(Read Matthew 10:1-10)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. We have been studying the life of the Apostle Peter and realize I had jumped out too far ahead. Let’s go back to Matthew 10. In Matthew 9 the last of the 12 disciples, Matthew the Tax Collector, joined the team. With this team now set, in the next chapter we see Jesus send them out to get what we call in the military “hands-on training”. It was one thing to watch Jesus perform the supernatural, but it is something else to be empowered to do it yourself. Jesus wanted His disciples to go from spectators to participators. He called team together and the Bible says:
“He gave them power over evil spirits and power to heal every kind of disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles:
Simon (also called Peter),
Andrew, the brother of Peter,
James, the son of Zebedee,
John, the brother of James,
Philip,
Bartholomew,
Thomas,
Matthew, the tax collector,
James, the son of Alphaeus,
Thaddaeus,
Simon, the Zealot,
Judas Iscariot (the one who handed Jesus over to his enemies).
Jesus sent the twelve men out with these instructions: “Don’t go to the non-Jewish people. And don’t go into any town where the Samaritans live. But go to the people of Israel. They are like sheep that are lost. When you go, tell them this: ‘God’s kingdom is now very near.’ Heal the sick. Bring the dead back to life. Heal the people who have leprosy. And force demons out of people. I give you these powers freely, so help others freely. Don’t carry any money with you—gold or silver or copper. Don’t carry a bag. Take only the clothes and sandals you are wearing. And don’t take a walking stick. A worker should be given what he needs.”
It will take us some time to get through these 10 verses. Once we do, we will also need to cover the next five verses, because they are connected to this situation. So let’s get into it.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- Jesus sent His disciples out to people who were lost. He wanted His men to take ministry to the people who needed it. He was not waiting on the lost to come to Him. We should take note today. We can’t wait for the lost to find us in our comfortable churches. If we hear God’s voice, we will hear Him sending us out to meet the lost, taking God’s love and power to them right where they are.
- Jesus expected His disciples to DO what He did, not to just talk about what He did. Jesus empowered His followers to actually perform the supernatural. You are not called to just talk about God. You are called to embrace, embody and release His power in the earth.
- People were intrigued by what Jesus said, but they were amazed by what He did. If Jesus had only talked about the supernatural without ever DOING anything supernatural, we would not be talking about Him today. God did not call us to talk about Him, He called us to represent Him in the earth by becoming conduits of His power.
- God does not expect you to be the manufacturer of the supernatural, because only He can do that. But God does expect you to be a distribution center. God releases His power IN you and He then expects you to distribute what you receive. Jesus said it this way, “I give you these powers freely, so help others freely.”
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. You sent me into the earth for a reason. Part of that reason is to represent You. I am Your child. I am called by Your name. I have been Born-Again. Your Spirit lives IN me. Your power has come TO me and it has changed my life. But You did not send Your power TO me so that it could change just me. Your power has come TO me and You now want it to flow THROUGH me. You want me to decrease, so that You can increase IN me. You want me to die to self, so that You can freely LIVE in me. You want me to be a carrier and a conduit of Your power. You want me to receive and to release the supernatural. You don’t want me to simply talk about You, You want me to actually represent You in the earth by DOING what Jesus did. You know I am not the manufacturer of the supernatural — that’s You Father — but I shall be a distribution center. Freely I receive and freely I release. I am a carrier of the supernatural and I declare that the supernatural shall become natural to me! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
