The Life of Those Who Are Sent

4/30/17

Today, I would like us to consider a passage from the Gospel of Luke.

Read Luke 10:1-24

As we study this scripture today, I want you to consider the life described for those that
Jesus sends. Yes, certainly Jesus gave a special command to these 72 disciples, but this is still
relevant for us today. It doesnt mean that we necessarily need to travel on the streets and stay in
other peoples homes but I dont want to preclude that either! If anything, these verses should
expand your mind of what God wants for your life.
Are you too preoccupied with the affairs of this life? Are you fearful and full of worry?
Do you have doubts about whether God can use you? Do you feel beaten down by life?
As we study these verses, I pray that the Holy Spirit will let you know what He wants for
you specifically.

v 1-2
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every
town and place where he was about to go. 2 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.

Here, we see that Jesus had a larger group of disciples than just the 12. The number 70 is
used for the elders of Israel who received the Spirit from Moses, the elders in the Sanhedrin, and
the nations recorded in Genesis.
When the apostles choose Matthias as a replacement for Judas, Peter said that they should
select from the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out
among us.
Jesus sent these men two by two. It is important for us to work together because two are
better than one. Also, consider how Paul and Barnabas travelled together. We need one another
and are not meant to serve Christ alone.
Again, Jesus compares the world who needs Him as a field ripe for the harvest. All of His
followers are to be His co-workers, laboring in His harvest field. God wants all people to be
saved, but He uses you and I.
Are you ready to be sent? Do you also feel the urgency of Gods request? Do you
recognize the need of your family members, your friends, your neighbors, your coworkers, and
yes, even the strangers on the street?
v 3-4
Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals;
and do not greet anyone on the road.

Jesus warns His disciples that they will face opposition. However, they are not to play by
the same rules. Instead, we are to pray for our enemies and bless those who curse us. Yes, we
could coerce people to act a certain way, but God is not looking for outward religiosity but an
inward relationship with Himself. You cannot impose that by force or coercion.
Consider how God deals with us and His patience. I believe that many of you were
previously enemies of God who opposed Him. But God turned you around with, patience, love,
and gentleness. His servants must do the same.
Jesus told his disciples to stay focused. In the same way, we should not become
encumbered by too many possessions and obligations. If you are burdened down with debt, let
this be a motivation to you to get out of debt so that you can serve Him more freely.

v 5-6
When you enter a house, first say, Peace to this house. 6 If someone who promotes peace is
there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.

We see the message the disciples carried was that of the good news and of Gods
goodwill toward all people. Gods perfect peace is shalom in Hebrew. It means wholeness and
includes every good and perfect blessing from God.
God wants good for people. We need to let them know and understand that. This part is
our responsibility. The other part of the responsibility lies with our hearers. If they are open, then
they will accept Gods goodness. If not, then they will not receive anything. Our job is to let
them know that God loves them and desires good things for them.

v 7-9
Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do
not move around from house to house.

8 When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are
there and tell them, The kingdom of God has come near to you.

Jesus warned his disciples against moving around from house to house, seeking a better
position for themselves. Neither were they to be particular about what was given them to eat.
As for their ministry, they were to do everything that Jesus didhealing the sick, casting
out demons, and proclaiming the kingdom of God. Brothers and sisters, this is our commission as
well. Be bold! Offer prayers and believe that God will back you up.

v 10-16
But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 Even the dust of
your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God
has come near. 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in
you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in
sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for
you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.

16 Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you

rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.

As ambassadors of the Almighty God, we carry a heavy

message. As Paul wrote, We implore you on Christs behalf, be
reconciled to God! The stakes are high.

v 17-20
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, Lord, even the demons submit to us in your
name.

18 He replied, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to
trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm
you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are
written in heaven.

The disciples were over-joyed to see that Gods authority

went with them. When we obey what God has told us to do, we
can expect that Gods power and authority will go with us.
Christians should not get involved in the occult, magic, or
fortune-telling, but we also do not need to fear evil spirits. Rather,
we can command them to leave in Jesus name.
In the same way, we can speak with faith to ask for Gods
blessings. These things are won for us already, but we appropriate
them by faith by confessing with our mouth, the same way that we appropriate the forgiveness of
sin by confessing with our mouth.
We can trust that God will watch over all our interests as we pay attention to His. Seek
first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
The life of obedience and being sent is a life of blessing.
However, we should not rejoice that we live an overcoming life here in this world as
much as we have the promise of eternal joy in heaven. Yes, God promises that we can
experience His good here on earth, but we have even more to look forward to!

v 21
21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, I praise you, Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed
them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
 From the beginning, the followers of Jesus were not
generally seen as the most wise and learned people. Jesus was a
carpenter and His followers were fishermen. In the early church,
the majority of Christians were uneducated and from the lower
classes. The pagan writer Celsus says that Christianity is spread
in private houses [by] workers in wool and leather, and laundry
women, and persons of the most uninstructed and rustic
character.
Yet God chose these people to do His work. He chooses the lowly, weak, and despised
things of this world to shame the strong. When we are weak, then He is strong, for His power is
made perfect in weakness.
Dont doubt that you can do great things for God. He wants to use you to bless many
people and it doesnt matter how intelligent or skilled you are. What He needs are faithful people
who are willing and available to be used by Him.

v 22-24
22 All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the
Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses
to reveal him.

23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, Blessed are the eyes that see what you
see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Here, Jesus tells us that the mystery of how God intended to redeem the world has been
revealedthrough Himself. Everything that was promised is now made available, freely to all
who will receive it.
The Patriarchs, King David, and the prophets all looked forward to what we experience
today. Jesus told His disciples that they should recognize how fortunate they are to understand
and preach Gods good news.

Conclusion
Brothers and sisters, today I hope that the Holy Spirit has stirred your hearts and caused
you to consider what your life should look like. You are a sent one. And maybe God hasnt called
you to preach as the 72 disciples did but maybe He has! Have you asked Him?
Or, maybe God has called you, but you havent obeyed Him yet. Its not too late.
Luke 10:1-24
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to
every town and place where he was about to go. 2 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. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or
sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

5 When you enter a house, first say, Peace to this house. 6 If someone who promotes peace is
there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking
whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to
house.

8 When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are
there and tell them, The kingdom of God has come near to you. 10 But when you enter a town
and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 Even the dust of your town we wipe from
our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near. 12 I tell
you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in
you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in
sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for
you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.

16 Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me
rejects him who sent me.

17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, Lord, even the demons submit to us in your
name.

18 He replied, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to
trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm
you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are
written in heaven.

21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, I praise you, Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed
them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

22 All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except
the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son
chooses to reveal him.

23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and
to hear what you hear but did not hear it.