Endless Celebration

Endless Celebration Endless Celebration Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Joy; Worship; Praise; Revelation; Gospel; Privilege / Luke 10:17-24 In crossfit in order to maintain progress you need to identify achievements and celebrate them, personal records. For example you can fit into smaller clothes, you can lift more, do more, do it faster etc. -- each of these must be celebrated as a victory. Luke focuses in on the return of the 72 to show us that those who desire to be crossfit in Christ must also celebrate and the celebration is endless. Introduction 1. In Cross Fitness in order to keep progressing forward and keep from quitting or falling off the wagon you must learn to celebrate victories a. It can take a while before results are visible to ourselves i. It can get to be monotonous while we wait to see what changes we want to see 1. Day after day of killing it at the gym - we look in the mirror everyday - maybe twice - longing to see a sign that we are making progress 2. Perhaps the daily mirror checking actually adds to the problem? ii. It takes us longer to see results than it does for others to see - why because we see ourselves everyday 1. This can be discouraging 2. During this time - we must learn to find celebration to keep us motivated a. Celebrate healthy choices b. Celebrate healthy habits c. Celebrate any received compliments - without dismissing them b. We can plateau in or our progress and get discouraged that this is where we will stay i. When we learn to celebrate the victories - fitting into smaller clothes, increasing strength or max weight, decreasing time to complete etc - ii. we keep motivated and excited to keep working until we break through the plateau It has been said that in fitness when you stop celebrating - you stop progressing 2. In our passage of scripture we are studying today Luke focuses in on the return of the 72 ambassadors a. They are returning with a feeling of accomplishment - at what has happened - there is a sense of excitement joy and wonder i. What I want us to see - because I believe the Lord is ultimately saying this morning - is we need to learn to have Endless Celebration as a Christian ii. Those who desire and want to be crossfit in Christ must learn to celebrate - and the celebration is endless. b. The Christian life is a life of celebration - exuberant joy and excitement that deserves to be celebrated and must be celebrated. › SLIDE Philippians 4:4 CSB 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! › SLIDE 1 Thessalonians 5:16 CSB 16 Rejoice always, › SLIDE James 1:2 CSB 2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, i. We are called to rejoice always - constantly rejoice - we should always have praise and worship on our lips in the Christian life - no matter what we are going through - but how do we do this? ii. How is this possible - how can we have Endless Celebration in a broken and fallen world that only promises pain and suffering? 1. I believe Jesus shows His disciples three things to celebrate throughout the Christian life as we seek to be CrossFit for Him - that we can always celebrate to continue the progress and the break the plateaus of growth and improvement Just as in cross fitness if you stop celebrating you stop progressing so too and maybe even more so in Spiritual CrossFitness Celebrate "THE" Victory › SLIDE Luke 10:17-18 CSB 17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." 18 He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning. › SLIDE Luke 10:19-20 CSB 19 Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing at all will harm you. 20 However, don't rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 1. The Victory is greater than your victory a. In verse 17 the seventy-two return full of joy - why because they experienced victory in ministry i. Language here denotes that this joy was not a containable or a contained joy - it was an overflowing joy - it could not be contained. It was present on their faces and expressed in their voices and through their words ii. Though everything about their sending pointed to them being eager to be back and glad to be done with that - they instead were excited and almost ready to do it again 1. Reminds me of camping - not glamping but actual camping - you know roughing it a. We think we will miserable without comforts and conveniences when we go into the wilderness and the first day is shedding our attachment to those comforts b. The next day is better and less attached and more in-tuned to enjoying simplicity c. The longer you stay the less you are in a rush to get back - the first day you might be thinking you made a mistake but by the 3rd day you are like lets live here forever 2. The returning ambassadors were returning not bummed, not deterred or upset or feeling like it was a waste of their time - they were full of joy iii. They had experienced success and victory within ministry 1. The power they wielded was far an above what they expected - even the demons submitted to them in His name b. In verse 20 Jesus tells them to celebrate in the correct victory i. The victory to celebrate isnt success in ministry - this victory to celebrate is the cross 1. It is easy to celebrate the success of ministry and to begin to look around want to celebrate what we have done or are doing - even if we are doing it ultimately for God a. It is not wrong to celebrate success of service but Jesus wants us to know we have a greater celebration b. This celebration will always outlast success of service 2. Jesus tells His disciples that salvation is a greater celebration a. Celebrate that you are forgiven b. Celebrate that your names are written in the Lamb's book of life c. Celebrate that because your names are written you do not face judgment d. Celebrate that you are a child of God › SLIDE Endless celebration is found in your name being written in heaven ii. Success of service unlike salvation is not permanent and could also be a source of pride 1. When we instead celebrate salvation we rejoice in the work of God and not our own works 2. We are reminded of the immense debt Jesus paid on our behalf › SLIDE Celebrate His work of salvation over our work of service and you remain Christ centered in all things and able to celebrate endlessly 2. The Victory is your protection a. Authority over the demons - came from the victory of Jesus at the cross i. Jesus broke Satan's power at the cross - but the realization Jesus authority was seen before that time 1. The disciples returned from their ministry and Jesus hears their victory and He tells them He saw Satan fall 2. Not because they (or we defeated Satan), but because He defeated Satan a. The Bible mentions four falls of Satan i. Glorified to profane › SLIDE Ezekiel 28:14-15 CSB 14 You were an anointed guardian cherub, for I had appointed you. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the fiery stones. 15 From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways until wickedness was found in you. › SLIDE Ezekiel 28:16 CSB 16 Through the abundance of your trade, you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I expelled you in disgrace from the mountain of God, and banished you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. ii. From Heaven to earth › SLIDE Job 1:12 CSB 12 "Very well," the LORD told Satan, "everything he owns is in your power. However, do not lay a hand on Job himself." So Satan left the LORD's presence. › SLIDE 1 Kings 22:21 CSB 21 "Then a spirit came forward, stood in the LORD's presence, and said, 'I will entice him.' › SLIDE Zechariah 3:1 CSB 1 Then he showed me the high priest Joshua standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. › SLIDE Revelation 12:9 CSB 9 So the great dragon was thrown out-the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him. iii. Earth to the bottomless pit › SLIDE Revelation 20:1-2 CSB 1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven holding the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. › SLIDE Revelation 20:3 CSB 3 He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time. iv. From bottomless pit into the lake of fire › SLIDE Revelation 20:10 CSB 10 The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. b. Satan is a defeated foe and will never rise again - only will he fall further and further ii. The success of the disciples against the demonic spirits is confirmation Satan has fallen from his place of authority and power b. Jesus says nothing at all will harm you i. You have authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy 1. That which would bite and sting us has been rendered ineffective and harmless to us 2. The enemy has been rendered powerless against us a. The victory of Jesus has anesthetized the venom of the enemy ii. Does this mean bad things wont happen to us - will we still experience trials and troubles and tribulations? Yes - absolutely without a doubt you will - but with the victory of Jesus at the cross this has been neutered 1. It is not the bite of the snake or the sting of the scorpion that causes the most harm - it is the venom that is injected 2. Nothing that the enemy does to us is able to harm us permanently - no trial, trouble, calamity or otherwise - it is all rendered ineffective by the victory of the cross of Jesus when He purchased our salvation › SLIDE When we celebrate THE victory of the cross we are able to rejoice in every situation and every high and low we experience in all that we do as we serve the Lord 1. Celebrate - if you get the promotion or not, receive good news or bad news, experience success or failure 2. Jesus still died on the cross for our sins and we are forgiven and destined to be with Him for eternity › SLIDE Celebrate Knowing › SLIDE Luke 10:21 CSB 21 At that time he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this was your good pleasure. › SLIDE Luke 10:22 CSB 22 All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him." 1. Knowing God because the Father reveals Himself a. Hidden from the wise and intelligent but revealed to infants i. Revealed - in the greek is apokalypto - it is where we get the word Apocalypse from 1. Apocalypse is associated for the end of the world because of the book of Revelation or Apocalypse 2. Revelation isnt the book of the end of the world - the book reveals what its about in the first 5 words › SLIDE "The revelation of Jesus Christ" a. This revelation or revealing from God is of Jesus Christ - God was revealing Jesus Christ and His Gospel ii. Jesus and the Gospel were hidden from the wise and intelligent › SLIDE Celebrate because knowledge of Jesus Christ is independent of intellect! 1. If you had something worthy to be known - it would be known by the best and the brightest right? We look to the intellectuals for wisdom and virtue 2. What we think would be a prerequisite is actually more of a hindrance › SLIDE 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 CSB 18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent. › SLIDE 1 Corinthians 1:26-27 CSB 26 Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. › SLIDE 1 Corinthians 1:28-29 CSB 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world-what is viewed as nothing-to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one may boast in his presence. b. Jesus celebrates that God desires to be known and so should we i. God desires to be known not because we are worthy intellectually or in wisdom but merely because of His good pleasure 1. God not only wants and desires to be known and reveal Himself - its His good pleasure › SLIDE Celebrate that God desires to make Himself known and thus He can be known! 2. Knowing God because Jesus reveals Him a. No one knows the Son except the Father and the Father except the Son i. Only the Son knows the Father - look what He says - AND ANYONE to whom the Son DESIRES to reveal Him ii. Jesus reveals the Father to whom He desires › SLIDE Celebrate Jesus reveals God more clearly Dont wait to see God more clearly to celebrate but celebrate now that God can be seen and known more clearly - as you celebrate you can know God more and more as He is made known and revealed › SLIDE We celebrate our way to knowing God intimately - as we worship and praise Him b. Knowing God reveals Himself and its His desire to do so and often times He does so in the worst circumstances and situations i. Through some of our most painful moments in this life God reveals Himself to us 1. It is how He is able to redeem those circumstances and situations › SLIDE Celebrate that knowing God reveals Himself in pain and sorrow, redeems our pain and sorrow › SLIDE Isaiah 63:3 About the Messiah Christian Standard Bible Chapter 61 to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. › SLIDE Celebrate Seeing › SLIDE Luke 10:23-24 CSB 23 Then turning to his disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see the things you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things you see but didn't see them; to hear the things you hear but didn't hear them." 1. Privilege of seeing what kings and prophets only wished a. This is a further evidence of the truth Jesus revealed when He said the least in the kingdom is greater i. The prophets though used mightily by God - did not see the coming of kingdom of God in their day ii. The kings though powerful in their reign and rule - did not see the reign and rule of the coming King › SLIDE 1 Peter 1:6-7 CSB 6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith-more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire-may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. › SLIDE 1 Peter 1:8-9 CSB 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. › SLIDE 1 Peter 1:10-11 CSB 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. 11 They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. › SLIDE 1 Peter 1:12 CSB 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven-angels long to catch a glimpse of these things. b. It should always shock and humble us to know that we as New Testament believers know more of the eternal purposes and plans of God than any Old Testament person i. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Isaiah - etc › SLIDE John 15:15 CSB 15 I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn't know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. › SLIDE Celebrate for you see things others only hoped and wished to see ii. Dont become dissatisfied because it is normal for you to see the things you do - others wished they could see these things. 1. Ask yourself instead what are we doing with the knowledge and sight that we have been given? › SLIDE - luke 12:48b Christian Standard Bible Chapter 12 From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected. 2. The greater the light to see - the greater the responsibility 2. Seeing things that can only be described as worthy to celebrate a. Jesus says blessed are the eyes that see these things - it is enriching and satisfying to see these things i. Seeing these things should cause us to celebrate with abandaon › SLIDE 2 Samuel 6:14-16 CSB 14 David was dancing with all his might before the LORD wearing a linen ephod. 15 He and the whole house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of the ram's horn. 16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the city of David, Saul's daughter Michal looked down from the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart. › SLIDE 2 Samuel 6:20 CSB 20 When David returned home to bless his household, Saul's daughter Michal came out to meet him. "How the king of Israel honored himself today!" she said. "He exposed himself today in the sight of the slave girls of his subjects like a vulgar person would expose himself." › SLIDE - David's response 2 Samuel 6:21-22 CSB 21 David replied to Michal, "It was before the LORD who chose me over your father and his whole family to appoint me ruler over the LORD's people Israel. I will dance before the LORD, 22 and I will dishonor myself and humble myself even more. However, by the slave girls you spoke about, I will be honored." › SLIDE Celebrate without reserve for who God is and the things we see, because of what He has done David's wife didnt celebrate - in fact she resented David's choice and display of celebration before the Lord When you consider the things the Lord has done and the things you see - celebrate the Lord - dont be so dignified that Jesus is not glorified Dont be preoccupied with what others may say as you celebrate - you celebrate for seeing things others only dreamed Conclusion The disciple who stops celebrating is the disciple who stops progressing - we must be looking for ways to celebrate all that God has done for us - we are great at celebrating what we have done for God - but what God has done for us is greater and worth celebrating We celebrate a lot of things - and we do it with all abandon about how silly we look - we scream at the TV or those on the field - hooping and hollering for every point scored - when your team is terrible you celebrate every inch they get - first downs, touchdowns - this is one area we celebrate there are others I ask you to consider what do you get excited for - perhaps you are here this morning and you feel stuck in CrossFitness - what do you get excited for? Are you excited for the Lord and the fact that your name is written in heaven? Do you get excited and celebrate that though God has hidden himself from the intellectuals and wise but revealed Himself to babes - do you celebrate that you know Him and He reveals Himself? Ask God to reveal to you - what do you cheer for - because when you cheer and celebrate God - you never run out of celebration Maybe you are here this morning and you celebrate like crazy everyday for being saved and who God is and the things He has done - keep going - keep celebrating - you arent what you were but not yet what God wants you to be, not what you are supposed to be - Keep moving, keep growing, keep progressing by continuing to celebrate. For those who dont know God and you name is not written in heaven - make today your first day to celebrate - God is revealed by Jesus and He is revealing the Father to you now this morning - you wont see more of the Father until you can celebrate that your name is written in heaven The command to CELEBRATE that your name is written in heaven is to imply permanent status as citizens of heaven - the same place from where Satan has fallen - Oh how we should Endlessly Celebrate! Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 3:43 PM July 11, 2020.