Hi, friends. I am Annie F. Downs. Let's read the Gospels. The Gospels are the first four books of the New Testament in the Bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

These are the stories of Jesus Christ's life on earth, the friendships, the parables, the sacrifices, the meals, the miracles.

Each month we read all four books. So go ahead and subscribe today and join us as we read the Gospels together.

And invite your friends to jump in as well. You know we say around here a lot. You don't have to be in the Gospels every day to be changed,

but every day you're in the Gospels will change you. So today is your first day listening this month. No worries if you've missed a couple of days.

Just jump in with us right now. Here's how it works. I'll read three chapters to you today. You can listen or read along in your own Bible or online.

And then I will pray. And that's it. Today is August 4th, day four, and I'll be reading Matthew chapters 10 through 12. And this month I'm reading from the message.

Matthew 10. The prayer was no sooner prayed than it was answered. Jesus called 12 of his followers and sent them into the right fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives.

This is the list of the 12 he sent Simon. They called him Peter or rock Andrew his brother James Zebedee's son John his brother Philip Bartholomew Thomas Matthew the taxman James son of Alphius Thaddeus Simon the Canaanite Judas Iscariot who later turned on him Jesus sent his 12 harvest hands out with this charge.

Don't begin by traveling to some far off place to convert unbelievers and don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy.

Go to the lost confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously. So live generously.

Don't think you have to put on a fundraising campaign before you start. You don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day travel light.

When you enter a town or village don't insist on staying in a luxury and get a modest place with some modest people and be content there until you leave.

When you knock on a door be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you be gentle in your conversation. If they don't welcome you quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene.

Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on judgment day they'll be mighty sorry but it's no concern of yours now.

Stay alert. This is hazardous work. I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack so don't call attention to yourselves.

Be as shrewd as a snake and offensive as a dove. Don't be naive. Some people will question your motives others will smear your reputation just because you believe in me.

Don't be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities without knowing it they've done you and me a favor given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news.

And don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it the right words will be there the spirit of your father will supply the words.

When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idle that makes them feel good. They're going to turn on you even people in your own family.

There's a great irony here proclaiming so much love experiencing so much hate but don't quit. Don't cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival be survivors before you've run out of options the son of man will have arrived.

A student doesn't get a better desk than her teacher a laborer doesn't make more money than his boss be content pleased even when you my students my harvest hands get the same treatment I get.

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