Before I even began to pen
Luke Chapter 10 - I was flabbergasted when the first sentence said that the Lord chose 72 disciples to send on ahead! Have I really been that ignorant to not understand that Jesus had at least 72 students following him? I always thought it was 12, but there were so many more. As I continue reading scripture I am going to keep my heart open and be ready to learn more. Jesus sent them in pairs, to the places he planned to go. He gave them these instructions, “Do NOT stop to greet anyone on the road!” He told them he was sending them as lambs among the wolves. He told them to be careful, and NOT to move around from home to home. He instructed them to take nothing with them, not even a travelers bag! He told them to accept hospitality because those who work deserve to be paid. He told them the harvest is great, but that the workers are few. He encouraged them to pray for more workers to do the work that they do. He reminded them to seek the will of God when they enter a home; and if the people are peaceful then that is where they belong; but if the people are hostile, then he told them to wipe the dust from their feet and continue to move on. Jesus said, “Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me, and anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.” Luke 10:16 This is what helps me to speak out His Word! It is HIS message, and NOT my Word to give. If they mock it or deny it, then they are not rejecting me, but are really just rejecting God. Because truly it has nothing to do with me. It’s about carrying out my duty as a soldier of the Lord's army. Back to the story, when the 36 pairs returned to their home, they shouted out with joy at what they had done. They said, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” And Jesus affirmed them, and told them what he saw happen in Heaven. He said, “I saw Satan fall from Heaven like lightening! I have given you all the authority over the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them!” Luke 10:19-20 Wow! I don’t remember that! I mean, I remember what has been told to me; that I have authority over the enemy. And I knew I could stomp on Satan’s head, but I don’t remember reading or being told that I would walk among them! “You can walk among snakes and scorpions” comes BEFORE crushing them! So what, or who, are these snakes and scorpions that Jesus speaks of? Are they not the fallen angels, like Satan, who have been thrown down from Heaven? We walk AMONG the demons! But don’t be alarmed, Because in the name of Jesus, we have the authority to stomp on their heads! But how can we crush them when we don’t even see them? This is my question. I do know the reason because Holy Spirit has given me understanding and wisdom. The answer lies NOT in the physical eyes of men. The answer lies in the activation of a spiritual sense. So, if the spiritually blind lead the spiritually blind then it’s easy for us to be overcome by demons, because we have not been taught a spiritual education. Without Jesus, or the leading of the Holy Spirit, then how in this world do we know how to fight and defeat the invisible demons? If we only see everything as human, then we stand defenseless to the enemies found in Chapter 6 of Ephesians. Ministers of the Word will use human understanding to teach people heavenly things, and their teaching will lack Holy Spirit wisdom. Few will comprehend the unseen realm, and only those who have experienced divine intervention will occupy the realm of spiritual wisdom. This could be a problem for those not led by the Word, because they may not have the wisdom to understand what they heard. There are many voices in the spirit world, but there is only ONE Spirit that truly matters. Holy Spirit has the ability to be anywhere at any time. He lives on the inside and the outside of men. He is present in everything created, as long as God has not called it dead. He can speak to us through the wind; but his temple of worship lies in the hearts of reborn men. I think this is where I need to end. I will have to create a Part 2 for Chapter 10. But before I end, let me highlight the last sentence - verse 20 from Luke Chapter 10. Jesus says, “but do not rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in Heaven!” Luke 10:20 Oh My God! Holy Spirit just showed me the importance of the census! It’s an accurate account of the people who worship almighty God. We learned that at least 72 disciples marched onward, two by two, they went forward following strict orders from the Lord. The Book of Numbers is coming to mind; when God had a desire to count the tribes. The Lord has favor, and He has lines, and I see Holy Spirit underlining the words in Chapter 10 as His plumb line.
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