So Send I You (Church officer dedication) 359 - o 776 - rr 578 - c Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 "Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 "Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 "But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6 "And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 "Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 "And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 "But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 'The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.' Look at the disciples. Of the 12 we know that after this one betrayed Jesus and then killed himself, and was a crook. One of them denied his Savior 3 times in one night with cursing. Eleven ran away when Jesus was taken by the priests and Roman soldiers. Two tried to get Jesus to favor them above all of the others. One of them was a political far right winger. They fought and quarreled among themselves continually. Yet Jesus called these imperfect men to do a divine work. If I didn't know better, I might be tempted to question Jesus' judgment. But Jesus knew the hearts of the men he was working with. And he knew something else: People do not make the message. The message makes the people Throughout time confusion has made men proud and lordly. And what they are confused about this very important point. Let us turn to the OT for just a moment and look at what each of us as a Christian, and particularly each of us as church members, needs to be clear on as we set out for service to our Lord. Zechariah 3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?" 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. 4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And to him He said, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes." 5 And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by. Zechariah 4:1 Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, "What do you see?" So I said, "I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. 3 "Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left." 4 So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?" 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." 6 So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts. Points to note: Joshua the priest was filthy as he stood before God. Now keep in mind, that as far as mankind was concerned, Joshua was probably seen as spotless. I am sure that he could have said with the apostle Paul, Philippians 3:4b If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Joshua was given a covering for his head, representing a new mind, and a clean garment which covered his filthiness. God delights in covering the filthiness of his children so that they stand before him as spotless. Can you imagine how much more he delights when his children make the decision not to roll in the mud? God wants his children to allow the Spirit to work in them so that they become changed into the likeness of His family. Going back to Zachariah, we read: Zachariah 4:5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." 6 So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts. Paul again could relate to this. In that beautiful chapter on the work of the Spirit, Paul writes: Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. We often miss the context of this verse. It is talking specifically about the Spirit's work in our lives. But as we look closely, we see the Spirit becoming central to the Christian's existence. Working with us, teaching us, leading us, but always working that we may know Jesus Christ better. These things I uphold to you as officers in the church and as followers of God. There is not one of us but has filthy garments. There is not one of us that does not need the continual mercies of the Savior and the presence of his Spirit. But yet we are called. We are called to let the glorious message that we bear transform us into the image of our Elder Brother. Let the Spirit work in your life, and you will be ministering to others. Is as natural as rain falling down. Christ does not call you to minister nearly as much as he calls you to let him minister through you. When this is your understanding, then you can be used of him. (Dedication Service)