Sunday 1st Service
Title/Scripture: Where Are We Coming From and Where Are We Going? (Matthew 10:38-42)
Speaker: Pastor Ryu Gwang-su
Date/Location: March 6, 2022, Immanuel Church
Matthew 10:38-42
38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
40 Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.
41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.
42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
Summary
▣ Introduction_ Three Things You Must Surely Know
1. The ordination of the apostles (Luke 9, Matthew 10) – the content of Jesus sending out his disciples
2. The ordination of church leaders (Luke 10)
3. The ordination of laypeople (Acts 2) – coming down from Mt Olive, at the upper room of Mark
▷ When an exact covenant is made with God, works happen. Most people do not understand evangelism well because they do not understand the gospel well.
▣ Main
1. The ordination of the apostles (Matthew 10) – For the apostles, evangelism is moving the spiritual world of 237 nations.
▷ The answer for moving the spiritual world of 237 nations was given to the Lord’s servants, the apostles.
1) How is this possible? The greatest blessing that the Lord’s servants and apostles must enjoy
(1) Matthew 10:7 “As you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Say that the kingdom of God has come. Say that the kingdom of heaven has come.” – The Lord’s servants do not operate with earthly things, but with the blessings and power of the throne to revive the spiritual world of 237 nations.
(2) Matthew 10:8 Jesus called the apostles and gave them authority to drive out demons and heal diseases.
(3) Matthew 10:2-4 The names of the twelve apostles are listed.
2) Do not be afraid and do not worry.
(1) Matthew 10:17-22 “People will hate you. Do not be afraid of people.”
(2) Matthew 10:9-10 “Do not carry gold, silver, or copper, nor a money belt to put it in. Do not take two tunics, a bag, or a staff. I will surely take responsibility.”
3) Matthew 10:16 “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” – Do not stand out too much; be wise as serpents and pure as doves.
4) The faith that the Lord’s servants must hold
(1) Matthew 10:28 “Do not fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”
(2) Matthew 10:29-31 “Even two sparrows being sold requires God’s will. God even numbers the hairs of your head.”
▷ If you hold this faith, the kingdom of God will come and influence will be given to 237 nations. Jesus said to his powerless disciples, “Go and make disciples of all nations. I will be with you. Go to all peoples. I will be with you from the throne. I will give you the power to go to the ends of the earth.”
2. The ordination of church leaders (Luke 10) – For church leaders, evangelism is having the power to revive the field sites of 237 nations.
▷ Evangelism for you is receiving the blessing of moving the field sites. That is why 70 people were appointed, to revive 70 regions. Your work must be at a level where it can enter 70 regions, 70 field sites, 70 nations.
1) How is this possible?
(1) Luke 10:2 “Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers.” – Receive the blessing of bringing the harvest into the storehouse of the throne.
(2) Luke 10:20 “Do not be amazed that the demons are driven out. Rejoice that your names are recorded in the kingdom of heaven.”
▷ Your evangelism is recovering the power to revive the field sites of 237 nations. You have received the important blessing of saving people in the field and having them recorded in the kingdom of God.
2) The results of appointing church leaders
(1) Acts 6 – A word movement spread throughout Jerusalem and all of Judea.
(2) Acts 11:19-31 Antioch Church – When all the apostles were dying and disappearing, these church leaders gathered and established a church.
(3) Acts 12 – King Herod imprisoned Peter intending to kill him, but the church leaders gathered and prayed, and that very night God sent an angel and the event of Herod being called away took place.
▷ Evangelism for the apostles is moving the spiritual world of 237 nations. Evangelism for church leaders is reviving the field sites of 237 nations and making workers for the kingdom of God. This must be remembered.
3. The ordination of laypeople (Acts 2, upper room of Mark) – It is enthroning individuals of 237 nations.
1) People who witnessed the Calvary covenant
2) People sent from Mt Olive – The work of the kingdom of God was explained for 40 days on Mt Olive.
3) They held onto this covenant and prayed.
4) Acts 2:1-13 Wind-like, fire-like power appeared. They saw future things, dreamed dreams, and saw the future.
▷ Common thread of Main 1-3 – We cannot revive 237 nations with our own power, nor can we even go there. If you know the secret of the kingdom of God, it moves even without you going. If you do not know the secret of the kingdom of God, it will not move even if you go.
▣ Conclusion_ “Whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. In the name of the righteous, in the name of a disciple” “Not even a cup of cold water will lose its reward.” (Matthew 10:40-42)
▷ Humanity does not currently know where it came from or where it is going.
1. Original humanity (Genesis 1:27, 2:7) – God created humanity in the image of God and breathed the breath of God into them. Without the image of God, we are at the level of beasts.
2. Humanity lost and completely seized by Satan’s hands (John 8:44)
1) The way was lost (Genesis 3, 6, 11).
(1) Genesis 3 – Satan appealed to pride. “You don’t need to believe in God. You will become like God.”
(2) Genesis 6 – “You need to have power.” Satan creates the Nephilim.
(3) Genesis 11 – “You must succeed without God.”
2) Unable to find the way, they make their own gods and bow to them (Acts 13, 16, 19).
3) In the end, they are completely seized in Satan’s grip (the 6 states of unbelievers).
3. If you have done any work to deliver Christ – the promise God gave from the beginning – not even a cup of cold water will lose its reward.
1) I will send the Christ who will crush the head of Satan, break the power of hell, and remove calamity (Old Testament). That Christ has come (New Testament).
2) If you have done any work to deliver this truth, not even a cup of cold water will lose its reward.
3) If you truly experience the power of Christ, the blessings of the throne will come.
▷ If you deeply hold onto what Jesus said today, the kingdom of God will come upon your place of work and the blessings of the throne will be delivered. The greatest blessing given to those who are saved is the power that comes from above, which cannot be compared to anything on earth. If you do this work, no matter how small, not even a cup of cold water will lose its reward.
Transcript
▣ Introduction_ Three Things You Must Surely Know
1. The ordination of the apostles (Luke 9, Matthew 10)
Luke 9 and Matthew 10 are about Jesus sending out his disciples. Simply put, it is the ordination of the apostles.
2. The ordination of church leaders (Luke 10)
In Luke 10, we see the ordination of church leaders.
3. The ordination of laypeople (Acts 2)
Coming down from Mt Olive, at the upper room of Mark, we see the ordination of all laypeople. You must clearly understand all three of these. That is when the answers begin.
▣ Main
1. The ordination of the apostles (Matthew 10) – For the apostles, evangelism is moving the spiritual world of 237 nations.
No matter how excellent a worker you are, if the contract is not made, the work cannot be done, right? No matter how capable you are, if you are not employed, your salary does not come. When an exact covenant is made with God, works happen.
So most people do not know what evangelism is. In other words, because they do not know the gospel well, they do not know evangelism. The disciples were given an answer sufficient to revive the spiritual world of 237 nations. This is the content that today the Lord’s servants must first hold onto. Giving the answer to move the spiritual world of 237 nations is evangelism. Those who know this can evangelize without even going around. Those who do not know this cannot evangelize even if they do go around. The answer to move the spiritual world of 237 nations was given to the Lord’s servants, the apostles.
1) How is this possible? The greatest blessing that the Lord’s servants and apostles must enjoy
So simply, how is this possible?
(1) Matthew 10:7
Matthew 10:7 explains it. “As you go, say that the kingdom of heaven is near. Say that the kingdom of God has come.” We need to ascend to heaven, yet “say that the kingdom of heaven has come.” What a tremendous message. You must know this to achieve world evangelization. The Lord’s servants do not operate with earthly things, but with the blessings and power of the throne to revive the spiritual world of 237 nations.
(2) Matthew 10:8
Because it is so important, Jesus called the apostles. And he gave them authority. He said, “I give you authority to drive out demons and heal diseases.”
(3) Matthew 10:2-4
And he listed their names one by one. We did not read all of it but from verse 2 the names appear in sequence. The names of twelve people are listed, and Judas Iscariot also appears. From the very beginning he is recorded as “the one who betrayed Jesus.”
2) Do not be afraid and do not worry.
What is the greatest blessing that the Lord’s servants and apostles must enjoy? “The kingdom of God has come.” Without knowing this, you cannot save the world or evangelize. That Christ has come means the kingdom of God has come. What a tremendous message.
(1) Matthew 10:17-22
So in today’s text, although we did not read it all, “Do not be afraid.” To what extent? “Do not be afraid of people. Those with power will flog you with whips; do not be afraid.” Verse 22 says, “People will hate you. Even relatives and family members will hate you. Do not be afraid and do not worry.” This is spoken to the Lord’s servants.
(2) Matthew 10:9-10
“Do not carry gold, silver, or copper.” The pouch that holds it – a wallet – “Do not carry that either.” What does it mean? “Do not carry two tunics. The Lord’s servants must not carry a bag.” What does that mean? “Do not even carry a staff.” What does that mean? I will surely take responsibility, that is what it means. The Lord’s servants cannot be without this faith. I will surely take responsibility. All ministers must recover this faith. Then the kingdom of God will come. You may have many worries but do not. He said he will take complete responsibility for you.
And then in verse 7 he said, “This gospel of the kingdom.” “It will raise up the sick and drive out demons from the demon-possessed.”
3) Matthew 10:16
“However, be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Why does he say to be like a disgusting snake? This is simple. Snakes move in hiding. Likewise, do not stand out too much; be wise like a snake and pure like a dove.
4) The faith that the Lord’s servants must hold
(1) Matthew 10:28
“Do not fear those who can kill your body but cannot kill the soul.”
(2) Matthew 10:29-31
“Even two sparrows being sold requires God’s will. God is even counting the hairs of your head,” he said.
This is the faith that the Lord’s servants must hold. All believers must hold it, but especially the Lord’s servants. If the Lord’s workers, especially ministers, are without this faith, it will be a serious problem. If you hold this faith, he said the kingdom of God will come. This will then give influence to 237 nations.
For all of us nationwide and globally, those broadcasting from Immanuel Seoul and Busan – not even one second can be missed right now. Even just a moment ago, the cell group lesson started too early, which caused confusion for those doing translation for the whole service. Whether here or Immanuel Seoul, the clocks need to be accurate. Immanuel Seoul’s clock is 2 minutes behind. We must be 237-ready. Right? Even in worldly terms, if you want to make money, you need to be 237-ready.
Jesus looked at his powerless disciples and said, “Go and make disciples of all nations. I will be with you. Go to all peoples. I will be with you from the throne. I will give you the power to go to the ends of the earth.” This is it. This is Matthew 10, this is the ordination of the apostles.
2. The ordination of church leaders (Luke 10) – For church leaders, evangelism is having the power to revive the field sites of 237 nations.
Immediately after speaking of the apostles in Luke 9, moving into Luke 10, we see the ordination given to the church leaders. There are also important words there. Evangelism for you is having the power to revive the field sites of 237 nations. The Lord’s servants move the spiritual world, but evangelism for you is receiving the blessing of moving the field sites. That is why 70 people were appointed, to revive 70 regions. Your work must be at a level where it can enter 70 regions, 70 field sites, 70 nations. That is evangelism.
1) How is this possible?
How is this possible? It seems impossible, right? There is only one way.
(1) Luke 10:2
So what does Luke 10:2 say? “Pray that the Lord will send out workers for the harvest.” What does that mean? “Receive the blessing of bringing the harvest into the storehouse of the throne.”
(2) Luke 10:20
Luke 10:20 says, “Do not be amazed that the demons are driven out; rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.” This is spoken to church leaders. What is the answer you will receive? What is evangelism? It is recovering the power to revive the field sites of 237 nations.
2) The results of appointing church leaders
Now, this is somewhat different from the throne and the kingdom – workers for the harvest. Names recorded in the kingdom of God. A little different, but what is different? It is the same. What I am saying is that you have received the important blessing of saving people in the field and having them recorded in the kingdom of God.
(1) Acts 6
After these people were appointed, in Acts 6 we see a word movement spread throughout Jerusalem and all of Judea. Please believe this firmly. It is the answer you will receive. So people do not receive it; they keep looking at other things, but there is no need to look elsewhere. Even looking at just this, everything is contained within it.
(2) Acts 11:19-31
When all the apostles were dying and disappearing, these church leaders gathered and established a church. That is the Antioch Church.
(3) Acts 12
King Herod imprisoned Peter intending to kill him, and that night the church leaders gathered and prayed. That is Acts 12. A remarkable thing happened. God sent his angel and the event of Herod being called away took place. Do not miss this.
What is evangelism? Evangelism for the apostles is moving the spiritual world of 237 nations. Evangelism for church leaders is reviving the field sites of 237 nations and making workers for the kingdom of God. This must be remembered.
3. The ordination of laypeople (Acts 2, upper room of Mark) – It is enthroning individuals of 237 nations.
This is the third. The day came when God ordained all laypeople. What is that? Acts 2, the upper room of Mark. What is this? It is enthroning individuals of 237 nations. You must remember this clearly.
1) People who witnessed the Calvary covenant
These people are those who witnessed the Calvary covenant.
2) People sent from Mt Olive
These people are those sent from Mt Olive. What was said on Mt Olive? The work of the kingdom of God was explained for 40 days. It is the same thing.
3) They held onto this covenant and prayed.
They held onto this covenant and prayed.
4) Acts 2:1-13 Wind-like, fire-like power appeared. They saw future things, dreamed dreams, and saw the future.
So in Acts 2:1-13, wind-like, fire-like power came. It caused them to see future things, dream dreams, and see the future. This was the ordination given to all laypeople.
All three of these have a common thread. We cannot revive 237 nations with our own power. We cannot even go there. If you know the secret of the kingdom of God, it moves even without you going. Right? If you do not know the secret called the kingdom of God, it will not move even if you go. For you, the church leaders, God said he gave the power to harvest. It is completely about the field site. He gave you the power to do in the field site the work worthy of having names recorded in the kingdom of God, to revive the field sites of 237 nations. That is the evangelism you will receive. And then after gathering all the laypeople, the work of enthroning individuals of 237 nations began in the upper room of Mark.
▣ Conclusion_ “Whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. In the name of the righteous, in the name of a disciple” “Not even a cup of cold water will lose its reward.” (Matthew 10:40-42)
After saying all of this, Jesus said, “Whoever receives me receives the one I sent.” What did he say? “Even if you are not a prophet, if you receive a prophet in the name of a prophet, you will receive a prophet’s reward.” Even if you are not a missionary, if you receive a missionary in the name of a missionary, you will receive a missionary’s reward. Then it goes on, “in the name of the righteous, in the name of a disciple.” And then, “not even a cup of cold water will fail to receive its reward.” What does this mean? Because it is so important – “not even a cup of cold water will lose its reward.” These are the last words given to the disciples. You need to look at this carefully. Why is that?
1. Original humanity (Genesis 1:27, 2:7)
Humanity today, as our title says, does not know where it came from or where it is going. God originally created humanity in the image of God as stated in Genesis 1:27. Right? And in Genesis 2:7, God breathed the breath of life into them. This is original humanity. So without the image of God, what are we humans like? We are the same as beasts. Actually, we are slightly worse than beasts. Why? Because beasts cannot scheme with cunning, but humans can. Unbelievers, no matter how much they succeed, because they do not have God’s Spirit, they only know how to eat well and live well. Is that not so? That is the level of beasts. But we as believers must not be at the level of beasts. The way has been completely lost.
2. Humanity lost and completely seized by Satan’s hands (John 8:44)
In this state, in John 8:44, they are completely seized by Satan’s hands: “your father the devil.”
1) The way was lost (Genesis 3, 6, 11).
(1) Genesis 3
This Satan, as it is in Genesis 3, tempted them saying, “You will become like God.” Everyone – tell someone something that wounds their pride and they will crumble. Almost everyone, except for very wise people with strong faith – if you build up their pride, they will do crazy things. Satan knows this and pokes right at it.
(2) Genesis 6
“You don’t need to believe in God. If you eat this, you will become like God. And you need to have power.” Satan creates the Nephilim.
(3) Genesis 11
“And you must succeed.” These all sound like good words, don’t they? Without God. This is why the Tower of Babel collapsed. The way was lost.
2) Unable to find the way, they make their own gods and bow to them (Acts 13, 16, 19).
Having lost the way and unable to find it, they make their own things and bow to them, calling it God. They do such foolish things. Who made the Buddha? People made it. And they bow to what they made. How foolish can anyone be? You make it yourself, then bow to it. How foolish people have become – bowing before a pig’s head. This is what they have become. I do not know why they do it before a pig and not before a cat, why before a pig – stripping all the pig’s hair off and bowing to it. How foolish this is.
3) In the end, they are completely seized in Satan’s grip (the 6 states of unbelievers).
In the end, they are completely seized in Satan’s grip.
3. If you have done any work to deliver Christ – the promise God gave from the beginning – not even a cup of cold water will lose its reward.
God has promised. He promised from the very beginning.
1) I will send the Christ who will crush the head of Satan, break the power of hell, and remove calamity (Old Testament). That Christ has come (New Testament).
I will send the Christ who crushes the head of Satan, breaks the power of hell, and removes calamity. That is the Old Testament. Now Christ has come. That is the New Testament. So it is said that the Old Testament and the New Testament are centered on Christ.
2) If you have done any work to deliver this truth, not even a cup of cold water will lose its reward.
“If you have done any work to deliver this truth, not even a cup of cold water will lose its reward.”
3) If you truly experience the power of Christ, the blessings of the throne will come.
If you truly experience the power of Christ today, the blessings of the throne will come. Right?
When I was young, I saw a few blessed people. There was someone doing business in Gukje Market, and he did it well. Not in a difficult way – he would tell his wife, “Pack me a lunch.” He, the owner, would eat that lunch in his company. And then he would walk around Gukje Market for an hour. Walking, doing market research, talking, and sharing the gospel. Not in some strange, frantic way of evangelism, but truly, when he met a person, he would give that person the answer through evangelism. Those who bore fruit he gathered in his company. There he taught the Word. Those who bore even more fruit he invited to his home. Wow, seeing that as a layperson – and his business was doing well too. I have met a few people like that.
Then at another church, there was this deacon who was truly doing well in business. Famous – his brothers were doing it too, and in Busan alone they had four famous clothing stores. This person was someone who was completely holding onto the gospel covenant. While selling clothes, he would say, “Please go look around everywhere else and come back to buy.” And when selling he would always say, “This is not a good garment.” “But you said it was good earlier.” “Yes, being clothed with Christ is what is good.” He said he would say it regardless of whether they listened or not. Later women lined up wanting to counsel with this person. There is something about this person. Having understood the gospel, he said he does not worry about his business. And then he opened another store. He has a younger sibling – opened another one, they said. How he opens them: even within Gukje Market there are closed alleyways. Places where business is not doing well. He would rent those. The owner of those places wanted to revive those shops so they would say, do it, just pay a little rent. At that time I was an associate pastor and he asked me to hold a worship service, so I went and we were holding worship and customers were already coming.
Everyone, what is the power of the gospel? It is tremendous. I told you before. This person, on one Sunday, greeted me and when he came on Sunday he would chat with me now, whenever there was free time. This person has nothing but business and evangelism. So he would tell me his evangelism stories. He came up to me and said, “Pastor, this past week I fasted for 3 days.” So I said, “Why?” You fast when something special is going on, so I said “Why?” and he said, “Just because.” “Just why?” I asked him again. He said he just fasted and prayed to God for 3 days. “God, lately I have too many pointless desires.” That was his prayer. “God, whether you take my business away or bless it, please do as you see fit. I will use my place of work to share the gospel.” That was the prayer he was making, that was what he was saying. Then, “After finishing the fast and eating gruel, many tears came,” he said. Wow, this deacon – his faith is far better than a pastor’s. This is the gospel, this is the gospel. How powerful this is, it saves many people.
You do not need to worry. If you deeply hold onto what Jesus said today, the kingdom of God will come upon your place of work. The blessings of the throne will be delivered. Please believe. This is the greatest promise in the Bible. That is why the Bible keeps saying it. “The greatest blessing given to those who are saved is the power that comes from above, which cannot be compared to anything on earth.” That is what it means. “If you do this work, no matter how small, not even a cup of cold water will lose its reward.” I bless you in the name of the Lord Jesus that today the answers of the kingdom of God, the throne, and that work will be fulfilled for you. Let us pray.
Prayer. We thank God. Please make today a day of a precious covenant. Please make it a day of moving the spiritual world. Please grant the blessing of moving the 237 field sites, the future, and individuals. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.