Finding Joy in Eternal Salvation Over Earthly Success
Summary
The sermon begins with a reflection on the influence of Satan in the world and the victories in ministry as signs of his demise. The speaker recounts how Jesus, after empowering His disciples with the Holy Spirit, instructed them to rejoice not in their earthly achievements but in their eternal salvation. This sets the tone for the sermon, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the wonders of Jesus' sacrifice over the successes of ministry.
The speaker shares personal feelings of inadequacy and the pressure to achieve greatness for God, a common struggle within church culture. They reflect on their own experiences of comparing themselves to others and the fear of not overcoming recurring sins. The speaker suggests that these pursuits may distract from the true point of a relationship with God. They highlight the story of Jesus' followers, who were sent on a mission to proclaim the arrival of the King, performing miracles and casting out demons. Despite the excitement of these accomplishments, Jesus reminds them to find joy in their heavenly citizenship.
The sermon explores different postures people take when relating to God, such as viewing Him as a genie, a command giver, or a distant principle maker. The speaker warns that while these approaches contain elements of truth, they can lead to feelings of discouragement if they become the primary way people relate to God. The speaker also discusses the "incapable God" posture, where individuals believe they must accomplish great things for God, sharing their personal journey of feeling inadequate during their seminary years and their simple desire to become a pastor at Crossroads.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of rejoicing in the fact that our names are written in heaven, rather than in our earthly accomplishments. They caution against allowing successes to become the primary source of joy and value, which can lead to rebellion and reliance on our achievements. The speaker reminds us that our work for God should be motivated by love, not fear, and that even divine work can become twisted without God's presence.
The sermon concludes by highlighting the true gift of life: being in God's presence forever. The speaker encourages those doubting their salvation to seek reassurance and invites the congregation to a time of communion, expressing gratitude for Jesus' sacrifice. The sermon ends with a prayer for the audience to understand their worth and value rooted in God's love, not in achievements or comparisons to others.
Key Takeaways:
- The true measure of success in the Christian life is not found in the magnitude of our earthly achievements, but in the assurance of our eternal salvation. Jesus' instruction to His disciples to rejoice because their names are written in heaven serves as a reminder that our ultimate joy and value lie in our relationship with God and the eternal life He offers, not in the temporary victories we may experience on earth. [16:08]
- Feelings of inadequacy and the pressure to achieve greatness can distract believers from the core of their faith. The speaker's personal struggle with chronic shame and comparison within church culture illustrates the danger of allowing our accomplishments to define our worth before God. The true point of our relationship with God is to know Him and be known by Him, not to earn His favor through our works. [07:29]
- The various postures people adopt in relating to God—such as the "genie in a bottle," "command giver," and "principal maker"—can lead to an incomplete and sometimes discouraging faith experience. These approaches may cause believers to miss the depth of a personal relationship with God, which is based on love, grace, and communion rather than just blessings, obedience, or success. [01:59]
- The concept of an "incapable God" who needs us to accomplish things on His behalf is a flawed understanding that can burden believers with a sense of inadequacy. The speaker's own journey through seminary, feeling different from peers with grander aspirations, underscores the importance of recognizing that our value to God is not contingent on our achievements but on our identity as His children. [03:48]
- Our deepest joy should stem from the knowledge that our names are written in the Book of Life, not from the power we have over demons or the successes of our ministry. This joy is rooted in the transformative blessings of being born again, ransomed, forgiven, declared innocent, rescued from hell, and adopted as children of God. These eternal privileges far outweigh any temporal accomplishments we may achieve. [25:05]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Luke 10:1-20 (ESV)
> After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 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. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. The seventy-two 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 have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
#### Observation Questions
1. What mission did Jesus give to the seventy-two disciples in Luke 10:1-20?
2. How did the seventy-two disciples react when they returned from their mission? [12:59]
3. What was Jesus' response to the disciples' excitement about their accomplishments? [14:07]
4. According to the sermon, what should be the primary source of joy for believers? [14:51]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus instructed the disciples to rejoice that their names are written in heaven rather than in their earthly accomplishments? [14:51]
2. How can feelings of inadequacy and the pressure to achieve greatness distract believers from their faith? [05:11]
3. What are the dangers of relating to God primarily through the lens of accomplishments and success? [16:48]
4. How does the concept of an "incapable God" affect one's relationship with God and their sense of worth? [03:12]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt pressured to achieve something great for God. How did that pressure affect your relationship with Him? [05:11]
2. In what ways have you found yourself comparing your spiritual journey to others? How can you shift your focus to your personal relationship with God? [05:11]
3. How can you remind yourself daily that your worth is rooted in God's love and not in your achievements? [14:51]
4. Think about the different postures you might have taken in your relationship with God (genie, command giver, principal maker). How have these postures impacted your faith experience? [01:59]
5. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your joy comes from your eternal salvation rather than your earthly successes? [14:51]
6. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude for what Jesus has done for you on the cross? [16:08]
7. Identify one area in your life where you feel inadequate. How can you seek God's presence and reassurance in that area this week? [05:11]
Devotional
Day 1: Joy in Eternal Assurance
True success is measured by eternal salvation, not earthly achievements. Rejoicing because one's name is written in heaven reflects an understanding that the value of life is found in the permanence of the divine relationship, rather than the fleeting nature of worldly victories. This perspective aligns priorities with the eternal rather than the temporal. [16:08]
Luke 10:20 - "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Reflection: How can you shift your focus from seeking affirmation in temporary successes to finding joy in your eternal relationship with God?
Day 2: Beyond Earthly Achievements
The pursuit of greatness can overshadow the essence of faith, which is to know and be known by God. Chronic shame and comparison can distort one's self-worth, leading to a misplaced identity that hinges on accomplishments rather than on the grace of God. The heart of faith rests in communion with God, not in the accolades of the world. [07:29]
1 Corinthians 4:7 - "For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?"
Reflection: In what ways have you allowed achievements to influence your sense of worth before God, and how can you begin to find your identity in His grace instead?
Day 3: Relating to God Authentically
Adopting incomplete postures towards God, such as seeing Him as a genie or a distant rule-maker, can lead to a faith experience that lacks depth and intimacy. A personal relationship with God is based on love, grace, and communion, not merely on blessings, obedience, or success. [01:59]
James 4:8 - "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: Reflect on your current view of God. How can you deepen your relationship with Him to experience His love and grace more fully?
Day 4: Embracing Our Identity as God's Children
The belief that God needs our accomplishments is a misconception that burdens us with feelings of inadequacy. Recognizing that our value to God is inherent in our identity as His children, not in our achievements, frees us from the pressure to perform and allows us to serve out of love. [03:48]
Galatians 4:6-7 - "Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir."
Reflection: How can you live out your identity as a child of God today, rather than striving to earn His approval through your actions?
Day 5: The Gift of Eternal Presence
Our deepest joy should come from the knowledge that we are destined to be in God's presence forever. This eternal privilege surpasses any temporal power or success we may achieve on earth. The transformative blessings of salvation are the true gifts of life. [25:05]
1 Peter 1:3-4 - "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade."
Reflection: What are some ways you can cultivate a deeper appreciation for the eternal life and presence with God that you have been promised?
Quotes
"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this that even the spirits are subject to you... but rather Rejoice that your names are written in the heavens." [14:07]
"It's way more appealing to my pride... to Marvel at the wonders of my accomplishments than it is to Marvel at the wonders of what he has done on the cross for me." [15:34]
"Maybe unintentionally you begin to believe that if I really matter, if my life is really going to be significant, I need to accomplish some big things for God." [06:20]
"The rejoicing when it comes to the accomplishments that we have in and through and for God are cool, but there is a Greater Joy, there is an ultimate joy in realizing what God has done for you." [16:48]
"When our ultimate Joy comes from what we achieved for God, even if it's tossing demons aside like Von Miller, we drive ourselves straight to the rebellion of Eden where my value and worth is not determined by what God says but rather by what I have accomplished." [17:25]
"The work that we are given to accomplish, the mission that we were given by Jesus, was always intended to be done in communion with God, it was meant to be motivated by love not fear." [18:00]
"He makes every pleasure and every pain in your life, he redeems it for your Eternal good." [25:42]
"Do not rejoice in these things that even the demons are subject to you, but rather Rejoice that your names are written in the book of Heaven." [25:42]
"Instead of anchoring our worth in God's love and finding the overwhelming joy that comes with that, we search for our value in the things that we are able to accomplish." [19:21]
"Jesus says that you are to rejoice that your names are written in the Book of Life." #!!23:48!!#
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