The 70 Disciples’ Three Successes (Luke 10:1-2)
The 24 Answer of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd RUTC: 5/29/2022
The 70 Disciples’ Three Successes (Luke 10:1-2)
Just as stated during the Wednesday service, there are three kinds of people when looking at the world. First, the majority are unbelievers. They are moving and leading the world. That is the problem. They create a world that does not have God and a human (self) centered world. Endless corruption, war, and calamities continue because of human greed and ambition. Satan is behind that (continuation of Genesis 3,6,11). Second, there are people among unbelievers who are saved. No matter what anyone says, salvation is God’s absolute sovereignty and selection (Acts 13:48). For the early church, all saved people were disciples. It meant that unbelievers scorned them. That was how the title ‘Christian’ came from later on (Acts 11:26). However, unfortunately, there are still people who are physical, following God for their needs and being content for their salvation and stopping there (John 6:66, 2 Timothy 4:10). Third, there are people whom the Lord called separately and raised (verse 1). They were the seventy disciples. They were those who made their conclusion in the gospel. They followed the Lord by staking their lives and stood as ones who saved the field and the world. The important thing is that they received God’s true blessings and answers. They were unnamed. They were just seventy disciples. However, God remembered them, and they changed the world. This is what is meant by what verse 2 states, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” It was not I who farmed and planted but yet; it says that the harvest is plentiful. This describes the answers and blessings prepared by God. Those who remained to enjoy these blessings are the seventy disciples.
- God allowed them to enjoy the success of their faith. In other words, it is success in worship.
Some too many people devote themselves while suffering and are always conflicted, crumbling, and afflicted despite their decades of walk of faith. The seventy disciples of the New Testament were the 70 elders in the Old Testament.
1) God instructed Aaron and his two sons and the seventy elders to gather when He gave Moses the covenant on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 24:1).
Although they were separated from Moses when he received God’s commandments, it said that later, they saw God’s face and ate and drank with joy (Exodus 24:10-11). If Aaron and his two sons were the pastors, the seventy disciples were the church officers. The seventy elders were the main figures in the place where they worshiped God and received blessings and the covenant. All believers, church officers, and especially remnants, our future church officers, succeed in worship. That is the start of life’s success.
2) God instructed to call the seventy elders and have them stand before the tent of meeting when God gave the Israelites quail in the wilderness.
It said that they were people who could be elders of the people and leaders of Israel (Numbers 11:16). Who are the seventy disciples? They are the spiritual leaders who can lead and help God’s people. We must train this starting from the remnant period. It is a remnant’s church officer training (spirituality, summit, and serving training).
3) The seventy elders took responsibility for when the Israelites became captives by enemies because of idol worship (Ezekiel 8:11-12).
The seventy elders were at the forefront of falling into unbelief and idolatry and, rightfully, were unable to lead the people properly. If the seventy disciples fall into unbelief and make the church difficult, the judgment to come is immense. Their posterity will crumble also.
- God allowed them to enjoy success in life. Our life must become evidence (life of an evangelist).
So, what was the first thing Christ trained when He raised the seventy disciples? He had them experience how He fills, guides and answers their life when Christ is with them.
1) That mystery is the blessing of with, Immanuel and oneness.
This is the blessing all saved people and especially disciples, will enjoy.
① ‘With’ is God who is with me. Whatever problems, conflicts, and persecution that come do not matter. We transcend all that with His grace and power. The seven remnants enjoyed this blessing in the most difficult field of nobody.
② Immanuel is God who is with us. The church and our family are within that. Because all families enjoy God who is with us, that place becomes heaven regardless of poverty, problems, and difficult environments.
③ Oneness is God who is with all the fields I study, work, and live.
Because God was with Joseph, everything became prosperous even if he was enslaved (Genesis 39:3). Everything in Potiphar’s household and field was blessed because of Joseph (Genesis 39:5). Even if he was imprisoned unfairly, it became a door for world evangelization.
2) It was the upper room where the seventy disciples gathered, concentrated, and prayed (Acts 1:13-14).
What kinds of works took place when they experienced the power of the Holy Spirit? They truly succeeded in life.
① They scattered and went to Samaria. A representative person is Philip.
In a field that had been abandoned and afflicted with prolonged suffering, darkness crumbled, people were healed, and great joy came upon the city (Acts 8:4-8). My field’s culture and stream changed because of me. These are those who truly succeed in life.
② Some went to Antioch, saved the multiethnic, and established the Antioch church (Acts 11:19-21).
As the Antioch church was established, God prepared Paul, on the other hand, the pastor who would lead the very church in the future. Who is Paul? He was someone who severely persecuted the church. God broke him and attached Ananias, one of the seventy disciples. He had no self-assertion when God said Paul was a chosen vessel (Acts 9:10-15). He protected and helped Paul, who would revive the world. When I share the gospel that I enjoy, a person’s life can change, and a historical figure may arise. This is life success.
- God allowed them to enjoy success in the field.
1) There are many people who go into the field and crumble. Some people are smart in school but end up crumbling when they go into the world. Unbelievers cannot even move however they want. Many unbelievers get caught by darkness because of moving to an incorrect place.
2) Believers survive even in a field filled with darkness and instead revive the field and discover hidden disciples.
① Even if I simply do my rightful tasks in my house and work and only pray for evangelism, prepared individuals will come.
We must be prepared to tell them the accurate Christ when they come. Cornelius, a Roman commanding officer, received the gospel at Simon the Tanner’s house. A historical blessing of economy (light of finances) came from here.
② They accompanied evangelist Paul’s evangelism camp, and seventy disciples arose wherever they went. They met Lydia, a dealer of purple cloth (Acts 16), Jason (Acts 17), tentmaker Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18). A church is established through them. The works to save the seventy regions, seventy tribes, and seventy nations arose. First, enjoy the blessing of the seventy disciples alone, then pray for one disciple to be raised through me and search.
Conclusion – May all believers, church officers (church officers to be raised), and all remnants stand as the seventy disciples who enjoy this success.