October 17, 2010

Luke 10: 1-20 

 Go....Now, Lambs 

Luke

The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them on ahead in pairs to all the towns and villages he planned to visit.  These were his instructions to them:  "The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few.  Pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest, and ask him to send out more workers for his fields.  Go now, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.  Don't take along any money, or a traverler's bag, or even an extra pair of sandals.  And don't stop to greet anyone on the road.

Whenever you enter a home, give it your blessing.  If those who live there are worthy, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you.  When you enter a town, don't move around from home to home.  Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide you.  Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.

If a town welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you and heal the sick.  As you heal them say, 'The Kingdom of God is near you now.'  But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 'We wipe the dust of your town from our feet as a public announcement of your doom.  And don't forget the Kingdom of God is near!'  The truth is, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.

What horrors await you, Korazin and Bethsaida!  For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have sat in deep repentance long ago, clothed in sackcloth and throwing ashes on  their heads to show their remorse.  Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on the judgment day than you.  And you people of Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?  No, you will be brought down to the place of the dead."

Then he said to the disciples, "Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me.  And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me.  And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God who sent me."

When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, "Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!"

"Yes," he told them, "I saw Satan falling from heaven as a flash of lightning!  And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them.  Nothing will injure you.  But don't rejoice just because evil spirits obey you, rejoice because your names are registered as citizens of heaven."      

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Thoughts.....

Have you left yet? 

I often wonder when the Lord tells us to do something, why we don't just do it.  Please note I am using the word 'we'.  What stops us?  Do we think we do not hear him?  Do we think we have to have more preparation?  Do we think we are not worthy and he couldn't possibly be talking to us, or, do we think we must be nuts to be thinking we are hearing his voice, receiving his direction? 

The man....THE man....THE LORD.....said, "Go now".   He did not say, stick around a while until you have thoroughly convinced yourself you should not for what ever reason you come up with.  He said, "Go NOW".

Let's go back to the beginning of this reference and start there. 

Ok, "The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them on ahead in pairs to all the towns' and villages he planned to visit."  If he has chosen you, must you have a buddy?  I don't know, what did he tell you?  Did he tell you to buddy up or stand alone....be an Associate Pastor, a Minister, a Priest, a Bishop, a member of a support team, lead a ministry in a church, start one, go out as one of a pair?  Another thought to this is that having someone by your side in support of your calling, the other person also having been called, keeps one accountable, besides being a help mate.  He also knew what it was like to be alone and be in the fields...perhaps he understood deeply the need for companionship, someone to share the day with, the tremendous support a prayer partner could be that would keep all things confidential.  Someone to talk to about the message.  Someone who could attend to his needs, or someone he could share the load with. 

Remember last week I shared that Jesus had just asked someone ( a commoner, not an apostle) to be his disciple and then immediately told him to go preach the Kingdom of God. (Luke 9: 57-62)  Now he has chosen 72 (some texts say 70) other disciples and sent them out to all the villages he planned to visit.  Then he asked them to pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest to send out more workers for his fields that he planned to visit.  Eventually that would become the whole rest of the world who would need workers....he was going out into all the world!  He did not say anywhere to hang out and go to seminary.  He did not say wait several years until you may be worthy to be ordained to be able to preach.  He did not say go to the Temple and learn the old law first.  He had/has preached the Kingdom of God is here.  He said, "Go now" and tell!  Presumably he had just given a teaching...preached to these people and then said, "Go now." 

Do you remember when you first learned about the Lord?  Were you excited?  Were you empassioned?  Is Christmas to you about the birth of Jesus Christ or just about the material gifts...not the REAL true present of life to us all?  Have you ever felt an 'on fire passion' to share the message that he lives and can live in someone else?  Do you have or remember the fire.....the Holy Spirit fire....that compels you to 'yell out loud' how wonderful he is?  That's probably the excitement the disciples had when they first heard the WORD.  THAT's when the Lord wants us to "Go."  When we have the fire, the passion, the excitement.  If you have never experienced that, and you have asked Jesus into your heart, please ask Holy Spirit to baptise you with the fullness of all he has to give you.  If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, please, consider doing so now.  See the prayer directly prior to todays lesson, or pray something from your heart, and ask the Holy Spirit to come into your life today.  You will rejoice and never be the same....you will be better.  If you have all that fire and passion and exitement, you better, "Go now."  Now.  I mean 'now now'.....really now.

What was his other directive?  Pray....for other workers.  Not to get you off the hook, but to divy up the numbers.  Like in a schoolroom, the smaller the group, the easier to interact and learn.  I am guessing he knew how much easier to teach the smaller groups than the larger groups.  People could ask questions and learn to know one another.  Be supportive of one another.  Can this happen in large churches?  Yes, but it is easier for those most in need to get lost, not have support, not have questions answered, not 'feel the love'.  There are so many lost souls in this world, in and out of churches.  No one of us can do it all, that is why Jesus sent everyone out to help him spread the word.  WE have a world to reach, folks.  Start with yourself, then reach out to your family, then venture forth.  You'll get plenty of practice by the time you get out the door.  Some will accept, some will reject.  They are rejecting the message, not necessarily you, but they may reject you.  Don't feel bad, they rejected Jesus, too.  That is why it is said 'a prophet is not accepted in his own town'.  People get to know you and they don't think you are for real when you step forth...they know your humaness....now you need to show them your spiritual side.       

He tells the people to be wary...they are lambs among the wolves.  There are those who will test you, beyond limits.  Attack you or feel threatened by you.  There are those who will stir up trouble and listen to others' untruths about you.  There are even those who, professing Christ, will listen to those untruths, instead of going to Heavenly Father for real truth before acting rashly.  Beware.  Whether you are a lamb or a mature sheep, there are wolves on every level and in every circumstance.  Remember, he said.  That's a directive to be prepared, be strong, be ready.  You may be caught off guard.  Put on your armor!  And give it up to the Lord when something bad or untoward happens.  Then let it go.  It was not about you, it was about the persons that put it on you....as long as you are strong in the Lord and being true, real, and right in him.

Next he tells them to not take anything with them.  I get this in this day and age particularly.  We could become vain in our dress, our hair, our jewelry.  It could separate the commoner from the elite.  If everyone went out and hung out walking the streets for days, we would all look about the same very soon.  Guessing it was the same then.  He wants us to fit in with everyone.   So no one can lord over anyone or be more important than anyone.  Sometimes I will introduce myself with 'Minister' before my name, but only in those avenues whereby it is pertinent to be known to leadership.   Most times I will not.  I am just like everyone else.  I dress the same way, walk, talk, carry myself the same.  Call me by my first name....just like Jesus and the Apostles were called by their first name.  No one is greater than another.  

He tells folks to not greet anyone along the road.  Why do you think that is?  To stay focused.  It is very easy to get sidetracked and go off somehwhere with a relaxed attitude to rest, get food and drink, socialize.  He was not making this a social event.  There was a task set before the disciples.  Full steam ahead.  Father God had given Jesus a task to do, and he expected that as he was committed and dedicated, so too, his delegated workers needed to be.  He was intensifying his efforts, exploding, creating momentum for success.

There is a lot to take in today, I am sorry I am going to be longer than usual probably.  I know....that's REALly a lot.  But the Lord will bless you for reading/listening, and me for telling.  May we all be blessed!

Gee, we're only on paragraph 2.  Anyway, carrying on, scripture says, "Whenever you enter a home, give it your blessing.  If those who live there are worthy, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you."  What do we derive from this?  Bless every home without question at first.  Worthy?  Since you are sent out to obtain more workers, those who will listen, accept, and, "Go", to whom you preach the coming of the Kingdom of God, would be the 'worthy' ones.  He's pretty clear here, those who will preach the coming of the Kingdom of God, shall expect to receive the fullness of the blessing placed upon them.  Those that will not, will NOT receive the blessing, and it will divert back to you.  But do you think you will not receive a blessing, if they receive theirs?  You will absolutely receive your blessing for honoring the Lord and obeying him. 

Then he says, "When you enter a town, don't move around from home to home.  Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide you.  Don't hesitate to accept hospitality because those who work deserve their pay."  Again, moving around could be construed as or entice you to become a person who parties, so to speak.  It could be a diversion in your focus.  Plus, it allows you to focus on that one family to ground them, not just 'found' them, in the word.  Did I say that right?  It would allow you to help them not just hear the word, but receive the fullness of it through further instruction and direction.  It would allow you to stay humble and allow them to see what it means to live in the Spirit of the Living Lord.  If you are off galavanting everywhere, no one can learn who and what you are really about.  It would lessen the opportunity for them to see in you integrity, credibility, respect, honor, etc.

In this last verse mentioned, he also says to eat and drink what is provided.  I believe that to mean that you should not demand your own way (sans allergies in this day and age).  Interesting to me that this is noted, since there is such controversy over what is able to be eaten and what is not at that time.  Greeks and Jews had very dissimlar food choices from diet choices to spiritual laws regarding such.  It makes no distinction.  It brings everyone to the table as one.  It is hospitable to receive that which is offered you in the home.  If you are given the worst, in your mind, it may be the best in their mind.  Receive it with all the love it is given.....straw mat, bare floor, plush mattress, down comforter, or not, be gracious and thankful.  It is a gift.  It is your pay at that time.  Receive it with all the fullness of heart in which it is given.

Next it says to eat whatever the town sets before you.  Ok....now you have to not only do 'one on ones', so to speak, you have to preach to the whole town, eat what is set before you, and heal the sick.  And as you heal them, say "The Kingdom of God is near you now."  It reminds me of the song by the Temptations, "Get Ready"....it says, '...here I come'.  The task increases.  Heal the sick.  I can hear you now, "What?  I can't heal the sick."  Jesus said for you to heal the sick.  I believe that if he told you to heal the sick, he will have given you the ability to do so by the Holy Spirit.  So, go heal the sick.  Don't analyze it.  Don't even give it a second thought.  Just GO heal the sick.  As you heal them say, 'The Kingdom of God is near you now.' 

'The Kingdom of God is near you now.'  This is like putting chocolate chip cookies on Santa's plate and telling a child that they are for Santa.  Tempting....teasing....desirous.  What do you mean the 'Kingdom of God is near you now.'?  NEAR?  Why not within, surrounding me, embracing me, enveloping me?  Hmmmmm.  This is the worthy part maybe.   Maybe it is only near until you invite it into your heart, embrace it, step into it, go forth doing for it, be immersed in it, be embraced by it, being fully received, counted as worthy.  Getting that little star like on a school paper as a child.  Hmmmmm.   Is the Kingdom of God near you now, or has it entered your heart with thanksgiving? 

Ouch.  Jesus now tells us in Scripture that if a town refuses to welcome you, you are to go out (that means you were preaching indoors...Woo hoo!...Yea!) into its streets and and say, "We wipe the dust of your town from our feet as a public announcement of your doom.  And don't forget the Kingdom of God is near!'  Do you get how big his aspirations were.  WHOLE TOWNS needed to be received in the Kingdom!  His aspirations have not changed, folks.  He is the same yesterday, as he is today, as he will be tomorrow.  Where are you, workers?  He needs you!

Jesus even proclaims or predicts a towns fate, if they do not straighten up and fly right.  And addresses the people of the town directly.  Let's read this part again:  'The truth is, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.'  "What horrors await you, Korazin and Bethsaida!  For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have sat in deep repentance long ago, clothed in sackcloth and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse.  [Old ways to show remorse.]   Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on the judgment day than you.  And you people of Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?  No, you will be brought down to the place of the dead."  WHOA!  Are you sure you do not want to accept the Lord as your Savior and start preaching to receive the blessings?!  Look what whole towns will suffer!  Look what we can cause by not doing what Jesus said to do, "Go now."  'Yo'.....you might really want to GO....now.  I don't know about you, but I do not receive backlash very well.  I try to stay ahead of the curve.

Okay, we are getting closer to the ending of this lesson, hang on.  I know it is a lot to absorb, which is why I take it a bit at a time, so you can read a little, learn a little, absorb it and go on.  Take all the lessons at your own pace, but do not dally with time.....as we see here.....we have a major responsibility before us. 

Jesus then said to his disciples, "Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me.  And anyone who rejects you is also rejecting me.  And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God who sent me."  And what does THAT mean?  "Anyone" is not getting into heaven, nor will their sins be forgiven.  No everlasting life, no easy life, maybe not any life.  This is not to say that those of who are Christians have an easy life.  If we are doing as Jesus directs here, it could be pretty miserable to not have a guarantee of housing or food, clean clothes, a place to lie down and rest, not being accepted or being accepted fully, not being found credible or our integrity being questioned, not being respected, being rejected like him.  Perhaps now you see the reason for a helper, a partner for the field work.  Alone is a hard place to be with all this going on....Jesus really knew this in the core of his being.

How do you like the emphasis to use Jesus' name?  Scripture tells us when the 72 disciples returned, they joyfully.....[note the word 'joyfully'].....reported to him, "Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!"  They learned their lesson well.  Go forth in the name of the Lord, using his name...Jesus....to do your work.  To me, the word 'joyful' used here means they received their blessings along the way.  How exciting is that?!  How wondrous to be given the opportunity to love the Lord with all your heart, your mind, your soul, your strength!  How gratifying to be counted as one of his in the Kingdom of God and be able to go forth in his name, being given the privilege of using his name for his works!  NOT TO BE USED IN VAIN. 

And look what Jesus tells them!  "Yes, I saw Satan falling from heaven as a flash of lightning!  Satan in heaven?  Yes.  Fallen.  Another topic for another day.  Maybe you would like to research this and send me what you found as an opportunity to be a guest preacher on this site as some point.  See the email address below. 

He goes on to say, "And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them.  Nothing will injure you."  Let us not get foolish here, folks.  I would not advise walking purposely among snakes and scorpions to test God's faithfulness.  Trust and obey....there is no other way.  He has given you authority over all the power of the enemy.  You are in a spiritual battle, not a physical battle.  You may not power over a person physically, you may spiritually power over the enemy.  You may speak words of God with your armor to the enemy who embodies a person, and cast the enemy out, you may not 'take out' your enemy.  Huge difference.  No knives, no guns, no chemicals.  Words and words of prayers used only. 

Jesus says, "nothing will injure you".  I need to say that, if you have fully received the authority given you, you are full of God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.  You are fully protected.  Not most of us fall short of the glory of God...ALL do.  In Jesus' perfect world, we would all do exactly as he has taught us and received all that he has given us, and we are 'par excellence'.  Yup, well, we are not excellent.  WE are all substandard.  I cannot sit here and tell you that you will not be injured as you go forth.  I will tell you that the intent of Jesus' heart and mind is that we will receive the fullness of his authority and after having done so, can go forth...will...go forth, and in doing, so will not be injured.  Be careful. 

REJOICE!  Not just because I am almost done.  "But", Jesus' said, don't rejoice just because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered as citzens of heaven."  What glory awaits us!  But in the meantime, what glory we can direct to God, Jesus and Holy Spirit by doing his will!  Alleluia!  THAT is counting the cost.  Continue to 'press towared the mark for the prize of the high calling of God!'  Phil. 3: 14   GO....NOW, Lambs.  GO!     

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Let Us Pray

 Dear Heavenly Father God, Lord Jesus, and Teacher...Comforter Holy Spirit.  I come to your presence with thanksgiving.  I am blessed to know you love me and that you have given me the opportunity to be forgiven of my sins...if I ask, and receive eternal life, if I live a life of obedience to you with thanksgiving.  Please forgive me of my sins, and instill in me the desire to be a promise child.  Please Holy Spirit, come into my life fully.  Baptise me in your fullness.  Please fill me to overflowing with all those things I need by and of your grace, to be everything I need to be for you, those in the world to whom YOU send me, and for myself.  Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but say the word and I shall be healed.  Now send me forth to do all you have called me to do and be for the people that so desperately need to hear your message...or be reminded.  Help me be encouraged to live the life I have started with you.  Help me to pronounce to the world who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are, and that they can have you in their lives, too.  Help me to bring them to Holy Spirit that he might baptise them with the fullness of your love, your saving grace, your guiding grace.  Let me encourage others...and be encouraged.  Give me and others a new life in you.  I am so grateful that you love me. I bow down to you, God, and Glorious Love....Jesus.  Help me to always be real...be true...be right...be loving. And GO NOW.  Thank you....and...Amen.         

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More love.... 

  Benediction...Blessing

Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rythms of Grace'.

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation.  

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 to

 "Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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  Our Current Cause

It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need.  As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart.  Whether the need is for children, adults, or animals, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere.  Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones.  Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever.  Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member of, know this:  God is with you always...even til the end of time.  He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart. 

Please accept my sincerest thanks....and God's....and may God richly bless you!   

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    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rythms of Grace'

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

   Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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