Embracing Our Mission: Joy in Salvation and Service

Devotional

Day 1: Urgency in the Mission

The mission of the seventy, as described in Luke 10, underscores the urgency of spreading the Gospel. Jesus sends them out with minimal provisions, emphasizing reliance on God and the message of peace. This teaches us that our mission is not about material resources but about faithfulness and trust in God's provision. The seventy were sent out as lambs among wolves, highlighting the challenges and dangers they would face. Yet, their reliance on God and the urgency of their mission were paramount. Jesus' instruction to pray for more laborers reminds us of the vastness of the harvest and the need for more workers in God's kingdom. [00:55]

Luke 10:2 (ESV): "And he said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in God's mission today, relying on His provision rather than your own resources?

Day 2: Accountability and Judgment

Jesus' warning about the judgment of cities that reject the Gospel serves as a reminder of the reality of accountability before God. It challenges us to consider the seriousness of rejecting the message of the kingdom and the eternal consequences that follow. The comparison to Sodom's fate is a sobering reminder of the gravity of rejecting God's message. This passage calls us to reflect on our own response to the Gospel and the responsibility we have to share it with others. The reality of judgment should motivate us to live with a sense of urgency and purpose in our mission. [11:00]

Matthew 11:23-24 (ESV): "And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you."

Reflection: How does the reality of judgment influence your approach to sharing the Gospel with those around you?

Day 3: True Joy in Salvation

The joy of the seventy in their success over demons is tempered by Jesus' reminder that their true joy should be in their salvation. This teaches us to prioritize our eternal security and relationship with God over temporary victories and achievements. While the seventy rejoiced in their authority over demons, Jesus redirected their focus to the eternal significance of their names being written in heaven. This perspective shift encourages us to find our deepest joy in the assurance of our salvation and our relationship with God, rather than in earthly accomplishments. [19:46]

Philippians 3:20-21 (ESV): "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."

Reflection: What are some temporary victories or achievements you have been prioritizing over your relationship with God? How can you refocus on the joy of your salvation today?

Day 4: Assurance of Salvation

The concept of our names being written in heaven highlights the assurance of salvation and the grace of God. It reminds us that our salvation is not based on our works but on God's sovereign choice and grace. This assurance provides a foundation for our faith and a source of comfort in times of doubt. Understanding that our salvation is secure in God's hands allows us to live with confidence and peace, knowing that our eternal destiny is assured. This assurance should inspire us to live lives of gratitude and service, reflecting the grace we have received. [20:01]

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV): "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

Reflection: How does the assurance of your salvation impact your daily life and decisions? In what ways can you live out this assurance with gratitude and service?

Day 5: Gratitude for Grace

Understanding the doctrines of grace and election should lead us to a posture of gratitude and rejoicing. Recognizing that our salvation is a gift from God, we are called to live with joy and thankfulness, free from complaints and full of praise. This understanding transforms our perspective, allowing us to see every aspect of our lives as an opportunity to glorify God. As we reflect on the grace we have received, we are encouraged to extend that grace to others, living as ambassadors of God's love and mercy in the world. [25:32]

Colossians 3:15-17 (ESV): "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude today, recognizing the grace you have received? What specific actions can you take to express this gratitude in your interactions with others?

Sermon Summary

In our study of the Gospel According to Saint Luke, we have reached chapter 10, where Jesus appoints seventy others and sends them out two by two into every city and place He was about to visit. This passage highlights the urgency and importance of the mission, as Jesus declares that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. He instructs His followers to pray for more laborers and sends them out as lambs among wolves, emphasizing the need for reliance on God rather than material possessions.

The mission of the seventy is a reflection of the mission given to the twelve disciples earlier. Jesus instructs them to bring peace to the houses they enter and to proclaim that the kingdom of God has come near. However, He also warns of the consequences for those who reject this message, stating that it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for those cities on the day of judgment. This serves as a sobering reminder of the reality of judgment and the accountability we all face before God.

Upon their return, the seventy rejoice, reporting that even the demons are subject to them in Jesus' name. Jesus acknowledges their success and shares a vision of Satan falling like lightning from heaven, symbolizing the defeat of evil through their mission. Yet, He reminds them that their greatest joy should not be in their power over demons but in the fact that their names are written in heaven.

This passage challenges us to reflect on our own mission as laborers in God's harvest. We are called to participate in the work of the kingdom, not because God needs us, but because He graciously allows us to be part of His redemptive plan. Our ultimate joy should be rooted in the assurance of our salvation and the eternal security of our names being written in the Book of Life.

Key Takeaways

1. The mission of the seventy underscores the urgency of spreading the Gospel. Jesus sends them out with minimal provisions, emphasizing reliance on God and the message of peace. This teaches us that our mission is not about material resources but about faithfulness and trust in God's provision. [00:55]
2. Jesus' warning about the judgment of cities that reject the Gospel serves as a reminder of the reality of accountability before God. It challenges us to consider the seriousness of rejecting the message of the kingdom and the eternal consequences that follow. [11:00]
3. The joy of the seventy in their success over demons is tempered by Jesus' reminder that their true joy should be in their salvation. This teaches us to prioritize our eternal security and relationship with God over temporary victories and achievements. [19:46]
4. The concept of our names being written in heaven highlights the assurance of salvation and the grace of God. It reminds us that our salvation is not based on our works but on God's sovereign choice and grace. [20:01]
5. Understanding the doctrines of grace and election should lead us to a posture of gratitude and rejoicing. Recognizing that our salvation is a gift from God, we are called to live with joy and thankfulness, free from complaints and full of praise. [25:32]
** [25:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:08] - Introduction to Luke Chapter 10
[00:21] - The Sending of the Seventy
[00:55] - The Harvest is Plentiful
[01:13] - Instructions for the Mission
[01:43] - Rejection and Judgment
[02:49] - The Return of the Seventy
[03:19] - The Joy of the Disciples
[04:37] - Questions of Belief
[05:46] - The Reality of Hell
[07:26] - The Role of Laborers
[09:40] - The Nearness of the Kingdom
[11:00] - Warnings of Judgment
[12:59] - Accountability Before God
[19:46] - Rejoicing in Salvation

Sermon Clips

Then he said to them the Harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few, therefore pray the Lord of the Harvest to send out laborers into his Harvest and go your way and behold I send you out as Lambs Among Wolves carry neither money bag knapsack nor sandals and greet no one along the road. [00:45:48]

But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say the very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you, nevertheless know this that the kingdom of God has come near you but I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that City. [01:05:47]

And then the seventy returned with joy, saying Lord even the demons are subject to us in your name, and he said to them I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven behold I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. [02:47:08]

Nevertheless do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you but rather Rejoice because your names are written in heaven. You know this is a holy moment because we've just heard the holy word of God, this is something we must never take for granted or regarding the Cavalier manner this is God's word. [03:08:39]

The reality is folks, most of them missed it, and it was right there at hand, and in this very hour, at this very moment, In This Very place, where you are present, the kingdom of God, the kingdom of God is near to you, so near you could touch it, so near I could swallow you up. [10:05:19]

Jesus the great teacher proclaimed that there would be a day of judgment and that every human being would be summoned before the tribunal of God for that last judgment if there's any Concept in the New Testament we find difficult to tolerate, if there's any idea that is taught repeatedly here in the teaching of Jesus. [12:02:04]

Jesus never said that all sins are equal, some sins are far more egregious than others all sin is serious of course and as James said if we sin against one point in the law we sin against the whole law, but there are degrees of sin, the Apostle Paul warned his readers not to Heap up or pile up or treasure up sins. [13:24:22]

And so here again we see Jesus talking about different levels of accountability and obviously the principle that he's using here is that our culpability is directly related to the light that we have received so that every time you hear the gospel preached it's a double-edged coin if you embrace it it is to your blessedness. [14:17:59]

Jesus said you want to have joy and Elation and excitement then let me tell you what to Rejoice about, your greatest joy is that your names are written in heaven, oh what does that mean, well to say that they're written in heaven means that your names are written on the registry book of Heaven that it is recorded there. [20:05:82]

The only reason I can find that your name is in that book is that from all eternity the father determined to redeem a people as a gift for his son that his son would see the Affliction and the travail of his soul and be satisfied so that all whom the father gave to him would come to him yes we're talking here. [23:02:46]

And what that means is to be a recipient of Grace is to receive something that you don't Merit to receive something that you haven't earned to receive something that you haven't achieved but rather to receive something that is a gift and purely a gift by a gracious God who bestows it upon us and again why. [24:50:50]

When we understand the doctrines of Grace and we understand the biblical doctrine of election it's time to be finished with complaining and time to start with rejoicing because this is our greatest joy. [25:53:52]

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