Why Were You Sent?

Why Were You Sent?
By Rev. Robert P. Elkins
All Scripture verse taken from the NIV Bible unless otherwise noted
Luke 4:43
"But he said,"I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."

Jesus knew why he was sent here to earth, there was never a question in his mind what the Father planned for his calling to be and Jesus walked forward to his calling with every breath of life he had in him. Driven by love for men and women he went forward and never looked back or turned aside for a minute. Jesus knew why he was sent, Jesus knew what the task at hand was. Jesus was 100% fully aware of what his mission was. What his divine appointment was and as you read further in the Gospel of Luke you will see that he also knew the final outcome of his sojourn here on earth. Jesus knew the will of his Father, he knew he was to share the good news concerning the Kingdom of God with as many as time and circumstance would allow and he knew what the cost to himself would be and he knew what his sacrifice would entail and he never once turned away.

And now I ask you, why were you sent? Do you know what God had in mind for you when you were created? When your life was formed maybe many or but a few short years ago do you know what God had in store for you to bring you to this very place today, this day, this hour, this minute? Do you have any idea just what the mighty mind of the All-Powerful Living God of all Creation had planned for your life? Have you felt a call from God on your life today? Perchance he's speaking to your heart right now. Can you hear his voice? Do you even want to hear his voice or are you a bit afraid of what he might be calling you to do? Is his voice clear and calm and distinctive? Perhaps it's muffled and hard to understand, but just the same can you hear it?
Jesus gave a very clear and distinctive directive to his disciples in Matthew 28. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of The Father and of The Son and of The Holy Ghost. And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you and surly I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

When Jesus talked to the 11 disciples, at this time Judas was no more, was he talking to just those present then or was he talking to us today as well? Are not the Scriptures still the living word of God talking to all generations? Friend, today there are many disciples out there. A disciple is a follower of a teacher who offers instruction regardless of what that teaching may be. Charles Manson had a following of disciples. Although Charles Mansion never actually harmed Sharon Tate or any of the others that died in the killing spree, his disciples did. He instructed them in the task he wanted them to carry out and they did as instructed. And consequently Charles and his disciples went to prison, they for committing the act and he for conspiracy to commit the act. Martin Luther had disciples, they came to be known as Protestants, Martin Luther led a revolt against the Roman Catholic Church through his writings and teachings and his disciples followed his lead. Dr. Martin Luther King had disciples; they followed Dr. King's teachings and example and were able to alter the course of history for the mightiest nation to ever inhabit this planet we call earth. So when Jesus said go and make disciples he was referring to not only his first 12 disciples, now minus one. He was referring to anyone and everyone who hears his words, making all followers of the teachings he had passed on to us through the Bible.
Notice the language of Jesus' words in Matthew 28. "Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you."

Like the original Ten Commandments here also we see not a suggestion but a command. Like the first ten, his second set of commandments are simple but penetrating and profound. Love your neighbor … don't cheat your government … don't condemn others when they do likewise as you have done ... you who are without sin, you can cast the first stone. There isn't anything complicated in the teachings of Jesus Christ. There is no intricate formula that needs to be found, the words of Jesus Christ were the words every man and woman of that day could understand and the same holds true today, the words of Jesus even now can easily be understood. Jesus didn't try to baffle or confuse anyone; he didn't try to prove a point or show his superiority, although he could have. And he could have done just that at any moment to the amazement of all whom were with in hearing range. He didn't say love this ethnic group but not that one. He didn't say to love this group because of their finances but not the poor, the ones left outside in the cold with no food or a few rags to cover their nakedness. And more importantly, when Jesus was teaching his disciples, both then and now, it wasn't only by what he said but by what he did as well. Jesus, the greatest teacher or rabbi of all time led by example to the most finite detail of perfection, grace and beauty. When Jesus taught he did so with his words, which are all important, but he also did so with his heart too. When it was unfashionable to talk to women he talked to women, many women, he showed them kindness when they were considered nothing more than so much property, he instilled pride and self respect in them, he did by word and example which is what we should be doing, he blessed them. He lifted them from a lowly station and told them that God loved them.

When it was unfashionable to talk to the Samaritans he talked to the Samaritans. He used colorful word pictures and subtle innuendoes. He made them the hero's of his parables. The Good Samaritan who did what was right in the eyes of God over the Jewish priest who walked by unmoved or unconcerned. And it was a Samaritan that carried the cross of our beaten and bloodied Lord to Gilgotha when all of the righteous Jews taunted and spat at him. When it was unfashionable to be in the very presence of a leper Jesus not only went into their presence but he healed them, and as was his fashion of rocking the establishment, he healed by touching them, he touched the untouchable and loved the unlovable. When it was unfashionable to heal on the Sabbath Jesus did heal on the Sabbath. Through his acts of love and kindness, he spoke with his heart and healed all that called to him regardless of the day or the hour, and he told the Pharisee I must do so because I am the Lord of the Sabbath. And as before stated, when Jesus did these things there was no intricate formula to be found other than the love of God.

He did these things with love, pure and simple love. He loved the woman at the well, and she a Samaritan. He loved her enough to tell her of the living water of which once she drank she would never thirst again. He loved her enough to tell her of that water that would quench her spiritual thirst forever and forever. He loved the woman caught in adultery enough to forgive her sins and with a simple word prevented her life from coming to a close that very moment. He loved the blind man enough that he gave him his sight. And how complicated was that healing? What were the tools or medicines he used? Spit and mud, no intricate formula there. Jesus used things to present a simple love, the very heart of God. The Roman Catholics have an icon they call the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In paintings and statues and mosaics they show Jesus with his heart on the outside of his body and in many ways this is the true picture of the factual disciples of Jesus Christ. Mother Teresa wore her heart on the outside for all to see. She showed simple love to all men and women found in the lowest of possible positions or conditions. She showed love to the untouchable of the caste system in India, those who live in dirt and live on dirt, the lowest of low and she loved them when it was unfashionable. Rev. Billy Graham wears his heart on the outside for all to see. He presents the message of Jesus Christ to millions of people and he uses simple words that all can understand. He ministers to people of every kind and color in every country and condition, through every language in every opportunity he can. He presents the love of God as often as he can and will until he's called home to receive his reward from the Father. Each of these people has heard the call of God on their lives and they knew why they were sent.

And that brings us back to where we started in the very beginning. Do you know why you were sent? Notice I said sent and not called? All of us are in some fashion called by God. His call is upon every man, upon every woman and upon child alive in the world. But not all listen with an open ear or a open heart, not all respond and not all follow his calling without adapting it to fit their own personal agenda. Because you see, if you're a disciple of Jesus Christ, if you're a follower of his teachings, it's not a question of if you are sent. He didn't make it an option he made it a command. He didn't say “if you feel like it” or “if you have time go out to the nations and make disciples and followers”. He didn't say when your church steps out there in a ministry with your men's or woman's group and are led by the Spirit you should join them as well. What Jesus did say was a command … GO! I'm sending you now. And that's what he expects us to do, we are in his army and he's the Commander in Chief and when he gives a command he expects us to carry it our without question. He expects us to go out to the nations just as he said to the original 11 disciples.

So again I have to ask you. Do you know why you were sent? Jesus gave us his words, isn't that enough to convince the doubter? The words and actions of Jesus are recorded for all to read. Isn't that enough to convince the doubter? If we have his words, if we have a map of his footsteps what more do we need? A thousand Bibles piled in the fellowship hall of a church will never lead one person to salvation if those Bibles aren’t handed out. We have beautiful Christian songs with lyrics that can melt the hardest heart but what good are they if no one sings them to the unsaved? The apostle Paul understood this concept perfectly. That's why he wrote to the church in Rome. "How, then can the call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one in whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news." How shall they preach unless they are sent? Let there be no doubt in the mind of anyone here, you have been called and you have been sent. I think just by your being here you've acknowledged the call. If you hadn't, you'd be elsewhere right now, cleaning your car or working on your house or something like that. Or maybe you'd be home just sleeping the day away.

It stirs my soul to see so many people in churches acknowledging that they know that they have been sent by God to perform some task to follow the command of their King. There is ministry going on in many of these churches, the heart of the church is beating, the flow of life is going out the doors and into the community. Many hearing or reading this in many ways show daily that they have been sent. But Jesus doesn't expect us to go out there alone. He told us that he would never leave us or forsake us. He's going to come along with us, right at out side in any and all situations. He's given us the Comforter, the Counselor to keep us company, and to direct our steps as well. He's given each of us a special ability, a blessing, and if you listen to his voice and follow his lead he'll tell you what those abilities are.

As I've already said, the heart of the church is beating, it isn’t dead by a long shot. For many of us we were on the gurney but we hadn’t flat lined yet. At one point we may have been in that coma type lull but the EMT's showed up, that's "THE EMERGENCE OF THE MIGHTY TRUTH. And that might truth is that God had a plan for his church from the very beginning and what God predestines will come to fruition regardless of Satan's scheme of things. The EMT's applied CPR to the patient, that's CHRIST his PEOPLE and RESOLVE. The faithful show resolve, they show determination, they call upon the name of their Lord Jesus, they join hands in prayer and they come together in unity adapting to that word of Scripture put to song: "We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood a chosen nation, a peculiar people some more peculiar than the rest! You of course know I altered that just a little don’t you?

But you know I don't care how peculiar you are or what assortment of Hodge- Podge people we have, if every person is willing to bend the knee and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, if every person is willing to set aside their own personal agenda and work for the furtherance of Gods Kingdom. If every person is willing to be Spirit led and not self led there's nothing that old rascal Beelzebub can do to stop the people of God. If you're fueled by the love of Jesus, the brakes of Satan aren't strong enough to stop the wheels of progress from rolling throughout your area and planting seeds of Gospel power to every place your foot touches down. If the love of Jesus is being paved before you the rocks of Satan will be smoothed over at every turn of the path God has called you to.

If you had been present when I did my very first sermon after I received my credentials to preach from the Assemblies of God denomination, you would have heard me ask each person present that day a simple question. I asked the people there if they knew where they'd be standing when the storm of God passes by because at some point God is going to come upon the face of the earth and cover it like a mighty storm. Today I'm asking you the same thing and I’m adding a new twist, I’m asking if you know why you were sent? God is sending you to do the same things he did when he was here so many years ago walking the land of Israel. And by your acknowledgement if that is how you will respond to my question, he will again be walking the land through your legs and seeing your eyes and your heart. The Father is sending you as he sent his Son Jesus, the message hasn't changed in thousands of years nor will it ever change.
Preach his love … teach his love … show his love … know his love … and live his love.
Let it be seen in every thing you do, every word you say and every action you take. Jesus knew why he was sent, and you know why you were sent. He sent you as his ambassador, he sent you as his servant, and he sent you as his brother or sister. He sent you as himself, a part of his very body, an extension of his very self. Let every step you take and every word you say reflect the love of Jesus and if you heed this message, every one you meet will also know why you were sent. Because you see my friend, when they meet you they will actually be introduced to Jesus Christ and it will be through your being sent to them that at some point we will all meet again in glory when our Lord returns for us.

If you've heard his voice today and you know why you were sent rejoice now and show him how much you love him. Talk to him, he’s listening, pour out your heart and start today to show everyone else around you that there is no doubt, there is no question. You know why you were sent!
Grace & peace