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Sending out the 70… vs. 1-16 (3 things)
- 1st – Raising up an army… vs. 1-2
- The 70 others…
- This account of a ‘2nd sending’ of disciples is recorded only in the book of Luke…
- Jesus chose 70 others (not the 12 Apostles) – and sent them out just like the Apostles…
- The reason for 70 is likely rooted in Old Testament history – Numbers 11:24-25
- Leading Israel was too much for one man – Moses – so God gave him 70 men to help…
- The responsibility of spreading the message of the Gospel was too much for the 12…
- So God gave them 70 others to help share the Good News!
- We cannot possibly share the Gospel with the world – it is too much for one church…
- It is even too much to ask for us to share the Gospel with all of Himamaylan / bukid…
- God doesn’t use just one man – or church – He uses an army – of which we are all a part!
- Sent out 2 by 2 – to every place Jesus Himself was about to go…
- There is wisdom in not being alone as we step out to serve Jesus…
- Peter had John / Paul had Barnabus or Silas / Timothy had Titus…
- * Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – “Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one… If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.”
- Having someone who will encourage you – stand beside you – in Jesus is priceless…
- We all have bad days – we get overwhelmed – we make mistakes in life…
- Its good to have someone there – to pray for us – and point back to Jesus!
- We are never alone – Jesus is always with us!
- Jesus sent them into the cities where He also was about to go…
- What a blessing to know that Jesus never sends us out alone…
- Everywhere we go – Jesus is also always right there with us!
- There is wisdom in not being alone as we step out to serve Jesus…
- Because the harvest is great…
- The harvest is the world – the multitudes of people who are ready to hear the Gospel…
- The problem is there is a lack of laborers – not enough people to go and share…
- Imagine having 10,000 hectares of ripe sugarcane – ready for harvest – but only 5 men…
- The potential reward would be incredible – but not nearly enough labor to harvest it all…
- The world is ripe – the hunger for the Good News is everywhere – but who will go…
- Jesus said ‘pray’ – the Lord of the Harvest will send out more laborers…
- Pray for Jesus to send others – NO – pray so that Jesus can send us!
- Isaiah 6:8 – “I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’”
- The 70 others…
- 2nd – How they were sent… vs. 3-8
- Sent out as lambs among wolves… vs. 3
- If a pack of wolves see some sheep coming – they think lunch…
- Like when you see a pig – the pig does not threaten you – it makes you hungry…
- Sheep do not stand a chance in a pack of wolves…
- A colorful illustration to emphasize the need to depend on the Lord…
- As we go to share the Gospel we are walking into a hungry pack of wolves…
- People would like nothing more than to devour us – with hurtful words…
- They would love to make fun of us – belittle us – make us look foolish…
- The only way we can stand up for the Gospel/Jesus – is by depending on His strength!
- If a pack of wolves see some sheep coming – they think lunch…
- Sent out with nothing / the laborer is worthy… vs. 4-8
- When they went they were to take nothing with them – no money / no supplies…
- But whatever house received them – they were to stay / not go from house to house…
- Whatever city received them – they were to eat whatever is set before them…
- A challenge at times – I have had to eat some very unusual things…
- God was sending them – so God would take care of / provide for all their needs…
- Wherever God guides – God provides – He takes care of every need for His ideas…
- But He gives us no guarantee He will provide for our ideas…
- One of the surest test of whether or not God is in something – He is providing for it!
- If He is not then we need to reevaluate – maybe we are not doing what God wants
- Sent out as lambs among wolves… vs. 3
- 3rd – What they were sent to do… vs. 9-16
- Preach the Gospel of the Kingdom… vs. 9
- Romans 10:14-15 – How can people believe in someone they have not heard about…
- The message of salvation is simple and powerful – but people still need to hear it…
- How can someone believe in Jesus – unless they hear about Him…
- How can someone hear about Jesus – unless someone goes and tells them…
- How can someone tell them – unless they are willing to step out and go…
- If people hear the Gospel message – people will believe and be saved!
- The only question is whether someone is willing to go and tell them…
- Share Jesus with others!
- How can people believe – be saved – if we are not out there sharing the Gospel…
- We know LOTS of people who do not believe in Jesus – what are we doing about it
- We are called to ‘go’ – into our workplace / our families / our back yards…
- And tell people about Jesus – give them the message of salvation…
- Romans 10:14-15 – How can people believe in someone they have not heard about…
- But not every one will believe… vs. 10-16
- The reality is not everyone who hears the Gospel – will believe…
- As a matter of fact most likely only a small portion of those who hear will believe…
- Matthew 7:13-14 – “For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
- When we share the Gospel with others – they may reject us / mock us / ridicule us…
- But consider the alternative – there is a VERY real consequence to rejecting Jesus…
- We don’t share Jesus because out of some sense of obligation – or for some reward…
- We share cause of the danger of Hell – the destination for any who reject Jesus
- Hell is not temporary – hell is the 2nd death – eternal separation from God – no hope…
- Keeping people from Hell is worth a little ridicule – worth being made fun of…
- We are talking about men’s eternal destination – people are worth fighting for!
- If the people rejected the Gospel – wipe the very dust off your feet…
- It will be more tolerable for Sodom than for the city that rejects the Gospel…
- Sodom and Gomorrah were two cities destroyed by God in Genesis 19
- They were wiped out in a single day (fire and brimstone)…
- God used them as a model/picture of evil/rebellion/sin and the consequences
- Sodom and Gomorrah sinned greatly – but they never heard the Gospel…
- Jesus rebuked the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida – focus of much of Jesus’ ministry…
- They had seen so much – and still they hardened their hearts to the Gospel…
- If the huge (immoral) cities of Tyre & Sidon had seen Jesus – repented long ago…
- But it would be better for Tyre and Sidon on judgment day – than for them!
- Capernaum – the ‘home base’ of Jesus’ ministry – would be brought down to hell!
- We cannot force people to receive Jesus – we can only show them the way…
- If they choose to reject the message – they reject their only hope of salvation!
- It will be more tolerable for Sodom than for the city that rejects the Gospel…
- To reject the Gospel – is to reject Jesus – to reject Jesus is to reject God…
- Everyone will live forever – the question is where you will spend eternity…
- There are two options – either in heaven with God / or in hell separated from Him
- If you reject the Gospel – you are rejecting Jesus’ sacrifice for you – rejecting God…
- You by default are choosing to spend you eternity apart from God…
- God does not want any one to go to hell – but He also will not force you into heaven
- The reality is not everyone who hears the Gospel – will believe…
- Preach the Gospel of the Kingdom… vs. 9
The return of the 70… vs. 17-24 (2 things)
Now lets go and share it with others – the simple Gospel – the Good News of Jesus!
1st – Rejoice in your salvation… vs. 17-20
Even the demons are subject to us in Jesus name… vs. 17
When the 70 returned – they were amazed at what they had seen…
Not only had they healed and preached – which Jesus had specifically told them to do…
Above and beyond – they even had power over the demons through the name of Jesus…
When Jesus met Peter – ‘cast you net on the other side’ – He caught LOTS of fish…
If Peter had not followed Jesus – greatest moment in his life would have been those fish
Because he followed – he was an apostle / raised the dead / started the 1st church!
If we are unwilling to follow Jesus – our lives will never amount to much…
Our greatest accomplishment in life might be – we ‘caught a lot of fish’…
But when we step out share the Gospel – we will see God do unbelievable things!
I say satan fall from heaven… vs. 18-19
Jesus did them one better – not only were demons subject to Him…
He had seen the fall of satan from glory – kicked out of heaven – Revelation 12:9
He and the angels that followed him suffered quick reprisal for rebelling against God…
He fell like a flash of lightning – so quick if you had blinked you would’ve missed it!
Satan is not God’s equal – God has no equal – God has absolute power over satan…
Jesus had given His power and authority to His disciples…
The power to crush serpents and scorpions (perhaps a reference to demonic powers)…
In fact power to overcome all the enemy can throw at you – he is unable to harm you…
Isaiah 54:17 – “No weapon formed against you shall prosper…”
I John 4:4 – “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
With God on our side we have nothing to fear from satan – our enemy…
Satan seeks to accuse us – Revelation 12:10 – wants to see us condemned to hell…
He has all the ‘evidence’ he needs – all our sins / our immoral thoughts…
But Jesus destroyed the power of satan – so that he has nothing to accuse us of…
All our sins were paid for in full on the cross – we are untouchable in Jesus!
Do not rejoice in your authority / rejoice because your names are written… vs. 20
God wants to use us in His harvest / the Gospel – He has given us power over our enemy
But our joy should be in the hope of what is waiting for us at the end – heaven…
Rejoice because our names are written in the book of life – Revelation 20:12
Nothing else in life compares to the truth we will spend eternity with Jesus…
I Corinthians 2:9 – “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”
2nd – The simplicity of the Gospel… vs. 21-24
Hidden from the wise / understood by the children… vs. 21-22
That same hour – Jesus rejoiced – overflowing joy – in His Spirit…
Because the Gospel had been hidden from the wise – but is understood by children!
The message of salvation is not complicated – in fact it could not be simpler…
It is so simple – men have tried to add to it to make it more complicated…
They add works – man-made requirements to the Gospel – so they can ‘earn salvation’
To go to heaven you have to believe in Jesus and – tithe / be good / attend church…
They miss what even little children understand – God loves us so He made it easy…
Just believe in Jesus – the work of the cross – and you are saved!
No one knows the Father except the Son…
Only the son can reveal the father to others – Jesus is the only way to heaven!
God has only provided one salvation – one way – one bridge to heaven – Jesus!
Acts 4:12 – “There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them.”
Jesus turned to the 12 – blessed are your eyes… vs. 23-24
The 12 disciples got to see the things that prophets had foretold – kings longed to see…
They got to see Jesus – whom the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation is about…
We have seen the truth – we have heard the message – we are also blessed…
We come every Sunday and listen to the teaching of the Word…
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