BELIEVERS ARE PRESENT-DAY DISCIPLES

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The Gospel of Luke tells of a time in the ministry of Jesus when He gathers together 72 of His disciples… to counsel and encourage them before sending them out to places He would soon visit. Their mission? To prepare hearts and lives for His message of salvation… and to help in the harvest for His kingdom. These words of Jesus are also for us today… His present-day disciples.

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?

“The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go.” – Luke 10:1

   Disciples are anointed

Jesus recruits His disciples and anoints them for service to the King. He sets us apart as holy for a holy calling… to lead others to Him. His favor and blessing is upon us and His Spirit is present with us as we set out into the world in His name.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” – Luke 10:2

⇒   Disciples are commissioned

Jesus appoints His disciples to be harvest gatherers. There is a harvest field of unbelievers ready to receive the Savior of the world. We are called to not only sow the seeds of the gospel but to reap the fruits of those who have gone before us.

“Ask the Lord of the harvest… to send out workers into His harvest field.” – Luke 10:2

   Disciples are prayerful

Jesus asks His disciples to pray always and never give up. Prayer is the groundwork that precedes stepping out for the kingdom. He directs us to pray specifically for fellow Christians to help reap His plentiful harvest.

“Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” – Luke 10:3

   Disciples are protected

Jesus will not send His lambs out amongst the wolves without safeguarding them. He promises to be our Shepherd… the caretaker of His sheep for whom He has laid down His life. He will defend us from the “wolves” that come against us.

“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.” – Matthew 10:16

   Disciples are Spirit-led

Jesus gave these words of warning to His 12 apostles earlier when He sent them out. Believers are to have this healthy spiritual balance… interacting with the world cautiously, wisely, discerningly while keeping their hearts and motives pure, peaceful. Only with the Holy Spirit is this balance possible.

“Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” – Luke 10:9

   Disciples are ambassadors

Jesus exhorts His disciples to be a reflection of Him to the world. We are heralds of the message of God’s kingdom. We are light-bearers for Christ, illuminating the darkness in people’s lives with His light. For Jesus brought the kingdom of God to us.

“Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; but whoever rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.” – Luke 10:16

   Disciples are challenged

Jesus cautions His disciples that the world will hate them because they are His. The enemy will try to undermine our influence for Christ and sabotage our kingdom work. Yet Jesus has absolute power over evil and absolute goodness toward us.

“The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.’” – Luke 10:17

   Disciples are joyful

Jesus rewards His disciples with joy. We discover true joy in our kingdom successes. We celebrate the joy of His harvest and rejoice in our victories over evil in His mighty name.

“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 18-19

   Disciples are empowered

Jesus will not dispatch His disciples without empowering and equipping them for victory. Our Lord, who reigns in omnipotence, has given us power and authority to overcome the enemy and all evil.

“Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” – Luke 10:20

   Disciples are privileged

Jesus reminds His disciples of the true focus of their lives… the honor and privilege of being children of the kingdom… ones whose names are written in the Book of Life. We are not to focus on the evil of the present world but the hope of our future in heaven.

Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, ‘I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.’” – Luke 10:21

   Disciples are enlightened

Jesus bestows upon His disciples divine revelation as they abide in Him. The indwelling Spirit counsels us with wisdom, insight and understanding to navigate our paths.

“No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” – Luke 10:22

   Disciples are chosen

Jesus hand-picks His disciples. We are His elect, chosen not for who we are or what we have done, but by the wisdom and grace of God. We are His royal priesthood… privileged to be valued by Him.

“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” – Luke 10:23-24

   Disciples are blessed

Jesus confers favor on His disciples. Many Old Testament kings and prophets longed to know the One we know and love. For to know Christ is the greatest of blessings. To be a part of God’s family is a treasure beyond measure.