Empowered to Go

Pastor Pat opens the Kingdom Assignments series in Matthew 10 by asking the church to come expecting to meet with God, not just to learn something before brunch. Then he tells a story. Just before he became a dad for the first time, he lost a grant-funded job at a nonprofit. God had given him dreams and prophetic words, and now it felt like everything was being taken away. A mentor named Chris told him to go outside and watch the grass. Pat wanted to smack him. But Chris was anchoring him in who he belonged to before he got answers about what to do next.

That is the big idea: direction flows through relationship. Matthew 10:1 says Jesus called the twelve to him before he gave them anything to do. If we miss the who, Pat says, we will idolize the what, and when a season changes we will feel lost. Our primary calling is not a vocation or a gift mix, but to give God glory with our whole lives.

The disciples still did not fully understand Jesus’ mission, and he sent them anyway. Pat says that should encourage anyone who feels they don’t know enough yet.

Jesus chooses the people, and Pat reminds us this was no all-star team. James and John wanted to call down fire on a town, Matthew had sold out his own people for money, and Simon was a Zealot. Jesus chose them, and he chooses you.

Jesus gives the power. He gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and heal every disease and sickness. Pat says our church believes God still heals and delivers today, and the night before the men had prayed for healing together. The power is a gift of grace, not something we earn.

Jesus sets the parameters: only to the lost sheep of Israel for now, no gold, no extra shirt or sandals. Pat asks whether we are humble enough to accept the limits God places on our goals, time and abilities. Whatever God has for you, no one can keep from you, and no amount of effort can get what he has not given.

Jesus gives the message, “The kingdom of heaven has come near,” and the practice: heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, drive out demons, and freely give what you freely received. Pat suggests praying, “God, would you use me?”

Finally, Jesus promises to provide through people who welcome them, and he prepares them for rejection: shake the dust off your feet. Rejection comes with the assignment, but we have everything we need in Jesus.