The writings of Luke: a study for homegroups
Part 1b: Just like us - people engaging in spiritual warfare (Luke 10:1-24) published 27/9/2000

We continue looking at the sending out by Jesus of seventy-two disciples - people just like us. They were sent out to both speak and act … to tell people that the kingdom of God was near at hand, indeed as Jesus was later to put it to his disciples, 'within you' (Lk 17:21); to get involved in the healing ministry that Jesus was already involved in.

Last study we looked at six characteristics of the community evangelism which the disciples were to be involved in and as we continue through the passage we can identify two more:
To be full of joy. Notice:

  • it was a characteristic of Jesus himself to be full of joy, and this was a work of the Holy Spirit (v.21).
  • joy was founded in their own assurance of salvation (v.20).
  • they derived great joy from serving Jesus (v.17).

Q1 Is joy really a characteristic of our own lives? What about when everything seems to be going wrong?

To be engaged in spiritual warfare
It is important to see what, or who, we are coming up against in Christian work and how to prepare ourselves for the challenge (Eph 6:12-13; Mark 9:17-29)
Q2 Read again vv.17-19. What is the key to prevailing in spiritual warfare?

To do what Jesus did
To be involved in bringing about healing and casting out evil spirits is not, if we're honest, something that we are all busy doing. But why not? Doesn't Jesus intend that we should (John 14:12-14)?
Q3 Do members of the group have any experience of God's healing that can usefully be shared in the group?

Q4 Is the possibility that 'it might not happen' a factor which deters us from praying openly for someone to be healed? How do we deal with that scenario?

The closing comments of Jesus (vv.23-24) convey the message that it is a privilege, if we experience it, to see spiritual warfare waged and the purposes of God prevail. People in Old Testament times would have liked to do so, even the prophets would have wanted to witness it, but were not in the right place at the right time!
Q5 What, if any, sense of privilege do we feel in serving God? Are we keen to be at the 'cutting edge', or is that just a bit too scarey?

Next study: Part 2: The priority ... relationship with Jesus! (Luke 10:38-42)