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168. Success!


Luke 10:17-20
Key Verse: "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."
Luke 10:19

Do you believe that? It's hard to believe what Jesus says when we live in a world in which evil seems to be so strong. We often feel more like the victims than the victors today. Remember though, "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1) How often has Jesus told His disciples, up to this point, that what we see isn't necessarily the reality that He knows?

Evil was real in Jesus’ day as well. Most people were financially poor, poorly educated and oppressed, not only by the Romans, but by their own religious leaders. Medicine and spiritual warfare were almost unknown, so if a person was handicapped, or mentally impaired, there was no hope. There were no medical tests or medical cures that could cure much of the affliction of Jesus' day.

Yet, Jesus had empowered the seventy-two. He had sent them out two by two to preach, "the kingdom of God is near," and He had enabled them to heal, cast out demons and bring hope to all the hurting. Those seventy-two, believed, and obeyed and stepped out in faith to do what man would call impossible. God blessed their obedience and their faith and they came back rejoicing over what had been accomplished because it was done in Jesus’ name and by His power.

Paul says in Phil. 4:13, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." These seventy-two followers lived that out. They didn't argue with Jesus and beg Him to send somebody else. They didn't say, "That's not my gift." They didn't say, "Later, when I have time," and they didn't doubt. Jesus said "Go," and they went. Jesus said, "You will be able," and their actions showed that they believed. The result, fruitful ministry, as Jesus promised of the fourth soil, in his parable about the soils. 

What if we could live that obediently? What if we could walk away from our daily planners and have the faith that God is with us and empowering us? What if we stopped coming up with all the reasons why we can't, and just believe Him when He says we can? What if we could experience the success of these, unnamed followers of Christ? What stands in our way?

Hymn: "Bringing In the Sheaves"
Jesus Commands Us to Go (Great song! Just couldn't find it with the words.)

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