The Election Count – Part 20
Luke 9:3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
Luke 22:35-36 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. 36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
People tend to focus on the sword, but all the other things are just as important! All those things are essentials.
It was not about a physical sword. Neither was it about a physical purse, nor physical money, nor physical clothing, nor physical bread:
So why now? What is different about NOW? Jesus was NOT saying it is NOW time to buy carnal things because I’m leaving you on your own. What He WAS saying was, NOW, it is time to buy, to take, and to carry something BETTER. NOW, there is something BETTER available.
Hebrews 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
If Jesus was saying that it was so important to have those carnal things, why should we take joyfully the spoiling of our goods? But its not about the physical things.
Now, better things are available. Better things are heavenly things. Now, a better sword is available. NOW, its time to buy a better sword, a spiritual sword!
Now, the better things, the Spiritual things, the heavenly things are to be provided. Now, it is time to buy those spiritual things. To take a spiritual purse with money in it, to buy a spiritual sword, a 2nd coat, an additional pair of shoes. To put on the spiritual things. NOW, something is changing, and something NEW is available.
Luke 22:36-37 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. 37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
Now, these things are to be accomplished. The END of His earthly ministry is here. The end of the law. The end of the carnal things, and the beginning of the spiritual things. The availability of the heavenly things is NOW.
Before this time, the better things, the heavenly things, were not available.
Now, after His crucifixion and resurrection, now, we need to buy a sword – THE sword – the sword of the Spirit, the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
He wouldn’t have waited to say this until now if He didn’t have to. He would have told them to take these things before, had they been available. That’s why He didn’t say it before. That’s why He didn’t say it at the beginning of His ministry. That’s why He didn’t say it to Adam, or to Noah, or to Moses, or even to David. He never told any of His prophets or apostles something like this before. Why? Because it was never available before NOW. You couldn’t take these things before now because they weren’t available. But NOW, they are available, they are necessary, and it is now COMMANDED that we take them.
What things? A sword, a purse, a scrip, money, coats, shoes, bread. Those things aren’t different from each other. The sword doesn’t stand out against the rest. They are all necessities. God had provided those things – those physical needs to His own since the beginning, but the true things – the spiritual things – were not yet available, not yet made manifest.
But NOW, something has changed. New things are available. What things? Let’s talk about the things…
Thing #1 – Before, they didn’t need a sword, but NOW we need to buy a SPIRITUAL sword – the sword of the Spirit.
Ephesians 6:17 And take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Take that sword now, or be killed by it at the last day.
Before, they didn’t need to take a sword. But now, we do!
Thing #2 – Before, they didn’t need to take/buy their own bread. But NOW we need to buy spiritual bread – the bread from heaven.
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: …
They didn’t need to buy bread in the wilderness. It was rained upon them from heaven. But that was not the true bread, was it? No, but now it is time to buy the living bread.
Isaiah 55:1-2 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? …
Until now, all that a man could buy was not true bread. It satisfied not.
But now, that which was prophesied was come. Now, Jesus was breaking His body – the true bread which came down from heaven.
John 6:5-6 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
This is how a man is proved. By his waters, and by his bread. Whence come your bread and your waters? Of what sort are they?
These things are your proof! Not your fleshly works or any of your carnal things.
These things are proof that you are true men, and not spies, because there is only one place to get these things. There is only one way to buy these things.
Before, they didn’t need to take a sword, or bread. But now, we do!
Thing #3 – Before, they didn’t need any other shoes. But now, we need to put on some new shoes – some spiritual shoes – shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel.
Ephesians 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Deuteronomy 29:5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.
Before, they didn’t need to take shoes, but now, some new shoes are available, and now, it is time to put them on.
Before, they didn’t need to take a sword, or bread, or shoes. But now, we do!
Thing #4 – Before, they didn’t need to take clothes. But now, we need to put on spiritual clothes – white raiment washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 3:17-18 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
You think you’re protected when you take a sword, but you’re defenseless unless you’ve bought the sword of the Spirit.
You think you’re clothed when you get dressed in the morning, but you’re naked unless you’ve bought of the Lord white raiment, and washed your clothes in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
This isn’t about physical clothing, this is about forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
Zechariah 3:3-4 Now Joshua [the high priest] was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
Before, they didn’t need to take a sword, or bread, or shoes, or clothes. But now, we do!
Thing #5 – Before, they didn’t need any purses, scrips, or bags for their money. But now, we need to take spiritual bags – and to lay up silver and gold in our bags. Spiritual bags. Bags in heaven. Not bags on the earth!!
Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags [purses/scrips] which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Now, there are better bags to provide ourselves. Bags that are in a better place.
Matthew 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
We are talking about heavenly things in heavenly places. Those are the things we need to buy and take.
If it was so important for us to have physical swords why the Lord rebuke Peter for using them? If it was so important to buy a physical sword, why did Jesus command put it up into the sheath, warn not to take the sword, and then have Paul speak of taking a better sword?
And if it was so important to have bags filled with money, why would Jesus say, sell it all and give it away? Why would Jesus talk of laying up treasures in another place? Why did He talk of providing better bags? Bags in the heavens, which don’t have HOLES in them.
Haggai 1:6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
Unless you eat Jesus, you’ll hunger. Unless you put your money in a bag IN HEAVEN, you put it into a bag (a purse, a scrip) with holes.
If taking a bag of money was now all of the sudden so important… Why did the early Christians sell all that they had and lay the money at the Apostles feet? And why would the Apostles accept that money?
It’s because the purses/bags that you need to take and fill with gold and silver are not on earth – its not about physical bags. The bags that Jesus was talking about taking and filling with money.. are in heaven.
And likewise, the swords that they so DESPERATELY needed to buy for each of themselves was that better sword: sword of His mouth: the word of God.
He..
commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, … no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: … neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves
We need all of those things listed. Those are necessities. And we should take all of those things listed. But all of those things must be taken spiritually. We need all of those things, spiritually. We ought to BUY all those things, spiritually.
Matthew 6:31-32 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
All these things are physical needs. They are not optional. If you don’t have them, you don’t have joy and life, but shame and death. But the Lord’s people never needed to worry about those things before, neither yet now do we need to.
Matthew 6:33-34 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
If you seek Him and serve Him, He provides all these things.
BUT NOW, something is different. Now, we need to get ourselves some THINGS. Well what is so different now?
Revelation 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. …
What is so different about NOW? Now, all things are new. The new things, the better things, the heavenly things are now available. Now, it is time to buy them, and take them.
And if you have been saved by grace, you have received all things.
Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
1 Corinthians 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
Before, they didn’t need to take #1 a sword, or #2 bread, or #3 shoes, or #4 clothes, or #5 bags of money. But now, we do! We need to buy all the new things – the heavenly things that are NOW available. These are the things that Jesus was talking about.
Luke 22:36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
So why is the SWORD any different than the other things listed? Why have you been taught that Jesus will provide the other things, but that you need to buy your own sword?! (Why? You know why.. Because Christians want a scriptural commandment to buy weapons, and defend themselves, THAT’S why!!)
You’re free to buy weapons, you have Christian liberty. You can own a weapon. You can fight with a weapon. It doesn’t mean you should. But you have the freedom, the right, to do so. Not that it IS right, but that you have “liberty”. You’re free to buy a sword.
But let’s be honest with the word of God: Luke 22:36 is not direction to buy a physical sword.
Carnally, we do NOT need to take/buy all these things. But spiritually, we DO need to take all these things.
Matthew 6:31-34 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
All these things will be provided… so why is the sword any different than all the other things? (Because Christians want it to be different – THAT’s WHY!)
We don’t want to not possess weapons for our carnal defense. (should, not must)
We don’t want to sell all we have physically and not lay up for tomorrow. (should, not must)
Physically, your needs will be met. Physically, if you serve Him and wait on Him, you will have need of nothing on the Earth.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
And so Jesus commanded His disciples… Just go, and The Lord will provide “all these things”, “all your need.” The workman is worthy of his meat. You will have need of nothing! And that is exactly what He told them:
Mark 6:8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey…
Luke 9:3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey …
Luke 22:35-36 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. 36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
His prophets, His disciples didn’t need anything before His crucifixion. You had need of NOTHING. He would provide all your need in the flesh. And He still will. “Take no thought for the things of tomorrow”. They had no need of providing themselves their physical needs (food, clothing, protection). And that hasn’t changed.
That hasn’t changed. But NOW, something has. Something is about to change, bigtime.
You never needed ANYTHING before. BUT NOW, something is different. NOW, you do have need of something. Now, you need to buy some things. Now, its time to lay up some things for a perilous time to come, to take the things you need for the journey to come. Now is the time to buy the spiritual things you have need of. You had need of NOTHING before. BUT NOW, you are in need of some things.
And the things you have need of are spiritual.
Revelation 3:17-18 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing [physically you have no need]; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: [spiritually you have great need] 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
You had need of NOTHING before. BUT NOW, you are in need of something.
Buy of Me – “without money and without price”. It costs nothing, and yet everything.
BUY OF ME – If the Lord is telling men to buy something, its Spiritual. It’s a spiritual purse. It’s spiritual shoes. It’s spiritual bread. It’s a spiritual sword.
So why NOW? Why did Jesus say it NOW??
John 17:9-13 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; …
He said it now, because He was no longer in the world. He was departing the world, and He counted Himself as already departed. He says He WAS in the world. But NOW, He is going, going, gone. He already counted Himself GONE.
So when He said “but NOW… buy a sword”, He was speaking as one GONE. He was speaking as if He was no longer in the world. He was speaking as the time we currently are in now, when He has died, risen, and GONE to heaven.
“But NOW”, since He is gone, NOW, things are different. Now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
NOW is the time to get saved! “Now”, was not the next few hours or days while He was crucified and buried. NOW, is the same present NOW that we live in: where Jesus has made His sacrifice, and is no longer in the world. NOW, is the day of Salvation. Now is the Church Age: the Age of Grace. Now, today, it is time to buy the spiritual things. Now it is time to buy the mighty, sharp, all-important, soul-saving Sword of the Lord.
Apr 18 2021
The Election Count – Part 20
Downloadable Word document:
The Election Count – Part 20
The Election Count – Part 20
Luke 9:3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
Luke 22:35-36 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. 36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
People tend to focus on the sword, but all the other things are just as important! All those things are essentials.
It was not about a physical sword. Neither was it about a physical purse, nor physical money, nor physical clothing, nor physical bread:
So why now? What is different about NOW? Jesus was NOT saying it is NOW time to buy carnal things because I’m leaving you on your own. What He WAS saying was, NOW, it is time to buy, to take, and to carry something BETTER. NOW, there is something BETTER available.
Hebrews 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
If Jesus was saying that it was so important to have those carnal things, why should we take joyfully the spoiling of our goods? But its not about the physical things.
Now, better things are available. Better things are heavenly things. Now, a better sword is available. NOW, its time to buy a better sword, a spiritual sword!
Now, the better things, the Spiritual things, the heavenly things are to be provided. Now, it is time to buy those spiritual things. To take a spiritual purse with money in it, to buy a spiritual sword, a 2nd coat, an additional pair of shoes. To put on the spiritual things. NOW, something is changing, and something NEW is available.
Luke 22:36-37 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. 37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
Now, these things are to be accomplished. The END of His earthly ministry is here. The end of the law. The end of the carnal things, and the beginning of the spiritual things. The availability of the heavenly things is NOW.
Before this time, the better things, the heavenly things, were not available.
Now, after His crucifixion and resurrection, now, we need to buy a sword – THE sword – the sword of the Spirit, the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
He wouldn’t have waited to say this until now if He didn’t have to. He would have told them to take these things before, had they been available. That’s why He didn’t say it before. That’s why He didn’t say it at the beginning of His ministry. That’s why He didn’t say it to Adam, or to Noah, or to Moses, or even to David. He never told any of His prophets or apostles something like this before. Why? Because it was never available before NOW. You couldn’t take these things before now because they weren’t available. But NOW, they are available, they are necessary, and it is now COMMANDED that we take them.
What things? A sword, a purse, a scrip, money, coats, shoes, bread. Those things aren’t different from each other. The sword doesn’t stand out against the rest. They are all necessities. God had provided those things – those physical needs to His own since the beginning, but the true things – the spiritual things – were not yet available, not yet made manifest.
But NOW, something has changed. New things are available. What things? Let’s talk about the things…
Thing #1 – Before, they didn’t need a sword, but NOW we need to buy a SPIRITUAL sword – the sword of the Spirit.
Ephesians 6:17 And take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Take that sword now, or be killed by it at the last day.
Before, they didn’t need to take a sword. But now, we do!
Thing #2 – Before, they didn’t need to take/buy their own bread. But NOW we need to buy spiritual bread – the bread from heaven.
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: …
They didn’t need to buy bread in the wilderness. It was rained upon them from heaven. But that was not the true bread, was it? No, but now it is time to buy the living bread.
Isaiah 55:1-2 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? …
Until now, all that a man could buy was not true bread. It satisfied not.
But now, that which was prophesied was come. Now, Jesus was breaking His body – the true bread which came down from heaven.
John 6:5-6 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
This is how a man is proved. By his waters, and by his bread. Whence come your bread and your waters? Of what sort are they?
These things are your proof! Not your fleshly works or any of your carnal things.
These things are proof that you are true men, and not spies, because there is only one place to get these things. There is only one way to buy these things.
Before, they didn’t need to take a sword, or bread. But now, we do!
Thing #3 – Before, they didn’t need any other shoes. But now, we need to put on some new shoes – some spiritual shoes – shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel.
Ephesians 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Deuteronomy 29:5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.
Before, they didn’t need to take shoes, but now, some new shoes are available, and now, it is time to put them on.
Before, they didn’t need to take a sword, or bread, or shoes. But now, we do!
Thing #4 – Before, they didn’t need to take clothes. But now, we need to put on spiritual clothes – white raiment washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 3:17-18 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
You think you’re protected when you take a sword, but you’re defenseless unless you’ve bought the sword of the Spirit.
You think you’re clothed when you get dressed in the morning, but you’re naked unless you’ve bought of the Lord white raiment, and washed your clothes in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
This isn’t about physical clothing, this is about forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
Zechariah 3:3-4 Now Joshua [the high priest] was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
Before, they didn’t need to take a sword, or bread, or shoes, or clothes. But now, we do!
Thing #5 – Before, they didn’t need any purses, scrips, or bags for their money. But now, we need to take spiritual bags – and to lay up silver and gold in our bags. Spiritual bags. Bags in heaven. Not bags on the earth!!
Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags [purses/scrips] which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Now, there are better bags to provide ourselves. Bags that are in a better place.
Matthew 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
We are talking about heavenly things in heavenly places. Those are the things we need to buy and take.
If it was so important for us to have physical swords why the Lord rebuke Peter for using them? If it was so important to buy a physical sword, why did Jesus command put it up into the sheath, warn not to take the sword, and then have Paul speak of taking a better sword?
And if it was so important to have bags filled with money, why would Jesus say, sell it all and give it away? Why would Jesus talk of laying up treasures in another place? Why did He talk of providing better bags? Bags in the heavens, which don’t have HOLES in them.
Haggai 1:6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
Unless you eat Jesus, you’ll hunger. Unless you put your money in a bag IN HEAVEN, you put it into a bag (a purse, a scrip) with holes.
If taking a bag of money was now all of the sudden so important… Why did the early Christians sell all that they had and lay the money at the Apostles feet? And why would the Apostles accept that money?
It’s because the purses/bags that you need to take and fill with gold and silver are not on earth – its not about physical bags. The bags that Jesus was talking about taking and filling with money.. are in heaven.
And likewise, the swords that they so DESPERATELY needed to buy for each of themselves was that better sword: sword of His mouth: the word of God.
He..
commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, … no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: … neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves
We need all of those things listed. Those are necessities. And we should take all of those things listed. But all of those things must be taken spiritually. We need all of those things, spiritually. We ought to BUY all those things, spiritually.
Matthew 6:31-32 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
All these things are physical needs. They are not optional. If you don’t have them, you don’t have joy and life, but shame and death. But the Lord’s people never needed to worry about those things before, neither yet now do we need to.
Matthew 6:33-34 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
If you seek Him and serve Him, He provides all these things.
BUT NOW, something is different. Now, we need to get ourselves some THINGS. Well what is so different now?
Revelation 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. …
What is so different about NOW? Now, all things are new. The new things, the better things, the heavenly things are now available. Now, it is time to buy them, and take them.
And if you have been saved by grace, you have received all things.
Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
1 Corinthians 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
Before, they didn’t need to take #1 a sword, or #2 bread, or #3 shoes, or #4 clothes, or #5 bags of money. But now, we do! We need to buy all the new things – the heavenly things that are NOW available. These are the things that Jesus was talking about.
Luke 22:36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
So why is the SWORD any different than the other things listed? Why have you been taught that Jesus will provide the other things, but that you need to buy your own sword?! (Why? You know why.. Because Christians want a scriptural commandment to buy weapons, and defend themselves, THAT’S why!!)
You’re free to buy weapons, you have Christian liberty. You can own a weapon. You can fight with a weapon. It doesn’t mean you should. But you have the freedom, the right, to do so. Not that it IS right, but that you have “liberty”. You’re free to buy a sword.
But let’s be honest with the word of God: Luke 22:36 is not direction to buy a physical sword.
Carnally, we do NOT need to take/buy all these things. But spiritually, we DO need to take all these things.
Matthew 6:31-34 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
All these things will be provided… so why is the sword any different than all the other things? (Because Christians want it to be different – THAT’s WHY!)
We don’t want to not possess weapons for our carnal defense. (should, not must)
We don’t want to sell all we have physically and not lay up for tomorrow. (should, not must)
Physically, your needs will be met. Physically, if you serve Him and wait on Him, you will have need of nothing on the Earth.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
And so Jesus commanded His disciples… Just go, and The Lord will provide “all these things”, “all your need.” The workman is worthy of his meat. You will have need of nothing! And that is exactly what He told them:
Mark 6:8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey…
Luke 9:3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey …
Luke 22:35-36 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. 36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
His prophets, His disciples didn’t need anything before His crucifixion. You had need of NOTHING. He would provide all your need in the flesh. And He still will. “Take no thought for the things of tomorrow”. They had no need of providing themselves their physical needs (food, clothing, protection). And that hasn’t changed.
That hasn’t changed. But NOW, something has. Something is about to change, bigtime.
You never needed ANYTHING before. BUT NOW, something is different. NOW, you do have need of something. Now, you need to buy some things. Now, its time to lay up some things for a perilous time to come, to take the things you need for the journey to come. Now is the time to buy the spiritual things you have need of. You had need of NOTHING before. BUT NOW, you are in need of some things.
And the things you have need of are spiritual.
Revelation 3:17-18 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing [physically you have no need]; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: [spiritually you have great need] 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
You had need of NOTHING before. BUT NOW, you are in need of something.
Buy of Me – “without money and without price”. It costs nothing, and yet everything.
BUY OF ME – If the Lord is telling men to buy something, its Spiritual. It’s a spiritual purse. It’s spiritual shoes. It’s spiritual bread. It’s a spiritual sword.
So why NOW? Why did Jesus say it NOW??
John 17:9-13 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; …
He said it now, because He was no longer in the world. He was departing the world, and He counted Himself as already departed. He says He WAS in the world. But NOW, He is going, going, gone. He already counted Himself GONE.
So when He said “but NOW… buy a sword”, He was speaking as one GONE. He was speaking as if He was no longer in the world. He was speaking as the time we currently are in now, when He has died, risen, and GONE to heaven.
“But NOW”, since He is gone, NOW, things are different. Now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
NOW is the time to get saved! “Now”, was not the next few hours or days while He was crucified and buried. NOW, is the same present NOW that we live in: where Jesus has made His sacrifice, and is no longer in the world. NOW, is the day of Salvation. Now is the Church Age: the Age of Grace. Now, today, it is time to buy the spiritual things. Now it is time to buy the mighty, sharp, all-important, soul-saving Sword of the Lord.
By Pastor • Salvation • 0