WEBVTT 00:00:00.479 --> 00:00:04.959 As Christians, we have many reasons to rejoice. 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:07.599 We rejoice when prayers are answered. 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:10.320 We rejoice when relationships are restored. 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:13.279 When someone comes to faith, there's definitely rejoicing. 00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:17.039 And when we see God work in powerful ways, we want to rejoice. 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:21.199 These are good and God-given reasons to rejoice. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:31.120 Well, in our passage this morning in Luke chapter 10, the 72 disciples return from their ministry work, from their missionary work, filled with excitement. 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:35.679 They have witnessed, they have just witnessed the power of God over the forces of darkness. 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:41.280 And they come back with joy and can't wait to tell Jesus about everything that they had saw. 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:45.759 But while Jesus does not rebuke their joy, he does redirect it. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:50.079 He teaches them that there is a greater joy than being used by God. 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:58.159 The greatest joy of all is not just being able to see the kingdom, but it is belonging to the kingdom. 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:03.840 It is knowing that they belong to God and that their names are written in heaven. 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:11.599 This passage reminds us that while we should rejoice in the work of Christ, we should find our greatest joy in the salvation of Christ. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:19.920 So I titled this sermon, A Lesser and Greater Joy, as we see two reasons for rejoicing in our passage. 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:23.359 However, as we will know, one reason is greater than the other. 00:01:23.599 --> 00:01:27.680 I only have two points for you this morning as we look at these lesser and greater joys. 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:40.879 First, we will look at the joy of seeing the kingdom, and then we will look at the greater joy of being in the kingdom, the joy of seeing the kingdom, and the joy of being in the kingdom. 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:43.359 So let's look at that first point. 00:01:43.519 --> 00:01:45.200 The joy of seeing the kingdom. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:47.920 Let me read again in verse 17. 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:53.359 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name. 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:56.879 And he said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 00:01:57.120 --> 00:02:05.200 Behold, I've given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:07.359 So again, we've been looking at this, right? 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:13.840 The seventy-two were given a mission to go out into the surrounding town and villages and proclaim the gospel of the kingdom. 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:21.360 So after their short-term missionary trip of spreading the gospel of the kingdom, Luke tells us that they returned to Jesus with joy. 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:27.919 Because though some rejected them, others received them, others welcomed them into their homes. 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:32.319 And they were firsthand witnesses to the power of the kingdom. 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:36.719 They said, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name. 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:46.080 Now they had seen Jesus exercise his power over the demons, but now they themselves were exercising power in the name of Jesus. 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:50.479 And then Jesus begins giving them insight into what's happening. 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:55.919 As he says, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:59.520 Now here's the question: When did this happen? 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:01.360 When is Jesus seeing this? 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:02.960 Or when did Jesus see this? 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:09.280 Now many are going to point to the time when Satan and his demons were cast out of heaven. 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:12.479 Of course, Jesus being God has always existed. 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:19.199 So he would have been there to witness Satan and his angels falling from heaven before mankind was created. 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:26.159 But it is best to read the statement that Jesus makes in its current context. 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:28.479 Jesus says this, when does he say this? 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:37.120 He says this after, right after the 72 tell him that they have witnessed the power of God over the power of the demonic. 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:44.080 So it seems more likely that Jesus is explaining to the 72 what is going on. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:48.479 He is showing them what the kingdom of God has come to do. 00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:52.080 It has come to overthrow the kingdom of darkness. 00:03:52.240 --> 00:04:00.960 Satan, who is sitting on high, wielding his power, oppressing the world, deceiving the nations, will be brought low through the work of Jesus Christ. 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:05.280 He will fall from on high from the heavens like lightning. 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:08.240 This we read in Colossians 2.13. 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:24.000 And you who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:35.040 This he set aside, knelling it to the cross, and listen to this, he disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in him. 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:41.199 So you see, the cross was a shift in redemptive history. 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:45.680 At the cross, Satan and his powers were diminished. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:49.199 As Paul says here in Colossians, he was disarmed. 00:04:49.360 --> 00:05:06.319 His power over the nations has been decisively broken because the gospel now goes about freely throughout the nations, which simply means the nations now have access to Jesus, which means that Jesus is stronger than Satan. 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:10.480 Satan is a strong man, but Jesus is the stronger man. 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:24.000 Those who were once bound by him, those who were once oppressed by these his demonic or demonic minions, those who were possessed by him can now be set free by the power of Jesus Christ. 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:26.879 This is what Jesus was showing them. 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:29.519 This is what Jesus came to do. 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:36.160 You might remember back in Luke chapter 4, Jesus saying this, Luke chapter 4, verse 17. 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:39.600 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:43.199 He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written. 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:59.199 He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:03.519 So this is what Jesus was doing during his earthly ministry. 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:06.480 He was demonstrating the power of the kingdom. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:10.160 He was showing everyone what it looks like to live in his kingdom. 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:12.000 What does the kingdom of God look like? 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:14.560 Look like it looks like freedom. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:20.720 It looks like being able to have liberty, liberty from bondage, liberty from sin, liberty from death. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:32.000 Jesus came into the world and has overthrown the power of the devil, who was the devil who was sitting on high, making low all those who he has oppressed, has been overthrown. 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:36.000 This is what the disciples are witnessing as they're going about throughout their mission. 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:38.399 They're witnessing Satan's downfall. 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:50.720 A victory that they are beginning to see as they are praying over the people who had the demons, but a victory that will reach its climax at Jesus' death and resurrection. 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:56.879 Colossians, you remember, remember, tells us that at the cross, Satan was disarmed. 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:04.560 And we know that at the resurrection, Satan's most lethal weapon, which is death, will be defeated. 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:06.319 Was defeated on our end. 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:11.439 1 Corinthians 15, 55 tells us, O death, where is your victory? 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:13.759 O death, where is your sting? 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:23.040 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:30.319 So Jesus, back to our passage, seems to be telling the 72 what happens. 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:32.800 Has he sees Satan fall like lightning? 00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:39.839 He's telling the 72 what is happening and what will reach its climax at his death and resurrection. 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:53.279 Satan will completely fall, his power will be broken, his dominion is conquered, his tyranny has ended, his kingdom is crushed, he who was once high and mighty has been brought low by the power of the gospel. 00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:59.680 And what the 72 are witnessing as they're going about their mission is an in-breaking of that. 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:08.480 As they are exercising their power over the demonic, they are witnessing what it looks like when Satan's power fails. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:13.920 Last week I mentioned how there seems to be more healings in the gospels than we see in our day. 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:20.000 Likewise, if you notice, there seems to be more demonic activity in the gospels than we see in our day. 00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:28.319 And again, this was to demonstrate the reality of what happens when Christ's kingdom overthrows Satan's kingdom. 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:32.480 The demons are subject to the name of Jesus Christ. 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:40.960 This is to show that Jesus' power, the power of Christ, is greater than the power of Satan. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:47.120 And at his death and resurrection, this news will be announced to the world. 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:49.360 It will be announced to the cosmos. 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:57.679 At the moment, only the 72 are getting these small glimpses of what it looks like for Satan's power to be subjected to the power of Jesus Christ. 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:07.519 But soon, at the cross and his resurrection, the world, the cosmos, the whole course of human history will know the potency of the power of Christ. 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:16.240 At his death and resurrection, it will not only be Jesus who sees Satan fall from heaven like lightning, but it will be all of us. 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:19.600 The world will know who has the true power. 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:26.879 The world will know where the true power lies, not in the hands of Satan, who is the God of this world, but in the hands of Christ who is the God of Him. 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:29.679 And what he says next is further evidence of that. 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:39.279 He says, Behold, I've given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:48.799 Now, there have been some who have used this verse to say that Christians should exercise their faith in picking up and playing with snakes. 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:53.039 If you haven't heard of this practice, I'm sure you can find it somewhere online. 00:09:53.840 --> 00:10:01.120 Some churches will actually bring snakes into the service to play with them, saying they're practicing this verse out. 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:02.960 We are not one of those churches. 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:07.200 We're very welcoming here, but please keep your snakes at home. 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:13.360 Again, it's best to interpret what's going on here in light of the moment. 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:15.840 What did Jesus just say? 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:21.919 He just said that Satan has fell from heaven like lightning. 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:28.080 Jesus is just talking, has just been talking about Satan and his power being disarmed. 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:33.039 You may remember or you may know that in Scripture, what is Satan called? 00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:34.639 It's called the serpent. 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:37.679 Going back to Genesis chapter 3, we read this, right? 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:40.399 He is called, Satan is called the serpent. 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:44.000 Here the scorpions could be a reference to his demons. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:53.519 In other words, though we do have instances where God rescues his people from the dangers of the wild, think of Paul in the book of Acts where he shakes the snake off his hand. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:59.279 This more than likely refers to spiritual dangers, not physical ones. 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:02.799 We always want to allow context to drive the text. 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:13.919 And in the context of what Jesus is saying here, and what the disciples are rejoicing over, it's best to understand Jesus saying this: Don't fear the enemy, neither fear his minions. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:20.320 Don't fear the snake, don't fear the scorpions, do the work that I've sent you to do, you have nothing to fear. 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:33.120 William Hendrickson comments here on this text and says, If elsewhere Satan is called dragon and serpent, why would it be strange that here the domain of the prince of evil is called that of snakes and scorpions? 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:40.159 Is it not Satan's intention to poison the minds of men and to impart the sting of death to all who oppose him? 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:47.759 In other words, like snakes and scorpions, Satan and his demons will rise up with the power to sting. 00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:49.759 And they do have the power to sting. 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:54.000 Many of us have been stung by Satan's power before in the past. 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:56.000 Some of us have been freed of that. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:12:01.840 Some of us have been hurt in the past by Satan's sting, by Satan's bites. 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:09.519 But we know that his power ultimately has been crushed by the power of God. 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:11.759 We know that there's a greater power. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:15.679 This right here is simply a message of confidence to the disciples. 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:19.679 Nothing will harm you as you go about your mission. 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:22.399 It's 1 John 4, 4. 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:27.440 Little children, you are from God and overcome and have overcome them. 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:33.120 For he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:52.960 Like the 72, us Christians can have this confidence that though we face many oppositions in the world, especially when we're seeking to advance the kingdom of God, that that as the forces are against us, the ones that are for us, the forces that are for us, will be greater. 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:55.600 We have nothing to fear. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:13:04.399 We will see the temptations and we will see the Satan and his and his demons rise up to try to sting us, but don't be afraid. 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:09.440 Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:15.679 Now, we might note that Jesus does say, do not rejoice in this. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:23.919 However, in context and in the structure of the original language, he wasn't saying, don't rejoice at all in this power. 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:32.000 He was saying, don't make your primary source of joy this witnessing of this power. 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:42.639 Because the disciples' greater reason for rejoicing was not their authority over demons, but that they belonged to God and had eternal inheritance in heaven. 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:48.320 However, the destruction of Satan's kingdom is a cause for rejoicing. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:59.039 Knowing that Jesus defeated our greatest enemy and has crippled his power and has minimized his potency is a reason to rejoice. 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:01.120 So what does this look like in our day? 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:03.039 What does it look like practically? 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:08.559 Well, it looks like rejoicing when we see God work in someone's life. 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:13.200 It means rejoicing over a marriage being reconciled. 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:17.440 It means rejoicing in seeing someone recover from an addiction. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:30.399 It means rejoicing in a family member who has come to faith or someone in deep despair, beaten down, battling oppression, finding peace through the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:36.879 We should rejoice when we see those things because what we're doing is we're witnessing the power of God at work. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:43.279 And we're also witnessing Satan's power being diminished, Satan's power being defeated. 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:44.320 Because that's what we see. 00:14:44.480 --> 00:15:01.279 When we see someone who is bound to drugs or alcohol, or when we see a marriage that is on the verge of being broken, or when we see these things, what we're witnessing is we're witnessing the power of Satan at work because that's who he is. 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:03.600 He wants to kill and steal and destroy. 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:08.240 He wants to destroy people's lives, he wants to destroy people's marriages. 00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:12.320 And when we see that on somebody, we're witnessing Satan's power at work. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:23.519 But when we see that person, that marriage, be delivered, be restored, be reconciled, then what we're witnessing is the power of God crushing the power of Satan. 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:28.960 We're seeing that the power of God is much stronger than Satan's power. 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:32.639 This is why you want to be a part of a church. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:35.840 You want to be deeply involved in the work of ministry. 00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:43.519 You know, we're often thinking that ministry work is only for those pastors or leaders or evangelists, and it's not really for us. 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:54.639 But in 2 Corinthians 5, we are told that we have been given this ministry of reconciliation. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:59.519 We are employing people to be reconciled to God through Christ. 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:08.080 And as we see people move from the bondage of Satan to the freedom of Christ, then we find joy and satisfaction in that. 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:17.440 Phil Riken says that one of the differences between happiness and joy is that one is found within ourselves and the other is found outside of ourselves. 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:24.240 In other words, we often find happiness in what happens or doesn't happen to us. 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:31.360 Happiness is very circumstantial, it shifts based on our circumstances. 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:39.519 But biblical joy is based on what God has done and what God is doing in us and in others. 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:43.600 Landing a good job will make you happy. 00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:46.399 Losing a good job will make you sad. 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:59.679 However, a Christian may still have joy when they lose the job because he or she knows that God loves him, that Christ has saved him, and that his future and finances are secure in Christ. 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:08.000 We can lose that which makes us happy, but we can never lose that which brings us joy because we can never lose Christ. 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:11.759 Christ, who is the source of our joy. 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:16.799 This is why biblical authors can speak about rejoicing through suffering. 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:19.440 Have you ever read that and thought, that is, that's weird? 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:22.079 How can I rejoice through suffering? 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:26.160 Why are you calling me to rejoice through suffering? 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:29.279 Well, we got to understand, suffering cannot bring us happiness. 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:33.519 I've never met someone happy during suffering or happy to have suffering. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:43.759 Suffering cannot bring us happiness, but it can bring us joy because we know that through our suffering, God is doing something. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:47.359 That he's working something, he's accomplishing something. 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:59.359 I might not know it, I might not understand it, I might not see it, but I have joy because I know that as a child of Jesus Christ, I would not be put in this situation for nothing. 00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:05.279 That God is always working for his good, for my good, and for his glory. 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:11.680 We can always rejoice at the work that God is doing in our lives, in our church, in our world. 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:13.279 And in fact, we should rejoice. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:18.720 We should rejoice when we see the kingdom of God push back the kingdom of darkness. 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:23.200 But as he says, there's an even greater reason to rejoice. 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:24.799 And that's our second point. 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:26.880 The joy of being in the kingdom. 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.559 Verse 20. 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:39.680 He says, Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:56.880 Again, the way Jesus is speaking here, it is not necessarily a prohibition against rejoicing over the power that they are witnessing, but in comparison, we should have a greater joy in knowing that our names are written in heaven. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:02.480 Yes, rejoice in the fact that the demons are subject to your name. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:08.000 Yes, rejoice in knowing that I have come to crush Satan's kingdom. 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:12.559 Yes, rejoice and know that he has fallen from on high. 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:15.759 But here's an even greater reason for you to rejoice. 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:17.839 Your name is written in heaven. 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:20.400 What does that mean? 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:23.119 What does it mean for our names to be written in heaven? 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:32.799 Well, you may remember when Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to be registered in the census. 00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:39.839 Rome, like many countries and the or cities in the ancient Near East, kept records of its citizens. 00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:42.079 In fact, we do this today, right? 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:43.119 We we keep records. 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:47.440 The USA keeps records of those who are or who are not American citizens. 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:52.000 Those who are American citizens enjoy the benefits of being a citizen. 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:54.319 But those who are not, don't enjoy them. 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:59.440 This is why people want to become Americans, because there are privileges that come with that. 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:10.240 And just as earthly cities keep records of their own, or earthly countries keep records of their own, heaven keeps a record of its own. 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:14.000 Heaven keeps a list of its citizens. 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.839 Philippians 4, 3. 00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:18.160 We read this. 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:28.240 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers. 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:31.359 Listen to this, whose names are in the book of life. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:40.720 So here, Paul is mentioning his companions, his laborers in the gospel. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.599 Who are these? 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:43.359 These are his fellow Christians. 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:45.519 These are his brothers and sisters in the church. 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:47.759 These are his other Christians besides him. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.960 And notice what he says. 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:53.519 He says, their names, their names are written in the book of life. 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:57.680 In other words, Christians' names are written in the book of life. 00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:01.119 Their names are recorded in heaven. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:03.759 God keeps a record of his own. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:05.920 He knows all who are his. 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:09.920 And he has every name of his written in his book. 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:15.200 It's called the book of life because those who are in it have a claim to eternal life. 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:19.759 And if you don't know it by now, this is the list you want to be on. 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:23.920 As kids, we want to be on the A-list, the A honorable list. 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:26.319 I don't think I ever was, but I wanted to be. 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:29.519 As we grow older, we want to be part of all kinds of lists. 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:33.279 The cool lists, the end lists, and so forth. 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:36.079 People are chasing lists all the time. 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:38.960 This is the only list that truly matters. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:42.640 This is the only list you should be concerned about. 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:45.759 Is your name written in the book of life? 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:49.599 When the role is called up yonder, will you be there? 00:21:50.640 --> 00:22:07.680 But being on the list is not only important when we die, it's important for today because if you are on that list, you are a citizen of the Kingdom of God, not just tomorrow, but today, which means that you can enjoy the benefits of the kingdom now. 00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:12.000 It means that today you belong somewhere. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:14.559 And that somewhere is not just anywhere. 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:19.839 It means that you belong to someone, and that someone is not just anyone. 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:23.920 You know, many people are looking for places to belong. 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:27.680 People look for meaning and purpose by belonging. 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:35.839 That I'm somebody if I belong to a certain family, or I'm someone if I belong to a certain group, or even a certain income bracket. 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:39.839 People even look for purpose by belonging to somebody. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:42.640 I'm someone if I get married. 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:45.200 I'm someone if I have children. 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:47.519 That will make me somebody. 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:56.000 But whether you're married or not, or have children or not, whether you're rich or you're poor, if you're a Christian, you belong. 00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:58.640 You belong to the household of God. 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:03.279 You belong to the kingdom, which is the best place to belong. 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:07.599 Your purpose and your meaning are not found in what you hold in your hand. 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:11.279 But they are found in the one who holds you in his hands. 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:16.880 They are found in God, and he is who you belong to. 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:30.319 And when the devil tries to mess with your mind and tell you that you don't belong, that you have nowhere to belong to or no one to belong to, then just remind him of the list. 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:32.720 Send them to the list. 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:37.759 Tell them to take it up with God and ask for your name. 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:44.079 Tell them to ask God to open the book, and there you will find my name. 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:49.920 You know, as I've gotten older, I've become a little more impatient. 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:53.119 And I don't like waiting for a table at a restaurant anymore. 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:57.359 And I'm not talking about with the kids, I'm talking about when it's just me and my wife. 00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.640 With the kids, forget about it. 00:23:58.720 --> 00:24:00.480 Try waiting for a table for seven. 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:01.599 It's no fun. 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:05.839 But when me and my wife go out to dinner, I usually try and make a reservation. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:08.480 And when I was younger, only fancy restaurants did that. 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:13.039 Now, pretty much any decent restaurant will make or allow for reservations. 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:18.799 But every time I go, and maybe you're like this, when I go to the restaurant, I give them my name, and what does the hostess do? 00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:20.880 They look down at their list. 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:26.640 And that's the big moment of suspense for me because I'm always worried that I'm not going to be there. 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:29.839 I'm always worried that something got messed up along the way. 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:39.440 Maybe I called the wrong restaurant, maybe I put my reservation in at the wrong place, or maybe they just simply forgot to write my name down on the list. 00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:50.079 However, in heaven, we can have the confidence that the host of heaven knows how to keep a list. 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:53.519 He knows how to keep records. 00:24:55.119 --> 00:25:01.119 The Christians should have confidence in knowing this, that in heaven, my confidence is not in how well I made the reservation. 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:10.319 But my confidence is in the one who secured my reservation, the one who has secured my place at the table, which is God. 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:13.759 Again, this is the list you want to be on. 00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:17.519 How does our name appear on the list? 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:20.400 Revelation 3, verse 4. 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:30.960 Yet you have still have a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:37.279 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:42.319 I will confess his name before my father and before his angels. 00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:52.559 So G here Jesus saying that the one who conquers will be clothed in these white garments. 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:58.400 Those are the ones who whose name will not be blot out of this book of life. 00:25:58.480 --> 00:26:03.680 Those are the ones whose names are there, who are who whose names are kept for eternity. 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:06.240 And how do you how does your name get on there? 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:09.920 Well, as the text says, it's to have clean garments. 00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:14.720 You get your name on the list by having the right clothes. 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:20.720 You know, sometimes you'll go to a restaurant that's very exclusive and you'll see a dress code that you can't just go in anywhere. 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:26.559 You can't wear flip-flops, you have to have shoes on, nice shoes on, or you have to have a jacket on and so forth. 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:27.759 The same thing with heaven. 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:32.079 You have to have the right garments, you have to have clean garments to get in. 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:35.200 How do you get these clean garments? 00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:39.200 Well, you need to be cleansed and washed by the blood of Christ. 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:41.200 You need to have your sins forgiven. 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:45.519 You need to walk with Christ to be counted worthy. 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:48.319 You need to be, as Revelation says, the one who conquers. 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:51.599 In other words, you need to be the one who overcomes the world. 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:53.519 And how do we do all of this? 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:55.599 How do we have clean garments? 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.799 How do we walk with Christ? 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:58.160 How do we overcome the world? 00:26:58.240 --> 00:27:00.799 How do we become more than conquerors? 00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:04.000 Well, it's definitely not through your own strength. 00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:06.720 It's definitely not through your own efforts. 00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:14.000 It is through the faith and trust and belief in the one who has conquered for us. 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:21.599 1 John 5 4 says, For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:26.319 And this is the victory that has overcome the world. 00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:28.319 Our faith. 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.799 Let me say that again. 00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:33.200 And this is the victory that has overcome the world. 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:43.680 Notice how it doesn't say our efforts, our abilities, our talents, our gifts, our giving, no, our faith. 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:51.119 What is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 00:27:51.920 --> 00:28:03.359 If you want to be sure your name is on the list, if you want to be certain that you are recorded in heaven's book, in the book of life, then you need to place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. 00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:07.759 You need to turn from your sins and you need to turn from turn to him. 00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:10.880 And as Revelation says, you need to walk with him. 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:13.680 That is trusting. 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:19.519 That is how we trust in the Lord by by continuing to walk with him. 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:43.200 You know, if I'm crossing a busy street with my daughter, you know, she she has my youngest daughter, my oldest daughters don't want to walk with me, but my my youngest uh daughter, she has to have confidence that if she walks with me and stays with me, that we're gonna get across that big b busy street. 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:48.480 If she doesn't have the confidence, if she doesn't trust me, then she's not gonna walk. 00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:50.559 She's not gonna walk alongside with me. 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:52.000 She's gonna stay where she's at. 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:54.160 It's the same thing with Christ. 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:59.839 Our walking with the Lord, our walking and continual walk with him is proof that we trust him. 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:04.640 It's proof that we believe in him, that he will take us to the other side. 00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:07.759 You won't overcome by walking on your own. 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:09.519 And so many people think they can do this. 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:18.559 So many people think that they can overcome this world by themselves in isolation, walking with Christ as a solo Christian. 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:26.160 People will say, you know, I don't need to go to church or I don't need to be a part of a church because I already punched my ticket to heaven. 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:28.400 How are you gonna overcome the world on your own? 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:30.559 How are you gonna overcome the world in isolation? 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:33.359 You are no match for the world on your own. 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:37.759 But with Christ and his people, the world is no match for you. 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:40.960 In Christ, you are more than a conqueror. 00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:43.279 And as Christ says, rejoice in that. 00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:51.440 There's nothing in this world worth more than having your name on that book. 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:56.799 There's nothing in this world worth more than having your name written in heaven. 00:29:57.119 --> 00:29:58.559 Keep everything else. 00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:12.640 Keep the riches, keep the pleasures, keep the successes, keep the accolades, and give me the assurance and knowing that my name is written in that book. 00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:16.880 That is the only thing that should give us a good night's sleep. 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:28.079 Not knowing that I have money in the bank, not knowing that I have this or that, but knowing that my name is secured in heaven. 00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:32.079 Church, where do you find your greatest joy in life? 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:37.119 I believe we're too easily satisfied in this world. 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:41.519 And if we're satisfied in this world, then we're settling for too little. 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:45.440 We look for joy in things that are temporary. 00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:53.920 We look for our joy in things that will be here today, that will be gone tomorrow, and things that have no lasting or eternal significance. 00:30:54.079 --> 00:31:02.319 This is what often keeps us discontent because we seek these satisfactions and things that are not meant to satisfy us. 00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:09.680 Marriage is a good gift, but that is not meant to satisfy us. 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:12.160 Finances are good gifts. 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:19.599 Entertainment, these things we can enjoy, they're good gifts, but those things are not made to satisfy us. 00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:22.480 Again, not that we can't enjoy good gifts from God. 00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:27.680 We should appreciate and enjoy every good thing that the Lord brings our way. 00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:32.240 When we're blessed with spouses and homes and children's and careers, we thank God for them. 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:39.920 We delight in them, but we also know that those things alone will never satisfy us. 00:31:40.960 --> 00:32:01.279 This is why you see people who have the perfect marriage still unsatisfied, who have the riches, still unsatisfied, who have everything in this world that everybody else is chasing, still unsettled and not being able to have a good night's sleep, because those things were not meant to satisfy them. 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:04.559 They will never satisfy us. 00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:12.079 As Augustine says, our hearts will be restless until we find rest in Him. 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:20.480 There is no joy that we can receive in this world that can compete with the joy that we find in the Lord. 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:24.480 Christ is the supreme joy of the Christian. 00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:28.640 He is what the Christian cherishes above all. 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:33.599 This should be an encouragement for you, church, in difficult times. 00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:42.240 When the world tries to take away your joy, remind yourself that your name is known in heaven. 00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:45.839 Remind yourself that God keeps a record. 00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:51.440 Remind yourself that he keeps a list of all those who are his, and your name is on that list. 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:55.039 Because God has done a work in your life. 00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:58.720 He has made you alive together with his son. 00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:01.200 You can rejoice. 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:09.359 You can rejoice because your name is written in heaven, which means you have the rights and you have the privileges of heaven. 00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:11.599 Romans 14, 17. 00:33:12.880 --> 00:33:22.559 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:31.279 Most people of this kingdom, which is the world, will find their greatest joy in matters of eating and drinking. 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:37.759 But the people of that kingdom of heaven should know, again, that those things are good. 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:39.519 There's nothing wrong with eating and drinking. 00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:41.359 I like to eat. 00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:43.279 Those things are good. 00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:48.160 But they're a little too low to satisfy me. 00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:51.119 My aim is a little higher. 00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:54.720 I'm a Christian, I'm a child of God, and I seek a higher joy. 00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:58.880 I seek an even greater joy, which, as Romans says, is one of righteousness and peace. 00:33:59.119 --> 00:34:03.519 One where true joy is found in the things of the Spirit. 00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:09.840 And I think that one of the problems why we don't get that is because we have yet to experience it. 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:15.440 You know, you've heard the saying, you don't know what a good thing is until you have it or until you taste it. 00:34:15.679 --> 00:34:16.000 Right? 00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:21.920 Sometimes recently I went and tried Korean barbecue. 00:34:22.239 --> 00:34:24.480 And uh first time in my life I've tried it. 00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:25.440 Uh I didn't pay for it. 00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:27.280 Somebody else paid, that's the reason why I went. 00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:31.519 And um I didn't know what to think, but everybody raves about it. 00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:34.880 And if you you you like it here, you you probably rave about it. 00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:36.639 Uh so I didn't know what to think. 00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:41.360 I I just know didn't think I wanted to try it, but how would I know if I never tried it? 00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:44.079 I wound up trying it and I was correct, I didn't like it. 00:34:44.239 --> 00:34:50.719 But anyway, the principle is still true. 00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:54.239 You don't know what it's like until you try it. 00:34:54.320 --> 00:34:57.119 You don't know how good it is until you try it. 00:34:57.440 --> 00:35:13.280 And I would suggest that there are a lot of Christians who don't seek the joy of heaven, the joy, the true joy that is found in the Lord, the true joy of righteousness and peace and joy of the Holy Spirit. 00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:16.480 They don't really even know that yet. 00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:26.559 And they're too busy seeking joy and all these other things in the world because they have yet to even taste the goodness that is rightfully theirs in Jesus Christ. 00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:30.480 The joy that is promised to them. 00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:36.079 Again, some of us Christians fail to experience these things like we should. 00:35:36.320 --> 00:35:38.800 And we're seeking our joy in all the wrong places. 00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:41.039 We're seeking our joy in the things of this world. 00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:44.719 We're seeking our joy in a kingdom that we don't even belong to. 00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:49.280