LUKE CHAPTER 10: SPIRITUAL SIGHT AND THE CENSUS

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.