LUKE 10:1-24

L. R. Scarborough wrote, “Christ’s churches were not meant to be indoor institutions only, but outdoor agencies as well. The idea in most churches today seems to be, – ‘If you will come to our meetinghouse, we will offer you the gospel.’”

In Jesus’ last command, He told the disciples to “Go.” The late Edward VIII, Prince of Wales, once sent a thank you note to a gentleman in America, only to have the note returned for “insufficient address.” The Prince sent the note back to America with the royal signature and the words: “Find this man.”

Jesus sent disciples to go before Him. Edersheim explained, “On His progress southwards. . . those ‘seventy’ others. . . were to herald His arrival in every town and village. . . when Jesus made His last Missionary progress towards Jerusalem.”

“It was the national summons to open the gates to the rightful King, and accept His rule.”

I. Train the laborers to go (10:1-16)

A. Prepare (1)

1. Appointment (Acts 1:24)

2. Assignment (Mk. 6:7)

3. Advancement (1 Cor. 4:17)

B. Pray (2; other workers)

1. Lord (Acts 8:1)

2. Lost (Jn. 4:35)

Stagg noted, “There were thousands of religious workers. . . in Palestine when Jesus prayed for workers.”

C. Proceed (3)

1. Wisely (Mt. 10:16)

2. Watch (Acts 20:29)

D. Provide (4)

1. Trust (Lk. 22:35)

Stagg said, “Once one has learned to trust God for all, he may then learn to trust Him with all.”

2. Task (2 Cor. 2:17; 2 Kg. 4:29)

E. Peace (5-6)

1. House

2. Host

F. Payment (7)

1. Stipend (1 Tim. 5:18)

2. Solicit (1 Cor. 9:15; 1 Th. 2:9)

G. Polite (8)

1. Accept

2. Appreciate

H. Purpose (9)

1. Suffering (Mt. 25:44)

2. Salvation (Mt. 4:17; Rom. 13:12)

I. Preach (10-16)

1. Receive (Mt. 10:40; Acts 17:11; 1 Cor. 2:14)

2. Reject (Jn. 12:48)

a. Condemn (Lk. 9:5; Acts 13:51)

b. Compare (Mt. 11:20, 12:40-41)

Ezek. 2:5 [ESV]. And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them.

II. Teach the lessons from going (10:17-20)

Ps. 126:6. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [with him].

A. Joy in success (17-19)

Lk. 15:10. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

1. Victory over the demons (Eph. 1:21; 1 Pet. 3:22)

2. Authority over the devil (Jn. 12:31)

Rom. 8:37 [GNB]. No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!

Rom. 16:20a [ESV]. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

Rev. 12:11 [ESV]. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Each time the Kingdom of God entered hearts, satan suffered another defeat.

B. Joy in salvation (20; book of life– Ex. 32:33 Ps. 69:28, 87:6; Is. 4:3; Ezek. 13:9; Dan. 12:1; Mal. 3:16; Lk. 10:20; Phil. 4:3; Heb. 12:23; Rev. 3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 20:12-15, 21:27, 22:19)

Jesus mentioned the Book of Life in heaven that contained the names of all saved persons. Eighteen verses in the Bible referred to the book, and ten authors in the Bible wrote about the book (Moses, David, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Malachi, Luke, Paul, the writer of Hebrews, and John).

• The book belongs to God (Ex. 32:33; “my book”).

• Only the names of the saved are in the book (Mal. 3:16).

• Individual names are written in the book (Phil. 4:3).

• The Lord writes the names in the book (Ps. 87:6).

• No mistakes are made in the book (Heb. 12:23).

• To have your name in the book is the most important thing (Lk. 10:20).

• The names of the saved never will be blotted out of the book (Rev. 3:5).

• In the end those whose names are in the book will escape the tribulation at the rapture (Dan. 12:1) and not follow the anti-christ (Rev. 13:8, 17:8), enter the kingdom (Is. 4:3), miss the judgment (Rev. 20:15), and go to heaven (Ezek. 13:9; Rev. 21:27).

• Some Scriptures seem to indicate that originally every name was written in the book (Ps. 69:28), and God removes the names of those who do not believe (Rev. 22:19).

• When God opens the book, will your name be written inside (Rev. 20:12)? Can you say honestly, “When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there?”

III. Thank the Lord for goers (10:21-24)

A. Babes (21-22)

1. Hidden (1 Cor. 1:19-27)

2. Revealed (1 Cor. 2:7-10)

a. Grace (Mt. 11:26)

b. Goodness (2 Pet. 3:9)

B. Blessed (23-24)

Mt. 13:16-17 [ESV]. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Mt. 16:17 [GW]. Jesus replied, "Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! No human revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven revealed it to you.

1. Eyes (Jn. 9:25)

Heb. 11:13. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

2. Ears (Rom. 10:14)

D. L. Moody said, “I believe that if an angel were to wing his way from earth up to Heaven, and were to say that there was one poor, ragged boy, without father or mother, with no one to care for him and teach him the way of life; and if God were to ask who among them were willing to come down to this earth and live for fifty years and lead that one to Jesus Christ, every angel in heaven would volunteer to go. Even Gabriel, who stands in the presence of the Almighty, would say, ‘Let me leave my high and lofty position, and let me have the luxury of leading one soul to Jesus Christ.’ There is no greater honor than to be the instrument in God’s hands of leading one person out of the kingdom of Satan into the glorious light of Heaven.”

Lead me to some soul today,

O Teach me, Lord, just what to say;

Friends of mine are lost in sin,

And cannot find their way.

Few there are who seem to care,

And few there are who pray:

Melt my heart and fill my life;

Give me one soul today.