Acts of Grace 34
THE MOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE
By Pastor Henry

In the book of Luke, we learn that Jesus sent out two groups of people to preach the kingdom of God and gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and cure diseases. The first group was none other than the twelve disciples-apostles and the second group was made up of seventy common people. Each group came back with a different perspective and report.

Mark these words – “All they had done.” Now notice here that they came back and reported to Jesus what they did. It was all about “we, I, myself”. Nothing was given to the Lord but see the difference when Jesus called the common people. These were people like you and I, and see how they responded.

The seventy returned with joy. In the other verse, it did not say the twelve disciples returned with joy. You notice a few things here: One, the seventy ordinary, common people returned with joy, the disciples did not, they probably returned with complaints. Two, the demons were subject to them. The demons were not subject to the disciples. We find out in a later account in Luke 9:37-40 that the disciples could not cast out an evil spirit in a young boy. Third, the disciples did not use the name of the Lord. It was “what we did” rather than what Jesus did.

When Jesus was told that demons submitted to his followers in His name, He said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” (Luke 10:18) Who was He speaking to? It was not the apostles. He was speaking to the people, the common people. Beloved, when every believer in the church begins to fulfil their calling and ministry, we will see Satan fall!

You notice the difference there. One group was the appointed, recognized leaders in the community and the other group was made up of the common people. One group caused Jesus to rejoice, the other did not.

Beloved, the final movement on earth is a people movement. In these last days, we will witness a powerful move of the common people where ordinary people will do extraordinary things. Like the seventy people sent out by Jesus, it will be a nameless, faceless movement where the focus is wholly on Jesus. Not on names, titles or positions. In fact, the word “apostle” simply means, “one who is sent forth”. It is not a title or position. It is a function. This means any man, woman or child – educated or illiterate, strong or weak, whoever is a disciple of Jesus Christ, he or she has the authority to accomplish great things in Jesus’ name because he or she has been sent out and anointed by God.

Remember, Jesus himself was a common person, a carpenter. In fact, he could not be distinguished from the other people in the garden of Gethsemane - the soldiers could not identify him until Judas kissed Him to point Him out to them (Mat. 26:48-49).

Man builds monuments but God builds movements. And God has given power and authority to the collective body of Christ. When we come together as a body of believers and make certain agreements together, it has far more effect and power than any other ties. That’s why Jesus says we must agree with the Father and with one another when we pray. Then something happens in the higher dimensions.

Beloved, Jesus rejoiced when the common person was doing the ministry He was doing. God has anointed you with all power, authority, dominion and victory. He has given it to us as a church. He has given it to us as a body of believers. But we must come together. We must stay together. We must work together. We must go together and when we do, we will see Satan fall. Hallelujah!