Real Life Community Church Richmond, KY

Rejoice: Your Name is Written in Heaven

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What's your greatest source of joy? The disciples returned from their mission trip exhilarated that "even demons are subject to us in your name!" But Jesus gives a surprising response that challenges our entire understanding of spiritual success and true joy.

Drawing from Luke 10:17-20, this message explores Jesus' gentle rebuke to his disciples when he tells them, "Do not rejoice that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." It's a profound redirection that speaks directly to our tendency to find identity and satisfaction in what we do rather than who we are in Christ.

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Speaker 1:

So I had my sermon done on Friday, yesterday, I got our study guides together, put them online for our small groups. We're going right now through the book of Acts and I was going to preach Acts chapter 11, beginning in verse 19. And I was in prayer yesterday. And you guys know, man, I like to plan things out Like I put generally 15 to 20 hours in a message and that doesn't feel like enough sometimes. But you know, sometimes God just moves and His Spirit speaks in such a way where it doesn't take any time at all for you to hear what the Lord is saying.

Speaker 1:

And so last night I was mowing Okay, I'd been in prayer, and then I see, look at the weather, it's going to. My grass is long, you know, and I think it's going to rain for the next 51 days, probably, looking at the app. And so I'm like I'm going to mow, it's nice out, I'm going to mow. It's about 6.30 last night. As soon as I start mowing my lawn, it starts raining. Well, when I mow, generally speaking, I will listen to sermons. And so when I turned on a sermon of one of my favorite preachers, he was preaching out of Luke, chapter 10, and didn't listen to very much of it because of the rain. I ended up stopping, and then I was complaining you know why this rain, lord? Because I was praying, lord Elijah, stop the rain, lord, in Jesus name, and it didn't stop. I was really frustrated and so so, anyways, I go inside, and you know, and we got to always trust the Lord and trust the sovereignty of the Lord, amen. And so I went out on my back deck, frustrated, and I said, well, I need to read the Bible, I need to pray some more to get my heart back in tune in preparation for today. And so, as I did, man, that Luke 10 text was burning in my heart. And as I began to study it, I have a journaling Bible at home and, man, I just was making copious notes and then, all of a sudden, I just sensed the Lord saying this is what you're preaching. Tomorrow, god willing, I'll preach the message I had for today, next week. But listen, when the Lord does this and this hasn't happened often to me but when the Lord does this, he's speaking to somebody. I hope he's speaking to lots of somebodies today, and so I want to ask you very seriously.

Speaker 1:

Distractions, like I've gotten better, like they generally don't bother me. It's not as much that I'm worried about distractions, but I'm worried about you, because I don't want you to miss whatever the Lord has to say to you today. So let's try to keep. You know now, if you got to get up, you got to get up, but let's try to keep movement as what would you say? As minimal as possible, fair enough. What would you say? As minimal as possible, fair enough. You may walk out right at the point that God needs you to go. You know, I've never seen people who have to go to the restroom. You know so much within a you know 30-minute sermon. And it's right at the good part, like so I don't know if the devil's behind that or what, but be gone, right. So, anyways, behind that or what, but be gone, right. So, anyways, that's one thing I want to ask you also. Don't come up to me afterwards and say, because this happens sometimes, I wish you preached like that more. That sounds like a compliment. That is not a compliment. I put a lot into my sermons every week. Fair enough, all right. Yeah, yeah, bob did that. This was passive, aggressive way to say this to Bob, but you know what the Lord has different things for us in different seasons, and this, something good is going to happen today in your life and my life, and in Richmond, I believe. Send revival, lord, amen.

Speaker 1:

Luke, chapter 10. If you have your Bible, turn there, I'm not going to start. I'm going to say some things before I get into the text. Luke, chapter 10. When you have it, say amen and I'll get started. Well, you're ahead of me. Sorry, matthew, mark, luke, Just joking. All right, luke, chapter 10. And in a moment we're going to start reading in verse 17.

Speaker 1:

All right, so in Luke, chapter 9, here's what happens. You know, the disciples have been with Jesus for some time. They are following Him, they are watching Him, they are listening to Him. And in Luke 9, jesus does something amazing. He sends the 12 out and he gives them authority to preach the same message he's been preaching the gospel of the kingdom. They're announcing the arrival of the kingdom in Jesus. And then he gives them listen, he gives them authority to heal and to cast out demons. Like that's cool, right? And so that's the 12th. Well then, in chapter 10, what we're getting ready to read about he sends out 72 more people to do the same thing. These are not apostles, these are followers, regular disciples of Jesus, ordinary people.

Speaker 1:

Some of your translations, by the way, I know, say 70. There's a discrepancy in manuscripts. It doesn't change anything that I'm going to say. So ESV says 70. So that's what we're going with. So the 70, or, excuse me, esv says 72.

Speaker 1:

The 72 people they go out and all these towns and villages throughout Israel and in the surrounding areas, from town to town. They're to take the gospel and they're preaching the good news to these Jewish people. Listen, the kingdom that we've been praying for it's here, it's breaking in. This is the best news in the world. And then Jesus tells them if there's any sick, lay hands on them, pray for them, they'll be healed in my name. And so they do this and people are healed and some people reject the message. Some people receive the message of the gospel, but devils are cast out, demons are cast out, and they are ecstatic. So we're going to pick up in verse 17,. And this narrates their return to the Lord. Okay, verse 17,.

Speaker 1:

Luke, chapter 10, the 72 returned with joy. I mean, would you be joyful if that happened to you? You're walking around your neighborhood and demons are. You may be joyful or a little freaked out, I don't know, but this is reason it would seem to have joy. And here's what they say. So 72 returns with joy, saying Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name. That's reason for joy. And he said to them. Jesus says to these 72, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 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. That's good news. But then Jesus says something curious. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your name is written in heaven.

Speaker 1:

Hallelujah, there is reason for joy today. Listen, we are a blessed people. Yes, I mean, we have many things. We in here have many things to be thankful for. I mean, thank God, we live in a free country. Amen, we live in a free country, amen. Thank God, we can come together in worship as free people. Thank God that we have a roofs over our head. Thank God that we have food on the table. Thank God for relative health. Thank God for breath. Today, for all those blessings and more, we have reason to be grateful and reason to have joy, amen. But you know, if our joy is rooted in those things. Our joy can be taken in a moment, because your health can change in a second, your relationships can change in a moment. You can lose your job in a second. Your relationships can change in a moment. You can lose your job in a flash. Your bank account can be empty in seconds. And then where's your joy? If your joy is rooted in those things, you have joy no more.

Speaker 1:

But Paul said, interestingly, in Philippians, chapter 4, he said do what in the Lord? At all times Rejoice. And Paul's imprisoned when he writes these words. Why, paul? Because he'd been, you know, and he would continue to be persecuted, shipwrecked, snake-bitten, stoned, whipped Over five different times, dozens of lashes. Paul says rejoice in the Lord. Why? Because Paul's joy was not grounded in his comfort. It wasn't grounded in his stuff, in his money, in his friends, in his quality of life. It was grounded in one thing the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul, you know, at the end of his life, here's what he rejoiced in I fought the good fight, I finished the course and I have kept the faith. And he said there's a crown made up for me in heaven, and not just for me, but for all who have loved his appearing. Paul rejoiced at all times because his name is written in heaven. In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or for worse, rejoice, for your name is written in heaven, verse 17.

Speaker 1:

The question is, the question is, why are the disciples so joyful? Again, look at it. The 72 returned with joy, saying here it is. This is where their joy is rooted. Even the demons are subject to your name. Nothing seems to be wrong with that right. I mean, isn't it a wonderful thing? I mean, you go around and you pray for people and they're delivered and they're set free. That's a good thing.

Speaker 1:

But Jesus says here's Jesus' response. Look at verse 18. Here's what Jesus says to them. And this is a gentle rebuke. That's going to come a reproval.

Speaker 1:

Let's say he said to them I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Let's just pause there. What does that mean? Well, there are many different interpretations of this. Let me just give you every commentary. I look at every pastor I've listened to. It's almost never the same, and so it's not. Like you know, I'm not arrogant enough to think that I've got it a hundred percent. But let me give you three options and I think they would all work. And I think they're all biblical truths, but I want to land on the one that I think I'm pretty confident is the meaning here. So number one Satan falling from heaven. Number one is this Jesus could have been saying, hearkening back to the fall of Satan, when Satan tried to usurp God and he was prideful and he was cast out of heaven, this beautiful angel, he was demoted right and Jesus was there, because Jesus is eternal. So he could have said he could have hearkened back to the past and said listen, I was there when Satan fell. There's good argument for that.

Speaker 1:

Second interpretation is this Jesus is warning the disciples about arrogance. Now, this is really compelling as well. Why did Satan fall Pride? And how many know pride comes before the fall. So imagine this that the, the 72 people are going out in there. The Lord is using them in all these gifts, casting out demons. The sick are being healed, people are receiving the gospel message and they come back high-fiving each other and they're not saying look what the Lord's done. They do say in your name, but it they're not saying look what the Lord's done. They do say in your name, but it's kind of like look what we did, look what we did, and you know what?

Speaker 1:

This could be a warning to the disciples to say Satan fell because of arrogance and pride and you might too, because they're still though they had won some small battles over Satan here, he still was going about like a roaring lion. He still wants to sift peter like wheat. And peter would give into temptation. Judas would give into temptation. Judas would betray jesus. Peter would deny him. Jesus is. Don't be so arrogant.

Speaker 1:

That's a possible interpretation here. And regardless if that's what Jesus meant, that's a good word. That's a good word and that could be backed up in other places in the Bible. But here's what I think it means Satan fell from heaven. I saw, jesus said I saw Satan fall from heaven. I think Jesus is simply at this point validating the work that the disciples did. Here's why I think that People were set free think of this from demonic bondage and the power of darkness, and scholars point out that this phrase could have been translated. Jesus' words could have said I was watching Satan fall from heaven. Okay, that's a possible interpretation here. It could have been translated into English in that way and be faithful to the original text.

Speaker 1:

So imagine this disciples, come back Jesus, and you won't believe what happened. This worked. I mean, he told them to go out to do it. Have you ever prayed and then been surprised when God answered? That's what happens. They're coming back. Lord, you won't believe this. Yeah, I told you to go do it. I gave you the power to do it, the authority to do it. And Jesus validates. He said yeah, while you were there watching this in the physical, I saw it happening in the spiritual, because we fight not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities. And I think that's what Jesus is saying here and I think it fits best within the context. In verse 19, he just validates again behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions. By verse 19, he just validates again behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions by the way, those were real physical dangers to them. And he says and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. So he's validating.

Speaker 1:

Listen, satan is that angelic being who rebelled against God. Satan is a title. The Satan. It means the accuser. Satan is the one who tempted Adam and Eve in the garden, bringing chaos into this wonderful, imperfect world. Satan is the one who is out to kill, to steal and destroy. See, contemporary people don't like to think much about the devil. Matter of fact, I heard a statistic not too long ago that I think, like I think this is right Like 30% of Christians don't believe in a real devil. Since the enlightenment, we have period. We have trouble sometimes believing in these things. We can rationalize everything, but some things can't be explained. There's things always going on in the spiritual realm and Satan is out to kill, steal and destroy. He wants your life, he wants your marriage, he wants you to sin. He wants to break your relationship with God. He wants to sift you as wheat. He's out to kill, steal and destroy. Satan again is the accuser, bringing accusations against you and me before God all the time. Did you see what he did? Did you see what she did? Did you hear what he said? On and on and on. Satan is the destroyer and on Satan is the destroyer.

Speaker 1:

You know old Grateful Dead song the devil is a friend of mine, boy. I hope that's not true, for you See, like with Adam and Eve, he talked them in the fruit looks really delicious and oh, come on, this won't matter, eat it. You're missing out. And that's what he said to you many of you, when it comes to sin, go against the word, it's all right, it's not really that big deal. What's God going to do? And you don't realize it. But you're making friends with the devil when you go against God's word. There's no neutral ground. You're serving God or you're serving the enemy Zero neutral ground. And he will not help you and he will not satisfy you. He will destroy you. But I got good news for you God, the son, jesus Christ, was born in this world. He took on flesh to redeem you and me.

Speaker 1:

And here's what the way that John puts it in 1 John 3, 8, whoever makes the practice of sinning is of the devil. That means if you are living in habitual sin, if you are continually going against the word of God. I know we all mess up. I'm not saying we have to be perfect, but we ought to strive to live for the word. So if you are living in habitual, unrepentant sin, I don't care what you prayed, you know. You can say, though this isn't in the Bible, you know pray and ask Jesus into your heart. I don't care what you prayed, I don't care how much you cried at the altar, if you are living in habitual sin. John says you have never seen God, you have never known God, so you can sing to him all you want, but you're a son not of God but of the devil. That's hard preaching, I'm sorry, but it's the truth. And here's what he says in verse 8.

Speaker 1:

The reason the son of God appeared 1 John 3, 8, was to destroy the works of the devil. Listen to me Jesus didn't come into the world just to be another philosopher or teacher, or even prophet. He is prophet, priest and king. But he's more than a prophet. The Muslims would say he's a prophet. But if he was just a prophet he couldn't save us. Jesus came not just to teach us a new way of life. He came to bring about new creation. He came to repair and restore what Satan and our sin has broken, to redeem humankind and watch this defeat the forces of evil.

Speaker 1:

And so think about this straight away after we read this in the gospel, straight away after Jesus' baptism. That marks his baptism, marks the beginning of his ministry. What's the first thing he does, do you remember? He goes into the wilderness where he's tempted by Satan. So he starts straight away saying Satan, I'm coming for you. Listen.

Speaker 1:

Adam and Eve, tempted of the devil, failed. They failed, gave in to temptation and we're still suffering today because of that Israel. So God calls Israel to himself and he brings them out of Egypt and into the wilderness. How long were they in the wilderness? Forty years. And they've just brought them out of Egypt. And all these miracles. And what do they say? Oh, just take us back to Egypt. They gave into temptation, they gave into the devil's plans.

Speaker 1:

But Jesus comes on the scene, he's brought not to the waters of the Red Sea, but to the waters of baptism, and he comes out and he goes into the wilderness. He's reliving the Israel story. And he, like they were, was tempted in the desert, not for 40 years, but for 40 days, which is significant Hungry and tired, fasting and praying. And the devil tempts him three times. And Jesus, where Israel fell, where Adam and Eve fell, where every man or woman of God fell or would fail, jesus was faithful, hallelujah, and he was victorious. And that's where the battle started. And that's where the battle started. Jesus has never lost a battle to Satan. So that battle would continue and it would culminate at a hill called Calvary, where Jesus would face the powers of darkness himself, take them upon himself, face them straight away, head on. And at that moment Jesus said, as he took his last breath it is finished. And if you weren't sure if he was right, well, just go a few more pages over and just remember he didn't stay dead. God raised him from the dead.

Speaker 1:

The devil, the devil is all about death, but Jesus is life. Satan still has relative authority on the earth. He's like a junkyard dog, though. He barks and barks and he's mean and he is, to be sure, a force to be reckoned with. But if you're in the Lord and if you're in prayer, all of a sudden, sudden, he comes, barking and biting. He comes after your marriage, he comes after your children, he comes after your health, he comes after everything, until he finds the end of that leaf and it pulls him back and he whimpers over and over and over. Jesus, doesn't let him sift you as wheat. He wants to kill, steal and destroy. But Jesus came that you may have life and have it. What Abundantly so. The devil has relative power. Now he's going about like a roaring lion. He doesn't want to hurt you, he wants to devour you. So he has some measure of power. Let's say it like that. But here's the great thing when Jesus died, his Satan's end was decided, and Jesus is coming back again and when he was, when he does, the dead will be raised, they will be judged and we who are in Christ shall be with the Lord forever, while Satan and his minions and, unfortunately, all who do not know Him, will be cast into the lake of fire. Satan is decidedly defeated. Christ is victorious.

Speaker 1:

This is not like a movie where you're wondering at the end is it good or evil that's going to win? It's no match. Matter of fact, we were Matthew I don't know if you remember this we were reading through Revelation in our small group. You know, usually in a movie, like an action movie, there's like some massive battle. At the end that just you're on the edge of your seat and you get to the final battle in the, you know, at the book of Revelation you remember this it was like God wins, satan destroyed, and it's like come on, man, I just read this whole book to get to the end and that's pretty anticlimactic. But see, no need to draw it out. It couldn't be drawn out and be truthful, because Satan is no match for God. He's no match for God.

Speaker 1:

All right, let's move on to the next verse now. Verse 20,. Just look at the first part of that. So Jesus says listen, all authorities have been given to you, satan's under your feet. Verse 20, nevertheless, here it is. Do not rejoice, lord. You tell us to rejoice all the time. Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you. What in the world? What in the world? What's going on here? I think this is what the point is Casting out demons will not save you and in the end, apart from Christ, that power that you've walked in means nothing, even if you've done it in Jesus' name.

Speaker 1:

The Lord can use anybody. What did he use in the Old Testament? Lots of people who were imperfect. He used a donkey. Right. If he can use that, he can use anybody. Matthew 7, 21 through 23.

Speaker 1:

Beloved, these are the most sobering words in my mind in all the Bible. Listen to this. Jesus says not everyone who says to me Lord, lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven. Wait a minute. Didn't Paul say that if we profess Jesus as Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead, we'll be saved? Well, that's not what Jesus says here and it's not a contradiction. By the way, not everyone who says to me, lord, lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day this is the day of judgment many are going to say to me Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? I mean, that sounds like you're a good Christian, and here it is. Did we not cast out demons in your name? I mean, if you saw somebody today casting out demons, wouldn't you assume, like this person's, probably on his way to glory? And then Jesus says that they'll ask didn't we do many mighty works in your name, work in the miraculous? And you could say that that day there were going to be.

Speaker 1:

People say, lord, I taught Sunday school all those years. Lord, I sat close to the front at church. I mean, I sat close to the preacher as I could. I played the organ, I sang songs. Lord, I wrote songs for you. I played the organ, I sang songs. Lord, I wrote songs for you. Lord, do you not know how much scripture I memorized? Lord, listen, I even helped in VBS. That ought to count for something.

Speaker 1:

Turn from me, you doer of iniquity. I never, never knew you depart from me. The tragedy of those words is unbelievable. Imagine doing all these good works, thinking man, I'm alright, I'm a pretty good person, but you have lived in habitual sin, going back to 1 John, and I'm saying remember habitual sin. You have not served the Lord and you have not, most importantly, you have not been converted. Because the only way you can truly serve the Lord and obey Him is if your heart's Jesus said to Nicodemus you've got to be born again, you've got to be regenerated, you've got to be made into a new creation. And if that hasn't happened in your life, evidenced by good works, then when you get to judgment, you're going to see Jesus and you're going to realize Lord, lord, and you're going to bow at his feet more than likely, or you're going to fall on your face. And I cannot imagine. There's people in this room right now who are in danger of this. And again, I'm not a fire and brimstone preacher, but I have a word today Amen, because you have turned your back on the Lord. You say you love God, but you've not been converted and all your goodness and all your attendance at church and all your prayer doesn't matter, it's all in vain. And can you imagine as you hear Lord finally? And he looks at you and goes who are you? Depart from me, get up, Depart from me, you doer of iniquity. I never knew you. Think about this.

Speaker 1:

Did Judas cast out demons? Yeah, he was one of the 12 that went out in chapter 9. Don't be a Judas. We don't rejoice because demons are subject to us, as glorious as that is Subject to us in the name of Jesus. I should add it's wonderful the truth that in some sense should be celebrated, but it shouldn't be the source of Jesus. I should add it's wonderful, the truth that in some sense should be celebrated, but it shouldn't be the source of our joy, our rejoicing. Why? Because in the end, without Christ in our lives, without regeneration, it means nothing, nothing. The only reason to rejoice. So I've been a little harsh, preaching that truth. It's Bible and I'm called to preach the whole counsel of God.

Speaker 1:

But I want to encourage some Christians now, some people who are faithful, some people who know the Lord, treasure the Lord, love the Lord, have been born into his family, who have moved from darkness into light, from death to life, from lostness to salvation. The reason for our rejoicing is not in small and temporary victories, it's not because of God-given abilities. We rejoice in the fact that God sent Jesus to do for us what we could not do for ourselves to die for our sin. To bear His wrath to be our substitute. Amen. We rejoice that God has raised him from the dead and that all who believe, let's John 3, 16 say, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Verse 17,. God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in that we might be saved through him. That's good news. If you're wondering, yeah, you can clap about that. You're not clapping for me.

Speaker 1:

Acts 4.12, and there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. 1 John 1.7,. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. No better news in the world. Hebrews 7 25,. When the devil comes against us and he says listen, I want to sift you as wheat, and he throws everything our way, if we're in Christ, hebrews 7 25 says consequently, he, jesus, is able to save us, not just a little bit, but to the utter most, those who draw near to God through him, since he is always making intercession for us.

Speaker 1:

You have a mediator when Satan's accusing you, saying God, you see what he did? God, he didn't pray enough. God, did you hear what he said? When somebody cut him off in traffic? He messed up. Sick him, lord. And Jesus comes in and says oh, not guilty, I paid for it. And Jesus sees us through the blood. God sees us through the blood of Jesus Christ. It's washed as white as snow.

Speaker 1:

Don't rejoice that demons are subject to your name. Rejoice. Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Your names are written in heaven. Your names are written in heaven. Let me just give me five more minutes here.

Speaker 1:

You know people rejoice that their names are written on worldly things that in the end, don't mean anything. People are pursuing ways to get their names written on documents in this world, like my name is on the sign out there, the very ugly sign, by the way. I almost want to take off an offering right now. When you see something every day, you forget that thing is it's seen better days. Let's say that. So, if you want to give and listen, my name's on the sign out there. But you know what? I've got a little card. I can show you. It's in my office. I can show you a little card Ordained with the assemblies of God. My name's on a card. I've not gotten too many discounts for that. People tend to want to charge me more these days for that.

Speaker 1:

Listen, my name's on a sign. My name's on a website Pastor Chris May, who cares In the end without Christ. It means nothing, because I can't stand before Jesus and say I pastored in your name. It means nothing, some of you and God bless you for this. Your name is on a house deed, but you're pursuing. I want it on a better house deed, right, you've got that car and your name's on the title, and good for you. Your name maybe is on if you're listening online or maybe you're here. Your name's on a sports roster of a really good team. Maybe your name is on the door of a large corporation or your business documents. Maybe you're an entrepreneur, and those are all good things. Maybe, just maybe, you've got your wall is rife with degrees with your name on it. Good for you, that's great, and none of those things are bad in and of themselves, but in the end they'll all be burnt up.

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That sign kind of thankful for this Gone, gone, your house Gone, your vehicle Gone. Don't rejoice in those things Like. Be thankful for them. Be thankful that God has blessed you. Every good and perfect thing comes from above. Be grateful, but don't let your joy be grounded in that, because none of it matters, none of it matters without Jesus in your life. So here's how I'll close Is your name, is your name written in heaven? So I want to ask listen, I'm not somebody. I never want to make a true Christian doubt his or her salvation. I believe in assurance. Some of you grew up where you went to bed every night never knowing if you were saved, because you sat under legalism and a workspace salvation. That's not what I want to do. It's not what I want to do, but I do want to give a battle cry for someone who may be in here and maybe you do not know the Lord and you know it. You do know it and I just pray that God spoke to somebody's heart today and awakened it to faith. It's not just about heaven, by the way. There's no life more glorious than living life with Jesus.

Speaker 1:

I went, you know where did I go? I was somewhere I don't remember where it was in. Just oh, it was a ball game. We went to Rupp Arena in March Madness and I had a great time and I loved it. But I was sitting around people that this is where their joy was rooted in sports. They were downing beer after beer, foul language Women and stuff. They shouldn't walk out of the house in. That's where they're looking for the joy. But something happened when I was there. I just saw their misery.

Speaker 1:

You can hide it in fancy clothes, behind fancy clothes. You can hide it before a nice house. You can put pictures on Facebook after like your life is good and try to hide. But it's there and you know it's there and it's because you don't know Jesus truly, it's because you're not following him. So that's you today. If you know, you do not know Jesus and you want to receive him today. Here's the thing. This is so good.

Speaker 1:

Jesus goes on in the text I don't have time to go there, but he goes on the text and he rejoices in the Spirit, beginning in verse 21. And the reason he does this is because God has revealed these things. He's hidden them from the wise and given the gospel and this power to the simple. I mean people like us. People like us. No, listen, I truly believe this. You're here. I'm not here to beat you down.

Speaker 1:

I'm here today with a proclamation to beckon you. Let today be the day of salvation. He came to give you life, and life abundant. Are you going to go through pain? Yeah. Is it going to be difficult? Yeah. Is the devil going to be after you? Yeah, but greater is he that's in us than he that is in the world. Amen. Jesus said to his disciples. This joy I leave to you, not the joy that the world gives, but my joy. So you can be in prison like Paul God forbid and say I rejoice in the Lord. Always In a hospital bed, I can rejoice in the Lord Wherever I'm at life with Jesus is unbelievable. So that's one.

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If you're lost and you know it today, come up front. Let me pray with you. Let our elders pray with you. Tell you how you can know the Lord yourself. Number two, and listen to me, church people. Number two, and listen to me, church people, when I pray for you every week. I mean it is. How much do I talk about this hunter? There are people here, that have been here for years, and you are not saved, and it's evident by the fruit of your life. Again, we're not saved by works, but works are the evidence of our life. And listen, I mean this with. What's my motive behind this message? Let me tell you, it is a deep, deep love for you. I'm the under shepherd of this church and I love the sheep that God is letting me lead, and I just want to make sure you're really a sheep. You're part of that fall. Would you just ask the Lord today, would you look at your life and would you look at your heart and do you have that assurance that you're saved? You can have that today. Repent, come up here, let us pray with you.

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Finally, christians, christians, it's tough to live in this world sometimes, isn't it? Is it? How many of you are going through some stuff tough stuff right now? It's tough to live in this world sometimes, isn't it? Is it? How many of you are going through some tough stuff right now? How many of you, like I mean honestly, throughout the week, and I can raise both hands, you get a little despondent, a little despaired, maybe you're even a little depressed. Yes, you been through anything really tough in the last year, or two years, three years. Yes, I've got great news for you.

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Your name, if you're in Christ, is written in heaven. Rejoice you ought to get happier about that. Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord. Always and again I say rejoice, lord, god in heaven, thank you that you have written those of us who are in Christ. Before the foundations of the world. Our names were written in heaven in the Lamb's book of life, and we thank you. We thank you.

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We were not ransomed, as 1 Peter tells us. We were not ransomed by silver and gold or the blood of animals, but we were redeemed, rescued by the precious blood of the perfect Lamb of God. So we stand here today, if we are in Christ, forgiven, changed, new creations. The old has passed away, the new has come. We have the joy of Christ, we have the peace of Christ, all of this available. We don't have to be anxious about everything, because in prayer and supplication we can make our requests known to you and your peace will guard our hearts and minds. In Jesus Christ, our Lord, let us walk in that joy today, in the joy today, in the joy of our salvation, the joy of your salvation, as the psalmist said. But, lord, I pray right now the Holy Spirit would move upon every one of us, he would awaken the joy of the Christians and that he would convict the hearts of the non-Christians. Let repentance happen.

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I believe that this is a call for people in this place today. I believe it's a call. It's not me calling, it's you calling. Let them hear the voice, let them respond in faith, not worry about what anybody thinks. This is the most non-judgmental, the most loving church I've ever been a part of. So don't let them care what people think. Let them come. God In Jesus' good name, amen.