St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 28a, Heavenly Protection not Fear.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Confidence in divine protection) Part 4.  

As Christ speaks to his disciples about the things of the spiritual realm that they are to repeat in the light, they become afraid.  He has spoken to them on several occasions about fear, telling them that they should not be afraid.  They should not have fear or allow fear to enter into their hearts.  For that fear opens the door for the evil one to enter in and to destroy their defenses.  Instead, he has told them to keep their minds and hearts focused on his words and the words of the father.  They are to remain calm in their thoughts and hearts so that the Spirit of the Father can come in and destroy the plans of the evil one.

Now Christ gives his disciples another warning as to who they should and should not fear.  He tells them,  "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul."   Christ wants his disciples to know the truth of their nature.  The disciples have a body and a soul.  One is distinct from the other even though they exist together as one  being.  The evil that men do when possessed of the evil demons would destroy the body.  They cannot destroy the soul.  As we look back on history one can see how the prophets were persecuted and killed because they obeyed the will of God and not the will of man.  Satan would destroy the body of those he cannot reach.  But he would prefer to destroy the body and the soul in hell. 

Christ tells his disciples not to fear those who would destroy the body.  Do not let fear of the loss of physical life of the flesh take hold of you.  This is nothing to fear.  For those who would destroy the body can do nothing else.  They cannot destroy the soul of a person and therein is the difference.  For those who belong to Christ will leave the physical realm and go to be with him in the spiritual realm.  They will live in heaven with their heavenly father.  So Christ provides to his disciples an explanation of the battle that lies before them.  This is a battle for the minds and hearts and souls of men.  This is the harvest of the ones who are the fruit of the spirit that belong to Christ and not to Satan.  The devil wants to take as much fruit as he can from the harvest.  But Christ and his disciples are there to collect the good fruit that belongs to the father.  The rest will be harvested and thrown into the lake of fire.

Often times death comes like a thief in the night and brings pain and suffering to those who are not prepared for the transition.  Loved ones grieve for their lost friends, spouses, children.  And yet the transition is one of joy and peace and happiness for those who are prepared.  Christ told his disciples in this passage not to be afraid of the destruction of the body because that destruction can not kill the soul.  Instead death is but a transformation.  So be not afraid of anyone or thing that can kill the body.  For happy are they who are prepared. 

When we live in the world and are fully present in the world, death comes as a shock.  The world has led us to believe that we are to live a full life and die at an old age of 80 to 100 years old.  So we do not prepare for that circumstance.  We prepare to live in the world.  We prepare to enjoy the riches of this life.  We prepare for the passion and lust and selfishness of this world without any forethought of the afterlife.  And yet it comes. 

It comes when one is not prepared.  It comes sometimes in unexpected ways.  It comes in illnesses.  It comes in disease.  It comes in accidents.  It comes by design.  It comes through the actions of those possessed by the suggestions of demons who kill without any forethought or remorse.  And sometimes it comes through a move of God who allows nature to take its course.  Yet we are not prepared and find death unexpected. 

The medical miracles of our modern times imply to us that we will live forever.  With time we will be able to cure diseases.  With time we will be able to repair broken limbs and hearts and replace organs.  With time man may be able to live eternally.  Yet death comes and man can not stop its progress.  Christ has given his disciples spiritual principals by which to do battle.  He has told them not to be afraid of one who can kill the body and not the soul.  Will you believe in Christ and prepare yourself for the coming of death?  Are you afraid of those who would kill the body?  Christ tells us not to!!!

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verses: 12 - 13, The Instructions

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!!!

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verses: 9-10, The Instructions

Our paragraph topic is: (Instructions to the Twelve) Part 3.  

Now after Christ has given his disciples instructions on what they are to tell the people and the miracles they are to perform, he tells them about their appearance.  Christ instructs his disciples to not carry a wallet.  He tells them that they are not to keep gold or silver or money in their girdles.  They are to not take two tunics, or sandals.  They are to go barefoot into the villages and towns.  They are not to take a staff to lean upon, to indicate some degree of prestige of being a prophet.   He tells them, "The laborer deserves his living."  

The disciples of Christ are to become laborers.  They are to perform honest work amongst the people.  They are to deserve, through the contributions of the people, their daily bread.  They are to be dependent upon the people for their clothing, for their shelter, for their food.  They are to perform miracles by casting out demons, healing the sick, raising the dead, and cleansing the lepers.  Through these acts the love of God in the people will provide for them.  Through these acts the spirit of love will open the hearts of the people and give them shelter.  Through these acts the charity of the people will feed them.  They will be taken care of through the love of the Holy Spirit.

The instructions that Christ gives to his disciples are the principles by which he has lived.  He has told us that "The foxes have dens, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."   Christ had no home to sleep in, no roof over his head, no bed to lay in.  Yet he slept on this earth.  He was fed.  He had clothes to wear and sandals for his feet.  He worked for the living that he received.  His work was honest.  His work was pure.  His work was without deceit or trickery.  He did not want.  Yet he did not own.  The love of the people that he ministered to provided for him.  His heavenly father knew his needs and sent the people to take care of them.  These are the principles that he wants his disciples to possess and to live by.  An honest days work for an honest living.  These are the principles that he instructs his disciples to practice on their journey into the villages and towns to preach the good news.

We work today in the industries of the world.  For our labor we are paid a salary, a compensation, bonuses, perks, etc.  In this society it is OK to lie, to steal, to cheat to get paid.  We are encouraged to do anything to get ahead, to make more money, to live the good life.  We get angry when we see others getting ahead when we are left behind.  We search for ways to get more than we deserve without doing the labor that deserves the pay.  We want more than what we receive based on our individual labors.  Our passions tell us that we deserve more than what we receive based upon the work that we perform. 

Christ tells us that the laborers in his employ deserve their living by the honest work that they perform.  They are shepherds.  They lead the flock.  They work to bring the flock to pasture and to protect them from the hungry wolves that would kill them and scatter them.  They deserve their living by the sweat of their brow.  Will you deserve your living by the honest works that you perform as a laborer for Christ?