Welcome back to "A Word from the Vine." I'm Pastor Loren Christensen, and today, we're continuing our series by looking at a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry—when He sent out the twelve disciples. Now let's turn to Mark 6:7-13 in scripture:
And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
In this passage, Jesus sends out His twelve disciples with very specific instructions. He tells them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money. This might seem surprising, but Jesus wanted His disciples to learn a crucial lesson: dependence on God. By taking nothing with them, they had to rely entirely on God's provision and the hospitality of those they met.
This dependence on God rather than material possessions is a powerful reminder for us today. In a world that often values self-sufficiency and material wealth, Jesus calls us to trust in Him and His provision. It's a call to live by faith, knowing that God will supply our needs.
Jesus also gave His disciples authority over unclean spirits and sent them out to preach repentance and heal the sick. This authority wasn't something they earned; it was given to them by Jesus. Their mission was to extend His ministry, bringing healing and the message of repentance to those they encountered.
This authority and power come from Jesus, and it reminds us that our strength and ability to serve come from Him. When we step out in faith, trusting in His power, we can accomplish great things for His kingdom.
So, what does this mean for us today? Just as the disciples were sent out with nothing but faith and the authority of Jesus, we too are called to trust in God's provision and rely on His power. Whether we're facing challenges in our personal lives, our ministries, or our communities, we can have confidence that God will provide what we need.
We are also reminded that our mission is to share the message of repentance and bring healing to those around us. This might look different for each of us, but the call is the same: to be ambassadors of Christ, relying on His power and authority.
As you go about your day, remember the example of the twelve disciples. They stepped out in faith, trusting in God's provision and relying on the authority given to them by Jesus. You too can trust that God will provide for you and empower you to fulfill your calling.
Thank you for joining me today on "A Word from the Vine." May you find strength and encouragement in Jesus' example as you navigate your own path of faith. God bless you.
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