This weekend is “Go Denton.” We are going out to share Jesus. And as we go I am reminded of how Jesus sent out His followers. In Luke 10 Jesus sends out 72 of His people out ahead of Him in pairs. He tells them to heal the sick and to announce the kingdom of God. They do it and here’s what happens afterwards. Luke 10:17-21,

17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

When Jesus sends out His followers He doesn’t send us out alone. He sends us together. He sends us with the Holy Spirit. He sends us with power to overcome the enemy. And that is the good news!

Our gospel is a gospel of power. A gospel without power is no gospel at all. It’s just another religious system…another sales job.

But that’s not what I see here in Luke 10. Jesus and His followers are “full of joy through the Holy Spirit.” They are so full that they can barely contain themselves. Why? Because there is nothing in this world more exciting than declaring the power of God and then seeing that power overcome the enemy. Successful evangelism is about God and what He does. It’s not about us. It’s about opening up a space for God to move. It’s about the will of the Father, through the salvation in His Son, with the power of the spirit.

In order to do real evangelism you need God!