“Take Nothing for the Journey”

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Jesus said to his disciples that they should take nothing but that which is needful for the ministry, and that, of course, would be just them and their faith in God. These are important words for First Baptist membership and Christians to remember as we depart the church and continue to serve the Lord in other forms of ministry. 

“Take nothing for the journey--- no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.” – Luke 9:3 (NIV). 

This is the first time in scripture that the twelve disciples would leave Jesus. He sends them out to “proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal” with power over demons and disease. Christ reminds each of us that our true calling of evangelism is for everyone involved—pastors, officers, leaders, and members alike.

“Jesus called the Twelve together. He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to heal sicknesses. Then he sent them out to preach about God’s kingdom and to heal those who were sick. He told them, “Don’t take anything for the journey. Do not take a walking stick or a bag. Do not take any bread, money or extra clothes. When you are invited into a house, stay there until you leave town.

So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. So, they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere”. Luke 9: 1-4,6.

“No staff” to lean on as you walk. Lean on Christ.

“No walking stick or bag.” Right. He already said, “Take nothing with you.” No, not even an empty bag to put things in once the gifts start coming. You are not to stockpile.

“No bread.” I am the bread of life. You will have food of a different sort to sustain you. Your fathers had manna in the wilderness. You will be fed. 

“No money.” Why? Because I am your wealth. People long for me more than for money. Offer me to them free of charge. They – or enough, anyway – will fall all over themselves to help you whenever you have a need.

“No extra clothes.” No, not even a change of clothes. Some people will welcome you so fully into their lives that they will seem to adopt you. You will be like their son. You will want for nothing.

The disciples have just witnessed Jesus perform radical miracles. He controlled nature and powerful demons, and He healed chronic disease and even death (Luke 8: 22-56).. Here, Jesus wants the disciples to learn to trust that He can provide for and protect them even when He is not with them. He tells them to take nothing they would need on a trip. He will do this again when He empowers seventy-two disciples to go out (Luke 10: 3-4). Total dependence on God, absolute trust in God for provision and protection, must be learned by the disciples; first theoretically and then put into practice every day on the ripe mission field.

Jesus is giving the disciples and each of us instruction about how they’re to travel, and he says, You don’t take provisions for the journey. He’s going to send them into cities, and they are going to teach and minister, and those who receive them are going to supply their needs, but there’s something deeper than this. We are called upon to rely on God. He doesn’t want the disciples or us to go out and seek to minister to others, relying on ourselves. He wants them to rely on God. We need to learn to do the same. Take nothing for the journey but rely on him who sent you to find a new church and to keep the legacy of First Baptist Church alive in your heart.

Let me leave you with this poem titled "Take Nothing for the Journey" by Joyce Rupp.

Take Nothing for the Journey 

Heal and Proclaim … 

Were the twelve afraid? 

Did they wonder if they could do those things? 

Compared to the quality of your ministry, 

Did they feel inadequate and unworthy? 

What persuaded them to go?  Your words? 

Your friendship?  Their enthusiasm? 

Your deep belief that they could do it? 

And you said: “Take nothing for the journey”. 

What did you mean? 

Trust or more than trust? 

Did you perhaps imply that we can’t wait 

Until we have all the possible things we need? 

That we can’t postpone “doing” 

Until we are positive of our talents?

That we can’t hold off our commitment 

Until we are absolutely sure 

We won’t make a mistake? 

I think of all the excuses and reasons 

We can give for not serving and giving: 

No time, no talent, no knowledge, 

No energy, no assured results. 

You say, “Take nothing. 

Don’t worry about your inadequacies. 

I will provide for you. 

Go! Just Go! 

Go with my power. 

Risk the road, risk the work. 

Go! I will be with you. 

What else do you need?”

Yours in Christ, 

Pastor Loreno R. Flemmings