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Jesus sends us out into the world to do God’s work. He knows it isn’t easy. In fact, it is hazardous. We are pure in Him, like lambs.

  • Where God sends us is full of wolves.
  • No matter though. He has equipped us with His Holy Spirit.
  • We are victorious in Him.
  • We need to be careful none the less.

God’s goal for us is to be careful. We need to be knowledgeable about what can happen. We need to protect ourselves in the word of God. We need to be full of God’s Holy Spirit. We should not pretend Satan isn’t evil and wants to destroy us. We have an enemy.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two 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.[1]

(Luke 10:3 ESV)

These men were not called “apostles,” but they were still “sent [apostello] with a commission” to represent the Master Jesus. They were truly ambassadors of the King. Not only were they sent by Him, but they were also sent before Him to prepare the way for His coming. Their calling was certainly a dignified one.

It was also a difficult calling. Harvesting is hard work, even when there are many people helping you, but these men were sent into a vast field with very few workers to help them reap a great harvest.

  • Instead of praying for an easier job, they were to pray for more laborers to join them, and we today need to pray that same prayer.
  • Please note that it is laborers, not spectators, who pray for more laborers!
  • Too many Christians are praying for somebody else to do a job they are unwilling to do themselves.
  • “Most church members do not give Satan enough trouble to arouse his opposition.”[2]

These 72 may have already heard John the Baptizer declare that Jesus is the lamb of God. It would clear that they represent Jesus.

Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! [3]

Their calling was a dangerous one. As they invaded enemy territory, they would be like “lambs among wolves”. But as long as they relied on the Master Jesus, they would win the battle. “Any man who takes Jesus Christ [the Messiah] seriously becomes the target of the devil,” Vance Havner often told audiences.

Good news: When Jesus sends us, the power of the Holy Spirit is with us. We will have His protection to help us discern who the wolves are and to deliver us.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Lk 10:1–3). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 210). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 1:29). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

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