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Our quest in this series is to come to an understanding of what God wanted us to know when He spoke of the necessity of receiving The Love of the Truth. In yesterday's article, we closed with this statement: “The delusion spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2 is connected to the apostolic empowerment of Matthew 10.1, and to God's witness by means of the miraculous in Hebrews 2.3-4.” As we continue this study, it is our intent to elaborate on this statement and to expand it as necessary to more fully grasp the soul-saving principles involved in receiving The Love of the Truth.

The limited commission of Matthew 10 has no spiritual equivalency; by that it is meant that it was a one-of-a-kind event, never to be repeated. Events were in the making that were under God's Sovereign guidance, events that were destined to result in the coronation of Jesus as King of the Eternal Kingdom. God's plan called for the eventual inclusion of the Gentiles into that kingdom, but for the time being, His charge to the Twelve was, “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 10.5-6). From His charge to the Twelve comes our term The Limited Commission and this in contrast to The Great Commission which was to come later (see Matthew 28.18-20).

Therefore as we consider these matters, we need to realize the larger context of the limited commission; it is not our right nor should we treat these events as though they have general application to any and all situations, whether before or after Jesus' earthly ministry. For example, Jesus told the Twelve, “And as you go, preach, saying, “‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10.7-8). Within a few years when the kingdom of heaven was fully functional, men and women of all nationalities were granted access to it. Some things that were forbidden during the era of the Limited Commission were commanded under the authority of the Great Commission.

If the verses in Matthew 10 are taken to mean that miraculous powers are to be imparted to men under other circumstances, then it should also be understood that the preaching authorized herein must not include Gentiles among its hearers! As ironic as it may seem, many of those who claim the miraculous gifts granted to the Twelve under the great commission are Gentiles! A strict application of the Limited Commission would forbid even preaching to them, say nothing about one of them being a preacher! This has a direct tie to the great deception of 2 Thessalonians 2 and the ultimate condemnation of all who succumb to its error.

We ask again the question: What is the connection between 2 Thessalonians 2 and the Limited Commission? Why did Satan choose to use “...power, signs, and lying wonders” as a means of deception? These considerations are absolutely essential to understanding The Love of the Truth and how it is a deterrent to deception!

In the meantime as we develop this study, those who demand a Thus saith the Lord in all that they say and do are safe; nothing should supplant what God has said!

Questions:

1. What specific miraculous powers did Jesus grant to the Twelve as He sent them out?

2. If they could raise the dead (as is indicated here) would you say they had power over the kingdom of Satan? Why was it necessary that they demonstrate power over the kingdom of Satan?

3. If their power was superior to that of Satan, could they demonstrate that their message was superior to his? Could they prove their case by the miraculous? If not, why not?

4. Would it be wrong for one to claim these same powers today and to do so under the authority of Matthew 10? (Note: This question has a straightforward answer!)

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

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