The next in a series of messages looking at the original 12 disciples of Jesus under the general heading of – “How God uses the average to achieve the amazing.”
Luke 10:2 (NIV)
He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
The sending out of the 12 disciples occurs in Matthew Chapter 10, Mark chapter 6 and earlier in Luke chapter 9.
So, the sending of the 72 here in Luke chapter 10 is very much a separate incident in the gospel accounts and yet Jesus told the 72 followers, exactly what he had told the 12 disciples when he sent them off. He was giving them the same mission, but why?
The clue is in verse 2. Jesus told them to pray for more workers as the harvest (the number of people needing to hear the good news) was too much for the few workers there already were. Jesus was giving these 72 followers the same mission as those who had been closest to him and who would become the leaders of the early church. Mission is not only for church leaders; we are all called to minister to the lost.
Mission and ministry is not just for those in church leadership!
Luke 10:16 (NIV)
“Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
We have been given authority to speak on Jesus’ behalf. How amazing is that? When we share the good news and people listen to us, they are listening to Jesus. But that comes with the responsibility of speaking on his behalf too. People will not only be listening to what we say but watching what we do. Does what we do match what we say? So not only speak, but also do;
We have authority to speak on behalf of Jesus
but; We have a responsibility to walk like Jesus too.
Luke 10:17-20 (NIV)
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
We might long to see miracles of the like that these first followers of Jesus saw, but here Jesus reminds both them and us that the most important miracle of all is that we have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ, and that everything else, including miraculous signs and wonders, is incidental!
The real miracle is always salvation through Jesus Christ.
Service Details
Theme: Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two
Reading: Luke 10 v 1 – 20
Preacher: Robin Brenchley
Led by: Robin Brenchley
