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, verse: 27, Heavenly Protection not Fear.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Confidence in divine protection) Part 3.  

And the mysteries continue to unfold as Christ tells his disciples about the words that he speaks.  He says to them,  "What I tell you in darkness, speak it in the light."   Christ, the light of the world, speaks in the darkness.  His light is a light that transcends all light.  It permeates all darkness where there is no corner to hide.  Yet there is darkness in this world.  The light of Christ is his spiritual life given to him through the love from his father.  So as he speaks in the darkness, he speaks to those of the darkness.  He speaks to the evil in the darkness.  He tells his disciples that they are to speak what they hear in darkness also in the light.  They are to use his words in the darkness and in the light to speak to the evil that hides there.  Even in the light they are to speak his words to the evil that may be lurking in the corners and the dark places.

The disciples do not have the ability to see that which is in the spiritual realm.  They do not hear what is spoken in the darkness.  So Christ speaks for them.  He hears for them.  And he keeps them safe.  And there is another who works to protect the disciples from the tricks and traps of the evil one.  Christ tells his disciples,  "And what you hear whispered, preach it on the housetops."   The Spirit of the Father will speak to them.  The Spirit of the Father will guide them.  The Spirit of the Father will tell them what to say.  So Christ tells them what they hear in a whisper preach from the rooftops.  What the spirit tells them in a soft voice shout it from the roof tops of the villages and towns.  Let all know what they have heard from the Holy Spirit of God the Father.

For Christ has told them that nothing will be concealed that will not be revealed.  And nothing will be hidden that will not be made known.  For they have the Spirit of the Father to protect them.  They have the Spirit of the Father to guide and keep them from harm.  Christ told them,
 "Therefore do not be afraid of them."    This does not mean that the disciples of the evil one can not harm them.  This does not mean that they should not be on their guards.  This means that they should constantly guard themselves against the tricks of the evil one who is waiting for them to make one mistake so that he can bring about their destruction.  The ultimate goal of satan is the destruction of Christ and his mission.  But the forces of heaven and earth battle against him and his minions, and the heavenly battle plans go forth to completion.

So let us who are the disciples of Christ today not be afraid.  Let us repeat in the light what Christ will tell us in darkness.  Let us shout from the rooftops, in the stores and malls, and at work and at home, and in the churches and synagogues what the Holy Spirit whispers softly to us.  For he is our protector.  He is our guide.  He is our shield.  He lightens our path.  He guards our footsteps and leads us into paths of rightness.   The Holy Spirit is poured out into our souls and abides with us as our spiritual light.  Have you spoken out what was whispered to you?  Have you spoken what Christ told you in darkness, in the light of the world?  Come let us be renewed!!!

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

Our paragraph topic is:  (Confidence in divine protection) part 2.  

Christ continues to build up the confidence in his disciples by giving them additional information that will give them the knowledge and wisdom they need to cope with and fight the enemy.  He tells them, "There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed."   He tells them this so that they will be assured that they will have all understanding and all knowledge that has been kept from them through their limited understanding.  That there are things concealed now, is given.  But all that is concealed from them now, will come to light through the Spirit of the Father, who will come to them.  All will be disclosed and made available to them. 

Christ is preparing his disciples spiritually.  He wants them to know fully of the kingdom of heaven.  He wants them to understand who they do battle with and why.  He wants them to understand the tricks and trapes of the enemy.  And all that, will be made available to them.  Christ further tells his disciples, "Nothing is hidden that will not be made known."   Agin he assures them of the things that they do not understand now, will be made known to them in time.  They are the chosen ones, the twelve disciples.  Christ picked them to continue his ministry here on earth after his work is completed.  They are the ones who will become preachers.  They are the ones who will become teachers.  They are the ones who will follow in his footsteps when he leaves.  All that they do not understand now, Christ assures them that it will be made known to them.  They will have complete knowledge of all.

This must have been great news for the disciples, for they must have had many questions.  Christ assured them that in due time all will be made known.  I imagine that the disciples must have inquired as to how he walked on water.  They may have asked how the leper was cured, how the paralytic was made to walk, or how the woman was healed of her issue of blood, or how the 
ruler'sdaughter was raised from the dead.  They walked with the Lord of the Universe and wanted to know many things.  Their minds were full of questions that needed answers and Christ was the key to the door of wisdom and knowledge.  He cave them the key but told them not to use it just yet, for they were not prepared to receive all that would be given to them.

For us today, we are told many things about the confidence that we should have in the Lord.  We are preached to, about taking authority in sickness.  We are told to take authority in our lives and to cast out lack.  We are told to believe that we have the power to heal the sick.  We are given many positive beliefs in the abilities that as believers of Christ, we are supposed to possess.  Christ assured us, as he did the disciples, that all things will be made known to us.  We want them now.  We want to have these abilities like we have fast food, quick and right now.  And this is the message that we are given by our ministry leaders and pastors throughout the church.  Buy this book, play this tape, listen to this CD, purchase this DVD and you will be taught how to have the powers that are promoted.  People want to know.  People want to discover the secrets that are concealed.  People want to find the things that are hidden from us so that we may prosper.  Christ assured us that they will be revealed, that they would be made known.  What must we do to reveal all that is concealed and to unveil all that will be made known?  O, knowledge and wisdom where can I find you???