The Fellowship of Joy

This Sunday's Message

Luke 10:17-24 (New International Version)

 ¹⁷The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."

 ¹⁸He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

 ²¹At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

 ²²"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

 ²³Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."

(Thanks to Bible Gateway and International Bible Society for NIV)

All of the readings today have had something to do with perseverence. Our text is about what happens when God works in unlikely ways with unlikely people and accomplishes unlikely things at unlikely times. The response is to REJOICE!

It is a wonderful thing to exercise authority over evil and to see miraculous things happen in personal and corporate ministry, but it is a greater cause for rejoicing to know that you are included in God's eternal plan.

* Rejoice that your names are written in Heaven.

* Rejoice that God has revealed His Son to you.

* Rejoice in what you see and hear as children of God.

 

Readings for Sunday, October 17, 2010

The readings for this Sunday can be found by clicking here:

 Lectionary Readings 10-17-10

They are:

• Jeremiah 31:27-34 and Psalm 119:97-104  • 
• 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5  • 
• Luke 18:1-8

 

Find It Here

Vida Eterna

Lost and Found: Stolen Cell Phone Unites Volunteers on EthicsDaily.com

Here is a story to inspire and encourage.

By: David McCollum

Posted: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 5:48 am

The woman thought she came to serve, but a thief made her realize she also could be served.   It happened this summer during the All Church Challenge, when churches from five states sent mission teams to Helena, Ark., to help Ben and Leonora Newell's Together for Hope project.

www.ethicsdaily.com to READ MORE

Three Questions - Sermon Synopsis for 6-28-09

Jesus inserts a probe into the deep places of our hearts whenever he asks searching questions. Even the most practical interrogatives cause a pause that is sharp enough to penetrate our motives, thoughts, and fears.

He asks the questions we are ultimately asking ourselves but find difficult to face.

Luke 8 records three of them:

"Where is your faith?" (v 25) - What do you really believe? How profoundly do you believe it? How does what you believe drive you, define you, and shape you? Is your faith transferable between the changing circumstances of your life? Is it immune to revision when it is challenged or stretched by hardship? Just because the boat you are in is riding the storm and death is a possibility, does not mean that any enduring and ultimate truth has changed - only your questions. His remains the same: Where is your faith?

Jesus asked this question of his friends who were suffering through storms outside of themselves.

"What is your name?" (v 30) - Is it "Legion" because you are many and are tormented by discordant and destructive voices within your soul?  Do you know your name - your authentic name? Do you really know who you are - the 'you' you were meant to be, full of wonder, potential, and joyous grace?  Have you come to peace with yourself as one who is beloved of God and called to a life of purpose or are you living among the tombs, flailing and beating yourself without mercy?

Jesus asked this question of a man whose storms were within him, who had not known a moment of peace for years.

"Who touched me?" (v 45) - You cannot remain anonymous to Jesus. He wants you to hear the question and know that He knows that power has gone out of Him to you whenever you reach to touch the hem of His garment. Do you think He does not notice you, that He does not care, that you cannot reach Him? A woman whose body had failed her for a long, long time was desperate enough to hope for healing. Later a group of mourners would reach out for one last tidbit of hope for a little girl who had slipped into the grip of death. To the woman, He would say, "Your faith has made you well." To the little girl, He would say, "Little girl, arise."

Who touched me? That is the question of knowing of His knowledge. It is the question that opens our eyes to the reality that in our loneliest circumstances, we are never truly alone.

Some storms attack our bodies and ours alone and isolate us. Jesus see, hears, feels, and knows.

These are the questions that are posed to us today? In some ways, they are all about the first. If we know where our faith is, we can know who we are and that we have touched Him who has the power to still the storms or see us through.

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Baptist Temple, The Fellowship of Joy
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