Summoned to Labor Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 SS Lesson for 02/03/2008 Devotional Scripture: Acts 13:1-5 OUTLINE INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW AND APPROACH TO LESSON LESSON INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND From the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary From the Bible Expositor and Illuminator MAJOR THEME ANALYSIS CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE MISSION (LUKE 10:1-2) Preparations for Jesus' coming (1) Preparation for God's glory to be shown (Rom 9:22-23) Preparation for the full revelation of God's goodness (Ps 31:19) Preparation of God's kingdom (Matt 25:34) Preparation of the new Holy City (Heb 11:16) Preparation for glorification (1 John 3:2-3) Workers for the harvest (2) Workers who work as if serving God (Eph 6:5-8) Workers who work with all their hearts (Col 3:22-24) Workers who can endure unjust treatment (1 Peter 2:18-20) Workers who are faithful in doing what has been assigned (Matt 24:45-47) Workers who are faithful to the trust given (1 Cor 4:2) INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE MISSION (LUKE 10:3-12) Facing risks (3-4) Risking life to help in the work of Christ (Phil 2:25-30) Risking life for friends (John 15:13) Risks for the sake of the Church (Rom 16:3-4) Risks that could require death for the benefit of others (2 Cor 4:12) Seeking peace (5-6) Peace that has no end (Isa 9:7) Peace through righteousness (Isa 32:17-20) Peace through Jesus (Eph 2:14-16) Peace that keeps one from worrying or being afraid (John 14:27) Peace that overcomes (John 16:33) Appreciating hospitality (7-8) Hospitality through sharing (Rom 12:13) Hospitable because it is commanded (Titus 1:8) Hospitality through entertaining strangers (Heb 13:2) Hospitality with a good attitude (1 Peter 4:8-9) Fulfilling the mission (9) Mission to bring the light (Isa 42:6) Mission to lead into salvation (Luke 2:30-32) Mission to tell about God s salvation (Acts 28:28) Mission to strengthen faith so that the promise of the Spirit may be received (Gal 3:14) Mission to bring total freedom (Col 3:11) Facing rejection (10-12) Rejection because of hatred of Jesus (Matt 10:22) Rejection that could lead to blessings for us (Luke 6:22) Rejection that has a promise of protection from God (Luke 21:17-19) Rejection not of man, but of the God and His Holy Spirit (1 Thess 4:8) Summoned to Labor Page 1 of 11 SS Lesson for 02/03/2008
Rejection of Jesus is a rejection of God (Luke 10:16) RESULTS OF THE MISSION (LUKE 10:17-20) Power displayed (17-19) Power to overcome (Luke 10:19) Power to be witnesses (Acts 1:8) Power to speak wisely (1 Cor 2:4-5) Power to love and be self-disciplined (2 Tim. 1:7) Power to do earthly work (Exodus 31:3) Power through Holy Spirit in prayer (Romans 8:26) Names written in Heaven (20) Names written in Heaven brings deliverance (Dan 12:1) Names written in Heaven means being fellow workers in Christ (Phil 4:3) Names written in Heaven means being in the Church of the Firstborn (Heb 12:23) Names written in Heaven means we will not be thrown in the lake of fire (Rev 20:15) Names written in Heaven means having the privilege to enter heaven (Rev 21:27) CONCLUSION AND OTHER THOUGHTS CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FROM THE NIV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR PRACTICAL POINTS FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR HEART OF THE LESSON FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR Laborers sent out (Luke 10:1-4) Instructions about hospitality (Luke 10:5-7) Labor where welcome [Luke 10:8-12) Reports of their labor (Luke 10:17) Rejoice, citizens of heaven (Luke 10:18-20) Summoned to Labor Page 2 of 11 SS Lesson for 02/03/2008
Introduction Overview and Approach to Lesson The outline of the lesson came from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator. The study's aim is to learn that effective service requires a minimum of physical equipment, but a maximum of spiritual devotion. The study's application is to understand that each Christian should make witnessing a primary goal in life. Lesson Introduction and Background From the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary In the kingdom of God, there are no spectator-only believers. God calls all Christians to be participating actively and faithfully in the work that builds and advances his kingdom. To sit in a monastery doing nothing but singing and praying is not an option! God has invested in each believer certain spiritual gifts. Our task is to be sensitive to the Spirit s leading regarding how to use those gifts. We hone this sensitivity through Bible study and prayer. As we do, we come to know Christ better, growing in our knowledge of his calling on our lives. Each of us needs a clearer understanding of his or her calling. Today s lesson will help us realize that Jesus does indeed call his disciples to do his work. If we don t answer the Lord s call, then who will? The work of the church in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries was marked by a great interest in foreign missions. To be a missionary in that era often was a life commitment a commitment to be trained for service, to leave one s home country, and to take up permanent residence in a foreign land. The risky nature of these ventures was shown in the requirement of some missionary agencies for their people to take caskets with them when they went out. This was because of the high likelihood that they would die on the mission field. Yet there are many success stories from this era, and nations such as South Korea and the Philippines, as well as many African countries, were left with a permanent Christian witness. Christian missionary endeavors boomed after World War II, as military veterans came home with a clear understanding of the need for the gospel in foreign lands. As new technology emerged, it was often incorporated into mission work. This included airplanes to reach remote regions and radio broadcasts to penetrate areas closed to missionaries. Later came computers to assist with Scripture translation as well as e-mail and Internet access. When we speak of missions in a technical sense, we mean more than occasional or random opportunities to share the gospel. Missions are intentional, strategic, cross-cultural evangelism. It does not happen accidentally. Crossing cultural boundaries to bring the gospel to others requires planning. One of the most dynamic developments in Christian missions in the last few years is the rise of short-term missionary trips. These have allowed Christians with little training or experience to travel abroad and engage people with the gospel. Admittedly, some short-term mission trips are more productive than others (as is also the case with long-term missions). But the short-term trips have brought a renewed excitement in many congregations concerning the need for worldwide evangelism. Some believers who would never be candidates for full-time mission work have experienced spiritual growth in ways that may not have happened otherwise. Today s lesson is about a mission trip. It was intentional, because it came from Jesus directives. It was strategic because it involved advance planning and sought to accomplish a larger goal. It may have been even a little cross-cultural in that the missionaries were going to places where they were not known. (We do not know if those whom Jesus sent out ventured into non-jewish environments.) We may be surprised, though, to realize that this was a short-term missions project. Perhaps some of these disciples became career missionaries at a later date, but probably most did not. Yet as is true with short-term missions today, the participants engaged in important tasks. Luke 9:51 begins a new section of Luke s story of Jesus. Here we are told that, As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. So Jesus and his group departed from Galilee to visit the holy city. Some commentators refer to this section (which extends from Luke 9:51 to 13:21) as the later Judean ministry. This section contains many great teachings of Jesus (example: The Good Samaritan, Luke 10:30 37) as well as his interactions with some interesting people (example: Mary and Martha, Luke 10:38 42). As we know, it was in Jerusalem that Jesus fulfilled his earthly destiny: the cross. His arrival in the Jerusalem precincts to fulfill that vital part of God s plan (which would be his final trip to Jerusalem) did not happen until Luke 19:29, some 10 chapters later. At least part of the reason Jesus sent out the 72 Summoned to Labor Page 3 of 11 SS Lesson for 02/03/2008
disciples (Luke 10:1) was to prepare the way for that final trip. Earlier, Jesus had initiated a similar sending out project that was limited to the 12 chosen disciples (Luke 9:1 6). They had been sent out with the authority to cast out demons, the power to heal diseases, and the responsibility of preaching the gospel. The word used to describe the act of sending in Luke 10:2 is related to the word apostle. Indeed, when they returned from their mission, the 12 were called apostles, for they had been sent out (Luke 9:10). From the Bible Expositor and Illuminator With this week's lesson we begin our third and final unit of study in Luke. The first five lessons dealt with God's call in the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. Lessons 6 through 9 focused on God's instruction, first of Jesus, through His temple experience at age twelve, and then through Jesus' own teaching on love, prayer, and trust. The final four lessons center around God's summons, or call, to various people through Christ. Our Lord issued challenges to many persons throughout His ministry, and they varied according to personnel and circumstances. The first summons Jesus issued was a call to labor given to a large number of disciples whom He commissioned to represent Him. It was by His grace alone that they had success. In His grace, Jesus has also summoned us to labor beside Him today. The circumstances are different, and the message is now more complete. But the challenges and the resources remain the same for us. Organizations originate in the minds of individuals. The idealism of today can lead to the reality of tomorrow. Forces for either good or evil gather influence and power as others are attracted to the ideas proposed. Recruitment is essential to growth, and this was obviously what motivated Jesus to send out seventy followers to promote righteousness and to wrestle with Satan. In Luke 9:57-62 we see three individuals contact Jesus, make remarks, and receive responses. When the first person offered to follow Him anywhere, Jesus implied this could lead to homelessness. When the second person wanted to bury his father first, Jesus suggested that others could do this. When the third person requested time to say farewell to relatives, Jesus said not to look back while promoting His kingdom. The appointment of the seventy was not voluntary but mandatory. Major Theme Analysis (Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV) Circumstances of the Mission (Luke 10:1-2) 1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Preparations for Jesus' coming (1) Preparation for God's glory to be shown (Rom 9:22-23) 22 What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory Preparation for the full revelation of God's goodness (Ps 31:19) 19 How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. Preparation of God's kingdom (Matt 25:34) 34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. Summoned to Labor Page 4 of 11 SS Lesson for 02/03/2008
Preparation of the new Holy City (Heb 11:16) 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Preparation for glorification (1 John 3:2-3) 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. Workers for the harvest (2) Workers who work as if serving God (Eph 6:5-8) 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. Workers who work with all their hearts (Col 3:22-24) 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Workers who can endure unjust treatment (1 Peter 2:18-20) 18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. Workers who are faithful in doing what has been assigned (Matt 24:45-47) 45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. Workers who are faithful to the trust given (1 Cor 4:2) 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. Instructions for the Mission (Luke 10:3-12) 3 "Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 "Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 "But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6 "And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 "Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 "And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 "But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 'The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.' Summoned to Labor Page 5 of 11 SS Lesson for 02/03/2008
12 "But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city. Facing risks (3-4) Risking life to help in the work of Christ (Phil 2:25-30) 25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me. Risking life for friends (John 15:13) 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. Risks for the sake of the Church (Rom 16:3-4) 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Risks that could require death for the benefit of others (2 Cor 4:12) 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. Seeking peace (5-6) Peace that has no end (Isa 9:7) 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Peace through righteousness (Isa 32:17-20) 17 The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. 18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. 19 Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, 20 how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free. Peace through Jesus (Eph 2:14-16) 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. Peace that keeps one from worrying or being afraid (John 14:27) 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Summoned to Labor Page 6 of 11 SS Lesson for 02/03/2008
Peace that overcomes (John 16:33) 33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Appreciating hospitality (7-8) Hospitality through sharing (Rom 12:13) 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Hospitable because it is commanded (Titus 1:8) 8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. Hospitality through entertaining strangers (Heb 13:2) 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hospitality with a good attitude (1 Peter 4:8-9) 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Fulfilling the mission (9) Mission to bring the light (Isa 42:6) "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, Mission to lead into salvation (Luke 2:30-32) 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." Mission to tell about God s salvation (Acts 28:28) "Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!" Mission to strengthen faith so that the promise of the Spirit may be received (Gal 3:14) He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. Mission to bring total freedom (Col 3:11) Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Facing rejection (10-12) Rejection because of hatred of Jesus (Matt 10:22) 22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Summoned to Labor Page 7 of 11 SS Lesson for 02/03/2008
Rejection that could lead to blessings for us (Luke 6:22) 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejection that has a promise of protection from God (Luke 21:17-19) 17 All men will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By standing firm you will gain life. Rejection not of man, but of the God and His Holy Spirit (1 Thess 4:8) 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. Rejection of Jesus is a rejection of God (Luke 10:16) 16 "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." Results of the Mission (Luke 10:17-20) 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." Power displayed (17-19) Power to overcome (Luke 10:19) 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Power to be witnesses (Acts 1:8) 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Power to speak wisely (1 Cor 2:4-5) 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. Power to love and be self-disciplined (2 Tim. 1:7) 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. Power to do earthly work (Exodus 31:3) 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-- Power through Holy Spirit in prayer (Romans 8:26) 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Summoned to Labor Page 8 of 11 SS Lesson for 02/03/2008
Names written in Heaven (20) Names written in Heaven brings deliverance (Dan 12:1) 12:1 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people everyone whose name is found written in the book will be delivered. Names written in Heaven means being fellow workers in Christ (Phil 4:3) 3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Names written in Heaven means being in the Church of the Firstborn (Heb 12:23) 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, Names written in Heaven means we will not be thrown in the lake of fire (Rev 20:15) 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Names written in Heaven means having the privilege to enter heaven (Rev 21:27) 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. Conclusion and Other Thoughts Concluding Thoughts from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary Experiencing and understanding God s call to service is one of the most perplexing issues facing church members. Most assume that calls of God are reserved for career preachers, missionaries, etc. Yet we are all called to be faithful and to serve God as the Bible teaches us. This is a universal call, and we should rejoice in it. The more specialized calls to ministry come to relatively few believers. This does not make them elite or specially privileged. It just means they are chosen by God for certain tasks. I have spent a quarter of a century preparing people for the various ministries of the church. At the same time, I have preached in over 150 local churches. These experiences have caused me to observe two great tragedies. First, I have found people in ministry positions who were never called by God to be in that ministry. This has caused them to doubt their vocation, act in a tentative manner, and generally cause damage to the people they work with. Ministry training alone does not make a minister. Second, I have encountered Christians some who were in their twilight years who knew they were called by God into ministry but did not respond to the call. Such people may have been successful in business and may have lived rich, productive lives. But they have lived regretfully, knowing in their hearts that God intended them to be preachers or missionaries. In counseling many people through the process of evaluating God s call to ministry, I have found two principles that seem always to apply. First, if God is calling you to ministry, the call does not go away. It is not a one-time invitation. It is not the stirring of the heart at an emotional moment that disappears after a good night s sleep. If God is calling you to be a missionary, for example, that desire will be etched on your heart until the day you die. Second, if God is calling you to ministry, you will never be satisfied doing anything else. If you are called to be a preacher, circumstances may require you to take a job selling cars or delivering mail at particular points in your life. But you will not be happy doing just that. Your call will cause your heart to yearn for the ministry to which God has appointed you. Participation in limited ministry experiences is a good way to explore a possible call to ministry. Many churches organize short-term mission trips. Have you ever considered going along on one of these? Such an experience may help you explore the possibility of God s call. Even if God is not calling you to be a Summoned to Labor Page 9 of 11 SS Lesson for 02/03/2008
career missionary, perhaps he intends that you become an annual mission-trip participant. Maybe he has some other plans for you. In all things, however, we should be guided by Scripture and open to the leading of God s Holy Spirit. Concluding Thoughts from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator The lesson text is not so much an appeal for missionary service as it is a prayer that God would send missionaries into His field. Jesus urged His followers to pray this prayer as He commissioned the seventy to go throughout Israel prior to His own ministry. Just the other night, I joined a group of friends from my church to pray for the church's missionaries. There were five of us. It was a great blessing to be able to meet in the Lord's name to seek God's blessings on those laborers who have committed to going to foreign lands to tell others about Christ. The ministry of the missionaries we prayed for represents a very small part of the world. Jesus was absolutely right that "the harvest truly is great." It is even greater today, since the world now has over five billion people. At the time Jesus spoke these words, there were fewer than one billion people on the earth. Yes, there is a great harvest. The number of missionaries from North America is quite few. Many countries are closed to traditional Christian missionaries, and some that are not are still effectively closed. I know a couple from my church who left recently to minister in Istanbul, Turkey. They will have to be tentmakers (Acts 18:3); that is, they will have to work in some other occupation while ministering in this predominantly Muslim country. That actually allows them opportunities they would not otherwise have. Any Muslim country is difficult to minister in, but at least they can minister there. Other countries, like Saudi Arabia, would not even allow them in. Yes, my friends are just a few among the millions in Turkey, but they are doing God's work. Jesus urged His followers (and us) to pray that God would send out workers for this great harvest. It is important to pray for those who are already there, but we also need to think ahead. Who will be the next generation of missionaries? We need to pray earnestly that God will send out those He wants to work in His harvest fields. It is necessary to realize that the ministry Jesus sent the seventy out to was right there in Israel not to other countries but to Israel. It was a home missions effort, if you will. Very often when we think about missions, we think only of going to another country. But what about those who live near us? Do we take opportunities to witness to our neighbors and those we associate with? A friend of mine recently made the point that we reach people one person at a time. I knew this, but it is helpful to be reminded of it from time to time. That is certainly the method Jesus used quite often (John 4). There will come a time when all those God wants in His kingdom will be there. No one knows when that day is; so we must keep doing the work of winning the lost. We must be faithful. It does not matter whether we are called to full-time ministry or not. God has a plan for each of us. He may call us out of our present occupation to go forth to another land. That has happened before. But even if that does not happen, we still need to pray that God will send out laborers into His harvest. Practical Points from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator 1. We should always wait for God's guidance and then follow Him (Luke 10:1-2) 2. God directs and guides us as we obey Him (vs. 3-4) 3. The peace of God that we have as believers allows us to bless others for Christ (vs. 5-7) 4. A person who rejects the gospel when we witness is rejecting God, not us (vs. 8-11) 5. When someone rejects the gospel, it helps us understand how God feels when we reject His will for us (vs. 12) 6. Our service for God enables us to cooperate with Him in His work (vs. 17-20) Heart of the Lesson from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator The people in God's community have been deliberately put together for a specific purpose so that they can bring others to the knowledge of Jesus and His salvation. We have been summoned to labor for Him to tell others about the kingdom. Summoned to Labor Page 10 of 11 SS Lesson for 02/03/2008
Laborers sent out (Luke 10:1-4) Before He had left this earth, Jesus made sure that He had organized a band of believers who would spread the message of salvation to all the world. This began with the choosing of seventy other disciples, besides the Twelve. He decided to send them out ahead of Him in twos to all the towns and villages that He would visit. Jesus' instructions were clear. There was a great harvest to be brought in (Jesus was referring to the people who needed salvation), but the laborers in the fields were too few. Those being sent were appointed to a special mission. They were commissioned to pray for many others who would join their ranks to go out into the world and tell the good news of Jesus. They were sent out on a very dangerous mission where they would face opposition as lambs among wolves. They were to carry no money, no bag, and no extra footwear. They were also not to stop to exchange the customary long greeting with anyone along the way. Instructions about hospitality (Luke 10:5-7) Jesus gave them instructions about how they were to accept hospitality in the towns and villages they visited. They were to bless the homes they entered. The blessing would be effective if the home was receptive to them and genuinely hospitable. Otherwise, the blessing would return to them. They were to stay in only one place when they entered a town and receive only the food and hospitality provided by their host family. Those who work deserve their wages. Labor where welcome [Luke 10:8-12) The disciples were to work hard in the areas where they were welcome. They were to share their food and heal the sick. Their message was to warn people that the kingdom of God was very near. When they were rejected by any city, they were to symbolically wipe the dust off their feet as a warning of impending judgment and remind the people of the coming kingdom. Then they were to move on to the next venue and preach there also. On the Day of Judgment, those who reject the message from God will be punished more than the wicked city of Sodom. Reports of their labor (Luke 10:17) The reports that these seventy disciples brought back to Jesus were very positive. They were thrilled that even the demons submitted to them in the name of Jesus. His name was powerful! It was a time of jubilation for them. Rejoice, citizens of heaven (Luke 10:18-20) Jesus helped them put things in the right perspective. He told them that although it was wonderful that the demons were subject to them in their missionary efforts, there was something more important. Jesus reminded them that He was there when Satan fell from heaven like lightning. It was an experience like theirs. But now He was giving them authority over the power of Satan. When they walked among dangerous scorpions and snakes, they would be protected. They were not just to rejoice that demons fell. More important than that, they were to rejoice that they were now citizens of heaven. Summoned to Labor Page 11 of 11 SS Lesson for 02/03/2008