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Take Nothing for the Journey Mark 6:7-13

1. Obscure commands are still commands

• In this portion of the scripture, we see Jesus calling the 12 to himself, and giving them the challenge to go and minister the gospel to people
• He equips them- “go two by two” and empowers them “Gave them power over unclean spirits” and exhorts them “ Take nothing except a staff”
• Seems obscure- but still a command. I give my son commands all the time since he’s driving
• 3 things happening here

• One- go two by two- You must learn to depend on one another for what you are doing for me
• Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
• Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
• Two is always better than one! God knew this- in friendship, marriage, ministry- 2 is better!
• Two gave them power- That which I give you is true power to accomplish what I am asking
• Luke 9:1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
• Christ ministry was always an empowering ministry- He never sends out people ill-equipped he always over equips them- never leaves them wanting- always equipping
• Three “ Take nothing” when I ask you to go- I want you to depend on each other and my power- not on your own preparations and your own power to support yourself- trust in me
• Christ could have required anything he wanted of them- and this instance his requirement is this- Have faith in me to provide what I’m asking you to do for this mission
• Notice- the charge to these disciples is not an eternal challenge forever as much as it is a challenge for the time such as this- for this journey- for this situation
• Often times people will use this as an eternal command- “Go and make disciples of all nations” is an eternal command. “Only take one tunic” is a situational command.
• Jesus didn’t want them to be gone for two seasons, but to be back in time for his resurrection.
• What does it mean to you?

• One- you need to learn to depend on your brothers and sisters in Christ
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
• Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
• Two- you must rely on Christs power
• Many a Christian struggles much more than they should because they depend on themselves for everything.
• How doe we depend On God?
• Trust his word- if His word says something- you have to believe it and trust in it
• Trust his decisions- we are believers in Jesus- we pray and his decrees over our life we accept
• Trust in his direction- if God is leading you to do something do it with all your might
• Trust is his provision- As you work unto the Lord he will provide for you and your family
• Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
• Three- you must listen to what God tells you to do and depend on him while you do it
• James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
• In this story God gives these disciples specific instructions- God will give you specifics about your life- don’t question him. Believe him and stick to them. If he says no, its no

1. Shake off the haters

• ¹⁰ Also He said to them,“In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. ¹¹ And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”
• This idea of “shaking the dust under your feet” is a tradition of that time when people would ceremoniously do this as they left a city to basically say to them- I no longer am connected to you or this city. I am in the American sense “washing my hands of you”
• This would declare to those people that the disciples would no longer be concerned with them because they had done their part- they had shared the good news and the people rejected it
• Jesus even goes so far as to say that Sodom and Gomorrah would be more tolerable than that city on the day of judgment
• Genesis 19:27-29 READ That is NOT the city that you want to be IN and Jesus says you’d be better off to be THERE instead of the city that rejects his disciples
• Sodom is a city that is often used in the Bible as a bad example
• 2 Peter 2:6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;
• The difference between these two is that Sodom rejected God’s laws- cities today are rejecting God’s savior. The salvation for their souls to receive forgiveness for their sins
• Its one thing to reject Gods standards, but its even more damning to reject his forgiveness
• In essence- WE’ve given you Gods best, there isn’t anything else that we can do for your

• What does it mean to you?
• There will always be people who reject the gospel- its been happening for millenniums
• But people rejecting the Gospel isnt your concern. Your concern is “am I preaching the gospel?”
• 1 Corinthians 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
• Just because someone rejects your message doesn’t mean they are rejecting you- they are rejecting your message. They are rejecting Christ
• And you’re in great company if you’re being rejected because of what you beleive
• Luke 10:16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
• I’m not trying to get you go out and lose friends- but you have become comfortable with the reality that the Gospel is divisive and there is a time when you have to ‘shake the dust off’ and leave a situation Which isn’t say you can be a jerk and say that people don’t like you
• And its not to say that people don’t have value or they aren’t worth redeeming- quite the opposite- they are very valuable. The issue is THEY WONT RECEIVE
• Once you’ve given someone the best of God- what more can you give them?
• Jesus is the best thing that you can give someone-
• Can I really offend you? My only responsibility to you as your pastor is to lead you to Christ and full submission to him. Not finances, marriage, health, relationships,leadership
• And if I’ve shared Christ with you, and you continually reject it- I aint got nothing more to give

1. Preach repentance

• ¹² So they went out and preached thatpeople should repent. ¹³ And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed
• When the disciples went out to preach- they preached repentance
• met-an-o-eh’-o to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): – repent.
• JESUS Luke 13:3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
• DISCIPLES Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
• I realize that I constantly preach about this- but honestly- it keeps coming up in scripture and that’s good- The gospel is repentance- a turning away from Sin needs to be preached!
• READ 2 Cor 5:16-21
• This right here is what changes lives- repenting! Turning away from sin- finding completeness in Christ alone and having him forgive you from your sins
• Repentance is the Gospel-Acts 17:30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
• Jesus came for us to turn away from our sins and turn towards God- to live for him
• What followed this? Healing! People got healed! Signs and wonders follow the gospel!
• People say, why doesn’t this happen everywhere? Everywhere doesn’t preach repentance?

• What does it mean to you?
• If you haven’t repented- this whole message should encourage you to do so
• Christ is telling his followers to shake the dust off their feet towards you for your rebellious rejection of Christs offer of loving forgiveness for your sins.
• The answer is to not be a person or a city that rejects Christs offer of salvation- embrace it!
• ALSO- As a Christian, you must learn what it means to repent and be able to explain that to other people
• Repentance is the Gospel. It is what we are called to do and preach- that others may turn from their sins and turn towards Christ
• You should also be relying on Christs power to enable you to pray for the sick- those you know who need a healing and need to get well
• ALSO- Live a life of repentance!
• Repentance isn’t a one time event- it’s a lifestyle- you must be constantly turning away from those things that are in your life that aren’t of God
• And its not because you lost your salvation last night while you were sleeping- its because we serve a holy God who is trying to prepare us for heaven.
• 2 Cor 7:8-12 READ
• Sorry, not sorry- I just want you to experience God’s best- REPENT