Asking For Workers

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 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. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. The seventy-two returned with joy...
Luke 10:1-3, 17

i have many questions about these few verses.
who were these select 72?
why did Jesus need a publicity group to precede His ministry?
if i were chosen to be one of these 72, how encouraged would have i been to hear, "the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few"? but then, followed up by, "ask God for more workers"?
how about, "i am sending you out like lambs among the wolves"?
how much fear did they feel being sent out with those encouraging words?
what type of blessings did they receive, which produced "joy"?
how did Jesus decide which 2 to send together?
did they go door-to-door or only to the families whom the stayed with?
which type of teaching did they have?
did they know when they would be relieved of their mission?
did they care if they were ever done?
let me get this straight: they didn't have to raise support - God just supplied all of their needs?
was their ministry strictly relational?

i know some of these questions are outrageous, but how can they apply to my life if i don't wonder the answers? i am not a robot - i have a mind which i try to keep from being conformed to the pattern of this world. i want to know the way Jesus taught and worked, so that i, too, can be effective in my ministry to the lost, the hurting, the hopeless.

Faithful Jesus,
i know You know the answers to all my questions, and You know how many questions i have. may You come and open my mind to Your understanding. let my mind be quick to learn from You. i desire for You to shine through me. i desire for You to be my light which shines to all people. use me to witness Your love to those who most desire it. let others find their way back to You by using me for Your service. i am Your servant.
In Jesus' s Powerful Name ~ Amen!

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*Charlie *Edward *Derrick