"After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come." (Luke 10:1).
Hello To All:
After the first reading of our opening text, a person might wonder about how this connects to: "The Prayer Of Faith" - (James 5:14-15). It is a legitimate question to ask. But, if we plug this text back into its context, we will begin to understand.
We find written at verse 2: "Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest."
Prior to this sending of the seventy, Jesus sent the twelve (Luke 9:1-6). Both groups were sent to do the same thing - so why two groups?
The commission for the twelve is found at Luke 9:2: "And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick."
The commission for the seventy is found at Luke 10:9: "And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you."
Both groups are given the same commission - so, once again, the question must be asked: Why two groups?
The first group - the twelve - were earlier (Luke 6:13-16), named apostles. One of them (Judas Iscariot) would betray Jesus and be replaced by another of the disciples. The apostles would lead the church (The Body Of Christ) in those early formative years. They would heal the sick and preach the kingdom of God!
The question that we should now be asking is this: What provision was Jesus of Nazareth making, for the care and leadership of His Church, after the age of the apostles? If we are willing, we should see that provision, in the sending of the seventy, and their commission to: "Heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you."
If we are truly going to see and comprehend the fullness of Christ's provision for His church; we need to be reminded that: "Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today, and forever," (Hebrews 13:8): is an ongoing, unchanging reality for each and everyone of us who look to Him for salvation and victory!
The choice of seventy in Luke 10, is not the first time the Lord our God has chosen seventy to serve Him. We find the following written at Numbers 11:16-17:
16. "And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee."
17. "And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone."
The seventy elders were chosen and empowered to serve Moses and "the congregation" ... "of the people." The people were God's chosen people: the congregation of the people of Israel. Jesus also chose and empowered seventy to serve Him and all that they would come in contact with.
Both groups of seventy were spiritually empowered to do the work that they were chosen for. In both instances, God made the choice of who would serve Him; and God provided the spiritual power that would make it possible for them to do the work that they were set apart for. In both instances "The Lord of the harvest" ... sent "forth laborers into his harvest."
There is a connection between Jesus of Nazareth and Moses that we need to be reminded of in a way that will help us to understand the connection between the two groups of seventy and the ongoing provision for the body of Christ.
Sometime after the appointing of the seventy elders in Israel, Moses makes a statement that should help us make this connection. We find the following written at Deuteronomy 18:15:
15. "The Lord they God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;"
God confirms the statement of Moses at verse 18:
18. "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him."
Jesus of Nazareth is the prophet referenced in the above two texts. We find confirmation of this in the inspired words of Peter, as he calls God's people to repent, found at Acts 3:19-26.
We include a portion of the text found in verses 20, 22-23 and 26:
20. "And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:"
22. "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatever he shall say unto you."
23. "And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people."
26. "Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities."
Moses was given seventy to assist him. Jesus of Nazareth chose seventy to go before Him. In each case the seventy were equipped by God to do the work that they were chosen for. The seventy chosen for Moses were elders. The seventy chosen by Jesus were not named elders, because the church, had yet to be established as the Body of Christ. But, it would be right to understand that the typology of the seventy elders from the time of Moses is pointing us to the choice of the seventy by Jesus Christ; and ultimately to the elders referenced by James as the ones being able to pray "the prayer of faith."
In both instances of the seventy, each group was spiritually equipped by God for the work that they were to do; and both groups were given authority from God to be successful in their assigned work. Their success was directly related to their exclusive submission to God's authority. We find the following written at Luke 10:17: "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."
The seventy, chosen by Jesus, were victorious because of their absolute submission to the authority that Jesus of Nazareth gave them. They were able to "heal the sick that are therein," and to proclaim that "The kingdom of God is come nigh unto" them (Luke 10:9), because of this authority given and received and rightly exercised. Thank you Jesus!
My brothers, who also are ordained elders, please give careful consideration to this posting and the previous posting. If we are to rightly understand who we are; and if we are to rightly understand how we are rightly empowered by Jesus, to carry on the mission of the seventy; then we must first be willing to see ourselves as amongst the seventy; and then, we must be willing to see ourselves in Adam.
The truth that the seventy should pass on to us, is the same truth that Adam should pass on to us; and that truth is this: The only voice that we listen to and the only voice that we obey is the voice of Jesus of Nazareth, delivered to us through His word and by His Spirit. The only legitimate authority that can rightly empower us to be the ordained elders that God intends us to be, is the authority that comes from Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Thus, if we as ordained elders are to effectively pray "the prayer of faith;" then it must be understood that our allegiance to Jesus Christ cannot be compromised. If we have bowed the knee to some other authority, then it must be understood that our ability to effectively pray "the prayer of faith," will be significantly diminished. Our God is a jealous God; and He will not share His glory with some earthly authority.
I implore you, my ordained brothers, to carefully examine your circumstances and look to Jesus to show you what must be changed. The Body of Christ is in desperate need of elders who are equipped and empowered to carry on the work of the seventy.
Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:
Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
