St Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 30, The Kingdom of Heaven: The Harvest.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the weeds) Part 5.  

An enemy has done this.  An enemy has spread weeds in the kingdom of heaven and contaminated the good seed.  The servants ask if they should go and gather the weeds out of the field and the master says no.  The master says wait.  The master says do not gather the weeds lest you root up the wheat also.  Do not gather the weeds lest the crop is damaged.  Do not gather the weeds lest the good seed is destroyed.

So, we live today weed and seed growing side by side in the fields of the kingdom of heaven.  But we have a weed killer that protects us from being taken over by the weeds.  We have a weed killer that destroys those weeds that have taken hold of us.  We have a weed killer that will shield us from the tricks of the weeds wherever we go.  All we have to do is take him with us.  All we have to do is keep him close.  All we have to do is allow him to work for us, to protect us, to guide us along the way, to guide us where there are no weeds.  The choice is up to us.

Christ has told his disciples and the people about the parable of the weeds.  He gives them an understanding of the the kingdom of heaven and what has transpired that allowed the weeds to come into the fields of the kingdom.  The servants of the field wanted to know what the master was going to do.  He told them not to root up the weeds but to let them grow along with the good seeds.  Christ tells us what the master said,  "Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will say to the reapers, Gather up the weeds first and bind them in bundles to burn; but gather the wheat into my barn.' "


The weeds will be gathered at harvest time.  The weeds will be put in bundles.  The weeds will be set aside to be burned and discarded.  The wheat will be gathered into the house of the Lord for eternity.  Are you a weed or a seed?  Do you come to destroy or to be gathered into the house of the Lord? 

Do not be deceived by the tricks of the world.  Do not be tricked by the lies of the enemy.  The weeds will be burned.  The weeds will be separated from the fruit of the good seed and the weeds will be burned.  The weeds want to change you.  The weeds want to wrap their tendrils around you and change you into a weed.  That is their goal, to change all into weeds.  Then all will suffer the fate of being gathered together in bundles and burned.  Do not allow weeds to overtake you.  Do not allow weeds to change you.  They are everywhere.  You cannot escape.  But you can protect yourself with the weed killer, the Holy Spirit.  Come, get your weed blocker, your weed killer.  Seek the Holy Spirit and he will protect you. 

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 26a, Heavenly Protection not Fear.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Confidence in divine protection) Part 1.  

Christ has been telling his disciples about the enemy that they will face in the previous verses.  He has told them that a disciple is not above his teacher indicating that they will face disciples of evil and not the teacher.  For no disciple is above his teacher.  A disciple only strives to be like his teacher.  In the case of disciples of evil, they strive to do greater evil than their teacher.  So they willingly serve their master seeking to win his favor by doing evil to mankind.  

Christ has trained his disciples for their solo journey.  He has given them the tools that they will need to do battle with the enemy they will face.  He has given them a battle cry to find the one that is worthy.  He has strengthened them mentally and spiritually through the training of the mind and the heart in preparation for the coming of the Spirit of the Father who will give them words of wisdom to speak on their behave when they face the governors and kings possessed by the evil one.  He now gives them the confidence in their battles by telling them,  "Therefore do not be afraid of them."

He tells his disciples this to build up their confidence in the protection that they have from their heavenly father.  He wants them to be assured that they have nothing to fear.  He wants them to know that they are of greater value than anything on earth and will be protected.  Sure they will face demons.  Sure they will see all kinds of deformities in the bodies of men.  Sure they will come in contact with all kinds of illnesses and diseases.  Sure they will hear the lamentations of the bereft in the loss of their loved ones.  But he assures them that they are divinely protected above all other things.

This is a clear message for us today.  Do not be afraid of them.  Do not fear.  Do not allow yourself to open the door to anxiety and allow it to enter your heart.  For you are protected.  You are watched over.  You are secure in the hands of your heavenly father if you are a disciple of Christ.  For there is the decision that must be made.  Either you follow Christ or you follow the evil one, whether you accept it or not.  Most would criticize this statement by saying that they do not believe in Christ and the message of the kingdom.  But they will not say that they do not believe in the evil one.  So one must make a decision.  Ignorance and failure to do so does not excuse that the decision has been made for you. For if you do not choose the one then the other is your decision.  Therefore, make the decision and know where you stand.  Are you afraid of them?

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 19b, The Enemy and his Tricks.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Opposition foretold) Part 6.  

Christ continues his discussion with his disciples concerning how they are to respond when they are delivered up to the governors and kings.  He is preparing his disciples for mental and spiritual training.  He has told them that they are not to be anxious when they are delivered up.  He wants them to understand what anxiety does to them.  He wants them to understand that anxiety opens the door for the spiritual demons to come in and destroy their defenses.  Anxiety will cause them to be fearful.  Anxiety will lead them to think about the consequences of what will or may happen.  It will take their focus off of today and put it in the past or in the future.  Anxiety will cause their minds to consider endless possibilities of events that are not real and keep them in a circle of fear.  The design of anxiety is to take control and give way to fear.  And it is this fear that prevents the word of God from operating in their lives.

The disciples must remain calm.  They must focus upon the words that Christ has given them,"Do not be anxious how or what you are to speak."   By maintaining mental and spiritual clarity the enemy will not be able to enter the mind or the spirit.  They enemy will have no foothold upon them.  The door will be closed to fear without having any way of entering.  So Christ says this to his disciples so that they can prepare themselves.  The disciples have been with Christ long enough to know that he speaks with authority.  What he says comes true.  What he says is the truth and they can rely upon his words.  They have seen the results of his words, the results of his actions, and they have come to believe and have faith in who he is. 

Why does he tell them to not be anxious?  It is important that they do not allow their minds to not be filled with fear.  It is important that they not attempt to determine for themselves what they are to say, what will be the best words, what will have the most effect.  When they are considering what to say the enemy can read their thoughts.  They enemy can plan an attack that will lead them into destruction.  But with their minds clear, their spirits calm in Christ, the enemy has no clue what is happening.  Then Christ explains why he wants them not to consider what they are to speak.  He tells them, "For what you are to speak will be given you in that hour." 

You see, with the mind clear from fear, the words that they are to speak will be given to them.  The words that they are to say will come to them.  The words that they are to use to defeat the enemy will be spoken by the Holy Spirit through their mouths.  So Christ wants them to be prepared to receive the Holy Spirit.  He wants them to know that they have a companion with them that will defeat the enemy.  He wants them to be bold and steadfast in the battle they will face with the evil spirits that they will face.  This is a wake up all for us today. It is a tool, a weapon that we can use in our daily lives when we face trials and tribulations with the enemy.  Do not be anxious.  Do not be fearful.  For what you are to say and what you are to do will be given to you.  And the enemy will not know how to read you.  They enemy will not know how to defeat you.  The enemy will not know who you are until he sees the power of the Holy Spirit speaking through you. 

Christ trained his disciples well in preparation for the battle.  He has given us words to help us train today to be bold and steadfast and fearless.  Will you head the words of Christ?  Will you accept the training that he gave to his disciples and that he has provide for you today?  Clear your mind.  Calm your spirit.  Be receptive to the word from the Holy Spirit and you will prevail.  Can you hear the words of the Holy Spirit speaking to you, today?     

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 19a, The Enemy and his Tricks.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Opposition foretold) Part 5.  

Christ now begins to tell his disciples how they are to act when they are delivered up.  A prisoner of war will only give his name rank and serial number to the enemy and the disciples are given instructions as to how they are to respond.  For they will be brought before governors and kings.  They will testify for the sake of Christ.  They will be questioned about the new doctrine they preach.  And the spiritual demons will want to devour them like sheep.  Christ, however tells them, "Do not be anxious how or what you are to speak."  

Do not be anxious, he tells them.  Do not allow yourself to fear.  Do not let your heart be overwhelmed with anticipation.  Do not let your mind race with thoughts of what will happen.  These are the things that Christ wants to prepare his disciples for.  He wants them to practise mental training.  He wants them to still themselves spiritually so that they have a defense against the enemy that they will face.  For the battle is for the souls of men and the soul is reached through the heart and the mind.  So they must be prepared.  They must be ready.  They must know what to expect. 

Anxiety opens the door to fear.  Fear is the gateway to speculation of what will happen in the next minute, the next hour, the next day, and the future.  And fear will give the enemy the advantage to destroy the faith implanted in the disciples by Christ.  Christ has spent time preparing his disciples for the coming battle.  He has spent time showing them the results of faith.  He has questioned their faith in order to strengthen it for the battle ahead.  He has demonstrated to them what faith looks like and what it can do.  Now it's time for them to exercise that faith in the battle that they will face before the evil governors and kings of the land. 

So Christ is warning them to keep the door to anxiety closed.  He is showing them the tricks that the enemy will use.  And he is giving them weapons that they will use to defeat the enemy.  They are the disciples of Christ.  They have the spirit of Christ within them.  They are prepared for battle. 

Can we say the same today?  Do we allow anxiety to control our lives?  Do we open the door to spiritual evil allowing it to bring forth fear into our lives?  How can we fight the spirit of anxiety?  How can we control the entrance of fear into our lives?  Sometimes just repeating the words of Christ begins to help us keep the door closed.  He said, do not be anxious.  So we can tell ourselves to not get anxious, over, and over, and over again, as a means of bringing calm into our lives and our situations.  We can breath and listen to our hearts so that they do not become gateways to fear.  A calm heart is a clam mind, and a calm mind fixed on Christ is a steel door that the devil cannot penetrate.  So let us put on the armor of Christ and keep him before us as we face our trials and tribulations daily.  Will you close the door to anxiety and stop fear from entering your life??

 

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 17, The Enemy

Our paragraph topic is:  (Opposition foretold) Part 3.  

Christ continues to give instructions to his disciples about the enemy.  He has given them instructions on who they will face, ravenous wolves.  He has told them how they should conduct themselves, with the wisdom of serpents and guileless as doves.  Now he gives them a forwarning.  He tells them to, "Beware of men."   Men are not who they appear to be.  He tells them, "They will deliver you up to councils, and scourge you in their synagogues."  Christ is telling his disciples that men will betray you.  The disciples are going to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  They are going amongst their own people.  They are proclaiming the good news to the lost sheep.  And yet they are to beware of the men they meet.

Christ gives these instructions because he wants his disciples to be prepared for what they are going to meet.  They do not know the hearts and minds of men.  They do not know what is said behind closed doors.  They do not see the evil that men do.  So he is providing them with instructions that are vital to their survival on their solo journey.  For we are spiritual creatures in a physical body and are influenced by the evil one who wants to maintain power over the lost sheep.  So he inhabits the minds and bodies of men influencing them to do evil.  Through his control, men will betray their mothers.  Through his control, men will kill their brothers.  Through his control, men will lust after their sisters.  And they will do anything to maintain the power that they have acquired.

So Christ wants his disciples to beware.  He wants them to be wise as serpents and guileless as doves.  He wants them to know that they are going into the midst of wolves.  He wants them to be prepared.  The battle is a spiritual battle fought in the physical realm.  The spoils are the souls of men.  And the disciples will have a taste of their future calling.  They will become generals fighting the battle after Christ has returned to the kingdom with his father.  They will train the future solders, and captains, and lieutenants of tomorrow.  So they must lead the way.  They must learn from the master all that is necessary to be successful in this war.  It is through their learnings and teachings from the master, written in this training manual that we survive today.

The war continues.  The enemy has taken over the world and exerted his influence over the lives of men of power, the captains of industry, the rulers of advertisement.  Their payment to participate in the battle with the evil one is paper money whose value provides them with the passions of their heart.  And the children of God live in a sea of passion, a sea selfishness, a sea of lust, and all manner of evil.  We must not take in the fumes of darkness.  The temptations are present all around in our everyday lives. 

Put on your gas masks that you may not die.  Put on your protective suits that you may not be contaminated with the toxins of evil.  Guard your eyes and put on your eye gargles that they may not be filled with the lusts of this world.  Cover your ears with the muffles of spiritual soundness that you may not hear the blasphemy of the dead.  But above all remember Christ's words and carry them with you daily.  For they are your protection.  They are your shield.  They are your weapons of war to do battle with the enemy.   Beware of the council of men for they will deliver you up to be scourged.  Are you ready for battle?  Are you ready for the war?  Prepare yourself!!!

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 16b, The Enemy

Our paragraph topic is:  (Opposition foretold) Part 2.  

Christ has told his disciples about the ravenous attitude of the enemy.  They are like wolves and he is sending them among them.  He wants them to appear as sheep.  He wants them to be disguised so that the enemy will not recognize them.  He wants them to have an advantage.  The enemy knows Christ.  They can spot him from far off.  His spirit is the light of the world.  But the disciples are just beginning to obtain their light and it does not shine as brightly as the light of Christ.  So he is instructing his disciples on how to appear before the enemy.  He tells his disciples,  "Be therefore wise as serpents."  

Now serpents are cunning creatures.  They slither on the ground with amazing swiftness and they strike with lightning speed, delivering a venom that is deadly to humans.  But the important thing about serpents is that you seldom see them.  You may walk upon one in the wild, not having any indication of its presence.  You may walk past one not knowing that it is there, hidden under a log or a bush.  You may even step on one, at which time you will feel its presence in a bite.  But most serpents seldom just stroll around in the open to be discovered by humans.  To find a snake you have to go hunt for them.  Their amazing senses alert them to oncoming danger and gives them an advantage to seeking their pray.  

So Christ in telling his disciples to be wise as serpents.  He is telling them to consider the serpent and keep themselves hidden.  He wants them to proclaim the kingdom of heaven but he wants them to not do so that it attracks so much attention that they are discovered.  Do not go out and seek to be the next rock star.  Do not go out and seek to be the next American Idol.  Consider the serpent.  He keeps himself hidden, either purposely through the use of his senses or through camouflage.  The mission of the disciple is not one of fame and fortune.  It is one of camouflage and battle, detection and advantage.  Be wise as serpents!!

Christ also tells his disciples,  "Be therefore guileless as doves."   He wants his disciples to be straighforward, frank, and without deception.  Doves are harmless creatures.  They are creatures that envoke love.  So Christ instructs his disciples to be the same as doves, sincere, honest, and without cunning.  Their mission is not to deceive the people.  Their mission is one of love and peace.  They bring the good news of the kingdom of heaven to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  They are to gather, not to scatter.  They are to love, not to hate.  They are to bring life, not to destroy.  The come to restore hope in the Lord God Jehovah. 

The enemy is watching.  The enemy is waiting.  The enemy will seek to turn them around.  The enemy will fight to maintain their stronghold on the people.  But the disciples have been trained and are ready to do battle.  We live in a society today where cunning and deception are accepted traits.  Can you be wise as a serpent and guiless as a dove for Christ? 
  

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 16a, The Enemy

Our paragraph topic is:  (Opposition foretold) Part 1.  

Christ now instructs his disciples about the enemy that they will face.  He tells them that he is sending them into the midst of the enemy clothed as sheep.  He tells them that they will be in the midst of wolves.  He wants them to know who they will face.  Christ says to his disciples,  "Behold, I am sending you forth like sheep in the midst of wolves."   He wants his disciples to appear as sheep to the enemy.  He wants them to be disguised as timid.  He wants them to appear as prey to the wolves that they will encounter in the villages and towns they will travel on their solo journey.

The lines are drawn and the battle is set.  The disciples have had their training and instructions on the enemy.  Christ knows that the evil one has taken over the towns and villages.  He knows that the enemy is well entrenched in the people.  And he knows the type of enemy that his disciples will face.  So he tells them how the battle will begin and how they will encounter the enemy.  A sheep is like dinner to wolves.  And to have one enter into their den is like heaven sent.  It's like the poor animal got lost and just wondered into their midst, onto their plate for dinner.  Seeing this the wolves will be watering at the mouth ready to tear the sheep apart.  But little do they know that beneath the wool of the sheep is a lion waiting to devour them, to scatter them, and put them to the test.

So Christ has given his disciples instructions on what to wear, what to take with them and what not to take.  He tells his disciples go barefoot into the den of the wolves.  They will not see them coming and they will not suspect the outcome.  He has told them that wherever they go, preach the kingdom of heaven.  To the wolves everyone who claims to be spiritual is no match for them.  For they have tricks to deal with the local priests and rabbis.  They know how to take care of that type of person.  They know what to do to turn them around.  They know that the local preacher has no power compared to what they have done to others in the past. 

So the wolves of the towns and villages see a rabbi coming.  They see a preacher coming.  They see a fool coming into their midst and they are laughing among themselves because they will be able to deal with this person.  Little do the wolves know that the disciples have the power of Christ with them.  Little do the wolves know that Christ has given them the power to cast out the wolves.  He has given them the power to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cure the lame.  So they are in for a surprise.  Christ has given them the power to bring hope back to the people, which is what the wolves do not want to happen.

So, we see this battle beginning to unfold.  We see the tactics that will be used by the disciples and we come to know the ravenous behavior of the enemy that they will face.  Christ wants to give you power to face the enemy.  He wants to give us, the power to cast out demons, heal the sick, raise the dead, cure the lame.  He wants to prepare you to be a warrior for him, to fight today's enemy.  The task is not easy.  The reward is great and the victory is yours.  Come, gather up the words of Christ and make them your stronghold.  Feed upon his power and prepare for battle with the wolves of today who would steal, kill, and destroy the children of the kingdom.  Are you ready to join the team of the elite?  Are you ready to accept your orders for battle in the army of Christ???  Come!!!   Join the team!!!

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!!!