In our reading in Luke for today we see Jesus sending His disciples out His twelve Apostles to minister just as they had seen Him do. Luke 9:1-6:
1 Then Jesus called together the Twelve [apostles] and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases, 2 And He sent them out to announce and preach the kingdom of God and to bring healing. 3 And He said to them, Do not take anything for your journey—neither walking stick, nor wallet [for a collection bag], nor food of any kind, nor money, and do not have two undergarments (tunics). 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there until you go away [from that place]. 5 And wherever they do not receive and accept and welcome you, when you leave that town shake off [even] the dust from your feet, as a testimony against them. 6 And departing, they went about from village to village, preaching the Gospel and restoring the afflicted to health everywhere.
Notice that verse 6 says that they DID do this! They preached the Gospel and they healed the sick! In verse 1 we saw that Jesus had anointed them with His power to do these things. They went out, in HIS place, and did HIS works! Verse 10 gives us the results!
10 Upon their return, the apostles reported to Jesus all that they had done. And He took them [along with Him] and withdrew into privacy near a town called Bethsaida.
Who do YOU think got the glory for that? Verses 7-8 show us what some of the people were thinking!
7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was being done by , and he was [thoroughly] perplexed and troubled, because it was said by some that John [the Baptist] had been raised from the dead, 8 And by others that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had come back to life.
When WE do what God has called US to do, HE will draw people unto Himself so that they, too, can be born again! AMEN! I LOVE this quote from one of our precious partners in the ministry of the Gospel:
"The reason for the knowledge, the purpose for the power and the plan for the prosperity is reaching the lost"!
This is TRUTH! AMEN! WE, who have been born again by His Spirit and then filled with the same Holy Spirit, have all the power available from within us that Jesus had available too Himself! Look at Romans 8:11:
11 And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.
This power within us will heal our own bodies and when we pray for others, they will be healed also! This is GOD'S plan and it's a GREAT one! AMEN! I want to finish today by sharing all of Psalm 97 with you, encouraging YOU to enter into a time of praise and worship of the One, True God that will drive the enemy right out of your space! AMEN!
1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles and coastlands be glad! 2 Clouds and darkness are round about Him [as at Sinai]; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. 3 Fire goes before Him and burns up His adversaries round about. 4 His lightnings illumine the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory. 7 Let all those be put to shame who serve graven images, who boast in idols. Fall prostrate before Him, all you gods. 8 Zion heard and was glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoiced [in relief] because of Your judgments, O Lord. 9 For You, Lord, are high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods. 10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil; He preserves the lives of His saints (the children of God), He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. 11 Light is sown for the [uncompromisingly] righteous and strewn along their pathway, and joy for the upright in heart [the irrepressible joy which comes from consciousness of His favor and protection]. 12 Rejoice in the Lord, you [consistently] righteous (upright and in right standing with God), and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.
OUR GOD REIGNS! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "This Is Our God":
Shalom in Him!
