THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 43

“The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”

Matthew 10:5, These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them,

“Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.” – The Words of Jesus, Matthew 10:5-18

The disciples first step of training – their ‘basic training’, so to speak – completed; Jesus now sends them out, for the first time, to do His works, and He sends them to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

In this fashion, “Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; and James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;  Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;  Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who also betrayed Him.” (Matthew 10:1-4)

This, being before Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, and before the establishment of His earthly Church, shows the order of things to come in God’s economy and of His plan to ‘save the world’, and to ‘graft the wild olive branch” into the Church.

Secondly, it is the pattern and the model for all future disciples, that is for all future Christians – you and me –  to obey and to fulfill His Great Commission. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you”, in the same manner Jesus demonstrated and taught these disciples.

Let’s remember, however, that these words of Jesus are much more than a ‘model’ or a ‘pattern’ for evangelism and more than a directive (the Great Commission), this is the Creative, Causative, Prophetic, and Instructional Word of God.

When this Word is implanted into the heart and mind of a follower and disciple of Jesus, it will come to pass:

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it produce and sprout, And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)

This is but ‘a first step’ in the establishment of His Church and the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus throughout the entire world. It is not just the first step, but the only step, but it is in the footsteps of Christ.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(If you have any questions or remarks, please contact me).

PREVIOUS:   THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? , “The Harvest is Plentiful”, Part 42.

NEXT:  THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? , “Behold, I am sending you out?”, Part 44.

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 42

“The Harvest is Plentiful”

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” – The Words of Jesus, Matthew 9:37-38

There is a chronological sequence of events leading up to the great harvest of souls. This preparation of this process actually begins with the breaking of the 6^th Tribulation Seal and leads to the Great Harvest and God’s Wine press of Wrath. (Please be patient as we trace this timeline. It is important.)

The First Seal: Conqueror on a White Horse, Revelation 6:1                               (Began around the time of the birth of Christ).

The Second Seal: War, Matthew 6:3                                                                      (Ongoing since the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry).

The Third Seal: Famine, Revelation 6:5                                                                      (Ongoing since the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry).

The Fourth Seal: Death, Revelation 6:7                                                                      (Ongoing since the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry).

The Fifth Seal: Martyrs, Revelation 6:9                                                                      (Ongoing since the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, intensifying).

The Sixth Seal: Terror, Revelation 6:12                                                                      (Future event, and it appears the time is near: The beginning of the Great 7-year tribulation period; The revealing of the antichrist; the rapture occurs).

An Interlude, Revelation 7:1                                                                                          (This and the following are future events).

The 144,000, Revelation 7:4

A Multitude from the Tribulation before God’s Throne, Revelation 7:9                (The rapture; a future event, and it appears the time is near).

The Seventh Seal: Revelation 8:1

The Trumpets, Silence for half an hour: Revelation 8:1

The first trumpet sounded: Revelation 8:7,

The second angel sounded: Revelation 8:8

The third angel sounded: Revelation 8:10

The fourth angel sounded: Revelation 8:12

The fifth angel sounded: Revelation 9:1

The sixth angel sounded: Revelation 9:13                                                                     (This is the mid-point of the 7-Year Great Tribulation period. No one will be saved beyond this point).

The Angel and the Little Scroll: Revelation 10:1

The Two Witnesses: Revelation 11:1

The seventh angel sounded: Revelation 11:15

(A recapitulation in symbols of this period:)

The Woman, Israel – A great sign appeared in heaven: Revelation 12: 1

The Red Dragon, Satan: Revelation 12:3

The Male Child, Christ: Revelation 12:5

The Male Child, Christ – War in heaven: Revelation 12:5

The Beast from the Sea: Revelation 13:1

The Beast from the Earth: Revelation 13:11

(The End of the Recapitulation).

The Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion, Revelation 14:1

Vision of the Angel with the Gospel, Revelation 14:6

Doom for Worshipers of the Beast, Revelation 14:9

The Harvest: Revelation 14:14

The great wine press of the wrath of God: Revelation 14:20

The angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. And the wine press was trampled outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of 200 miles.

This entire process, sometimes called ‘the process of sanctification’ is part of God’s Work to perfect men and women who believe in Him, into the image of Christ. It is spoken of (prophesied) in Daniel 12:1,

(RECAP of Daniel 12:1-13):

1. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people,
2. everyone who is found, written in the book, will be rescued. Verse 2. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Verse
3. 3. And those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven,
4. and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Verse 4. But as for you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal up the book until the end of time; many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.” Verse 5. Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the stream and the other on that bank of the stream. Verse 6. And someone said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream,
5. “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” Verse 7. And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that

(a)  it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. Verse  8. But as for me, I heard but did not understand; so, I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?”  Verse 9. And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words will be kept secret and sealed up until the end time.

1. Verse 10. Many will be purged, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but  those who have insight will understand.
2. Verse 11. And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Verse 12.

(a)  Blessed is the one who is patient and attains to the 1,335 days! Verse 13. But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

The time of the Great Harvest is coming, and it will be swift and final. This is urgent as there will be no second chances. Jesus is calling – appealing for –  workers for this harvest, which includes you and me.

God is the Lord of the harvest (see also Luke 10:2). He chooses the right moment to do His work of salvation in the hearts of men and women. At the same time, God chooses to partner with us in that work (John 4:36–38). We must keep our eyes open, seizing the opportunities He presents, both to receive salvation and join with Him in offering it to others.

The fields are white for harvest means the right time to bring people into God’s kingdom is now. Paul tells Timothy (and us) to be prepared to preach the gospel “in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:1–2). In the agricultural world, farmers must wait between the sowing and reaping seasons. In the spiritual realm, the time for gathering in the harvest is now—whenever and wherever a crop of white-ripe souls exists. (GotQuestions.org excerpt).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS:   THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “Do You Believe I Am Able”, Part 41

NEXT:  THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? , “And Proclaim as you go…”, Part 43.