- Matthew 10:40-4240 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
- If you remember the last few weeks, Jesus has been talking to his disciples as he is sending them out to do Gospel work
- He empowers them to deliver people from demons, cure diseases, he tells them where to go, and what to do when they get there. Tells them not to take any money or extra clothes. Tells them to not stay where they are not welcome, that they are going to be persecuted as they go on their travels. That they are going to see families fighting because of their message. He encourages them that God goes with them, and they will be taken care of because they are going to out to confess the name of Jesus. Doing this will cause division.
- And so now- today he ends his pep-talk with a final word- You are going out as my prophets and if they receive you, they are receiving me. Those who receive you will get a reward. Even the smallest act of kindness bestowed upon the disciples will equal a reward.
- V40- Receive the Father
- Receiving Jesus messengers is receiving the father
- Jesus is encouraging these disciples that as they go out to do Gospel work, that they are operating as emissaries of Jesus- If people accept them, they are accepting Jesus, and by proxy, accepting the one who sent HIM- The father
- That’s really the point of Jesus whole ministry- to get people to come to the Father
- It’s the reason why John the Baptist preached repentance, and why Jesus came- to get people to the Father- God.
- John says it this way- John 13:20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
- Pretty basic- if I tell one of my kids- to tell one of my other kids that “Dad said” Means more
- And this idea that disciples are operating under the authority of Jesus under the Father
- Teach you a bit about Military- NCO v Officer v President- You are following the President.
- The point is pretty simple- if a disciple is telling someone something it is as if God himself is speaking- and to deny this or agree with this is akin to denying Jesus
- 1 John 2:22-23 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
- It really throws up on end this whole “Do not judge” thing- that we can’t say anything
- We, as people of God have a mutual dependence on each other as children of God to help one another hear the voice of the father through each other-
- The problem is that people are so locked up in their individualism that they don’t want anyone to tell them anything about anything or nothing.
- Starbucks this week- door locked- hot sun- telling people- still go and pull the handle
- Christian people- have other Christian people saying things like “I wouldn’t do that if I were you” and people lose their ever loving mind
- Luke 10:16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
- Now specifically- this pertains to the Gospel message of repentance unto salvation- but the implication and application that we see further in the Bible is that another Christian disciple trying to square you away is doing you a biblical favor and you should receive it.
- Here’s what Paul said to the church in Galatia Galatians 4:14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
- The Galatian church received him as Jesus himself- that the work that Paul was doing was from Jesus himself and when they receive his teaching- they were receiving Jesus
- It applies to the pastor as well-Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
- When a pastor asks you to do something that is Biblical and right they are not trying to be a cult leader controlling your life
- You see- there’s not a person here that I came to you door, pulled you out by force and made you come to this church- not a one (maybe my kids) and you wanted to find God- and you wanted to grow spiritually and when you found out that God uses pastors and other Christians to square you away- you had a choice- live according to the Bible- or live according to your fleshly desire to rule your own life outside the confines of the brethren and the local church
- Paul admonished the thessaloncian church 1 thes 4:1-7 And at the end he said
- 1 Thessalonians 4:8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.
- The idea being- if a Christian is telling you Christian things to do- its from Jesus himself.
- Quit resisting Christian brethren and pastors who are trying to help you grow
- Here’s why most reject it- 1. Pride- can’t admit they were wrong 2. Embarrassment- don’t like being called out 3. Biblical illiteracy- don’t know the word 4. Resistant personality- stubborn 5. Spiritually bankrupt- stiff necked- seared mind etc 6. No real desire to grow 7. Unconverted
- Remember this next time you’re receiving a word-
- 2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
- V41-Receive a reward
- Receiving Jesus messengers is receiving a reward
- 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward
- The translation of this “Prophet” is simply a “man of God” a man who is inspired and imparted by God himself to do the work of God on this earth
- Sometimes people will think “prophet” and think only prophecy- but it’s not always that
- In the OT- many men were seen as prophets because they talked with God and God talked to them- they were respected and seen as mouthpieces of God- Someone who knew God
- 3 John 5-6 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren [a]and for strangers, 6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well,
- The Bible repeatedly tells us that when people help out the people of God who are on mission for God- they will share in the rewards of those who are doing God’s work
- Now- this isn’t a means of manipulation that someone can use to get you to support them- but as you reflect and pray about what you are doing with your life- you can know- rewards
- There are times in my life that I see great Gospel work and I give to it- I want to share in it
- Let me share you a story of a lady who just wanted to bless the man of God and was rewarded
- 2 Kings 4:8-17 READ
- What precipitated this? 9 And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. 10 Please, let us make [c]a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.”
- She just wanted to bless the one who was a holy man of God- to help him along.
- Paul promises rewards to those who supported the ministry-
- Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
- Supporting those who do Gospel work is important GOSPEL work- preaching repentance
- 2 Timothy 1:16-18 Paul said to bless Onesiphorus because of his faithful support
- Do you have this mindset with your giving? Not that you will Get a monetary reward, but that God does not forget the kindness that is shown towards the support of Gospel ministry
- You don’t give to get- you get because you give there’s a big difference
- Understand the concept, but don’t let the concept be your motivation- I want heavenly rewards
- Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
- That’s a bible promise! And when Jesus is sending out his disciples- he’s letting them and everyone else know- when you receive these prophets, or a righteous man- you’re being watched- you’re going to receive a reward- ]
- God is watching- Psalm 62:12 Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; For You render to each one according to his work.
- What is Jesus going to say to you when you get to heaven? Rewards? Or regret?
- Problem- hear “no works salvation” translates “No works after salvation” not true
- OT TRUTH Jeremiah 17:10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
- And NT- 2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
- That which we support in word, deed, tangible and reception does not go unnoticed by God
- The act of reception is a validation of the work that the Gospel worker is doing
- It says “Hey man- you’re doing the work of the Lord- Good job” I may not be doing what you are doing- but I’m receiving you as the worker of the Lord
- We all are not called to be senior pastors- or missionaries- but as Christians- we are called to receive them as messengers of God on behalf of Jesus
- V42- It doesn’t take that much to bless
- 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
Jesus is saying “ at the bare minimum- if you give any of my people who are doing Gospel work even a cup of water you’re doing awesome” - That which you do for those who are my disciples will not go unnoticed by Jesus
- He echoes it again in Matthew 25
- In matthew 25 Jesus talks about helping, and clothing, and feeding
- This verse is oft quoted to get people to support the poor- and we should- but that’s not this
- Matthew 25:40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
- Jesus wanted it to be so clear that we must help those who his disciples and even MORE so the ‘little ones’ who are the newest disciples- the most impressionable- we must help THEM
- And in this instance- it doesn’t take much- just a cup of cold water
- Mark 9:41-42 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
- Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
- How do we practically do this? Speak well of other pastors and churches. Speak well of new Christians that may not know the whole Bible. Bless and encourage them in their work
- Here’s what we don’t want- we don’t want to be like the churches in Macedonia
- Philippians 4:15-19 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
- No one supported Paul from Macedonia- but what Paul knew is that rewards were there for those who did the support.
- Here’s the end of it- Be a generous person- look for ways to bless people and don’t keep score
- Proverbs 11:24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.
- Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
- Those are real scriptures- with real direction from the Lord- be giving- be generous
- Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand;
- For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good.
- And its not just a cup of cold water- its your time, your knowledge, your money, your heart,
- When you give someone your time you give them your most precious thing- give it to them
- Proverbs 11:18 The wicked man does deceptive work,But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
- 2 Corinthians 9:5-11 Therefore I thought it necessary to [a]exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a [b]grudging obligation.
Pastor Matt Krachunis preaches on Cup of cold water. Please share online for others to see.
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