09/04/2022 - Take Time to Rejoice, Rightly!

Grace Place Atlanta COGBF 4700 Mitchell Street Forest Park, GA 30297 Website: atlantacogbf.org Email: info@atlantacogbf.org Phone: (404) 241-6781 Wayne D. Mack, Pastor / Pastor Wayne D. Mack Sermon Notes September 4, 2022 Take Time to Rejoice, Rightly! Luke 10:17-20 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Did you know that God has given his children something to rejoice about every single day of their lives? Those of you who are Born Again say: “Of course, Life, Health, and Strength; plus, His goodness, mercy, blessings, and grace . . . and much, much more. 1 But did you know there’s something even more intentional than those things Jesus spoke specifically about that He wants for His children to be reminded of and to be affirmed in our lives, that should cause us to rejoice every day of our lives. It is bigger, more significant than any miracle or desire we could ever wish for or experience. What is it? I’ll tell you after I share this story about my earthly daddy. When I was around 4 or 5 years old, seemingly every day me and my 5 or 6 siblings would see my dad to the door and off to work. But invariably, we would ask: Where you going Daddy? He would, without fail say: I’m going to build you a living room. That statement would cause us to rejoice like you wouldn’t know. [It didn’t take much to excite us back then]. We believed him . . . for a very long time. Sometimes we would be riding along with my dad and I remember asking over and over again as we passed big buildings or nice houses . . . is that our living room? My dad would respond, “Nope, I’m still building it.” And though we would fold into disappointment, the thought of him still building gave us hope and encouragement that it was still being built and yet to come. So in that WE Rejoiced beyond measure. As we grew older, me and my siblings came to realize what my Dad meant by “going to build you a living room”. He meant “I’m going to work so that I can provide for my family”. Today, I still rejoice as I 2 reflect on the spirit in which my Dad lit our flame of excitement and rejoicing. Very similarly, but on a much higher spiritual plain, Jesus reminded His followers that above every circumstance – even the very, very best – and the very, very super, super spiritual and super, super supernatural – from the least of us to the greatest – He has given us something to REJOICE about that is beyond this life and even death. Turn with me to Luke, Chapter 10 verses 17-20 . . . 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” This passage is the regathering of the 70 followers of Jesus that He sent out in the beginning of Luke Chapter 10: 1-16. He commissioned the 70 to go two by two into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. This mission was seemingly to prepare the way for the Lord in His final journey to Jerusalem leading up to His crucifixion. 3 As they returned from their mission, the 70 were elated that even the demons had been subject to them. What is not recorded is how long the mission lasted. It may have been several weeks, but as they all staggered back, this dialogue we are witnessing here appears to have occurred as they all reassembled. As Jesus listened to each pair rejoice over their powerful and miraculous encounters, He detected a boatload of misdirected pride and priorities. But you can’t blame them . . . I too would have been excited – especially to see Satan and his imps submit to the power of God. Listen again to what Luke said happened upon the great return . . . 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” In this context, it appears that Jesus’ meaning was: “Don’t get to overly happy or don’t be surprised that the demons are subject to you. I saw their commander cast out of heaven [even as you all were dealing with his imps] – so it’s no wonder if his minions are cast out on earth. After all, I am the source of the authority that makes them subject to you”. Another group of theologians Jamison, Fausset, and Brown said it like this: 4 “ I [Jesus] followed you on your mission and watched its triumphs; while you were wondering at the subjection to you of demons in My Name, a grander spectacle was opening to My view; sudden as the darting of lightening from heaven to earth, lo! Satan was beheld falling from heaven.” Both these renditions speak of Satan in the moment, but ultimately in the future when he is cast out of heaven for good by the Arch Angel Michael (Rev. 12:7-9). Jesus goes on to say in verse 19 . . . 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Jesus here reminds the disciples of the authority He has given them against the forces of evil. They had been granted immunity from harm during their mission. It is true that all God’s children … we are protected by God’s hand. Yet, Jesus calls them down. He tells them their rejoicing is in the wrong thing and is misdirected. He tells them in verse 20 . . . 5 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Do not rejoice in this . . . Rather than being so enthralled with extraordinary manifestations such as power over demons and the ability to work miracles, they should have realized that the greatest wonder of all is the reality of salvation [the key to getting your name written in heaven] – the whole point of the gospel message and the central issue to which all the miracles pointed. Don’t rejoice in your power over spirits, but rather in your own salvation – which is the key to getting your names written in heaven. This is a clear message to the church that is celebrating and engaged in a lot of things. But most profoundly this is a riveting reminder to believers one by one to sober up and affirm what real rejoicing is all about and where it comes from. God has fixed something [a phenomena] in our lives that gives us the right and privilege to be in a state of rejoicing every day of our lives. Every now and again, Believers have to be reminded that every day we have something to rejoice about. 6 When life seems against us and all the chips have fallen, Jesus reminds us – as if to give us a command – to forever keep a read on the fact that He has given us something to rejoice in and over that transcends everything that life – both natural and spiritual - would test us on and even cause us to feel less than about, or even more prideful than we ought. But Jesus here is giving us a sober pill that rightly sobers us up to what life and death are all about. There is nothing in life that can consistently bring and sustain rejoicing and trump our troubles more personally than the fact that my name and your name is written in heaven. Finally, here’s the beauty of it all. That our names are written in heaven, consider these benefits and advantages: • Permanent Rejoicing vs. Temporary Rejoicing (Demons, Spirits, Death, Serpents -- all short-lived rejoicing) Names written in heaven makes it possible to Rejoice Every Day Despite Daily Trials or Triumphs – Romans 8:18 • Fixed for Eternity - 1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. • Secure in Christ in God – Col. 3 • If Names Written, then God is for you – Phil. 4:2,3; Heb 12:23 ; Rev. 21:27 • Reserved Inheritance - 1 Peter 1: 3,4 • Eternally Secure - Hebrews 5:9 • When All Else Fails, Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 7 Names written in heaven references: Philippians 4: 2 & 3 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3]And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. 2 Hebrews 12:23 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the [j]general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. 22 8 Revelation 21:27 But there shall by no means enter it anything [q]that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. 27 End Luke 10 New King James Version The Seventy Sent Out 1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go 9 from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless, know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ 12 But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city. Woe to the Impenitent Cities 13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. 16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.” The Seventy Return with Joy 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 10 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Jesus Rejoices in the Spirit 21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 22 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” 23 Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; 24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.” Amplified Bible Luke 10:20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” 17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like [a flash of] lightning. 19 Listen carefully: I have given 11 you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.” 12