A Real Cause For Joy ~ Luke 10:17-20

July 20, 2014 ~ New City Church of Calgary ~ Pastor John Ferguson

Q. What do you think about when you think of joy? What causes you to rejoice?

Illus: Tom Brady, Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there's something greater
out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, 'Hey man, this is what is.' I reached my
goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think, 'God, it's got to be more than this.' I mean this isn't, this can't
be what it's all cracked up to be. [Whats the answer?] I wish I knew. I wish I knew.

Illus: King Solomon, I became great and surpassed all who were before me in JerusalemAnd
whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart
found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my
hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving
after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun (Ecclesiastes 2).

Q: Is it possible to have true, lasting joy?

Jesus: It is possible to have true, lasting joy. But heres the secret: True, lasting joy is not found in what
you do, but in what has been done for you.

Exploring: You will learn from Jesus the secret of true and lasting joy, and in the process you will learn
how Christianity is different from every other religion or philosophy or belief system, and in seeing that,
you will be encouraged to take Jesus very seriously.

Christian: You will be reminded where true joy is found, and you will be encouraged by Jesus to rejoice
in it, to revel in it, and to anchor your life in it.

A Real Cause For Joy ~ Luke 10:17-20

Context: Jesus has set his face toward Jerusalem, and has sent some 72 followers ahead of him into
the towns and villages along the way to prepare them to come and hear what Jesus has to say. He has
given them authority to heal and to preach about the coming Kingdom of God, and about Jesus, Gods
true King (10:9). Now theyve returned to Jesus to report on what happened.

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!

1. Now they come back rejoicing in the overwhelming success of their mission. They healed, they
preached, and they even cast out demons!

For some of you, we just stepped into the world of make believe. Demons? Really?
Jesus: The evil in this world is not just the sum total of all human actions. There is another realm, a
spiritual realm, that is populated with malevolent beings who work against human ourishing.
These malevolent beings are fallen angels who rebelled against God in heaven just as humans
rebelled against God on earth. They work predominantly through the power of lies, and during the
time of Jesus, there seemed to be an intensity of action described as demon possession.

2. The disciples came back rejoicing that even the demons were subject to them in Jesus name. They
could hardly believe it, and are brimming with excitement and amazement as they tell Jesus about it.

18 And he said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you
authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall
hurt you.

1. Q: When did Jesus see Satan fall like lightening?

(1) Option #1: Satans original fall from glory.

Rev. 12:9, And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil
and Satan, the deceiver of the whole worldhe was thrown down to earth, and his angels were
thrown down with him.

(2) Option #2: Satans current fall from power.

That is, Jesus had given them authority and power over the enemy so that they could tread on
serpents and scorpions two symbols of evil, and in the clash of Jesus kingdom with the
kingdom of the evil one, Jesus kingdom was winning!

1 John 3:8b, The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

2. Q: What does this mean for us, people learning what it means to follow Jesus in the 21st
century?

(1) We have the authority and power to resist the evil one.

1 Peter 5:8-9a, Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a
roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Resist him, rm in your faith.

(2) We have the authority and power to battle the evil one well b/c the battle is the Lords

Rev. 12:10, Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his
Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day
and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb.

Rom. 16:20, The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

Jesus: no matter how thrilling this is, there is something far more important, far more central to rejoicing.


20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names
are written in heaven.

1. Phil. 3:20, our citizenship is in heaven.

Having ones name written in heaven means that you have eternal life.

Key Question: If you were to die tonight, would you go to heaven? Your answer?
Key Question: If God were to say to you, Why should I let you into my heaven? what would
you say?

2. How does our name get written in the Book of Life in heaven?

Most peoplein fact every system of salvationsay it is found in what you do.

Bill Hybels: Religion is spelled D-O. Christianity is spelled D-O-N-E.

3. But how do we know this, that our name is written in heaven?

Answer: we know this the same way we know anything about salvation: by believing what
Jesus says, and entrusting ourselves to him. We know that we have eternal life not by looking
into the Book of Life in heaven to see if our name is there, but simply because we trust in
Jesus.

John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in
him should not perish but have eternal life.


So why did Luke record this episode in his historical biography of Jesus?

Jesus wants his followers to know that they can be assured of their salvation, not because of what they
do, but because of what has been done for them. And when we get that, we can truly rejoice.


Main Idea: True, lasting joy is not found in what you do, but in what has been done for you.


Application:

1. Make sure that you know Jesus Christ.

John 17:1-3, Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you
have given him authority over all esh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And
this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have
sent.

Matthew 7:22, On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name,
and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you;
depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.

Before Jesus asks you to do anything for him, he calls you to rest in what he has done for you.


2. Anchor your joy in knowing Jesus Christ.

Horatio Spaffords, It Is Well With My Soul

When peace like a river, attendeth my way / When sorrows like sea billows roll / Whatever my
lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come / Let this blest assurance control / That
Christ hath regarded my helpless estate / And hath shed his own blood for my soul

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought! / My sin, not in part but the whole / Is nailed to the
Cross And I bear it now more / Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul

And Lord haste the day, when my faith shall be sight / the clouds be rolled back like a scroll / the
trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend / Even so, it is well with my soul.

CS Lewis, Mere Christianity, God cannot give us peace and happiness apart from Himself
because there is no such thing. (Lewis own biography is entitled, Surprised by Joy.)