Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - The Need To Need What You Know - #3487

It happened during the Gulf War - a sudden change in soldier's attitudes about a subject they once had no interest in. I heard a soldier interviewed about it in the days leading up to the Allies' Desert Storm invasion of Iraq. The subject was chemical warfare. And this soldier said that no one seemed to care much about it when they tried to teach them about it in basic training - they would doze off, they'd talk, and they'd barely take any notes. But now they were being taught about chemical warfare again. And this time they were taking copious notes, they were asking questions, and they were staying after the lecture to discuss it more. Hey, same information - what was the difference? Obviously, those soldiers knew their life could depend on what they were learning. They suddenly felt the need to know it!

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Need To Need What You Know."

In our word for today from the Word of God, Jesus is about to send His disciples out on His spiritual Desert Storm mission. And He makes this incredible statement - one that He has never made to them in all those three years with Him. It's like He saved it for now. In Matthew 28:18 , Jesus says, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me." And I can just hear the disciples saying, "Hey, somebody write that down!"

The reason they're ready for this kind of information? It's the assignment Jesus is about to give them in verses 19 and 20. "All authority...has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations." Man, Jesus is giving them a mission that is so much bigger than they are. They are going to need that power and authority as they have never needed it before. But they won't fully know until they go. Neither will you.

You know, I've watched a lot of yawning youth group teenagers suddenly grabbing their Bibles and learning to pray and asking questions. Why this sudden transformation? They were on a missions trip in another country - away from home, pushed to their limits physically and emotionally, out of their comfort zone, and actively serving God. And suddenly they realized they needed what they had been hearing for years. Like those soldiers in chemical warfare class, they weren't interested in the material until they knew they would need it to stay alive.

So what does this all mean to you? Probably this: you need to be out on a limb for your Lord before you're going to really open up and experience His power. Safe Christianity is boring Christianity. You need to get busy doing something for the Lord, not just knowing things about Him.

So take the plunge - take that Sunday School class, get involved in that outreach program, go on a missions trip, get involved with a group of needy people around you somewhere, get involved with that Youth Minister, become an active Jesus-ambassador to the people in your circle of influence, or say yes to that invitation to get involved.

Get out on a limb, out of your comfort zone, risking for your Lord, serving your Lord - so you can get beyond yourself, where you will have to reach out desperately for truths that you have known for years. You'll meet Jesus there in a way you can't meet Him anywhere else. You need to need what you know - and following Jesus into the great adventure He's summoning you to will put you right in the middle of all His power!