So you notice here He's expanded it from twelve being sent or commissioned. Now He's got 70 extra, so now He's got 82 people sent out there, and they have the same commission. They're also anointed, and we know they cast out demons, because they came back very excited about that in Verse 17. They returned with joy, saying: even demons are subject to us in Your name. So first you have the 12, then you have the 70, and then if we look at the end of the gospel of Mark it says, Verse 15, the commission to the church, the great commission, go into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature - Verse 17 - these signs will follow all who believe - in My name they will cast out demons, speak with new tongues, take up serpents, lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. So you notice Jesus progressed. He started with 12, expanded it to 70, and then expanded it to everyone who believes, so you are commissioned to advance the gospel, and God wants you to understand how to work in deliverance and in healing, even if it's at a simple level.
There's so many people need help, and many of them just don't realise the problems are demonic. They don't want to talk about it, in case you think they're crazy, and we find over and over and over, people who are troubled with demonic spirits, demonic visitations, nightmares, dreams, troubling things in their life, but they don't want to talk about it, in case you laugh at them, or in case you think boy, you're nutty, you're crazy. The reality is, they just need to know this is normal, and to be listened to, and to receive help - and you can give them that help at a level you feel able to, and are led by the spirit to. So the first thing then we see is that apostles are sent out, we're all called to be apostolic.
The Holy Spirit also is apostolic. You notice the Holy Spirit is a sending spirit, so in Luke 24:49, Behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you. Wait in Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. So the Holy Spirit comes on you, to send you. Have a think about that. A lot of people think, the Holy Spirit's main purpose in coming in power in my life is so I can speak in tongues and have a happy life, but this is not true. In Acts 1:8 it's very clear; you shall receive power from on high, and shall be witnesses unto Me. In other words, the power of the Holy Ghost is to empower us to live a life, and to witness, so other people are able to experience God. So what you'll find of course is, whenever you seek to advance the kingdom of God, that there is always opposition, so we're going to have a look at just some of the opposition that was encountered in the New Testament.
When we start to talk about opposition, people get a bit wavery and they say ooh, ooh I didn't know about that, and I just want an easy life. I want to be blessed, and just don't bug me, and just leave me alone. Of course as we'll see a little bit later, that's the demon's prayer, leave us alone! You know, leave me alone. Don't bother me - and that is definitely the demon's prayer, apparently in the Bible. So I want us to have a look in a New Testament scripture. The first one we're going to have a look at, is in Luke, Chapter 10. Then we're going to look at where the apostles face some confrontation. Luke, Chapter 10 and Verse 17 again, the 70 returned with joy saying: even the demons are subject to us in Your name. Now you notice they weren't heavy, they weren't serious, they weren't ooh, ooh demons, ooh. They weren't like that. They were WOW! God, what a wicked day, we see people set free! There's great joy. They came back joyful, they were laughing, they were celebrating, see? So joy is always associated with the work of the Holy Spirit, and the kingdom of God.