Week 14 The Work of Peace in the Calm
We're already in the calm of the storm so where does more peace come from?
“Becoming a Christian is the work of a moment; being a Christian is the work of a lifetime.”
Billy Graham
Passage
1Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.
2And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
3“Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
4“Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way.
5“Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’
6“If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
Luke 10:1–6 (NASB95)
Background
Quote-William Franklin Graham Jr. (November 7, 1918 – February 21, 2018) was an American evangelist and an ordained Southern Baptist minister who became well known internationally in the late 1940s. He was a prominent evangelical Christian figure, and according to a biographer, was "among the most influential Christian leaders" of the 20th century.
Graham held large rallies with sermons that were broadcast on radio and television. He also hosted the radio show Hour of Decision from 1950 to 1954. He repudiated racial segregation and insisted on racial integration for his revivals and crusades, starting in 1953. He later invited Martin Luther King Jr. to preach jointly at a revival in New York City in 1957. In addition to his religious aims, he helped shape the worldview of a huge number of people who came from different backgrounds, leading them to find a relationship between the Bible and contemporary secular viewpoints. According to his website, Graham preached to live audiences of 210 million people in more than 185 countries and territories through various meetings, including BMS World Mission and Global Mission.
Passage-The book of Luke is a Gospel that contains Narrative History, Genealogy, Sermons, Parables, and some Prophetic Oracles. The emphasis of Luke is Parables and contains more of them than any other Gospel (19 total). It is the third of the synoptic gospels. Luke, a doctor and a Greek Christian, wrote it circa 59-61 A.D. He accompanied Paul on mission journeys, as described in the book of Acts, which Luke also wrote. The key word in Luke is "Son of Man" which is used 80 times. Jay Smith, Biblehub.com
Opening Statement
Sometimes the harvest is near us and other times it is far away. We look around us at other people believing they are who hold our work. Sometimes we must start by looking in the mirror before we look for a harvest somewhere else.
Ask: What is the harvest spoken of in verse 2?
Point: It is the harvest of souls to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Ask: Who are His (Jesus) laborers for His harvest?
Point: Christians are.
Ask: How do I know I’m a laborer for Jesus?
Point: Please read the following:
16Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
18In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.
James 1:16–18 (NASB95)
Ask: What does that mean for us to be a kind of first fruits among His creatures?
Point: It is a responsibility to do well with the gifts we are given for His purposes.
Ask: How do we know what to do?
Point: Please read the following:
19This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
20for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
21Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
22But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
James 1:19–22 (NASB95)
Ask: What is the difference between being a hearer of the word only and a doer of the word?
Point: That is personal to each of us based on what the Holy Spirit reveals to us. Please read the following:
23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:23–25 (NASB95)
Ask: How does the mirror showing us our reflection explain how to be a doer of the word and not a hearer only?
Point: Because we are unique individuals what each of us sees reflected back to us through our readings and studying of scripture is also unique and personalized to us as individuals too. Please read the Following:
14Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.
15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
16But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,
2 Timothy 2:14–16 (NASB95)
Ask: What is the first step in ensuring we advance as Jesus’ laborers, workers accurately handling the word of truth for His harvest?
Point: Please read the following:
26If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
27Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
James 1:26–27 (NASB95)Ask: What does it mean to bridle our tongue and how can we reap the harvest if we don’t speak?
Point: It means to be polite and thoughtful in those things we say so as to not create contention in those we talk to. Please read the following:
11Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
12For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:11–12 (NASB95)
Ask: How does God’s Word cut like a two-edged sword cutting both the flesh and the spirit?
Point: It separates the flesh because people take offense at our words and have nothing more to do with us. It cuts the spirit because when we speak the truth the Holy Spirit convicts people in their sins.
Closing Statement
What then do laborers in God’s harvest do? We consider our words, speak so as to be polite and not offend, but we stand firm in the truth of God’s Word. 16A fool’s anger is known at once, But a prudent man conceals dishonor. 17He who speaks truth tells what is right, But a false witness, deceit. 18There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:16–18 (NASB95) We enter into conversation with people to help them, not to condemn them. We enter into conversation in peace, but if those people want to be argumentative, our peaceful countenance returns to us and we have a choice to fight or to leave. 13“If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. 14“Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. 15“Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. Matthew 10:13–15 (NASB95)