The moment we walk out of our church building and go out where the unsaved are is the moment we are under fire. We are told that we had better not even think about talking to someone about Jesus. If we start giving that possibility a thought, Satan and all his demonic hoards start screaming at us. Everyone knows what the rules are. We are to never talk about religion or politics. Actually it is okay to talk about religion and politics. In most cases everyone will handle it pretty good. It just had better not be a discussion about the Christian religion or politics that involves Christian principles. Why? Satan doesn't like it. He will attack the emotions of his people and cause them to be upset. Tension fills the room when the Name of Jesus is presented in a true, spiritual fashion. If we open our Bible in a group of unsaved people, be sure to have oxygen ready. Some will experience anxiety attacks and others may even have heart attacks. It just isn't done.

We all assume that it was easier or more acceptable back in Jesus' day. People were probably more receptive to religious talk. Jesus probably didn't have it as hard as we do today. Maybe people were more receptive back then.

Mark 3:20-22 (NIV) Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples were not even able to eat. When His family heard about this, they went to take charge of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind." And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub ! By the prince of demons He is driving out demons."

His family thought He was crazy. The main religious leaders declared Him demon possessed. This situation alone could cause us to run back into our church building and never come out again. It is tough out there!

Luke 4:28-30 (NIV) All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove Him out of the town, and took Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But He walked right through the crowd and went on His way.

No, it wasn't any easier then than it is now. Jesus had to have God's protection on Him in order to go out and face the world. The disciples had to have the full armor of God on or they were going to spend the rest of their lives hiding from the world.

Jesus had spent approximately three and a half years investing His life and ministry in His disciples. He was preparing them to go into all the world and proclaim a message that was going to set people free from their old way of life and get them ready to enter His eternal Kingdom. He had just been crucified and had risen from the dead. Through those two events, Salvation and Sanctification were now in place so everyone could start living a powerful Christian life. But, His disciples weren't on board with His plan.

John 20:19-22 (NIV) On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you." And with that He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.”

There wasn't going to be a worldwide Christian movement. There wasn't even going to be a city wide Christian movement. The disciples weren't going to leave the house. They could tell when they weren't wanted. A Christian could get killed out there in the world. There were four major things that they needed in order to be able to leave the safety of their meeting place.

• Jesus had to be with them.
• He had to give them His peace.
• They had to be sent.
• The Holy Spirit had to occupy their body.