Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19960512.htm

MATTHEW: JESUS AS ISRAEL'S MESSIAH AND HIS MESSIANIC KINGDOM
Part VIII: The Proof Of Jesus As Israel's Messiah
G. Christ's Authenticating Authority Over Outreach Endeavors
(Matthew 9:27-38)
  1. Introduction
    1. Whether we have a missionary conference at church or associate with unsaved friends and family, we are challenged with the great degree of human need in our very lost world.
    2. With this awareness comes the wonder how we ourselves should fit that need, or if somebody else should.
    3. Matthew 9:27-38 leads us in responding properly to such needs as follows:
  2. Christ's Authenticating Authority Over Outreach Endeavors, Matthew 9:27-38.
    1. The intensity of human need existing in Israel was portrayed in Christ's healing of three men in Mt. 9:27-34
      1. When Jesus proved His messianic credentials by healing two blind men, the intensity of their need became apparent by the behaviors of both Jesus and these men, Mtt. 9:27-31.
        1. Two blind men followed Jesus, blurting out their faith in His messiahship to be healed, Mtt. 9:27.
        2. Jesus wanted Israel's leaders accept His messianic claims by their own witness of His miracles, not by confessions of faith that were questionable by the desperateness of such as these blind men; thus, He entered a house where He could heal them privately, Mtt. 9:28a.
        3. When healing these men indoors, but gave them strict orders not to tell of the event, letting the leaders have opportunity themselves to verify His healing to be truly messianic, Mtt. 9:28b-30.
        4. However, so overjoyed were these men at being healed that they blurted abroad their healing, 9:31.
      2. Immediately upon healing these blind men, either they or others brought a demon-possessed man to Jesus whose suffering included the inability to speak, Mtt. 9:32. Jesus drove out the demon, allowing him to speak, surpassing in restoration any exorcism that had occurred in Israel to that date, Mtt. 9:33.
      3. Yet, misconceptions leaked out, and Jesus was branded as a demon-controlled worker anyway, 9:34. Thus, in spite of His concern about being misrepresented by well-meaning but errant broadcasters of His power due to their intense needs, Jesus experienced misrepresentations by the leaders!
    2. This great human need was surveyed and summarized by Jesus in Matthew 9:35-36:
      1. Jesus' ongoing miracles, as exemplified in this case of the healings of the blind men and the demon-possessed dumb man, continued throughout Christ's travels to the cities of Israel, Mtt. 9:35a.
      2. Along with the desperateness of the sufferings who were being healed, Jesus continued to heal, to preach the gospel of the Messianic Kingdom and teach the people in their synagogues, Mtt. 9:35.
      3. Jesus noted the desperate plight of these people, and categorized it as follows:
        1. He saw that the people, like the dumb man and the blind men were harassed, Mtt. 9:36b NIV.
        2. He saw that the people, like the dumb man and the blind men were helpless to stop their harassed conditions, both physically, spiritually, socially, mentally and physically, Mtt. 9:36c NIV.
      4. As a result, Jesus felt an intense compassion for these harassed and helpless throngs, Mtt. 9:36a.
    3. However, Christ's response to such needs is instructive for our reactions to missions conferences:
      1. Like at a missions conference, Jesus shared the needs with His disciples for their awareness, Mtt. 9:37:
        1. Jesus told them that there was a giant harvest of needy people needing to be addressed, Mtt. 9:37a.
        2. He told them that the workers to fill the need of harvesting these crowds were precious few, 9:37b.
      2. However, unlike some who pressure people at missions conferences to address a specific segment of the needy crowds, Jesus told the disciples to pray that the sovereign Overseer of the harvest would HIMSELF send out workers into His harvest field, Mtt. 9:38.
Lesson: Whether it is missions conferences or exposure to the lost in our daily lives, God wants us to know what the world's intense needs are so that we can address them. However, the WAY we are to ADDRESS them is to turn in prayer to GOD and fol low HIS lead in seeing those needs addressed. In the process, GOD decides who does what and where and when to address these needs -- not US!!

Application: Whenever we see great human spiritual needs, whether through missions conferences or in our own experiences, we should pray for God's guidance as to how those needs are to be addressed!

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