PART ONE

1. START WHERE YOU ARE!
“Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: ‘Don’t begin by traveling to some faroff place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.'” Matthew 10, Msg

2. KEEP IT SIMPLE!
“Don’t think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don’t need a lot of equipment. YOU are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light.” Matthew 10, Msg

“When you enter a town or village, don’t insist on staying in a luxury inn. Get a modest place with some modest people, and be content there until you leave.”

3. BE COURTEOUS…AT ALL TIMES!
“When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don’t welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they’ll be mighty sorry–but it’s no concern of yours now.”

(Mm, the Message is more important than ourselves delivering the message.)

4. BE ALERT, YOU ARE GOING INTO ENEMY TERRITORY!
“Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.”

“Don’t be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation–just because you believe in me. don’t be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they’ve done you–and me–a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! And don’t worry about what you’ll say or how you’ll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your father will supply the words.”

(Mm. Seems Paul knew this well! And practiced it! How many of his jailers came to know Christ??)

5. PROCLAIM LOVE, EXPECT HATE, BUT DON’T QUIT!
“When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. IT is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you’ve run out of options, the son of Man will have arrived.”

(You WILL experience this if you are doing the will of Father in the name of Jesus! It is happening to me at this moment in time in my family and in the workplace. Remember, be courteous at all times as was previously stated by Jesus…it’s what I cling to.)

6. EXPECT THE SAME TREATMENT THAT WAS GIVEN TO JESUS CHRIST
“A student doesn’t get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer doesn’t make more money than his boss. Be content–pleased, even–when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. If they call me, the Master, ‘Dungface,’ what can the workers expect?”

7. YOUR SOUL IS SAFE WITH GOD!
“Don’t be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. So don’t hesitate to go public now.”

“Don’t be bluffed into silence by the treats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life–body and soul–in his hands.”

Praise God for this boot camp charge to us today as well! This is part one…there’s more to come! Boot Camp, part two, tomorrow, God willing.

Dear Heavenly Father, Reading and meditating on your precious Word, Your Message and charge to us, reminds us of how loved we really are by You! You go with us, you teach us, you get us ready for battle and you encourage us all along the way. You are God and we are not. You hold our souls, our core being, in the palm of Your hand, close to Your heart, because of your eternal, unconditional love for us. Thank you for Your grace and mercy. We are survivors and more than conquerors, all because of YOU! Continue to help us. Give us THIS day all YOU know we will need.
In Jesus Name, Amen