Jesus sends Laborers into the Mission Field.
II. Jesus sends laborers into the field (7-13)
A. Jesus commissions and appoints the Apostles to do the work of ministry. (7-9)
23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” 26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.[i]
13 This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” [ii]
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as beingfrom ourselves, but our sufficiency isfrom God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.[iii]
B. Judgement comes to those that reject the gospel but blessings are brought by those that accept it. (10,11)
41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
C. The message of salvation is always followed by life change. (12,13)
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.[iv]
[i] The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ac 1:23–26.
[ii] The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), 2 Co 13:1.
[iii] The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), 2 Co 3:5–6.
[iv] The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 28:18–20.