prepared by Rev Daniel Yovan – 27th July 2025
18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2: 18 – 20)
STF 313 Thine Be the Glory
1 Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay.
Refrain:
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.
2 Lo, Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting: [Refrain]
3 No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of Life;
life is naught without thee: aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors through thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above: [Refrain] Edmond Budry (1854–1932)
Prayer of praise and thanksgiving
Thank you God, for your Word: made known through prophets; made firm through scripture; made flesh in Christ; made present by your Spirit. Thank you, also, God, that you speak to us and through us. We praise you God for all who have laboured long and hard to hear and to know and to show your word for all the world. We give you thanks that you are never without witnesses, that countless quiet and faithful people, listening, wait on you; ready to hear, willing to speak. In the clamour of competing voices, thank you that your Word still can be heard. Thank you for the wonderful Christian community that you have given us. Help us to hear your Word with the help of our brothers and sisters, that we may be ready to respond and willing to change. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Please read Luke 10:1-9 (Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two)
10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
Reflection
Jesus appointed seventy-two others to send them out ahead of him. They are to prepare the way for Jesus in advance. But why 72? The number seventy-two has some significant important in the scriptures. Moses in the Old Testament commissioned seventy-two elders to help him (Num 11: 26, 24). The Letter of Aristeas records that seventy-two translators, six from each tribes, completed the translation of the Septuagint in seventy-two days. However, the most likely interpretation would be the biblical number of the nations in Genesis Chapter 10. So this commissioning foreshadows the mission of the church to the nations that Jesus would talk about later (Luke 24: 47). However, our focus here is not the number of the disciples but the purpose and the manner in which they were sent.
The purpose.
They were asked to prepare the way for Jesus. Like John the Baptist, a forerunner, to preach and gather people, and once they have gathered the crowd, sign post them to Jesus. They were to heal the sick and to tell them that the kingdom of God had come near them. This message is urgent and not many people to do the job. So Jesus also asked them to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out many more workers. Their only job is to prepare people in all the towns and places to meet with Jesus. It is all exciting.
The manner
Now the disciples were doing some metal calculation on the things they need to pack for this great mission. Bag, extra shoe, food, change of clothes and some money. Before they were going to ask Jesus about all these supplies (remember they all probably have left everything they had, to follow Jesus), Jesus said do not take anything with you. Are you serious Lord? What kind of mission is this? How are we supposed to eat (I have some food allergy too), sleep, what will happen if our shoes broke with all those miles of walking on the dusty, rocky path. No..no…no….this can’t be possible. Do not take anything with you, the message is urgent do not get yourself distracted by talking anyone on the road and keep going (2 Kings 4: 29) until you reach your destination. The good news is that in this part of the world the people will host the messengers/travellers and send them on their way. Even though this was the norm of the day, this job is not for the faint-hearted. Do you feel sometimes that the job God asked you to do seems to be an impossible task? Are you feeling downhearted because of the situation you find yourself in? Friends, God has called us into this community to journey together. We are not supposed to bear our burdens/pain/suffering/sickness etc.. on our own. We have our brothers and sisters to help us. That is why Jesus send them two by two.
Two by two
Jesus said to them do not worry you are going as a pair. When one is weak other will encourage you in this journey (Ecclesiastes 4: 9 – 12). We have all come from various walks of life, but God has brought us through Christ into this community of believers. We are supposed to journey together. If you see someone suffering in their journey, it is your duty as a fellow citizen of God’s kingdom to help. Do you have a ‘soul friend’? Whom do you turn to when you need someone to speak to? Can you tell all your fears, doubts, disappointments and joys, freely with your trusted friend? My dear brothers and sisters, we cannot live the journey of faith on our own. We all need a companion. Some of us a part of a study group, but sometimes we cannot discuss everything in that big group. It is essential to have listening ear when you need. If you do not have one so far, pray to the Lord to send someone.
The secret of Jesus’ mission is this ‘two by two’. Before the church even thought about the safeguarding issues, Jesus had implemented the safeguarding procedures in his mission plans. When two are together, they safe guard each other from out side dangers and from taking any wrong steps. If they are in doubt with anything, they can check with their friend. “We are pilgrims on a journey, and companions on the road; we are here to hep each other, walk the mile and bear the load” Friends, we as members of God’s household, let us make use of the benefit of this community to lean on each other, to share the joys and burdens until He comes. Amen.
Prayers of intercession.
Lord our God you are the King of kings and Lord of Lords. We bring to you the leaders of the nations around the world, the policy makers, those who are responsible for governing the individual nations. Give them the grace to be faithful and honest in the tasks you have called them to do that they may acknowledge that every power and authority comes from you. Help them to submit to your leadership in leading their nations in peace and harmony.
Lord hear us. Lord graciously hear us.
Lord Jesus you are the Prince of Peace. We pray for those nations that are waging war against each other, Russia, Ukraine, Situation in Gaza and many other parts of the world there is war every day. We do not know how this will all end, but we know that nothing is hidden from you. With heavy heart we ask you to bring an end to all these self-destructive human war machines. Lord we pray for all those who affected by natural disasters and famine.
Lord hear us. Lord graciously hear us.
Lord Jesus, we pray for our families, those who are ill and in pain; those who are waiting for an operation, those who are worried and anxious, those who are hungry and live in poverty. We pray for those who are not in faith, those who are doubting and struggling to make sense of faith. Would you reveal yourself to them in a way they may see you as you are. Pray for our children, draw them close to you that they may find their identity in you. Bless them with your grace that they may know that you love them and have plans for their lives. As they grow older we pray Lord that you bring them good friends. We pray for those who are waiting for their exam results, those who are trying to find the right university courses. We bring all these prayers to you in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
STF 611 – Brother, sister, let me serve you
Brother, Sister Let Me Serve You.
Let Me Be As Christ To You;
Pray That I May Have The Grace To
Let You Be My Servant Too.
Brother, Sister Let Me Serve You.
Let Me Be As Christ To You;
Pray That I May Have The Grace To
Let You Be My Servant Too.
We Are Pilgrims On A Journey,
And Companions On The Road;
We Are Here To Help Each Other
Walk The Mile And Bear The Load.
I Will Hold The Christ-Light For You
In The Night-Time Of Your Fear;
I Will Hold My Hand Out To You,
Speak The Peace You Long To Hear.
I Will Weep When You Are Weeping;
When You Laugh I’ll Laugh With You;
I Will Share Your Joy And Sorrow
Till We’ve Seen This Journey Through.
When We Sing To God In Heaven
We Shall Find Such Harmony,
Born Of All We’ve Known Together
Of Christ’s Love And Agony.
Brother, Sister Let Me Serve You.
Let Me Be As Christ To You;
Pray That I May Have The Grace To
Let You Be My Servant Too. Richard A. M. Gillard in 1977
Blessings:
May God the Father prepare your journey, Jesus the Son guide your footsteps, The Spirit of Life strengthen your body, The Three in One watch over you, on every road that you may follow. And May the blessing of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit remain with you now and evermore. Amen.
