Will you join me in prayer?
Gracious Lord and Heavenly Father,
we long to be blessed
with the vision of things
that prophets and people of old
have longed to see.
Please give us that vision
that only comes by your revelation
so that we might be filled with the joy
that comes through the Holy Spirit.
We pray, Father, that you might encourage us
as we hear your word,
that you might stir us to action,
to faith and obedience.
All this we pray so that you might be glorified
through your Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
I read sometime this week, last week,
that we no longer work for money.
I don't know.
Work for nothing.
At least the interns do.
Might have to turn it down.
Is that okay?
No?
How's that?
Better?
Okay, better.
Our project.
Well, apparently,
we are no longer content to work for money.
What we work for is meaning.
Is meaning.
If you were to choose a job,
would you choose a job
that's kind of meaningless,
repetitive, unrewarding,
but paid lots,
or a job that pays moderately okay,
but you get a sense of achievement?
There is a yearning, I think,
in each of us
for meaning,
for achievement.
For those of us who are a bit older,
we wrestle with those sort of questions as well too.
As we reflect on our life,
we wonder what it all means.
Have we wasted our life?
Into this restlessness,
I think God speaks to us.
It's not words necessarily
that we would immediately think of,
but the words are something like this.
Come,
come,
follow me.
Come to me,
or you are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
God's word for our restlessness
is a following.
It is discipleship.
But significantly,
to follow Jesus
is to wander.
To be sent out by him
into the world.
To be a disciple of Jesus
must be a missionary of Jesus.
It is impossible
to be one
and not the other.
And in the context of meaning
and legacy
and waste,
it kind of makes sense.
I was reflecting this week
on the phrase,
you know,
you look like a man
on a mission.
Well,
what do we mean by that?
It means that someone
who is not going to stop
for anything,
someone who's determined
and focused,
someone who's got
a clear purpose,
not to be distracted.
in a wandering
that is restless,
purpose,
a clear focus
kind of makes sense.
Discipleship,
understandably,
is God's word
to us
in our
restless,
aimless
wandering.
We're spending
three weeks
on mission
and evangelism.
I'm hoping
that if you
have been wandering
aimlessly,
that
through the word
of God,
you will find
your life's
ambition.
If you have started
on this journey
with Jesus,
a follower
of Jesus,
but you have
been distracted,
then I pray
that
your focus
would be
clarified.
And I've
chosen
for our
reflection
tonight
a mission
of the 70
in Luke 10.
It might be
helpful if you
turn to Luke 10
to follow
just to see
if what I'm
saying is true.
Before we
turn to Luke 10,
just a reminder
that Luke
itself is a
biography of Jesus,
for that is how
we come to know
Jesus,
through his
biography.
And Luke
explains the
purpose of his
writing in
chapter 1,
verses 1 to 4.
It is written
so that
Theophilus,
and through
him to us,
we might have
certainty.
Certainty in
a life that
is not certain.
Safety
for life
and beyond.
Of course,
ironically,
the following
of Jesus
provides
neither
safety nor
security.
Just before
our text,
in chapter 9,
verses 57
to 62,
we read this.
As they,
that is Jesus
and his followers,
were walking
along the road,
a man said to
him,
I will follow
you wherever
you go.
Jesus replied,
foxes have
holes and birds
of the air
have nests,
but the son of
man has no
place to lay
his hand.
He said to
another man,
follow me.
The man replied,
Lord, first let
me go and
bury my father.
Jesus said to
him, let the
dead bury
their own
dead, but
you go and
proclaim the
kingdom of
God.
To follow
Jesus involves
such an
uncompromising,
unyielding
commitment.
It is
a forsaking.
You cannot
follow unless
you forsake.
It is a
forsaking of
everything.
the security
of home,
the warmth
of a family.
It is
following Jesus
into a
mission,
for Jesus
himself is
on a
mission.
If you
go to
chapter 9,
51,
this is
what Luke
tells us
about Jesus.
It's a bit
of a turning
point in the
life of
Jesus.
As a
time
approach for
him to be
taken up to
heaven, to
glory, Jesus
resolutely set
out for
Jerusalem.
And it
follows the
discussion on
discipleship and
mission.
To follow
Jesus is to
follow his
mission.
Luke tells us
that the son of
man, this is in
chapter 19, has
come to seek and
save the lost.
Well, the
mission of the
70 is not the
first mission that
the disciples were
sent on.
At the beginning of
chapter 9, we see
that Jesus sent out
the 12.
And now we see
that he sent out a
team of 70.
Slightly larger,
but by no means
large.
Possibly slightly
larger than our
congregation tonight.
Really quite small,
if you think of the
context.
They're being sent
to prepare the
crowds to meet
Jesus.
Jesus is on his
way to Jerusalem,
wherever he would
pass.
The disciples were
to go to those
places to tell
them about the
coming of Jesus,
to prepare them
for the way of
Jesus.
Earlier on in
Luke, we see that
John the Baptist
was to prepare the
coming of Jesus,
and now the 70
is to prepare for
his coming.
Jesus also gives
them the content
of their mission,
what they are to
do.
Have a look at
verses 9.
What are the 70
to do on their
mission?
They are to
proclaim.
Jesus says in
verse 8,
When you enter
a town and are
welcome,
eat what is said
before you,
heal the sick
who are there,
and tell them,
the kingdom of
God is near you.
Their mission is
one of proclamation
of the kingdom of
God, of the
nearness of the
kingdom of God.
Verse 10,
When you enter
a town and are
not welcome,
go into the
streets and say,
even the dust of
your town that
sticks to our feet,
we wipe off
against.
Yet be sure of
this, the
kingdom of God
is near.
Their task is
one of proclamation
of the nearness
of the kingdom.
In other words,
they are to
evangelize.
That's what
evangelism is.
It is proclaiming
the news of
the kingdom.
I just want to
go through very
quickly what they
are to expect
from Jesus.
As they go out,
they are to
expect a
great harvest.
Verse 2,
a large crop,
too large for
a mere 70,
team of 70
to harvest.
That is why
they are to
pray for more
workers.
But more
significantly,
it is a
harvest.
It would be
a fruitful
harvest.
It is a
plentiful
harvest.
The context
is the
disciples are
to go into
Israel on
the way to
Jerusalem.
Israel has
been waiting
waiting for
the coming
of their
king.
Something that
we will be
turning our
minds to in
the prophet of
Malachi a little
bit later on.
They've been
waiting for him
to come and
save them for
400 years.
Now is the
time the king
is coming.
The people
have yearned for
him to come and
he has now
come.
Fruitfulness,
of course,
doesn't mean
ease or
safety.
verse 3.
Jesus says,
they are
going out
like lamb
among wolves.
I'm sure I
told this
story before,
but I'll
tell it again
because it's
really grotesque
and gruesome.
We keep
chicken in
our home.
Our first
two,
sorry,
rating PG,
just in
case.
Our first
two chicken,
lovely chicken,
great producers
of eggs.
One day,
my wife went
out to feed
the chicken,
only to come
back into the
house and say,
you've got to
come and see
this.
I went out
and there was
no chicken
left,
just feather
and a
severed head.
Some sort
of animal
got into
the hutch,
a fox or
I don't know
what it is.
Imagine if
you were
to throw
chickens at
a fox.
it's not
great for
the chicken.
This is the
closest analogy.
I didn't
grow up on
a farm.
I don't
know what
would happen
if you put
a lamb
and a wolf
together.
I suppose
there wouldn't
be much of
a lamb
left.
The mission
of the
70 is not
a game.
It's not a
career
alternative
that you
decided
somehow
when you're
in 30.
You know
when Darren
and Vanessa
go off
to South
Africa
is not
a short
holiday for
them.
It is
perilous
and it
is dangerous
and it
is urgent.
Verse 4.
When they
go they
are not
to pack
sandals
or even
greet
anyone.
Now you
might not
be surprised
by this
because when
you get up
in the morning
and you
go to work
or school
or whatever
you don't
greet anyone
either.
Or maybe
you do
but you
say how
are you
and not
wait for
a response.
Can I
say to
you people
from the
east
they just
find that
really odd.
When you
ask them
how they
are they
actually
expect you
to listen.
In that
context
not greeting
people is
really odd.
Not waiting
for you
know it's
just rude.
It's really
but the
context is
one of
urgency.
They're to
be so
urgent
they don't
have time
for things
like this.
So the
cross reference
is 2 Kings
4.
The time
of Elisha
the only
son of
the Shinamite
woman had
died and
Elisha sent
his servant
to the
woman.
And this
is what
he said
in verse
29.
Elisha
said to
Gehazi
tuck up
your cloak
into your
belt take
my staff
in your
hand and
run.
If you
meet
anyone
don't
greet
him.
If
anyone
greets
you
don't
answer.
Lay
my
staff
on the
boy's
face.
See
in that
culture
not greeting
is unthinkable
unless the
task is
urgent.
It is a
matter of
life and
death.
That there
is no
time even
to stop
and to
greet.
And so
the task
of the
70, the
mission of
the disciples
of Jesus
is so
urgent that
they are to
keep moving
and moving
and keep
announcing the
news of the
coming of the
kingdom.
For that is
why it is so
urgent and
important.
They are to
proclaim the
nearness of
the kingdom
of God.
The king
is about
to come.
They are
the king's
messengers.
And Israel
is given
one last
chance
to respond
to have
peace,
to experience
peace
with this
king.
They have
been at
war with
the king.
The king
has now
come.
Amnesty
and salvation
and peace
is possible.
That is the
message which
the 70
is to
bring.
It is a
message of
salvation.
But of
course not
everyone
experiences
peace and
salvation.
For the
king will
come and
some will
say to
them,
like an
asylum seeker,
not welcome.
Keep
away.
Go back
to where
you come
from.
They desire
no part
to be
with their
God or
the people
of God
and the
consequences
are awful.
Verses
10 to
12.
For
nations
which
reject
the news
of the
king
will be
worse
than
Sodom
and
Tyre
and
Sidon.
I have
never
met
a
Sidonian,
whatever
they are,
or a
Sodomite,
like from
Sodom.
These are
the enemies
of Israel.
They have
been destroyed.
They no
longer exist.
For those
who reject
the news
of the
king,
the kingdom
of God,
they will
be as
these
nations.
This is
the expectation
of the
70.
Well,
what of
the result?
Verse 17.
What did
they report
when they
come back?
There was
great joy.
The
70 said,
Lord,
even the
demons
submit to
us in
your name.
There was
great
rejoicing,
for there
was great
success in
their ministry.
It has
been fruitful.
There has
been a
great and
wondrous
work.
The name
of Jesus
is indeed
a name
with great
power,
for even
the demons
submitted to
them in
the name
of Jesus.
Now,
the mention
of Jesus
might not
be relevant
to us,
but for
most part
of the
world,
it is
a real
world.
People
are
fearful
of this
dark
world
that exists,
fearful
of
their
misadventure
caused
by
spiritual
forces
that are
beyond
their
control.
Fearful
is how
people live,
enslaved
to this
fear
under
the
shadow
of
death.
But
according
to the
disciples,
this
dark
world
is now
overcome
in the
name
of
Jesus.
But
even
more
than
that,
verses
18 to
20,
Jesus
says,
as the
70
priest
of
kingdom
in the
name
of
Jesus,
he sees
the vision
of
the
Satan
falling
like
lightning.
The
stranglehold
that
Satan
has,
the
power
that he
exerts
of
deception
in this
world,
of
destruction
in this
world,
will
now
be
finally
destroyed
and
broken.
It is
an
anticipation,
of course,
to the
cross,
to what
Jesus
would do
finally
against
the
work of
the
devil.
But the
most curious
part of
this passage,
and in
many respects,
my main
point,
it's taken me
this long to
come to
this,
is Jesus'
own response
to the
report of
the 70.
For it is a
curious report
if you look
at it.
They came
back rejoicing,
saying,
we have
had great
success,
Lord.
Imagine if
St.
Paul's
were to
report to
Jesus,
you know,
our 2020
vision,
we killed
it.
Thank you,
Jesus.
How would
you expect
him to
respond,
well done,
my good and
faithful servant?
No,
I knew it
all along.
No.
Jesus says,
don't rejoice.
Don't rejoice
that the
Spirit submit
to you.
Don't rejoice
at this
manifestation
of power.
I know
that.
What ought
you to be
rejoicing in?
Rejoice
that your
names are
written in
heaven.
What do
you make
of that?
As we
come to
the Lord
in praise
in the
year 2020
and rejoice
as his
great work,
his response
as it were
to us
would be,
don't rejoice
at that?
Rejoice
rather that
your names
are written
in heaven.
Rather
self-serving,
don't you
think?
Perhaps
Jesus is
alluding to
the permanence
of his
work.
Something
greater is
coming and
something
greater is
coming.
I want to
suggest to
you that
perhaps
one of the
things that
we need to
understand is
the distinction
between the
goal of
mission and
the means
of mission.
I think
every church
that I've
been to
love to
focus on
mission
activities.
We pray
for mission.
We think
about mission.
We think
about all the
bits and
pieces.
It's really,
really important
to such an
extent that
we actually
think that
the mission
is the
mission.
Logically,
the mission
isn't the
mission.
The mission
is the
means to
get somewhere
else.
The journey
is the
journey,
the process.
There is an
end point.
There is the
journey's end.
There is the
destination.
Now,
if that were
the case,
what is the
end point,
what is the
journey's end
for the
mission of
Jesus?
What is the
thing that we
ought to
celebrate?
when we
recognise that
we have
arrived?
Come and
have a look.
This is only
almost
incidental in
what Jesus
says, but I
think it
says a lot.
In verse
22,
we'll start
in 21.
After the
response,
Jesus,
filled of joy
through the
Holy Spirit,
said,
I praise you,
Father,
Lord of
heaven and
earth,
because you
have hidden
these things
from the
wise and
learned and
revealed them
to little
children.
Yes,
Father,
for this
was your
good pleasure.
All things
have been
committed to
me by
my
Father.
No one
knows who
the Son
is except
the Father,
and no one
knows who
the Father
is except
the Son,
and those
to whom
the Son
chooses to
reveal him.
Again,
it's a curious
prayer.
Why do we
need to know
that?
See,
what Jesus
has opened
up our
eyes to
is a
glimpse
of the
greatest
reality,
of the
life within
God
himself.
See,
journey's end
for his
mission,
and for our
mission,
is the
knowledge of
God.
It's to
come into
the very
life of
God,
to know
him,
to be
known by
him,
to love
him,
to be
loved by
him.
To have
your name
written in
heaven is
to mean
that you
have
fellowship
with God.
That is
journey's end.
If you
like to
imagine
it,
mission
serves
the sake
of
church.
Fellowship
is the
goal of
mission.
Although
there is a
recursive
relationship
between the
two in
this age.
But
nevertheless,
fellowship,
relationship
with God,
participating
in the
life of
God.
Do not
rejoice in
the power
that you
have seen.
Rejoice in
the fact
that you
are in
fellowship
with God.
You are
in fellowship
with God
because you
know who
Jesus
really is.
And in
an age
of aimless
wandering,
that provides
the greatest
security.
As we
struggle to
find meaning
and purpose
in this
life,
to be
known by
God,
to be
loved by
God,
to dwell
with God
in that
relationship
of love
for eternity
provides
the greatest
security.
eternity.
Well,
a lot
has changed
since the
time of
the 70.
They look
forward to
the time
of what
Jesus will
do and
they will
eventually
see what
he has
done.
But we
look back.
We have
seen the
defeat of
Satan on
the cross.
We have
seen
Jesus,
having died
on the cross,
is offering
forgiveness
for all
our sins.
There is
no sin
that is
too great
for him
to forgive.
We have
seen
the resurrection
of our
Lord.
Death
is now
overcome.
The kingdom
is assured
and guaranteed.
It will
come again
in power
to bring
new life.
Yes,
that is
different,
but a lot
hasn't
changed.
There are
things that
are the
same.
The harvest
is still
plentiful.
I make it
a point to
go and
meet people
in our
community.
You know,
even though
it might
seem
difficult,
but what
I see is
this.
I see
ordinary
lives
dominated
by
fear.
Somebody
once said
that we
now live
in the
age of
anxiety.
My
understanding
of anxiety
is that
that is
the
sort of
almost
emotional
response
to fear,
to
uncertainty.
You know,
as we
grow in
our
material
wealth,
we are
afraid of
another
GFC
because we
might just
lose it
all.
Ironic
that the
more we
have,
the more
we fear,
the more
anxious we
are.
People of
our age,
our neighbours,
ourselves,
what we are
yearning for
is to be
secure in
the love
of God,
is it not?
The people
2,000 years
ago on the
way to
Jerusalem,
they are
longing for
God to
come and
save them.
That is
still true
in our
own age,
in our
own
place.
The workers
are few.
70 is
simply
not
enough.
It is
also true
that the
name of
Jesus
is just
as strong
to save.
The name
to which
the powers
of the
evil one
submits
to is
still the
same name
that saves
in this
world.
It has
not
lost
its
power.
One of
the things
that is
apparent
when you
read this
account
is that
the mission
of the
70 is
not the
mission of
the 70.
Deb has
mentioned
this.
It is
the mission
of God.
The 70
does not
have a
mission.
We do
not have
a mission.
We have
a God
who has
a mission.
It is
Jesus
who has
set his
face to
Jerusalem.
It is
Jesus
who has
come to
seek and
save the
lost.
We are
simply
invited to
participate
in this
mission.
The honors
belong to
him.
He is
the one
who
directs,
who gives
us the
content,
the method,
the expectation
of this
mission.
It is
his mission.
It is
the same
God,
the same
Jesus,
who is
at work.
It is
his name
that is
powerful in
this world.
I want
to tell
you quite
a long
story.
It is
the story
of a
pastor who
started a
church in
Canada.
I don't
know where
it is.
The church
has experienced
steady decline
over the
years.
By the time
he joined
the church,
there is
only a
small group
left.
It was
the Canadian
summer.
Josh,
Canadian
summer.
Terrible
place to
be,
Canada.
Especially
church.
I don't
know if
you guys
actually
come here
in January,
but there
is no
one here
except
everyone
who
come and
visit our
church.
In
Canadian
summer,
this guy's
church is
a tiny
little
church,
and in
summertime
is even
worse.
During
the summer
holidays,
there is
a family
visiting the
church.
Just
moving to
the city
a few
months ago,
wanting to
find a
new church.
The
father is
a successful
businessman,
the wife is
particularly
sophisticated,
they have
four kids,
and they've
been attending
a mega
church in
the city.
Beautiful
beauty,
up-to-date
technology,
a children's
program.
How about
that?
A luxury.
And this
pastor realized
that his
little church
could not
match up to
what they
have experienced,
things.
And for
him, it
was rather
embarrassing.
And to
top it all
off, to
top it all
off, you
know, I
was at a
little church
prior to
this, and
one of the
worst things,
worst things
for this
church is
when I
had to
lead the
music.
With my
guitar.
It is
awful.
You know,
my wife
said to
me, after
Sunday, she
had to go
and take
a shower.
It's
unclean.
And this
guy, his
musician was
away.
It was a
horrible
experience, so
he thought.
And during
the time of
announcement, he
was apologetic,
he said, you
know, not
directly in his
family, you
know, normally
we have more
people.
Normally, there's
someone who
can actually
play music.
You know, she's
doing fine, but
you know, we
actually have
real musicians
here.
But anyway, he
was frankly
quite embarrassed
by church.
Nothing to
offer this
powerful,
sophisticated
people.
But what
surprised him
the next week
is that this
same family
turned up.
And at the
door, rather
than, you
know, blurting
out, you
know, welcome
back, he
kind of said,
why did you
come back?
You know, he
just didn't
expect it.
I'm sure if
he were to
talk to
Deb, she
would say,
this is not
how you
welcome
people.
But to
his even
greater
surprise, this
family kept
coming back
week after
week, until
finally, they
decided to
formally join
the church.
And the
pastor had to
ask this
question, why
did you
decide to
choose us
over this
amazing mega
church down
the road?
And the
man asked,
look, quite
frankly, I
have to
admit, we
didn't decide
to join
you, we
wanted to
go back to
the other
church.
But every
time we
got into
the car, we
just ended
up coming
into your
drive, you
know, your
car park.
And one
time I
turned to
my wife and
I asked,
why do we
keep coming
back when
there is so
much less to
offer us than
this other
church?
And the
wife's response
was, because
every time we
come here, we
meet God.
Are people
looking for a
comfortable
building?
Toilets that
are more
permanent?
Yes, and we
should praise
God for those
things.
But ultimately,
what people are
looking for is
God.
when you
come tonight, I
hope that you
are expecting,
longing to
meet with God
face to face.
This is God's
mission, entrusted
to us.
It is the
gospel of
Jesus Christ
that we
have.
We have
just as
much God
to offer
as Hillsong.
And some
people will say
perhaps more.
people's
life could
be just
as
transformed
in our
midst as
any church
in this
city.
We must
never be
embarrassed
by representing
our Lord.
Whether we
minister to
hundreds of
thousands of
people or
to just
one,
it is
still an
enormous
privilege.
And let
me remind
you from
Luke 10
that it
is the
same
powerful
name
that we
carry,
we bear
with us.
If you
have the
gospel of
the Lord
Jesus,
you have
the power
of life
and death
in your
hands and
on your
lips.
Jesus says
this remarkable
thing in
verse 16.
When they
hear you,
they hear
me.
as you
go about
in these
cities meeting
the crowd,
I am
going about.
To reject
you is to
reject me.
To reject
me is to
reject the
one who
has sent
me.
I wonder
if there's
a restlessness
in your
heart,
in your
soul,
longing to
belong,
longing for
an identity,
longing for
a purpose,
a cause
that is
worthy to
invest your
life in.
me.
Well,
Jesus'
word to
you is
come and
follow me
into the
world to
proclaim the
coming kingdom,
to see the
great harvest,
the longing,
to experience,
to witness the
great power in
the name of
Jesus.
In the midst
of danger,
there is a
great urgency
for it is
life and
death.
perhaps you
need to
come to
Jesus to
follow him
for the
first time.
Perhaps you
have been
following Jesus
for quite some
time, but
you still feel
lost.
Perhaps you
have been
distracted
from the
mission.
Let me
suggest to
you and
I,
perhaps what
we need is
to redefine
our lives
by the
mission of
God.
What does
that mean?
For you,
for your
identity,
for your
meaning,
for your
purpose,
for your
ambition,
to be
defined by
nothing else
because nothing
else is
worthy of
your life.
What does
it mean to
be defined by
the mission of
God for you?
the
numerous
things coming
up in
our church.
And I
don't want to
rush through
this.
I'm hoping
that you
have some
moment
tonight to
think about
to wrestle
with your
own
restlessness.
Amen.