12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them."
We're called to be soldiers. This was the first time he sent them out alone.
Just take the minimum. No extra baggage.
What do we need materially before we work for the gospel?
Do we need a big church?
Do we need a degree?
No and no. We need nothing to proclaim the gospel.
Luke 22:35:
35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”
“Nothing,” they answered.
They were sent out with nothing and in the end they lacked nothing.
Do you remember when I sent you out with nothing?
#1 Be single-minded. Don't get distracted by stuff.
#2 Don't waste your time with people who want to argue, who don't want to believe.
#3 Be kind.
#4 Repentance is absolutely necessary.
If you don't need Jesus, Jesus doesn't need you. If you don't ask for help, He won't help.
Repent and be baptised. Repent -- admit you're a sinner and then turn to Jesus. Acknowledge who we are and who He is. Turn to Him.
Without repentance there is no salvation. That is the message.
In the 1620s pilgrims came over and had the Mayflower compact. It talked about the grace and provision of God. Religious freedom.
Then the colonies went their own way.
1720s something happened -- the great awakening. Sinners in the hands of an angry God.
1770s -- the children of the Great Awakening wrote The Declaration of Independence.
Founding Fathers started us off on the right foot. Acknowledged the Creator, gift of Creator. Repentance and need for Consistent Faith.
It was a powerful time.
We are desperately in need of a great awakening right now in our country. We had a temporary awakening Sept 11, 2001 but we didn't stay there.
Oftentimes there was a great loss of life before repentance. I hope we dont' get the wrath of God to bring us to repentance.
If God takes His hand off our country we would feel the wrath of the world.
We Christians need to preach and pray. If we the church aren't affecting our country, what good are we? Are we soldiers refusing to go to battle?
Stolen Valor.
Let's not be stolen valor christians. Am I wrapping myself up in Christian culture but never really doing anything?
Jesus gave us the battle plan. It's called the Great Commission.
Soldiers don't get asked if they want to go to battle. When they sign up,that's their time to be asked. after that they just do it. That was their one time, their "once" to be asked. If you are a Christian, that was your once -- Now you're expected to do the job. Repentane is needed.
We need to keep active.
There's no apology for God's morality. It is the right thing.