Luke 9 Part 1 (1)

Pray Psalm 66.1-4.
Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
Sing out the honor of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
Say to God,
“How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
All the earth shall worship You
And sing praises to You;
They shall sing praises to Your name.”

Sing Psalm 66.1-4.
(Regent Square: Angels from the Realms of Glory)
Shout for joy to God, all people, sing the glory of His Name!
Give Him glorious praise and say, “How great Your pow’r and great Your fame!
All the earth shall worship gladly as they praise Your glorious Name!”

Read and meditate on Luke 9.1-6..

Preparation
1. What did Jesus send the disciples to do?

2. What did they do in response?

Meditation
Called, sent. This is what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus called His disciples together so that He could instruct, equip, and send them (v. 1). We who have believed in Jesus are called to the Kingdom and glory of God (1 Thess. 2.12). Taught by God’s Word (2 Tim. 3.15-17) and equipped for ministry (Eph. 4.11, 12), we are sent by Jesus to the world in the same way He Himself was sent, to exemplify and proclaim the Kingdom of God (Jn. 20.21; Lk. 9.2).

We must be renewed in our calling and mission day by day. Jesus calls us to Himself, to meet Him in His Word and in prayer, that He might instruct and equip us for the day ahead. Then He sends us into our own Personal Mission Field, with authority to live and proclaim the Kingdom of God, to bring healing and refreshment from the Word of God and to demonstrate the life of discipleship and the Kingdom.

We must be anxious for nothing, but in everything, through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make all our requests known to the Lord Who calls and sends us (Phil. 4.6, 7). He will supply all our needs through His riches in glory by Christ Jesus, as these are distributed among those who hear and obey His voice and share in the benefits of our ministry (Phil. 4.19; Ps. 20.2; 1 Cor. 9.3-14; Gal. 6.6).

The worries and trappings of the world – symbolized here by staffs, bags, bread, money, and tunics – can keep us from fulfilling our calling and carrying out our mission. The Lord knows we need all these things (Matt. 6.31, 32), and He has promised to meet our needs as we are going to make disciples, according to all He has taught us (Matt. 28.18-20). When the disciples obeyed, their ministries flourished (v. 6). The same will be true for us.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
The LORD said to Moses, “Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say” (Ex. 4.12).

Jesus said to His disciples, “…do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Matt. 10.19, 20).

Called, and sent to preach the Kingdom of God and the Gospel (Lk. 9.2, 6).

In the same way that the man healed of the Legion of demons conflated God and Jesus (Lk. 8.39), the terms Kingdom of God and the Gospel are treated similarly herein—brought together, melded, and fused (Lk.9.2, 6).

The Good News of the Gospel’s saving power through Jesus’ life, suffering, death, and resurrection is incomplete without the needed knowledge and action of a new life lived in the Kingdom of God. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5.17). “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2.8-10).

The Gospel of grace unto our work in the Kingdom.
“The law of truth was in his mouth, and injustice was not found on his lips.
He walked with Me in peace and equity, and turned many away from iniquity” (Mal. 2.6).
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (Jms. 1.22).

The disciples were called and sent.

We too, as Christ’s disciples, are called and sent to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom in its entirety, unencumbered by fear of losing our stuff, rejoicing in His providential care for us. Always.

For reflection
1. What does it mean to you to be called to the Kingdom and glory of God?

2. What does it mean to you to be sent into the world as Jesus was sent?

3. How do you expect to seek and advance the Kingdom of God today?

Jesus sent the apostles without sandals, without money, gold and silver, so that they would not carry earthly things with them. The one who seeks to do good is praised not for his sandals but for the swiftness and grace of his feet. The Scripture says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” Ambrose of Milan (333-397), Flight from the World 5.25

Pray Psalm 66.5-9.
With whom will you share the good works of God today? What will you tell them about all the ways He has blessed and kept you? Offer your day and your witness to the Lord with praise and thanksgiving.

Sing Psalm 66.5-9.
(Regent Square: Angels from the Realms of Glory)
Great and awesome is our Savior in the works which He has done.
He the sea and river dried to let His people cross as one.
Then our joy was great to worship Him our mighty, sovereign One.

He the nations watches ever – all you rebels, humbled be.
Bless our God, all men and nations, praise His Name eternally!
He preserves our souls, and He will keep His paths beneath our feet.

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available free by clicking here.