Rev. David Holwick ZB Matthew 10 series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
September 10, 2006
Matthew 10:11-20
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I. Houseguests from Hell.
A young woman with the internet nickname "Goodies" shared a
personal experience on her internet blog.
She and her husband had received a call from one of his old
buddies.
The man had lost his $140,000-a-year job at Sun Microsystems.
Then he had spent the last year blazing through his overly-
generous severance pay and was now living out of his car.
He asked them, "Hey, dudes, can I hang out at your house for a
while, just for a few weeks until I get back on my feet?"
Somehow she honestly believed it really would only be a few
weeks.
On Day 21, "Goodies" faced her husband and said, "Well? Is
he leaving yet?"
It seemed that every time she wanted to go to the bathroom,
Harry Homeless was in there and she had to wait -- to use her
own bathroom, in her own house.
He would tease them all the time by saying, "I had an interview
today and it went really well, and I have three more tomorrow
so things are looking good."
So she got in the habit of checking his car's odometer.
Usually it had never budged.
He lost even more credibility when she noticed he was still
wearing the same shorts and T-shirt he had on when she left
in the morning, and the TV was hot.
He was never really looking for a job.
Harry Homeless was with them for three agonizing months and he'd
gotten very comfortable what with free cable, internet,
groceries and the whole house to himself for 12 hours a day.
He piled his dirty dishes in the sink for Goodies to clean and
dumped computer parts all over her living room.
Most days she returned from work to find him passed out on her
couch.
It would be wonderful if it could be said Harry found a job and
finally left but it was more dramatic than that.
One night Goodies marched into her husband's office at 11 o'clock
at night and said, "I want a divorce!"
Harry was out within 30 minutes.
She closed her blog by asking, "Have you ever had a houseguest
from hell?"
She got 34 detailed responses.
#33216
1) Nobody likes a moocher - but most of us have been one at
one time or another.
2) In our passage today, we find that Jesus orders us to be
moochers.
3) We have an obligation to impose ourselves on others -
and we may have to pay a steep price for it.
II. We dump ourselves on the world.
A. The first mission strategy.
1) Jesus told the disciples to invite themselves in. 10:11
a) Disciples were to take the first opportunity, not the
most comfortable.
b) "Worthy" has to do more with openness than morality.
2) It was a lesson in dependence.
a) They had no promise of success.
1> They might get kicked out.
2> But sometimes they got lucky.
A> Their host might be open to the gospel.
b) Witnessing can be an imposition on people.
1> (Even if we are not sleeping over.)
2> Most people are comfortable with their beliefs and
character and don't want to hear a call to
change their ways for God.
3> Does this mean we have to be obnoxious?
Thirty-two years ago, a family in England was enjoying
their Christmas dinner.
There was a knock on the door - two Jehovah's Witnesses.
The family was so upset they put a sign in their front
yard - "Our dogs are fed on Jehovah's Witnesses."
In the 32 years since, no one complained about the sign,
not even Jehovah's Witnesses.
The sign worked, too: the Witnesses stopped calling on
the house.
But then the police called.
The bobbies declared the sign "distressing, offensive
and inappropriate," and insisted she take it down.
Once the officers left, however, she put it back up.
#33219
c) Witnessing needs to be appropriate and sensitive.
As 1 Peter 3:15-16 says,
"In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone
who asks you to give the reason for the
hope that you have.
"But do this with gentleness and respect,
keeping a clear conscience,
so that those who speak maliciously against your
good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their
slander."
B. Disciples had only two things to offer.
1) The gospel.
2) Their blessing.
a) It was a simple blessing: "Peace be on this house." (Lk)
b) Blessing could have three results, as I see it.
1> The family accepts the gospel and so experiences
the true peace of God.
2> The house is indifferent to the gospel and the
blessing is nullified.
A> (Presumably, the disciples are kicked out, too)
3> The family is hostile to the gospel.
A> They lose the blessing.
B> They gain God's wrath.
C. The harshest rejection.
1) Dust shaken off feet. 10:14
a) Jews did this when leaving a pagan territory.
b) Those who reject Jesus are acting like pagans, and
are themselves rejected.
2) More bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah. 10:15
a) These cities, of course, were destroyed by God for
their sinfulness. It was like they were "nuked."
b) Such is the fate of those who reject Christ.
D. God expects a response to his message.
1) We prefer positive approach - I hope they'll respond.
2) God is sterner - you'd BETTER respond, or else.
III. How much better to receive Jesus.
A. Receiving apostles is like receiving Jesus. (see 10:40)
1) Also, rejecting them is to reject Jesus.
2) This principle has been abused over the years.
a) Stories of poor families hosting a grubbing pastor
for Sunday dinner.
(We were at Pattersons for dinner last week, but
that is different, of course!)
B. How open are we to accepting those who present Jesus?
1) Suspicious of them and their motives?
2) Or are you open and hospitable?
a) I think of this every time a missionary contacts our
church.
b) I cannot accept every one of them - there are so many -
but I don't want to be tight-fisted, either.
c) I always have to ask myself, what if this is Jesus in
disguise? [guilt works wonders]
C. Destiny stands before us.
1) Our eternal destiny turns on our relationship to Jesus or
even to his representatives.
2) Look past the human vessel to the Savior.
IV. Sometimes the world dumps on us.
A. Jesus saw the world as a dangerous place.
1) He was sending them out anyway.
2) Sheep among wolves. 10:16
a) They could get torn apart if they are not careful.
b) It was his way of saying that his people were going to
get kicked around, bitterly opposed, and probably
humiliated.
c) But that was okay with Him.
The learning experiences would be invaluable.
d) And when they returned, they'd have a serious mind to
listen to further teaching.
e) They would be bursting with questions instead of
drowning in cockiness.
B. Shrewd as snakes, and as innocent as doves.
1) Christians are often portrayed as gullible waifs.
a) We believe anything.
b) We are doormats for the Lord.
2) Innocence has its place.
a) Cynicism eats away at the soul.
b) God still has much good available for us.
c) Christians should represent this.
3) Nevertheless, we are not dummies.
a) Christians understand how evil the world is.
b) We know this, because we know how evil WE are.
A seminary professor was once invited by a former student to
come to his little west Texas town for a revival meeting.
"While you are here," the pastor said, "I want you to visit
Mr. Crenshaw.
He's an older gentleman whom we've never been able to reach
with the Gospel.
The fact is, he's such a highly principled man, he probably
has higher standards than our people, and that's been a
hang-up."
The visiting professor assured the pastor he would be glad
to talk with anyone he wanted him to.
The revival started on Sunday morning and that day at least
four or five people told the professor about Mr. Crenshaw.
All of them emphasized what high moral values he held.
Two more people said the same on Monday.
That afternoon, the pastor decided it was time for the visit.
Mr. Crenshaw welcomed the pastor and visiting revival
preacher in his home.
He graciously offered them glasses of iced tea.
After some preliminary conversation, the young pastor said,
"Mr. Crenshaw, I wanted my professor to meet you and to
talk with you about the Lord.
Now, Mr. Crenshaw, I know you are a good man.
You have high standards and you probably out-live some
of the members of our church...."
Suddenly, the professor said, "Hold it!"
He looked across the table at his host and said, "You know,
Crenshaw, ever since I've been in this little town of
yours, I've been hearing people telling me what a
good man you are.
And I just want you to know I'm not buying it."
He paused, leaned forward, and said, "You know, sir, if you
are a man like I'm a man ... you're as rotten as hell."
Mr. Crenshaw smiled and said, "You're right. I am."
What followed was a serious conversation about a Savior who
welcomes sinners and has the power to forgive them and
make them new persons.
That day, Mr. Crenshaw came into the Kingdom of God through
faith in Christ.
The Bible says, "There is no one good, but God alone."
#33221
V. Some people will want to destroy us. 10:17
A. Opposition.
1) Newsweek article on books by atheists.
a) They say our religious response to 911 is a mistake.
b) It is healthier to conclude there is no God.
2) While many are still religious, support for our views can
no longer be taken for granted.
B. Torture.
1) Christians suffer daily around the world.
2) In many countries, converting is a death sentence.
C. Called before authorities. 10:18
1) Don't worry about what to say. 10:19
a) (NOT advice on sermon preparation!)
2) Spirit will speak through you. 10:20
3) You'll be witnesses before kings. 10:18
The Bible gives a historical example of this principle.
In Acts 26:26-28, Paul has been arrested and is brought before
King Agrippa.
Agrippa can free Paul, or send him on to Rome for trial and,
most likely, execution.
What would you do in a situation like this?
Paul preached his heart out, presenting his personal
story of salvation.
Then he challenged the king on whether he believed
what the Bible said.
(This put Agrippa in a dicey situation - he didn't
want to offend the Jewish audience.)
Agrippa's comeback was, "Do you think that in such a
short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"
Paul gave a reply that was clearly Spirit-inspired:
"Short time or long -- I pray God that not only you but
all who are listening to me today may become what I am,
except for these chains."
D. God always gets the last word.
1) On his Judgment Day, what will he say to YOU?
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
#33219 "Don't Interrupt Our Dinner," by Randy Cassingham, THIS IS TRUE
internet newsletter, August 27, 2006.
#33216 "The Houseguest From Hell," by "Goodies", Internet, posted
February 9, 2005.
#33221 "As Rotten As Hell," by Rev. Joe McKeever, Baptist Press,
http://www.baptistpress.org/, August 3, 2006.
These and 30,000 others are part of the Kerux database that can be
downloaded, absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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