"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves… do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,
for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matt 10:16-19)
You are warmly welcome to Kakumba Chapel! In a special way, I welcome members from the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS); some of them are ministering to us today – thank you!
The scripture which anchors our topic today is the commission that Jesus gave to the Twelve: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves…” Let us consider three questions: Who is sending? Who are being sent out? And to whom are they sent? The first question sounds simple because we know who is speaking – Jesus Christ; however, it is important to know him a bit more, especially understanding his mission. Earlier on he used the prophet’s words to express this – what brought him into the world: to proclaim good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and to release from darkness for the prisoners (Isa 61:1, Luke 4:18). With this in mind, we can now hear and understand well his commission.
Who are being sent out? The Lord was speaking to the Twelve Apostles, but he later extended this to seventy-two, and now we can’t deny that this same commission extends to us believers today. They are sent out like sheep among wolves; he who is called to preach the Gospel, as Adam Clarke comments, is called to embrace a state of constant labor, and frequent suffering. He who gets ease and pleasure, in consequence of embracing the ministerial office, neither preaches the Gospel, nor is sent of God. If he did the work of an evangelist, wicked men and demons would both oppose him.
And to whom have we been sent? In his mission Jesus pointed to four categories in the world who are need of this ministry: the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, and the prisoners. Our lawyers and judicial officers have a lot to do with these, and any service to ameliorate their circumstances contributes to Jesus’ mission, and is therefore blessed. The mission in the world may not be an easy task, but the Lord has promised to be with us and give us the words to speak especially when persecuted or opposed. I pray that God gives you this full awareness of His commission and the grace to walk in it in the world where He has positioned you.
We pray for you our brothers and sisters in JLOS to faithfully shine the light of Jesus Christ among the wolves there – and the wolves are there indeed! And let us pray for all Christians and gospel ministers to faithfully proclaim the truth of God’s word in deed and word amidst the wolves – the false prophets and cultic teachers who persecute the true ones and seek to destroy the church. God bless you all.