A Life of Joy

“A Life of Joy”

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Do you want to live a life of joy? Of course you do! I’ve never met a person who said, I want to be sad, negative, pessimistic, a perpetual killjoy. No!

We want to live with the joy of the Lord in our hearts and lives. I’m not talking about some pep rally, past the spirit stick joy; no I’m talking about real joy because of your relationship with Jesus.

The only way to have real joy, deep joy, lasting joy is to stay close to the Lord Jesus.

-“In your presence is fullness of joy”.

If you’re saved, and you don’t have joy, it simply means you’re away from God; because in his presence is fullness of joy.

Paul wrote to the Philippian believers from a jail cell; -“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice”.

The apostle Peter wrote to a group of persecuted, scattered Christians, -“Rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory”.

We all want to live with the joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is so important in your Christian life.

Joy is not optional; joy is mandatory, it is a must in my life and your life.

· Joy makes you an easier person to live with.

Joy affects your marriage, family and home. Your husband or wife will enjoy being around you more when you have the joy of Jesus in your life. Your parents will be easier to get along with when you have the joy of Jesus on your face. A Christian marriage and a home should be a place of joy.

· Joy makes you a better worker.

If you have an attitude of joy you will face your job with a more positive attitude; and therefore be more productive. Not to mention how much easier you will be to get along with.

· Joy makes you a better church member.

The greatest and most attractive quality of a Christian and a church is joy. Our lives and church services should be filled with the joy and enthusiasm of Jesus. Reaching people with the gospel, getting them to come to church and Bible fellowship, to teach them and disciple them is done with the joy of the Lord, or it is not done at all.

When people walk through these doors of this church, they need to be met with a smile, a warm handshake, and the joy of the Lord.

We don’t come to church to mourn a dead corpse; we come to worship and praise the living Lord Jesus! Oh how we need the joy of the Holy Spirit when we come in this place to worship!

, says the early church was praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.

There’s something contagious about a Christian, and church full of the joy of the Lord.

Now I know what some of you are thinking, you’re thinking I’ve had the worst year in my life, and you’re telling me I should have joy in my heart.

The joy the Bible talks about, is joy beyond your circumstances or situation. There is a great difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is based on what happens to you; happiness may be self-centered. Everything is going good for me, I’m happy. Joy comes from being in a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ; joy is always God centered.

This 70 ministers that Jesus sent out in the first part of ; return filled with joy.

Joy is the dominant theme in this passage;

V:17-“the 70 returned with joy…

V:20-“don’t continue rejoicing that spirits are subject to you…

V:20-“ rejoice because your name is written in heaven”.

V:21-“ Jesus rejoiced in spirit…

Everybody is rejoicing in these verses! Why?

In these verses were given four reasons we can live a life of joy.

Reason #1:

1. You Have Victory in Christ.

V:17-19.

Get the picture in your mind, these 70 return with joy. Luke doesn’t tell us how long they were gone, where they went. He just tells us they returned with joy; enthusiastic about what they had seen the Lord do. You can sense their excitement, as they say to Jesus, V:17-“even the demons were subject unto us through your name” When Jesus sent them out, he warned them by saying, I’m sending you as lambs in the middle wolves, you will face opposition, and rejection. But their mission had been a great success, and victory! They had healed the sick, preached the gospel, and they had cast out demons. God had given them the power to set tormented souls free from demon possession. They were so excited: V:17-“They returned with joy…Saying the demons are subject unto us in your name. They recognized it was Jesus authority and power; not theirs that cast out the demons. They were rejoicing at what God had done; not at what they had done. Their joy was in the victory they had through the Lord Jesus Christ! They were filled with joy because of the power and victory, they had in the powerful name of Jesus! Satan-crushing power does not reside in us, but in Jesus!

The Lord Jesus alone has power over the devil and his demons. Jesus has given us His Power and authority over Satan and sin! And there is Joy when we exercise the victory we have in Jesus! When we depend upon ourselves; we will be defeated, but when we depend on the power of the Lord Jesus we will experience the victory over Satan! This is the victory that overcomes the world even our faith!

Jesus shares in there joy. V:18-19-Read.

Jesus had given them power over Satan and his demons. Jesus said he saw Satan falling from heaven like lightning. When did Jesus see Satan falling from heaven, and how did that apply to these men? Commentators offer various interpretations of what the Lord meant by that saying. Some suggest it refers to Satan’s original fall from heaven. Some say it refers to the cross where Jesus would crush Satan’s head. Others say it refers to the future when Satan will be cast into the lake of fire. John MacArthur, suggest that Jesus was watching as Satan’s kingdom was being destroyed one rescue soul at a time through the witness of the 70 evangelist.

Jesus is continually watching Satan’s kingdom be torn apart, as souls are saved, rescued from a life of sin, snatched from the fires of hell, and added to the kingdom of God.

Don’t think for one moment that Satan’s kingdom is going to endure, because it is not! It’s the kingdom of God that’s eternal! As we preach the gospel, and win souls, the kingdom of Satan is being torn apart, one person at a time! V:19-“Behold, Check this out…I give unto you Power….and power over all the enemy… Jesus has given us power…

The word power is the word authority:

The authority of Jesus Christ!

Jesus gives us authority over Satan, because he has defeated Satan at the cross and through his resurrection. If we are living in defeat, shame, guilt today; it is not because the power of Jesus is not available to give us victory. It is because we are not appropriating the power of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives! After talking about the battle of the flesh, and the spirit in , the apostle Paul talks about how we can have victory through the indwelling Holy Spirit of God in .

-“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death”.

-“But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you”.

-“We are more than conquerors through him that loved us”.

What a great joy to know; I don’t have to live a defeated Christian life; I can live in victory through the indwelling Holy Spirit of God!

My flesh, this world, and Satan himself is no match for God who dwells in me by his spirit!

Jesus tells his disciples he’s given them power over every enemy, over Satan and his demons; over the flesh and the world. And through the power of the Holy Spirit nothing, nothing can hurt you!

Some people get caught off guard by what Jesus told the disciples about having power over serpents and scorpions. Jesus is using figurative language, that through him we have authority, power over Satan and his demons; and nothing can defeat us. We don’t need to fear Satan, or people who might try to poison the message of Jesus. There are some that interpret V:19-“I give you power to tread on snakes and scorpions… Literally. They use handling poisonous snakes as a test of Christian fellowship, and holiness of heart. To be a part of their fellowship and demonstrate that your heart is free from sin you pick up a snake. Jesus is not talking about handling literal snakes, praise God! The real danger for the Christian is not a poisonous snake; but the old snake the devil himself.

Jesus tells us we have his authority to resist the devil. James says, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Jesus has given us his continual, indwelling power, to defeat Satan; because Satan never gives up. Satan will continue to attack us and seek to destroy us; but through the power of Jesus we have victory! Praise God through faith in Jesus, God gives us a way to escape Satan’s temptations, and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, he will keep us safe from the devil until we reach glory. We may suffer hardship but nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Rejoice; Satan is defeated; and we can experience victory over Satan through Jesus Christ.

Satan is defeated:

· When a sinner comes to faith in Jesus.

· When you bring your secret sin to the light of the cross.

· Whenever you stand firm against the temptation to lust after life’s pleasures.

· When you refuse to give in to bitterness.

· When you share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Satan is defeated when we claim victory in the name of Jesus!

The first reason you can rejoice is because:

1. You Have Victory in Christ.

Reason #2 rejoice:

2. You Have Security in Christ.

V:20.

Jesus is not telling them that they’re not to rejoice in Satan being defeated. He is telling them that there is something greater to rejoice in. Rejoice that your names are written in heaven! As thrilling as it was for the 70 to conquer demons in Jesus name; there was something far greater to rejoice in; knowing their names was written in heaven. Yes it is good to rejoice in your victory over sin and Satan, but that cannot compare with the deeper joy of everlasting life! The Bible talks about Christians having their name written in the Lamb’s book of life.

The apostle Paul, talked about God’s people, -“Whose names are in the book of life”.

The writer to the Hebrews described people who come to God through faith in Jesus Christ as, -“The church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven…

The apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation: , the names of God’s people written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain.

In Bible times, kings who ruled love to keep a list of the names of their subjects. Having your name “in the book”, served as a proof of citizenship.

For a person to have their name in the book meant they were entitled to the full rights of membership in that community, they were entitled to property and protection. What does it mean to have our names written in heaven? It means that King Jesus knows and remembers that we belong to him! It means that he is keeping an accurate record of our citizenship in heaven. It means we have a right to all the privileges of heaven, even before we arrive there. It means we have God’s own guarantee of eternal life.

The verb means “they have been written and they stand written.” It is a statement of assurance.

When we were saved, our names were written in heaven, and it stands written; and no one can erase it. How could you rejoice that your name is written in heaven; if you lived in fear and anxiety that anything you did wrong would cause God to erase your name from the book of life? You couldn’t.

, anyone who trust in Jesus and receives his righteousness, I will never blot his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my father and before his angels”.

If your name has been written in the book of life; if you have been saved; your name will always be written in the book of life!

When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there!

How do you know your name is written in heaven? Have you repented of your sin and believed in Jesus Christ? Then your name has been written in heaven!

The greatest joy in life, is knowing that you are saved, and that your name is written in heaven!

The greatest joy that you will ever know is being saved, experiencing forgiveness, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit, bears witness with your spirit, that you’re a child of God.

-“With joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation”. All through the Bible salvation is described in terms of joy. Salvation is like coming to a great supper Jesus said.

After the Ethiopian eunuch got saved, he went on his way rejoicing. We have heard the joyful sound Jesus saves, Jesus saves!

· You may lose your wealth; but you never lose your salvation, your name is written in heaven.

· You may lose your spouse, but you will never lose your salvation, your name is written in heaven.

· You may lose your health, but you will never lose your salvation, your name is written in heaven.

· You may lose your mind, but you never lose your salvation, your name is written in heaven.

The joy of eternal life through Jesus Christ is the most permanent thing that you can ever know!

All of the wonderful things in this life, will be lost sooner or later. But you can be certain that your salvation is eternal; because your name is written in the book of life, and it will never be erased!

The assurance of eternal life keeps us from being down, and discouraged during difficult times in our lives. There may be times, when demons are not subject to you, and Satan defeats you, and sin overtakes you.

But there will never be a time when your name is not written in the book of life! You can and should enjoy your wife, children, health, home, and hobbies; that’s great. But all of those things will be taken away from you by old age, sickness and death. But the joy of knowing Jesus Christ, and knowing your name is written in heaven is a joy that cannot be taken away.

There’s only one person, and one thing that can steal your joy. That one person is you, and that one thing is sin. Sin and joy cannot live in the same heart. Some of you need to pray this verse: -“Restore unto me the joy of your salvation”.

A life of joy comes from knowing:

1. You Have Victory in Christ.

2. You Have Security in Christ.

Reason #3:

3. You Have Identity in Christ.

V:21-Jesus rejoice in Spirit…

The Bible tells us that Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He was the suffering Savior. But never picture Jesus as a sad, sanctimonious, pale, recluse religious leader; because he wasn’t! Yes, Jesus was a man of tears and burdens; but he was also a man of joy. One of the things the Pharisees hated about Jesus the most was his joy. It made their dead, lifeless, sad, pitiful religion look bad next to his life of joy.

Nobody has ever had joy like Jesus!

-“You have anointed me with the oil of gladness above my fellows”

Jesus is a man of joy; and he is the source of joy.

We know Jesus was a man of joy; but this is the only place in the New Testament where it specifically says that Jesus rejoiced. The word V:21- “rejoiced” is one of the strongest words for rejoice in the Bible. Moffat translates it, thrilled with joy. Jesus was full of joy, overflowing with joy, as He saw Satan’s kingdom been pulled down by his witnesses; and that eternal life is given to those who believe him.

V:21-22, he is rejoicing in God’s amazing grace in saving sinners! That every person who is saved is saved by the grace of God! Our identity, value, worth is in God’s work of salvation!

No one is saved because of human wisdom and understanding, V:21.

No one is saved because they are smart enough, or have the ability in themselves to figure out God’s plan of salvation. God has graciously revealed his salvation to babes, to the person who is humble, who knows they do not know everything, and come to God in simple childlike faith.

The wise…the Pharisees and Sadducees did not see God salvation in Jesus Christ; because they were prideful, arrogant know-it-all.

Now please understand this; Jesus was not rejoicing because sinners were blind to God’s truth.

God is “not willing that any should perish”

(). He rejoiced because understanding the truth of the gospel does not depend on natural abilities or education. If that were the case, most of the people in the world would be shut out of the kingdom.

By the grace of God the Holy Spirit reveals to humble sinners God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.

If it has been revealed to you, that you are a sinner, and that Jesus is the Savior, and that through repentance and faith in him you can be saved. It is not because you figured it out!

V:22, it is because Jesus has revealed to you.

This fact… should not make you arrogant and prideful; but humble and grateful!

Thank God that he is not an intellectual elitist. There is no minimal IQ for membership in the family of God. The gospel is not restricted to people who are smart enough to understand it; but to the people who have a humble to receive it.

What brings joy to the heart of Jesus is revealing Himself to humble sinners, and saving them by his grace. It was for this joy that was set before him he endured the cross! Apart from God revealing himself to us, and drawing us; no one would be saved. God’s sovereignty, and human responsibility are perfectly balanced in the word of God.

John MacArthur said, the great doctrine of election is always balanced by God’s universal call for sinners to repent and believe the gospel.

We rejoice because our identity, acceptance is in Christ revealing himself to us and saving us.

Reason #4 to rejoice:

4. You Have Opportunity in Christ.

V:23-“Blessed are the eyes…

The word blessed, is the word joyful, fortunate. Blessed, joyful are the people who have seen and heard, what you have seen and heard.

Jesus tells his disciples that the king’s and prophets of the Old Testament desired to see the things they had seen. How blessed they were to have been a part of the work of Jesus, the son of God. All through the Old Testament the prophets and kings had looked forward to the coming of the Messiah.

Imagine what Jeremiah would have given to see “the righteous branch raised from David”.

Think about what Isaiah would have given to see “the virgin bring forth a son”, the Messiah opened blinded eyes.

Or what Micah would have done to see the baby born in Bethlehem.

Or what Job would have given to see his redeemer standing on the earth.

What a blessing it was for these men; out of the millions and millions of people throughout history, these men were privileged to see the son of God up-close, to see His miracles with their own eyes, to hear his words with their own ears. These were the things the prophets and kings only dream about.

What joy, must’ve been in their hearts as they saw and heard the miracles in the words of the Lord Jesus, to witness his death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead! What joy they would experience on Easter morning!

This morning, we are so privileged!!

We have the completed word of God in our hands, and the power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We are a part of the church of the living Lord Jesus!

We have the gospel message, and the power of the Holy Spirit to deliver it.

We are blessed with tremendous opportunities to be a part of the continual work of Jesus Christ through His church today.

What tremendous opportunities we have to reach our city, state and country, and world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have more resources, manpower, ministries, than any previous generation. Yet if were not careful; we can become content, satisfied; and forfeit the opportunities we have to experience an even greater work of God!

The opportunities we have to serve Jesus, and share Jesus should cause us to have great joy and enthusiasm in our hearts! We must walk through open doors to serve Jesus with joy!

-“The joy of the Lord is my strength”.

-“Serve the Lord with gladness…

Satan knows that the joy of the Lord is your strength. He knows joy gives you Zeal, vitality, and strength; so he tries to rob you of the joy of the Lord. We must go forward serving Jesus, and sharing the gospel with joy and enthusiasm because of the opportunities we have in Christ!

You can live a life of joy because:

· You have victory in Christ. Through Christ power you can live in victory.

· You have security in Christ. Your name is written in heaven, and can never be erased.

· You have identity in Christ. Jesus has revealed himself to you, making you his own.

· You have opportunity in Christ. The Lord Jesus has given us the opportunity to be a part of his work in this world today; what a privilege, what a joy.

Have you experienced the joy of sins forgiven, of salvation through Jesus; of your name being written down in heaven?