“One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:1–2, NLT).
Yesterday we were reminded how Jesus equipped and empowered his people.
Our attention was drawn to these verses where he equips his disciples by giving them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Did you notice the "all" here - there was not one disease they would not be able to heal nor was there one demon who would be able to defy them. Jesus gave them total power and authority - his power authority.
And we saw how he empowered them - he sent them out without him. Well, without him the flesh - as we read later, and as we know, he was with them in spirit. He empowered them by trusting them to do what he said they could and what he had equipped them to do. They left, probably a little apprehensive, but they left and did what he told them to - tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
What has Jesus equipped and empowered you for? No doubt many things, but there is one thing every Christian is equipped and empowered to do - tell everyone about the Kingdom of God.
As I was walking this morning and listening to the Bible I heard a similar episode in Jesus life which happened after the disciples had returned. This time he upped the number - he equipped and empowered "seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit." Luke 10:1 (NLT). As he finished equipping them he said “Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.” Luke 10:16 (NLT)
May we not let our fear of rejection stop us from doing what he equips and empowers us to do - tell everyone about the Kingdom of God. Tell everyone that he loves them and wants a relationship with them.
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