SENT: GO WITH GOD'S POWER

Luke 10:1 - 3, Acts 1:8

Scripture: Luke 10:1–3 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 2. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. 3. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Introduction

Jesus doesn’t send us alone—He sends us with His authority, Spirit, power and enablement. Last week, we discovered that Jesus calls ordinary people—people like you and me—to carry out His extraordinary mission. We talked about how He doesn’t wait for us to get our act together before He calls us. He calls us as we are and then sends us out to be His representatives in the world.

But if we’re honest, many of us left last week thinking, ‘Okay… but what if I’m not ready? What if I don’t have what it takes? What if I try to step out in faith and totally blow it?’ Or maybe you tried this past week to engage others, to live a called and commissioned life and you’re left thinking, “Well that didn’t go very well.”

I think the disciples probably felt the same way. Imagine being there when Jesus said, ‘I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves’ (Luke 10:3). That’s not exactly a confidence boost! And yet, Jesus sends them anyway—because He knows something they don’t know yet: He’s not sending them alone.

That’s what this week is all about. Jesus doesn’t just commission us; He empowers us. He doesn’t just give us a mission; He gives us His authority. He doesn’t just tell us to go; He promises to go with us.

In Luke 10, we see Jesus send out seventy followers—ordinary people—into villages to proclaim the kingdom of God. And when they return, they are full of joy, amazed at what God did through them. That same power, that same Spirit, and that same authority is available to us today.

So, here’s the big question for us this week: What would change in your life if you truly believed that the power of God goes with you wherever you go?”

Go with God’s Power

[Read Luke 10:8–9, 17–20]

8. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: 9. And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 

Luke 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20.   Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 

Point 1: The Mission is Urgent

Matthew 9:37 reads “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”

When Jesus looked at the crowds, He didn’t just see people—He saw souls. He saw their brokenness, their searching hearts, their longing for hope, and His response wasn’t casual observation; it was compassion mixed with urgency.

In John 4:35, (NKJV) Jesus said: Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 

He’s saying, “Don’t wait. Don’t assume there’s more time. The moment is now.” The problem isn’t that the world isn’t ready—the problem is that too few are willing to go. People are longing for hope, searching for meaning, waiting for someone to point them to Jesus.

Paul reinforces this in Romans 10:14:(KJV) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?

The mission is urgent, and it’s personal. Look around you this week: maybe a family member is struggling quietly, a coworker is wrestling with questions, a neighbor feels invisible, or a classmate carries more than they can handle. The harvest isn’t “out there” somewhere—it’s right where God has placed you. And the call is the same for you today: step into it with courage and faith.

When we see the urgency, it changes everything. We stop waiting for the “perfect moment” or the “right conditions” and start trusting that God can use us right now—exactly where we are—for His kingdom purposes. The Mission is Urgent

Point 2: The Mission is Dangerous

In our text Jesus said, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Luke 10:3

Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat it. Following Him isn’t a safe, comfortable path. Being His witness, living on mission, means there will be challenges, resistance, even opposition. The world doesn’t always welcome the message of the kingdom. There will be moments when you feel vulnerable, unprepared, and, honestly, scared.

But here’s the good news: while the mission is dangerous, the authority is divine. Acts 1:8 reminds us: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

The Spirit doesn’t just show up to comfort us — He empowers us to act boldly, to speak truth with courage, and to trust God’s plan in the face of opposition.

Paul puts it another way in 2 Corinthians 12:9: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

That’s the secret: courage in mission doesn’t come from self-confidence or your own strength. It comes from God-confidence. You may feel like a lamb, small and defenseless, but you are sent with the authority of the Shepherd. You don’t have to carry the weight alone. Wherever God places you this week—whether it’s a conversation with a coworker, a moment to forgive someone who hurt you, or standing up for truth in a difficult situation—He has already equipped you.

So the danger isn’t a signal to back down; it’s a signal to lean into Him, step forward in faith, and trust His power to work through you. The mission may feel risky, but the One who sends you is stronger than anything you will ever face. The Mission is Dangerous

Point 3: The Mission is Empowered

When the seventy returned from their mission, they were astonished. They said, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. (Luke 10:17). Notice the key phrase: “through thy name.” The power was never theirs—it was God’s. Their effectiveness wasn’t rooted in skill, strategy, or strength; it was rooted in Christ’s presence and authority.

Jesus reminds them not to get caught up in what they were able to accomplish, but to celebrate what God had already done. He said, “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). The ultimate joy comes not from power or success, but from being in the hands of the One who is already victorious.

Paul puts it beautifully in Ephesians 3:20: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Philippians 4:13, Paul says it even more personally: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

Here’s the application: when you step out in faith, you’re not relying on your own power. You are carrying Christ’s presence, Christ’s Spirit, and Christ’s authority. That’s why you can be bold. That’s why you can move forward even when the mission is risky. That’s why you can show courage in places where the world expects fear, love where it expects hostility, and hope where there’s only despair.

Think about this week: the meetings you attend, the classrooms you sit in, the conversations that feel uncomfortable, the relationships that need healing—you don’t go alone, and you don’t go powerless. Christ goes with you, in His name, and His power is already at work through you. The Mission is Empowered

Conclusion

So, what are we learning from Jesus in Luke 10? First, the mission is urgent—the harvest is ripe, and people are waiting for someone to bring hope. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or for the conditions to feel just right. The opportunity is right in front of you, and God has placed you there for a reason.

Second, the mission is dangerous—following Jesus isn’t always safe or comfortable. But here’s the hope: He doesn’t send us alone. The authority of Christ and the power of the Spirit go with us. Courage doesn’t come from our own strength; it comes from God-confidence, trusting that He equips us for every situation.

Third, the mission is empowered—everything we do in His name flows from Christ’s presence, Spirit, and authority. Like the seventy-two, when we step out in obedience, we can witness incredible fruit and return with joy. We don’t act in our own power; we act as God’s representatives, carrying His kingdom into the world.

This week, ask yourself: where is God calling you to step out? Maybe it’s praying with someone rather than just offering to pray. Maybe it’s sharing a word of hope with a friend. Maybe it’s serving someone sacrificially without expecting recognition. And as you do it, remember: you go with His authority, His Spirit, and His power.

This coming week add your calling and commission to the empowerment you have in His Spirit and see what might happen. See what adventures the Lord might take you on. Here’s the exciting part: stepping out in obedience always leads us closer to the heart of Jesus.

Next week, we’ll see that being sent by Him isn’t just about action—it’s about posture. We’ll discover that true influence flows from humility and love in action, as Jesus teaches us what it really means to be sent to serve.

So step into the week ready to go, ready to trust, and ready to act—not in your own power, but in His.

Let’s pray together. “Lord Jesus, thank You that You never send us alone. You go before us, You go with us, and You empower us by Your Spirit. Give us boldness where we are timid, faith where we doubt, and courage where we feel weak. Send us into the harvest field with Your power and Your love.”