"Now the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."
Good Morning my beloved,
We welcome you to worship today in the name of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I am grateful for each and every one of you, thank you for joining us today. Let our hearts be united in praise as we seek to immerse ourselves in His grace, love, and guidance throughout this time of worship together.
We welcome you to worship today in the name of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I am grateful for each and every one of you, thank you for joining us today. Let our hearts be united in praise as we seek to immerse ourselves in His grace, love, and guidance throughout this time of worship together.
It's one thing to know, God is your Father, but to truly know that He is not a distant or detached deity and that He is intimately and personally involved in every aspect of your life, understanding your needs is something else, it brings a much deeper dimension to your faith. If we are going to grow in spiritual maturity, if we’re going to be holy, set apart from sin for a divine purpose, then we must aggressively deal with sin in an absolutely critical matter. Our relationship with God requires much more than passive belief, it demands intentionality and active participation, with a willingness to let God transform you from the inside out. Jesus tells us in Mark 7:14-15, "Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man." And, in verses 18-23, we learn that the heart of the problem is the heart. "And He said to them, "Are you lacking understanding in this way as well? Do you not perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and goes to the sewer?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.) And He was saying, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man." Routinely, those of us who have been transformed, are no longer slaves of sin, but slaves of righteousness. Paul writes in Romans 6:15-23, "What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you go on presenting yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were given over, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, leading to further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then having from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit, leading to sanctification, and the end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Let's be honest, few topics elicit as much disdain and discomfort as the subject of slavery, whether we look at it through the lens of historical atrocities or present-day injustices, yet despite this aversion, Scripture frequently uses the vivid imagery of slavery to powerfully illustrate the profound lack of freedom that unrepentant sinners experience in their relationship with sin. That's because true bondage is not merely physical but deeply spiritual and emotional. Christ is emphasizing the uncomfortable truth that nobody wants to hear: you’re not wretched because of anything that has happened to you on the outside; you’re wretched because of what you already are on the inside. He's not talking about a physical organ, He's talking about your evil thoughts, misguided attitudes, selfish motives, and your wrongful desires. All of the things that proceed from within a man’s corrupt heart is what signifies his true defilement. It doesn't matter how much your clean the outside, your hearts are filthy.
We live in a culture of self love. We are literally consumed with self; self- love, self-care, self-esteem, self-importance, self-acceptance, self-awareness, self-worth. We are constantly being bombarded through advertising; magazines, television and radio commercials et cetera, to trigger an emotional response to prioritize feeling good about ourselves. We've come to the point that self has deeply ingrained in our attitudes, its reached unprecedented heights. We now imagine ourselves to be so important, so valuable, we think really achieved something noteworthy, so we’re worthy of recognition and honor. And, we have convinced ourselves that our opinions are so important that everybody must hear them, whether they want to or not. We even written numerous books dedicated to personal growth, self-confidence and self-empowerment. Everything is all about me, often at the expense of critical self-reflection, self-examination. That's why pride is a dominating sin. We've made "pride" a dominant virtue in our society. To make matters worse, this attitude has made its way into the church. We love the way we are so much that rather than seeking transformation, we seek self-gratification, self-glorification and self-elevation. Self-righteousness has made it's way to the list, we're already good enough to go to heaven. That's why the Gospel is such a hard sell in today's culture, people chafe at the concept of self-denial, self-sacrifice, self-hate, including many Christians. Only Christ can open our eyes to behold the filthiness which lies hidden within our flesh, that's why divine intervention is necessary for salvation. Like it or not, we have no ability to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. I love the psalmists prayer in Psalm 119:18, "Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law."
In spite of what modern evangelism tells us becoming a Christian is not easy believism and cheap grace, it demands a willingness to embrace suffering, persecution, and maybe even execution. Luke says proclaim repentance for forgiveness, and speak of the death and resurrection of Christ.
I can’t even begin to imagine such behavior as I see occurring in the church today occurring in heaven. Recognizing and overcoming internal bondage is crucial for genuine freedom and redemption. If you want to be saved, if you want your sins forgiven, if you want to enter the kingdom of God, you must be willing to walk away from everything that is a part of self. If you want to keep all that stuff, you can’t have God. In Matthew 16:24-25, Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." I believe one of the clearest elements of the invitation to salvation on the pages of Scripture is the issue of repentance.
The Scottish evangelical minister and author, Derek Prime. rightly said, "What could be worse for a church fellowship than to have someone attempting to be a shepherd and teacher without God’s call?" A pastor without God’s call might display the outward qualities which are expected of those in leadership roles within the church, but unless he has a pastors heart, there may not be the genuine concern for the congregation's spiritual well-being present that a called pastor should possess, which can lead to division within the fellowship. Authentic transformation is not merely about changed outward behaviors; it is about a significant change in your thoughts, actions, and the intentions of your heart. God's plan for leadership is someone who is committed to knowing you, feeding you, leading you, and protecting you. Unfortunately, a pastor without God’s call doesn’t have a full understanding of what the job of the pastor entails. If you're in any kind of ministry, or church leadership, you are obviously in a position of influence. Since that influence should be for good, the life of person in leadership is important. The integrity of your life should match what you preach and teach.
In Matthew 5:20, Jesus emphasizes "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." As you know, Jesus criticized the scribes and Pharisees, whose hearts far from God despite their outward displays of righteousness. Jesus is saying, in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, one's righteousness must go beyond mere outward appearances, it must be rooted in a heart transformed filled with love, mercy, and humility, which can only come from an authentic relationship with Jesus, Who is the source of true righteousness. The more you grow in spiritual maturity, the more you grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, the more Christ-like you will become, and the more concerned you are with doing the will of God. The one who loves the Lord his God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind, with all his strength, is less concerned with his own will, and is more consumed with God's will. In other words, your focus shifts significantly from personal desires to a genuine concern for fulfilling the will of God.
Let's pray
Heavenly Father,
Father, we thank You for Your Word. There are so many people who are disheartened, stunned and even shocked by the unfolding events they see going on in the church community, frankly, it is a pretty daunting, even frightening picture of what is to come. Yet, those of us who know and love You, we are constantly reminded of the power of Your Word and its ability to provide solace and direction in uncertain times. Lord, saturate our hearts with Your Truth—a Truth that not only provides comfort and strength but also meets our every need during these tumultuous times, reinforcing our faith in our Savior, in Whom we find our joy. Speak to our hearts, through Your Word let us boldly share it with others as we proclaim Your goodness and glory to those we encounter as we worship You Lord
fill our hearts, with an abundance of joy May we never attach our joy to the fleeting pleasures of this world that is perishing, but instead hold fast to the blessed assurance of Your promises, which are eternal and unchanging. We pray this in the precious Name of Christ, for Your glory.
Amen.
Today's Message: The Joyful Results of True Discipleship
I've come to realize that Satan rarely allows a moment of victory to remain without launching some form of counterattack and that much like a boxer who lowers his guard after delivering a strong punch that has staggered his opponent, which unfortunately can leave him more exposed to a swift counterblow; I have an inherent human tendency to relax my guard after experiencing a significant milestone major victory, which can leave me even more vulnerable to subsequent attacks. I've often referred to these moment when things are going well as "Mountain Top Moments." By being mindful of this pattern and staying alert, we can better prepare ourselves to navigate the inevitable counterattacks the adversary and his demonic cohorts, might deploy against us more effectively and the subsequent setbacks.
If you're anything like me, you cherish those precious moments when you feel especially close to God. We remember those times in our lives when God seemed especially real, when the barrier between ourselves and God seemed particularly thin, that we can almost reach out and touch Him. Today, we're going to explore a significant event in the Gospel of Luke, when the seventy disciples have returned to Jesus, excited about the authority they experienced over demons in His name. Jesus responds with both affirmation and a gentle correction of their perspective. It's crucial to remember Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 4:7, Paul wrote. "For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" A reminder that any authority we possess isn't our own but is granted to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.
I trust that all you have your Bible with you, if you will take them out and open them with me to the Gospel of Luke chapter 10, today we'll be looking at verses 17 through 20, the joys of true discipleship. Luke 10:17-20. I would like to encourage you to follow along with me as I read to set the text in our minds.
"Now the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."
Let's look at verse 17, "Now the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." This portion of Luke's Gospel is about joy, isn't that a remarkable theme? Joy is used over fifty times in the New Testament. Even the Old Testament prophets like Isaiah, Zephaniah and Zechariah envisioned a period of great end-time rejoicing. So, these seventy committed messengers went out, willingly forfeiting their comfort and abandoning their families and familiar surroundings, determined to proclaim the Good News of repentance for the forgiveness of sin and salvation, rescuing lost souls from Satan's grip as they traveled from town to town. They had spiritual success over the unconverted world who according to 1 John 5:19, lies in the power of the evil one. They returned filled with joy. They had no other power that could command demons, notice they said "in Your name." In Christ, Who is the source, we have everything we need. Although as believers, we may not possess the authority to expel demons, we do serve as the Lord's vessels through which Satan's stronghold on lost souls is shattered. I cannot imagine anything on this planet more significant liberating lost souls that are held captive by Satan and his demons from the kingdom of darkness. When we go out and proclaim the Gospel, it is a spiritual assault on the forces of hell. The power of God surges forth to illuminate those who are spiritually blind, breathing life into those who are spiritually dead, and we get the privilege to do it all through Christ, the One Who triumphed over death and hades for those who put their trust in Him as their Lord and Savior.
I believe the surest path to leadership failure is taking credit for achievements that aren’t yours. It's also the quickest way to lose your credibility. There are a number of people occupying positions of leadership today, in both the religious and secular arenas, who would greatly benefit from being able recognize and appreciate the achievements of others. I’ve witnessed a lot of people in ministry throughout my years, who desperately need to feel superior to those around them, some even have a tendency to take credit for things they didn't do or highly exaggerate everything they did accomplish. That's an expression of pride, God hates pride and arrogance. Give credit to those whom credit is due. I would even go a step further by suggesting that you shouldn't take the credit you do deserve, instead, unselfishly redirect the credit to others so that they feel like you are there to support and elevate them, setting an example that others can imitate. As Paul writes in 1 Timothy 4:12, "show yourself as a model to those who believe." That will edify the body of Christ.
When someone becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, part of the overwhelming reality is they experience a significant transformation in their life, a spiritual metamorphosis, that is marked by a series of internal changes that reflect the existence of the Lord Jesus Christ in their lives, a change that manifests externally, exhibited in their Christ-like behaviors and godly lifestyle that is increasingly aligned with teachings in the Word of God. For me, one of the first and most significant changes was this indescribable peace, it was not just the absence of conflict, but a new found peace anchored in Jesus Christ, a peace that surpasses human understanding, that enabled me to face life's most difficult moments with hope and contentment, with a sense of security. There is nothing more delightful than trusting in the divine providence of a Sovereign God, knowing you no longer have to be anxious about the outcomes. Joy, unlike happiness, is not merely a temporary emotion tied to one's present circumstances. Joy is a constant abiding sense of well-being that originates from the Spirit of God, which is a by-product of salvation. For example, someone might experience happiness when they receive a compliment or achieve a personal milestone which you really can’t plan and program; it may happen, it may not, but joy persists even during challenging times. And, just as Jesus experienced great joy in obeying his Father even in the midst of opposition, so too will we as Christians experience joy in our obedience.
In Psalm 16:11, widely regarded as one of David's most cherished compositions, he writes, "You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever." The "path of life" by which one walks, refers not just to a physical journey but to a course that leads to true spiritual fulfillment. The phrase "In Your right hand there are pleasures forever" implies an eternal satisfaction that surpasses fleeting worldly pleasures.
Verse 18, "And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning." Jesus is responding to the joyful report of the seventy who had just returned from proclaiming the Gospel and were literally amazed that even demons were subject to them when they invoked His name. This vivid imagery of Satan falling "like lightning" serves as a metaphor illustrating the suddenness of his downfall, as well as the swiftness, and powerful nature of Satan's defeat. Many scholars connect this verse to the fall of Lucifer, "the morning star" in Isaiah 14:12 and Satan being cast out of heaven in Revelation 12:7-9. The fact that Jesus witnessed this event affirms His pre-existence and divine authority. He's not just talking about a one time event, "I was watching" is the Greek verb "theóreó" in the imperfect tense. He's been continuously watching the fall of Satan over and over again. Everytime the Gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed, and a lost soul is rescued from the grip of Satan, the kingdom of darkness is being destroyed, one soul at a time. He's watching Satan's ultimate fall when he's finally cast into Hell for all eternity. In fact, judgment falls on all who refuse to give God glory, regardless of their profession. Stop and think about that for a moment.
Verse 19, "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you." Jesus is reassuring His disciples that it is a gift that He has granted them spiritual authority for the purpose of advancing God’s Kingdom and overcoming spiritual oppression, this authority is not self-derived. If you're preaching the Gospel, advancing God’s Kingdom, I can assure you that Satan knows who you are and you're on his radar. Serpents and scorpions are symbolic imagery for the dangerous spiritual forces and demonic powers in Satan's kingdom that are at work against believers who are on the front lines, spreading the teachings of Christ, to turn sinners toward God and away from the deceptive allure of sin. As followers of Christ, this is as true for us as it was for them, we are well equipped to confront and overcome evil forces, in fact, we have already triumphed over them, because Christ abides in us. "Nothing will injure you," assures us that we as faithful slaves of righteousness have divine protection as we carry out our mission for Christ to glorify God. In Psalm 27:1-2, David says. "Yahweh is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strong defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell." In Isaiah 41:10, the Lord says, "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will make you mighty, surely I will help you; Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’" And, in Psalm 34:19, we are reminded that 'Many are the evils against the righteous, But Yahweh delivers him out of them all." We are safest when we are in the center of God will, seeking and doing the will of God; however, that does not mean that we are somehow immune to suffering or danger. If God allows suffering, you can be assured there is a divine purpose for it, therefore, we can trust that He knows what's best for us, even when we don't understand.
That brings us to verse 20, "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven." I do not believe that Jesus is diminishing the importance of earthly accomplishments, but is encouraging us to shift our focus from the temporary to the eternal. Any success we might enjoy, whether personally or in ministry, pales in comparison to the significance of the eternal assurance that we as believers, whose names are recorded in heaven possess, which is our greatest source of joy. I am convinced this redirection is absolutely necessary because whatever earthly accomplishments we may acheive, no matter how significant they may seem at the time, are at best temporary and will eventually fade away.
Beloved, the joy of true discipleship isn't found in earthly accomplishments, but in our heavenly assurance. True discipleship requires sacrifice, and often includes giving up our time, our resources, or even our comfort for the sake of the Gospel. Consider the countless examples throughout Scripture of disciples who have left their homes, their families and their jobs to share the Gospel, even as they faced persecution, hardship, and even death for their faith. But they never wavered in their commitment to Christ. Still, they never wavered in their commitment to Christ, because they had tasted the joy of true discipleship. Today, the rewards for playing our small part in God's plan for the world far exceed any personal sacrifices we might make. As followers of Christ, we are part of a larger community of faith, called to love and encourage one another, support one another, as well as hold one another accountable for our conduct, so that we may too share in the joy of seeing lives transformed by the power of God.
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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