Good Evening, Greetings… Series of “Lessons From Matthew.” Two weeks ago we looked at Jesus’ teaching on “The Harvest.” We noticed the harvest was plentiful but the labors were few. In todays lesson we are going to have a shit from Jesus’ disciples following Him to Him sending them out in what is commonly called…(SLIDE)

Limited Commission We all have heard of the “Great Commission” given by Christ in Matthew 28:19-20. That commission was great because it was a commission to the entire world!!! The limited commission is called such because it was only to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6). Though we are living past the time of this limited commission there are still some valuable lessons found in here for us today. With that in mind let us examine our lesson for today.

Preach The Kingdom The disciples were expected to “Preach The Kingdom.” Specifically they were to preach…(SLIDE)

“…The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Now today we are not to teach the kingdom of heaven being “at hand.” The kingdom was promised to those who were alive when Christ was. (SLIDE) Matthew 10:7

“…Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” The kingdom was established after the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and we today are apart of that kingdom. (SLIDE) Mark 9:1

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” Though we are not to preach the “kingdom come” we are to preach about the one that reigns over the kingdom. (SLIDE) Colossians 1:13

“And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” We are to preach not only about the one that reigns over the kingdom but about His authority over the kingdom as well. (SLIDE) Ephesians 1:22-23

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Jesus is the king of this kingdom and has all authority over it which means it belongs to HIM. (SLIDE) Matthew 28:18

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Brethren let us never stopping preaching the kingdom!!! Matthew 16:18

Preach Freely Remember what Jesus told his disciples as they prepared to go out and preach the kingdom. (SLIDE)

“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.” Here we clearly see the motivation that should be behind all preaching…teaching the truth. It isn’t prestige or financial gain, it is the truth of God’s Word. Now don’t get me wrong every preacher has the right to expect to “get their living from the gospel.” (SLIDE) Matthew 10:8-10

“In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.” However, no gospel preacher will preach “for financial gain.” Why, because if that is the motivation behind the preaching that isn’t gospel preaching that is Satan proclaiming. Gospel preachers preach to save souls from eternal damnation. (SLIDE) 1 Corinthians 9:14

“Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:16

Preach Productively As we continue on we see Jesus make clear preaching should be focused on the worthy not the unworthy. (SLIDE)

“And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.” It’s a hard difficult truth but not everyone is “worthy” of hearing the gospel preached. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not say do attempt to preach to everyone but what I am saying and Jesus was saying to His disciples here was don’t waste valuable time preaching to those that don’t want to hear it. (SLIDE) Matthew 10:11-14

“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” The truth is people judge themselves unworthy of hearing the gospel when they choose to reject it or simply have a disinterest in it. We are children of God are not obligated to keep trying over and over. We are not to cast our pearls before swine. A great example of this is found in the book of Acts. (SLIDE) Matthew 7:6

“45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.” Paul, here, was willing to preach the gospel if the people were interested. But as we see here in vs 45-46 they people were not interested in listening so Paul turned elsewhere. (SLIDE) Acts 13:42-46

“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” Brothers and sisters we have an obligation to preach the gospel to every creature but we are not expected to pound it into those that refuse it. Mark 16:15

Persecution Preach in Anticipation of The reality of the situation is we must preach with the anticipation of being persecuted. (SLIDE)

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues…” Preaching the gospel is like being lead into a den of wolves sometimes. The sin of darkness is not a fan of the light. (SLIDE) Matthew 10:16-25

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” The world will hate gospel preachers as long as there is a world and there are gospel preachers. That is why it is so important to be prepared. Not everyone can handle the difficulties of being a gospel preacher but for those that can they must…(SLIDE) John 15:19-20

“preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:2

Limited Commission Brethren…

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Obey The Gospel Live A Faithful Life Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Acts 17:30 Matthew 10:32 Romans 6:3-5 1 John 1:7

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Romans 10:17

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Acts 17:30

“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” Acts 17:30

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Acts 17:30 Matthew 10:32

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Obey The Gospel Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Acts 17:30 Matthew 10:32 Romans 6:3-5

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Romans 6:3-5

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Obey The Gospel Live A Faithful Life Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Acts 17:30 Matthew 10:32 Romans 6:3-5 1 John 1:7

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7