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

Our paragraph topic is:  (Confidence in divine protection) Part 5.  

Christ has told his disciples not to be afraid in several ways.  He does not want them to have fear.  He does not want them to open the door to fear and thereby allow the minnions of the evil one to enter into their hearts and minds to destroy their defenses.  They are the warriors.  They are the victors.  They are the conquerers.  The Spirit of the Father is with them and will arm them with words of wisdom.  Have confidence in heavenly protection.  So Christ has given them the pep rally and boosted their spirits in preparation for battle.

He has told them not to fear those that can destroy the body.   Though they may cause pain in the physical realm, there is no harm in the spiritual realm.  The soul will remain and will rejoice in the presence of the Lord.  Christ tells them however, to be afraid of Satan.  He says, be afraid of him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  So he wants us to know that there is destruction in hell.  He wants us to know that there is a physical place called hell where Satan reigns.  And in this place Satan can destroy the body and the soul.  He can cause pain.  He can cause suffering.  He can cause disease.  He can cause all manner of physical and spiritual destruction.  This is what we should fear.  We should fear going to hell.  We should fear being in a place where there is no hope.  We should fear being in a place where we will live in eternity in pain and suffering. 

So Christ is instructing his disciples about this place called hell and what will happen in this place.  This is not the place where his disciples will go.  But he gives them a picture of this place so that they will know where those who do not accept the message, will go.  Christ wants his disciples to understand the immense pain and suffering that the unbeliever will undergo when they leave the physical realm.  He wants them to have complete knowledge so that they can speak to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and convey to them the choice that they will make.  For they are the first to hear the message of the kingdom of heaven.  They are the first to see the disciples of Christ.  They are the first to have the opportunity to repent and turn back to the Lord.  After these, then the rest of the Gentiles will hear the message of the kingdom of heaven.

So we have our warning.  Just as Christ told his disciples back then, he is telling us today.  Fear the one who can destroy the body and the soul in hell.  Fear the place called hell, where one will live in eternal damnation.  Fear Satan. 

Will you hear the message?  Can you understand the meaning of the message or are you deaf to it?   The evil one will use all his tricks and traps to prevent you from hearing it.  He will attempt in every way to keep you from the kingdom of heaven so that he can get you in hell to destroy what God has created.  Are you afraid of him who can destroy both body and soul in hell?  You should be!!

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!!!