Word@Work Luke166 - Luke 10:16
Published: Wed, 08/11/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
THE AUTHORITY IS IN THE WORD
Luke 10:16 "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." (NIV)
We assume that some people have more authority than others, and their right to command is proportional to their power to coerce. And in worldly terms that is often the case. But in God's kingdom things are different. He has chosen that His authority should be contained in His Word. That is why Jesus is described as the 'Word', because He was given the full right to speak on behalf of Father God (Matthew 28:18). In this passage, Jesus was telling His followers that when they went to various towns telling the gospel truth, those words had the full authority of the Godhead.
Therefore, receiving the truth from one of the 72 new missioners was the same as believing what Jesus said, and accepting the authority of God over their lives. Conversely, those who dismissed the gospel from these disciples were rejecting Jesus and all the purposes of God in salvation. The disciples needed to understand that their authority was not in their personality, passion or powers of persuasion; or in some hierarchical power structure. The right to command obedience to the gospel was contained in the words of truth they were speaking (Romans 1:16). The messenger is therefore of far less significance than the message; and the response is not to the messenger but to Father God Himself!
This teaching continues to help the church to see evangelism in God's perspective. Sharing the gospel should not be an 'ego-trip', because it is not about us. When people respond to the gospel we share, there is no reason for self-congratulation: and when they reject it, we have no right to descend into personal despair. Understanding this should set us free to simply declare "the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His wonderful light", as 1 Peter 2:9 tells us. Yes, people may hate us for it, but don't take it personally ... they are just expressing their rebellion against God. When they turn and are converted, just be grateful that the seed of the Word has germinated and is starting to bear fruit.
Prayer: Father God. Thank You for the simplicity of coming to You by believing Your Word. Thank You too, that You can use me to sow the seed of Your Word. Help me to be faithful only to say what is true according to Your Word, and to trust You to bring it to life in those I speak to. When people hate me for what I believe, help me to understand that it is not personal but an expression of their resistance to Your truth: and when people are born again may I never get proud of my labours in the gospel. Help me to keep Jesus lifted high so that He will draw many of my friends and family into His love. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
We assume that some people have more authority than others, and their right to command is proportional to their power to coerce. And in worldly terms that is often the case. But in God's kingdom things are different. He has chosen that His authority should be contained in His Word. That is why Jesus is described as the 'Word', because He was given the full right to speak on behalf of Father God (Matthew 28:18). In this passage, Jesus was telling His followers that when they went to various towns telling the gospel truth, those words had the full authority of the Godhead.
Therefore, receiving the truth from one of the 72 new missioners was the same as believing what Jesus said, and accepting the authority of God over their lives. Conversely, those who dismissed the gospel from these disciples were rejecting Jesus and all the purposes of God in salvation. The disciples needed to understand that their authority was not in their personality, passion or powers of persuasion; or in some hierarchical power structure. The right to command obedience to the gospel was contained in the words of truth they were speaking (Romans 1:16). The messenger is therefore of far less significance than the message; and the response is not to the messenger but to Father God Himself!
This teaching continues to help the church to see evangelism in God's perspective. Sharing the gospel should not be an 'ego-trip', because it is not about us. When people respond to the gospel we share, there is no reason for self-congratulation: and when they reject it, we have no right to descend into personal despair. Understanding this should set us free to simply declare "the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His wonderful light", as 1 Peter 2:9 tells us. Yes, people may hate us for it, but don't take it personally ... they are just expressing their rebellion against God. When they turn and are converted, just be grateful that the seed of the Word has germinated and is starting to bear fruit.
Prayer: Father God. Thank You for the simplicity of coming to You by believing Your Word. Thank You too, that You can use me to sow the seed of Your Word. Help me to be faithful only to say what is true according to Your Word, and to trust You to bring it to life in those I speak to. When people hate me for what I believe, help me to understand that it is not personal but an expression of their resistance to Your truth: and when people are born again may I never get proud of my labours in the gospel. Help me to keep Jesus lifted high so that He will draw many of my friends and family into His love. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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