Luke 10

Jesus selects 70 in Luke 10 to send out to the “harvest” in order to share the truth of God.  He sends them out in “pairs” – two at a time – to do the work of the ministry.  Great and important lesson here.  Being a Christian does not happen as a lone ranger in Jesus’ plan.  We don’t minister alone – we do it together.  Scripture is full of verses that teach us the power of two or more.  Guys – that is another reason it is critical to be in deep fellowship with other men – so we can effectively minister for God.  When we are walking alone, we can easily fall or get in a funk and just wander in the desert for a long while.  When we have others who care about us and challenge us to serve, we can pick each other up and be in the game far more of the time.  Jesus tells the seventy there is a “huge harvest” out there waiting for them.  But catch this – He gives them this as a starting point: “So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands”.  Ministry has to be wrapped in prayer.  It is not about what we can do – it is about what God will do through us.  Sometimes we get wrapped up in our ability to minister to others.  It really doesn’t have much to do with us other than a willingness to go as God directs.  He takes care of the details.  He is the One who actually touches people.  We are simply His tool and vessel.  The seventy were filled with power – they had “safe passage on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the enemy”.  That is God, all God guys.  When we are plugged in and working in His will, we literally are unstoppable.  But here is a key teaching you can’t miss.  Jesus tells them “the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God’s authority over you and presence with you… Not what you do for God but what God does for you–that’s the agenda for rejoicing.”  Do you see it – it is not about you and me but God and having Him at the wheel as Lord and Master of our lives!