Luke 9:1 "Then He called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases."

Notice that Jesus called all of His disciples together and He handed over to each of them the power and authority over all demons, and to cure all sicknesses. Demon possession and sickness are separated as two different problems. Jesus gave them this power ["dunamis"], and authority ["exousia"] to take control over Satan himself. Meditate on this, and try to understand that Jesus gives you this same power and authority through the Holy Spirit, for it is not you that do it, but He. So why would you worry about evil coming into your life, when in the name of Jesus you can order it out of your life. Remember from the last chapter, the evil spirits knew that Jesus and those with the power and authority could order them back to the abyss, and they would have to go. They will run from you, so why would you fear any of them. So why did Jesus give this power to the disciples?

Luke 9:2 "And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick."

Before Jesus sent any of his disciple out on a mission, He made sure that each of them had the gift of healing, and authority over evil spirits. Don't ever forget which came first, or you will be in trouble. First the call to preach and do the work of the Kingdom of God and His dominion, if there is no call, there will be no healing. Preach first and then the healing will take place. Preach or do the work for the Lord first and then demand the evil spirits be gone to the abyss.

So if you get the call to go preach, these are the qualification to have before you go out the door for the mission field.

Luke 9:3 "And He said unto them, "Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor script, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece."

There is a reason that you are not to load down your car with money, food, extra clothes, and things that would fill your every need. When you "take nothing for your journey", it documents that you have the faith that God will make provision for you along the way. If you learn to lean on the authority that God placed within you, He will make provision that He sees you need. The Word "staves" as it is used here, is to present yourself as one in high authority, like a scepter, like your a very important person.

Looking at many ministries today, they leave you with just the opposite impression that Jesus is asking of His disciples. They come into town, loaded heavy with all sorts of things to impress you right into the kingdom. The tap you on the head, say a few words and you are to fall flat on your face. Remember we are entering into a time when there is a famine for the true word of God. It is time to pay attention to what is said and if the teaching can not be supported completely by the Word, it's not the Word of God. If you are going out to minister, don't get the big head.

Script is a begging bag, a plea for vows to get to your emotions. Christ is telling you that if you are going trying to represent Him, don't go begging for food or any thing else. If you have faith, God will provide for your every need, and the act of begging undermines faith. Today many ministries feel that passing the begging bag is religious, and that becomes the most important part of their ministry. Dress like the people you are going in to minister to.

Luke 9:4 "And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart."

Jesus is telling them, that when you go into a town, don't go from one house to another. There was a lot of ritual in welcoming new guests, and if you move from one house to another, you waste time that could be spent on studying the Word. You stay in one location until the ministering is over, they you depart. Forget all the love offerings, and gifts that they want to give you, but stay put and preach.

Luke 9:5 "And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them."

The roads were dusty, and when you came into a town, if you were not received, don't waste time there, dust off yourself and move on. By simply shaking the dust of your feet, you branded that town in God's books in heaven. Jesus is telling the disciples to kick some of the camel dung at them with your feet and be gone. Those people will know exactly what the meaning is, don't preach to those that will not receive you.

Luke 9:6 "And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where."

So the disciples went out by twos, throughout the towns preaching the gospel, and healing every where. Get that: Preaching, and then healing. The Lord did the healing through the Holy Spirit. If a city will not receive you, don't hang around there.

Luke 9:7 "Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;"

Remember, Old Herod the tetrarch had killed and cut John the Baptist head off, and he is starting to worry that Jesus is John the Baptist raised from the dead. John gave Herod a hard time for Herod's taking his brother's wife to himself. When John preached against this wickedness, Herod took off his head. Sure Herod knows exactly what is going on, for back in Luke 8:3 we read that Joanna was the wife of Herod's steward, Chuza, and she was a Christian. She knew Mary Magdalene and the other women that assisted Jesus and the disciples.

Luke 9:8 "And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again."

All sorts of rumors were floating around, now that these twelve disciples were going all over the region preaching and healing. Some people even said that Elijah had reappeared, and others claimed all of the old prophets had come back and risen from the dead.

Luke 9:9 "And Herod said, "John have I behead: but Who is This, of Whom I hear such things?" And He desired to see Him."

Herod knew that John was dead, and his head was separated from his body. Herod did more than just want to hear from Jesus, he saw more trouble coming like that which John had given him. Herod wanted to know exactly who Jesus was. Herod will get his chance to speak to him, but it will be the day of Jesus' crucifixion. Only then Jesus will not speak, but remain silent according to prophecy.

Isaiah 53:7 "He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth."

Isaiah 53:8 "He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the Living..."

Herod would be present to witness this prophecy, as Jesus was delivered before him by Pilate, and Jesus said nothing in His defense. If you present the gospel to a community, you will be noticed and even the government will take notice. The point here is how do you handle the gifts and authority that the Spirit has given to you. This applies to you as a seed planter of the Word also, for you are a handler of truth, and that is the most powerful thing in the world.

If you want a church that is strong and powerful, then teach the truth of God's Word, chapter by chapter and verses by verse, rightly dividing the Word. When truth is taught, it cannot be destroyed, for the Spirit makes that truth to continues in the minds of those who hear the truth.

Luke 9:10 "And the apostles, when they were returned, told Him all that they had done. And He took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida."

Notice from this verse forward, the disciples are called "apostles", ones sent forth, to teach the gospel. Jesus Christ sent all twelve of his students out to teach and preach the Word of God, and heal the sick. They are no longer disciples of Jesus, but apostles sent forth to preach the gospel of Christ. When the Apostles return, they went to a private place called Bethsaida, or the house of fish. It is from these fish that we get the symbol for Christianity. Where the meeting was held, the fish was drawn on the wall, and that was where Christians went to study the Word.

Luke 9:11 "And the people, when they knew it, followed Him: and He received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing."

Jesus ministry is going at its fullest at this time, yet He is still telling others not to tell people where or how they were healed.

Luke 9:12 "And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto Him, "Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place."

While Jesus has this large crowd around Him as He is teaching, the disciples come to the place of teaching, and see that there is a problem facing them. It is getting late, and there is no place handy to eat and lodge. The disciples are asking Jesus to send them away so that they can find a place to eat and lodge. Stop and think for a moment, these disciples had just got back in town off their trip, and they see all these people gathered around Jesus. Why would they think Jesus needed to be instructed in such matters? He gave them power to have faith to provide for their own needs as they went. Now back home, they are starting to think again as the public would think. They are out giving Christ, the Son of God advice.

Luke 9:13 "But He said unto them, "Give ye them to eat." And they said, "We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people."

The cipher from the fish, means that there can be "witness union", or it can mean "division". However for Christ you can have union, division, and witness. The spelling for "Fish" in the Greek is "Jesus Christ Son of God Savior", the cipher meaning. They also have five loaves of bread, and five is the biblical numeric representation for grace. Grace is also represented as the "body of Christ". The body of Christ today is the many membered body of Christ made up of all believers. It's the church of believers. So Jesus is about to teach a lesson to us through these loaves of bread and fishes. This is a warning as to what can slip into the body of Christ, if you are not careful. The disciples messed up at the start, telling Jesus to send the body away to find food elsewhere.

This lesson deals with how false doctrines will move into the church, if a large body comes together for teaching, and the bread of Christ goes out to the masses. In time, man's thoughts will come to the surface and suppress the teachings of Christ. It becomes man trying to tell God what to do, as he replaces his traditions for God's Word. This is what happens when you take one verse out of context, and apply it to man's reasoning. That reasoning then become false doctrine, and and replaces the true Word of God.

Luke 9:14 "For they were about five thousand men. And He said to His disciples, "Make them sit down by fifties in a company."

There were five thousand men, plus many women and children. Fifty in biblical numerics is the Holy Spirit. Fifty brings us right to Pentecost, the day that the Holy Spirit came to dwell with men. In other words, Jesus is instructing His disciples to keep order in the body of Christ. There is one leader in that body of Christ and that leader is Jesus. Jesus is the leader today just as He was then. Jesus didn't want mob action when the bread was coming, but He wanted order in the church, seat them in order.

Luke 9:15 "And they did so, and made them all sit down."

Luke 9:16 "Then He took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude."

Then Jesus took the five loaves, or grace of God; and the two fish and looked to heaven. This is our example as to when we pray. Notice who fed the multitude. Did Christ feed the multitude? No. The disciples fed the multitude, and today you are going to feed the multitude, just as they did at this time. However, you had better be aware who is serving the fish, and who is serving the bread. the fish again represents the division or union between the believers, while the bread the body or Word of God. Jesus is the Word, as we are told in John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. "

Pay attention as to who is serving the fish; who is making the divisions and appointing the responsibility to the members. It is important to know how and by whom the bread or Word of God is being handled. Is it some man's traditions that is being served up as the Word? or is it the truths from the Word of God? This is the reason that God sent us the entire Word of God, for it is the blueprint for His complete plan for all ages. God expects you as a believer to know that plan, so that in these final days of this earth age, you are not deceived. God has given us the Holy Spirit to learn His Word, and then discern the truth when it is given, from a lie, or tradition [false doctrine].

Luke 9:17 "And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets."

All this chapter and the prior chapter we have been looking at the number 12. First with the 12 year old girl raised from the dead, and then the woman with the issue of blood for 12 years. Here twelve baskets were taken up after the entire multitude had been feed. Of course the 12 represents one basket for each tribe of the tribes of Israel. Jesus is telling us that there is enough spiritual food to for not only Israel, but there will be plenty to feed all peoples that are present. Those that seek the Word, shall find the truth. Remember that until this time, God's people were the house of Israel, all the tribes of Israel. God led them, He blessed them, and looked over them until this time of the Saviors birth. Then Jesus would die on the cross, and at His resurrection, Salvation would be opened up to all the people that would believe on Him. The offer is to "Whomsoever will".

In Matthew 16:5-12 tells us why the focus is given to these 12 baskets that were left over from the feeding of the multitude. Jesus and the disciples had been traveling and forgot to take bread. Then Jesus instructed them in verse 6: "Then Jesus said unto them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." The disciples wondered why Jesus was calling attention to the fact that they did not bring the left over bread with them, they wondered why.

Matthew 16:8-10 "Which when Jesus perceived, He said unto them, "O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?" [8] "Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up" [9] "Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?" [10]

Jesus was not talking about giving blame for not bringing leftover bread from the times of feeding the multitude. Many times we look at the physical meaning of the story, other than the spiritual meaning. In both of these feedings there were many baskets taken up, 12 in the first and 7 baskets in the second feeding. Jesus is calling attention to each of these time and the amount of bread gather from among the multitude. Seven is the number for spiritual completeness.

Matthew 16:11 "How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?"

The bread is the body of Christ, and it is the body of Christ that Jesus is concerned about. The point here is that when you meet in a large group where many are meeting, and you begin to pick up the fragment of bread or teaching of the Word, there are going to be some bad instruction spread amongst the group. It is like going to a large group gathering from your church, and you have people from all over the country side attending. You are going to pick up all sorts of ideas, false doctrine floating around, and unleavened bread presented as the Word of God, that just does not check out in the Word. Jesus was saying here, that there was a lot of dirty bread gathered, caused by the Pharisees and Sadducees doctrine being spread, right along with Jesus' teaching. Before it is all over, expect there to be a lot of confusion being spread. Jesus is telling His disciples to be wise enough to discern the good from the bad teaching. When a large group meets, there will be all kinds of people in the gathering and as they talk amongst themselves, false doctrine will be presented. The point is to protect the body of Christ. Keep His Word to the forefront, and don't allow worldly attitudes to slip in and take you off your focus of the Word. Keep disciplined in the Word of God.

Matthew 16:12 "Then understood they how that He bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."

 

Today take that one step farther, beware of the doctrine of man. Many times the man is trying to do right, but his understanding of the Word, is not of the Spirit of God, but from his own imaginations. Stay focused on the Word of God and don't allow man's traditions to take control of your thinking, those false teachings could poison someone's thinking. The body of Christ is precious, and it is important what is taught as being the Word of God. So there is another teaching to these verses, other than the miracle that took place, the feeding of five thousand people from the five loaves and two fishes. That feeding of these masses of people is no problem for God, for God spoke and nothing became everything.

In the case of Elijah and the widow woman, the few morsels of bread lasted and fed them for three years. Everything is possible with our heavenly Father. But the thing Jesus wanted us to be aware of here is fragmentation; picking up the bits of gossip, and false teaching, and thinking its from the Word of God. Most of the wisdom of men is nothing but hogwash that just won't stand the test of time. Don't let it into the body of Christ, which is what the bread truly is.

Luke 9:18 "And it came to pass, as He was alone praying, His disciples were with Him: and He asked them, saying, "Whom say the people that I am?"

Luke 9:19 "They answering said, "John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again."

Notice that the disciples are answering Jesus, as to what they heard the people say, as they were scattered amongst the five thousand. Not one of them answered "the Messiah".

Luke 9:20 "He said unto them, "But whom say ye that I am?" Peter answering said, "The Christ of God."

"The Christ of God", "the Anointed one of YHVH", the heavenly Father. Matthew's report of this is in Matthew 16:15, 16.

Matthew 16:15-16 "He saith unto them, "But whom say ye that I am?" [15] "And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." [16]

This is the full title of Jesus Christ, and Jesus responded to Peter and said.

Matthew 16:17 "And Jesus answered and said unto him, "Blessed art thou, Simon Par-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father Which is in heaven."

"Simon Par-jona" means "the Son of the dove". Peter didn't just happen to say what He said, but our Heavenly Father speaking through the Holy Spirit, caused Peter to say those words.

Matthew 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

"Peter" ["petros" in the Greek] the disciple, as given here in the text is a "movable rock", But the "Rock" ["Petra"] that Jesus will build his church upon is unmovable. God's Church that is build on the Rock, Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God, cannot be moved. It is important that you understand that the foundation of the Church is not Peter the disciple, as many teach; but the Lord Jesus Christ, that went to the cross and shed His blood for all those that would receive Him; and arose from the dead on the third day, according to Scripture. That is the church that the gates of hell, the devil and all his deceptions cannot prevail against.

The "Christ of God" means the "Anointing of God". Jesus Christ is the Anointing Oil of God, and that is what you are saying when you say Jesus Christ. He is the Messiah that was promised many years prior by the prophets of old. He is the power of God here on earth and that is why He passed that power or "dunamis" from God on to his disciples, and apostles. They would be the ones to carry the Gospel of God to the world.

Matthew 16:19 "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Matthew 16:20 "Then charged He His disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ."

It just wasn't Jesus time to go to the cross yet. As you study God's Word, stay focused on what the Word of God is actually saying. Check out all teachers of the Word, with the Word of God, and make sure you are getting the bread of Christ, and not some man's dirty bread.

Luke 9:21 "And He straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;"

The fact that He was Messiah.

Luke 9:22 "Saying, "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day."

It was not Jesus time to die yet, for there were many parts of prophecy that had to come to pass before He went to the cross. This is the first time that Jesus is telling His disciples, and Jesus is getting them ready for the events that they will be facing.

Luke 9:23 "And He said to them all, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

Earlier we talked about the fish being the symbol of Christianity today, and most Christians wear their crosses to let other know they are Christians. However it is important to know what Christ was talking about here, and it isn't the wearing of a cross around your neck. A person picks up a cross for only one purpose, and that is to hang on it and die. Crosses are tools for crucifixion, for putting people to death. Jesus is saying that you have to be willing to die for Him daily, if you are going to follow Him. Make the teachings of Jesus Christ completely control your life, and put the work of the Lord before the things of your life. It requires you to take a stand and be willing to die for that stand for the Lord. No, Jesus isn't asking you to die, but to be willing to die if it came to that point. Sure the two witnesses will give their life up for Christ's sake, but you also must be willing to come to that point.

Luke 9:24 "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it."

This also is hard for an unbeliever to understand, but it is not saying that you must die, but be willing to put Christ before everything else in your life. Again the point here is that you are willing to let the Word of God amount to something in your life. If you preserve your flesh life by bowing to Antichrist, the false messiah, which is the unforgivable sin, you sold out your eternal soul. However if you make a stand for the Lord against Satan the Antichrist, at the coming of the Lord your reward is eternal life. It isn't even a comparison, for how can you compare a few months of pleasure under Satan's rule, to the eternal bliss of your soul for all eternity. This verse is pointing to one thing that is the unforgivable sin, and that can only happen when Satan is here on earth after the sounding of the sixth trump.

Mark 13:9, 10 "But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten; and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them." [9] "And the gospel must first be published among all nations." [10]

It is by people like you that the Word is being published through out the world, to neighbors and family.

Mark 13:11 "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost [Spirit]"

Notice that this verse requires a willingness and a faith in Christ before hand, that you are willing to allow yourself to be the tool for the Holy Spirit to speak through you at that moment in time when you are standing before the councils of men, and they want you to give them answers. God has promised that at that time, the Holy Spirit will place the Words that you are to speak in your mind. It will not be you, but the Spirit of God that will be speaking through you. Sure, Satan will be on earth at this time, and the point to verse 24 is, are you willing to give your life for His sake, or save your live for the short span of time Satan will rule over his world kingdom, and turn against our Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 9:25 "For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?"

Just like Satan promised Jesus the whole world if He would bow down and worship him; Satan will give you what ever it takes to get you to sell your soul to him. After the sounding of the sixth trumpet, the world will be his to give away, but that period of time will be only for five months. Revelation 9:5, 10 tell us that Satan and his fallen angels will be limited to only five months before the seventh trump sounds and this age of flesh man is over and done with.

Luke 9:26 "For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels."

When you are standing before the councils of the church world of Satan's realm, if you deny Christ in your life, Jesus will deny that He knows you, when He comes at the seventh trump, five months later. Jesus has just told his disciples that He is going to suffer and go to the cross, but they know if He will be going, He will also be coming back. Jesus told them, I'm going to raise from the dead". The moment that Jesus defeated death, Christ's kingdom here on earth became a reality and fact. Christianity is a reality, not a religion.

Luke 9:27 "But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God."

The kingdom of God started the moment that Jesus Christ came out of that tomb, resurrected. Jesus Christ is the King, and His dominion became what was once Satan's. Satan's rule now in the end times will only be by the permission and authority that God gives to him. When he comes to deceive the world at the sixth trump, Revelation 9:1 tells us that God gave him the authority and permission to deceive the world for those five months. When the five months are over, Satan goes back to the pit, and the fallen angels to the abyss to be held for destruction after the Millennium and the great white throne Judgment.

If you are in Christ, Satan's deceptions will not harm or deceive you. God has given his disciples, and that means you also, the power and the authority to order Satan and his devils out of your life. This is why it is important for each of us to know these teaching of Christ, to know all the protection that God has given you. You have the power to order them out of your life, but you must give the order. If you are a Christian that puts Christ first and picks up your cross in your life every day of the week, this knowledge should give you peace of mind. You prove you are a Christian when you live Christ's teachings all the time in your life.

So this is why some of those standing before Jesus on that day would see the kingdom of God, but remember only some, for Judas would not, as He will be murdered by the Kenite religious leaders, to hide their role in the crucifixion of Christ. Peter tells us in Acts 1:16 - 18.

Acts 1:16 "Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus."

Acts 1:17 "For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry."

Acts 1:18 "Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out."

This will be discussed later in the book of Luke, but the point to be made here is that Judas gave the money back to the Jews at the temple, it was the religious leaders that used that money to buy the potters field. Then they ripped Judas open from groin to neck, and then hung him. They thrust his body forward in a manner that his insides came "burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out." This is why all the disciples were not there, Judas had repented and would be murdered just as Christ was by the Kenite religious leaders of the day.

Luke 9:28 "And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray."

The "sayings" talked about here, were when Jesus told his disciples that He would be crucified and rise from the dead. Eight in biblical numerics stands for "new beginnings". So Jesus is going to show Peter, John and James the new beginnings that would come.

Luke 9:29 "And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering."

As Jesus was praying, the appearance of Jesus countenance changed, for Jesus was transfigured.

Luke 9:30 "And, behold there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias:"

Peter, John and James witnessed Jesus standing with Moses and Elijah, and all these three were in their transfigured bodies. Moses was the law giver; that God gave the law to on mount Sinai to give to Israel. Elijah was the prophet of prophets. Elijah never saw death, for God took him. Malachi 4:5, 6 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:" [5] "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." [6]

Elijah is coming back to change the hearts of the people of this earth, living in their flesh bodies, either to our Heavenly Father, or to their father Satan. Back to their "fathers" plural; either to the true Christ, or to Satan, living here on earth at that time in the role of the Antichrist. Satan is coming first saying he is going to rapture so called Christians out of here, and many will believe him. Why? they would rather believe a lie than follow the truths from God's Word. Elijah will turn the hearts of the children, for it depends on where these children are biblically illiterate, and following fairy-tales, or sealed in the Word of God, which way their heart will be turned.

Those preachers that tell you to follow their rapture doctrine, are telling their flock to just follow me and we will all wind up in hell, for that is where they are going. They are ignorant of the Word of God. Christ wants nothing to do with them at His return. If you care more for following false teaching than being focused on the Word, Jesus doesn't want to see nor speak to you at His return. When Elijah comes, those following their rapture doctrine will think Elijah is nuts, for he will be against their traditions and false doctrine. They are the ones that will be celebrating when Satan sits in Jerusalem and kills the two witnesses of God, and puts their bodies in the arena in Jerusalem.

Luke 9:31 "Who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem."

While Christ was talking to these two men, Moses and Elijah, they spoke to Jesus while He appeared in His glory and of His crucifixion, that would take place in Jerusalem. This verse explains verse 26. This tells us how they would see Jesus when He appeared in His glory. We are getting a peek as to how it will be after the crucifixion.

Luke 9:32 "But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him."

Here Peter John and James slept while the whole thing took place, and work up only to see Jesus radiant with in the glory of His transfiguration. There is another watch coming very shortly, at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; and don't you go to sleep on that watch. There are many today that are spiritually asleep that are biblically illiterate, and they will present themselves a disgrace and a shame at the return of our Lord. It is time to study now, to wake up and be aware of the times that we are living in now. If you are biblically illiterate, you don't have to stay that way.

Luke 9:33 "And it came to pass, as they departed from Him, Peter said unto Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias:" not knowing what he said."

After the fact Peter finally realized that it was good for them to be there, but he slept through the entire then. Peter is muttering things that he doesn't know what he is saying. He knows that Moses and Elias was there, but he missed the lesson as to why they were there. Don't go to sleep on your watch. Pay attention to the order of events that have already taken place, and shall take place in these latter days.

Luke 9:34 "While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud."

Luke 9:35 "And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son: hear Him."

Here Peter is muttering about building these monuments, and God sent this cloud to wake them up. God spoke directly to them and said wake up Peter, "This is My beloved Son: hear Him."

We have the Word of God with us, and we should study that word, and get away from the imaginations of men. Satan is bringing much ignorance on the world today, and when you study God's Word for truth, it takes you away from the ignorance going on today. We are living in the latter days, and many of the events of the latter days, have already happened. The order of events are all given in His Word, and they will take place as it is Written. Once you come to know the truth, you will wonder how you could have become involved in all those other fairy-tales. It will change your life, and bring blessings into your life, and of your family.

Luke 9:36 "And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen."

When our Heavenly Father's voice was over, Jesus was alone; Moses and Elijah were not present any more. Peter, John and James told no one what they had witnessed up there on mount transfiguration. They never even told the other disciples, but God wanted these three disciples to have foreknowledge of what would happen later, when they all would be suffering because of the crucifixion that would take place. There would be no guessing of events during the period of time from Jesus Christ's crucifixion, to the resurrection. Remember that God foretells us all things that shall happen, even in these end times. That gives us peace of mind.

Luke 9:37 "And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met Him."

Luke 9:38 "And, behold a man of the company cried out, saying, "Master, I beseech Thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child."

What was wrong with this boy?

Luke 9:39 "And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him."

It is hard to understand what is going on here, for it is not common in our land today. This boy is being torn apart both physically and spiritually by evil spirits. Demonic forces do exist today, as they did in Jesus day.

Luke 9:40 "And I besought Thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not."

Note here that though Jesus gave the disciples the authority and power to cast out demons and evil spirits, here they could not.

Luke 9:41 "And Jesus answering said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither."

Jesus is calling attention to the disciples that He would not be with them very much longer. His time for the crucifixion was getting closer. Jesus wanted them to sharpen up and gain the knowledge to cast out these demons before He went to the cross. Sure, the disciples heard and say these things happening, Jesus tells them why they couldn't; "O faithless and perverse generation..." So something was taking place amongst the disciples to keep them from casting out this demon.

Luke 9:42 "And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father."

As the devil was coming out of the child, the child hurt himself. But Jesus healed the child and gave this boy back to his father. We are told in Matthew 17:15 that it was a "Lunatic" spirit, for this lunatic spirit has to do with the moon, and the very devil himself. If you have your mind else where while you are trying to gain control over the devil, you lose. We will see in the next chapter that Jesus will give us power of each of these spirits.

Luke 9:43 "And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, He said unto His disciples."

Luke 9:44 "Let these saying sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men."

Jesus is telling His disciples, get this into your head once and for all; I'm not going to be with you much longer. Start to focus on what is going on here, and get it straight in your mind. Jesus is telling His disciples to sharpen up.

Luke 9:45 "But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask Him of that saying."

Jesus was talking straight to the disciples, but they were afraid to ask question of the things they did not understand.

Luke 9:46 "Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest."

This is the reason that things were not going well with the disciples. These men are still disciples, and thinking like students. Sure they went out on their first ministry, and came back somewhat successful. However they are all starting to get on their ego trips. They are finding out that when you put yourself in front of God's Word, it is you that you are concerned with the most, and God's work comes in second. They lost focus on the fact that it is Christ Himself, and the Father and Spirit that did all those wonderful works, not you. Everything that they did was in Jesus' name, God's Spirit did the healing, and God's Spirit opened the hearts and minds in people to receive them. God's power is your source, and when you refocus your attention to yourself, your ministry will fall flat. Every blessing you get comes from our Heavenly Father, and every power that God has put within you, is from His Spirit. So this is the reason that the disciples couldn't cast out that one devil.

Luke 9:47 "And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by Him."

As Jesus was talking to his disciples, He reached over, picked up this child and set him by Himself. So Jesus is about to teach is disciples a lesson, using this small child.

Luke 9:48 "And said unto them, "Whosoever shall receive this child in My name receiveth Me: and whosoever shall receive Me receiveth Him That sent Me: for He that is least among you all, the same shall be great."

The Lesson Jesus is teaching is that He Himself was a servant to all people. Jesus prejudged His elect before this earth age as they were faithful in that age that was. However God sent them to this earth to be servants that would be faithful to a duty. Speaking of His elect in Romans 8:28-29 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." [28] "For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." [29]

Romans 8:30 "More over whom He did predestinate, then He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified."

Those that held true in that first earth age, God judged or justified each of them there and then. So why did they have to come to this earth age of flesh man anyhow? They had a job to do for our Heavenly Father, and that calling was according to His purpose. They were sent to teach God's Word with understanding. So this makes those of God's elect servants to the people. The greater the servant, the greatest in the kingdom of God. The greater you get the glory the greater God gets the glory, Why? Because all our glory is going to our Lord Jesus Christ. He gets all the honor, not us.

Revelation 4:11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Have you ever wondered why your were created in the first place? God created your soul to give honor and pleasure to Himself. Notice that Jesus told the disciples that they would be great, but not the greatest...no that right is reserved for the Lord Jesus Christ only.

Luke 9:49 "And John answered and said, "Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us."

John, the apostle of love is speaking here. When we heard him casting out devils, we told him to stop casting out devils, for you are not one of us. This is directed to denominationalism, and we should be careful how we point a finger an another's ministry. It is not for us to judged any denomination, but rather judge the teacher him or her self as to whether the Word of God is being taught. Any person that is able to have the knowledge and wisdom to teach, and to cast out demons, is working for the Father. It is only the power from the Father that can cast out the demons. These other people were working within the ordinances that God set for that time. They had heard the Word of God from Christ, and were following the instructions that Jesus had taught them. Only a servant of God can cast out a demon.

Luke 9:50 "And Jesus said unto him, "Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us."

So what did Jesus say about this? The battle is Christ against Satan, not between the divisions of the church. Get it? If your in Christ and doing Christ's Work, than you are not against those doing Christ's Work. Denominations have nothing to do with the casting out of demonic spirits, but is whether you know Christ or not. If you have received Christ, then He has given you the authority and the power to cast out demons, but you must have the faith to get it done.

Luke 9:51 "And it came to pass, when the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,"

This is close now to the time when Jesus will be turned over to the Kenite religious leaders, to be tried and murdered or crucified. The time is arriving when Jesus will make that final trip to Jerusalem before His crucifixion.

Luke 9:52 "And sent messengers before His face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for Him."

There is a lot of history that is within this verse. Most of these Samaritans did not get along with the people of Judah. Most of the ten tribes had been scattered hundreds of years before by the Assyrians, and in turn, as the Assyrians removed the tribes from off their lands, they replaced them with five other peoples that they had conquered. These Samaritans were from those peoples that had been placed in the lands of the former house of Israel. So this has a little to do with Christ being sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Judah, was not lost, in that sense.

It is these people that were casting out the evil spirits, and Christ is showing that if these people are not against us, they are for us. At the close of Jesus' crucifixion, salvation will be opened up to all peoples of every nation. Whosoever will, may come and believe on Him and receive salvation by faith.

Luke 9:53 "And they did not receive Him, because His face was as though He would go to Jerusalem."

In other words, these Samaritans did not receive Christ, and Jesus continued on His journey to Jerusalem.

Luke 9:54 "And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, wilt Thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?"

Remember how Elijah brought fire down on the altar and consumed the false prophets of Baal that had tried all day to get their gods to start the fire. Here James and John wanted to teach these people a lesson, and consume these Samaritans that would not receive Jesus. But remember that Salvation would not be available to them until Christ went to the cross. John and James had been to the mount of transfiguration, and they had seen Elijah there, and now they wanted to do the same that he did.

Notice that Christ did not condemn the Samaritans, but He is beginning to open the door with the thought that all those that are not against us, are with us.

Luke 9:55 "But He turned, and rebuked them, and said, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of."

Jesus turned and told his disciples that they just don't know the spirit that they are of. We have see that they have been on ego trips, and Jesus is getting short of patience with the disciples.

Luke 9:56 "For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." And they went to another village."

The power of God is not give to destroy any of men's lives, but to bring them to salvation. Jesus is not out to destroy any innocent, ignorant soul that is blind to the truth of His Word. The idea of the message and the use of the gifts of the Spirit is convert people to salvation, and save their souls.

Luke 9:57 "And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto Him, "Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest."

This man was ready to commit his entire life into the service of spreading the gospel.

Luke 9:58 "And Jesus said unto him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head."

The wild animals and wild birds have their holes and nests, but the Son of man was a traveler, with no place to call home.

Luke 9:59 "And He said unto another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father."

There is disagreement amongst scholars as to what this verse mean; but my opinion is that this father was ill, and hadn't died yet. This waiting could take many months before that time came burial came. The crucifixion will be over with by that time.

Luke 9:60 "Jesus said unto him, "Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God."

To preach the kingdom of God, is to present the King, Jesus Christ, and His dominion, the dominion of almighty God.

Sure you shouldn't wish death on anyone, for Christ came to give life to all. But there are still laws whereby when one man takes another man's life in homicide, that man's life should be take from him. God's Word is specific that that murderer should be executed and His soul sent to the Father for judgment. God loves His children and He doesn't want that murderer to kill an other soul. God's salvation is available to all unless they violate another man's right to live. It is very New Testament that one that commits murder is in danger of his soul perishing, meaning going to hell.

Luke 9:61 "And another also said, "Lord, I will follow Thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house."

We will see later from the fourteenth chapter that we are to love our family, but we are to love them less than we love our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus does come first in our lives, and we are to follow Him every moment of our lives, daily. This doesn't mean that you have to go abroad somewhere, but that you commit your attention foremost to the duties and work of the Lord, as good and faithful stewards of the Word.

Luke 9:62 "And Jesus said unto him, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

It is hard for us living in this modern day to understand what is said here. Of course in the days of this writing, there was not the modern equipment that we have today. Sure you have the lines on the team of horses, but the reason that the lines are around your waist is because both hands are holding on to the handles of the plow. Your moving of the handles of the plow, determines the cut and direction of the plow's point. To let go even a little allows the plow to head off into another direction.

If you are plowing a field, you can not plow in a straight line and be taking your hands off the handles. Once you have taken up the reigns of God, and set your hand to the ministry plow that is set before you, you can't look back even for an instant or you will mess up. However today this is dealing with your commitment to a ministry, or work that is before you. Once you have committed to a ministry, it simply can't change, or it will fall flat on it's face. If you are heading in many directions, that ministry is not real. If you back away from and commitment of your soul to the kingdom of God, it is not fit for God's kingdom. Once you have accepted Christ, and committed your life to Him, Jesus doesn't like it when you pull away from that commitment. This is a commitment to follow Him in your daily life.