Has He come yet?

A few thoughts left over from yesterday before I get to today's revelation (which by the way comes from the book of Revelation...) :-)

In Luke 10, Jesus has commissioned 72 disciples, appointed and sent them - ahead of himself, to the homes of those they encounter.

Knowing that Jesus sent the disciples 'ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go' (Luke 10:1), my next question to myself was this; Has he come yet?

Perhaps we rely too much on the miraculous. We think that the Holy Spirit hasn't arrived yet because the day doesn't feel like a sequel to Acts 2! We (I) need to recognise that he has come already - through us. Recognise Jesus -in you - in that place - already.

v8 eat what is set before you.
Sometimes being appointed can seem a lot like your mum not allowing you to leave the table until you've eaten all the lumpy custard (which is now cold by the way).
If we can get past eating what is set before us, then we get to do what it is that we were sent to do, v9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.
Interesting that the preach comes after a demonstration of the power of God, and the demonstration of God's power comes after you've sat with them in their home and ate with them.

v10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
I found myself considering the tone of voice in which one would deliver this message. My mind went to one of rebuke, but the Lord said this to me; Don't do it with a spirit of condemnation but with a broken heart for a people that are lost - knowing full well that you will not be well received. Rebuke (correct & encourage) with a broken heart - in faith filled anticipation for the response of a heart that begins to break (or soften).
Then move on into their house - eat with them - become a channel for the power of God to move through...then give them the good news of the Kingdom.

v16, "He who listens to you listens to me;
It's not about you, but the one who sent you. Easy to get caught up in yourself.

v17, The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
Rejoyce when the kingdom of heaven is advanced, but don't get stuck on rejoicing in the spectacular. See past what everyone else sees, see into the Kingdom. Rejoyce because a new name is written in Heaven. Rejoyce not because of what you have done, but because of what Christ has done - through you. Therefore, don't put faith in what your about to do, have faith in the one who is about to close the deal through you. He holds then pen, (blood not ink by they way) he writes the new name in Heaven.