Our paragraph topic is: (Confidence in divine protection) Part 8.
Christ now concludes his talk with his disciples. He has prepared them to do battle with the dark forces of evil they will face when they travel throughout the towns and villages carrying the message to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. His entire message was meant to prepare them spiritually for what they would face. On several occasions he has told them not to be afraid. This is the central theme of his message to them. Keep fear out of your hearts for the Spirit of the Father will come to you when you have a calm heart and a quiet spirit.
The mission of the disciples is to carry the message of the kingdom of heaven to the people. The people have strayed away from their worship of the one true God. So the disciples are sent for to gather the lost sheep and bring them back into the fold. They will face obstacles. They will face trials. They will encounter resistance by the demons of the evil one. But Christ has given them the weapons to defeat them. He has armed them spiritually by giving them power to cast out demons. He has given them power to heal the sick, cure the lame, and restore life to the dead. Those who do not accept the message he has instructed his disciples to kick the dust off their feet and mark the towns and villages for destruction in the last days.
This is war. This is spiritual battle and he wants his disciples to know the consequences of the decisions that men make. The disciples can only carry the message. They can not force the people to accept. Christ tells his disciples, "Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge him before my Father in heaven." Blessed are they who accept the message of the disciples. They will be accepted by Christ before his heavenly father. He is telling his disciples that everyone that they meet, that accepts the message of the kingdom of heaven, he will accept also when he is restore to his heavenly father. Hearing is believing. And believing is the door to faith and truth.
Acceptance, acknowledgement, truth, God, religion, all denote concepts that evoke mixed feelings and awareness, in our society today. To believe in God and accept his precepts requires one to step back from the world that we live in today. It requires a distinct separation of mind and spirit from the reality of today. This for many is a position of isolation, a position that brakes away from the reality of the world. Most people struggle to be accepted in the world and not to separate from it. After all, it is most peoples desire to become more involved in the world. They want more money. The want more fame. They want more beauty and power. They want more passion and lust. They want more involvement with the world. For this is the world that will bring them happiness, only if they can just get more of it.
Many people try to live partly in the world and partly spiritually. They do all the things that demonstrate their commitment to the spiritual precepts of God. Yet they continue to live in the world also. But acceptance,complete acceptance, requires one to live apart from the world.
Complete acceptance requires one to brake from the world, to open the door to the spiritual realm of God and his principles. One has to almost become schizophrenic to separate from the world. And yet this separation is not a make believe world but one that is real, reinforced by Christ himself and the Holy Spirit. For with the acceptance of Christ the Holy Spirit comes and resides with one. Small miracles begin to happen in ones life and one walks along the path of righteousness. No longer is one in the world but only exist in the world to do the will of God.
Trust in the word of God and one will not walk alone. Trust in the Holy Spirit and one will see the miracles of Christ. Believe in the desire to be one in Christ as he is one in the Father and you will live a life of peace and joy. Acceptance is the key. Surrender is the vehicle. Trust is the paddle and faith in the word is the direction that takes you to the kingdom. Will you accept Christ before you accept men? Partial acceptance is not the key. Hypocrisy will not work. Only in your heart will you truly know the gift of God. If you accept Christ he will accept you before his father. Will you accept Christ today and surrender to his will for your life? He waits patiently for your response.
Christ now concludes his talk with his disciples. He has prepared them to do battle with the dark forces of evil they will face when they travel throughout the towns and villages carrying the message to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. His entire message was meant to prepare them spiritually for what they would face. On several occasions he has told them not to be afraid. This is the central theme of his message to them. Keep fear out of your hearts for the Spirit of the Father will come to you when you have a calm heart and a quiet spirit.
The mission of the disciples is to carry the message of the kingdom of heaven to the people. The people have strayed away from their worship of the one true God. So the disciples are sent for to gather the lost sheep and bring them back into the fold. They will face obstacles. They will face trials. They will encounter resistance by the demons of the evil one. But Christ has given them the weapons to defeat them. He has armed them spiritually by giving them power to cast out demons. He has given them power to heal the sick, cure the lame, and restore life to the dead. Those who do not accept the message he has instructed his disciples to kick the dust off their feet and mark the towns and villages for destruction in the last days.
This is war. This is spiritual battle and he wants his disciples to know the consequences of the decisions that men make. The disciples can only carry the message. They can not force the people to accept. Christ tells his disciples, "Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge him before my Father in heaven." Blessed are they who accept the message of the disciples. They will be accepted by Christ before his heavenly father. He is telling his disciples that everyone that they meet, that accepts the message of the kingdom of heaven, he will accept also when he is restore to his heavenly father. Hearing is believing. And believing is the door to faith and truth.
Acceptance, acknowledgement, truth, God, religion, all denote concepts that evoke mixed feelings and awareness, in our society today. To believe in God and accept his precepts requires one to step back from the world that we live in today. It requires a distinct separation of mind and spirit from the reality of today. This for many is a position of isolation, a position that brakes away from the reality of the world. Most people struggle to be accepted in the world and not to separate from it. After all, it is most peoples desire to become more involved in the world. They want more money. The want more fame. They want more beauty and power. They want more passion and lust. They want more involvement with the world. For this is the world that will bring them happiness, only if they can just get more of it.
Many people try to live partly in the world and partly spiritually. They do all the things that demonstrate their commitment to the spiritual precepts of God. Yet they continue to live in the world also. But acceptance,complete acceptance, requires one to live apart from the world.
Complete acceptance requires one to brake from the world, to open the door to the spiritual realm of God and his principles. One has to almost become schizophrenic to separate from the world. And yet this separation is not a make believe world but one that is real, reinforced by Christ himself and the Holy Spirit. For with the acceptance of Christ the Holy Spirit comes and resides with one. Small miracles begin to happen in ones life and one walks along the path of righteousness. No longer is one in the world but only exist in the world to do the will of God.
Trust in the word of God and one will not walk alone. Trust in the Holy Spirit and one will see the miracles of Christ. Believe in the desire to be one in Christ as he is one in the Father and you will live a life of peace and joy. Acceptance is the key. Surrender is the vehicle. Trust is the paddle and faith in the word is the direction that takes you to the kingdom. Will you accept Christ before you accept men? Partial acceptance is not the key. Hypocrisy will not work. Only in your heart will you truly know the gift of God. If you accept Christ he will accept you before his father. Will you accept Christ today and surrender to his will for your life? He waits patiently for your response.
