How relentless ministry leads to success
In the Gospel of Luke we witness an interesting lesson in ministry – attacking in waves.
We cannot forget that we are in a spiritual war, so being successful in ministry often takes a winning strategy – we can’t just “do stuff” and hope to be victorious. When we read the Gospel of Luke closely we learn that Jesus isn’t just “doing stuff” either – he has a plan.
He starts his ministry with effective teaching. In Luke Chapter Six we see Jesus delivering the Sermon on the Mount where he challenges the philosophies of the world and calls on men and women to think with the mind of God. Elsewhere in scripture we learn that Jesus didn’t get up in front of people and deliver some high sounding lecture – he delivered a dynamic, attention grabbing sermon that was filled with power, authority, wit and wisdom.
Not long after the Sermon on the Mount we read this:
Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him… [Luke 8:1]
Jesus ministered with the twelve at his side. He went into the world and taught his disciples how to fight, not by lecturing them but by leading them into the enemy. As a result they saw his ministry and his power. They saw what it looked like to see lives changed and they saw that nothing can match the power of God. They learned what they were placing their faith in.
In Chapter Nine we see this:
And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.[a] 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. [Luke 9:1-6]
Jesus sent the twelve out into the world. He first showed them how to minister, he showed them the power of God and then he blessed them with power and taught them how to use it. With Jesus’ blessing they went out into the world and created such a stir that even Herod heard about their works.
Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening… [Luke 9:7a]
These men were effective. They came back to Christ and Jesus celebrated their work. They were able to demonstrate the power of God and teach those who knew nothing about Jesus Christ. Yet Jesus still wasn’t done working.
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. [Luke 10:1-12]
Jesus sent out the seventy-two. He first prepared them for the ministry with a realistic portrayal of the dangers of ministry. Men are evil. There is this mistaken mentality in Christian circles to have some positive view of mankind, but the bible consistently portrays unregenerate men as liars, untrustworthy, hateful, selfish and wicked. Men are not neutral creatures so it isn’t consistent for Christians to believe the bible and place faith in mankind. We ought to learn to see men as they are.
But at the same time as Jesus introduces the correct way to view the world – with a realistic acknowledgement of who they are and who they serve – Jesus also explains the proper way to view ministry: God will sustain what he wants to prosper. The disciples were to have faith not in men, who are evil, but in God who would prepare their way.
That’s why they didn’t take supplies – God would supply them. That was why they didn’t take money for hotel stays – God would house them. They had to have the faith (which can also be seen as mental toughness) to trust God to see to their ministry needs.
They also had a specific purpose: they were being sent to prepare the way for Jesus Christ. They didn’t need to do everything, they just had to lay the groundwork for Jesus to win the battle.
When you examine how Jesus fought for success you’ll see that Jesus sent wave after wave of ministry into the enemy lines. He started with teaching, then he went out into the world with his disciples. Next he sent his disciples, then the seventy-two and finally follows up with a final charge led by himself. And we can pattern our own ministry the exact same way.
We have gifted teachers and they need to be sent. We have our faithful core and they need to follow after and we need to go out and get our seventy-two, people who are not yet in our ministry, train them, teach them and prepare them to do the work of the ministry. Then we need to charge into the world.
In the Gospel of Luke we witness an interesting lesson in ministry – attacking in waves.
We cannot forget that we are in a spiritual war, so being successful in ministry often takes a winning strategy – we can’t just “do stuff” and hope to be victorious. When we read the Gospel of Luke closely we learn that Jesus isn’t just “doing stuff” either – he has a plan.
He starts his ministry with effective teaching. In Luke Chapter Six we see Jesus delivering the Sermon on the Mount where he challenges the philosophies of the world and calls on men and women to think with the mind of God. Elsewhere in scripture we learn that Jesus didn’t get up in front of people and deliver some high sounding lecture – he delivered a dynamic, attention grabbing sermon that was filled with power, authority, wit and wisdom.
Not long after the Sermon on the Mount we read this:
Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him… [Luke 8:1]
Jesus ministered with the twelve at his side. He went into the world and taught his disciples how to fight, not by lecturing them but by leading them into the enemy. As a result they saw his ministry and his power. They saw what it looked like to see lives changed and they saw that nothing can match the power of God. They learned what they were placing their faith in.
In Chapter Nine we see this:
And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.[a] 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. [Luke 9:1-6]
Jesus sent the twelve out into the world. He first showed them how to minister, he showed them the power of God and then he blessed them with power and taught them how to use it. With Jesus’ blessing they went out into the world and created such a stir that even Herod heard about their works.
Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening… [Luke 9:7a]
These men were effective. They came back to Christ and Jesus celebrated their work. They were able to demonstrate the power of God and teach those who knew nothing about Jesus Christ. Yet Jesus still wasn’t done working.
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. [Luke 10:1-12]
Jesus sent out the seventy-two. He first prepared them for the ministry with a realistic portrayal of the dangers of ministry. Men are evil. There is this mistaken mentality in Christian circles to have some positive view of mankind, but the bible consistently portrays unregenerate men as liars, untrustworthy, hateful, selfish and wicked. Men are not neutral creatures so it isn’t consistent for Christians to believe the bible and place faith in mankind. We ought to learn to see men as they are.
But at the same time as Jesus introduces the correct way to view the world – with a realistic acknowledgement of who they are and who they serve – Jesus also explains the proper way to view ministry: God will sustain what he wants to prosper. The disciples were to have faith not in men, who are evil, but in God who would prepare their way.
That’s why they didn’t take supplies – God would supply them. That was why they didn’t take money for hotel stays – God would house them. They had to have the faith (which can also be seen as mental toughness) to trust God to see to their ministry needs.
They also had a specific purpose: they were being sent to prepare the way for Jesus Christ. They didn’t need to do everything, they just had to lay the groundwork for Jesus to win the battle.
When you examine how Jesus fought for success you’ll see that Jesus sent wave after wave of ministry into the enemy lines. He started with teaching, then he went out into the world with his disciples. Next he sent his disciples, then the seventy-two and finally follows up with a final charge led by himself. And we can pattern our own ministry the exact same way.
We have gifted teachers and they need to be sent. We have our faithful core and they need to follow after and we need to go out and get our seventy-two, people who are not yet in our ministry, train them, teach them and prepare them to do the work of the ministry. Then we need to charge into the world.
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