Rejoice With Christ
Notes
Transcript
Intro
I grew up pulling for certain teams: Braves, Falcons, Volunteers. I cheered for what they cheered for.
Need: As Christians, what do I rejoice in? You may have questions or doubts that keep you from rejoicing. How do I handle certain doctrines and rejoice? We see what Christ rejoices in.
Main Idea: Rejoice in what Christ rejoices
Christ rejoices in the will of God. 72 were sent out. Came back rejoicing all they saw God do. Jesus responds for them to rejoice their names are written in heaven. Final application at end.
Luke 10:21-24
Command #1: Rejoice that God has revealed his plan to you (21)
Exp. Jesus begins with prayer. Verse 21. Love how the Trinity is all at play. Here is what we see:
Rejoiced in the Holy Spirit. HS is the avenue in the Father’s revealing. Unblinding those who were blind.
He thanks the Father. Praying to God the Father. Lord of heaven and earth. The one who has ultimate authority.
Father revealed these things to little children. What are these things? Is it what they experienced in their healings? Is it what he explains about the father and the son? It’s likely all of it. Not for the learned and wise. For little children. Those dependent on others to reveal.
His gracious will. The disciples did not earn it. It was his will.
Ill. We do not discover God’s plans. He reveals his plans. Children can only grasp what is revealed to them. Christian does not discover my plans for getting out the door in the morning. I have to coach him. We are the same way. We can’t discover God’s will.
Arg. Isaiah pens God’s words:
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Christ - For some reason, God reveals his plan to the lowly. Jesus dwelled as lowly. Reached out to the poor in spirit. He didn’t go straight to the kings and emperors. His coming was announced to shepherds in a field. The thief on the cross with his last breath. Crucified like a criminal. No place to lay his head.
App. Rejoice that he has revealed himself to you. Not because you are wise, but because he is gracious.
Command #2: Rejoice that God has revealed himself in his Son (22)
Exp. Jesus is still speaking but the prayer seems to have ended. Verse 22. All things handed to me = God is Lord of heaven and earth. Authority given to Jesus. The only one who truly knows the Son is the Father and vice versa. However, the Son can choose to reveal who the Father and the Son is. God’s plan is revealed through Jesus.
Ill. Few things in life test your marriage than putting a puzzle together. Try doing it without the top of the box. We have the box to show how it goes. God’s plan is revealed in Christ so we aren’t walking in darkness.
Arg. Why didn’t people follow Jesus? Many turned away. Simply because Jesus chose not to reveal himself.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Christ - By his grace, Jesus does reveal himself. We know the Father because he is revealed through the son. Jesus takes the blinders off and reveals the truth of himself and the Father. Even in his life, his followers were confused. Complete fulfillment after death, burial, resurrection and ascension.
App. Rejoice that you know the father through the son.
Command #3: Rejoice that God has revealed his plan in this time (23-24)
Exp. Jesus will now speak to the disciples. Verse 23-24. Rejoice that their eyes see it! Prophets and kings desired to see the fulfillment. Wanted to see the plan fulfilled. Blessed are you because you see if fulfilled. The prophets looked forward to this time.
Ill. Graduated from Montreat. Dark ages. Longed to see the school get on track. I left before it happened. Now I rejoice because the school is in a better place. The prophets spoke about this time, but never saw it.
Arg. Why did he reveal it when he did? Is it unfair to the prophets. What God does is never unfair. We should rejoice that we benefit for living on this side of God’s plan in Christ.
Christ - Jesus is the fulfillment of God plan. He reveals it to the lowly, he reveals it through himself, and he reveals it now. Revealed fully in his death, burial, and resurrection. The OT points to this. Because of his revealing, the lost come are found, the lowly are exalted, fool becomes wise, and the sinner is restored.
App. Rejoice that you live in a time where the fulfillment of his plan is revealed.
Final application
Pray in gratitude for his revealing. Like Christ here, thank the Father for his plan. Pray for his revealing to the undeserved, through Jesus, and now. His mercy is great!
Sing in gratitude for giving you joy. Corporate worship is more than tradition of the NT church. We sing because he is worthy. There is a Fountain lyrics:
There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains:
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away:
Wash all my sins away,
Wash all my sins away;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.
E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die:
And shall be till I die,
And shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.
Tell others about his salvation. Go! Tell of the joy being revealed to you. Ask God to reveal himself to those you share with. Take the joy with you!
