11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Have a Worthy House
In today's passage, Jesus sent his disciples out on a mission. He sent them to the 'lost sheep of Isreal' to tell them that the kingdom of Heaven was at hand (Matthew 10:5-8). He instructed them to take nothing and to stay only where they were welcomed in 'worthy' houses.
He gave the disciples a test to identify these worthy houses. He told them to use their peace as the standard...if their peace came upon the house, stay. If not, leave and don't think anymore of it.
Have you ever been in a peaceful house? You know...those friends or family you visit and you instantly feel at home. The physical place may be disheveled and noisy, but there is a sense of acceptance and peace as soon as you walk in the door. Then there are those houses you can walk into that are finely appointed, and well ordered but you find yourself anxious to leave. There's no peace in that house.
Beloved, we are challenged today to consider our houses. Not just the place of our addresses, but a more personal house. Paul shared in his first letter to the Corinthians that our bodies are the 'temple of the Holy Spirit' and reminded us that we have been bought with a price and are not our own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). So the question remains, is there peace in the house?
John recorded in his 14th chapter that Jesus left His peace with us. His peace. The very peace of God.
Jesus didn't get nervous when there were thousands to feed. He didn't lose sleep over people needing healing. He didn't even worry when Satan himself was among the disciples. Judas' disobedience was necessary for Him to complete His work.
This peace Jesus left us is perfect peace because it isn't dependent on the behavior of man. It rests in God Himself. By being a willing vessel, Jesus placed his complete dependence in God. God, therefore, was responsible for all Jesus' earthly needs including encouragement when He needed it.
By being totally yeilded to God, we, like the children we care for, become totally dependent on God. He, in turn, has the responsibility to meet all our needs. If I depend totally on God, then my coming, my going, my mission, where I sleep, eat, it all becomes God's business to handle. This is the peace Jesus left for us.
How wonderful is that? To be in the complete care of the Most High God. THE Creator of the universe; HE who spoke into nothing and created everything; HE who after giving man a free will created a perfect path to redeption through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, His own Son. This is who cares for you. This is who knows the number of hairs on your head, who puts breath in your lungs, food on your table, a song in your heart, and peace in your house.
I bid you peace worthy of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
John 14:23-27
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Evg. Stephanie Robinson
Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA.
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Fellowship Church
Where Passions Become Reality
Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!
455 Hwy 138, Ste C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor
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