Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way.

Luke 10:4 NASB

When Jesus sent out his disciples here in Luke chapter 10, He gave these instructions, that they should not greet anyone on the way.  Various explanations are proposed for the reason why He gave such specific instructions, but the rationale can be found in both understanding the Scriptures, and the power of God (see Mark 12:24).

Jesus introduced this command with this statement, “Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.” (Luke 10:3 NASB).

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Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

Matthew 10:34-36

That sword, that gleaming, shining sword, comes to divide.  Sharper, faster, more active.  When His sword comes, we cannot remain the same.

Until faith comes, a man’s thoughts are only opinion.  Until faith comes, we only have theories, speculations, and hypotheses.  But, when faith comes, it is the proof, it is the substance of the thing hoped for (Hebrews 11:1).

Do not suppose that you can remain neutral, for you must, eventually, love one and hate the other.  Surely, the flesh wars against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, so that you do not do what you want, but those that are led by the Spirit are not under the law!
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What is one of the simplest ways to teach faith?  The Beatitudes.

Right here, the Teacher demonstrates one of the simplest ways.  As small as it is, it can grow to be the largest of all “garden plants”.

Take any dire situation you have as a Christian.  Take any lack, or any shortage, any place where your feel worn thin, and pressed hard.  Everyone encounters these, and even Jesus said that we would experience storms, even when we were built upon the rock.

Most Happy are those who are poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 5:3

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