Luke 9: 1-6

Luke chapter 9 invites us to evaluate the information Luke has given us. It is, if you will, a section quiz before transitioning to the next saga. Luke will give us a multiple choice question about who he is. But none of the popular choices are correct. Then, in light of who he is and our relationship to him, who are we and how should we live?

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them." And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. Luke 9:1-6 RSV

The sent ones. Of all those who followed him, who were disciples of his, there were twelve called by Y'shua. Luke 6:12-16 gives the circumstances of their calling. After a night of prayer, Y'shua called his disciples to himself and before them all, named twelve as his chosen ambassadors or apostles. In Luke 8:1 they are said to be with him, but aside from being named as the twelve, they do not seem to have a special roll that distinguishes them from the rest of the disciples. They are there to observe him but I do not see them participating in his ministry. But here in Luke 9 we become privy to the instruction for the mission they are about to be sent on.

He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases…. No other details are given; Y'shua simply gave the twelve power and authority. My head wants to know how that happened. There is no hint of laying on of hands, of a ceremony of any kind. Just the fact that it happened. But in chapter 10 there is a warning.

Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:19-20 RSV

Word study review:

Power- http://musicofrain.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/luke-846-power/

New word studies:

Authority- http://musicofrain.wordpress.com/2010/07/04/authority-luke-91-5-word-study/

Kingdom- http://musicofrain.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/kingdom-word-study-luke-91-5/

The twelve have supernatural power and they go with the authority of Y'shua. The dark, fallen world of spirits who are in bondage under the prince of the power of the air must submit to the authority of Y'shua when they are confronted by any one of the twelve. They also have the power to heal disease. Neither of these are the whole of the story. They have these gifts for a purpose. Proclaim the kingdom of God. The power to heal disease is probably so that men can see that they have authority since physical man cannot see what the spirit realm knows. See Luke 5:17-25 But again, the purpose is to proclaim the kingdom of God.

The kingdom is near to you, but it will not envelope or absorb you. You will not suddenly find that you have tripped into the kingdom, nor can you just move along with the crowd. A decision must be made. Enter or walk away. There is only one way to enter. You must be born from on high by faith in Y'shua ha Mashiyach (Jesus who is the Christ).

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Luke 6:20 RSV Y'shua sends the twelve out to preach the kingdom of God. The sermon on the mount (as it is called by readers of Matthew) begins very much the way the sermon in Luke 6 starts. Of first importance is that the favor of Elohim (Blessed) is on those who are beggars in spirit. Not beggars in the world of men, but beggars in the spirit realm. The kingdom of Elohim belongs to them and he favors those who pray to him for what they need. In light of that they are not to bring a rucksack with a bed roll, extra clothing or money for restaurants or hotels (at least for my 21^st century understanding). They are to live according to the blessing of Luke 6:20, dependent on YHVH for their daily bread. Their whole focus is to be proclaiming the kingdom of Elohim.

From town to town, the hospitality they received would be prepared for them by YHVH. In "The History of the New Testament" by FF Bruce, the Essines of the day were not restricted to Qumram. There were followers of the sect in most towns of the holy land. Traveling Essines could depend on a place to sleep and a meal from other Essines when they traveled. Apparently Y'shua wanted his followers to practice and receive this same hospitality. When they traveled they were to find the home that was receptive to them and stay there as they proclaimed the kingdom of God in that town. Even if the town or the host rejected the message of the kingdom of Elohim and his Messiah, they still could be assured they had a place that was provided for them not by the host but by their Lord. If the citizens of that town rejected the good news brought to them by the ambassadors of Y'shua, then they were to go through a ritual to shake off the dust of that town and walk away, no sleep was to be lost, no self loathing because of their failure.

Romans 12 is an appeal to believers to prove what is the will of God by changing our thinking from how we conduct ourselves and survive as people of this world, and how we have been called to live as citizens of the kingdom of Elohim, who have been born from on high and stand firm on faith. Believers are given gifts. Our privilege is to use our gift as a functioning member of the body of Messiah. In the first epistle to the Corinthians Paul teaches that there are varieties of gifts from Elohim for a variety of service. We are united by one and the same Spirit or breath of Elohim for the service of one Messiah. Not everyone is a sent one (note: not simply the office of apostle, but the calling of a missionary), not everyone has speaking gifts. Many of us are gifted to give aid to those who are sent, be it hospitality or aid, but all of us have one purpose, proclaim the good news of the kingdom.

I am just not sure how I am doing. It is easy to feel isolated. Y'shua has given me this amazing gift, and I am hanging on to it, but am I doing my part to proclaim His kingdom?

Do I live in dependence on Elohim or my paycheck? I count the income we have as a blessing. But is that what I am supposed to do? Again in Romans chapter 12 there is the exhortation to not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. How am I to live in light of that?

I suspect that the clout of the world is the glory that the devil is willing to share with those who, in one way or another, will bow and worship him. It is bondage. Choose ye this day whom you will serve…. Y'shua gave everything for me, I don't want to hold back for him.

Surprise....

Surprise! My car was stolen early this morning. The only thing I saw on the security camera was tail-lights. That is such a unsetteling feeling. It isn't even the first time it was stolen, it isn't the 2nd time, this is the third time and it doesn't feel any better than the first time. It is an older Honda Civic that I only use for errands but it doesn't help. Hondas are beyond easy to take and start. I have a cyber friend in Thailand who put into words what I have been thinking, "What is God doing? Praise him before it becomes clear, this was no accident."
Surprise! After I settled down, a walk about the garden to see if anything was new seemed like a good idea. Raspberries are coloring out.

Surprise! Twelve tiny jars of wild blackberry jam. Now I need to make a little bit of bread or popovers. Like my mom used to do, I save the "foam" that gets skimmed off to use fresh on bread. This is so good. The hill is still covered with ruby berries that should be ripe just about the 4th of July.

This Calendula blossom wasn't really a surprise. I have been watching her slowly open for the last two days. Looking good today.

This is just the bouquet of the week with my squarefoot gardens (three of them anyway) in the background. Box 1 has three kinds of peas (snow, snap and shell or English), carrots, beets, chard, lettuces, a tomato and sweet peas. Box 2 holds more lettuce, broccoli, sweet purple torpedo onions, cippolini onions, shallots, leeks, more chard and snapdragons. Box 3 has tomatoes (3 paste and a yellow persimmon), three kinds of beans, basil, carrots (because carrots love tomatoes), and peppers. Seems like there is something else but I don't remember what. I am starting to love my back yard.... who really needs a car anyway?

Friday, July 2; overcast, showers likely most of the day, low-53 high so far (noon) 73

Lavender is almost ready

Hidcote has gone from little green arrows to a nice deep purple and sunshine fragrant.

This is pink Melissa, one of my very favorite lavenders for baking. She has been stuck in a pot since we left Robe Valley. Looks like it is time to take some cuttings and get that sunny lavender garden out of my dreams and into the yard.

Just last year, Ray and I found this Provence at Jardin d'Solai. I could never get this one to live through winter at Robe. Our last winter was quite mild. There are a few buds, very few, should be just enough for.... something.

Originally this garden was going to be a moonlight garden. We bought two white lavenders just for this garden from smaller growers on the Olympic Peninsula. I did not bother to keep the tags that came with the plants. Both assured me that they were white lavenders. It is a little early to tell, but this one is lavender (pale purple).

This is the other "white" lavender. Last year every blossom was medium purple. I was starting to think there was something wrong with my soil. This year, about half the blossoms are medium purple and half are actually white. There is a very small Nana Alba just behind this one, too small to blossom, from a plant I had in Robe that always gave white blossoms. If that one comes up purple I'll know it is the soil.

This is Miss Katheryn. The buds have not blossomed yet so it is a little difficult to tell, but she is a sweet pink on a very petite plant. This is her first year so I do not know how she is for baking yet.

Feeling a little bit mellow now.

A Tomato Tear-drop

Two full days of summer in the Pacific Northwest and the garden responds.

When we were putting up a new home in Robe Valley I learned to appreciate container gardening. That year I was limited to a tiny knot garden and potted plants. I have kept potted plants ever since. Most of these are herbs growing on the back deck, Parsley, basil, dill, bay laurel, pink lavender and a mixed pot of parsley, chives and golden marjoram. Then there are those pretty strawberries. Two of my four square foot gardens, which technically are container gardens, are in the background.

June 25: One tiny, tear-drop of a tomato. My very first! It is a Siltz Tomato. I didn't lead with this picture because it was so difficult to get that little baby in the cross-hairs. There is so much going on in this pot that my auto focus couldn't figure out what I wanted. I always liked auto focus before, now I wish I could shut it off if I need to.

Kathy R gave me two zucchini plants. The flowers always look like they come from Hawaii to my eyes (having never been to the island state). Thank you Kathy, they look like they are doing well. Those are lemon cucumbers in the smaller pot. They should probably be thinned.

That tiny tiny sprout is a cucumber. Big deal you say? Probably, but this is the third time I have replanted cucumbers and the first time I have seen a sprout. The PNW has been so cold and wet this year, I am amazed that I have anything at all. God is good to create things that are determined to do well. Dumb-luck gardeners like me are thankful.

Calendula, in my top ten herbal flowers. Nice medicinal, pretty plant.

Luke 9 Overview

And he said to ALL, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23

Deny self, deny allegiance to the world, and follow Y'shua. Luke has invited us to follow Y'shua as a witness to his earthly life and ministry. We have watched as Y'shua laid out his agenda (set the captives free), was rejected at home, healed the sick and deformed, banished demons from the lives of men and asserted authority over the elements. Who is he and what (if any) is our responsibility to him?

Luke chapter 9 is an invitation for the reader to take a look at their own path in life in the light of what they have learned about the extraordinary life of Y'shua ha Mashiyach. The chapter begins with the twelve receiving power and authority from Y'shua with orders to proclaim the kingdom of God. It ends with a warning to those of us who may have a divided heart to proclaim the kingdom of God.

We are going to watch the 12 be challenged to proclaim the kingdom. At first, seems that this is something they are to say but they will be challenged to proclaim the kingdom in their dependence on Elohim in as they step out with the message (verses 3 and 4) and later as they consider the needs of those who come to hear the message (verses 12-17).

We as an audience will be asked to clarify who Y'shua is. Do we agree with what the world believes (verses 7-9) or has Elohim revealed himself to us as he has to Peter (18-20)?

Finally, as ordinary citizens of the kingdom of God, we need to consider if we are willing to deny ourselves, deny our former allegiance and follow Y'shua. Our ways, which are deeply entrenched, are not his. We are fickle and sometimes faithless. The focus is him, not circumstances, no matter how dazzling the circumstances seem to be. The chapter ends with a challenge.

But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God and don't look back.

Wild Blackberries

Usually I have to go hiking up some old clear cut to find these Northwest prizes. This time I just had to go out the back gait. That is not to say they were easy to pick. It was still a steep walk. Rudy and Bomber kept whining because old women shouldn't be going down nasty bluffs like that. Good boys that they are they came along to make sure I was safe (and to be sure that I did not go on an adventure without them.)

The thing about a patch of wild blackberries is that it takes a couple of days to get enough to make jam or pie. It is worth the wait. Lots of ruby red berries for my next picking.

Deborah.... all hot and yucky feeling, but with a small bowl of fruit in the ice box waiting for more ripe berries.

The Yellow Breasted Chat

The Yellow Breasted Chat we found. Ray posted it to Tweeters and than....

The Tweeters started coming. Way kewl lens.