Lessons from Luke chapter 10: Keeping the right focus

The warning is to make sure we do not lose sight of the source of our salvation and authority, the Lord God himself

bbc.co.uk

I am a list maker, from shopping lists, and what to pack for holiday right down to what jobs to do today.  I like lists, they order my thoughts and keep me on track especially as I can so often get distracted and end up spending time on things that are not important and miss doing the job that was vital. In short, they focus my attention!

There is a remarkable account in Luke chapter 10 of the Lord sending out 72 disciples into all the towns and places he intended to visit as advance teams to introduce Jesus to the people and prepare them for His visit and ministry.  He gives them a whole list of instructions to follow on how they should approach this task, what they should take or not take, and how they should behave while they are there. He also explains to them the importance of the task He has set for them, because He told them that anyone who accepts them accepts Him and anyone who rejects them rejects Him and also His Father, God.  So they are tasked with both carrying an important message and given the authority to represent Jesus as ambassadors for Him.

Luke records what happened when they had completed this mission and returned to Jesus. `When the 72 disciples returned they joyfully reported to him “Lord even the demons obey us when we use your name!” Luke 10:17 (NLT)` I'm sure they were expecting congratulations for a job well done, or praise for acting in faith and developing spiritual giftings.  But Jesus chose to warn and refocus them instead. “Yes” he told them “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightening! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them.  Nothing will injure you. But don`t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven” Luke 10:18-20 (NLT) Jesus was intent upon refocussing them from their excitement and sense of importance at seeing the power of God displayed through them; to their real source of joy and security namely that `their names are written in the journals of Heaven and that they belonged to Gods Kingdom. That is the true source of their authority` (the passion translation)

Jesus knows how easy it is for us to get carried away and distracted by success, acceptance and approval, and even that wonderful feeling that the Lord is ministering through us and using us to speak for, or represent Him. It's just so easy to lose sight of the source of our success, authority, inspiration, and drift into depending upon our own ability. God has given us so many wonderful gifts and promises and indeed the authority in His name to do many things, and that is wonderful and His intention for us. But the warning is to make sure we do not lose sight of the source of our salvation and authority, the Lord God himself. 

Satan lost sight of this and somehow got so full of himself and his perceived authority and importance that he fell from his place in Gods Kingdom in Heaven as we see in the verse above. Even after that fall, he assumed he still had the power and authority to offer Jesus (the King of Kings and Lord of Lords) all the Kingdoms of this world if he would bow down before him. He still tries to assert power and authority over people today, through lies and deceit. 

slideplayer.com

Jesus loves us so much and desires to give us all we need in the way of power, authority, knowledge and experience to be His ambassador and do amazing things in His name.  He says to us in Luke 10:23-24 (NLT) "Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. I tell you many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn`t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear and they didn`t hear it” We are such a privileged people, to have received salvation, redemption, forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit, who directs us every day and illuminates the scriptures to us. We have received authority to overcome the power of the enemy wherever we may find it, and the promise of protection as we do. We are truly blessed but we must in all this remain truly focussed on the source of all this blessing and rejoice only in the only thing worth anything.  That our names are registered in Heaven. 

Right at the end of the chapter there is a wonderful practical example of what Jesus is trying to teach us.  From verse 38 we read the account of Jesus visiting Mary and Martha's house.  We know the story so well.  Martha is racing round concentrating of the dinner she is preparing, on the service she is doing, on getting it right and doing a good job, relying on the skills she has developed over many years of preparing meals.  Mary is sitting listening and learning from Jesus himself.  When Martha challenges the Lord about this his reply is both gentle and powerful. "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details.  There is only one thing worth being concerned about Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her" Luke 10:41-42 (NLT)

Lord thank you today that you have given us authority over all the power of the enemy, thank you that you have given us protection so we can walk amongst snakes and scorpions and crush them and that nothing will injure us. That you have entrusted us with fighting spiritual battles and overcoming in your name the forces of evil. But Lord please let us never lose sight that you are the source of our life, of all we do and help us to continually sit at your feet and recognise our need to keep you as the focus of all we do.  Amen

Author: Jan Pearson

May God bless and enrich your life

Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others