April 29, 2012

^"The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17-20

 

There are two things you can expect from God in this text. One we discussed yesterday and it is - You Can Expect God To Give You Joy As You Celebrate Your Salvation. 

The second expectation is - You Can Expect Joy From God As You Share Your Salvation.

 

TRUTH: Joy comes from being used by God to share His joy with others.

Another way you will know you have joy in the Lord is that you will want to share it!

^“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.” Psalm 51:12-13

When the 72 went out in Jesus’ Name to share the good news of the Gospel of the Kingdom, they saw the power of God heal and deliver and change lives and their joy increased! Not only because they had joy BUT BECAUSE THEY SAW OTHER PEOPLE GET IT!

ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT MATCHES THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION IS SHARING THAT JOY AND SEEING SOMEONE ELSE RECEIVE IT! The disciples had seen that and were filled with joy!

I don’t know of anything that gives me more joy than knowing that I have been used by God to bring comfort, or encouragement of joy to someone else!

Sharing the joy of your salvation is the SWEET SPOT of enjoying your salvation!

When you go out to share you joy with others:

·         You Find A Sweet PRESENCE!

·         You Find A Sweet POWER!

·         You Find A Sweet PEACE!

·         You Find A Sweet PASSION!

·         You Go With A Sweet PROMISE!

·         You Find A Sweet PRODUCTIVITY!

Someone once said that the way to joy is:                      Jesus   Others   You

JOY COMES FROM CELEBRATING YOUR SALVATION -  BUT JOY STAYS WHEN YOU SHARE IT WITH OTHERS!

1)       THE WOMAN AT THE WELL FOUND JOY AND THEN SHARED IT WITH A CITY!

2)       ZACCHAEUS FOUND JOY AND SHARED IT WITH HIS CITY IN FORM OF TAX REFORM.

3)       THE WOMAN AT THE TOMB FOUND JOY WHEN THE STONE WAS ROLLED AWAY AND THEY RAN TO SHARE THE NEWS!

These disciples returned to Jesus in great joy after they had shared the news about the Kingdom of God!

THREE THINGS HAPPENED WHEN PEOPLE FOUND SALVATION WITH JESUS:

THEY CELEBRATED IT

THEY SHOWED IT

THEY SHARED IT

YOU SHOULD EXPECT GOD TO GIVE YOU JOY AS YOU SHARE THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION!

Luke 15:7 – “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

Are You Celebrating Your Salvation?

Psalms 47:1 “Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!”

Are You Showing Your Salvation?

Philippians 4:4 - “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”

Are You Sharing It?

Acts 2:42-47 – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Vance Havener said, “There is something wrong with our Christianity when we have to beg most of our crowd to come to church to hear about it.”
Have you forgotten the joy of your salvation?”

TODAY, ALL ACROSS THIS LAND THERE WILL BE MAJOR LEAGUE BALL PARKS FILLED WITH BASEBALL FANS EXPRESSING THEIR JOY OVER BASEBALL – AND THEY WILL FIGHT TRAFFIC AND CROWDS AND PARKING SPACE AND PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO DO IT.

WHILE ACROSS THAT SAME LAND THERE WILL BE HALF EMPTY CHURCHES WITH JOYLESS PEOPLE WONDERING WHY NO ONE COMES AND SECRETLY WONDERING WHILE THEY ARE THERE.

WE DON’T WANT TO BE THOSE GUYS AND WE DON’T WANT TO BE THAT CHURCH – DO WE?

GOD EXPECTS US TO HAVE HIS JOY – AND SO DO THOSE UNCHURCHED FOLKS WHO WALK IN OUR DOORS?

AS WE COME TO THE END OF WHAT HAS BEEN A GOOD YEAR – A YEAR OF HOPE – I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MAKE NEXT YEAR A YEAR OF JOY!

WHO WANTS TO HELP ME?

WHO WILL COMMIT TO:

CELEBRATE YOUR SALVATION?  - IF YOU DO – EXPECT HIS JOY!

SHOW YOUR SALVATION?  – IF YOU DO – EXPECT HIS JOY!

SHARE YOUR SALVATION? – IF YOU DO – EXPECT HIS JOY!

April 28, 2012

^"The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”  Luke 10:17-20

What can you expect from God?

In the first two weeks we have learned some solid truths about healthy expectations of God.

Week one there were three truths from the encounter between David and Goliath. First, you can expect that if God allows a giant to appear before you it is to prove that His power is greater than the giant. Second, you can expect if God places a giant before you so He can raise up the giant within you. Third, you can expect that when God raises up the giant within you it is so you can raise up giants around you!

 

Last week we learned that we should expect God to help us get through our personal Jordan.

Sunday we will learn the third expectation - you can expect God to give you joy.

Do you have joy in your faith?

Do you live in spiritual joy?

I believe God desires for you to have joy. The disciples discovered joy in this text and gave Jesus great joy.

There are two sources of joy that I want to call your attention to in this encounter.

Expect Joy From God As You Celebrate Your Salvation - "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 

The ultimate and ongoing source of spiritual joy must be found in your salvation.

If you cannot comprehend and celebrate the significance of your salvation in Christ, you will never be able to experience true joy.

These disciples were sent out by Jesus on a spiritual mission trip. As they went from town to town in His authority they saw demons cast out and diseases healed. Imagine how must joy they must have experienced and how much joy they must have given others! After completing a successful mission they returned to Jesus greatly hyped by what they had seen and done.

Jesus' response to them was significant. You need to hear it and understand it.

He told them not to get too impressed with the signs and wonders but to be very impressed by their salvation. Joy arises as you begin to grasp the greatness of your salvation wrought by Christ and bought by His blood.

Salvation brings forgiveness of your sins! What joy that brings!

Salvation redeemed you! That means His blood paid the price to buy you back out of the debts of your sins. That brings joy!

Salvation adopted you into God's family as His child and joint-heir with Christ. What a joyful realization!

Salvation regenerates you! That means His Spirit brings life to your spirit which was dead in its sins. What a joyous truth!

Salvation brings you into a personal relationship with God through Christ. You can walk with God and talk to God and hear His voice and feel His presence once you have been saved! The joy of the Lord becomes your joy!

Salvation connects you with eternal life! When you come into relationship with God through Christ, His life flows into the eternal part of you and your name is written into the heavenly Book of Life! Knowing you have received eternal life brings real joy!

The truth could not be more clear or simple to understand. If you want deep constant and abiding joy - spend your time meditating on and celebrating the great joys inherent in your salvation! If you cannot be joyful over your salvation nothing will ever give you joy.

April 27, 2012

"After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."  Luke 10:1-2

Good news!

There is a harvest to be had! It is out there! It is ripe! It is ready!

What does it take to have a harvest?

First, there must be good soil. Wherever there is good soil that has been prepared there is the possibility for a harvest!

Second, there must be seed sown. Everytime good seed is sown onto good soil there can be a harvest!

Third, there must be sunlight shined on the seed and the soil. Or, in this instance, SONlight must shine on it! Anywhere that the light of the Son shines on the good soil and the sown seed there is the possibility of a harvest!

Finally, there must be servants to bring in the harvest! Someone must go out and reap the harvest for the Kingdom. The ripe and ready grain does not bring itself into the storehouse. It waits for the laborer to bring it in!

This is great news for the discouraged congregation that hasn't been growing. There is a harvest to be had!

For the pastor who is about to give up because his church is plateaued. There is a harvest to be had!

The only thing needed to bring in the harvest is laborers! Jesus gives the plan for the harvest - GO! Yes, you! And the second thing is while you are heading into the harvest - PRAY! Ask God to raise up more laborers!

Will you go! Will you sow seed as you go? Will you shine the light of God's love as you go? Will you bring in the harvest that God has prepared?

There IS a harvest to be had!

April 26, 2012

"The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

"At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do."  Luke 10:17; 21

You would think Christians should have the market cornered on joy wouldn't you?

How could you be in possession of what Christians say they have and NOT have joy?

Do you have joy? Are you experiencing joy at the moment?

We see joy expressed in these verses above. First, the disciples came back from their short-term mission trip filled with joy!

Also, we see a joyful Jesus in the other verse.

What was the source of their joy? I have some ideas but before I share those let's define some terms to assure we have the same understanding.

How do I define joy?

Joy is when I connect with God through Christ, in the way I was created to be connected with Him. Joy is oneness with Him!

How do you get joy?

When you reconnect with God by repenting of all sin that has caused you to become disconnected from Him you receive joy. Connecting with God through faith allows His Spirit to fill up the empty spot in your spirit. Joy comes from the Holy Spirit so if you do not have the Spirit you can't have joy.

How do you keep joy?

Obviously, you remain connected with God and live in obedience to His Holy Spirit! Joy is the product of a personal relationship with God. Disobedience is sin and sin breaks relationship with God, robbing your joy. Joy is the product of proper daily decisions and continual devotion to God.

Do you know joy?

Are you living in joy?

Have you lost your joy?

Why would you be content to live without joy?

What is keeping you from having your joy restored?

April 25, 2012

"After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.  “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.’"  Luke 10:1-9

For the 40 years I have been privileged to serve in pastoral ministry I have read many books and attended many seminars and been exposed to many different plans or strategies of discipleship. Discipleship IS the deal for those of us who claim the Name of Jesus. But it was never meant to be a program or a strategy, it is intended to be a lifestyle. It is what He expects us to do!

In this encounter between Jesus and His disciples He demonstrates the model for making disciples. I invite you to pay close attention to how Jesus changed these followers into disciples.

First, Jesus did ministry and they watched. He preached the gospel and declared the Kingdom, healing the sick, delivering the captives, casting out demons, and doing miracles. While they were impressed and amazed, it often seemed like they really didn't grasp the significance of Who He is and what He came to do. But He ministered in power and authority and they watcher.

Second, Jesus did ministry and they helped. When He fed the five thousand He had them find the loaves and fishes. Then He had them help organize the crowd and hand out the food. Finally, He asked them to gather up the leftovers. He did ministry and they helped.

Third, Jesus sent them to do ministry and He watched. They discovered that when they went in His Name declaring His Kingdom healing happened and deliverance happened and salvations happened! Not only did they change lives but their lives were changed in the process!

Fourth, Jesus celebrated with them when they returned from their mission trip with stories galore! When His Kingdom came the kingdom of darkness fell!

Finally, as Jesus prepared to ascend into Heaven following His death and resurrection, He commanded these disciples whom He had disciples to go and make more disciples. In other words, they were to do ministry while others watched. Then they were to to ministry together. After that they were to let the others minister while they watched and then all of them would celebrate together!

Disciples disciple! It is what they do! It is how they live. It is why they live!

Who are you discipling? Who is discipling you? Are you spending your life or investing it?

April 24, 2012

 ^"After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town."  Luke 10:1-12

During this season of the church schedule we are tackling the topic of "What can I expect from God?" One of the foundational truths of the study is, "Your expectations of God arise from your experience with God." The second truth that is a corollary of the first is, "Your experience with God comes out of your encounters with God."

Those truths are illustrated in this encounter that Jesus had with His disciples - all 70 of them! Wanting to expand their expectation of Him, Jesus sent them out to get some experience encountering people in His Name and His authority.

Over the next few days we will see how that worked out for them. And we will analyse why that is and what it means for you.

I think one of the indicators that your spiritual experience with God is weak is when your "expector expires". In otherwords, you stop expecting big things from God and start noticing big problems around you. You allow your problems to get between you and God. You allow your problems to outgrow your faith. A telltale sign is when you find fear rising up where faith used to be.

What do you do when your "expector expires"? What happens when your experience with Him grows old and cold?

You come to Christ, like these followers did, and seek a fresh encounter with Him. You get a fresh look at Him. You get a fresh listen to Him. You let Him restore His love in you. And you lay down your complaints and pick up His cross. You stop stewing and start serving. You forget your problems and go serve other's needs.

A fresh encounter with Christ gives you new experiences with Him and raises your expectations of Him!

Could you be ready for a fresh encounter?

April 23, 2012

"The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. " Psalm 24:1-2

Happy 47th Anniversary!

How did you celebrate?

Celebrate what?

You must be kidding! Yesterday was EARTH DAY!

Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment held on April 22. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisconsin) as an environmental teach-in in 1970 and is celebrated in many countries every year. The first Earth Day was in 1970. Earth Day is in spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. The United Nations celebrates Earth Day each year on the spring equinox, which is often 20 March. This is a tradition which was founded by peace activist John McConnell in 1969. The United Nations first celebrated Earth Day on the spring equinox in 1971. This was also the first time ever that the United Nations celebrated Earth Day. The first Earth Day on the spring equinox was also in 1970.

So, Earth Day is a celebration of the earth and it's environment, right?

Then, it would seem logical to honor God, the Creator of the earth on Earth Day! Who better to focus on than Him? Right?

Not!

Why? Because Earth Day is the creation of godless people with an anti-God, anti-capitalistic agenda. Granted, not everyone involved with Earth Day or who may celebrate it are like these people. But a thorough study of the origins, purpose, guiding prinicples and implementation of Earth Day will reveal that there is a definite social and political agenda that drives the movement. If you don't believe me, do the research yourself. These are the people pushing the global warming theories that have been largely discredited. How about getting the 48 hour weather forecasts more accurate before predicting entire climate changes in coming decades?

In my lifetime, there has been dire warnings of global cooling. Then there was panic about global warming. Neither of those have happened. Now they have morphed it into "global climate change". How much credibility do you want to give to a movement that has changed its fundamental premise three times in less than half a century?

Twenty years ago a wise friend of mine told me that the environmentalist movement was the new home of the communist/socialist types. I thought he was a little paranoid or conspiratorial and laughed him off. But time has given credence to his point of view. Again, some study and observation will make it clear to you who the movers and promoters of this movement are.

Pastor Brad, are you saying there is no climate change?

I am not prepared to say that climate changes don't happen, but I am saying that we have only been keeping climate records for a little more than a century. How can you make accurate assumptions or predictions based on limited data over a 100 year span of the ancient planet? And, if it is proven that there is climate change how can we prove that it is man caused?

This all sounds very speculative and quite pessimistic. It sounds like something people with no Godly faith or hope might worry about. It also sounds like a scare tactic that could be used by people who are trying to gain control over your behavior and your emotions.

To me it sounds a whole lot easier and more encouraging to just believe that there is a Creator and that He is intimately involved in our world today. He made it, He sustains it, and He will protect it until He makes a new heaven and a new earth. If you REALLY want to celebrate Earth Day, celebrate God - the Creator of Earth because "the earth is His and everything that is in it...."

Don't buy into the hoax! Buy into HIM!