Did you ever stop to think that there are certain things that bring joy to the Lord’s heart? Luke’s Gospel account is the only one that tells of the sending out of the seventy. It is also the only account that describes their joyous return telling of all that took place. Luke says Jesus “rejoiced” upon hearing the report of the results of mission of the seventy.
CAUSING THE HEART OF THE LORD TO REJOICE
Did you ever stop to think that there are certain things that bring joy to the Lord’s heart? Luke’s Gospel account is the only one that tells of the sending out of the seventy. It is also the only account that describes their joyous return telling of all that took place. It’s a passage that reminds us that with salvation comes the responsibility to join the task of sharing the good news with those who have not yet heard. Some will go great distances, others will share with friends and neighbors, but we are all called to do something. Jesus never said that he alone had the right to preach. Nor did he say that only the disciples were qualified to share the message of the gospel. Neither does he today leave the ministry only to those who are pastors or those who have some official position such as elders. In fact, one of the most revealing and dynamic passages in scripture is found in verse twenty-one, Luke says Jesus “rejoiced” upon hearing the report of the results of mission of the seventy. This is the only place in scripture where this particular word is used to describe the emotions of Jesus. This verse tells us a most incredible truth that we have the capacity to make God rejoice by simply sharing our faith.
In chapter ten as Jesus sends the seventy, he tells them that there is much work to do, but not enough people to do the work (v.2), "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few.” He also tells them that this evangelistic mission will be dangerous (v.3), “I send you out as lambs among wolves.” Jesus knew that they would face opposition and danger in preaching this new message. He also conveys a sense of urgency to the mission by telling them to travel light (v. 4). “Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.” When he says, “greet no one along the road,” does Jesus want his disciples to be rude? Of course not. But he is warning them against engaging in the custom of long and elaborate time-consuming greetings when meeting people on the road. He is telling them to get on with what they have been called to do and not let anything turn them aside. “Don’t live cluttered lives or get so caught up in the social whirl that we forget the spiritual purpose of our existence!”
I think that there is an important principle inherent in this passage that speaks to a problem that often hinders us from spreading the gospel. It is the notion that there is just too much work to do in God’s mission field, and I am only one person what difference can I make? There is no way that my efforts will make a difference. That notion is false. “I recently read about an old man, walking the beach at dawn, who noticed a young man ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging them into the sea. Catching up with the youth, he asked what he was doing. The answer was that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun. ‘But the beach goes on for miles and miles, and there are millions of starfish,’ countered the man. ‘How can your effort make any difference?’ The young man looked at the starfish in his hand and then threw it to safety in the waves. ‘It makes a difference to this one,’ he said.”
How long were the seventy gone? Just where did they go? What was the response of people in each place they went? We don’t know the answers to all of these questions. But we do know that verse seventeen reports the high spirits they returned in, “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." The disciples were overjoyed that had been used as instruments of God’s power. In verse twenty-one we read, “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit.” Jesus is genuinely joyful. Literally it says that he was “thrilled with joy.” As I already said, I find it mind-boggling to realize that we have the capacity to make God rejoice by our faithful ministry. Jesus’ joy leads Him to break into a prayer of thanksgiving. ".. I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.”
I mention all this because for one week, a group of seventeen from the church was sent out by the church and the Lord to minister for Him in Corbin, Kentucky. We were able to take the gospel into schools, nursing homes, churches and a block party. In the nursing homes the ministry was as much to the young staff workers as it was to the elderly. We saw God change many lives. His hand was on the ministry, and those who went came back where overwhelmingly joyful at what they saw God do, and certainly the Lord was joyful too.
As with the seventy, those who went to Kentucky could not contain their joy as they returned. Church services can very easily become part of weekly ritual. They fit in a certain slot and if they break from the routine, or take longer or do anything that conflicts with our schedule we may find it disconcerting. We have been challenged by Paul in II Cor. 13 to “examine ourselves.” In examining ourselves, one important question that needs to be asked is: “In hearing the reports of those who returned from this trip, did I share in the joy of those things that bring joy to the heart of the Lord, or was I simply perturbed that it broke up our normal routine?”
Carrying the gospel anywhere brings joy to the Lord. I praise God that I could be part of that mission that went to Kentucky. Just being there brought joy to my heart. One of our goals as a church should be that every one of our church members physically capable of doing so might experience that same joy of being sent by the Lord on a similar trip where they can experience the joy of sharing the wonderful message of the gospel with a very needy world and in turn bring joy to the heart of the Lord.