Living Waters Christian Fellowship - Lake Nacimiento - California

10:1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.
2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
3 “Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.
4 “Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.
5 “But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’
6 “And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.
7 “And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.
8 “Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.
9 “And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
10 “But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say,
11 ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’
12 “But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
14 “But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.
15 “And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.
16 “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19 “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Introduction
God’s face was revealed to the human race in Jesus Christ. As people saw His love, compassion, power and determination, He called others to turn their faces toward lost and hurting people as well. In the moment when Jesus and His servants are looking our way to ministry God’s grace to us, we dare not refuse the face of His love.

1. God’s face is toward people v1-2

10:1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.

Lu 1:76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
Lu 7:27 “This is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’
Lu 9:29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.
Lu 9:51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,
Lu 9:52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.
Lu 9:53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.
Lu 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.

It’s a very precious thing to have God’s face turned toward us in concern, and with a desire to help us. Especially for Jesus to set His face toward the cross to redeem us from our sins.

Even as His face was set for Jerusalem, He was also focused on the villages where He was about to go to minister to the people.

10:1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.

2. God calls others to turn their faces toward people v2

2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

3. Sometimes the face of love is not well received v3

3 “Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.

4. There will be those who will receive and support the face of ministry v4-8

4 “Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.
5 “But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’
6 “And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.
7 “And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.
8 “Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.

5. Compassion is the face ministry v9

9 “And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

6. People must not reject the face of the Lord nor His servants v10-16

10 “But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say,
11 ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’
12 “But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
14 “But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.
15 “And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.
16 “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

7. Demonic spirits, who negatively affect the people we try to minister to, see the face of the Lord in our faces, and must submit v17-19

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19 “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

8. Even if we have our faces toward people in ministry, and against the enemy, our biggest joy is that God’s face is toward us v20

20 “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Conclusion

Rev 22:1-5 22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.