Ben Shiller Jacob
I always wondered why Jesus told his disciples before sending them two by two not to take anything essential for their journey. The instructions given seemed absurd to human minds like many of His teachings.
1Then 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.
Luke 9:1
When we travel to a place, we always are aware of what we should carry with us depending on the destination and it is foolish not to do so. For instance, if we go camping or hiking, there are things that we should be carrying, related gears need for the same. It is wise to do so. However, Jesus, here, instructing His students before sending them to preach the Kingdom of God, heal the sick, cast out demons etc. not to take anything for their sustenance or for themselves throughout journey. This might have sounded unwise and foolish to the disciples at that very moment. They might have murmured among themselves. They might have had many questions like how we would survive without basic things? And so on. Anyways, they had to try it out because they had no other choice before them other than listening to their Master. They ventured out to various places of Israel. As their mission progressed, they realized what their Master’s instructions were just more than right.
Often, we children of Heavenly Father, have many questions regarding our current life or path we are on. Many of us are bewildered at this very moment with many unanswered questions. Like twelve disciples irrespective of their disagreement with their Teacher, they decided or tried to come out from their comfort zone, something they have never done in their life before or even heard of in the past. In fact, it was the first time in history. Now the disciples had to completely trust in Jesus words. They had no other choice. As a result of their obedience, they witnessed supernatural miracles and wonders now through their hands as well, which their Master has been doing before them.
Relying on human understanding hinders supernatural manifestations.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”.
1 Corinthians 3:19
Driving Force
Last week, as I was heading home from work, the Holy Spirit reminded me about this scenario out of nowhere. I hadn’t read or heard this context recently. The Holy Spirit began to speak to me as I was driving. He asked, ‘Do you know why the disciples were sent with such an instruction? I needed them for Myself. I needed their undivided attention. I love to be approached for their needs because I am alone The SOURCE of them! Since I am constant, I need the same from you also.”
The things of the world are DISTRACTIONS from our Father God! There are areas of our heart which are preoccupied with the things of this world. He is asking us to give those chambers of your heart to Hiim alone. We might be giving enough, praying enough, fast enough but still you are still not giving yourself to Him in total abandonment. This is the time to lose yourself to the One who emptied Himself for the sake of His passion and love for you.
For those who desire to serve the Kingdom of God
You might be asking God why it is taking too much time to be a vessel in His hand. I want to encourage you at this point not to be impatient. Keep yourself up. The Holy Spirit is solving your past and preparing your way ahead. One thing we must understand is that the life we had before Jesus met us was full of wrong choices and destructive behaviors which would have ultimately led into death. However, by the grace of God, we received the supernatural strength to accept Jesus Christ which transformed our destructive end into a flourishing end. This transformation does not occur over night. Yeshua allows this timeframe to realize, rewire and renew our fallen adamic nature into Yeshua’s nature.
2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Genesis 1:2
As the Holy Spirit hovered over the face of the waters in the beginning, He is hovering over your heart, mind and soul which were occupied and tuned to the image of corruption and death to eliminate the very last spot of darkness from your soul and fill every chamber of soul with the light and revelation of knowledge of Yeshua. So, don’t be frustrated while God’s Spirit hovering over you. It might not be comfortable all the time. But one thing is for sure,
6There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
Philippians 1:6
The flourishing end will manifest only in those who embrace or enjoy the process of molding, reshaping, refining. None of these processes is convenient and comfortable for you.
For those who are already in the ministry of the Lord
“19Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,”
Matthew 6:19-21
It is very important to consider the abundance of things in this world that we own for ourselves. Possessions and anxiety or worry go hand in hand.
The more you possess or have, the more you worry or become anxious.
When you possess things of this world, that very thing takes up room of your soul’s chambers.
The greater the value of the possession, the greater your worry about it.
Because of this very reason, Yeshua instructed His disciples and us today, not to bother about anything when you do His ministry. Yeshua desires us to trust Him completely with little possession in your heart and hands. He charges us to be Lighter as possible, so that the journey would be effortless. When our heart and mind are unoccupied with our own plans and agendas, way of thinking, fears etc., it is so much easier for the Holy Spirit to control and take us where He wants.
The more you deny yourself, the higher your rank in spiritual realm.
Decluttering oneself from worldly possession precedes a thriving, power filled ministry.
When the disciples were charged to preach the Kingdom of God and given the power and authority over the kingdom of darkness, it simply means, the Twelve of them received a position in the spiritual realm. When Yeshua ordained them with power and authority, all the forces in the spiritual realms, second and third heaven, were notified. Now demonic forces were left without any choice other than obey the authority and position that is above their realm. As a result, the demons were cast out, lepers healed, and all kinds of miracles followed them. After Yeshua gave them the authority, He instructed them not to be bothered or mindful about having staff, food, clothing etc. Selah!
You might be a minister of Christ, a pastor, or a prophet or in any other office of God’s administration. You must bring your attention to the fact that the office that you are in is GIVEN. The authority and power have been GIVEN to you through Yeshua from Father of light. Every force of the universe is subjected to you because you are ordained by Yeshua. This power and authority over second heaven which is the kingdom of satan is beyond human understanding. To manifest the power and authority over the demonic world, YOU MUST REIGN OVER THE PHYSICAL WORLD! The servants of the Lord who are more focused on your sustenance, the abovementioned authority and power don’t flow as you need. One of the reasons Yeshua commanded them not to worry of their basic needs is that firstly it is Lord’s mission and purpose, and every phase of the mission is orchestrated by Him alone. The route, itinerary and provision are prepared so that the missionary is exempted from finding them during every mission of Kingdom of God. What the Lord requires from a missionary is to be in constant fellowship Him in prayer and communion along with consecration.
When you are carrying out Kingdom assignments, remember Yeshua is carrying you throughout not the other way.
Your needs during this journey are already prepared and set. Father God is more than aware of every tiny little thing your heart desires during the trip. Since the provision is set, He doesn’t want us to get those provisions from wrong sources, which will become a distraction to sidetrack you from the mission. Father God does not want to see you wasting your valuable time which you must spend with the Lord in service and prayer.
Shiller’s Takeaway
The crux of the matter is to fix your gaze upon the Lord Yeshua Messiah always. Immerse in Him to the point where you lose yourself as what you are looking for, is available in Yeshua only.
Communion with a Contrite Heart
Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for all the provisions given through our Lord Yeshua, the Messiah. Enable us today to trust You completely, realizing that we don’t need anything apart from Yeshua. Everything we ever need is provided through Your Son Yeshua. We who believe in Him will never see or hear a lack nor get stranded in our journey in Yeshua’s name we pray – AMEN!