Commission To The Twelve, Then The Seventy And Then To The Whole Church!

COMMISSION TO THE TWELVE, THEN THE SEVENTY

AND THEN TO THE WHOLE CHURCH!

One of my three main mentors, Missionary Evangelist T.L. Osborn, made this statement that I have used over and over in my preaching. “The Supreme Task of the Church is the Evangelization of the World”.

I have added that though this is an impossible task for the Church, yet the Church is the greatest power on the face of the whole earth. The Church is possessed. The Church is possessed with Christ! We need to have these three guiding principles, namely:

1. Be kind to all people. 2. Seek their welfare. 3. Win them to Christ

I. HE GAVE THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO THE 12 DISCIPLES.

Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. Luke 9:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. Luke 9:3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, …. ………..

II. HE GAVE THE POWER THEN TO ANOTHER 70!

Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. : 2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest….. Luke 10:9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

A. You may say, not the same as the 12, but read on: THE 70 ALSO HAD POWER OVER THE DEVIL

Luke 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. (KJV)

1. THE GREAT REJOICING IS THAT OUR NAME IS WRITTEN IN HEAVEN.

2. Power over the devil should be just taken for granted. Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

III. THEN HE GAVE THE GREAT COMMISION TO THE WHOLE CHURCH!

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

A. THIS IS WHAT HE TOLD THE 12 AND THE 70, NOW HE TELLS THE WHOLE CHURCH AND HE ADDS THIS AFTER THE MOST IMPORTANT WHICH IS TO WIN THE LOST. Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

IV. HE GAVE THE 12 AND 70 POWER OF HIS NAME AND NOW HE GIVES THE WHOLE CHURCH THE POWER OF HIS NAME!

1. TO CAST OUT DEVILS, HE GAVE THE 12 AND 70 AND NOW TO THE WHOLE CHURCH,

a. Porto Alegre, Brazil

2. SPEAKING IN NEW TONGUES IS SOMETHING EXTRA FOR THE CHURCH

3. HE GAVE HIS DIVINE PROTECTION TO THE 12 AND THE 70 DISCIPLES.

Luke 10:19 (KJV) Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

4. NOW HE GIVES HIS DIVINE PROTECTION TO THE CHURCH.

Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

B) HEAL THE SICK. HE GAVE TO THE 12 AND 70 AND HE GIVES THE SAME COMMISSION TO THE WHOLE CHURCH. …….. they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Malachi 3:6 (KJV) For I am the LORD, I change not; …..

C. He gave the 12 AND 70 THE POWER OF HIS NAME AND NOW HE GIVES THE WHOLE CHURCH THE SAME POWER AND COMMISSION.

Closing: My vision of the harvest field New Year’s Eve 1961.

For God so loved the world, not just a few,

The wise and great, the noble and the true,

Or those of favored class or rank or hue.

God loved the world. Do you?