God with us in eternity

Think of all the places your name is written down.

Illustration:

Nortec

Craig was here

Where are all the places your name is written down? My grade five teacher had a black book. If your name was written in that book three times something would happen. I had my name written in it once and never again.

In some places look passports, our name has significance, it recognizes us as citizens of Canada. When we put our name on a test it recognizes that we are the ones who answered those questions (this can be a great source of embarrassment sometimes). When it is on an agreement for employment we are recognized as employees of a company. When it is on an award, it is because we were seen as having done something well.

We like having our names attached to good things, especially if we are the ones who did the good thing and are recognized for it. We especially love it when our name carries weight and allows us to accomplish things.

As we enter this year most of us give some thought to what we would like our name to stand for. Maybe not in those words, but we have ideas and dreams we would like to see happen. Most of us want to do better or be better in this coming year.

Don’t answer this question yet? If you do and your wrong it will feel like a bait and switch at the end of the sermon.

Now you are thinking the church answer. “Jesus?”

When Jesus was in his public ministry he had a number of followers. There were the twelve disciples, but there was also a larger group that had a significant role in working with Jesus.

At one point Jesus sent out the twelve to go into the villages he planned to visit to get folks ready for him. He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick (). He only gave them a few instructions probably because they had been with him from the beginning. He said to the twelve:

Luke 9:3–6 NIV

3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

Luke 9:3-

A little later he sent our seventy two of his followers with the same message and a little more instructions. And there are some principles for us in this passage to help frame our new year.

Luke 10:1–4 NIV

1 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. 2 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. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

Right off the bat, Jesus cuts the potential of his work force in half. Wouldn’t it have made more sense to sen the out as individuals? Not very efficient by our standards.

But when you think of how people recognize Christians for who they are what are some things Jesus said,

John 13:35 NIV

35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

When Jesus was praying for his disciples he recognized the unity he had with his Father and that they shared with him and he wanted them to share that unity with each other.

John 17:21–23 NIV

21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

John 17:23 NIV

23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

John 17:22–23 NIV

22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

John 17:23 NIV

23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

John 17:

The world watches us. How we relate to each other and often makes a decision on how we treat those we are supposed to love the most.

Then he lays a heavy on them. The harvest is huge but their aren't that many of you, so pray that God would raise up more workers for the harvest. The point Jesus is making to his disciples is that their are more receptive hearts out there than you think. Keep your eyes open. Pray for more people to join you in this.

the harvest is way bigger than you. Now Go! You are a lamb and their are wolves out there. Don’t be prepared for them. Don’t take a purse, what they held their money in, don’t take a travel bag or day pack, you don’t need your dress sandals along, and don’t greet anyone on the road. Don’t talk to strangers.

That one is a little weird. To understand it we have to understand some of the greeting patterns in the ancient middle east. They could take hours sometimes. You would inquire of the person, of the persons family individuals, what they were up to, you would sit down and share some food, it was what we would call small talk but protracted over hours. Can you imagine? It created a very hospitable society, with very little actually getting talked about. Jesus was telling them don’t put your time into that on this trip. Put your time into what I’m sending you for.

But

Head on out together. But don’t take anything with you. This was an exercise for them to trust God to provide what they needed. He wanted them to stay attached to him and the Father. And can we apply this to now? By asking this question:

(1-4)

Luke 10:1–4 NIV

1 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. 2 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. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

We don’t know what this year will hold, we don’t know what the next hour holds. What we can be sure of is the faithfulness of God towards us, we can be sure of the love God has for us, We can be sure of God’s word for us.

the struggle is I can get so obsessed with life that it gets in the way of me knowing and serving Jesus.

Obsessed with life that it gets in way of serving Christ

Matthew 6:33 NIV

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Greet no one on the road: Not license for rudeness

Elaborate greetings where you sit down and have a meal

My Grandpa before he died was always on about redeeming the time. he wasn’t talking about doing great things he was talking about following Jesus and telling others about him.

Don’t waste your time

Ephesians 5:14–17 NIV

14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

What step can i take in this? Start a Bible reading plan. Their is something called the Bible App by life church. (Screenshot). It is available for computer, tablets and phones. Over this past year I have been using it to listen through the Bible. it has been an amazing rich experience.

To say I will be attached to God without being in his word is an oxymoron. It can’t happen. Because his word shapes how we see him, his plan, his world, and ourselves.

And I recommend not doing the plans with devotionals attached, just do a reading plan where you work through a section of Scripture. You can listen through the whole Bible in around 20 minutes a day.

Maybe you another step this year that God is working with you in, that is fine. If you don’t have anything start with Scripture.

So Jesus is saying trust me, stay attached to me.

Then Jesus gets into some specifics for when these disciples would enter a town.

Luke 10:5–7 NIV

5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

Luke 10:5-

Jesus understood the culture he grew up in. He spent 30 years in it before he even started his ministry, observing, learning, growing. He also wasn’t a lone ranger. He understood the need to do things together. And he understood the fears, and uncertainties of the people he interacted with. His was a message of peace and he wanted his disciples to bring God’s peace with them. the idea here is the Old Testament word Shalom. I won’t go into it in great depth because it means so much more than just peace. It is a harmony in relationship between people and between God. He was saying bring my peace with you and find someone who also promotes peace.

Luke 10:8–11 NIV

8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’

Luke 10:8-

This is literally a man or woman of peace. In each of our lives we have folks who haven’t responded to Jesus, but they also aren’t opposed to Jesus. Their spiritually receptive and are seen is people of peace in there circle of influence. The Samaritan woman in John chapter 4 was that person of peace who introduced her whole village to Jesus, in there was the demoniac who after he was rescued by Jesus introduced his region to Jesus. We have these people in our lives who are part of that harvest Jesus talks about.

Luke 10:13–16 NIV

13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. 16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Another question for us today:

Luke 10:13-

There are so many memes being published about the potential of World War 3 after the US bombing of the Iranian General. It creates chaos thinking and fear. But people who bring peace are attractive. They are safe places for others. So think about your own life. This year, how can you be a person of peace in your home, with your roommates, your coworkers. It is people of peace who gain the right to be heard the right way. This doesn’t mean, no conflict but it does mean working toward harmony and reconciliation in relationships.

Luke 10:8–12 NIV

8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

Luke 10:8-

So these were Jewish people Jesus was sending out. And in that time there was a very blended population of Jews and non-Jews. The Jews had special dietary laws they followed so the potential was there for his disciples to end up in a home that did not share those same laws.

It reminds me of my aunt who would always say to me, “You will eat it and you will like it.” He was saying don’t offend someone by not eating what they have paid for.

(Choir tour)

But what if they weren’t welcomed or their message was rejected. Jesus said, move on.

When we encounter unperceptive people we should move on. The message of Jesus is very polarizing. We want people to know Christ so bad that we push them in the opposite direction.

When we encounter unperceptive people we should move on. The message of Jesus is very polarizing.

They become more hardened.

One thing we need to understand. And it is the motive behind everything we do as a church. “God changes lives.”

Who knows.

They might be responsive later. What do I do in the meantime, love them, pray for them.

(Illustration: Friend who isn’t receptive)

You and I are not responsible for making them come to Jesus. We are responsible to share the simple hope we have in Jesus.

For those who ultimately reject the message of Jesus, which is called the good news?

Luke 10:13–16 NIV

13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. 16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Tyre and Sidon were known for their corruptness

Luke 10:

Tyre and Sidon were known for their corruptness

Sidon was where Jezebel came from. she was a particularily wicked queen. killed all the prophets of God in her region. Brought in worship of Baal into Jerusalem.

Hearing the truth of Christ is a privilege. And when we hear something that calls for a response we don’t have the option to remain neutral. To cover all our bases. Especially so with Jesus. There is a lot at stake here.

Hell or heaven.

When talking about correcting behavior in others with wisdom Jesus said,

Matthew 7:6 NIV

6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Basically after you have shared me with people do not keep forcing it on them. It is wasted.

And then he gives this very freeing statement.

Luke 10:17–20 NIV

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.”

Luke 10:16 NIV

16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Luke 10:17-20

Luke 10:

When I follow Jesus and have an opportunity to share my story with someone. If they reject it, it isn’t me they are rejecting, it is Christ. It helps remove me taking things so personally. I’m just being faithful to what God has called me to share in that moment.

Lets revist the quesions:

How will i stay attached to god his year?

How will I bring peace into my relationships this year?

and finally.

So after Jesus sent them out to go and try what they had been learning from hi they came back for a debrief.

Luke 10:17-

Luke 10:17–20 NIV

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.”

Jesus said come back and debrief

EVEN THE DEMONS SUBMIT TO US…in your name.

Alright, next? What else can I do, call down fire from heaven and suck up all the Romans?

verse18: Metaphor. As they were setting people free, Jesus saw Satan's grip loosened. Seeing ahead to when Satan would be completely removed from any influence on God’s creation. IN a letter written by another of Jesus followers, John this is the vision John was given.

Revelation 20:10 NIV

10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Revelation 20:

Metaphorical language: Snakes and scorpions are a way of picturing those who reject Christ and his message. I’ve heard of believers messing with real snakes and scorpions and it not ending well. Snakes were a direct reference to the religious leaders in

Matthew 23:33 NIV

33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?

and scorpions are those who live in rebellion against God. Ezekiel a prophet in the Old Testament: God referring to Ezekiel as son of man said,

Ezekiel 2:6–8 NIV

6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. 8 But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”

When he sends us out he is giving us his protection. We are never alone.

When he ends us out he is giving us his protection

Then Jesus gives them this reminder. All that stuff you did in my name. Remember that it was my name. You didn’t cast out the demons, I did, you didn’t heal the sick, I did, the message you are sharing? the message i received from the Father and passed on to you.

So don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, rejoice that your names are written in heaven

Rejoice: Present Tense ongoing action

Make it a habit to rejoice that you name is written in heaven

Continually derive your joy from.

Ancient custom: If you went to a Greek city, at the archives of the city if you wanted to figure out who the citizens where. There would be a book there with the names of the people who had true rights in that city. Mostly the rich.

Back to the question at the beginning

What will my name stand for this year?

Being Canadian? People like Canadians.

Being Canadian

My academics? Being smart gets me things.

Getting more things? You know, the more things I have the more opportunity I have for worry.

Maybe for my career.

You might be thinking, but Craig none of these things are wrong. Shouldn’t I want to to excel in things? Shouldn’t I strive to be the best?

I’m not going to answer that because I wonder if it is the wrong question.

How will I forge my identity? that is a question i want to keep exploring.

My first district running race:

Academics

Jesus is the great equalizer

career

stuff

Because or the way the world works we let it influence our thinking about Jesus.

never ending thing

Jesus is the great equalizer

Derive identity in the things that we do for Christ.

Deficit thinking

Bill Lawrence:

Insecure: try to forge identity from their ministry success. Not celebrity, but they are noticed

Competitively Driven: This is something that we do in God’s name but apart from God’s resources.

Determine the value of relationships in how they contribute to ministry success: Wake of broken relationships behind them.

Measure value by achievements rather than character:

I’m 49. The tempting question is what have I done for God’s kingdom?

What I should be asking is, am I more loving than I was 10 years ago, am I more trustworthy, am I more faithful, am I more like Jesus. even those questions can lead down the wrong road to performance.

Deficit thinkers

Each day starts off with a zero balance: build up achievements to make us feel something.

Deficit thinkers live with a constant fear of failure and motivation is fear based.

What about us?

What are you trying to forge?

Relationship/school/never really tried to serve christ/

If you struggle with this that is good. It means your on the right track.

The challenge for us is to rejoice that our names are witten in heaven. Jesus is the great equalizer. whether you think you have something to offer or not doesn’t matter. As we age or experience traumatic life events it robs us of our ability to do. What it should never do is rob us of our value to Jesus. All he is going to look at in the end is one thing.

in Revelation John had another vision:

Revelation 20:11–15 NIV

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:11-

Let that set the tone and direction for your year. Rejoice that if you follow Jesus, your name is written in a place that it will never be erased from.

Base identity exclusivly on what God says about you.

Be honest

express gratitude

The words of Him who is faithful and true: Surely, I am coming soon! The end of this age is drawing near, and we live as a people of hope. We await the appearing of Christ the King, who comes to bring justice to the earth.

All around we see the work of the Enemy: war and destruction, famine and death, increasing more and more as the Day approaches. We rejoice that the Enemy has been conquered, and that Christ will reign forever and ever.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. Christ has broken the power of death, and therefore we will not fear. We long for the day when we will take off these mortal rags, and put on the glorious robe of immortality, that we might be with the Lord forever.

When Christ returns, the dead shall be raised, and the living shall be transformed. The righteous shall awaken to eternal life, the wicked, to judgment and death.

On the day of resurrection, we shall all stand before the judgment throne of God. We yearn to hear the great words of welcome: “Well done, O good and faithful servant. Enter into your Master’s delight!”

But yet, Lord, over the many centuries, Your children have waited and watched, prayed and hoped. In our spirits we ask, How long, O Lord? When will be the day of Your appearing?

It is not for us to know the times or seasons. The form of this world is already fading away, and the Lord is not slow about His promise. God is patient, not wanting any to perish, but wanting all to receive eternal life. Therefore we will watch and pray, according to His promise, waiting for the new heavens and the new earth, where righteousness is at home. We will gather in worship around God’s throne, and praise and adore the God of our salvation, for ever and ever. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

God with us in eternity

God with us in eternity

What will your name stand for this year?

How will I build on my attachment to God?

How will I bring God’s peace into my relationships?

What will I have joy in this year?

Christ’s Final Triumph