Living by Faith
Pastor Marty Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 12:25PM Luke 22:35-38. This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on February 21, 2016.
Throughout the history of the Church the idea of “living by faith” has taken on several different forms. For some it became the idea that we should never prepare for or save up for anything. They attempt to obtain a radical trust in Jesus and His provision alone. The opposite view sees it as only affecting the spiritual issue of salvation. Thus they trust Jesus to save their souls, and yet do not look for any “provision” from God in their life. I believe that the truth lies in between these two extremes. We should trust God for both spiritual and material needs. However, we also work hard, save up, and prepare for the inevitabilities that lie ahead. As we look at today’s passage, we will get a better feel for this area.
The Sending Out Of The Twelve
In Luke 9 Jesus had sent the 12 into the towns and cities of Israel. He had given them authority to heal diseases and cast out demons, while proclaiming the kingdom of God.
Part of the reasoning for this is that they would prepare the people to hear Jesus later. In a sense they were pre-evangelizing the area. There are different aspects to sharing the Gospel with people. Sometimes it is brand new to them and can be symbolized by casting a seed into their minds and hearts. Sometimes they have run into this before and our interaction with them can be symbolized by watering seed that already exists. Lastly, we may come into the life of a person who has had seed planted and watered. Their seeds have grown to the point of maturity and can now be harvested. We should always bear in mind these ideas when we are sharing the Gospel. We intersect with a life that is in motion and has a past. However God chooses to use us, we must give our all without being discouraged by what we do or don’t see. Be faithful. The work is greater than any one attempt to evangelize.
Of course, it was also an opportunity to strengthen the faith of the disciples and to prepare them for their future. Jesus told them to take no money, provisions, or extra clothes. They were to depend solely upon what was provided by those who accepted them. Of course God is ultimately the supply in all of our lives, but we are not usually commanded to do what Jesus told them to do. This was clearly a part of their training and yet was also beneficial to the ministry. After reminding them of their previous ministry He asks them if they lacked anything. Their answer to the Lord is an emphatic, “We lacked nothing, Lord.” It is important to recognize that we serve a God who is able to provide and, when He does, He often does so through people.
They Had Entered A Turning-Point
This time, Jesus is going to give them a command that is different than before, and it hinges on the phrase, “But now…” The circumstances are going to be very different in the future than they were. Before Jesus was a novelty that many people were interested in, and his disciples shared in that popularity. Also they were only going to the cities of Israel. Everyone there understood the Bible and God to some degree. In a sense it was a best case scenario for ministry. In the future they are not going to be in places that would be relatively easy.
In fact, the biggest issue ahead is that Jesus will no longer be with them physically. He says, “The things concerning me have an end.” That is there is a purpose in mind and it is that He must die on the cross. It was not the Father’s will to continue things as they were before, and it was not his will to restore things to how they were after the resurrection. They would be the main ministers now. There would be no Jesus coming behind them.
The earlier time was only preparatory for the Great Commission that would go beyond Israel to all the nations of the world. This world would be dark and difficult. In 1 Corinthians 4:11-13 Paul says, 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. Before they lacked nothing, but in the future they are going to experience great lack in material things, yet not in the spiritual. This brings us to a real challenge with faith. Faith is not about getting what you think you need by declaring it. Sure God tells us to ask and promises to provide for us. But the disciples were headed into new peaks of faith that would require a person to trust God regardless of how good it looked like He was providing. Sure, you have faith in God when you are blessed. But, what about when you are hanging on a cross and feeling forsaken by God, do you have faith then? I am not saying we will all end in such a situation. However, it is our faith that overcomes the world, not our blessing.
Living by faith is not about how much or how little you have. Before, he made them take nothing. But having faith in God is about more than proving you trust him by having no provisions. In Christ if you have nothing to start with, or you are fully supplied, you will need to have the same faith to accomplish what God is sending you to do. Many a ministry that has been fully supplied has been ruined through trusting riches and fearing their loss. However, many have never attempted ministry because they feel they have nothing to start it. Do not look at what you have but rather look at what God is telling you to do and trust him. The supply in this sense becomes irrelevant in regards to faith. Use what you have, but never let it be what you trust in.
Why Did He Want Them To Have Swords?
The issue with the swords at the end of this passage has been a difficulty through the ages. Why would Jesus tell them to get swords? He is famous for being peaceful. The word for “sword” here is in reference to a large knife or small sword. Though it could be used in battle, it would be a very common thing for travelers to use for protection against animals and robbers, as well as a practical tool for cutting. So why does Jesus want them to get these short swords?
Some have pointed to the Scripture that Jesus quotes, “He was numbered with the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12). When Jesus is arrested, the presence of the swords, and the cutting off of the servant’s ear, would help to fulfill this Scripture. Yet, Jesus was arrested and crucified for blasphemy. He is crucified with a thief and a murderer. How much more would need to be done to fulfill this prophecy? If you look up the Isaiah 53 passage, you will notice that the quote follows the statement in Isaiah that the messiah would pour out his soul unto death. I think that Jesus quotes this verse to point out that things are changing and not why they need swords. Jesus is seen as a criminal and thus will be executed. This will change things for them.
Another answer has been to say that they will need them as they journey on the Great Commission for protection from animals and robbers. This seems to fit the passage better. It would be another item of provision when going on a journey through wilderness areas. Paul’s list in 2 Corinthians 11 gives us a feel for what they encountered in their travels. “23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” The swords could come in handy on such perilous journeys. However, this still doesn’t quite fit to some. We never see stories of the disciples using swords later.