St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 14, The Instructions

Our paragraph topic is: (Instructions to the Twelve) Part 6.

Christ continues with his instructions to his disciples.  He has already told them how to find the one that is worthy in a village or town.  He has given them a challenge call to determine who is worthy, who claims to be worthy, and also to bring forth the demons who would stop this call to worthiness.  In part 5, we talked about the call for peace when a disciple enters a home.  If the peace that is given when saying, “Peace be upon this house,” comes back to the disciple then the house is not worthy.  But if the peace remains in the house then the disciple is to stay there until he leaves. 

Christ now instructs his disciples how to deal with those who do not accept them or listen to their words.  He tells his disciples,  And whoever does not receive you or listen to your words–go forth outside the house or town, and shake off the dust from your feet.   These instructions are instructions of condemnation for the house or village or town that does not heed the words of the disciples.  Christ has given the disciples a weapon to deal with those who will not accept the message of the kingdom of heaven.  He has given the disciples a marker to place in the villages and towns.  The disciples were the advance recon team that warned the people of the coming of the kingdom of heaven.  They were the to give notice to the people to change their ways.  And for those who did not, for those who heeded the ways of the devil, they were to be marked for destruction. 

Kick the dust off your feet.  Leave behind the marker of destruction.  Give fair warning.  But also give love to those who will listen.  Freely give what you have freely received.  Let them know that the kingdom of heaven is at hand and all they have to do is seek it.  All they have to do is reach out to it.  All they had to do is accept the word that was being brought to them by the disciples.  For the demons will be working their magic in the villages and towns.  They have made their strongholds within the villages and towns of the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  They were in power.  But Christ, has given the disciples the power to battle for the people.  Christ has given them training and instructions of warfare.  And he sent them forward on their solo journey to do battle.

Christ knew the outcome of the battles that the disciples would face.  He knew the obstacles that would be thrown in their way.  He knew the tricks and traps that the demons would play.  So he gave his disciples weapons and instruments also.  We too are in a spiritual battle today.  We too fight against the forces of darkness.  We are in the world but the world should not be in us.  We live in the realm of darkness.  We work in the environs of evil.  We play in the playgrounds of the forces that would destroy us physically and drag us to hell spiritually. 

Just like Christ gave his disciples instructions then, those same instructions apply today.  Shake off the dust from the towns that you enter.  Shake off the dust from the clubs, the bars, the restaurants, etc, that are dens of evil.  Shake off the dust from the homes, and parties, and lust gatherings, and spring breaks, and all manner of evil events that are not worthy.  Deliver the message of love and peace to the gentiles and the lost.  But do not tarry, least you are caught up in the traps and snares of evil.  Rest in the place of safety.  Seek renewal in the house of the Lord.  Strengthen your soul in the Holy  Spirit and let him be your guide in everyday life.  Renew your spirit daily through prayer and fasting and walk in the spirit of the Lord.  Are you ready to do battle?  Are you equipped with the weapons of war given by Christ?  Come!!  Train with the master that you may be successful in the world.

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, verse: 11, The Instructions

Our paragraph topic is:  (Instructions to the Twelve) Part 4.  

Christ continues to prepare his disciples for their solo journey.  He has told them where to go.  He has told them who to seek.  He has told them what they are to proclaim.  He has told them how to dress, what to wear, what to carry with them, and what not to carry.  The disciples are to become laborers.  They are to be worthy of their calling and the work they are to perform.  Their work must be deserving of their pay.  Now as he gathers them around, he gives them instructions for the battles they are to face.  He tells them what their first encounter will be.

Christ began his  mission of preaching and teaching with miracles.  He cast out demons, healed the sick and cured the lame.  The words of his ministry spread like wildfire throughout all of Syria.  Large crowds followed him from Galilee and Decapolis, and Jerusalem and Judea and even from beyond the Jordan.  His fame preceded him.  The people had heard of him, and the spiritual world of demons knew about him.  They heard the word of his fame and the battle was being prepared for his coming.  It was a time of war and Christ was the great warrior who conquered all the territories that he entered.  There was no stopping the onslaught of his ministry.  

Now the disciples were being prepared to enter the battle with the spiritual world.  They are given powers to fight the demons.  They are given powers to cure the sick and heal the lame, cleanse the lepers.  They are given powers to push back the forces of darkness and to bring light into the lives of the people.  But the demons do not give up.  Christ instructs his disciples to enter a village or a town and to, "Inquire who in it is worthy."   They are to inquire amongst the people of the village who they thought was holy and spiritually worthy in their town. 

What would this do?  The village or town would spread the word, saying to each other, "There is a man in town seeking the one who is worthy."  Every person who thought that they were worthy would come forth.  Every person who had claims on being worthy would appear.  And those who had authority would appear out of curiosity.  The town would become a buzz with the talk of who is worthy.  And the demon possessed people would also appear to put down this talk of being worthy because it is contrary to their cause.  Finally the true person who is worthy would appear, to reveal himself or herself to the disciple, to receive his blessing.  So Christ gave his disciples a challenge call to bring forth the true person that was holy and worthy, and also to bring forth the evil ones.

Christ gives his disciples a challenge call to bring forth the worthy in the villages and towns they are to visit.  What a wonderful example he has given, even to us, today.  When we enter a new job, who do we align ourselves with?  When we enter a new town, a new community, a new school, who do we seek?  Do we seek the one that is worthy or do we seek the one that is popular?  Do we seek the one that is most talked about or the one that is least talked about?  In our social environment, in our work environment, even in our church environment, we are challenged to fit in.  Those who are there before us, will challenge us.  They will play games with us.  They will trick us.  They will seek us out, to determine where we will fit into the social order.  How do we, as people of the faith of Christ, align ourselves with others in preparation for the battle?  Do we seek or inquire who is worthy or do we just fit into the world???