Test the House

Time to Test the House

10:1, 5-6, 11-13

Listen to the instructions that Jesus gives His disciples:

As you enter the house, greet it.

And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it,

but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.

Matthew 10:11-14

As you enter the house, greet it.

This is such a Bermuda thing—Greeting. People expect that there is this recognition of self before consideration of the business at hand…

A greeting of “good morning,” “good afternoon,” “good evening”, “Hello,” or “How are you doing?”, is expected and noticed if not given.

There are 3 Elements in a Greeting Protocol that are effective in Testing the Worthiness of a House

1. Recognize PRESENCE

· To “Greet” is to “draw to one’s self”.

· The Greeting is an Act of Communication in which Individuals intentionally make their Presence known to each other

· When you greet someone, you call attention to yourself—you call upon others to acknowledge you, even as you acknowledge them.

· The “Worthy” Household Recognizes the Presence of Holy Spirit

Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.”

20 The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.

Habakkuk 2:19-20

o The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.

Psalm 11:4

Recognize the Presence Being Represented

(The Deputy Governor represented the Gov. who represents the Crown)

The disciples represent Yeshua.

He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

Luke 10:16

The First Test of the House is to Examine if the Household Recognizes Holy Spirit

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

Matthew 23:37-39

Receive (Joyfully)

When someone is greeted,

o they respond joyfully

o a salutation was made not merely by a slight gesture and a few words, but generally by embracing and kissing,

Why are Greetings not received—We are too BUSY with our journey

“And the world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles, no matter how long, but only by a spiritual journey,

a journey of one inch, very arduous and humbling and joyful, by which we arrive at the ground at our own feet,

and learn to be at home.”

― Wendell Berry

Agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Greet one another with a holy kiss.

2 Corinthians 13:11-12

· Matthew 10:14 makes it clear that those who are worthy (deserving) welcome and receive the Word—they are receptive to the Gospel.

· The 2nd Test is whether the Household Welcomes and Receives the Words of the Greeter

When you go into a house, first say, ‘Peace be with this house.’

If peace-loving people live there, your blessing of peace will rest upon them, but if not, then your blessing will come back to you.

· Luke 10:5-6

· "peace", shalom is used for both hello and goodbye.

· The traditional greeting among Jews is shalom aleichem, peace unto you; to which the response is Aleichem shalom, to you, peace.

Aleichem pronounced - Ah-Ley-Khem

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Matthew 7:24-25

The 2nd Test of the House is the Household's Appetite for Receiving the Gospel. One of the Hallmarks of the NT Church was that they Daily feasted upon the Word of God.

Respond Responsibly

· Call and Response is a part of the Greeting Protocol.

When someone is greeted,

o they wish well

o they come into Agreement with each other

1 Peter 3:8

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

· Advancing the ministry of the Kingdom of God—supporting, partnering.

The Church Grows and the Kingdom of God Advances when God’sPeople with Agreement

Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.

And heal the sick there, and say to them,

‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Luke 10:8-9

You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

2 Corinthians 1:11

Why is Agreement Important?

There is power to engage heaven on our behalf through the spirit of the agreement.

Examples of the household of believers coming together in agreement in prayer.

Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 1 Corinthians 10:17

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Cor. 12:26-27

Holy Communion, Eucharist, Re-Present Christ crucified and resurrected, present through His Spirit.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.