"Shake the dust... or maybe not?"
Notes
Transcript
1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. 4 “Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
Here in this passage we notice a shift. Until this point, Jesus was asking the disciples to “follow Him”. Here in this passage we see a shift in His command- to go!
This is where the disciples become Apostles. One may ask, what is the difference?
Disciple: A follower of Jesus- Every believer is a disciple of Christ (Matt. 28:19-20).
Apostle: “One who is sent”-An apostle is given the authority of the one who sent him. All of the apostles were disciples—they were among the many believers in Jesus—but only a select group of disciples were chosen as the Twelve Apostles (Matthew 10:1–4; Mark 3:14; Acts 26:14–18)
Other men who are named “apostles” in the New Testament—although not members of the Twelve—include Matthias (Acts 1:26), Barnabas (Acts 14:14), Apollos (1 Corinthians 4:6–9), Timothy and Silas (1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2:6), Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25), and two unnamed apostles (2 Corinthians 8:23, possibly already included in the previous list). These men were “sent ones” in that they were chosen for specific work on behalf of the church, but they were not part of the Twelve who were hand-picked by Jesus. Jesus is also called an “apostle” in Hebrews 3:1, indicating that He was sent by and had the authority of His Father.
The reason they were capable of casting out demons, and healing the sick was solely because of the power (GK-dynamis-supernatural) and authority of which was given to them. The apostles were meant to continue the ministry of Jesus. These miracles were meant to affirm who these apostles were sent by- to affirm the identity of Jesus. This is the trend continuing, but through Jesus’ closest followers.
I believe that there are no apostles today and that based on 1 Corinthians 13 that which is “perfect” has come through the Word of God and the cessation of certain spiritual gifts like healings, casting out of demons, and speaking in tongues is no longer in use. These were tools to confirm identity to speak across the language barriers and edify the church- some who still claim that these occur today do not lign up with the intent of those gifts during the time of the Apostles.
SO He (Jesus) sends them out to accomplish two tasks 1) Preach the kingdom of God, and 2) heal the sick. (An act of restoration that Jesus seeks to do with all men). Now here is the critical part of context we must understand. Since Luke is writing mainly to a Greek audience we don't see all the details.(Matt. 10:5-6).
In Matthew 10 we see that they are being sent to the Jews first. Some have called this the “Limited Commission” to determine who from the Jewish nation was committed to following Jesus.
So the apostles are told to go. But with a few stipulations:
Take nothing for your journey
One staffs / staff-
No Bag
No Bread
No Money
One Jacket- not two.
What are the significance of these items?
Staff- Throughout scripture we see a direct correlation between a staff and a shepherd. Most of us probably naturally connect the words “rod and staff”- they comfort us. A shepherd might use a staff as something to lean on in case the ground is not dry or safe for sitting or for support when he needed rest during long shifts tending the sheep.
For us today, the staff serves as a symbol that we too can find rest when we lean on the Lord. When we lean into Him, He’ll lean into us. He is both the shepherd and the staff supplying all the rest we need when we lean on Him.
No Bag-We tend to over pack to ensure our trip is either fully luxurious, or without. (IE Family trips/ recent trip losing your baggage).
No Bread- Essentially, He is telling them not to pack food. We have all experienced those people who always pack some great snacks. They usually are the people I enjoy traveling with. Jesus wanted them to rely on the hospitality of Jews throughout their journey. They were to travel from house to house.
No Money- Jesus simply put, did not want them to rely on their own power, might, strength, and dependence. Money has a tendency of promoting self reliance. Jesus didn't want them to “throw money at the situation”- He wanted them committed to the mission.
One jacket- Whether it was one jacket or none, He desired that they travel light. Travel with less baggage. Their provision simply was to be supplied by the Father.
These instructions ask the question, are we dropping all the go and tell others or are we stuck deciding what we are packing and doing to prepare to share the message?
Prior to this event Jesus is asking them to take up their cross, drop their motives, and follow Him, and now he is saying, Take up your cross daily, leave all that you know and consider comfortable and your security blankets in life, and go with/ for me spreading the message to your fellow Jewish nation.
Jesus continues His commission to them in verse 4. Rely on those who open up their homes to you.
But what about those who don't?
There will be those who don't receive you based on the power and authority you are being sent out with. We must remember in essence they are rejecting Christ primarily. They know the law, they know the name of the Father, but they don't make the direct connection from the Father to the Son This today, still is an issue. (Praying at NASCAR). John 15:17-25
17 These things I command you, that you love one another. 18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’
So back in Luke 9, Jesus tells His apostles that if they don't receive them, to leave that area and shake the dust from your feet as a testimony against them. This wasn't to say that they were to forget about them, but it was an expression of judgment. AS to say, “I don't want the dust of this city on my shoes”. Matthew 10:15. Total rejection of Christ, including the authority and power of Christ, is a big deal!
In other ways, let the dust be a testimony. What I mean by this is, there will be those who reject the message, and yes it is good to be persistence, but also remember the testimony we are expressing by keeping our feet moving with the message. Some will reject, and Jesus was encouraging them to keep moving to regions that will receive them.
Now, due to context and who the Apostles were, some of this does not directly relate today. We should not be eager to depart and shake off the dust of our feet today. Many will reject us today, but that doesn't mean we forget them or give up. We are not their judge. The power and authority that was given to the Apostles, we don't have today. We have the Word of God, and we allow the Word of God to speak.
Today we live under the “great commission”-There is no direct instruction to “Shake off the dust”. We are grafted in. First to the Jew- then to the gentile. Because of the limited commission we have the great commission. We are to go out to the highways, and hedges and compel people to come in so that God’s house may be full (Luke 14:23). That word “compel” is an implication to be committed to the word and change of heart through repentance of people we come in contact with. We are not to give up. Families, communities, teens, adults, children, need a committed message sharing process. Now is the time to keep compelling, inviting, and pleading with people to come experience Him!
We face things on a weekly basis where we need to speak the Word of God. We need to stand for truth, and we need to further the Gospel message of redemption for a broken world. There may be times we move forward and focus our efforts of gospel furtherance, but we must continue to pray for those who are currently rejecting. We have heard testimonies here, where people have persistently and consistently prayed over ones life and that prayer has been answered.
Shaking the dust off your feet is a word of condemnation, not invitation.
More importantly, on our journey of “Gospel sharing”- what are we packing? What or who are we relying on?
Are we waiting for the perfect time in our life to be “on mission”?
Are we taking up our daily cross and seeking the share the message?
Are we to focused on amenities versus essentials?
“Well in a few years we plan to go to the mission field”- being in the field today! Once we raise support…Once I get more tools, Once I get comfortable sharing the message… THEN I WILL GO.
WE can all go today, tonight even.
Being prepared for a journey is usually a good idea, but spiritually and intellectually speaking, we are to be relying on Him versus anticipating every problem and every worry along our spiritual journey.
How do we prepare? What is our fly wheel?
Rely on Him
Pray Continually
Meditate on the Word
Share the message
Praise Him
Repeat
Sometimes in our lives we can waste so much time waiting for the wrong reasons. Or in a waiting season to go to the mission field, we waste our time in our current area. The flywheel works today where ever you are. There is plenty to be doing in our own neighborhood. Usually things like comfort can get in the way.
Verse 9 explains that they are sent out and they depart- preaching and healing everywhere- while Jesus continues His ministry in Galilee.
We must remember the power that God gives us throughout the process.
Closing- Testimony of each one of us. The impact (I.E. Email I received about how to defend my faith).
Without you God, we can do nothing.
Closing. Psalm 23
