True Power

1. Have you ever experienced greatness like never before (i.e., hitting a game winning home run or goal, or performing a great masterpiece on the piano)? What was it and how did it feel?



Read Luke 10:1-20

2. What did he say to the 72 when he sent them out?




3. What is the significance of verse 16?




4. How did Christ respond when the 72 came back excited about all the powerful things they had done?




Additional Thoughts & Application

When we go and share Christ, either in word or deed, we must be aware of one major idea: it is Christ in you that enables you to do what you do and it is Christ in you that they are rejecting or accepting.

This was flushed out here when the 72 were sent out by Christ. In verse 16, Christ says, “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me”. It is easy to take things personally when we share about Christ. If you are sharing and someone wants nothing to do with you, as hard as it may be, do not take it personally. Christ says that if they listen to you, it is because of Him, if they reject you, they are rejecting Him, not you. So, do not be discouraged and let it dissuade you from sharing Christ to someone else. It is Christ they are either accepting or rejecting.

In verses 17-20, the 72 came back excited as “even the demons submit to us in our name”. I can see how the 72 came back ecstatic about that kind of power – the power to have demons submit to you. But, Christ is quick to remind them to “not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven”. Power can do many things to a person. One effect that we have to guard against is that we become overcome with power and want that “feeling” all the time. But, we have to remember, it is Christ in us that enables us to have that power.

John 15 says we are the branches, Christ is the vine, the source. Apart from him, we can do nothing. You will experience many things when you follow Christ and share about him. Whether it is with what we share or what we experience, it is Christ at the center of it all.

This week, keep in mind our true source and power and turn to him in all things. In order for him to enable you to do things beyond your imagine, we have to get our power daily from him. How can you keep plugged into Christ all week? Identify a few different ways and share this with a friend so that they could help and encourage you as well as be challenged for themselves

Pray