Speaking Through You

When I was just out of seminary and interviewing for a position as an associate pastor, the senior pastor of the church asked me what area of ministry I was least comfortable leading. I did not have to think about my answer – Evangelism. I am no salesman. I am not good at small talk. I hated sorority rush, and I avoided ever having to speak in front of a group through four years of college except for my Biology Senior Seminar – a lecture I dreaded giving for nearly a year – a lecture that lasted 15 minutes in front of 20 people. So, when asked what made me uncomfortable in ministry, I knew. The “E” word as I had come to call it filled me with dread and thoughts of people trying to get away from me.

In the Gospel reading this morning, the first evangelistic mission is recorded. Jesus calls the twelve disciples to him – his closest followers – and confers his authority upon them. No longer are they disciples, no longer are they students, they are now apostles. An apostle is literally, “one who is sent.” The power of one has now become the power of many. They have heard Jesus preach, they have seen Jesus heal…and now it is time for them to do the same. It won’t be easy, and Jesus knows the challenges that can get in the way of them fulfilling their mission. So, he gives them some instruction. We, too, are disciples and apostles. We are students and we are sent. We too are given and responsibility to bring God’s message of love and extend God’s healing touch. And we, too, face challenges. Jesus says, “I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” So this morning we look closely at Jesus’ instructions to the disciples now called apostles and listen for Jesus’ instructions to us.

First, Jesus instructs, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Seems a rather strange thing for Jesus to say. Jesus’ great commission is to make disciples of all nations. Why would Jesus send them only to Jews? Two plausible explanations, both of which are helpful in today’s world. New Testament scholar Dr. Sherman Johnson suggests that it might have been the time of a pagan festival, of which there were many. When a pagan festival was going on, Jews were not allowed on roadways that led only to Gentile cities. Jesus didn’t send the apostles to the Gentiles and Samaritans because he doesn’t want the message of God’s love and the extending of God’s healing touch to get sidetracked by a controversy over what roads the apostles have been on. So, he says, “Be wise.” Avoid controversies that aren’t going to get you anywhere. Jesus instead sent the apostles to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He sent them to the people who were within their sphere of influence. People who had like backgrounds, similar lives and experiences.

Then, Jesus instructs, “If you come to a house and anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as your leave that house or town.” Not everyone is going to hear and receive God’s message. Not everyone is going to welcome you. Shake off the dust and move on. Don’t let the dirt from that place travel with you, and don’t stay there. Jesus doesn’t want the message of God’s love and the extending of God’s healing touch to get bogged down by indifference or negativity. So, he says, “Remain hopeful.”

It won’t be easy. “You will be like a sheep surrounded by wolves,” Jesus says, “Jewish wolves in councils and the synagogue, wolves in governors and kings will all be circling.” Then and now, those who are sent by God face obstacles and challenges, and even opposition. But they aren’t alone.

K. P. Yohannan was born and raised in a Christian family in India. He tells about his calling to be a missionary. He was 16 and attending an evangelism conference. He says, “Alone that night in my bed, I argued with both God and my own conscience. By two o’clock in the morning, my pillow wet with sweat and tears, I shook with fear. What if God asked me to preach in the streets? How would I ever be able to stand up in public and speak? What if I were stoned and beaten? I knew myself only too well. I could hardly bear to look a friend in the eye during a conversation, let alone speak publicly to hostile crowds on behalf of God. As I spoke the words, I realized that I was behaving as Moses did when he was called. Suddenly, I felt that I was not alone in the room. A great sense of love and of my being loved filled the place. I felt the presence of God and fell on my knees beside the bed. ‘Lord God,’ I gasped in surrender to His presence and will, ‘I’ll give myself to speak for You—but help me to know that You’re with me.’ In the morning, I awoke to a world and people suddenly different. As I walked outside, the Indian street scenes looked the same as before: Children ran between the legs of people and cows, pigs and chickens wandered about, vendors carried baskets of bright fruit and flowers on their heads. But I loved them all with a supernatural, unconditional love I’d never felt before. It was as if God had removed my eyes and replaced them with His so I could see people as the heavenly Father sees them—lost and needy but with potential to glorify and reflect Him. ‘Lord!’ I cried. ‘If You want me to do something, say it, and give me courage.’”

“Lord, if you want me to do something, say it, and give me courage.” Speak through me. The Presbyterian Church defines evangelism as a lifestyle in which a follower of Jesus Christ both shares faith and serves others in need. I still get nervous when someone says the “E” word. But then I remember that evangelism isn’t cornering someone to tell them how Jesus can change their life. Evangelism is a lifestyle: a lifestyle of avoiding controversies that distract you from letting God speak through you to family and coworkers, people who think and act like you, people within your sphere of influence, a lifestyle that remains hopeful and avoids getting discouraged and bogged down by those who aren’t receptive, a lifestyle that seeks the lost and the needy as God sees them, a lifestyle of prayer, “Lord, if you want me to do something, say it, and give me courage.”

Where is God sending you? What is God saying through you?