“For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:20 ESV¹

Read Matthew 10:5-33, 40-42; Mark 6:7-12; & Luke 9:1-6, 10:1-12

If you are a Believer, you already know that God has plans for you, “plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11b). You believe you “are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that [you] would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). And you are confident that “if you don’t grow weary of doing good, … in due season [you] will reap, if [you] do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

At times, I am confident you are pretty excited about the call God has on your life. Other times, you are probably entirely overwhelmed. You are not alone in feeling overcome by the weight of the divine appointment on your life. You are not the only one who has ever considered quitting. When Jonah felt God was asking too much, he tried to run from the responsibility (see Jonah 1:1-3). When David got weary, he allowed himself to get temporarily distracted from his call (see 2 Samuel 11:1-9, 16-17 & 26-27). When Moses was insecure about his abilities, he pleaded with God to send someone else to do his job (see Genesis 3:10 & 4:1, 10-13). At times, even Jesus got overwhelmed with His God-given assignment. When that happened, what did Jesus do?

When “Jesus [was going] throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction …, He saw the crowds, [and] He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest'” (Matthew 9:35-38). The need was great, but Jesus knew where to turn—to the Provider.

Jesus asked for prayer, but He didn’t just tell His disciples to pray. “He went out to the mountain to pray, and all night He continued in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). Prayer revealed the Father’s direction and provision. Then Jesus knew exactly what to do. “And when day came, He called His disciples and chose from them twelve, whom He named Apostles” (Luke 6:13) “so that they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons” (Mark 3:14b-15).

Instructing Jesus to commission twelve of His disciples to help Him in the task of reaching the Lost was the Father’s provision for Jesus. The Twelve also needed provision from God to complete their mission.

They needed the Holy Spirit.

“These Twelve … [were to be] sent out … to ‘go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but [to] go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And [to] proclaim … saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” [And to] heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, [and] cast out demons’” (Matthew 10:5-8a). If Jesus had been even the slightest bit tempted to become overwhelmed when He recognized the enormity of this responsibility, how much more would have these men? There was no way The Twelve could complete their assigned mission without some supernatural help. So, “He called The Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal” (Luke 9:1-2).

They needed the power of the Holy Spirit to perform their task. When things got especially rough, they needed His strength and wisdom to survive. Jesus warned the Apostles that things would get crazy, but He also encouraged them with, “’Do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you’” (Matthew 10:19-20).

They needed the truth.

Jesus knew the Apostles’ job would not be easy. He didn’t keep this a secret from them. “‘Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves’” (Matthew 10:16). Jesus warned the apostles of the dangers that awaited them. “’Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for My sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles’” (Matthew 10:18-19). “’Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved’” (Matthew 10:21-22).

Jesus explained to His Chosen Disciples why this must be so. “’A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher and the servant like his master. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of His household’” (Matthew 10:24-25)? Jesus knew that sharing these truths ahead of time would prepare His Apostles for whatever came; just knowing the possibilities would encourage them that they were still in His Father’s will when these prospects became realities.

They needed provision for their physical needs.

Jesus told them to take nothing with them and demand nothing from those to whom they ministered because He would make sure they had everything they required. “’You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart’” (Matthew 10:8b-11).

They needed protection.

For the Apostles’ protection, Jesus gave them a gift which He called, peace. They were to use this peace in determining proper places to lodge. Jesus instructed, “’As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you’” (Matthew 10:12-13). Jesus also permitted His Apostles to remove themselves from hostile environments. “’If anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town’” (Matthew 10:14). “’When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next’” (Matthew 10:23a).

Jesus also let His Apostles know if they were poorly treated, God saw and would punish the offenders. Jesus told those He sent out, “’Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town’” (Matthew 10:15). And Jesus promised His Chosen Ones He would be following closely behind them. “’For truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes’” (Matthew 10:23b).

They needed reassurance.

Jesus assured the Apostles that they would not be forgotten; He and the Father would see them and help them along the way. “’Have no fear of [anyone who tries to harm you], for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in Hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So, everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in Heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father who is in Heaven’’ (Matthew 10:26-33).

They needed to know that their efforts were worthwhile.

God doesn’t take advantage of His servants. When He asks humans to do something with Him, He handsomely rewards them. Jesus said, “’Whoever receives you receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward’” (Matthew 10:40-42).

They needed helpers.

“After [He sent out the Apostles,] the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place where He Himself was about to go” (Luke 10:1). Jesus gave this six-dozen the same commission He gave the first dozen. “He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace be to this house!” And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town, and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless, know this, that the Kingdom of God has come near.” I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town’” (Luke 10:2-12). What encouragement it must have given the originally Called Ones when they saw more had joined them in the immense task before them.

They needed continual prayer.

The Gospels make many references to Jesus praying. It is recorded that often “He would withdraw to desolate places and pray” (Luke 5:16). Jesus made a habit of “rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark. He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed” (Mark 1:35). Undoubtedly, many of those prayers were for strength and guidance for Him in His ministry and for the enablement and protection of those who worked beside Him. Jesus mentioned specifically praying for Peter. “’I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your Brothers’” (Luke 22:32). John 17 records a fairly lengthy prayer in which Jesus prayed for His disciples. He prayed that the Father would “keep them in [His] name” (v. 11), “that they might be one, even as [He and the Father] are One” (v. 11), “that they may have [His] joy fulfilled in themselves” (v. 13), “that [the Father] would keep them from the evil one” (v. 15), and that the Father would “sanctify them in truth” (v. 17).

Your call will not require the kind of sacrifice Jesus’ did. Your ministry may not put you in the same kind of danger the Apostles’ commission did. But like them, since your ministry is a God-given task, it is no less a God-sized task. To successfully complete your call, you will need the assistance of God Himself. Thankfully, He is more than willing to give you all the aid you need.

Instead of succumbing to the temptation to run from your task, run to the Father in prayer. The Father knows what you require. “God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32). “God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

The help of God is so essential for the success of your ministry that Jesus, on the night before He was crucified, on the very night and in the very prayer in which He prayed for His disciples, He also prayed for you! He prayed, “’I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. The glory that You have given Me I have given to them, … so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as you loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory that You have given Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world’” (John 17:20-24). Jesus’ prayer was that you would have an intimate connection with God. That oneness in Christ is the thing that gives the power to succeed in ministry.

Jesus hasn’t quit praying for you and your unity with God. “Christ Jesus is … at the right hand of God … interceding for us” (Romans 8:34). “He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Take comfort in the fact that Jesus enjoys continually praying for those whom He loves.

The Scriptures tell us of another Helper who is readily available for us–the person of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ. This Helper has all the power you need for your calling. Jesus instructed that all one needs to do is ask to receive this Helper.  “‘If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (Luke 11:13). The Holy Spirit is constantly available and deeply familiar with your needs. Jesus promised, “’I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth … He dwells with you and will be in you’” (John 14:16-17).

Like the Apostles, to complete your mission, you require provision for some pretty significant needs. You may, like Jonah, David, and Moses, from time to time feel that those needs are insurmountable. But there is a purpose in your having inadequacies. All the needs are meant to draw you closer to God because your greatest necessity is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Without Him, your call is impossible. With Him, you will be able to accomplish “far more abundantly than all that [you can] ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Don’t needlessly struggle; take God up on His abundant Help.

 

¹ Scripture quotations marked with ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All Scriptures are taken from the ESV unless otherwise noted.