The assignment to the seventy-two.  Luke 10:1-9

• The mission was to be the forerunners of Jesus. (1)
• Good news is that there are people ready to hear and receive—"the harvest is plentiful”. (2)
• Bad news is that there are plenty of adversaries that you will seemingly be very vulnerable to—“lambs among wolves.”(3)
• They were given travel guidelines with no arrangements. (4-7)
• You too will be given the power to heal. (9)

How to handle rejection.  Luke 10:10-16

• Proclaim that in spite of their rejection, the Kingdom of God is still coming! (11)
• Their rejection leads to their own doom. (12-15)
  • This is something that should grieve our hearts on their behalf.
  • Should lead to us understanding what is at stake—eternity in heaven or hell.

• Remember you are representatives of me (Jesus), so acceptance or rejection is at me not you. (16)
  • Do not take it personal, but realize what rejection does to Jesus’ heart.
  • Jesus is honored by your testimony of being aligned with him.

Success comes.  Luke 10:17-21

• They were amazed at the authority they had been given. (17)
  • Demons submitted to them in the name of Jesus.
  • They were pumped at the unforeseen results.

• Jesus celebrates too! (18)
  • He envisions Satan’s fall.
  • Celebrates the authority over the spiritual forces of evil given to this motley crew. (19)

• Jesus cautions them in their elation. (20)
  • They need to keep the perspective of gratefulness, for the authority and power they displayed was not sourced from them.
  • They are blessed to be saved for all of eternity!

• Jesus is celebrating with them but credits the Father not them. (21)
  • He was so pumped he praised God!
  • He knew that the joy of the Father was giving this authority to the unlikely.
  • The unlikely make it more evident that God is the source!

Handling success.

1. Celebrate the moment with pure joy!
2. Be humble. “Recognizing that God and others are responsible for the achievements in my life.”Gothard
3. Be grateful. Keeping an eternal perspective of all that God has done for you.
4. Glorify God by giving attention to him over yourself.