24.139 | SENT OUT | Mark 6:7-13 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word For Today

Text: Mark 6:7-13 (ESV)

7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 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.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. And he went about among the villages teaching.

SENT OUT

Jesus chose 12 men to be with Him that someday they may proclaim the gospel of the kingdom. They won’t be with Jesus forever. For three years Jesus modeled them until he was crucified. Then, He commissioned them for a short mission for the first time.

Here, there is wisdom for Jesus in sending them out in pairs - two by two. The circumstances they would meet may be harsh and one could be easily discouraged than two. Partnership in serving God is beneficial.

What does it mean as sent out?

Firstly, they were given the authority to heal and perform miracles. Delegating involves empowering. This gives us confidence that we would have discretion of authority to accomplish our purpose. The resurrected Savior before He ascended to heaven, has assured us that we can go and make disciples because of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit given to us.[Mat 8:18-20, Acts 1:8] And, this authority the Twelve have over demons isn't absolute. In Mark 9:14–29, they will be unable to exorcise a demon from a little boy, despite their successes in this earlier experience.

Moreover, there should be provision. However, Jesus sent them out with little to bring. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. Jesus assured them that somebody would accommodate for them to stay for a certain period of time. They would shake off the dust of their sandals to a home that would not accommodate them.

In short, they would go equipped only with faith in the promise of God. God is enough. Could we believe that God in the person of the Holy Spirit is with us wherever we go? May He would increase our faith just like the disciples. They should expect those they minister to provide for them (Mat 10:10), just as we are expected to provide for our spiritual leaders (1 Cor 9:14). We're only promised that we'll be provided with what's necessary to accomplish the will of God. Even if we die of starvation in our service to God's kingdom, we will hear "well done" (Mat 25:21, 23). Paul addresses this in Phil 4:13: "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." This means he can accomplish God’s mission though he had not everything he wants. It means he knows how to handle both hardship and abundance (Phil 4:11–12) with the assurance that God will provide what he needs to do God's will.

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