Have A Go-Bag

When you plan for a trip, do you make sure that you have an essentials bag? The bag that has those things that you think you can’t live without. Military, who get sent out often have a GO-BAG, which carries the essentials that they will need for their journey. Many, who believe that we are living in the last days, will have an essentials kit that if they have to leave in a hurry, everything they need will be in one place. But if we are believers, where are we going in the last days? Will we have to go through part of the Tribulation? Will there be intense persecution before the Rapture happens, before our Lord returns for us? I’d like to share two Scriptures with you today. One is found in Luke 9 and says this: “Summoning the Twelve, He gave them power and authority over all the demons and power to heal diseases. Then He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. ‘Take nothing for the road,’ He told them, ‘no walking stick, no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don’t take an extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.” Luke 9: 1-6 They could take no food, no essentials, but had to rely on trust that there was some out there who would invite them in and take care of them. Contrast this to later in Luke, when he recorded Jesus telling the disciples: “He also said to them, ‘When I sent you out without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?’ ‘Not a thing,’ they said. Then He said to them, ‘But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one. For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in Me: And He was counted among the outlaws. Yes, what is written about Me is coming to its fulfillment. ‘Lord,’ they said, ‘look, here are two swords.’ ‘Enough of that!’ He told them.” Luke 22: 35-38 What was the difference? In the first encounter, Jesus had given them power and authority. People would listen, at least some would, for the message was new to them. In the last statement, Jesus had become like an outlaw, and going out in His name could mean danger for them. We live in the last statement, which was one of trust but plan. It gives understanding to the verses found in Matthew 10 which tells us: “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves. Because people will hand you over to sanhedrins and flog you in their synagogues, beware of them. You will even be brought before governors and kings because of Me, to bear witness to them and to the nations. But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you should speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, because you are not speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.” Matthew 10: 16-20 When Jesus first sent the disciple out with nothing, He provided for them even from a distance, for the message was the goal. After, and now, we are sent out in a world that denies Jesus as Lord, and denies the existence of God. We are to be prepared, but to remember that we are not alone. We have been given the Holy Spirit, so no matter what they do to the body, the Spirit cannot be harmed, and that’s Who we are to live by. So have a bag ready, be prepared, but do not worry, because even in the worst scenario, Jesus is still with us, and is fighting this battle for us. Pastor Andy