The Basis For Christian Joy – Part 2
Luke 10:17-24 (20)
February 10, 2019

As you know, we are currently in a section in Luke’s gospel
Where we are talking about the Necessity of Jesus.

• Certainly that has been revealed in Jesus’ sending out the 70 to announce His coming.
• And now we are seeing that through the lens of Christian joy.

In our current text we are looking at 4 truths which we are calling “The Basis For Christian Joy”

And certainly each of these 4 truths also highlight the necessity of Christ,
Since none of them are possible without Him.

We began looking at these 4 reasons last time.
#1 YOUR SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY
Luke 10:17-19

Here is where we saw the 70 return to the Lord.
• He had sent them out into an underworked harvest…
• He had sent them out as lambs in the midst of wolves…
• He had sent them out empty handed, requiring them to operate in faith…
• He had sent them out with the understanding that not all would listen to their message…

As we noted, we don’t have any record of their specific mission endeavors.
There are no stories told by the 70 as to what took place on their trip.

But Luke is especially interested in
The universal response of the 70 when they returned.

He simply records, “The seventy returned with joy”

Luke doesn’t say that 38 of the 70 returned with joy.
Luke records that this was the common response of all on the mission.

And the reason for their joy is even recorded.
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

The reason for their shock is because
• Demonic influence and oppression is well-documented in the gospels.
• It was a severe problem, and one that humans where unable to deal with.
• We get numerous stories of the desperation of people as they face demonic oppression.
• Jews knew they were no match for demons.
• And so the 70 were thrilled to find that as they ministered in Jesus’ name, the demons were subject to them.

And I’m sure that probably indicates that they cast out demons.
But more than that, it indicates victory over the kingdom of darkness.

If you read the gospels and you think that
Only the people with physical demonic infirmities
Are under Satan’s influence then you are gravely mistaken.

• The Bible teaches that the whole world “lies in the power of the evil one”.
• Paul refers to Satan as “the god of this world”
• And Paul reveals that one of the reasons people are lost is because Satan has
“blinded” their “minds”.

Demonic oppression goes much deeper and spreads much farther
Than just physically afflicted people.

But the 70 found tremendous victory over their efforts.
And the 70 came back rejoicing in that.

So what you see from a context standpoint is that
It was the 70 who STARTED THIS CONVERSATION about joy.

It began with them because they rejoiced in their spiritual authority.

And first we noted that JESUS CONFIRMED THIS.
He told them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.”

Jesus confirmed both their authority and their rejoicing there.
Jesus saw Satan losing battle after battle after battle.

AND THAT IS REASON FOR REJOICING
• Seeing a life that formerly walked in darkness set free from that darkness to be transferred to the kingdom of light is indeed a reason to rejoice.
• And being used of God to see that miracle occur is also a reason to rejoice.

BUT JESUS DIDN’T STOP THERE.
• He actually gave them more reason to rejoice.
• It’s as though He gave them additional benefit that perhaps they had not realized.

(19) “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy,” (that is what they just saw)

“AND nothing will injure you.”

In other words, it is true that you have authority,
But you should also know that YOU ARE OFF-LIMITS from him.

That DOESN’T mean he can’t war…
That DOESN’T mean he can’t at times hinder…
That DOESN’T mean he can’t physically afflict…

But just as he cannot keep God’s elect from salvation,
Neither can he re-capture one whom God has delivered.
IT IS ABSOLUTE VICTORY.

And that is certainly a reason for rejoicing.

And since this is why the 70 were already rejoicing,
This is where Jesus began.

However, spiritual authority is NOT the main reason for rejoicing,
Nor is it the most important, and Jesus makes that clear as well.

He takes the rejoicing of the 70 and confirms it,
But then helps them discern what the real basis for Christian joy is.

And that new insight begins in verse 20.

Rejoice in Spiritual Authority
#2 REJOICE IN YOUR SECURE SALVATION
Luke 10:20

Jesus clearly confirmed the rejoicing of the 70 regarding their spiritual authority,
But it is also clear that
Spiritual authority is NOT the greatest reason for rejoicing.

Jesus makes that clear here as He uses the word “NEVERTHELESS, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you”

Jesus here isn’t say that it is sinful to rejoice in spiritual authority,
He is merely MAKING A COMPARISON.

It is similar to in Luke 14
Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”

• Clearly hating your father and mother and wife and children is not a command.
• In fact we are called to love them.
• Rather in that statement Jesus is making a comparison that the love we
have for Him must supersede the love we have for others.

He is doing the same thing here.
It’s not that we don’t rejoice in spiritual authority,
It’s just that that isn’t at all the main reason for rejoicing.

It’s as though Jesus says, “You’re rejoicing in your authority,
Well I’ve got a much better reason than that for you to rejoice.”

And here is that much better reason:
“but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

Here is the beauty in what is said:
• You are rejoicing because you had authority over the enemy,
• And you saw him losing battles,
• And you saw people freed from his grasp.

Well then you should rejoice that THIS IS WHAT WAS DONE FOR YOU!
• You were rescued from Satan’s grasp.
• You were rescued from his bonds.
• You were transferred to the kingdom of heaven.

Colossians 1:13-14 “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

When Jesus says that “your names are recorded in heaven”
He is saying that “you have been saved.”

But I am grateful that Jesus said it the way He did
Because there is a great deal of insight that we can glean from this.

I don’t know that we’ve ever just sat down and focused on this statement
About our names being recorded, so let’s do that this morning.

Instead of simply saying “rejoice that you have been saved”,
Jesus said to “rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

So let’s chew on that phrase for a moment.
• What we are talking about here is the heavenly register.
• It is the log of all the citizens of heaven.
• It is the roll sheet of those who will inherit the kingdom.

The writer of Hebrews said it like this:
Hebrews 12:22-24 “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.”

The writer of Hebrews is making his strong case
As to why the Hebrews SHOULD NOT CONCERN THEMSELVES
WITH BEING EXCOMMUNICATED from Jewish worship.

• So what if they have lost their access to the temple…
• So what if they have lost their access to the synagogue…
• So what if they have lost their access to the feasts and sacrifices…

All of those things are like trying to draw near to the old Mountain of Sinai
Which (as all Jews should have known) no one was able to effectively draw near to.

The writer of Hebrews told these that
They are drawing near to a different mountain; a heavenly one.
They draw near to the actual Mount Zion, where God lives.

• He calls it “the heavenly Jerusalem”
• It is the place were “myriads of angels” dwell.
• It is also the location of “the general assembly and church of the firstborn”

And then the writer says of the church “who are enrolled in heaven”

Isn’t that a great statement!
What a beautiful reality for the church to ponder
That we are those who have been “enrolled in heaven”

Kids today make a big to do about being ENROLLED IN COLLEGE,
Obviously we are dealing with something far greater here.

Paul makes reference to it in his letter to the Philippians.
Philippians 4:3 “Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”

• There are 2 women there who can’t get along and Paul askes Syzygos (whose
name meant “true companion”) to help these women get along.
• He tells him to get Clement to help and all of the fellow workers and then Paul
says, “whose names are in the book of life.”

That was Paul’s way of describing salvation.
They have been granted eternal life.
They have been written down as alive.

This is what we are talking about.
Those whom God has recorded as His children,
Heirs of His kingdom, recipients of His life.

But without a doubt, the book that likes this statement
More than any other is THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION.

Your first recollection to it is most likely in association with the final Day Of Judgment.
Revelation 20:11-15 “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

If you had no other understanding of the phrase,
THAT PASSAGE ALONE would be enough to persuade you
To see the importance of having your name recorded in heaven.

It is the sole determining factor in whether or not men escape hell.

If your name has not been recorded in that book of life;
In that registry of heaven, you are consigned to judgment.

ON THE FLIP SIDE, not only do those
Whose name is recorded in the book escape judgement,
BUT THEY ALSO INHERIT THE KINGDOM.

Later when speaking about heaven:
Revelation 21:27 “and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Your name has to be recorded on the registry or you don’t get in.

For further clarification it is here referred to as “the Lamb’s book of life” which is even more enriching.
• Namely it is those who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb.
• They have clothed themselves in the righteousness of Christ.
• They are “in Christ” and Christ is “in them”
• They have become partakers of His crucifixion and partakers of His
resurrection.
• They are His bride, and have been given His name.
• And therefore they are welcomed into His city.

Having your name on that list is of the utmost importance.

It not only is your ticket to escaping the eternal judgment,
But also for entrance into the heavenly city.

AND I would tell you that this is an IRREVOCABLE reality.
Another reference to this book is found in:
Revelation 3:5 “He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”

It is sometimes humorous to me that people who actually argue against the security of salvation will use this verse as part of their argument.

And yet, read the verse.
Jesus specifically said “I will not erase his name from the book of life”

Nowhere does He say that He will.
I’m not even sure God owns and eraser.

Romans 11:29 “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

So not only are we talking about those
Who are His bride and who are purchased by Christ,
But we are talking about those whose names
ARE SECURELY RECORDED in that book.

And yet there is still more information given about this issue in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 13:8 “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.”

Revelation 13 is not talking about worshiping Jesus,
It is referring to worshiping the Anti-Christ (the first beast).

• He is actually the “Jesus impersonator”
• He will deceive the world with his supposed resurrection from the dead after his mortal wound is healed.
• He will speak arrogant words and blasphemies and will dazzle the world with his miraculous power which he will get from Satan.

And the truth is that everyone will follow him.
“All who dwell on the earth will worship him”

His power will be too great,
And coupled with the fact that he’ll kill anyone who doesn’t worship him,
THE WHOLE WORLD WILL WORSHIP.

And let me tell you why worshiping him is so dangerous.
Revelation 14:9-11 “Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

If you worship him, you go to hell.
It’s that simple.
Yet we learned that everyone will worship him,

EXCEPT for one group.
“everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.”

The only people who will not worship the Anti-Christ
Are those whose name has been written “in the book of life of the Lamb”

There is clearly a DIVINE PROTECTION that is working on their behalf.

You see it again later:
Revelation 17:8 “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.”

That is in reference to the Anti-Christ’s supposed death and resurrection.
He was and is not, and is about to come (death and resurrection)

And John says that the world will “wonder”, when they see that.

In fact, the only people that won’t be fooled by him
Are those whose name is written in the book of life.

So you see that there is a sort of divine protection at work on their behalf.
• They are protected from the deception of the enemy…
• They are protected from the destruction for all eternity…
• They are promised to be granted access into the gates of heaven…

It’s an important list!

BUT ALSO GLEANED THERE, especially in the passage in chapter 13
Revelation 13:8 “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.”

There it is not just called “the book of life”,
Or even just “the Lamb’s book of life”.

It is referred to as “the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.”

What we are talking about then is that
This is the list of people who have been atoned for
Through the death of Christ.

This is the book of the names of the people He died for.

On the cross, after bearing the eternal wrath of God, Jesus said:
John 19:30 “Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”

At that moment, He actually paid in full the sin debt of every single one of the names in that book.
• It is the book of the reward of His suffering.
• It is the book of His atonement.
• It is the book of His purchased bride.

He bought her He paid for her
This book is His “bill of sale” where her name is recorded.

But even in that passage there is A LITTLE MORE that is interesting.
Both in 13:8 and in 17:8 we read the same statement.

• (13:8) “written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.”
• (17:8) “written in the book of life from the foundation of the world.”

Well that is certainly interesting.
This tells us WHEN our names were written there.
And this may go against the grain of conventional evangelical thinking for you.

We typically like to say it like this:
• That on the cross Jesus paid in full all the penalty for all the sins of everyone who ever lived.
• It’s just this blanket pardon, fully paid.
• And if you are willing to claim it, then claim it, and then He’ll write your name in that book too.

But that’s not what we read here.
We read that the names written in that book were written there
“from the foundation of the world”

We are talking about a people (a bride)
Whom God selected from the beginning.
• A people’s, yet to be born, whom God chose and wrote their names in heaven.
• And then, God sent His Son to pay the price of their redemption.
• He chose them, He recorded them, and then He purchased them.
• And not only that, but as we saw in Revelation, He then protected them from all the deceptions and threats of the evil one that they might remain His.
• He would not let them fall prey to the Anti-Christ.
• They are His, chosen, recorded, bought, paid for through the sacrifice of Christ, and protected church.

You want to hear some other places where these people are talked about?
John 6:37-40 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

Jesus plainly says that I came to do My Father’s will
In purchasing and keeping and raising all those whom He has chosen.

And incidentally, all those that He has given Me,
“I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.”

Or:
John 10:14-16 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.”

Jesus doesn’t speak there of some undisclosed group.
You don’t hear Him talking about how He hopes someone will come.

• No, He knows who are His.
• He came to die for those who are His.
• He is bringing all them, even some who are not of this fold (not Jewish)

And later in that same chapter:
John 10:27-29 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

There it is again.
• “I know them”
• “I give eternal life to them”
• “no one will snatch them out of My hand”

Or later in His High Priestly prayer.
John 17:6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.”

There it is, “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world”

Even later in that prayer:
John 17:9 “I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours;”

That’s some distinction isn’t it!
I’m not talking about everyone here, only those whom You gave Me.

And the whole prayer is about how the Father will protect them.
John 17:11-12 “I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. “While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.”

John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

And then of course, as we read earlier in John 19,
Jesus will then go and pay the price of their redemption.

Jesus will pay their penalty and will cancel out their debt
And will transfer them to the kingdom of light.

We are talking about those
Who at the very foundation of the world God chose,
And recorded their names in His registry,
And then sent His Son to pay the price of their forgiveness.

In Matthew’s gospel we read of the redeemed like this:
Matthew 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

So not only did God choose them and redeem them,
But the kingdom was even prepared for them.

It is really quite remarkable.
And all of this occurred from the FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD
According to God’s sovereign prerogative.

Ephesians 1:4 “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.”

Or as Paul says to the Romans:
Romans 8:29-30 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

Those whom God chose, (through the process of justification by Christ), end up in glory.
• They do not fall for the deceptions of the evil one…
• They are not condemned in the lake of fire…
• They are granted access into the heavenly city…
• They are securely written there.

I’ve always loved:
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

That’s a verse often quoted by those who wish to refute the doctrine of election,
But if you’ll apply a proper hermeneutic and read that verse in context you’ll see that the “anyone” Peter is referring to is not everyone in general, but rather “you” the elect.

And God is not willing to lose any of those He has chosen.

We saw that same thing in the “Parable of The Wheat and The Tares” where Jesus would not unleash judgment on the tares until all the wheat were safely gathered.

We are just seeing that those
Whom He has chosen and recorded and purchased;
THAT THEY ARE SECURE.

Can we agree then that having your name recorded on that list is a good thing?

Can we agree that…
• Having been chosen of God…
• Having been redeemed by the death of Christ…
• Having been protected from the evil one…
• Having been pardoned from judgment…
• Having been granted access into a heavenly city…
…is a reason for rejoicing?

• Do we rejoice when we go out and preach the gospel and see a sinner set free from the domain of darkness? Yes
• Do we rejoice when a person in affliction finds deliverance? Yes
• Do we rejoice in the fact that Satan’s dominion has been eternally broken? Yes

But what we rejoice most in is that all of these things happened for us.

Do you realize church? (those of you who have been redeemed)
• Do you realize that you are one of the chosen?
• Do you realize that your name was one written from the beginning?
• Do you realize that on the cross Christ was paying for your sin?
• Do you realize that you have been protected from the evil one?

And all this despite the fact that you lived for a time in utter rebellion against God.
• You weren’t born redeemed…
• You weren’t born holy…
• You were born in sin,

But the sovereign prerogative of God,
And the fact that He had already written your name in that book
Meant that He would stop at nothing to rescue you.

Ephesians 2:1-7 “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

Titus 3:3-7 “For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

That is a reason to rejoice!

And this is what Jesus tells the 70 here.
In fact, we He COMMANDED them to do it.

And church, I don’t know a better way to celebrate this
Than by coming to the table of the Lord
And rejoicing in the price of our redemption.

So we’ll come to the table of the Lord, and as you do:
“rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

The Song of the Soul
Psalms 25
February 3, 2019

You are certainly all now aware of Martin Luther and the work which he began in 1517 otherwise known as “The Great Reformation”.

But if you back up another 100 years you come to the man
Who is often referred to as “The Morning Star of the Reformation”
And that is a Bohemian man named Jan Hus.

• Hus was a man who entered the priesthood for the sake of money,
• But under the influence of Wycliffe was saved and became a pre-reformation
voice in the Catholic church.
• He didn’t necessarily go as far as Luther in all of his desired reforms,
• But he did especially confront immorality in the church, a lack of true
regeneration among church members,
• And he did hold a high view of Scriptural authority.

Hus was called to recant at the “Council of Constance” in 1415,
And when he refused he was convicted of heresy
And the next summer was burned at the stake.

The infamous statement that arose from Hus at his execution was, “Today you burn a goose, but in one hundred years a swan will arise which you will prove unable to boil or roast.”

Perhaps you’ve heard the statement “His goose is cooked”

Hus referred to himself as “the goose” because he was in fact from Husinec (literally “Goosetown”) and his last name “Hus” meant goose.

Many saw the statement as a prophetic call toward Martin Luther
Who would nail his 95 thesis on the door 100 years later.

Now, it is doubted that Hus every uttered those words,
Many think Luther coined the phrase, but regardless, Hus was an early voice of reform in the church even before the Reformation occurred.
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/goose/

And I tell you now about Hus
Because on the day he was burned at the stake,
Eye witnesses record that as the flames rose about him,
Hus sang a hymn.

He sang, “To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me.”
(MacArthur, John [The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 2 Timothy; Moody Publishes, Chicago, IL; 1995] pg. 13)

You see then how well this song fits
To the soul of the one who faces great danger,
But who is entrusting everything about himself to God.

It is also strikingly familiar to the quote of our Lord on the cross which is found in Psalms 31:5 and Luke 23:46

Luke 23:46 “And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.” Having said this, He breathed His last.”

• That was the cry of Jesus as He faced death.
• It was the cry of Hus as he faced death.
• It was the cry of David here in Psalms 25 as he faced death as well.

The setting for the Psalm, though not specifically given, is clear.

It is obvious that David is in great peril of danger.
• He is facing his enemies and does not want them to exult over him. (2)
• He is in great trouble and affliction and distresses (17-18)
• His enemies have violent hatred for him (19)
• And the very fact that he is asking for protection of his soul indicates that he is
facing death. (20)

Others have also noted that it must be a Psalm written later in life
Since in verse 7 David references the sins of his youth.

And all of these together has led many to SPECULATE that
It was a Psalm written during the revolt of Absalom.

Regardless, it is written at a time when David faced death.

Now, there is something else you should know about this Psalm
And that has to do with ITS LAYOUT.

Psalms 25 is an acrostic.
Each line comes with a descending letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
(not necessarily the first word in each line, but in each line)

Now what that means for interpretation and study
Is that it makes it hard to try and break it down as an outline
Since that’s really not the way it was written.

What you glean from David here are definite themes and thoughts
That intertwine throughout the Psalm.
(If you’ve ever written an acrostic you know what I mean)

What you really get is a Psalm which in its entirety
Expresses the main desires of David’s soul.

That’s why we are calling this “The Song of the Soul”
It reflects the chief beliefs and desires of David’s soul
As he found himself in great danger and prepared himself to face death.

As we study, we relive the daily cry of the Christian soul to God.
While I definitely understand singing this song while facing death,
I honestly can’t think of a time when our souls do not cry like this to God.

This is a fitting song of the soul to God for all occasions.

We are going to break this down into 6 points.
• Each represent a very fitting cry to God regarding our soul.

#1 RECEIVE IT
Psalms 25:1-3

I don’t know if you are interested in knowing the words that David used as part of his acrostic, but I do think identifying them helps in our understanding of the main point.

So if you want to mark them, here they are.
(1) “To You”
(2) “trust”
(3) “Indeed”

These are the words that begin with the Hebrew letters, Aleph, Beth, and Gimmel

By highlighting those 3 words that David built these verses around
It becomes clear that the main thrust here in the beginning
Is that David is lifting his soul to God because he trusts God.

And obviously when you lift something to God or offer something to God
The hope is that He will receive it.

It is David’s desire to put his soul in God’s care.
“To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust,”

And you see the request that
He doesn’t want to falter and end up in shame.

And because David knows that “none of those who wait for You will be ashamed” David takes his soul to God.

On the flip side “Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.”

While others lean on their own strength and their own resources
David has chosen to lean on God.

And that is not just seen in these first 3 verses, it is seen throughout.
(5) “For You I wait all the day”
(20) “Guard my soul and deliver me; Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.”
(21) “For I wait for You”

It’s clearly a common theme throughout the song that
In regard to his soul, David is asking God to take it and care for it.

And this, by the way, is the very basis of salvation.
We yield our soul to God that He might care for it because we know that we cannot on our own.

We are not like the Pharisee who trusted in his own goodness.
Luke 18:11-12 “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’”

We are not like the farmer who trusted in his wealth
Luke 12:16-21 “And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”‘ “But God said to him, ‘ You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

We are not like the rebels in Isaiah’s day who figured that when danger arrived they’d be strong enough or fast enough to escape it.
Isaiah 30:15-17 “For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing, And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses,” Therefore you shall flee! “And we will ride on swift horses,” Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift. One thousand will flee at the threat of one man; You will flee at the threat of five, Until you are left as a flag on a mountain top And as a signal on a hill.”

No, we are aware that our soul is far better protected
If it is in God’s care and not our own.

That is what David said.
“God, I am facing danger, and I don’t trust my own hands with the care of my soul, so I am lifting it to You”

It is the cry of the soul, that God would receive it.

We do the same.
1 Peter 4:19 “Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”

That is what David is doing.
That is what Jan Hus did.
Asking God to receive their soul.

On behalf of his soul David also requests that God would:
#2 TEACH IT
Psalms 25:4-5

If you want the two words David highlighted here they are:
(4) “ways”
(5) “Lead”

• David used the word “ways” and spoke of God’s road or paths that he must learn to walk.
• And David asked God to “lead” him down that path.

Obviously the main thought on David’s mind here
Is on God teaching or directing his soul.

“Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.”

The theme is clear.
David doesn’t just lift up his soul to God for safe keeping,
But he is also asking God to make the changes that his soul needs.

And again, this isn’t the only reference.
(8) “Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.”
(9) “He leads the humble in justice”
(9) “He teaches the humble in His way”

It is a reminder that when we lift our soul to God
We lift it with the understanding that
He is about to make the necessary changes on it.
HE IS GOING TO GUIDE.

And again this is foundational to salvation.
It is the aspect of submission.
• After all, we do call Him “Lord”
• We follow Him
• We obey Him

Jesus Himself said:
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

We follow and learn.
We follow and obey.

We are not like the 3 men in Luke 9
• The one who didn’t want to follow if it wouldn’t lead to prosperity.
• The one who didn’t want to follow if it cost him prosperity.
• The one who didn’t want to follow if it cost him his reputation.

We don’t want to be those Jesus referred to in Luke 6
Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

We understand that part of entrusting our soul to God
Is to obey God when He tells us where to walk.

That is why the call of the gospel
Is actually a call not just to faith but to obedience.

Those of you who have been working on the Romans devotion saw this early in Romans 1.
Romans 1:5 “through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake,”

It’s not just faith, but the faith that produces obedience.

In fact, a lack of obedience only indicates a lack of trust.
1 John 2:3-6 “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”

David understood this.
• And so not only does he lift his soul to God,
• But he understands that part of this trusting always requires following the paths which God ordains.

David comes to the Lord in full submission.

So David requests that God would Receive his Soul, Teach his Soul
#3 FORGIVE IT
Psalms 25:6-7

The key words David highlighted in these to verses are:
(6) “Remember”
(7) “sins”

And it seems apparent that the first word inspired the second.

For David is quick to ask God to “Remember”
How compassionate and loyal He is.

“Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, For they have been from of old.”

And then it’s as if David says, “Since we’re talking about remembering, I have something I don’t want You to remember.”

(7) “Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD.”

It is humility.
• It is being poor in spirit.
• It is a recognition of sinfulness.
• It is a known need for forgiveness.

In contrast to the Pharisee we looked at earlier, we also see the tax collector standing next to him.
Luke 18:13-14 “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

It is a cry for God to be merciful in spite of what we deserve.
That is what David is appealing for here.

If God is going to count sins, then no one could stand.
• David’s only hope is that God deals with Him in His great mercy.
• It is an understanding of the necessity of God’s mercy in life.

And again, this is seen throughout the Psalm.
(11) “Pardon my iniquity for it is great”
(18) “And forgive all my sins”

David understands that in bringing his soul to God
That he must also ask for mercy
Due to the condition in which his soul is presented.

• His soul is not worthy.
• His soul is not clean.

AND YET David has the courage to bring his soul to God
Because he knows that God is filled with compassion and lovingkindness.

It is this understanding by which we all present our souls to God.

The understanding that it so beautifully articulated by the apostle John.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

How many times have we clung to that truth!

How many times have rejoiced in what we learn of Jesus.
Matthew 9:10-13 “Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. “But go and learn what this means: ‘ I DESIRE COMPASSION,AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

How many times have we relished in the promise of Paul.
Romans 10:13 “for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”

We know that when we approach God we don’t approach in arrogance.
• We know we come sinful and stained.
• We know that we have sinned and that we are sinful.
• And we know that we need a pardon from Him.

The beauty is that when we entrust our souls to Him, He offers it!
He is a compassionate God.

So
• We entrust our souls to Him,
• We understand the necessity of obedience in doing that,
• We do it in humility knowing that we are in desperate need of a pardon if He is to accept it.

In regard to his soul, David asks God to Receive it, to Teach it, to Forgive it
#4 USE IT
Psalms 25:8-11

And here are the key words David highlights here.
(8) “Good”
(9) “leads”
(10) “All”
(11) “For Your”

All of these are pictures of the great things God does
And WHY He does them.

God is “good”
Same word we saw in Psalms 14
Psalms 14:1 “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good.”

Humans aren’t good, but God is.
“He instructs sinners in the way” (that is way of salvation)
“He leads the humble in justice.
“He teaches the humble His way.”

God is good to unworthy people.
So long as they humble themselves
He leads them where they do not deserve to go.

But even more important to David is WHY GOD DOES IT.
(11) “For Your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.”

Certainly David wants forgiveness,
But here he asks God to do it so that He can glorify Himself through it.

This is David, in effect saying, “God I want you to forgive me because nothing will show what a merciful and gracious God You are, than Your willingness to save a thug like me!”

You will glorify Yourself by pardoning me.

We saw that also up in verse 7
(7) “remember me, For Your goodness’ sake”

David understands that the purpose of his soul is the glory of God.
• That God receives souls
• That God teaches and trains souls
• That God forgives souls
• And that God does so for His own glory.

Didn’t Paul teach us this?
1 Timothy 1:12-17 “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Paul understood that his salvation was so that God could
“demonstrate His perfect patience”

But at the heart it is an understanding that
The purpose of the salvation of my soul is the glory of God.

Do you understand that?
• You aren’t saved just for your comfort.
• You aren’t saved just so you can enjoy heaven.
• You are saved for the glory of God.

God saves sinners to prove how glorious He is.

We’ve mentioned this a lot, but Christianity is getting this wrong today.
I hear it all the time that the Christian
Puts his own worth at the center of redemption.
The thought that God’s salvation proved how valuable you are.

No, the fact that God save you proved how glorious He is.
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

We are all shining testimonies
To the undeserved and unbelievable grace of God.
Our souls are meant to be put on display for God’s glory.
David knows that.
Use me God.

Here’s my soul, receive it, teach it, forgive it, and use it for Your glory.
#5 HONOR IT
Psalms 25:12-15

I know that sounds strange.
Here are the words David highlighted.

(12) “Who”
(13) “soul”
(14) “The secret”
(15) “eyes”

Now what you find here is David talking about
The benefit of being a person who fears the Lord.

You see this in verse 12.
“Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. His soul will abide in prosperity, And his descendants will inherit the land.”

David is saying that choosing to fear God is a good decision.
God honors those who fear Him.

Furthermore.
(14) “The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant.”

“secret” there is a word that can mean “counsel”
Or in Job it is translated “friendship”

We are talking about intimacy with God.
• That those who fear God gain intimacy with Him.
• They gain knowledge of the mysteries of God.
• They receive His favor, His blessing, His counsel.

And since David fears the Lord.
He is confident that God will come to his aid.

(15) “My eyes are continually toward the LORD, For He will pluck my feet out of the net.”

David is constructing a thought here in this acrostic.
• Whose soul abides in prosperity?
• Whose soul gains friendship with God?
• Whose soul gets delivered?

The one who fears the Lord.
And David had done that.
And now he wants God to validate that.
• God, prove that trusting You was not stupid.
• God, prove that fearing You was not a waste.

This has been a major theme in this Psalm.
(2) “Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me.”
(20) “Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You”
(21) “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me”

His is asking God to vindicate his soul
And prove that fearing God is the right decision.

It is similar to the prayer of Elijah as he stood on Mt. Carmel.
1 Kings 18:36-37 “At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, ” O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.”

Do you catch the call for vindication there?

We talked about it in Psalms 23 when God sets a table before us in the presence of our enemies.

We read:
Colossians 3:2-4 “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”

We know that though we are considered fools for Christ today,
There is coming a day when our souls will have the last laugh.

And so we honor and obey and trust Him with the expectation
That a day will come when God will vindicate us.

That is what David is asking for here.
God, show the world that fearing You wasn’t stupid.

And then David has one more request for God regarding His soul
#6 GUARD IT
Psalms 25:16-22

Here are the words David highlights.
(16) “Turn”
(17) “troubles”
(18) “Look”
(19) “Look”
(20) “Guard”
(21) “integrity”
(22) “redeem”

He is asking God to turn and look at him.
To see all the trouble he is in
And to ultimately deliver him because of his integrity (purity of heart).

This is his cry, especially as he faces death.
God, as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death here, I am entrusting my soul to You. Please guard it!

“Turn to me and be gracious to me, For I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses. Look upon my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Look upon my enemies, for they are many, and they hate me with violent hatred.”

And then the main request.
(20) “Guard my soul and deliver me”

We have often talked about this in Romans 8.
Remember where we see that God has foreknown us and predestined us and called us and justified us and therefore will certainly glorify us.

To that reality, Paul asked that great question.
“What shall we say to these things, if God is for us, who is against us?”

And then Paul went on a boast rejoicing in just how secure his soul was.
Romans 8:35-39 “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

People think about things like persecution and suffering
And the fear is that I won’t be strong enough to endure it.
What if it’s so bad that it causes me to deny Christ?

Well, if the protection of your soul
Depended upon the strength of your will
I’d say you were in a heap of trouble.

But it doesn’t.
The security of the sheep doesn’t rest upon the will of the sheep, but on the strength of the shepherd.

John 10:27-29 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

And this is why David is entrusting his soul to God.
God, if I am to have control over my soul it will most certainly be lost,
And this is why I entrust it to You.

So Receive it, teach it, forgive it, use it for Your glory, ultimately honor it, but above all, guard it from the dangers it is about to face.

As I face the dangers of death, please keep me from falling away!

I understand why Jan Hus quoted this Psalm while burning at the stake.
• If I’m ever tied to a stake to be burned there, the last thing I want is to be in charge of keeping guard of my soul for its salvation.
• I want to toss that thing straight into the arms of Jesus where He can protect it and I don’t’ risk messing it all up in my human weakness and frailty.

That is what David is saying.
God, guard me and don’t let me blow it because You see the danger I’m in.

He wants God to take notice of his “integrity and uprightness”
That doesn’t mean David is sinless, he already admitted that.
Rather David means he is pure in heart. He’s not lying. He really trusts God.

And the final request moves beyond David to all Israel.
(22) “Redeem Israel, O God, Out of all his troubles.”

Regardless what God’s people may face,
May He be the guardian of their souls!

2 Timothy 1:12 “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”

And what a song for the church to daily sing!

And through our song may we lift our souls again to God.
• That He might receive them
• That He might teach them how to walk
• That He might forgive them
• That He might use them for His glory
• That He might honor or vindicate them for fearing Him
• And ultimately that He might guard them for all eternity.

The Basis For Christian Joy – Part 1
Luke 10:17-24 (17-19)
February 3, 2019

Well you may notice by the title, that we’re going to shift gears a little.

When I originally outlined the chapter, and even as we have been reading the text each week, I have been throwing in verses 17-20 with the first part of the chapter. (and indeed they certainly fit)

We have looked at this sending of the 70 and talked about
“The Laborers in the Harvest”

I told you there would be 5 points:
1) The Sovereign Appointment (1)
2) The Spiritual Assessment (2a)
3) The Specific Assignment (2b-12)
4) The Sobering Announcement (13-16)

And then we were going to call these last 4 verses the final point.
5) The Significant Achievement

And certainly that still fits.
So if you are counting on that outline, there’s that last point.

But, as I studied this past week, I was just a little motivated
To move these 4 verses into a bit of a different section.

Now, we are still looking at the overall theme of the Necessity of Jesus.
You are going to see that the presence of Jesus
Is absolutely integral to everything we discuss here.

• You’ll see that spiritual authority is in His Name
• You’ll see that Salvation is certainly through Him
• You’ll see that Grace is from Him
• You’ll see that the Revelation is of Him

We are not abandoning that theme.

But under that heading,
Instead of placing verses 17-20 in the previous outline,
I want to sort of lump it in with the next segment
Because they also fit there in what I think is an important theme.

For the next couple of weeks I simply want to talk to you about
“The Basis For Christian Joy”

I thought John MacArthur made a good point in a commentary I read this week.
He said, “When they consider God and His attributes, most people think of characteristics like holiness, sovereignty, omniscience, omnipresence, immutability, justice, wrath, love, grace, and mercy. Rarely considered however, is God’s joy”
(MacArthur, John [The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Luke 1-10; Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL; 2011] pg. 338)

I have to agree with that statement because I think
I am often one of those people he is talking about.

• In a world so saturated with sin
• In a world so bent on immorality
• In a world that is so increasingly becoming anti-Christ
• In a current day where people are fighting vehemently to ignore and violate God’s Laws (like homosexuality and abortion)

It is easy to ponder the holiness and wrath and justice of God.

But all of God’s attributes are so important
And so perhaps it is in these dark hours of immorality in America
That we need to remember His joy the most.

MacArthur would go on to say:
“God’s joy is the ultimate purpose for which all His attributes function; it is the all-glorious displaying of them that brings Him the fullest joy. God’s attributes ensure not only His eternal joy, but also that of all the inhabitants of heaven.”
(ibid)

In other words, all that God is and all that God does
Is ultimately for His own satisfaction and joy.
And certainly all that God is and all that God does
Is the supreme source of for the believer’s joy as well.

In a world that looks to all manner of carnal things and pleasures
As its source of joy,
It is certainly an important study
To learn what the basis for Christian joy actually is.

And the reason I have chosen to abandon the last theme a little early
And jump into a look at that joy here is BECAUSE
IN THESE VERSES WE HAVE SOMETHING UNIQUE.

Jesus is oftentimes portrayed as the Suffering Servant in Scripture.
• We see Him weep
• We see Him grieved
• We see Him angry
• We see Him frustrated
• We see Him burdened
• We even see Him distraught on the cross praying, “My God, My God, why
have You forsaken Me?”

But in all of Scripture only one time is it recorded that Jesus rejoiced.
(Granted rejoicing is alluded to in Luke 15
Where He speaks of all of heaven rejoicing when a sinner repents)

But as far as the Bible actually saying that Jesus rejoiced,
This passage provides the only time the gospels reveal that.

I think that uniqueness warrants us focusing on this.
Of course that verse is found in:
Luke 10:21 “At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.”

Since this is the only record of our Lord specifically rejoicing
I think joy must become the topic of discussion.

So, I’m sorry if I messed up your previous outline a little bit,
But this morning we’re going to start a new one
And you can just put these 4 verses in both of them.

What we are going to look at “The Basis For Christian Joy”
Now certainly joy or rejoicing are not foreign thoughts for you.

In fact, we are commanded:
Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Rejoice always;”

Philippians 2:18 “You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.”

Philippians 3:1a “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.”

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

And we know that this is not a circumstantial command.
We don’t just rejoice in good times.

1 Peter 4:13 “but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”

I think you get that.
• Christians are not called to be discontented, angry, bitter, moping people.
• We are people who rejoice regardless of our circumstances.
• We “consider it all joy” even when we face various trials.

And the reason we as believers can do that
Is not because we enjoy trials or suffering,
But because our joy is deeper than our circumstances.

• The basis for our joy is NOT our comfort
• The basis for our joy is NOT our extravagance
• The basis for our joy is NOT our stuff
• The basis for our joy is NOT our reputation or abilities or relationships

Indeed, if your joy is bound up in those things
You are destined to have many depressing days

The Christian joy has a far more firm foundation than that.

And in our text we have what I find to be a wonderful revelation of those joys,
And so we are going to focus on them together.

There are actually 4 here that Luke records.
#1 WE REJOICE IN SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY
Luke 10:17-19

And if you want a subtitle just write: “Which Jesus Confirmed”
Because that’s what we see here.

I would say that as far as our list of joys is concerned,
• It may seem that they are a bit out of order.
• In fact, one might assume on the list that this one goes last.
• But we study it first because it is where the 70 started.

The 70 discovered this joy and then Jesus opened their eyes to the rest.

Now, you know what we have been looking at over the past few weeks.

Jesus sent out the 70 and I think we can all agree that
The commissioning He gave them wasn’t one of ease and safety.

He told them to go, but let me remind you of SOME OF THE CONDITIONS.
• They were going to a field that was severely underworked…
• They were going to wolves though they were lambs
• They were going with no logistical preparations
• They were going with the understanding that there would be places that would not receive them or their message (and the region where Jesus just ministered was proof of that)

I don’t think it’s far-fetched to say that
These 70 might have been prepped for the worst.

But they went.
• Their mission is not recorded.
• We DON’T get stories of what it was like.
• But we DO get the debriefing as they return.

What is fascinating is that the report that is brought back to the Lord
Is a UNANIMOUS REPORT.

IT DOESN’T SAY, “some of the 70 returned with joy”

“The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

• You can hear the delight in that statement.
• You can hear really even the surprise in that statement.
• It’s as though they never really expected to have the kind of authority they actually had.
It’s a “We didn’t see this coming” type of response.
“even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

Jews certainly understood the presence of demonic oppression.

We get numerous stories in the gospel accounts
Of people being brought to Jesus with evil spirits
And it is clear that the people bringing them knew what was going on.
(They often times told Jesus, “He has a demon…”)

What is more, the Jews also understood the necessity of defeating the enemy if any manner of victory was to be obtained.
They understood there was a battle going on.
They understood it would require God’s power to overcome Satan’s.

This was one of their dilemmas with Jesus,
They just couldn’t figure how He had so much power since they were convinced He was not of God.

Matthew 12:22-24 “Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”

Of course Jesus just went on to explain that He was stronger than the evil one.

But even into the book of Acts we get accounts
Of people trying to figure out how to overpower evil spirits.

Acts 19:13-16 “But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

The Jews understood that
There was a spiritual battle being fought against the devil
And that the only way anyone would receive true deliverance
Would be to overpower the devil.

But there are plenty of accounts of people who had tried and who were now at a point of desperation having faced their inability.

• We remember the Gadarene demoniac had been bound several times with chains and yet that did no good.

We remember the man who approached Jesus after His transfiguration:
Mark 9:21-22 “And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”

There was an awareness but also a helplessness
In regard to demonic activity.
The enemy had proven himself to be too much for men to handle.

But these 70 returned and were amazed that “even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

Now let’s discuss this a little.
I think the normal reading to this text would be to assume that when they return and say this they are indicating that they cast a lot of demons out of people.

That these 70 went out and were confronted with a massive number of demon-possessed people and cast out those demons.

And certainly that type of deliverance may well have occurred.
Certainly we read that Jesus did in fact give the 12 authority to do this
And it’s not far-fetched to assume that he gave the 70 this same authority.

But even in that, to limit this announcement
To just the casting out of demons
Does disservice to the point of what is happening here.

You must be aware of the reality of what Satan’s main work is.

John 10:10a “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;”

John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

The work of Satan is a work of DESTRUCTION by means of DECEPTION.
This is how he operates.

Certainly the Bible at times reveals a physical affliction from him,
But even more than that is his SPIRITUAL AFFLICTION.

Jesus called those in John 8 children of the devil
(that is those under his control) and yet they weren’t physically afflicted.

We are aware that Satan is the “god of this world”

And the apostle John noted:
1 John 5:19 “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

There again, it’s NOT JUST demon possessed people
That lie in Satan’s grasp, it’s “the whole world”.

Paul said:
2 Corinthians 4:4 “in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

And the main work of evangelism
Is to deliver captives from the kingdom of Satan
And see them transferred into the Kingdom of Christ.

That is evangelism.
Colossians 1:13 “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,”

2 Timothy 2:24-26 “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”

AND SO
When you read here that the 70 were rejoicing that
“the demons are subject to us in Your name”
To just read that as a reference to casting out demons
Is to miss the greater point.

They may have in fact cast out demons, but that’s not the main reality.

They are rejoicing that they saw SUCCESS IN THEIR MINISTRY.
• They saw people saved!
• They saw people leaving Satan’s kingdom and entering the Kingdom of
heaven.
• They saw Satan’s controlling power broken in people’s lives.
• They saw sinners in repentance
• They saw captives set free

Their rejoicing is far more than just seeing demons leaving people.

And, as I told you, JESUS CONFIRMED THIS
(18) “And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.”

There has been some confusion regarding what Jesus meant here.
• Some think He is referring to the initial fall of Satan
• Some think He is referring to the future destruction of Satan
• I even heard a bizarre interpretation a few years ago which took an extreme interpretation which noted that the Hebrew word for lightning is (BARAK) and the Hebrew word for heaven or high place is (BAMA), and then put them together and noted that coming from Jesus’ lips it would have sounded like, “I was watching Satan as Barak U Bama” and thus named President Obama as the Anti-Christ

It’s been a fun verse
But the verb tense here indicates precisely what Jesus is talking about.

“I was watching” indicates an event that started in the past and continues on through the present.

And Jesus says that
He “was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.”

If you’ve watched a thunder storm you know that lightning flashes
Are continuous and can fill the sky.

This is what Jesus is referring to.
• As these 70 went and preached the gospel Jesus could see in the spiritual realm victory after victory after victory.
• He could see Satan’s army literally losing battle after battle and stronghold after stronghold.
• He wasn’t just referring to demons being cast out, He was talking about spiritual battles for souls.
• He saw people leaving Satan’s kingdom and entering the Kingdom of heaven.

So the 70 returned and boasted of their spiritual victory from preaching in the name of Jesus and Jesus said, “I know, I saw it”

AND THUS HE CONFIRMS THAT THIS IS A REASON FOR REJOICING.

But then Jesus introduces to them
Probably MORE than they realized
And it is a basis for Christian joy.

He adds to their understanding.
(19) “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.”

By the way “serpents and scorpions” is a reference to demonic beings.

Jesus is taking imagery from the garden.
Genesis 3:14-15 “The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life; And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

We remember that reference, and here Jesus says that
I have given you that same authority to trample him under your feet too.

In fact Jesus says that
They have authority “over all the power of the enemy”

That is to say going forward, the church of Christ
Will no longer be on the weak side of the stick.

Christ has enabled His church to have more power than the enemy

And beyond that He says, “and nothing will injure you.”

Which is to add that not only will you defeat him,
But rest assured he can never defeat you.

Now that’s quite a promise isn’t it?

And let me tell you that this remains a promise for the church even today.

Can I give you the basis?
Colossians 2:13-15 “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”

There Paul speaks of the salvation Christ accomplished on the cross.
• On the cross Paul says that Jesus made us alive by reason of atoning for our transgressions.
• On the cross Paul says that Jesus canceled out our debt of righteousness since He fulfilled it.
• On the cross Paul says that Jesus disarmed the rulers and authorities and triumphed over them so soundly that He made a public spectacle of them.

Jesus conquered Satan on the cross.

Peter reminds us of the exaltation of Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 3:22 “who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.”

Paul also speaks of this exaltation:
Ephesians 1:20-21 “which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”

Jesus conquered the enemy.
Now what does that mean?

Does it mean he is no longer fighting? NO
1 Peter 5:8 “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Does it mean he never causes any problems at all for God’s people? NO
1 Thessalonians 2:18 “For we wanted to come to you — I, Paul, more than once — and yet Satan hindered us.”

2 Corinthians 12:7 “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me — to keep me from exalting myself!”

Clearly Satan still fights, clearly he still at times hinders, clearly he still torments.

SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT JESUS DEFEATED HIM?
And what does it mean that we now trample serpents and scorpions
and nothing will injure us?

It means that though he fights and though he wars
And though he afflicts HE CANNOT WIN.

Satan’s religions like Islam, or Hinduism, or Catholicism won’t win.
Satan’s works of abortion or sexual immorality or deception won’t endure forever.
HIS DOOM IS SET.

Remember Jesus speaking to Peter?
Matthew 16:18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

The 70 returned here blown away by the fact
That they so easily defeated the enemy
When they had never been able to do so before.

The entire Jewish battle against Satan had been a futile one.
• All of their attempts were like waves upon a rock, best illustrated by those 7
sons of Sceva who were forced to flee wounded and bleeding.

And then all of a sudden Jesus sent these 70 out
And for the first time in their life they saw victory!
Satan was losing, and they were blown away.

And Jesus says, “From now on that’s the way it will be!”

No longer can the enemy stop the advance of God’s kingdom.
• They can war
• They can fight
• They can spit and sputter
• But the enemy is defeated and he can’t stop us.

• Obviously Jesus doesn’t mean that there will never be persecution…
• Obviously Jesus doesn’t mean that there will never be any struggle…
• Obviously Jesus wasn’t speaking of financial breakthroughs and the other nonsensical type stuff we hear about in the Charismatic movement.

There is still a war.
But from the enemies perspective IT IS A LOST CAUSE.

He cannot hold one single person whom God has elected to save
And he cannot recapture one single person whom God has saved.

The church operates amidst struggle and affliction and persecution,
But the church operates in absolute and total assurance of victory.

Listen to the confidence of the early church:
Acts 2:39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

Do you see Peter’s confidence there?
He knew that everyone God had determined to come would come.

Didn’t Jesus say it?
John 6:37-40 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

Jesus knew that victory was achieved.
Satan and his kingdom could not prevent
The advancement of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Listen again to the account of the early church.
Acts 13:44-49 “The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. “For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.'” When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.”

Despite the resistance, despite the blasphemy, despite the aggression we read, “and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”

THERE WAS NO THREAT OF DEFEAT.

Listen to Christ reassure Paul:
Acts 18:5-11 “But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”

There was not even the slightest risk
That Paul might be running this race in vain.
Jesus Christ had given absolute victory over the enemy.

It’s done.
And the apostles knew this.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”

We win.

Romans 16:20 “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”

The enemy cannot stop the advancement of the kingdom,
• Christ has thoroughly conquered the foe.
• He triumphed over them so thoroughly that He actually made a spectacle of them.

And as He told the 70, it’s NOT JUST victory in ministry,
But it’s also supreme assurance that the enemy
Will not be able to have victory over us personally either.

Jesus said, “and nothing will injure you.”

Again, that’s NOT some reference to a life free from physical harm.
• Obviously that hasn’t been the case.
• We’ve seen the physical persecution of the church.

He is referring here to spiritual injury.
It is the danger of going into war against the enemy
If there is a chance that he might conquer you personally.

Why go fight the battle if there’s a risk
That he might reclaim you into his kingdom?
WELL, HE CAN’T.

Do you remember Jesus’ High Priestly prayer?
John 17:11-15 “I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. “While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. “But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.”

It’s the promise of the Lord that when we go,
Not only will the gates of hell not prevail,
But we also go as those off limits from the enemy.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”

1 John 4:4 “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

And this is the first basis for Christian joy.
WE WIN

Do we take the gospel into a hostile world? Yes
Do we know that not all will accept us? Yes
Do we understand the realities of persecution? Yes

But we also know that NOT ONE of those things
Can stop our mission or steal our salvation.

The enemy no longer has that power.

THIS IS SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY.
Don’t confuse it with the theatrics that you see on TV with people waving their hands and flopping on the floor. That’s not at all what Jesus is talking about.

He is talking about the reality that
When we go proclaiming the truth of the Kingdom of Heaven
As Jesus commanded us to do
That the kingdom of darkness has no power to stop it.

Through or ministry of preaching the gospel
Every person whom the Lord has appointed to believe will believe
And Satan won’t be able to stop a single one.

Christ has conquered the enemy.
• His truth has broken Satan’s power of deception
• He has taken His light and dispelled Satan’s darkness
• His death has nullified Satan’s ministry of condemnation
• His resurrection has rendered powerless Satan’s power of death

And having been commissioned in His name,
We now are promised that same spiritual authority.

This is a basis for Christian Joy!
We rejoice in the victory that is certainly ours in our ministry.

Martin Luther said it best.
“And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us, we will not fear for God has willed, His truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him, his rage we can endure, for lo his doom is sure, one little word shall fell him.”

The 70 were rejoicing in that kind of victory.
They were blown away that
Even the demons were subject to them in Jesus’ name.

And Jesus confirmed that joy and that reality.
• Rejoice in that church.
• Your labor is not in vain.
• Your mission is not in vain.
• The enemy cannot stop the Kingdom of Heaven.

Well, you can tell by your bulletin that I intended to get to verse 20 today,
But we’ll just have to save that one for next time.

The King of Glory
Psalms 24
January 27, 2019

Many have seen a SORT OF TRILOGY occurring here with these most recent Psalms we have studied.
• Psalms 22 reveals to us the Sacrifice for Sin
• Psalms 23 reveals to us the Shepherd of the Sheep
• Psalms 24 reveals to us the Sovereign King

Certainly all 3 are roles perfectly fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ.

And certainly if we are to sing the blessing of His atoning sacrifice
And if we are to sing the blessing of His shepherding and care for us,
We by no means want to overlook His role
As our sovereign King and what a privilege that is as well.

Well tonight we are dealing with “A Psalm of David”
And no more background than that is given.

Yet historical tradition and certainly ever commentary I picked
Up are all in agreement that this is A PSALM OF ASCENTS

That being a Song to be sung while ascending the hill to Jerusalem
As one would go to worship the Lord.

Even more specifically than that, nearly everyone seems to agree that
This could quite possibly have been the song of David
On the day when he moved the ark of God to Jerusalem.

And I certainly have no argument with that application.
In fact I think it fits quite well.

I do think the backdrop to that event will serve us greatly in understanding
Perhaps what was going on in David’s heart when he wrote it.

So for a moment let’s examine some history behind David’s experience
In relocating the Ark of God to Jerusalem.

TURN TO: 2 Samuel 5

Backstory:
• Saul and Jonathon were killed in the final chapter of 1 Samuel (31) by the Philistines.
• Because many believed David to be the rightful King he immediately began to rule the tribe of Judah from Hebron
• Abner (Saul’s main general) anointed Ish-bosheth (Saul’s son) king over Israel.
• And for about 7 ½ years there was war between David and Ish-bosheth
• Until a peculiar series of events saw Abner defect to David, get killed by David’s general Joab, and Ish-bosheth get murdered in his sleep by a couple of rogue militia leaders.
• In 2 Samuel 5 David is king over all Israel

The first thing that happens after that
The Philistines try to maintain their dominance over the region
So they gather together to go to war against David.

It is David’s first real challenge as King,
And through it David learns unequivocally
That God is a necessary ally in battle.

(READ: 2 Samuel 5:17-21)
• David saw God as the One who can breakthrough his enemies.

But the Philistines weren’t done.
They arranged to fight with David again,
And God once again granted David the victory.

(READ: 2 Samuel 5:22-25)
• So there is little doubt that God has proven to David what a necessity He is in protecting the nation and delivering Israel from her enemies.
• David understands that he needs God on his side.
• And so, David makes a decision to move the Ark of the Covenant (God’s presence) to the capital city of Jerusalem. After all, who wouldn’t want God close?

But despite David’s desire for God,
It is clear that David may have failed to fully understand
Exactly who He was dealing with.

(READ 2 Samuel 6:1-11)
• If the story is bizarre to you that God would strike dead a man who seemed only to have the best intentions it shouldn’t.

• God had given specific commands as to how the Ark was to be transported, and David did it wrongly.
• Furthermore we must remember that God is not our equal, and His presence is not our right. His holiness is beyond us in every way, and we do not treat Him nonchalantly.

Perhaps David had grown a little too comfortable with the Lord.
On this day, his fear of the Lord was renewed
And David left the Ark at the house of Obed-Edom.

However, David observed exactly what had motivated him to move God’s ark in the first place; namely that God’s presence was a huge blessing!

Verse 11, “the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household”

And David still desires that blessing.
So, David once again sets out to move God’s Ark to Jerusalem.
And this is the occasion when many believe Psalms 24 was sung.

(READ: 2 Samuel 6:12-19)

And just from the background we can clearly see how David came to
• Desire the presence of God,
• Revere the presence of God,
• And do whatever it took to receive the presence of God.

And in Psalms 24 David sings about that truth.
So this is the song of those who desire to draw near to God
And to have God draw near to them.

There are 3 points to be made in this song.
#1 DOMINION BELONGS TO GOD
Psalms 24:1-2

I really like the way David begins this song.

It is a necessary reminder to all who would assume
That God’s presence is some tool to be wielded for our benefit.

I’m not saying David intentionally believed that.
• But perhaps after seeing how valuable it was to have God in his camp, David began to see God as a weapon to be wielded against his enemies.
• Perhaps David began to see God as a tool in his belt.
• Perhaps David began to see God as a blessed servant to his cause.

Perhaps David saw God as a deity to be recruited and owned
And commissioned out to fulfill our own causes.

We see this reality occur at times (and at times even in our lives)
• We begin to grasp the abilities of God and seek to be able to take advantage of those abilities for our own purposes.

Some of you will remember the sermon from previous mission meetings: “Ten Shekels and a Shirt” by Paris Reidhead.
It is the sermon where the question is asked: “Is God an end or a means?”

The basic idea being, is God the “end” that we seek,
Or is He the “means” by which we can obtain out of life all that we want?

In that sermon, Bro. Reidhead gives a personal story:
“But, oh, I know so many people that are trying to know the fulness of God so that they can use God.
A young preacher came to me down in West Virginia, Huntington, West Virginia. “Brother Reidhead, I have got a great church. We have got a wonderful Sunday school program, got a radio ministry, growing. But I feel a personal need and a personal lack. I need to be baptized with the Holy Ghost. I need to be filled with the Spirit. And someone told me God had done something for you and I wanted you to help me.”
…He was like a fellow driving up in a big Cadillac, you know, to someone standing at the filling station say, “Fill it up, Bud, with the highest octane you have got.” Well, that’s the way it looked. He wanted power for his programs. And God is not going to be a means to anyone’s end.
I said, “I am awfully sorry. I don’t think I can help you.” He said, “Why?” “I don’t think you are ready.” I said, “Well, suppose you consider yourself coming up with a Cadillac. You have talked about your program. You have talked about your radio. You talked about your Sunday school and church. It’s very good. You have done wonderfully well without the power of the Holy Spirit.”…And he had accomplished a great deal, admittedly, without God. Now he wanted something, power to accomplish his ends even further.”
http://www.heavenreigns.com/pdf/ten_shekels.pdf

And his point was simple.
• There was a young man who had accomplished a great deal of worldly success in the ministry,
• But he had been told about something called “The Baptism of the Holy Ghost” whereby he thought it would make his ministry even more powerful.
• So the young man set out to get it.
• His desire was to obtain God as a means to fulfilling his end.

I’m NOT SAYING that David was like this young man,
But I can certainly see how he could have been.

And regardless of whether David ever fell into that line of thinking,
I do know of the day when God emphatically reminded David
That He will not be an end to anyone’s means.

On the day when David first tried to move the ark,
And God struck Uzzah dead,
He emphatically learned that God is not to be solicited or recruited
To power anyone’s engine.
When God struck Uzza dead, David was reunited with his fear of the Lord.

And it is that fear that David is articulating here.

As he moves God’s ark to Jerusalem
The very first part of his song are to remind the people that
WE DON’T OWN GOD – HE OWNS US.

(1) “The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.”

To all the people in Jerusalem who are awaiting the arrival of God’s Ark,
• “If you had any thoughts of all regarding what God’s presence might enable us to accomplish as a people then scrap them right now.
• We are not bringing God here to accomplish our goals as though He were our servant.
• We are bringing God here as our Sovereign ruler so that we might serve Him.”

It reminds me of the day when Joshua learned this same lesson.
Remember he was planning to battle Jericho
And the angel of the Lord arrived:

Joshua 5:13-15 “Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” The captain of the LORD’S host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.”

Joshua approached the LORD and asked if He would be on our side.
• And Joshua had it all wrong.
• God is not a tool in anyone’s belt.

God is the sovereign LORD
He is the creator of all things.

Everything was made by Him
Everything was made for Him
Everything will answer to Him

Of Christ we read:
Colossians 1:15-18 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”

We do not seek Christ because
• We think His presence might help us get a bigger church
• Or be more successful
• Or have a better more emotional worship service.
• Or because we think He’ll help in raising money for a mission trip
• Or in securing safe travels.

He is not our dancing monkey, and He is not our slave.
We are His. We serve Him. We follow Him.

And we invite His presence,
Not for the benefit it will bring to our temporal plans,
But because He is infinitely glorious
And true delight is found in being near to Him.

Psalms 100:3 “Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”

That is basic theology everyone needs to get through their minds.

We are not God. God is.
We didn’t make God. He made us.
God’s primary role is not to serve us. We serve Him.

AND AS A MATTER OF FIRST PRIORITY
David is reminding the people of Jerusalem of this very fact
That I think David learned the hard way.

We are bringing in the presence of God, but it is not to satisfy our plans.

“The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.”

I’m not certain what “upon the seas” or “upon the rivers” refers to.
The main thrust is that God is the founder and establisher of the world.

Perhaps it is a reference to creation where we read:
Genesis 1:2 “The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.”

It appears that the beginning of God’s creation was a formless void of waters
Out of which God brought forth the land.

David recounts that miracle here.
Ultimately reminding all of us just who we are dealing with.

He is not one we just nonchalantly seek or recruit
Because we think having Him around might prove beneficial.
THIS IS GOD!

When Solomon later consecrated the temple, we read his prayer:
1 Kings 8:27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!”

Solomon seemed to have a right understanding of just what was going on.

In Athens Paul preached:
Acts 17:24-28 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’”

That’s what we are talking about.

As one sets their heart to seek the presence of God
It is imperative that you understand exactly who you are seeking
And that you examine your heart as to why you are seeking Him.

We don’t invite Him here to serve us. We invite Him here to rule us.

Dominion Belongs to Him
#2 DEVOTION IS REQUIRED BY YOU
Psalms 24:3-6

This flows perfectly off of the truth we’ve just seen.
• We are dealing here with God!
• We are dealing with the Creator of all things!
• We are dealing here with the One who has the power to instantly zap a man dead just for touching the box that represents His presence.

Instead of just assuming you can recruit Him and place Him in a room,
You’d better start considering just what it means
If you do approach His presence.

And to that David asks a very important question.
(3) “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place?”

In light of what happened to Uzzah, I think this is a fitting question.

It’s not the first time you’ve seen such a question.
Psalms 15 “O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.”

It’s a similar reality whereby a person is forced to examine
Just who it is they are approaching and what He requires.

Some of have seen this as a sort of RESPONSIVE READING type situation
(like in the back of our hymnals) where David would have the priests ask this question of the people, and they would respond with verses 4-6.

It was meant to force the people
To contemplate the danger in approaching God.

This is somewhat lost in our day because we have been given the right through Christ to boldly approach the throne of grace.

But our ease in this matter has perhaps caused us to fail to grasp
Just how marvelous the work of Christ has been on our behalf.

Approaching God is not easy.
Approaching God boldly was unheard of.
(Just ask Uzzah)

We do it now “in Christ” who alone was worthy of approaching God.

This Psalm helps us understand the requirements
Of what it takes for one to approach God.

Here is the answer:
(4) “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully.”

There’s a mouthful.

“clean hands” refers to outward allegiance and compliance to the commands of God.

We certainly don’t believe that we are justified by works,
But a person who has no outward obedience to Christ
Certainly has no claim on salvation.

1 John 2:4 “The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;”

• If there is no obedience there is no access to God.
• If there is no obedience there is no evidence of salvation.

“a pure heart” of course reminds that outward obedience with inward devotion is nothing short of hypocrisy.

• We are aware that the Lord looks at the heart.
• We know that out of the heart comes “adulteries, thefts, false witnesses,
and slander”
• We know that to outwardly pray and give and fast, but to not love God inwardly
has no acceptance with Him.

Matthew 15:7-9 “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'”

We understand that.

James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

“Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood” indicates devotion to God with the absence of idolatry.

• We are certainly aware that God is a jealous God.
• We are aware that we are to have no other gods before Him.
• We are commanded to worship God and serve Him only.
• We do not trust in other gods or other idols as our salvation.

If you think you can approach God in worship after worshiping in an idols temple, then you are gravely mistaken. God does not share His glory.

“And has not sworn deceitfully” has to do with our vows and devotion to God.

Psalms 78:34-36 “When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and searched diligently for God; And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. But they deceived Him with their mouth And lied to Him with their tongue.”

Jesus said:
Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

We’re talking about false confession, and that person is not welcome.
Revelation reminds that all liars are cast into the lake of fire.

Now, if you take all those requirements together
It is easy to see what emerges and it is the issue of DEVOTION.

In fact, I think it is quite easy to see the Beatitudes here.
Matthew 5:3-9 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

The point being, we are dealing with God here
• You don’t recruit Him to come be your power supply,
• You don’t approach Him in hypocrisy without giving Him the glory due His name.

But for those who do approach rightly we read:
(5) “He shall receive a blessing from the LORD And righteousness from the God of His salvation.”

• There is great benefit to the presence of God.
• There is great blessing to the presence of God.
• Namely the blessing of JUSTIFICATION!

Those who come humbly and devoted to God
Receive “righteousness from the God of His salvation.”

And David goes on to say:
(6) “This is the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face – even Jacob. Selah.”

That is to say:
• The one who comes humbly and submissive and devoted…
• HE receives salvation
• THIS is what a true Israelite looks like

We are talking about people “who seek Your face” (not Your hand)

David wanted his people to understand
As they escorted the Ark of the Covenant into the city.

This is God, He is not a means to our ends.
• We are bringing Him here that you might seek His face for salvation, not His hand for the satisfaction of all your desires.
• He is not some pagan idol crafted by man to fulfill all of man’s wildest dreams.
• He is the God who created the universe.

If we are to receive the blessing of His presence
• Then we must humble ourselves and serve Him only.

Does that make sense to the church as well?

Listen to the complaint of Jesus to the people He ministered to.
John 6:26-35
you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.'” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. “For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” Jesus said to them, ” I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”

They didn’t want Jesus.
They wanted bread.
They missed the true blessing of His presence
Because they wanted the satisfaction of their stomach.

Beyond that, they weren’t willing to devote themselves to Him.
They weren’t willing to approach Him with clean hands and a pure heart pledging full commitment to Him.

By the end of that same sermon we read:
John 6:66 “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”

If you aren’t going to give us bread, then we aren’t interested.

• Do I want Christ because I think He can make all my plans go smoother?
• Do I approach Christ in submission or in arrogant pretense?

Do you see how David is teaching his people
The sacred privilege it is to receive the very presence of God?

Dominion Belongs to Him, Devotion is Required of You
#3 THE DECISION IS HIM AT ALL COST
Psalms 24:7-10

You have here a statement repeated 2 times,
Indicating the intensity and importance of what is being said.

(7) “Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in!”

What does that mean?
• It is poetic language suggesting that the King who is coming is too glorious to fit through these tiny openings.
• If you are to fit this King through then you are going to have to rip out the gates and doors.
• They are going to have to stretch.

We have a greater King coming through than has ever entered before.

The same concept was preached before the coming of Jesus.
Matthew 3:2-3 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'”

David in effect here says the same thing.
You have no concept of the magnitude of the King who is entering.
Rip out the gates, rip out the doors “that the King of glory may come in!”

And to that someone might ask:
(8) “Who is the King of glory?”

David, what King could you possibly be talking about that can’t fit through the gates of Jerusalem?

“The LORD strong and might, The LORD mighty in battle.”
• I’m talking about the God who has the power of creation.
• I’m talking about the God who defeats nations.
• I’m talking about the God who overthrows kingdoms.

We’ve got coming here THE KING.

And grasping this is of such importance
That David has the people sing that stanza again.

(9) “Lift up your heads, O gates, And lift them up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in.”

And again they ask:
“Who is the King of glory?”

He is “The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah”

It is the God of angel armies.
PONDER THAT!

David, ahead of the Ark, is preaching the message of John the Baptist.
You’d better clean this place up and make it fit for a king.

John the Baptist preached about mountains and valleys,
But John wasn’t actually speaking about the terrain of the roads.
John was speaking poetically of repentance.

So is David.
The issue here is this.

We have THE KING on His way.
• His very presence is salvation to His people.

What should we do that He might be willing to enter and dwell among us?
The answer: WHATEVER IT TAKES!

• If you have to rip out the doors, then rip out the door.
• If you have to throw down the gate posts, then throw down the gates posts.
• If you have pluck the idols of your heart then pluck the idols of your heart
• If you have to leave your sin then leave your sin
• If you have to crush your pride then crush your pride

Whatever it takes to receive the presence of THE KING!

This is the song of David as he went before the Ark seeking for the presence of God to enter Jerusalem.

This is the song of John the Baptist as he went before Christ seeking the presence of God to save Israel.

This is the song of the church as we go to the world proclaiming the salvation of Christ.

This is the song of the humble as we approach the Lord in worship each and every day.

This is the song of the redeemed as we plead for the return of our King to come again and reign on the earth.

We are talking here about grasping the magnitude of
The presence of THE KING OF GLORY in our lives.

Incidentally, Israel didn’t.

The book of Ezekiel follows this theme
• As the children of Israel offend God time after time after time
• And eventually Ezekiel records the very glory of God leaving Israel.

The book of Malachi Is after the exile and shows how little regard they still had for the presence of God.

TURN TO: Malachi 1:6-14
Still they dishonor His presence.

It’s no wonder the glory of God had departed and not returned.

• We know that for a time God’s glory returned as that baby Jesus was carried into the temple at 8 days old, but 33 years later Israel would once again reject God’s glory.

And now it won’t be until they do turn from their idols and seek His face
That His presence will ever return to them.

• Until they grasp that Jesus is God, the Creator of the world…
• Until they grasp that they must seek Him in humility and devotion…
• Until they grasp that He is the King of glory and they must tear down every idol…
• THEY WILL NEVER RECEIVE THE BLESSING OR THE SALVATION OF HIS PRESENCE.

And neither will any other person on earth.

Jesus is THE KING
And we do not take Him lightly are demean Him by relegating Him to some role as personal servant or genie.

• We honor Him
• We seek Him
• We submit to Him
• We trust Him
• And we do it for no other reason by the unspeakable value of His presence.

This is the song David taught to Israel
To teach them to never underestimate the God who dwells among them.
HE IS THE KING OF GLORY!

Laborers In The Harvest – Part 3
Luke 10:1-20 (12-16)
January 27, 2019

As you know we are in a new section in Luke’s gospel;
One that we have called “The Necessity of Jesus”

And it begins with
• This mandate of Jesus to send out the 70
• As forerunners before Him to the villages and cities where He is about to go
• As He travels toward Jerusalem to be crucified.

The very presence of these men in your town
Would only emphasize just how necessary Jesus actually is.
YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS HIM.

We have been looking at the specifics of Jesus sending these 70
And at the same time have been challenged in regard to our own calling
To take the gospel to the world.

To quickly recap.
#1 THE SOVEREIGN APPOINTMENT
Luke 10:1

And here we were simply reminded that ultimately the call to missions
Is NOT about compassion or desire or ability (though certainly all those things have their place)

Ultimately the call to missions is about obedience.
The Lord APPOINTED these men
And He COMMANDED them to go on this mission.

While we are familiar with the Isaiah commissioning where the Lord asked “Whom shall I send?” and Isaiah volunteers saying, “Send me!”

We also understand that at times it is not about volunteering.
At times it is about submitting.

• We are slaves of our Lord Jesus Christ
• We were bought with a price
• We live for the Lord
• And so when He says, “Go”, we go.

It really is that simple.
#2 THE SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT
Luke 10:2a

Here we were reminded of the spiritual landscape.
It is a spiritual reality that our Lord was keenly aware of.

Namely that “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few”

• The harvest is ultimately a picture of the coming judgment.
• The workers are those who prepare the field for the judgment.

And according to Jesus, in light of the greatness of the coming harvest
There are not nearly enough workers.

We live in a world of over 7 billion people,
And according to the Bible they will each one face judgment.

Workers are required.
That’s just SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT offered by Jesus.

And because of that, we understand specifically what Jesus expects of these 70 here and ultimately of all His followers.

#3 THE SPECIFIC ASSIGNMENT
Luke 10:2b-11

FIRST, the command was to pray.
• Not necessarily for the lost
• Not necessarily for open doors
• Not necessarily for current missionaries
• (though we pray for all those things)

The first call to pray was that more workers would be sent.
More people need to answer the call to work in the fields.

And so for us missions begins with a call to pray
That God’s people would respond to God’s call to work the fields.

And the SECOND command falls right in line with the first.
(3) “Go”

We are commanded to go and take the gospel to the world.
It is extremely clear.

• I’m not saying you have to go to Malawi
• I’m not saying you have to go to China or Russia or even Oklahoma

But if you spend your life and never take the gospel anywhere or to anyone, you have failed to obey the simple commission of our Lord.

You cannot live this life obediently without taking the gospel to the world.

And what we SAW LAST TIME is that Jesus commanded us to go DESPITE the evident barriers and difficulties.

He was aware of the Danger.
• He said, “I send you as lambs in the midst of wolves”
He was aware of the Logistics.
• He knew it required money and lodging and supplies
He was aware of the potential for Rejection
• He knew that you would run across those who would not receive you.

He wasn’t naïve to what He was requiring.
He was sending His people into danger
At great financial cost to face rejection.

AND HE SENT THEM ANYWAY
Because the truth about Jesus is NECESSARY
• This world must hear the truth about judgment.
• This world must hear the truth about the coming Kingdom.
• This world must hear the truth about the Savior.

And the Lord has sovereignly appointed that the way this occurs
Is for His people to GET UP, GO to the field,
And do the WORK of an evangelist.

And this is NOT FAR-FETCHED to consider.
This is precisely what our Lord did.

He left the comforts of heaven to enter a world of hostile sinners
That He might proclaim to them the gospel.

And then He said:
John 20:21 “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

So we see the specific assignment.
• Pray for more workers
• Go join the work

But AS WE MOVE ON in the text, we come across a very important piece of information that Jesus wanted these 70 to have.

He just addressed with them the reality that not everyone would hear their message.

He said, (10-11) “But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’”

He just informed the 70 that not everyone will listen,
But that their compliance had no bearing on the command to preach.

If they listen, great! Preach the gospel.
If they won’t, fine! Preach it anyway.

Go out into their streets, shake the dust off your feet, and tell them they just made the biggest mistake they have ever made in their life.

They rejected the invitation to enter God’s kingdom.

And we understand the gravity of such a mistake.
Matthew 22:1-7 “Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. “And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. “Again he sent out other slaves saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.”‘ “But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. “But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire.”

And that story gives us added insight
Into why rejecting the kingdom is such a big deal.

Not only are you outside of the realm of salvation,
But there is also the issue of offense.

It is one thing to be outside of the kingdom. That is certainly judgment.
But to have been personally invited and to turn it down is an even greater offense.

And you see there the rage of the King who has been so offended.

And that is PRECISELY THE TRUTH
That Jesus is about to relay to these 70.

The Sovereign Appointment, The Spiritual Assessment, The Specific Assignment
#4 THE SOBERING ANNOUNCEMENT
Luke 10:12-16

Jesus here gives some insight to the 70
About the spiritual condition and expectation
Of those who hear their message and reject it.

And I have to tell you, this is VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

And not just important for the world,
But this is very important information for those who sit in church pews
With continual access to the preaching of the gospel.

• When the 70 go and they offer to people the truth of the kingdom,
• But the people they offer it to do not receive it;
• Jesus first says to shake the dust off your feet as you warn them.

But then He makes this remarkable statement:
(12) “I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.”

Now let’s process this for a moment and grab what He is saying.

“in that day” is a reference to the time of the harvest.
Jesus is talking about the Day of Judgment.
He is talking about the day
When all men are rewarded according to their deeds.
It is the day when all men give an account
And receive their just treatment.

• The day when the wheat is gathered and the chaff is burned up
• The day when the sheep are sheltered and the goats are slaughtered

He is talking about the judgment.

And he is talking about HOW BAD it will be for specific people.
He uses the term “more tolerable”

SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT just how “tolerable”
Or bearable the judgment will be.

It is the day when God pours out His fury on the lost.
It is the day when God pours forth His just wrath on sinners.

And the question is, “How bad will it be?”
And the answer is, “It is different for everyone”

Everyone will face judgment,
But not everyone will face the same degree of judgment.

That is made clear here with the statement “more tolerable”
The judgment will be “more tolerable” for some than others.

Just as there are degrees of reward and treasure in heaven.
There are degrees of torment in hell.
Not all men are punished to the same extent.

So now that we know that
• Judgment is coming
• And it will be worse for some than others.

I suppose we ask the question, “WHO GETS IT THE WORST?”

THIS WEEK I was sickened/saddened by the new law signed in New York state.
The door was opened for and a law was signed that under certain circumstances a baby could be legally aborted right up until birth.

Listen, all abortion is detestable.
I don’t care if it is right after conception or right before birth, it is all detestable.
And don’t give me the “But what about…” arguments of various circumstances.
I don’t want to hear it.

But the law this week has drawn special rage (and rightly so)
And I’ve seen numerous references and statements like
“THEY’LL GET THEIR DUE SOMEDAY”

And rest assured, they will.

And this morning I would ask, “Do you suppose anyone could receive a greater judgment than those who promote abortion?”

And this morning I’m going to tell you, “Yes”.
There are people who will receive a greater judgment than that.

Let me state it like this:
While immorality certainly brings just judgment
IMMORALITY IS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE GREATEST JUDGMENT

And Jesus proves that here.
“I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.”

We already know Jesus is speaking about THE DEGREE OF JUDGMENT.
And here Jesus compares 2 cities.

• One is any city where the 70 proclaim the truth
• The other is the ancient city of Sodom

So let’s talk about Sodom for a moment.
• We read all about Sodom in the book of Genesis.
• It is a city especially famous for one vile incident and the judgment that followed.

TURN TO: Genesis 19

(READ 1-11)
• Obviously this is a vile city.
• Men so corrupt that all they can think about is sexually defiling visitors to the city and even a physical judgment (blindness) cannot refrain their madness.
• Here famous for homosexuality.

And we read in in Genesis and we see what God did to that city.
(READ 15-26)

Certainly homosexuality had a part in that.
But I would also tell you that homosexuality was not here only sin.

Ezekiel 16:49-50 “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. “Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it.”

• There we learn that Sodom also had an issue with pride and a lack of compassion.
• They lived in arrogance and abundance and carelessness.
• This added to their judgment.

So I think we are safe is saying that God was angry at that city.

NOW LISTEN.
The judgment you read about in Genesis 19
Is NOT the final judgment of Sodom.
THAT WAS THE TEMPORAL JUDGMENT OF SODOM.

Sodom still awaits the final judgment.

But after seeing how bad God judged them there,
I think everyone would expect that their final judgment is going to be bad!

WHAT IS MORE:
God made that city an example for all sinful people since that day.

When God really wanted to show Israel just how sinful they had become, do you know what He called them? “Sodom”
Isaiah 1:7-15 “Your land is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire, Your fields — strangers are devouring them in your presence; It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers. The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, Like a watchman’s hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city. Unless the LORD of hosts Had left us a few survivors, We would be like Sodom, We would be like Gomorrah. Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah. “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. “When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies — I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.”

In the New Testament Sodom’s reputation still lingers.
2 Peter 2:6 “and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;”

Jude 7 “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”

So can we all just agree that Sodom greatly offended God and suffered a horrific punishment for that offence?
• Sodom was a bad city.
• Sodom was the poster child for immorality.
• I don’t know that any city has ever garnered more of a reputation for immorality than Sodom did.

But now look again at what Jesus said.

Referring to any city which rejects the message of the gospel from these 70 Jesus said: “it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.”

WHAT?!?

You read it right.
When God pours out His final judgment on sinners,
There are people who will receive a more severe judgment
Than even the immoral people of Sodom.

Clearly immorality does not produce the harshest judgment.
• Judgment? Yes
• Harsh judgment? Yes
• But not the harshest judgment.
• That is reserved for someone else.

So who gets the harshest judgment?
THE INDIFFERENT
Those who have heard the truth and still rejected it.

Let me put it to you this way.
• Will people who promote abortion receive the just wrath of God? Yes
• Will people who live in vile immorality receive the just wrath of God? Yes
• Will people who practice homosexuality receive the just wrath of God? Yes

But do you want to know who will receive worse judgment than them?
UNSAVED CHURCH PEOPLE
People who have clearly heard the message but remained indifferent to it.
Jesus makes that clear here.

Let me give you a doctrinal truth
That everyone who frequents the church should know.
KNOWLEDGE INTENSIFIES JUDGMENT

And this is the really the tricky part;
The other side of the coin; the double-edged sword.

On one hand we just learned last week that a lack of knowledge is why so many are lost.

Did we not read Romans 10?
Romans 10:13-15 “for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!”

And we learned that it was their lack of the knowledge of Christ that kept people from believing and ultimately calling on the Lord.

If people are going to be saved they need the knowledge of the gospel.
So knowledge is essential to salvation.

But at the same time knowledge is extremely dangerous to the indifferent because it makes them more accountable to God.

LET ME EXPLAIN THIS A LITTLE TO YOU.

In Romans 2 Paul reveals this a little.
He is speaking about the difference between Jews and Gentiles in the judgment.

Romans 2:12 “For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;”

There you see that people are judged by what they know.
• Gentiles (who in Paul’s day didn’t have the Law) will not be judged by a Law
they don’t know.
• Jews however will be held accountable for the Law they know.

Does that mean that people who don’t know the truth won’t be judged?
NO. Everyone will be judged because everyone has some truth.

Remember Romans 1
Romans 1:18-20 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

We are clearly taught in Romans 1 that every man has two great forms of information from God.
• They have creation which reveals God’s invisible attributes, eternal power,
and divine nature.
• They have the conscience where God makes truth evident within them.

And Paul says those two things are enough knowledge to condemn men.
It renders them without excuse.

So all men are under judgment.
In order to be saved from that judgment they need the truth.

In this sense the Law is a very good thing.
It drives people to God for mercy and forgiveness.

Remember what Paul said:
Romans 7:7 “What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.”

The Law was good for Paul because it showed him God’s displeasure.
• However once Paul read it, he could not un-know it.
• He was instantly made accountable to God regarding the sin of coveting.

SO JUST TO CLARIFY.
An uninformed lost man will be judged before God and will abide under God’s wrath for all eternity.
• And the basis of his judgment will be that he ignored the testimony of creation and the testimony of his conscience.

But the religious man who also had God’s Law
Will be judged more severely
Because not only did he ignore creation and the conscience,
He also ignored God’s Law.

And we could go even further and say
The person exposed to the gospel will be judged even more severely
Because they also rejected the Savior, Jesus Christ.

All are judged, but those who know more are judged more severely.

Luke 12:42-48 “And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. “Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. “But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. “And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”

So we can clearly say that while knowledge is essential for salvation,
We can also say that knowledge is also very dangerous
Since it makes you more accountable to God.

• The person who hears the gospel and obeys is counted extremely blessed for having received it.
• The person who hears the gospel and ignores is now in greater danger than if they had never heard it at all.

That’s what Jesus just told the 70.
It will be better for Sodom in the judgment
Than any city you go to that refuses to listen to you.

And then TO ILLUSTRATE HIS POINT Jesus reveals to the 70 that several cities have already fallen under this extreme judgment.

Those cities are the cities of Galilee where Jesus has already ministered.

(13-15) “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. “But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. “And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades!”

It’s the same truth.

Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum, where all Galilean cities.
We don’t have record of what Jesus did in Chorazin, but we do know what He did in the other cities.

BETHSAIDA
• Not only was Bethsaida the hometown of Philip, which indicates that enough
truth was spoken in Bethsaida to get at least one follower.
• Beyond that the feeding of the 5,000 took place there.
• Mark 6 reveals that Jesus gave sight to a blind man there.

But all of those miracles were not enough
To convince the city of Bethsaida to believe.

And so Jesus said to Bethsaida
“it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you.”

The best way to describe Tyre and Sidon is to remind you that they were pagan port cities. (That should suffice to speak of their immorality)

CAPERNAUM
• Capernaum was even worse than the others.
• Capernaum was the ministry headquarters of Jesus.

Matthew 4:13 “and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.”

• In Capenaum Jesus cast a demon out in the synagogue.
• In Capernaum Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law
• In Capernaum Jesus healed an unnamed multitude of people with all manner of illnesses and problems.
• In Capernaum Jesus healed the Centurion’s slave.

In fact so many miracles had occurred in Capernaum
That Jesus’ actual hometown of Nazareth was jealous.

Luke 4:23 “And He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.'”

They had heard and witnessed the truth over and over,
And yet they did not believe and Jesus assures them that
They “will be brought down to Hades”

Matthew’s gospel gives more insight:
Matthew 11:23-24 “And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. “Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

So Jesus tells the 70 that when they go they should proclaim the truth
AND THEY WILL DO SO WITH DIVINE AUTHORITY.

If anyone hears their truth and doesn’t receive it
It will be worse for them than Sodom just like it already happened to the cities of Galilee where Jesus has most recently been ministering.

So do you understand the principle?
Truth is valuable, truth is necessary,
But it is also dangerous because we are judged based on what we know.

And that is why I say this is a message
The AVERAGE AMERICAN CHURCH GOER needs to hear

Because in America it is easy to hear the truth.
People fill church pews week after week and receive knowledge of Christ.
Accountability runs high in America.

And on the day of the harvest,
It would be far better to have been an abortion doctor
Who never heard the gospel
Than to be a moral church goer
Who has heard it but never obeyed it.

BUT THERE’S MORE
We also understand that the reason Jesus told this to the 70
WAS NOT because they were in danger of judgment.

Rather Jesus told this to the 70 because
They needed to know the authority of their message.

• You aren’t just preaching a suggestion to the people.
• You aren’t just preaching a better way to the people.
• You are preaching to them the divine mandate of the eternal God and men do
not have the luxury of rejecting it without severe repercussions.

In fact Jesus goes on to say:
(16) “The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

Have you every realized that?

When you go into this world to proclaim the gospel,
You aren’t proclaiming man’s message.
You are proclaiming God’s message.

And when people reject that message, they aren’t rejecting you. Ultimately they are rejecting God.

What encouragement to the 70!
What encouragement to you!

We are sovereignly appointed by the King of the World to go and proclaim His message to the nations.
• We warn them of the coming judgment
• We explain to them the way of salvation

When they respond, we rejoice!
When they reject, we are certainly saddened,

But we do not give up or change the message
Because it is the divine message.

So can I remind you of something?
People seem to think that if they go and preach the gospel
And people don’t respond that somehow they failed.

Some even say, “I’m just not good at that” and they quit doing.

Look at what Jesus said here.
• He doesn’t tell the 70 that if they go and preach and no one listens that they had better improve their delivery.
• He doesn’t tell the 70 that they had better learn how to do it better.
• He doesn’t tell the 70 that if no one listens then He’ll replace them with someone more effective.

Not at all!
• Jesus tells the 70 that if no one listens, that’s not their problem.
• People are failing to respond because of your incompetence.
• People are failing to respond because they are rejecting God.

And to be indifferent to God is a terrible problem.

Let me leave you with ONE LAST COMMISSIONING PASSAGE
To illustrate this point a little more.

TURN TO: Isaiah 6
(1-7)
• You remember this chapter, it is famous when discussing missions.
• It starts with God working in the heart of Isaiah to humble him and lead him to submission and worship

Important to note is that
• After Isaiah repented we read (8) “Then I heard…”
• It doesn’t say, “Then God said”
• It is true that at times the reason people don’t hear God’s call to missions is because they are in need of repentance.

• After Isaiah repented he heard God’s call and of course you know the story, he volunteered. (see verse 8)

But look at the mission God appointed for him.
(9-10)
• God didn’t tell him to go and save people.
• God told him to go and condemn people.
• “You go prove just how blind and deaf and hard hearted they are”

(Incidentally, no O.T. passage is more quoted in the New Testament than this one)

And Isaiah understands what the Lord is saying,
For look what he says next:
(11) “how long?”

And look at the Lord’s answer.
Until judgment is complete, but while the majority will reject and their judgment will be secured a remnant will believe and be saved.

So we understand Isaiah’s calling.
• He was going to lead some to salvation
• He was going to render others without excuse.
• But he was not to allow negative circumstances to sway his commitment.

And this is what Jesus told the 70.
• You are on My mission.
• You go to work.
• If they listen, great!
• If they don’t, tell them anyway.

I REMIND YOU OF THE SAME
You are on a mission from the King to simply take the truth to the people.
God deals with the rest. Just go share the truth.

And as an additional truth, I would remind that any who have heard the gospel (even in this room) you are accountable for that gospel which you have heard.

• And while Ignorance is a problem…
• And while Immorality is a problem…
• The greatest problem by far is Indifference to the truth.

Respond to the gospel call of Christ.