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Bro. Otis Fisher
I don't know where David stopped. I don't know that he knows. Well, I had prepared from verse 8. Who's speaking in this section? Bill? Yes, that's right. He's speaking to the 70. Now, Verge, this whatsoever city that you enter, was that news to God so He knew where they were going?
Each one of them? Well, verse 8 says, and into whatsoever city you enter. Now, the whatsoever belongs to Luke 10, 8. Now, and into whatsoever city you enter, the whatsoever, not knowing, belong to who?
God or man? David? That's man's viewpoint. And they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. I would have a problem, but He admonishes us to not ask questions. Eat whatever is put before you.
My wife's been trying ever since we got married. Some things she's just about give up on. But, Verge, why shouldn't you question what's put before you? Russell, how much of this trip had he prepared for one of the disciples?
Yes. All of it. Why can't I get that through my head? Everything is prepared ahead of time. Well, and heal the sick that were therein, and say unto them, the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. David, what did he mean, the kingdom of God?
This is disciples speaking. They might what? Now, aren't you glad that's all over and done with today? No, it's not over. But, into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you not, Bill, go your ways out into the streets of the same city, and say, even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you.
Notwithstanding, be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. Now, even the very dust of the city. Why the dust? What's he referring to? Was that a command of God? Was that a command of the Lord?
The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you, and you won't receive it. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day of Sodom than for that city. Now, Bill, why? Well, why would it be more tolerable for Sodom than for them?
Where's the difference?
Here in Sodom still, on the other side of Sodom, in that port that you've been getting, and it's very clear because crime has already died. And so you're projecting there is no more.
Well, what difference does that make?
Well, crime has died once, and you won't die again. Well, that's true. Yes, that is true.
David? All right, would it be more tolerable for us than it was for them? I mean, more tolerable for them than it is for us if we'd reject. That's the key. The Sodom and Gomorrah, they were not told but so much.
These people were told so much. We've been told more. And the more you're told, the more responsibility you have and the greater is your guilt. Woe unto thee, Josiah, and woe unto thee, Bethsaida, for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
Well, that just reinforces what we've said. These cities in Galilee, Josiah and Bethsaida, and Capernaum, having been the places where Christ preached and wrought his miracles, they have a woe denounced here against them for their contempt of Christ.
But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon. Well, I can't stop. At the judgment, then, for you and thou, Capernaum, which are exalted to heaven, shall be thrust down to hell, the netherworld, the realm of the dead.
Hades is not Gehenna, the desolation of the whole neighborhood and the difficulty of identifying even the sites of these towns. It's impossible today. He that heareth you, heareth me. Now, Christ is sending them out, and if you choose to hear this man, you're hearing Christ.
Is that true today, Virg? Did we hear Christ speak to us this morning through David? Absolutely. And he that despises you despiseth me, and he that despises me despises him who sent me. Who is that? God the Father.
Now, to understand the wisdom of God concerning these few verses, we're going to have to wait for that great day of discovery. Suffice to say this, he is very selective to whom he gives his grace. If you're ready for 10 .17, he's very selective in whom he gives his grace.
Is that true, Bill? Is God, through Jesus, very selective to whom he gives his grace? Yes. He selects the individual. And the 70 returned again with joy. Now, here they come. They've never experienced anything like this, and they come back saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
The 70 disciples return to give Christ an account of the success of their expedition. They return as victors with joy and triumph. Lord, even the demons are subject unto us through thy name. The weapons of their warfare were not carnal, but spiritual.
Now, can you discern between spiritual and carnal weapons today, David? The powers of darkness cannot stand. It's true. But must fall before the power of Christ. That's true. The devil is no match for Christ.
That's true. The devil is a created being. 18. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Now, he did not say falling from heaven. What would be the difference if he had said that, David?
Well, that's true. But it's past tense. That's right. That's right. Satan falls quick as lightning before the gospel of Christ. Yes.
Oh, that's right. It refers to that.
He's already down. Jesus is telling this group, I saw you and what you did in your absence. Now, he had the ability to do that. My mind's eye was with you, and I saw the results. Where do you think he was glad they come back with the report that they did?
That's right. Behold, I give unto you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over all of the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Now, the word power, dunamis, the inherent power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature or which a person or thing exhorts and puts forth of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
When we experience success in our work, it is not our work, it's his. What do I mean by that, Russell? That's right. So it's his success. Notwithstanding, in this, rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice.
Why? Because your names are written in heaven. We should be glad if someone is saved, if they overcome an obstacle. But look at what the Lord says. Rejoice because your names are written in heaven. Now, we must remember at all times that God had to condescend and lower himself to speak to man, fallen man, in a sinful state.
And because your names are written in heaven is a way that he has of telling us the truth. I don't think there's a book up there and he writes our name in it, but this is something that we understand.
I cannot imagine what it will be like. The very conversation will be changed. Words that we learn here won't apply there. Remember, those whose names are written in his Lamb's book in heaven shall never perish.
Saving graces are more to be rejoiced in than spiritual gifts. 21. In that hour, Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes, even so.
Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. Now, for what did he rejoice? Russell, there's no way that I can explain to any of you the thrill that rushes through my body when you understand the truth.
And Bill, I'm sure it's that way in teaching anything. The thrill of a student learning something, seeing something, understanding something is tremendous. He rejoiced not in the destruction of the wise and prudent, but in the display of the riches of God's grace to others in such a manner as is reserved to him the entire glory of our salvation and hides pride from man.
How can man understand God? David, how can man understand God? He has a mind, but he does not understand his own mind with which he endeavors to understand God. What makes man think that he understands God?
All things are delivered to me of my Father, and no man knoweth who the Son is but the Father, and who the Father is but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. That's where we'll stop. All things are delivered unto me of whose Father?
My Father. My Father. Yes, yes. To think that I have been in God as long as he is in is a long time. It goes beyond my memory frontwards and backwards. Okay, is there anything else? Russell dismisses, please.