Sunday, July 6, 2025

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Isaiah 66:10-14
Psalm 66:1-7
Galatians 6:1-10, 14-18
Luke 10:1-20

Come, and see God’s deeds - awesome work on behalf of the children of men.

I saw a post from a theologian that offered a question that offered a question that should be asked of every page in the Bible. It might seem to us that the Bible is too broad in its scope to be able to answer a question so narrow, but there is one thing: “How is Christ speaking of Himself?” This might seem to some to be a ridiculous question because Jesus Christ was not even born until the book of Matthew. Yes, the Old Testament is a prophetic voice that points to the Messiah, but Jesus speaking on every page? After all, there are many people who think that God in Old Testament and New Testament has a very different character.

Too many people reject God as He is revealed in the Old Testament because they prefer to worship a God of love, not wrath. They refuse to believe in a God that is not what they want Him to be. They forget that He still demands justice and righteousness, and that’s why we need Jesus. The more you study the Old Testament, however, you realize that it is not really any different, because Jesus is on every page of the scriptures.

God has not changed. The difference between the Old and the New is that Jesus paid the price by experiencing the wrath we deserve so that we can receive the benefit of God’s grace. We are saved by His blood. This was the promise that was given to God’s people for thousands of years, which was fulfilled in Jesus. The Old Testament people - the patriarchs, the judges, the kings and the prophets - all pointed to the coming of the Messiah. They planted the seeds of faith into God's people. They spoke about the promise to come. Those seeds had been growing in the hearts of God’s people even as weeds of misunderstanding were developing. Jesus came at just the right moment, the moment when God’s work would be harvest. He was the first fruits of God’s ultimate salvation.

The seeds of faith were taking root in the crowds who followed Jesus. There were many who believed, although some of Jesus’ lessons were hard. In the end the crowds were not ready for the cross. They were not ready to see the answer to their prayers hung from the tree and they abandoned Him. That wasn’t the end of the story, however. Jesus sent the disciples out to continue His work, and the people truly began to believe. The stories of the early church show us that people were coming to faith as entire families and villages. Three thousand were added to their numbers at Pentecost! And more believed daily from then until today.

Jesus was just beginning to have an impact during His three years of ministry. The Twelve believed and left everything to follow, but it wasn’t just the Twelve. Jesus had a wider following of devoted disciples from the beginning. In today’s Gospel message, we see that He sent seventy out to share His Good News. The field was ripe! Jesus was just one man and could not possibly speak to every single person. He needed help, so He sent the disciples and gave them the power to do what He had been doing. “There is so much to do and so few of you to do it.” They were sent to reap the harvest that had been planted during all those thousands of years.

We are just part of the process. Seeds are planted. Faith grows. People are saved. The Word transforms. We might be the one to plant the seeds, nourish and water the faith, to help other believers grow into the people God has called them to be. We are blessed to rejoice with them as their names are written in the book of life. We are partners with God in the Gospel. Even so, the workers are still few because the work is very, very hard.

Jesus told the disciples how to recognize if the fields are ready to be harvested. Jesus said, “Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.” It is almost as if the disciples could tangibly sense the coming and going of peace. It is never easy, and at times it is dangerous.

People who have been called to missionary service far from home are sharing the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our church sponsors several missionaries and missionary organizations around the world, and some are in places so dangerous that we can’t know or talk about their locations. The world is filled with people who are determined to stop the Gospel. There are too many stories about persecuted Christians around the world. Unfortunately, there are even some who claim to be Christian persecuting other Christians.

There is a group in China called the Church of Almighty God or Eastern Lightning. This group has been banned by the Chinese government for its anti-government stance, but it continues to grow and spread, not only in China. It is thought that there are three to four million members. They have even moved their headquarters to the United States. Those of us in the west might think a growing body of “Christian” evangelistic faith is a good thing, but this group is a theologically heretical cult that is more terrorist than missionary.

These cultists believe that we are in a third era of time: the Old Testament is the first, the Age of Grace is the second, and the Age of the Kingdom is the third. They claim a woman is the embodiment of Jesus Christ, that His second coming has happened and it is her. They deceive other Christians by infiltrating their fellowships. They gain trust and convince ministers to go to other villages to share the Gospel. Once apart from the body, the missionaries are kidnapped, beaten, and killed, leaving the established village churches without leadership. There is one story about four missionaries that were convinced to split up to do more ministry. “If you each visit separate villages, more will hear the Gospel.” It did not go well, because they were more vulnerable when they were alone.

Jesus sent His disciples on mission trips in groups of two or more. The reason for this is two-fold. First, they are safer with a friend. The dangers of the road were great for anyone traveling on foot, including (or especially) those who are taking a message of faith into the world. Even more importantly, two witnesses sharing the Gospel confirm what is spoken. Two disciples together provide the physical, spiritual, and emotional support needed so that they can witness boldly for the Lord.

J. Hudson Taylor wrote of his own experiences in mission to China in the book “To China with Love.” When he heard the call from God, it made him sad because obedience meant that he would need to leave his mentor and friend to respond to that call. He rejected the call until one day he heard the hymn “The Missionary Call” which speaks of giving up friends willingly for the sake of God’s Kingdom. With tears, Hudson shared his call and his unwillingness to go. His friend, Rev. William Burns, answered those tears with the joyful news that he too had been called to ministry in China and that he had the same feelings. They served the Lord together.

There are many that feel so alone in this world, as if they are the only ones able to accomplish the work of the Lord. They feel like islands in the sea. Yet, we know that no man is an island and that God does not send us to minister alone. We have the support of our brothers and sisters in Christ, through prayer, encouragement, and even correction. We have the protection of God our Father, but even Jesus warned the disciples to be careful as they traveled because there would always be people who sought to stop the expansion of the Kingdom of God.

The disciples were sent out into the world to do something new. They were preaching a message that was built upon that which they knew, but it was different. They talked about forgiveness and grace. The Gospel is a message for the whole world, although at first it was given to the Jews. They had heard about the promise fulfilled by the Gospel for thousands of years, but forgiveness and grace was getting lost in the law. Jesus is found on every page of the Bible, but the people in His day missed that He was the Messiah that they sought. The same continues to be true in our day. We know we have been called to be witnesses to the Gospel, but sometimes we are afraid. We are afraid in part because we don’t think we are good representatives for Jesus.

My family went out to lunch after church on Sunday. Now, I know many people do the same, and it isn’t always a good thing for the people who have to work. We have all heard stories from servers who have not been treated well by groups of Christians. Sadly, we have a reputation of being rude and cheap. Many servers claim that Christians are the worst tippers. I always try to dispel that myth with my own generosity, but we all have bad days.

Our waitress on Sunday was very sweet, and though the service began slow, she took care of our needs and she deserved a decent tip. I tend to pay in cash, so she brought out bill and I gave her the money. “Keep the change” I happily instructed her. I also gave her a “Little Jesus,” as is my habit, making it obvious we were “after church Christians.” Unfortunately, I was not having a good day, and my math was way off. Instead of being generous, I was ridiculously stingy. I knew I had to do something. It doesn’t do any good to be a witness for Jesus in word if we are not going to be a witness with our resources. So, nudged by my conscience and the Holy Spirit, I went back to give her the right tip. In the note I wrote, “I know Little Jesus can’t pay your rent, so I hope this makes up for my mistake.” What could have been a horrible witness, I pray, became an even greater witness not only for her, but for the rest of the employees at that restaurant.

For twenty-four hours, however, I gave those workers reason to believe that Christians are rude and cheap. I could have let it go, but I couldn’t. God would not let me. I had to humble myself for the sake of the Kingdom.

Unfortunately, too many of us are too timid to share the message. We are afraid. We don’t want to offend; we don’t want to be rejected. We are afraid that we will make a mistake that will do more damage to the Kingdom than good. We would rather live out our Christian faith quietly and privately, doing good deeds and letting God deal with hearts. It is His job to change those hearts, but He has chosen us to help. He has sent us to reap the harvest, to bring His people to His throne to worship Him forever. We can’t do that if we are too timid to be witnesses that are willing to take the risk to do what is right.

We are reminded in the pages of the Bible that it is never our power or words that save, but God’s alone. I tell the stories about my own ministry in the world, not because I think I have done anything special, but as an example to those who struggle to know how to do God’s work in the world. Thankfully, we have the words of the scriptures to show us how the disciples carried on Jesus’ work, but we also are blessed to have generations of stories of the saints who came before us. We know people in our own little corner of the world who are excellent examples that help us grow in our faith. They’ve planted seeds, watered and shined light. They have rebuked, corrected, and exhorted us. They have risked much to share with us their successes and their failures, so that we can go in faith without fear, knowing that God helps when we do it right and when we fail.

Paul wrote, “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” The successes of our ministries do not give us reason to rejoice. We rejoice in the salvation that comes from faith in Jesus Christ. We rejoice that our names are written in His book. Our mission is to help others find their names there, too.

We are going to face times of difficulty. The world does not work the way we do.

I once had a visit from a vacuum salesman. He came to the door at a bad time in our life; we were financially strapped with no extra money for an expensive vacuum. I was honest with the guy from the beginning. I told him that it did not matter how wonderful his product was, I could not afford to buy one at that time. He assured me that he would not pressure me, but if he just showed me the machine it would help him win the contest. I reminded him that it would be a complete waste of time, but I let him in. He was a sweet looking young man, only about twenty years old. He was very polite and very talkative. He was also very observant and used what he saw in our house to ply on my feelings, including my faith and our military connection.

Throughout the two-hour demonstration, he told me all sorts of stories about his family and friends and how much they love their vacuums. He described his own pets and his daughter and how the vacuum keeps them healthy. He let me try to vacuum and told me that he was glad that it was so easy to maneuver because he didn’t want his live-in girlfriend to work too hard. He showed so much concern for everyone and offered his vacuum as the solution to every worldly problem.

I repeatedly told him that I could not afford the machine, but he talked about the financial savings I would ultimately have, claiming that the vacuum would take care of my carpet so that I would not have to replace it in a few years. When I was obviously not falling for his sales pitch, he went a little deeper. With each swipe of the vacuum he came up with a pad filled with dust and cat hair. He wondered what I felt about all the dirt and then asked what my husband would think if he saw all those pads. Eventually, his boss came by to see how things were going. He asked many of the same questions, each one designed to guilt me into buying this amazing machine for the sake of my family. I could certainly find a few dollars a month, couldn’t I?

I held firm, my financial status was exactly as I had told him in the beginning: I could not afford even a few dollars a month for a two-thousand-dollar vacuum. Sure, I wanted one, don’t we all want the best of everything? I was getting quite bored and disturbed by their “non-aggressive” sales pitch. It was obviously deceitful. At the end, the young man even tried to feed on my compassionate nature by thanking me for taking him one step closer to winning the contest. “I only need three hundred demos. Of course, fifteen sales would win it for me.” His boss was not quite so considerate. I was patient for a time, but their attitude eventually made me angry. In the end I had to threaten to call the police to get them out of my house.

This kid and his boss were not evil. They were doing their job, but their methodology was exactly the way Satan does his job in this world. They played on feelings, tried to make me seem uncaring, played on guilt, and suggested I had a negative self-image. I think they took so long because they were waiting for my husband to come home so they could pull their tricks on him. It wouldn’t have happened because he was out of town.

I told the salesman from the beginning that he should not waste his time, but in his arrogance, he was sure that he could convince me I needed this vacuum. The most ironic thing was that ultimately it was his deceit that lost him a possible future sale. I was going to ask for literature, to consider a purchase a few months later when things settled down financially. I later learned that those vacuums are not as dependable as the salesman wanted me to believe. They don’t last forever. They break down just like the cheap ones. We need to be discerning in this world because deceit is not only bold-faced lies. Sometimes deceit is subtle, packaged as goodness.

Paul wrote, “Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” All too many people think they can fool God. They do good things, but their hearts are evil. They do not live truthfully. Instead, they try to manipulate the world around them to fit their own desires. Yet, in the end everything works for the good of those who love God. Deception pays off negatively, honesty will ultimately be rewarded.

The salesman misread the situation. If he had given me a twenty-minute spiel on the facts, I would have taken his literature and considered it for later. But he lost my interest because he took two hours of my time and tried to manipulate me into buying something I could and ultimately would not buy. He lost me completely when he talked about being a Christian, insinuating that I should help out a brother in Christ. I questioned whether his “testimony” was sincere because of the other things he shared during our conversation.

Those who try to fool God will be surprised. He knows the hearts of men and sees beyond our words and deeds. He knows our motivation, is familiar with our deepest lusts and needs. He knows those who claim to be Christian but do not live in a way that glorifies Him. The things of the flesh will perish just like that expensive vacuum. But that which is of the Spirit is eternal, so that our life lived in faith will reap joyous blessings in Christ Jesus.

In the Old Testament lesson, we are confronted by the image of a ruined city. The people had been exiled for some time and were returning home. They remembered the glory of Jerusalem and expected to see gleaming stone and strong walls. God saved them, but when they got back to Jerusalem, they discovered that it had been destroyed, they found only ruin. Their hope for safety and peace in a strong, safe city was shattered.

Yet, the message from Isaiah offered hope to the people. “You will see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones will flourish like the tender grass. Yahweh’s hand will be known among his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies.” God will deal with those who rejected those whom He sends. God will provide His people with peace. “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you will nurse. You will be carried on her side, and will be dandled on her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you. You will be comforted in Jerusalem.” When we face the dangers of this world, when we experience rejection and worse, there is still hope. God is in control.

Isaiah promised that they would see the day when God’s promises would be fulfilled, there was no reason to feel hopeless. It is easy to feel like the whole world has fallen apart, especially when it seems like so many things and people want to do us harm. We know that we can’t overcome it on our own, and we don’t know why God isn’t doing everything we ask. We are witnesses to God’s incredible power, but we fall into a trap when we believe that we have something to do with it. The disciples thought the hope rested in their ability to overcome the devil.

Jesus reminded them that they would not overcome the devil in this life. They would suffer persecution, but in Christ they have a greater hope. They have eternal life in Christ; His blood bought the salvation that would guarantee eternal life.

Instead of voicing our joy over our good works or exhibiting pride in our accomplishments, it would do us well to join the psalmist singing praise to God. “Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing to the glory of his name! Offer glory and praise!” There is plenty of work for us to do, and He is sending us out into the world to proclaim that He is near. With pen in hand, He’s ready to write more names in His book.

We are all guilty of taking pride in what we do, pride in who we are, pride in what we think makes us different, perhaps even better, than our neighbor. That’s why it is so important that we stay in fellowship with other Christians. Paul encourages us to help one another keep our focus where it belongs. “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” This is why Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, so that together they could do the work, encourage one another, discern together the good and the bad, and keep each other on the right track so that together we might take in the harvest of souls that God has grown in the world.

We might find ourselves called into a situation that is not comfortable, sent into the world without the things we think we need to do the work that God commands. Let us ever be mindful of the fact that God prepares the way; He goes before us and makes everything ready. He is with us in rejection, and He draws us together in peace. But most of all: let us never forget that it isn’t our words, ministry, or peace that we take into the world. It is His. And He is faithful. He is in control. Our successes are His glory, and our failures will be overcome by His grace. In this we can rejoice, remembering the deeds He has done which give us the confidence to live in the expectation of His promises.