Your Name Is Recorded In Heaven
Your Name Is Recorded In Heaven
(Luke 10:17-20)
Introduction:
I have a lot of things that I am happy about.
I am blessed.
My list of things that I rejoice about gets longer as I get older.
Rejoicing:
I rejoice in that I have been married to Karla for # of years
She has brought a lot of joy to my life.
If you have had a good relationship (not always good everyday) / But joy is associated
Point: Divorce rate is going up
Question: I wonder why the divorce rate is so high
People spend more time preparing for driver’s license than they do for a marriage license.
We think because we get a certain age that we know.
And we should get married and know how to be a good (wife/husband).
But, it does not work that way.
If people would prepare before they get married, you can have a good quality marriage.
Statement: Married life is the best life you can have.
I rejoice about my marital relationship.
I rejoice that God has given us two children.
Statement: Make your list of things to rejoice about.
I rejoice that my children are learning to obey the rules.
Explain: (Not understand the rules / Obey the rules)
Example: Running in traffic (No time to explain) / Understand the rule
Statement: All the things we could talk about that we are rejoicing about.
Some of us are rejoicing because today is better than yesterday.
I’ve been in trouble and I’m just getting out of trouble.
All of us have something to rejoice about.
But, I want to share something with you (today/tonight) that makes everything else pale in comparison.
Point:
I’m glad that I am a child of God.
And a child of God should be glad to say; “I’m saved.”
Members of the Lord’s church should talk about that more than anybody else.
We shouldn’t be ashamed to tell somebody, “I am a child of God.”
Example: (Denominational friends tell you about their church)
We are the ones who should be telling the story.
We are the ones with the good news.
We should shout it from the housetop.
Everybody on the job should know that “I am a member of the Lord’s church.”
Your neighbor, next door, down the street should know that I’m a Christian.
When you think about salvation, you should say, “God I am glad that I am saved.”
And we need to be so excited about it that you tell somebody else.
Body:
Read: Luke 10:17
Explain:
The Lord had appointed seventy disciples in addition to the twelve.
Read: Luke 10:1-12
Jesus is going to go throughout 1st Century Palestine.
Everywhere He is going to go He is going to preach the good news.
He is going to make the announcement: The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
He has paired these men up.
And He says: When you go into a city, prepare the people for Jesus’ coming.
Point: Two types of People.
Type 1: Receive You
Those who receive you, you let your peace rest upon them.
You heal their sick. You minister unto them.
You will know that they are receiving you, because they will give to you.
They are appreciative of the good news of Jesus Christ.
Yet, there are those who will not receive you.
Point: God’s grace can be restricted on the basis of receptivity of those who are the objects of His grace.
God’s grace is not cheap grace.
Statement: (Misunderstanding) I don’t have to do anything.
Point: God’s grace is for everybody.
By grace we are saved through faith in Christ Jesus.
But, one thing God’s grace will not do:
If you are a person who will not receive the grace of God.
You restrict the intent of that Grace and you will not be blessed as those receive His grace.
Principal:
Those who receive you, bless them, let your peace rest upon their house.
But, if they don’t receive you.
Question: What did Jesus tell His disciples?
Statement: You don’t have to argue with people about accepting Jesus.
You come face to face with the person of Jesus.
You either accept Him or reject Him.
You are the one that has to make the decision (choice) / (accept / reject)
These disciples would go into a city and Jesus said “If they reject you, when you leave, shake the dust off of your feet.”
Explain: Shaking the dust (Jews to Samaritans / Jews to Jews) / (Pagan soil)
Don’t go into the land of the Gentiles
Don’t go into Samaria
It is a serious thing to reject Jesus.
You have to make some decisions
(You are not the audience / audience is here)
Everyday, you are called to either accept Him or reject Him.
Jesus told His disciples, “If that city rejects Him, you shake the dust from your feet.”
Point:
So, they did all of that. They were healing people, casting out demons.
So, after a number of days of ministry, they came back to report to Jesus how they were doing.
They were rejoicing when they got back.
They said, “Lord let us tell you how we were doing. Even the demons…”
There are a number of things to be proud about. (Making our list)
They said, “We are just rejoicing. Even the demons are subject to us.”
We can even cast out demons.
But, the Lord’s response is very curious.
Jesus said, “ I saw Satan, like lightening fall from heaven.”
Question: What kind of response is that?
Here we are rejoicing about something and Jesus says, “I saw Satan.”
Disciples: We didn’t say anything about Satan, we said we could cast out demons.
Jesus: But, I saw Satan like lightening fall from heaven.
Question: What is Jesus trying to communicate?
Why did He make that kind of response?
Anytime you get proud about something, you need to be careful.
Anytime you are lifted up about something you need to be careful.
Jesus was saying, be careful because the Devil had the same problem that you seem to be possessing.
Statement: The Devil was proud and lifted up about who he was. How God had made him.
He didn’t give credit to God and it caused his down fall.
(Lucifer / not like the picture we show our children) / The devil is good looking
Define: Lucifer (The son of the morning)
He was the most beautiful of all God’s creatures
He was so beautiful that his own beauty caused him to be lifted up and wanted a throne higher than God’s.
Anytime you are lifted up with pride, God is gonna have to cut you down.
Reference: Isaiah 14:12 (King of Tyre / Messianic Exegesis – All OT was Messianic)
He wanted to be higher than anything that was called God.
Jesus said, “I saw Satan like lightening fall from heaven.”
Point:
Paul uses the same illustration in I Timothy 3 (leadership)
“You need to be careful about appointing a certain kind of man to the leadership.”
Who is going to take that authority and be prideful and lifted up and puffed up about himself.
Read: I Timothy 3:1-6
If you put a new convert in leadership, he is going to have the same problem that the devil had.
And the devil lost and he’s going to lose too.
Conclusion:
We are not to prideful in our accomplishments. (Not saying appreciative)
We should appreciate what God has done for us and what He is doing for us.
But when you get lifted up with pride.
Example: Friend (that’s being blessed)
Never gives God any credit.
All the things that are occurring, He’s doing.
He’s pulling himself up by his own bootstraps.
(Always talking about what they have)
(Can’t give a compliment without them telling you how much something cost)
(Suit / $500) / Lifted up with pride (Where I live / What my address is) / Certain areas
(Introducing your friends / Dr. / Lawyer) Things we think bring us prestige.
Point: There are a lot of things to rejoice about. A lot of things to be happy about.
But Jesus said, “Don’t get lifted up with pride about that.
He told those disciples in the text,
“If you are going to rejoice, don’t rejoice in the authority that has been given to you.”
It is hard to work with somebody who is lifted up by their own self-importance.
Leadership is not about striving for the top. It’s about striving for the bottom.
It is a service. A man that desires leadership desires a good work.
Jesus said,
“Don’t get lifted up about the authority that I have given you.”
“If you want to rejoice about something,”
Rejoice in this –
You want to know something I am happier about than my children?
You want to know something I am happier about than having Karla in my life?
You rejoice that your name is written in heaven.
You need to make sure that your name is written in heaven.
Point: One day the books are going to be opened (name has to be there) / In Christ Jesus