801 MEV: Evangelism Section 6, delegation

8/13/2019 801 MEV: Evangelism Section 6, delegation

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The Master Plan ofEvangelism

Robert E

Coleman


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The Master Plan ofEvangelism

Robert E

Coleman


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6. DELEGATION

Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I willsend you out to fish for people.

Matthew 4:19


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HE ASSIGNED THEM WORK

Jesus was alwaysworking to the timewhen his disciples would have to takeover his work, and go out into the world

with the gospel.This was gradually made clear - thoughat first nothing was mentioned aboutevangelism his plan was always that

they should impact the worldOnce they had a living relationship withGod, Jesus would show them how heworked, and then tell them they had to

do it.


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HE ASSIGNED THEM WORK

Jesus did not discourage the disciplesfrom spontaneously bearing witness to

their faith

Andrew got Peter, Philip foundNathaniel, Matthew invited his friendsto a feast in His house - Jesusresponded to these new introductionswith gladness.

Occasionally Jesus specifically asked

those who were helped by His ministry

to say something about it to others.


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At first the disciples helped inpractical tasks such as getting foodand arranging accommodation

for the group - he also let thembaptise some people John 4:2

Apart from this the disciples reallydid not do much more than watch

Jesus work for a year or more.


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Does the action of Jesusimply that preaching andhealing ministry is moresignificant and (andpossibly involves moredangers and privileges, orrequires more faith) than

a ministry of baptism(and other sacraments)?


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He kept the vision in front of themby his activity and in the way hecalled them call e.g. 4 fishermen

were reminded them that infollowing they were to be fishers ofmen Mark 1: 17; Matt. 4: 1 9;Luke 5: 10

Initially the disciples knew andunderstood little about Gods plan- even when they were made

apostles Mark 3: 14-1 9; Luke6:13-16 - and they still did noevangelism on their own.Maybewe should be more patient with

new converts who follow us?


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FIRST EVANGELISTICMISSION OF THE 12

In Mark 6:6; Matt. 9:35 itappears that the time had come

when the disciples could joinJesus more directly in the work.

They had seen enough at least toget started and could now put

into practice what they had seenSo Mark 6:6-13 Jesus pushedHis disciples out into the worldto try ministering on their own.


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FIRST EVANGELISTICMISSION OF THE 12

In Mark 6:6; Matt. 9:35 itappears that the time had come

when the disciples could joinJesus more directly in the work.

They had seen enough at least toget started and could now put

into practice what they had seenSo Mark 6:6-13 Jesus pushedHis disciples out into the worldto try ministering on their own.

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two bytwo and gave them authority over impure spirits.

8 These were his instructions: Take nothing for the journeyexcept a staffno bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wearsandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house,stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not

welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dustoff your feet as a testimony against them.

12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people

with oil and healed them.


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Note the instructions for their mission -in effect he outlined what he had been

teaching vb showing all the time.

- He reaffirmed his purpose for theirlives.

-He emphasised the immediacy of theirtask, The kingdom of heaven hascome near. (ESV, at hand) Matt. 10:7

- Matt. 10: 8 spells out the scope of

their authority, Heal the sick, raisethe dead, cleanse those who haveleprosy, drive out demons. Freelyyou have received; freely give.


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He went on to tell them who to seefirst. "Go notto the Gentilesor

the Samaritans; but go rather to thelost sheep of the house ofIsrael" (Matt. 10: 5, 6).

Probably he was telling his disciples

to go where they would find peopleeager to hear their message.

This was not a universal rule (Jesusdid occasionally go to other groups)

but his own people shared culturaland religious background, so it isonly natural that they start withthem.


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A few months later, when theseventy are sent out, this commandwas not repeated, perhapsindicating it was time then to go

beyond these natural ties inpressing the claims of Christ.

Remember Paul and Barnabaswent initially to Cyprus (home of

Barnabas) on their 1st missionaryjourney


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Their support came from trustingGod to supply their needs.

They were to serve freelyremembering they had receivedfreely, Matt. 10:8

Jesus instructed them not to take alot of baggage and provisions,Matt. 10:9, 10; Mark 6:8, 9; Luke9:3

As they were faithful to God, Hewould see to it that they weresupplied their needs. "The laboreris worthy of his food" Matt. 10:10


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Their support came from trustingGod to supply their needs.

They were to serve freelyremembering they had receivedfreely, Matt. 10:8

Jesus instructed them not to take alot of baggage and provisions,Matt. 10:9, 10; Mark 6:8, 9; Luke9:3

As they were faithful to God, Hewould see to it that they weresupplied their needs. "The laboreris worthy of his food" Matt. 10:10


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Use the method of Jesus

Jesus is specific telling the disciples tofind some friendly person in each townthey visited, and live there as long as

they continued their work in the area,Matt. 10:11; Mark 6:10; Luke 9:4

In effect, the disciples were told toconcentrate their time upon the most

promising individualsin each townwho would thereby be able to follow uptheir work after they had gone. Thiswas a key priority.


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Use the method of Jesus

If they could not find someone whowould take them in, they werespecifically instructed to shake off the

dust on their feet as a testimony againstthem, Matt. 10: 14, 15; Luke 9: 5; Mark6: 11

The principle of establishing a

beachhead in a new place of labor bygetting with a potentially key follow-upleader is important - Jesus had lived byit with the disciples, and expected them

to do the same.


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Expect hardship

Some men would refuse the disciples'ministry - Jesus' warned of the treatmentthey could expect to receive. "Beware ofmen: for they will scourge you; yea and

before governors and kings shall ye bebrought for my sake, for a testimony to themand to the Gentiles" (Matt. 10: 17, 18).

Matthew 10 gives plenty of warnings:

22,23 You will be hated by everyone because of me,but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee toanother. Truly I tell you, you will not finish goingthrough the towns of Israel before the Son of Man

comes.


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24,25 The student is not above the teacher, nora servant above his master. It is enough for

students to be like their teachers, and servants liketheir masters. If the head of the house has beencalled Beelzebul, how much more the members ofhis household!

The way of Jesus was contrary to theaccepted pattern of worldly wisdom!

The Holy Spirit would enable them tomeet emergencies, 19,20, But when they

arrest you, do not worry about what to say or howto say it. At that time you will be given what tosay, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but theSpirit of your Father speaking through you.


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31, 32 So dont be afraid; you are worth more thanmany sparrows. Whoever acknowledges me beforeothers, I will also acknowledge before my Father in

heaven.Jesus was realistic and never let His disciplesunderestimate the strength of the enemy,nor the natural resistance of men to theGospel.

They were not looking for trouble.

They should act properly and withtactfulness, but in spite of all their care, thefact remained that the world was not likely

to receive the disciples with favour whenthey preached the Gospel.

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as

doves.Matt. 10:16


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Jesus reminded them of the decisive nature of the Gospel

They could be no compromise with sin, and for this reason,

and so people would be disturbed by their preaching.

Jesus said: Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-lawa mans enemies will be the members ofhis own household.


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37 Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthyof me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthyof me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is notworthy of me. Matt. 10: 34-38

The disciples should not think that this was going to be easywork - they were going forth with a revolutionary Gospel, and

when it was obeyed, it produced a revolutionary change inpeople and their society.


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The point Jesus made in all these

instructions was that the missionof his disciples was no different inprinciple or method from hisown:

He began by giving them hisauthority and powerto do hiswork, Mark 6:7; Matt. 10:1; Luke9:1

He assured them that what theywere doing was as though he wasdoing it


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Jesus sent them out in pairs Mark 6:7

Why did he send them in pairs?

- companionship along the way

- they could help one another

- when problems arose they could still

find comfort among themselvesGoing out in pairs is seen in otherplaces in the Gospels

- the disciples sent to find the colt for

Jesus to use in entering Jerusalem, Luke19:29

- Peter and John getting ready thePassover, Luke 22:8


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- Possibly James and John weretogether on their mission before Jesus

into Samaria since they are the onesindignant at their reception Luke 9:52,54

So they set out and went from village to village,

proclaiming the good news and healing peopleeverywhere.Luke 9:6

The disciples finally the active ministryof Christ on their own.

At the same time Jesus did not rest,After Jesus had finished instructing his twelvedisciples, he went on from there to teach andpreach in the towns of Galilee. Matt. 11:1


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The mission of the 70

Not many months after this 70 otherswere sent out again in pairs to witnessfor their Lord Luke 10:1

It is not known for sure just who theseother disciples were, probably theyincluded the original 12.

Maybe the larger group indicates that

there had been increased interest afterthe activity of the 12 in witnessing.

The instructions given to this groupwere essentially the same as those to the

12, Luke 10:2-16


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One additional instruction was given tothis group,

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two othersand sent them two by two ahead of him to everytown and place where he was about to go.Luke 10:1

They were forerunners for their Lord,setting things up for His ministry.

Luke 9: 52 show that this was somethingthat had been done before,And he sent

messengers on ahead, who went into aSamaritan village to get things ready for him;

We simply see that they allwere topractice what they had learned to be

Jesus evangelism strategy.


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Post resurrection commands

The principle of giving evangelisticwork to the disciples wasdemonstrated again after the

crucifixion and resurrection.On at least four occasions as Hemet with His disciples He told themto go out and do His work.

- 1st to the disciples(exceptThomas) in the UpperRoom. Jesus showed the discipleshis nail-scarred hands and feet,

Luke 24:38-40.


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Post resurrection commands

He then said John 20:21,Again Jesussaid, Peace be with you!As the

Father has sent me, I amsending you.

But note the next verses too,Andwith that he breathed on them and said,

Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If youforgive anyones sins, their sins areforgiven; if you do not forgive them, theyare not forgiven.


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- Later as Jesus had breakfast with Hisdisciples by the Sea of Tiberias, he toldPeter 3x to feed His sheep, John 21:15-17

- On a mountain in Galilee he gave thegreat commission to, not only the elevendisciples, but to the whole church (about500)

Then Jesus came to them and said, All authorityin heaven and on earth has been given to me.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of

the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching themto obey everything I have commanded you. Andsurely I am with you always, to the very end ofthe age.

Matt. 28:18-20


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Finally, before his ascension Jesuswent over the whole thing for the

last time, showing them how thingshad to be fulfilled while He was withthem, Luke 24:44-46

45 Then he opened their minds so they

could understand the Scriptures. 46 He toldthem, This is what is written: TheMessiah will suffer and rise from the deadon the third day, 47 and repentance for the

forgiveness of sins will be preached in hisname to all nations, beginning atJerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of thesethings.


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Note that repentance andforgiveness of sins should bepreached in his Name unto allnations, beginning at Jerusalem.

To see this purpose of God fulfilledthe disciples were no less a part thantheir Master - they were the humaninstruments announcing the good

news as empowered by the HSp,Acts 1:8; Luke 24:48, 49


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THE PRINCIPLE IS CLEAR

Jesus did not leave the work ofevangelism up to us or our desires. The

disciples knew it was a definitecommand.

It was so then; it is so today.

Disciples are sent people - doing thesame work of world evangelism towhich the Lord was sent, and for whichHe gave His life.


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THE PRINCIPLE IS CLEAR

Evangelism is not an optional accessory to our

life - it is the heartbeat of all that we are called

to be and do - it is the commission of thechurch.

Everything which is done and said in the name

and purpose of Jesus - educational institutions,

social programs, hospitals, church meetings

etc. -everything done in the Name of Christ has

its justification in fulfilling this mission.


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The principle for today

But it is not enough to make evangelismlike this an idea - we must live this out.

Train people by giving them practical

work assignments to be carried outDemonstrate it in your life and thenthere is no reason why the assignmentcannot be completed.

And having started you must keeppeople going in the right direction, givethem encouragement and support.

Jesus taught his disciples, let them do

the work, and then trained them again.


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Documents

801 MEV: Evangelism Section 6, delegation