Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today: In Luke 10 we find the call of 70 people to go and do the work of God. These were not the Disciples, but “others.” Please read from verse 1 to verse 24. What motivation can we Christians find in there for us?
Here is that passage from Luke 10: 1 After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2 He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace to this house!' 6 And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 "Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.' 12 I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town. 13 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But at the judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. 16 "Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." 17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" 18 He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 21 At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." 23 Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it."
This week's sermon was called, "Put Me In, Coach." It's part of our WINNING series. The sermons have been about living life according to God's plan and purpose and this week's topic was about being prepared to respond well whenever called or given an opportunity to serve God.
You can almost see the joy of Jesus in this passage at the willingness of seventy folks to go and do His Father's will. Keep in mind these were not the twelve, but a group that followed Jesus as well. These were "appointed" by Jesus and given authority to go in great haste to do GOd's work. They were to go into towns and spread the message of God's love as well as to cure the sick. The purpose of that preaching mission was to share God's healing and wholeness. As wonderful as that is, Jesus knew that not everyone would be willing to hear God's word and so
He gave instructions on what to do with those people. Here you can hear the anger in Jesus' voice about those who are inhospitable towards God's servants. The outline of what awaits them is quite clear.
The seventy returned with great joy. What they did amazed even them. "Even the demons submit to us!" was part of their happy response. Jesus replies that He saw "Satan fall from heaven" a reference to the defeat that the enemy suffers when people do the will of God.
Ours is to serve the Lord in all times and in all ways. Ours is to be ready to be appointed and authorized to do God's bidding. Ours is to have the faith that with God with us, nothing, not even "demons" can stand in the way of God's victory.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for Your presence with us and for the "appointments" that come our way. Prepare us and use us. May all we do be done for You and for Your glory. In Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
