Sermon Tone Analysis

November 2, 2014

*Intro* – Six-year-old Ben kept telling his teacher about the baby that was expected at his house.

One day, his mother let him feel the movement of the unborn child.

Ben made no comment, but he stopped talking about it at school.

So one day the teacher asked him for an update on the baby.

Ben burst into tears and replied, “I think Mommy ate it.”

Clarity in communication is critical, isn’t it?

And that’s especially true when the communication has to do with our commission to prepare the way for Jesus.

Gotta get it right.

Jesus’ commissions 72 disciples in Luke 10:1-16 to precede Him on His final journey south to Jerusalem.

By application, the *commission* He gave them is our mission as well – in whatever place and career we find ourselves.

This is our major task – prepare the way for Jesus.

So far we’ve looked at the commission summary given by our Lord, the *challenge* of the commission (fields of people ready for harvest, but with few workers) and the *commands* of the commission (pray and go) and the* conditions* (we can expect persecution and thus must travel light).

Today – the communication.

*V.

The Communication*

When you take the witness stand in court, you are asked, “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?” Right?

That’s exactly what Jesus instructs here.

Give the whole truth.

It doesn’t help you if I tell you, “Just follow Highway 14 west to Ft. Collins,” but fail to tell you that the bridge is out halfway there, right?

Half truths kill.

Satan specializes in half-truths.

We can’t afford to do that.

*A.

The Good News*

*1.

In Deed*

V. 9: “Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Two commands are given.

Heal and say.

Do and speak!

Their main job was to preach the kingdom of God, but to authenticate the message, and to indicate God’s compassionate heart.

Jesus gave them power to heal.

Now we can and should pray for healing any time we are not empowered in the comprehensive and instantaneous fashion these men were.

The NT is our main authentication today – something these men did not have.

The healing was the gospel in action, and that must be part of our communication as well.

So does God promise complete healing of our physical body today?

Yes – just not necessarily in this life.

But God promises a resurrection when we will receive a body “like [Jesus’] glorious body” (Phil 3:21).

Rev 21:4 tells us “death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

A glorious future awaits believers – both body and soul.

Jesus’ healing ministry was a preview.

But ubelievers need to see the gospel now.

How?

The HS who indwells believer produces something to see.

Gal 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

That’s the gospel in action now, Beloved.

And when we are reaching out to people with compassion, energy, love and gentleness, we are living the good news with clarity.

Christians have always been at the forefront of building hospitals, creating charities, caring for the poor and helping those in need – not because we are so great, but because the HS compels us.

Such acts demonstrate God’s interest in the whole person.

Jesus didn’t die to save souls only; He died to save people!

Robert Lewis, whose church in Little Rock has sent literally hundreds of teams to outreach ministries in LR says, “Pastors have given themselves to ministering only to the pain of their congregation but have failed to mobilize their congregations to minister to the pain and problems of the city.

Either we learn to do both or reaching our cities for Christ will be nothing more than a hope and dream.”

Our community has needs, too.

It costs to live out the gospel, but imagine where God might lead us if we really look for ways to be a healing influence.

Sharing the gospel starts with living the gospel.

*2.

In Word*

But deeds will never be enough.

St. Francis of Assisi is often quoted, “Preach without ceasing; use words if necessary.”

That may sound impressive, but the truth is the gospel can never be made clear without words.

Lee Strobel, whose Becoming a Contagious Christian evangelism course has trained over a million people tells of one church that shifted its focus from evangelism to service.

He says, “They did a lot of great things for the community, but they didn’t baptize one new convert in four years!

If we’re merely nice folks who do good deeds for others, then we’re nothing more than the Kiwanis Club.”

So we must seek opportunities to speak for Christ.

How we do that will vary greatly depending on the opportunity, but the basic message is right here.

*a.

God Offers Pardon*

V. 8, “Heal the sick in it and SAY to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Say it.

What you are seeing is God’s kingdom in action.

Let people know God offers pardon based on repentance.

Jesus paid the penalty for our sins and now we can be forgiven if we will ask.

You say, “Where do you see that in this verse?”

Good question.

Here is simply says, “The kingdom of God is at hand.”

But remember that both John and Jesus constantly prefaced that message as in Matt 4:17: “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Repentance triggers forgiveness.

That’s how we “receive” Christ as noted in vv. 8 and 10.

Jesus warns in v. 13, “For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.”

Repentance is how we receive Christ and enter His kingdom.

Pardon is instantaneous when we turn from our sin.

There is no delay.

There is no penance; nothing to earn; nothing to do except receive the pardon that God offers.

Beloved – that’s good news.

The Bible says in Rom 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Every sin – past, present and future is instantly forgiven.

The guilt is gone.

The penalty is paid.

The heart is cleansed when we invite Him in.

Jesus promises in I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

If that sounds too good to be true, just remember, that’s what Jesus bought on the cross.

There is no forgiveness without the cross, but because He died and rose again, pardon is available to all who turn to Him.

In Christ, you can be like you never sinned!

Maria Fedorovna was empress of Russia, wife of Czar Alex III, and known for her philanthropy.

She once saved a prisoner from exile in Siberia by intercepting a warrant signed by her husband.

The note read, “Pardon impossible, to be sent to Siberia.”

Maria moved one little comma: “Pardon, impossible to be sent to Siberia.”

Dear friends, that is exactly what the cross of Christ does for all who believe.

It changes a life sentence into full pardon.

*b.

God Offers Peace*