Sending of the 72
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Vision sermon: Deploying Leaders. We don’t want to hoard leaders here. Mark Ellis. Ethan Grasso. Riley Stanton. Jacque. Larger vision of helping revitalize churches in our area. The need is great.
Main Idea: Jesus deploys us to go
Last week, Mark preached on Jesus sending the 12. Now, he will send out 72. They are multiplying.
Luke 10:1-20
Imperative #1: Go because it’s obedience (1-9)
Exp. We will see why we are to go. Verses 1-2. Sending in pairs was important for witnesses and was continued in Acts. 72 = nations of the world in Genesis 10. Harvest is plentiful, but laborers are few. Common saying. There are plenty of people to reach.
Ill. Black Mountain, population around 8,000. 72% unchurched. 14 pulpits with no pastor. Montreat - 750 students. Churches are dying. Harvest is plentiful. Laborers are few.
Exp. Jesus commands them:
Pray for God to send laborers (verse 2). Before you go, spend time on your knees.
Go as lambs among wolves (verse 3). Context shows us that we are to go humbly. We are not to be devoured, but we are also not looking to devour.
Carry nothing (verse 4). No money, bag, or even shoes! Complete reliance on Jesus.
Bless the household (verse 5). Bless those who receive you.
Do not jump from house to house (verse 7). Do not look for better accommodations.
Eat and drink what they provide (verse 7-8). No complaining.
Heal the sick and tell them of the kingdom (verse 9). Do what he’s empowered them to do, but with a forward gaze on the kingdom.
Christ - We go because Jesus sends us. Just as God sent Jesus, and Jesus was obedient to go.
18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
Christ - Jesus modeled this! Lived humbly. Received hospitality from others. Was sent, now he sends us.
App. What do we do? Go because it is obedience.
Go with humility.
Go while trusting God to provide.
Go if you are called to ministry.
Imperative #2: Go because salvation is in Jesus’ hands (10-16)
Exp. First part is positive. Then, Jesus gets real. Verse 10-11. He’s expecting people to not receive you. Wiping dust = Since you have a rebellious heart, we don’t even want your dust on us. But, the kingdom of God has come near. That’s the same message for those you heal and those who reject you. Verse 12. More than Sodom?
24 Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.
Exp. Final judgment will be worse. Verse 13-14. Both cities in Galilee. Unrepentant. Tyre and Sidon = Gentile lands. Sackcloth and ashes = ancient form of repentance. Verse 15. Quoting Isaiah to them. Even Capernaum can’t escape God’s judgment. Verse 16. If they hear you, they hear me. If they reject you, they reject me and God. To reject the message is to reject a relationship with the Father.
Ill. Your kid does a fundraiser for team uniforms. Selling World’s Greatest Chocolate. I say no. I’m not rejecting your kid. I’m rejecting what the money is for. When we share the gospel, their rejection is not for you. It’s for God.
Arg. It’s out of our hands whether people accept the gospel. It feels personal, but it’s not. It’s spiritual. That’s why Jesus commands them to move on and shake the dust off. The message is too important to pout about rejection.
Christ - No one knew this more than Jesus. Jesus is the way of salvation, but not everyone will accept this message. His own people wanted to crucify him. And it was on the cross where God’s mercy and judgment met.
App. What do we do? Take the message of salvation. Don’t be discouraged.
Learn how to share the gospel. The message is too important for us not to do this.
Grieve rejection, but don’t linger. The message is too important to waller in it.
Imperative #3: Go because you have been saved (17-20)
Exp. The 72 return to Jesus excited! Verse 17. We witnessed it! Verse 18. I don’t believe Jesus saw Satan fall. It is a quote from Isaiah 14:12
12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!
Exp. Also, the context is that the demons were subject to the disciples. Satan had no power. Verse 19. Allusion to the journey through the wilderness. In Deuteronomy, Moses alludes to the dangers of scorpions and serpents. Serpent also having a double meaning, because he just mentioned Satan. Also, an allusion to Genesis 3.
Christ - Jesus is the one who eventually crushed the head of Satan, and the disciples were able to experience it briefly then. We get to experience it forever. The HW dwells within us as protection, and he has no power over us.
Exp. Jesus gives them a command. Verse 20. They are joyful because demons obeyed. Jesus says, don’t rejoice in that. Rejoice in your salvation. The goal is not power over demons. The goal is relationship with God. Celebrate that!
Ill. Don’t celebrate a gym membership. Celebrate you’re becoming healthier.
Arg. Power over demons is nothing compared to an eternity of being with the Father.
App. What do we do? Rejoice in your salvation, not in what you can do.
Rejoice in your salvation, not what you do.
Conclusion
We want to deploy leaders out to fulfill what God has called them to do. If you want to be developed, let us know, we will do that.
