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Matthew 10:24 "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master."
He is supreme in knowledge and wisdom. It is unthinkable that you should put your own limited knowledge, assessment, or judgment above the teaching of His Word. Pay attention to the Father's affirmation and instruction:
Matthew 17:5 "...This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"
Don't deviate from His teaching. Put what He says above what anyone else says. Honour Him above all others. Conform to His walk, talk His talk. In this way you will represent Him and please Him.
Be a genuine servant by doing what He says. Don't command Him - it is you who must obey His commands. Violation of the order and rule of servant and Master will make you unusable. Follow the example of your Master in serving others. His kind of service is demonstrated in His washing of the disciples feet (John 13:1-17).
John 13:15-17 "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."
Like your Master, the motive for your service should be love. Jesus, although He knew He was about to return and take His exalted place with His Father, He humbled Himself in lowly service (John 13:3). You should never be so overcome with self-importance that you will not stoop to the lowest tasks in the kingdom.
To serve you the Lord Jesus laid aside His garments of glory, and in His humanity took the towel of humble service - His purpose, to bring to you His cleansing power so that you could serve like Him. Serving like Him will require you to strip yourself of anything that would hinder likeness to Him.
As His servant you should be willing to drop your dignity so that you can stoop down to low levels in order to lift people up. You are to emulate your Master. Do not be self-exalting, self- promoting, self-seeking. Such conduct contradicts the Master's life and ministry.
As you serve like Him you will know ridicule and rejection like Him,
John 13:16 "... a servant is not greater than his master; ..."
Matthew 10:25 "It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!"
You should regard it as true honour "enough" to be like your Lord (Matthew 10:25). When you are treated with disrespect it is sufficient to know that your Lord was dealt the same insult. Those who know nothing of His Lordship would respond with anger and offensive words. They blasphemously called your Master "Beelzebub". (Thought to be an Ekronite god whose name was used by the Jews for Satan). You should not be upset because you have thrown at you similar insults or worse. You are sharing your Lord's rejection, and the assurance is given that if you share His suffering now (Philippians 3:10) you will share His glory later (Romans 8:17).
Your great privilege is to share with the "Master of the house" (Matthew 10:25). To be as the Master should be the climax of your ambition, no matter what the cost.
Matthew 10:26 "Therefore do not fear them ..."
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Do not fear because of the dangers revealed. |
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Do not fear the wolves among whom you are sent to witness. |
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Do not fear religious persecutors. |
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Do not fear man - this would put you in a snare (Proverbs 29:25). |
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Do not through fear, tone down the gospel challenge. |
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Do not fear media misrepresentation, or that from any other. |
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Do not fear critics who attempt to tear down the Word, and you. |
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Do not fear your own limitations - the Holy Spirit will supply your need. |
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Do not fear seeming overwhelming odds - you will triumph (Luke 12:32). |
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Do not fear your peace being taken away - His gift of peace is forever (John 14:27). |
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Do not fear for your reputation - you will be vindicated, certainly at the judgment seat. |
Matthew 10:26 "... For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known."
(cf Romans 14:10).
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Do not fear speaking in the open what the Lord has revealed by the Holy Spirit to your listening ear. |
Matthew 10:27 "Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops."
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Do not fear declaring the whole gospel truth (Matthew 10:27). |
The sent ones were to proclaim not only what Christ had said publicly, but that which He had taught them in private, even from the vantage points of the flat roof tops of Palestinian houses. As a sent one today you are to teach Jesus fully and publicly, omitting nothing of the word of life.
Matthew 10:28 "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
The worst those persecutors, driven by Satan, can do is kill the body. Satan, nor those he uses, can kill the soul. Do not fear any created being, they are limited - fear your almighty God. "Fear Him" refers to God who can destroy soul and body in hell (a place of torment for the whole person). Destroy indicated ruination. By truly fearing God you need fear none other, nor their hatred, deception, threats, ridicules, ostracism, violence. You can confound them by living a holy life and by being ready to forgive (1 Peter 2:12,15; 3:16; Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:19- 20).
Matthew 10:29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will."
Even the falling sparrow cannot fall without the presence of God. He is the companion of the birds that in the marketplace were the cheapest, sold for poor people's food. You are far more valuable to God than many of these tiny birds (Matthew 10:29; Luke 12:6). So valuable that He gave His only begotten Son for your redemption (John 3:16).
You will experience His tender strength in every time of need. As a sent one your trust in God is never misplaced, He is ever faithful. Nothing is outside the knowledge of God.
Matthew 10:30 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered."
You can, as His sent one, be certain of your safety in His knowledge and companionship, and His unfailing love. Sent ones know that even if they fall as martyrs in giving witness, the God who is with the falling sparrow will be with them, and will receive them to His heart and home. Not anyone or anything is be able to separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).
You will experience struggle, pain or adverse circumstances, but you will never face anything alone, you are to walk in conscious company with your Lord.
Matthew 10:32,33 "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."
Identification with your Lord will mean receiving the treatment He received (Matthew 10:24- 31). Relationship with your Lord is evidenced by fearless witness. To be a sent one is to be committed to Him as your Lord and Saviour, resulting in acknowledgment of Him in conduct and open witness.
It seems unthinkable that among the sent ones there should be those who do not confess Him before men, yet among the original 12 apostles there was Judas Iscariot who sold his Lord for 30 pieces of silver. In denying Jesus he put himself among the category of those who will be denied by Jesus before His Father who is in heaven (Matthew 10:33).
Regrettably there are still among the company of those who claim to serve, those whose lifestyle and questionable teaching are a denial of Christ. Your consistent owning of Christ before men will be wonderfully rewarded by your being acknowledged by Christ Jesus, as He said, "before My Father".
Clearly as a sent one you must confess before men the claims of Jesus presented in the gospel. The acceptance or rejection of them determines each person's eternal destiny.
INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS