30 days with Jesus (day 19) - Jesus sends out his disciples Luke 10:1-24

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  BLESSED!! And you need to believe you are truly BLESSED!!!

   Okay, buckle up for there is really a lot of information in these 24 verses.  Are they important?  That is like saying is the Bible important!  Heavens YES!  Okay, with out further ado let us begin.

  Jesus had just finished speaking with some about following him, but they had excuses. Jesus wants dedication.  Let's look at verse 1: After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

   You know, I have read this many times but never really focused on the 70 appointed by Jesus.  These 70 were to go out in two's and share the good news with others.  Were they educated, were they unique, no, not one but, BUT, THEY WERE CALLED!! They were equipped because Jesus sent them and they saw His vision as well.  His power and clear vision gave them the courage and dedication to go forth.  How about you?

  In verse 2 Jesus says: 

The harvest truly is great,

but the labourers are few:

pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,

that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

In our Christian service there is no unemployment.  God has work for everyone, young, old, dying, healthy-our lives can reflect what Jesus wants us to be like and carry the word.  Our job is to pray, recruit, and equip others to join in the opportunity to serve Jesus.  Before you go and slap a person upside the head with your Bible, pray that God will open the doors for your witness.

  Then Jesus cautions us all, not to walk in fear, but to walk with alertness to what is going on around us.  ³ Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

  Face your enemies with love rather than aggression.  We are on a dangerous mission and we have to be totally dedicated and God will equip us. He gives guidelines to follow: ⁴ Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
⁵ And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
⁶ And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
⁷ And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

  Jesus's directions to stay in one house would avoid offending the family by moving from house to house.  Some families may start to compete to try to get the disciples to stay at their house, thereby creating animosity among the people.  Also, by staying in one place the disciples could focus on the task at hand and not worry about moving.

  Look at verse 8 & 9:  ⁸ And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
⁹ And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

  In 8 Jesus is saying eat what is given you, do not be picky which will help open the doors to them hearing the good news without being offended.  Then in verse 9 they were to heal the sick.  Why?  By doing so, this act of healing, a miracle, would open the door for more to listen to the good news.

  In verse 10-15 He is telling His disciples that if the city rejects them, basically, it will be hell to pay.  In other words, it would not be well for the inhabitants of those cities if they reject the words of Jesus Christ.  This leads us into verse 16:

  ¹⁶ He that heareth you heareth me;

and he that despiseth you despiseth me;

and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

This is a definite eye opener.  If you hear the word and despise Jesus, then you are despising God and you can figure out the end result of that decision.

  When we go out with the authority of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit great things will happen.  We just have to open up completely to the authority given us through the Holy Spirit.

  Now, when the 70 disciples returned they were beyond excited as they reported to Jesus that "even the demons obey us".  Wow!  What a thrill.  We have to remember that with GOD the supernatural is natural.  So it should be for us as well.  Now the 70 did all this ministry in Jesus' name and with his authority.  This is what we need to be remindful of--we can do the same in Jesus' name AND with HIS authority.  To be not boastful for self but glory for GOD.

  Jesus was excited for these disciples as well. Jesus says HE saw satan fall from heaven like lightning and HE has given us authority over the power of the enemy.

  Begining with verse 18 .........I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

¹⁹ Behold, I give unto you power to tread

on serpents and scorpions,

and over all the power of the enemy:

and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

²⁰ Notwithstanding in this rejoice not,

that the spirits are subject unto you;

but rather rejoice, because

your names are written in heaven. 

Let us not lose sight of the greatest thing of all in the last part of verse 20 - REJOICE BECAUSE YOUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN!

  My friend, you have this same power, we must submit to Jesus' authority, walk in the Holy Spirit, and do everything to bring honor and glory to GOD.  We cannot be self-serving, but GOD serving.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny