Sermon # 21 Series: Matthew
Title: THE APOSTLES CHOSEN, CALLED, AND COMMISSIONED
Text: Matthew 10:1-15
Subject: The First Ordination Sermon
Scripture Reading:
Office – B. Daughtery Aud. – B. Poncer
Date: Tuesday Evening – December 6, 1994
Tape: # Q-74
Introduction:
In the last verse of chapter 9, our Lord urged his
disciples to pray that the Lord God would send forth laborers into his
field to gather in his harvest. Here, in chapter 10, the Lord Jesus
demonstrates that he is “the Lord of the harvest” by sending forth his labors
into his field to reap his harvest.
Matthew 10
is a chapter of Holy Scripture that ought always be read with peculiar
solemnity. In these forty-two verses we have the first ordination sermon
ever preached. Those being ordained and set apart for the work of the
gospel ministry are the twelve apostles. The ordination preacher is the Lord
Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Proposition:
The solemn charge here given by Christ to the first gospel preachers of the New Testament era is the charge he gives to all who are sent of God to preach the gospel.
Tonight, I want us to carefully
examine the first fifteen verses of this chapter. Every believer, every church,
and every man who claims to be or hopes to be a preacher of the gospel ought to
be interested in the things recorded in these verses. Here we see The
Apostles Chosen, Called, and Commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ.
NOTE: The apostolic office, as you know, ceased with the
calling of the Apostle Paul and the death of the last Apostle, probably John. There
are no apostles today in the official sense of that word. However, like the
word “angel,” the word “apostle” simply means “messenger.” In that sense, every
true gospel preacher is an apostle, a messenger, an ambassador for Christ (II
Cor. 5:20), sent from God himself with the message of grace and salvation in
the Lord Jesus Christ.
I want to call your attention to
five things clearly set before us in these fifteen verses.
I. These Twelve Men Who Were Called To Be
Christ’s Apostles, His Messengers, Were First His Disciples – (v.1).
It seems ridiculous that I should
have to say so, but in these days when people who claim to worship and serve
God both ignore and willfully pervert Holy Scripture, it must be said – The
messengers of Christ were all men! No woman has ever been called of God to
preach the gospel. The scriptures are abundantly clear.
That
may offend some of the dear ladies. But I would rather offend you than offend
God. So, in this place we will never consider the possibility of ordaining
women to be preachers, or deacons, or missionaries. Enough of that! Let’s look
at our text.
A. No man is fit for the work of the gospel
ministry who has not experienced God’s saving grace.
We cannot know the hearts of men. Therefore we deal with them upon the basis of their professed faith in Christ. But none are to be put into the gospel ministry who are not followers of Christ.
1.
They must be men of
proven faithfulness (I Tim. 3:10).
2.
They who would be
teachers of others must first be learners – No man is apt to teach, or able to
teach others, who has not first learned the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.
Illus: We
are handling the “sword” of the Spirit!
B. There were twelve men chosen to be
apostles.
The number twelve is significant. It
has reference to the twelve sons of Jacob, the twelve tribes of
Israel. The Church of God is the Israel of God. These twelve apostles are
the twelve stars that make up the church’s crown (Rev. 12:1), the twelve
foundations of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:12, 14), typified by the
twelve precious stones in Aaron’s breastplate, the twelve loaves on the table
of showbread, and the twelve wells of water at Elim.
C. Notice also the inspired listing of their
names – (vv. 2-5).
1.
There are some apostles
of whom we know nothing more than their name – (Bartholomew and Simon the
Canaanite) – Some are famous. Some are obscure. But it matters not to them.
They are God’s messengers!
2.
Peter is mentioned
first because he was both the first of the disciples and he rose to be the
leader and chief spokesman for the rest.
3.
Matthew calls himself
the Publican – acknowledging his debt to the grace of God, and puts himself in
the list with obscurity, preferring to promote his fellow laborers rather than
himself.
II. These Twelve Men Were Called And
Commissioned By Christ To Do A Very Great Work – (vv. 1 and 8).
It must not be omitted that one of
the twelve was a devil. The Scriptures never hide the fact that Judas was
among the original twelve. And we must never forget it. This fact is
prominently displayed in the Word of God to teach us never to pin our faith on
the sleeve of a man. Not all preachers are believers. Even those who preach the
“truth” are not all genuine Christians.
Having
acknowledged these things, our text shows us that God’s servants are chosen,
called, and commissioned of God to do a great work.
A. The Purpose of The Gospel Ministry is The
Healing of Men’s Souls (v. 1).
The design of the gospel was to
conquer the world, the flesh, and the devil. Christ gave these men power to
cast demons out of men’s bodies, to show that Christ has come to destroy the
power of satan and his works. He gave them power to heal all manner of sickness
and desease to show that none are beyond the reach of God’s omnipotent grace
because the blood of Christ effectually cleanses from all sin (I John 1:7, 9).
Notice
This: Moses’ miracles, representing
the law, were for destruction and judgment – These miracles of the apostles
were all wrought for comfort, edification, and life, portraying the power of
the gospel.
1.
These miracles were an affirmation
of Christ as the Messiah and these men as his messengers (Heb. 1:3).
2.
Now that we have the
full Revelation of God in Holy Scripture, we need no signs of confirmation
– “That which is perfect” has come! We have a “more sure Word of prophecy!”
3.
Those who pretend to work miracles, speak in tongues and have a word
from God are saying – “Christ is not enough!” “The Bible is not enough!”
“Salvation is not enough!” “The Gospel is not enough!”
B. Whatever the work is to which God calls a
person, he will give him the power (ability, opportunity, and means) to
do it!
“He gave them power” – Christ never called anyone to do anything for him
without giving them the power to do it.
C. God’s Messengers, like these twelve
Apostles, are sent of God into this world to preach the gospel of his
sovereign, saving grace in the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 7).
God’s messengers all have one
message to declare. We have been sent of God to preach, and to preach
Jesus Christ and him crucified, to preach “The kingdom of heaven is at
hand!”
NOTE: It
does not matter what satan gets you off on, if he gets you off Christ, he has
won the day! – Prophecy – Morality – Politics – The Home, etc.
III. God’s Servants Are Sent To The Lost Sheep
of The House of Israel (vv. 5-6).
I know that these two verses must be
interpreted literally. The Lord Jesus sent the gospel to the Jews first and
then to the Gentiles. He later commands that we go into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature, saying, “He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned.” But, whether preaching
to Jews or to Gentiles, we are sent of God to seek out the lost sheep of the
house of Israel – God’s elect! We are on the trail of Christ’s sheep! We
are seeking the Lord’s sheep. We’ve got good news for them…
When
we find them, these lost sheep will hear the Shepherd’s voice and follow him –
These are the house of Israel, the Israel of God!
IV. Those Who Preach The Gospel Are To Live
By The Gospel (vv. 8-10).
A. God’s servants are not greedy, covetous men,
who seek to enrich themselves.
B. Gospel Preachers are not hirelings – “freely
ye have received, freely give!
C. Yet, Those who preach the gospel are to live
by the gospel.
V. It Is A Very Dangerous Thing To Despise
And Reject The Gospel of God’s Free Grace In Jesus Christ (vv. 11-15).
You do not have to be a murderer,
adulterer, fornicator, drunkard, or dope head to ruin your soul and go to hell.
All you have to do is go on hearing without believing, listening without
repenting, coming to church without coming to Christ, and soon you will find
yourself in hell!
We will all be judged according to
the light God has given us. You will have to give account to God for the
privilege you now enjoy, the privilege of hearing of his great salvation. If
you neglect that, if you despise that, if you turn from that, you cannot escape
the wrath of God (Heb. 2:1-3).
Application: