Seventy-two people are sent out two by two, and they are told what to say before they are told what to do.
Read what Jesus tells them to say, and what He tells them it means.
Then read the last thing He says in Matthew, and notice who He says the authority belongs to.
Luke 10:1-9 | Matthew 28:18-20 · NET
Tap a tool, then tap words. Highlight what gets your attention · underline what God is doing or saying · circle a repeated or unfamiliar word.
Read it aloud, then give everyone two minutes to mark it in silence.
Read both passages slowly. Notice how many are sent and how they travel, what Jesus tells them to say, what He tells them to do first, and who He says has been given all authority. What details stand out? What surprises you?
Mark it:
- Underline what God is doing or saying.
- Circle a word that repeats, or one you don’t understand.
- Highlight whatever gets your attention, even if you can’t say why.
Luke 10:1-9
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Matthew 28:18-20
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NET Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. netbible.com
What stood out?
Go around the room. Each person reads one thing they marked. If you know why it stood out, say so. If you don’t, “it just stood out” is a complete answer. Nobody explains, nobody corrects.
Your markings are saved on this device and will be here when you come back.
Carrying Kingdom Authority
God created the world in perfect unity. Heaven and Earth were aligned under His loving rule. But when sin entered through Satan’s deception, that unity was broken, and a spiritual battle began. Jesus speaks of a thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), and Christians have long read the thief as a picture of the enemy. But Jesus came to restore what was lost and reclaim what the enemy distorted.
The Father gave Jesus full authority. Empowered by the Spirit, He healed, forgave, delivered, and brought hope. Every action pushed back darkness and made space for the Kingdom of God to break in. But He didn’t keep that authority to Himself. He trained and sent His followers to carry on the mission, with the same Spirit and the same authority.
Today, we are invited into that same partnership. Not in our strength, but by the Spirit of God living in us, we are called to bring light, freedom, and healing into a world still in need.
Jesus ministered in authority, not independently, but in constant partnership with the Father.
His purpose was to destroy the works of the enemy and restore God’s rule on Earth.
He entrusts His disciples with authority under His own lordship, and that includes us.
Spiritual authority isn’t about control or ego. It flows from submission to Jesus and obedience to the Spirit.
When we partner with the Spirit, we carry the Kingdom into everyday spaces.
Read this one out loud.
Discussion questions
- Do you believe there is a real spiritual battle happening in the world? Where do you see signs of that in everyday life?
- Jesus came to destroy the works of the enemy. How do you think He’s still doing that through His people today?
- What’s one way the enemy tries to steal, kill, or destroy in your life or community? How do you see God pushing back in that same space?
- When you think about carrying spiritual authority, what feels exciting? What feels intimidating?
- How could you partner with God this week to bring His Kingdom into a real situation: at school, at work, or in a relationship?
Write it out.
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Let’s pray together
Declare truth over each person: “Jesus has given you authority to bring His Kingdom near.”
Ask the Spirit to increase boldness, clarity, and humility.
Speak encouragement over the specific situations or people God has brought to mind.
Closing prayer: Holy Spirit, thank You for giving us the authority of Jesus. Fill us with faith to speak truth, love boldly, and bring Your Kingdom into every part of our lives. Teach us to walk in courage and humility. Amen.
- “Where are You inviting me to walk in Your authority this week?”
- “What fear or hesitation do you want to remove from my heart?”
- “Who are you sending me to with your love and truth?”
Leave space for silence, listening, and Spirit-led prayer. If someone senses a word, a Scripture, or a picture for another, offer it gently and pray into it.
Let’s pray
Breakthrough is when God’s Kingdom breaks into your reality: His healing where there is pain, His freedom where there is bondage, His presence where there is loneliness. Jesus is King; His freedom, peace and purpose are available now. Pray from that Kingdom, not toward it.
Be still for a moment. Open your hands and simply pray: “Come, Holy Spirit.”
Ask the Spirit the three questions and write down what comes. Then say His declaration over yourself: Jesus has given you authority to bring His Kingdom near. Ask the Spirit to increase boldness, clarity, and humility, and name out loud the situation or the person He has brought to mind.
You can pray more than once. Stay present, and trust that God is at work. Take your time; there is no hurry.
Choose one. Say it out loud so someone else hears it.
Next time you gather, share what you practiced and how God used it, not for pressure but for encouragement.
The reminder downloads as a calendar event. Open it and it lands on your calendar for tomorrow morning.
Go further
Take this into your own prayer.
For this session
Based on Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart.
Test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Jesus, I give You full access to my life today.
I surrender my mind, my desires, my relationships, and my decisions.
I choose to trust You and follow You in every area.
Where I have held control, I now release it.
Where I have doubted, I now believe You are good.
Fill me with Your Spirit, and lead me in Your way.
I belong to You. Amen.
Done.
Jesus shares His authority with us through the Spirit so we can walk boldly and humbly in His mission of restoration.