Lord’s Day, Vol. 14 No. 23
Sent Forth
Luke 9:1-6 (KJV) Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. 3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for yourjourney, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. 4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. 5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. 6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.
Our Lord sent forth His twelve disciples for the work of the ministry to preach the gospel and also gave them power to heal the sick. It was to prepare them for the work that He would entrust them after His ascension to heaven – Acts 1:8 (KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
In this first evangelism assignment, the twelve disciples of Jesus were sent forth to preach the gospel. For them to succeed in their evangelism efforts, our Lord gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases. This power would be manifested in the filling of the Holy Spirit to enable the disciples to preach the gospel at Pentecost establishing the infant church of the New Testament. The disciples did not go forth in their own strength but were first chosen by Jesus and then sent forth according to His bidding. Mark’s gospel affirms this – Mark 16:20 (KJV) And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
There is that dependence upon the Lord that the disciples were taught and this was first cultivated in their first sent forth for evangelism. The disciples were told to take nothing for their journey. There were to trust the Lord to provide for all their needs. Just as the Israelites who first came out of Egypt and arrived in the wilderness. Israel learned that it is the LORD who provided for all their visible needs – manna from heaven, water from the rock, a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day, to the glory of God. That He alone is God there is none other.
Acts 4:12 (KJV) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The power over all devils is given to the disciples because we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Christ’s death on the cross would break the strangle hold of the devil on souls of men – Hebrews 2:14 (KJV) Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.
The healing of the sick attested to the power of God authenticating the ministry of the disciples in those initial years of the church. Today, the church is exhorted to pray for the sick entrusting their well-being to the Lord – James 5:15 (KJV) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
The disciples were also forewarned that there will be those who reject them. They are not to be discouraged but to move on preaching the gospel. The term “to shake the dust off” for a testimony against them in that they were given the opportunity to be saved. They are culpable to bear the adverse consequence of rejecting Christ and to be forever cut-off from God, having rejected God’s only appointed Mediator and His heralders.
Romans 10:15 (KJV) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Amen.