With day number forty quickly approaching, let’s shift our thinking to what the Father might be asking us to do. We know that He has done everything necessary to give us access to heaven and to the kingdom. We know that all the power and the authority of the kingdom can be ours in the exact same way there were wielded by Jesus and by the disciples. Now is the time to begin thinking about what it will look like when we are on assignment from God.
Tomorrow, we will look at Jesus final words to His followers, the instructions that sent them down a path to change the world. His final instructions are often referred to as the Great Commission. I like to think of them as the words that launched the greatest revolution in all the history of mankind.
But before we look at how the disciples of were sent, we must realize that they had already been sent once before. It is impossible to understand the final sending without comprehending the first.
In Luke 9, Jesus sends out the 12 disciples to begin speaking about the kingdom and doing the miracles that Jesus had been doing. Then, in Luke 10, Jesus sends out a larger group of His followers. He sends out seventy with very specific instructions on how they should go. These simple instructions help us understand what it looks like when we are on assignment from God.
First, Jesus puts the seventy in pairs and sends them to the cities and places where He is planning to visit. Luke 10:1 says…
“Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.”
Jesus sent them in pairs so they can strategize and work together. He knew that two eyes would see more, two hearts would care more, and two minds would remember more of what He had taught them. He also sent them ahead. As part of their training, He wanted them to experience the kingdom for themselves, not just follow what Jesus had done.
Second, Jesus tells them to pray for workers to go out into the ripe harvest. Luke 10:2 says…
“And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Isn’t it strange that Jesus is sending out the seventy and He asks them to pray for more? Before they go out, Jesus is already teaching them about the ministry of multiplication. The goal of sending them out is not just to reach the people in these cities and places, but to reach people who will also go out into the harvest.
Third, Jesus gives them specific instructions about the conditions they are walking into and the provisions they are to take with them. Luke 10:3-4 says…
"Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way.”
Jesus explains to His followers that they are going to be a target for the enemy. He understands that they are lambs, baby to adolescent sheep, not even full grown. Where He is sending them, there will be wolves. In other words, be on the alert. When you go out, sent by Jesus, you will have a target on your back.
In addition, they are not to carry with them extra money or shoes. They are to go directly to where God has commanded them. There are not to be any distractions and they are not to worry about provisions. God will provide. When we are on assignment from God, His provision and protection allow us to keep our eyes entirely on the goal for which He sends us.
Fourth, He gives them instructions on what to do when they arrive in the place or city where He has sent them.
In Luke 10:5, Jesus says…
"Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.”
The first step in the building of the kingdom is to make an offering of peace, not just to individuals, but to households. We are to say, “Peace be to this house.” In other words, we go with an offer of peace with God. We are not just telling people about Jesus; we are inviting them to become part of the kingdom. We are offering them a life that is entirely different and exponentially better than anything they have ever known. The good news of the kingdom impacts people deeply so that when someone is truly transformed, their entire household wants to join them.
Jesus wants us to know that when are on assignment from God we go with the authority of the kingdom, but we cannot do anything to impact the outcome. We can offer peace, but it is up to the person and the household whether they choose to receive it. To make sure we understand this, Jesus gives us instructions for both scenarios.
Luke 10:6-9 gives the instructions of what to do when someone receives our offer…
6 "If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
7 "Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house.
8 "Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you;
9 and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'"
In this passage, Jesus lays out a beautiful pattern for walking with people who show interest in the kingdom. We tell them about the kingdom and if they show interest, we explain to them that they kingdom of God is very near to them. So, we invite time to continue pursuing the kingdom of God together. We continue to walk with them until they believe, and until they can walk with God on their own.
An important part of walking with those God is inviting into the kingdom is the experience of God’s healing hand. We are never commanded to go out and bring healing to everyone. As we have learned, we go to the Father and get our instructions from Him. He is the great healer. We offer healing when God instructs to do so, when He is at work bringing healing to that person. When we are on assignment from God, we can expect that the supernatural will accompany the spreading of the kingdom of God.
It is also important to understand the meaning of the “man of peace.” The man, or person, of peace is someone the Father has already prepared to receive the truth of the gospel. God has already gone ahead of us, into towns or neighborhoods, and identified someone in a family or community that He wants to reach. God strategically identifies someone who will believe and bring other with them into the kingdom. Knowing that God has already done the preparation, part of building the kingdom is allowing God to lead us to the person of peace.
In Luke 10:10-11, Jesus gives the instructions of what to do when someone rejects our offer…
"But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.'"
When we make an offer of peace with God and our offer is rejected, we are to move on and continue looking for someone who is receptive. Jesus gives us specific instructions on what to do when we leave. He says that we are to wipe the dust off our feet. The idea here is to completely release all outcomes when we are on assignment from God. We are called to faithfully carry out the assignments God gives us. The results are always up to Him.
The truth is that the message of the kingdom will not always be received. In fact, there will likely be more people who reject the message than receive it. If we carry the burden of the response to the good news, it will overwhelm and discourage us. Wiping the dust off our feet, leaves the entire encounter behind us. We do not need to take it with us and brood. We leave it behind.
This does not mean we leave with anger or insult. We leave nicely, but we also leave them with a reminder that the kingdom of God has just come close to them. They need to realize that they have just been close to the kingdom. Unfortunately, for those who choose not to follow Jesus there is a certain judgment. But it is not our responsibility to change them. We deliver the message and God owns the outcome.
Because the seventy went out at the command of Jesus, they also went out with His authority. Because they went out with His authority, they saw results. People received the offering of peace. Whole households entered the kingdom. People were healed. The enemy was defeated in people’s lives.
Luke 10:17 records what the disciples said when they returned…
"The seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.'"
Jesus goes on to explain to the disciples exactly what was happening on their first outing as servants of God. It is almost as if He is answering the question: How do we know if we are abiding, walking in the Spirt, receiving His SHALOM, and giving it away? We know, because the power and authority of the Kingdom of God flows through us, just as it flowed through Christ. We know that we are walking with the King when the kingdom comes to earth through us.
Luke 10:18-24 records Jesus’ response…
18 "And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
19 "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.
20 "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."
21 At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.
22 "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."
23 Turning to the disciples, He said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see,
24 for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them."
First, we see the results of being sent by Jesus and walking in the kingdom. When we are on assignment from the Father there is always an exchange of power of and authority. The power and authority of the kingdom come to earth wherever the offering of peace is made, and especially when the offering of peace is received.
The exchange of authority is something visible to both God and man. The demonic world is put in subjection to the authority of Jesus, and Jesus passes that authority on to those who follow Him. The seventy saw it happening. They said, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."
Jesus confirmed this demonstration of authority in His response, when He said, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.” While the seventy were out walking in the authority of the kingdom, Jesus was able to see exactly what was happening.
Jesus goes on to say, "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.”
Jesus describes the power exchange as authority over power. Authority is the right to rule or govern. This is something which flows from the throne of God. All authority belongs to Him and He gives it as He pleases. And according to Jesus, He gives this kingdom authority to those who choose to carry out the assignments He gives them.
Specifically, this authority allows us to tread upon serpents and scorpions, a metaphoric reference to the demons. But there is more. The authority given by Jesus to those on assignment from Him goes beyond individual demons. Jesus gives us authority over all the power of the enemy. Satan was granted authority over the world system and he passes that down to his demons. But none of the enemy’s authority stands in the newly established kingdom of God with the risen Christ on the throne.
As we go out and experience the authority of the kingdom, it would be easy to get enamored with the power of the kingdom. But Jesus wants to make sure we do not miss the point of what is happening in the exchange of power. The seventy came back and they were rejoicing over the display of power. But Jesus says to them, "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."
The greater cause for rejoicing is that our names are recorded in heaven, that we are on the heavenly roster! We are starters. We are citizens of heaven, no longer citizens of this world, this earth. We have a heavenly calling, an invitation to live in the kingdom of heaven, to operate above the course of this world. The miracles and displays of power are nothing more than a validation that this is true, that we are children of the king, imbued with His authority and invited to walk with Him.
To confirm this, Jesus pulls the seventy aside, “Turning to the disciples, He said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them."
What an amazing experience! The prophets and kings of old wished they would have seen the coming of the kingdom of God to earth. They spoke of it, caught glimpses of it, but the never saw it in action. The seventy were truly blessed to have this experience, not just seeing the kingdom come, but participating in its authority.
What does it look like when we are on assignment from God? Peace is offered. The message of the kingdom goes out with power. Some receive the offering. Some reject the message. For those who receive the message there is healing, both spiritual and physical. The power of the enemy is defeated in their lives. Their transformation is so complete that they cannot contain it. They run to invite others. They share the testimony of what God has done and is doing in their lives. And this transformation repeats itself over and over again. It is unstoppable. When heaven comes to earth through us, nothing can stop it. What a privilege it is to be a part of the greatest movement of all time!
WORSHIP: Worship the God who is our spiritual director and guide. He is able to guide us in our spiritual journeys. He is able to give us assignments that change the world. And He loves to be our guide. His way is the absolute best, there is nothing better than following Him. As you worship Him, let go of the control you normally exercise in all these areas.
PRACTICE: Continue to prepare yourself to receive assignments from God. Take some time today to write down two or three things you would love to do in the kingdom. Then for each of the items, write down what special gifting it might take to carry out these assignments. Don’t worry about being right or wrong, just put down some of the desires of your heart. Keep these in your journal, so you can process them later.
MEDITATION: Take some time to meditate on the passage we looked at in today’s teaching. Put yourself in the story. What must it have been like to experience the authority of the kingdom for the first time? What do you think the seventy felt? What do you think they thought? Since they went out in pairs, what do you think their conversations were like? What conversations did they have with Jesus when they returned? Since you may be one of them very soon, allow yourself to walk with the seventy?
ABIDING: By this time, it is very possible that the Father, your Spiritual Director, has led you to a place in Scripture where He wants you to abide. As you go back and read through this teaching one more time, ask the Father if there is anything in these passages specifically for you. Look for the things that reinforce what God is teaching you at this time. Write down anything you hear from Him. Spend some extra time listening to see if the Spirit has anything more to say to you or if there is a deeper teaching for you today. Write down whatever you hear. Ask the Father if there is someone, He wants you to share this with and follow through with His assignment.
© 2020, John Santaferraro.