The words of Christ offer instructions for daily Christian living.

This lesson is based entirely on instructions Jesus gave to the Twelve Apostles shortly after He chose them, as told in Matthew 10: 1-33. All the Gospel writers report that Jesus faced continual hostility and persecution from Jewish religious leaders who opposed His preaching, teaching, and ministry. Therefore, Jesus taught the Apostles that they, too, would face hostility and persecution for being His disciples. Jesus told them how to face opposition, as He had done. For Jesus’ disciples today, this lesson gives instructions for declaring the gospel, and for how to deal with opposition to the gospel.

GOLDEN TEXT: Matthew 10:7-8 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS

A. Instructions for the Twelve’s Mission

Matthew 10:1  And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

…….The Lord will never summon you to a task without providing to power and anointing to complete it.

10:2  Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

10:3  Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

10:4  Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

10:5  These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

10:6  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

…….The church had to be established and stable before ministering to the rest of the world. It was Jesus’ desire to see Gods people delivered first.

10:7  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

10:8  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

10:9  Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

10:10  Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

…….For this mission, Jesus commanded the Twelve to depend entirely on the generosity of those to whom they ministered for the supply of their material needs and lodging.

10:11  And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

…….In ministry, not everyone will receive what the Spirit gives us to say.

10:12  And when ye come into an house, salute it.

10:13  And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

10:14  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

…….It is not the job of the minister to strive with someone to receive the Gospel. Those who are desperate for a life change will be ready. For those who do not want Christ when He gives them the opportunity, we must not waste our time that He has provided for someone else to hear the Gospel. Listen to what Jesus said in Matthew 7:6: Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

10:15  Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

…….As Christians, we must stay on guard and full of the Spirit. The enemy in this world is looking for those that can be caught stumbling.

B. Instructions for the Church’s Mission

Matthew 28:16  Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

28:17  And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

…….Though it can be terrifying for some to tell others what Jesus has done in their lives, the knowing that Christ is with us at every moment, and the power that is felt every time we witness to those ready to receive, should be enough for us to continue to tell others about Him.

BE ON YOUR GUARD

A. Prepare for Persecution

…….In ministering for Christ the disciples were warned about what they would go through in the process of spreading the Gospel.

Matthew 10:17  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

…….Though the events following did not happen in the early ministry, the disciples would remember these warnings and instructions after Jesus’ heavenly ascension.

10:18  And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

10:19  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

10:20  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

10:21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth (remain) to the end shall be saved.

…….The way we finish this race is just as important as the way we started it. Jesus warned His disciples of all possibilities, good and bad, that would come to those who chose to obey Him. The greatest results are the fact that He will never leave us in the midst of the work.

10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

…….We will feel defeated and worn at times, but we have to keep moving forward. Jesus has promised to strengthen and provide for every journey in our ministry.

B. Share in Jesus’ Persecution

10:24  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

10:25  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub (a name of Satan), how much more shall they call them of his household?

…….Jesus said we are not above Him in the sake of receiving persecution. If the known world in His time would crucify Him having so much proof of being the Son of God, what would happen to His followers? Listen to the last warning Jesus gave before his crucifixion: Luk 23:28  But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

Luk 23:29  For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

Luk 23:30  Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

Luk 23:31  For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

…….We have got to stay full of His power! Just as the Matthew chapter 10 warning was not for their present journey, it did come to pass. Thankfully, the disciples were full of His Spirit and succeeded in spreading the Gospel! But if they weren’t, someone else would have fulfilled the task!

DO NOT BE AFRAID

A. Fear God, Not People

10:26  Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

…….God will reveal the evil in this world and His prophecies will be fulfilled.

10:27  What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

…….The Lord will always give the minister a message for His people. It is the duty of the minister to stay inclined to the voice of the Lord, and to preach what the Spirit speaks.

10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

…….Our fear is not to be of those that have fleshy authority over us. Our fear should only be of the outcome of not fulfilling the will of the Lord.

10:29  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing (half a penny)? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

…….Don’t ever get caught up wondering if the Lord has His eyes on you!

10:30  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

10:31  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

…….If He sees every sparrow that falls, he will never neglect to see the condition of His children, especially the ones striving in His work!

B. Regarding Confessing Christ

10:32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

10:33  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

…….The time will come often for Christians to have the opportunity to speak about the Lord. This scripture must ring in our minds constantly! Not for the sake of avoiding punishment, but for the sake of the freedom provided through salvation in Christ!