Given to Us

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday morning, the 10th of November, 2019 at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  Look for the video of our services on our Vimeo channel:  http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]

When Jesus had chosen and called His twelve disciples, He gave them the power to cast out unclean spirits and to cure sicknesses and heal infirmities.  And then He sent them out into the cities, to preach to the lost sheep of Israel; not to the Gentiles or Samaritans but specifically to the Jews.

Now this was a pretty serious and quite dangerous business at that time.  Jesus knew they would face severe opposition and would very likely be hauled up before the Jewish religious leadership.  So He admonished them to be wise as serpents yet as harmless as doves – thinking before acting and causing no harm.  And He warned them of what could happen and how they should respond.

Please listen and follow along to the words Jesus spoke as recorded by the Apostle Matthew in his Gospel account, chapter 10 verses 16 through 20, and I’ll be reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…

16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you."

--Matthew 10:16-20 (NKJV)

Let us pray…  Father God, Your Holy Spirit plays so many vital roles in our lives.  He is our constant Companion, our Helper, our Guide, our Counselor.  And, Father, He will even give us the right words to say when it’s our time to testify for Jesus.  Thank You for this wonderful gist, Father.  Please help us to surrender ourselves to Your Spirit and to pay attention as He leads us.  Help us to remember to stop and let Him speak when we don’t know what to say.

Speak to us now, Father, through Your Spirit, with the message we need to hear this morning.  Show us how we can be better witnesses to Your glory and to Jesus.  This we pray in the blessed name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.


Let me list for you a few things you should never say once without thinking twice:

• It's no trouble at all.
• I love dogs.
• We have plenty of room.
• Call me any time.
• Is there anything I can do?
• My spouse is a doctor/lawyer/accountant.
• I'll try anything once.
• Of course, bring the kids.
• Why don't you stay for dinner?
• If worst comes to worst, you can use mine.
• Over my dead body, you will!

I think those are all pretty self-explanatory, especially the last.

Sometimes we get carried away in the moment and say things without thinking, things that we later regret.  A lot of times it’s because we’re angry and we don’t pause a breath to consider our words.  We say the first thing that comes to mind, rather than thinking twice.  The consequences can often be quite painful.

One way we can look at what Jesus tells us in our scripture reading is to think twice before speaking.  Rather than just blurting out the first thing that comes to mind, stop and let the Spirit give us the right words to say.  We may not know the best response for every situation, but He does, and He will give us the words if we allow Him to.


You may have noticed that our scripture reading was very much like our responsive reading.  One came from Matthew, the other from Mark’s Gospel account.  And indeed, they both retell the warning Jesus gave to His disciples.  In Mark’s account, though, He is speaking of the things to come at the end of the age, as the time of His return nears.

In both of these, He is speaking to us as well as to His followers that day.  Like His chosen twelve, we are also His disciples.  And He sends us out as lambs among wolves, too.

And really, there would be no point to send us out to be among other lambs, would there?  If we simply associate with other believers all the time, we can’t make new disciples.  We must go out into the world, among the wolves, sharing the Good News about Jesus, showing Him to people who may never have seen His impact before.


Of course, being thrust into what can easily become a dangerous situation, we might be unable to effectively testify, to witness how much Jesus has done for us.  We may suddenly find ourselves speechless.  That’s OK – we needn’t worry.  Jesus anticipated this might happen, so He made sure we have God’s Holy Spirit in us who will speak for us when the words just won’t come.

Is the Holy Spirit important?  Jesus certainly thinks so.  Listen to what He told the Pharisee Nicodemus, who later became a believer, as recorded by the Apostle John in his Gospel account, chapter 3 verses 5 and 6…

5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

--John 3:5-6 (NKJV)

God is spiritual.  His kingdom – heaven – is spiritual.  We are born in the physical plane, of the flesh.  So to be able to enter into the spiritual world, we must be re-born of the Spirit, of God’s Spirit.  And that happens when we recognize Jesus as God’s Son and accept Him as our Lord and Master as well as our Savior.

Now the Spirit’s indwelling is not just for special people, but for anyone and everyone who believes.  John also recorded Jesus when He promised that the Spirit would indeed come to all believers, in chapter 7 and verses 37 through 39 of his Gospel account…

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

--John 7:37-39 (NKJV)

Have you ever thought about the Spirit working like that?  Can rivers of living water flow out of our hearts?  Jesus said He was the living water!  By the Spirit working within us, Jesus will flow out of our hearts, touching all those around us!

This great gift that was given to us is meant to be shared with the world!  The Holy Spirit was given to us.  The words we will need to say in witness of Jesus will be given to us.  And it’s all so we can share Jesus and the Good News He brings with the rest of the world!  So don’t be afraid to go out amongst the wolves!  In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.


Let us pray…  Father God, thank You so much for this wonderful gift of Your own Holy Spirit that You so freely give to all who know Jesus as Lord!  Through Your Spirit You are always with us, You guide us, You even speak for us.  And by Your Spirit, we can share Jesus with the non-believing world.  Help us, please Father, to listen to Your Spirit, to follow Him, to surrender ourselves to His guidance in all things so that the living water may pour out from our hearts, softening the hearts of others that they too might receive Jesus as Lord.

Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, promising to turn from our disobedient ways, seeking Your forgiveness and Your help…

Lord Jesus, You commissioned us to continue Your work on earth, to teach others about You and make more followers for You.  In doing this, we show Your love to the world, we share Your offer of salvation, we help others find redemption and avoid eternal torment.  You send us out among wolves, but You don’t send us alone.  God’s Holy Spirit goes with us, leads us.  And when the words won’t come, He even speaks for us, always glorifying You.  Lord Jesus, please steel us for this task.  Strengthen and encourage us as we walk among wolves.  And Lord, help us give ourselves to the Spirit just as He was given to us.  This we pray in Your glorious name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.