familial cost to the gospel following Jesus may cost us these family relationships and these social relationships notice what Jesus says in verse 23 whenever they persecute you in the city flee to the next or to the say to you shall not finish the cities of

[22:13] Israel until the son of man comes it's hard to apply this not just because of who they're preaching to the Israel but sometimes we should stay what does Jesus mean here when he says until the son of man comes what does he mean does it refer to when his resurrection does it refer to the destruction of Jerusalem does it refer to when he comes back to meet them later on does it refer to his second coming it's hard to determine what he means by this I think after his resurrection that's what he means by this when the son of man comes after his resurrection but regardless where you take that notice what Jesus continues to drive home here in verse 24 look at verse 24 a disciple is not above his teacher nor a slave above his master it's enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher and the slave as his master verse 25 if they called the head of the house Beelzebul how much more the members of his household students or slaves should not expect better treatment than their teacher or lord notice our identity is linked to Jesus so that if they called him Satan that's what that means

[23:33] Beelzebul after just all this time it came to be another phrase or term to describe Satan himself remember we saw that last week the Pharisee says oh he cast out demons by the ruler by Satan himself which is ridiculous if they called Jesus Satan if they called him Satan how much more so us as his followers we will share in the hatred directed against Christ what did Jesus say in John chapter 15 verse 18 if they hated me they're going to hate you the familial and social cost to the gospel and it might be in small ways but it can also be in big ways which is why Jesus says number six principle be steadfast look at verse 22 you'll be hated by all on account of my name but the one who endures to the end will be saved be steadfast we must maintain our devotion to Jesus to Jesus alone because for us who endure to the end we will be saved which points to future salvation we must remain steadfast to our

[24:59] Lord and you know what we need the grace to do it and he gives us the grace to do it it's true endurance and steadfastness is the mark of a true disciple of Jesus that's true endurance and steadfastness is a the true mark of a disciple of Jesus this is why Christianity is for wimps who aren't really wimps because to follow Jesus is no wimpy thing he says to be steadfast number seven he also says don't fear principle number seven don't fear and he walks through here in verses 26 to 31 three times Jesus says don't fear don't fear don't fear don't fear you think he's trying to get a point across I'll give you the reasons all together right now then we'll go through them one by one three reasons don't fear because the hidden sins of our oppressors will be made known on judgment day speak openly

[26:09] God will vindicate us don't fear number two because the father will judge our persecutors don't fear number three because our father truly loves us and is watching out for us so don't fear first the hidden sins of our oppressors are revealed look at verse 26 therefore don't fear there's nothing covered that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known what I tell you in the darkness speak in the lights and what you hear in an ear proclaim upon the roofs no fear why because it will be made known on judgment day their sins instead of being afraid his disciples should openly declare what he told them privately you say it from the roofs you speak truth we will be vindicated just like Jesus is vindicated which leads to the second reason don't fear because the father will judge our persecutors look at verse 28 don't fear those who kill the body but they're unable to kill the soul rather fear him who's able to destroy both soul and body in hell not only will their sins the sins of our oppressors be revealed but the father will judge our oppressors so no need to fear keep proclaiming the truth they can only kill the body big deal you get to be with Jesus after they kill the body rather the real issue is the father who destroys both soul and body in hell and he doesn't mean annihilationism he doesn't talk about he doesn't mean that he's talking about how the father will punish the evil eternally in hell the word he uses here is

[28:10] Gehenna the valley of Hinnom it was in south the southwest part of the old city of Jerusalem the place where humans sacrifice to the god Molech was offered many years ago friends this is the truth of eternal hell or punishment which motivates faithful discipleship to Jesus eh our father is not only a loving father who cares for us but he's one who's worthy of our all and admiration because he is the eschatological judge of all and the one who's going to be his instrument by which he judges the world is what you just sang a few moments ago the glorious Christ he will judge no need to fear the sins of our oppressors will be revealed Jesus will vindicate us so the father he will bring judgment upon them but third reason that

[29:18] Jesus gives here verse 29 to 31 the father truly loves us look at verse 29 are not two spirals so that says a sin but literally it's one sixteenth of a denarius is what it was yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father that's why he says verse 31 don't fear you're more valuable than many sparrows birds worth very little are taken notice by the loving father notice the lesser to greater argument that Jesus uses if the father notices tiny little sparrows we his people are more valuable so don't fear these persecutors there's no fear because our father your father is watching out for you trust him one writer says this quote God is not so busy running the universe that he has no time for little birds end quote and I would add or that he has no time for you and me so that even the very hairs of your head are numbered as few as they are he has them numbered our father truly loves us and is watching out for us don't fear be steadfast don't fear and number eight stay faithful stay faithful notice what

[31:03] Jesus starts saying here in verse 32 to 33 therefore everyone shall confess me before men I will confess him before my father who is in heaven but whoever shall deny me before men I will also deny him before my father who is in heaven persecutors will try to force us as Jesus disciples to deny him or really to join them in denying him but faithfulness means to openly confess Jesus openly before others to deny Jesus to reject him confess Jesus Jesus confesses you deny Jesus Jesus denies you stay faithful and by the way it's not simply acknowledging Jesus to be a good teacher or even believing he's the Messiah it's this what's Matthew's point you bow down and worship Jesus the Messiah king of

[32:03] Israel I bow down to you you're my king I will follow you even if I have to face opposition from everyone in the world I'm going to follow you Christianity is not for wimps this is what it means to be a Christian if you're here you're not a Christian a follower of Jesus the call is to you repent and trust Christ he's calling you come he'll show you grace and mercy and forgiveness of sins but the cost is high it's not for wimps stay faithful to the gospel number nine the gospel calls for family sacrifice Jesus drives us home even farther because look at verse 34 a friend of mine got stumped by this verse do not think that I came to cast peace on the earth

[33:07] I did not come to cast peace but a sword a shocking statement by Jesus look just because Jesus came to save doesn't mean there won't be hostility or conflict on the contrary the kingdom message is confrontational even with family it can fracture the dearest human relationships he quotes from Micah chapter 7 verse 6 here in verse 35 I came to set a man against his father a daughter against her mother a daughter in law against her mother in law verse 36 and a man's enemies will be the members of his household trusting Jesus may make more enemies than friends those enemies may end up being those within your own family if you stand for truth for the word that the

[34:15] Bible is God's word that Jesus is the Messiah who comes to save sinners and those in your family don't then you're going to be in big trouble with them and look how much stronger Jesus takes this in verse 37 he who loves father and mother more than me is not worthy of me he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me love must be to Jesus even above family one writer said to love one's family more than Jesus is to be unworthy of him end quote trusting Jesus is more important than family unity and peace those are hard words to swallow to follow Christ can be lonely some of you might know that some of you might know that from experience you're the only Christian in your family when it comes to theological liberalism hot topic today

[35:30] LGBTQIA someone believes you can be a lesbian and still be a Christian a different religion Christian the list goes on the gospel calls for family sacrifice it's not for wimps the gospel calls for self sacrifice look at what he says in verse 38 he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me one who truly follows Jesus takes up his or her own cross when Jesus hears now we hear this and we go oh yeah cross okay when Jesus hears would hear Jesus say this he knew exactly what he was saying crucifixion was the most horrible way to die and they'd be like wait what did he just say what

[36:30] I think he said he just said that take up his own cross and follow after me is not worthy of me who says crazy things like this I was talking to some guy Jerome Friday I said Jesus says some pretty crazy things and I actually quoted some of this to him I says who says stuff like that maybe he's a lunatic he's like yeah maybe he was a psychotic yeah I said or maybe he's Jesus maybe he's God he's like oh no no no you can't do that oh of course not look at what Jesus says in verse 39 he who has found his life shall lose it he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it if she or he does not take up their own cross and follow Jesus then she or he is not worthy of Jesus we call people to love Jesus more than their own lives if it comes down to him or my life as Jesus and only

[37:34] Jesus this is Christianity there's no wimpiness in this to avoid the cross results in losing one's life but the one who loses his or her life for the sake of Jesus will find it to sacrifice one's life means true life will begin not end it's a life for the sake of Jesus as one writer put it Jesus demands from everyone who follows him nothing less than a death to self but yet if you lose yourself for Christ you will find life truly fulfilling you will it'll be worth it some actually better news in these points point number 11 gospel reception happens okay it's like negative stuff right but

[38:44] Jesus kind of tapers this off in verse 40 gospel reception happens the one receives you receives me the one who receives me receives the one who sent me as opposed to those denying Jesus family and one who has to risk losing their relationship for Jesus sake Jesus spoke of those who actually receive him and then when they receive the disciple they receive Jesus and when they receive Jesus and receiving Jesus they receive the father and the same way a person receives a prophet or a righteous person will receive a reward that is equal to a prophet or a righteous person and when Jesus says this here in verse 41 he receives a prophet in name of a prophet will receive the reward of a prophet who receives a righteous one in name a righteous one receive the reward of a righteous one a prophet or righteous one is just another description of a disciple of Jesus that's what it means see disciples of

[39:47] Jesus are agents of Jesus just as Jesus is the agent of the father prophets give God's message right righteous persons stand for God's character just other phrases that Jesus uses to describe someone who's one of his followers one of his disciples notice what he says here in verse 42 and whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones another phrase to describe a disciple of Jesus a cup of cold water they will be rewarded why because it shows they're receiving Jesus agent so in the midst of the breakdown of significant relationships family Jesus his disciples will find people who respond to the kingdom message and be hospitable to them remember he talked about that earlier in his message but look Jesus is saying there's no middle ground there's no middle ground with him you must respond to

[40:51] Jesus in repentant faith you must embrace him he leaves no wiggle room you notice this and the last principle is the focus is always on Jesus look at chapter 11 verse 1 and it came about that when Jesus had finished giving the instructions to his 12 disciples instructing his 12 disciples he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities notice how nothing is said about the disciples leaving nothing is said about the disciples returning nothing is said about Jesus sending out the disciples nothing because the focus is always on Jesus and his teaching he's always the focus that's Matthew's point he's trying to drive that home to us it's Jesus Christ and your response to him because when it comes to the gospel message and being one of

[41:57] Jesus followers it's not for wimps the cost of the gospel is high yet it's worth it because the one who loses their life for Jesus finds it so I gave you these twelve principles so Christianity is not for wimps this is the first phrase that I gave to earlier this kind of faith worship in King Jesus is for wimps who aren't wimps the weak the humble and the helpless the wimps there aren't wimps Christianity is not for wimps I'll leave you with this story we were at Shepherds Conference Dr.

[42:43] MacArthur related a story about a student at the Masters University and he had related this story before months earlier but there was a student a female she was from a Muslim country and she ended up coming to Masters University or she had Muslim parents I should say and she actually became a Christian she went back home and I'm probably botching up all the details of the story she went home her family just refused to be around her I think they even beat her up ostracized her I mean she really she really knows what these statements mean she really knows what these principles mean the cost of following

[43:45] Jesus is high and it's so worth it though because she's still remaining faithful to Christ Lord Jesus help us as we read and see these different aspects rise from the texts and calls us to faithfulness that fastness endurance not fear realizing the the financial cost of following Jesus to family sacrifice self sacrifice Lord Jesus we pray you remain our focus we pray that we will be faithful to preach this same gospel message give us the grace to be steadfast to not fear to be faithful and to stand firm in the faith if you would take these few moments where we have this time of silence to allow yourself to reflect upon

[45:25] God's word what we've seen here in chapter 10 let your mind ponder on these things after a few moments we'll worship in our giving worship by singing two more songs we'll pray but this is an important time that I'd like to set aside for you for me for us to reflect to think to let God's word settle within our hearts to pray for God to work in us so let's take a few moments moments between you and the Lord King to frank and all these thanks