Haven't been blogging lately cuz I've been super busy, but one thing got me very excited today---
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I got very excited today. #ItCanWork.
Jesus' evangelism model/instructions -- Go in pairs, when you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. (And, the rest is simple, just--- ) heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ (and don't forget to) raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Show them the Kingdom first, then tell them the Kindgom.
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
He replied, “As you were working in field, I was watching Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
...... <Then Jesus got excited,, because He realized the plan can work>>.............
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
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Esther's notes: I was excited by the continuous tense for the word "beheld/ watch" in Jesus's reply. Most Bible translations translate that as past tense, but actual greek uses continuous -- meaning as we go out to evangelise the way Jesus said, Satan's power in heaven gets eroded. And they fight back. The picture presented is one of continuous contest to gain market share/ territory in heaven, even though Satan was once chucked out of heaven and outcasted to earth. And if we don't fight against them or get slack on our part then they gain market share, and this back and forth will continue until he gets finally chucked out in Revelation 12, and chucked away as mentioned in Revelation 20.
I am excited because -- Christ's model did work, and can work today. We just gotta do it. It ain't workin' out for us cuz we don't do it this way these days -- show Kindgom then tell Kindgom. These days we only tell Kindgom and don't show Kingdom.
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In Context (of sending out disciples) ---
Matt 10 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
Luke 10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
...... <Then Jesus got excited>>.............
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
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