Our paragraph topic is: (Instructions to the Twelve) Part 5.
Christ continues to instruct his disciples how to battle with the spiritual forces that they will encounter on their solo journey. As seen in part 4, Christ has told his disciples that they are to seek the one worthy in the towns and villages they enter. This is their challenge call to bring out the one who is worthy, all those who would be worthy, and the spiritual demons who would put down this declaration of worthiness. In this part he tells his disciples, "As you enter the house, salute it." In making this salute to the house, Christ is telling his disciples how to know if there is evil in the house. He is telling his disciples how to distinguish between a house that has had practised in it the spiritual principles handed down by Moses or if the house is filled with demon spirits.
He tells his disciples to greet the house by saying, "Peace be to this house." If there is spiritual peace and loving peace in the house then it will accept the peace given it by the disciple. If there is hate, and anger, and fear, and deceit, and all other evil spirits practised in the house then the house will not accept the peace given it by the disciple. That peace will return. Christ tells his disciples, "If then that house be worthy, your peace will come upon it; but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you." The disciples will know for certain the nature of the house and the spirits therein. They will be able to feel the calm in the house or the unrest in the house. And in doing so, they will also know the nature of the people who inhabit the house and the spirits that inhabit them.
The disciples are in combat training. They are learning the ins and outs of how to encounter the enemy and how to defeat it. They are being trained in stealth fighting and they are being taught by the best, Christ himself. They must learn about booby traps. They must learn how to determine the true enemy. They must be able to discern the inner being of the people they are talking with, walking with, living with, and teaching with. For the enemy will look for every opportunity to sabotage their mission. The enemy will attempt all kinds of tricks, to destroy the disciples. They will stoop low to undermine. They will call from high places to bring down fear and doubt and pressure upon the disciples. And Christ is preparing them to meet all of the tricks and trades of the demons.
Christ knows what they will face. He sees beyond the human face, into the soul of the people. He knows those who are possessed of pride and hate, and fear, and deceit, and lust and envy and all other evil passions that destroy men. The instructions that he has given to his disciples were good then and are good today. We eat, sleep, work, play, shop, travel and worship in a world filled with people possessed of evil spirits. And they are not aware that they are possessed. Fear grips them. Anger takes over. Lust directs them. Envy fills them. Deceit sits on their shoulders and whispers in their ears. All manner of evil lurks in this world that we live in. And Christ gives us directions how to do battle.
It is easy to speak peace into a room. It is easy to feel the comfort and joy of love in a house. It is also easy to note discomfort in a place, if you are at peace with yourself. Today we can practise the principles of peace within ourselves if we try. We can call upon Christ and ask for his peace. We can experience the eternal peace and joy that comes from knowing that Christ will walk with us wherever we go, whatever we do, and with whomever we are with. Practise the peace of Christ. Open your heart and receive his peace. Spread that peace wherever you go. Know the places where you are, that keep your peace and those places that have evil spirits that will seek to destroy you. Will you speak the peace that Christ offers you today? Will you accept the peace that is yours to have from Christ himself? Come seek it!!!
Christ continues to instruct his disciples how to battle with the spiritual forces that they will encounter on their solo journey. As seen in part 4, Christ has told his disciples that they are to seek the one worthy in the towns and villages they enter. This is their challenge call to bring out the one who is worthy, all those who would be worthy, and the spiritual demons who would put down this declaration of worthiness. In this part he tells his disciples, "As you enter the house, salute it." In making this salute to the house, Christ is telling his disciples how to know if there is evil in the house. He is telling his disciples how to distinguish between a house that has had practised in it the spiritual principles handed down by Moses or if the house is filled with demon spirits.
He tells his disciples to greet the house by saying, "Peace be to this house." If there is spiritual peace and loving peace in the house then it will accept the peace given it by the disciple. If there is hate, and anger, and fear, and deceit, and all other evil spirits practised in the house then the house will not accept the peace given it by the disciple. That peace will return. Christ tells his disciples, "If then that house be worthy, your peace will come upon it; but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you." The disciples will know for certain the nature of the house and the spirits therein. They will be able to feel the calm in the house or the unrest in the house. And in doing so, they will also know the nature of the people who inhabit the house and the spirits that inhabit them.
The disciples are in combat training. They are learning the ins and outs of how to encounter the enemy and how to defeat it. They are being trained in stealth fighting and they are being taught by the best, Christ himself. They must learn about booby traps. They must learn how to determine the true enemy. They must be able to discern the inner being of the people they are talking with, walking with, living with, and teaching with. For the enemy will look for every opportunity to sabotage their mission. The enemy will attempt all kinds of tricks, to destroy the disciples. They will stoop low to undermine. They will call from high places to bring down fear and doubt and pressure upon the disciples. And Christ is preparing them to meet all of the tricks and trades of the demons.
Christ knows what they will face. He sees beyond the human face, into the soul of the people. He knows those who are possessed of pride and hate, and fear, and deceit, and lust and envy and all other evil passions that destroy men. The instructions that he has given to his disciples were good then and are good today. We eat, sleep, work, play, shop, travel and worship in a world filled with people possessed of evil spirits. And they are not aware that they are possessed. Fear grips them. Anger takes over. Lust directs them. Envy fills them. Deceit sits on their shoulders and whispers in their ears. All manner of evil lurks in this world that we live in. And Christ gives us directions how to do battle.
It is easy to speak peace into a room. It is easy to feel the comfort and joy of love in a house. It is also easy to note discomfort in a place, if you are at peace with yourself. Today we can practise the principles of peace within ourselves if we try. We can call upon Christ and ask for his peace. We can experience the eternal peace and joy that comes from knowing that Christ will walk with us wherever we go, whatever we do, and with whomever we are with. Practise the peace of Christ. Open your heart and receive his peace. Spread that peace wherever you go. Know the places where you are, that keep your peace and those places that have evil spirits that will seek to destroy you. Will you speak the peace that Christ offers you today? Will you accept the peace that is yours to have from Christ himself? Come seek it!!!
