What’s Agenda for rejoicing?
Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Luke 10:20(AMP) Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are enrolled in heaven.
Luke 10:20(NLT) But don’t rejoice just because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered as citizens of heaven.”
Luke 10:20(MSG) All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God’s authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you–that’s the agenda for rejoicing.”
Introduction: Calvary salutations to wonderful children of the Most High. Glory be to God for bringing us to another week of Speaking Scriptures.
🙏 I pray that His Grace will not be frustrated in our lives and families in Jesus name.
We had a wonderful time at 2023 Blissful Union retreat at Badagry tagged “The United Force” as Holy Spirit revealed secrets to checkmate Satan, the arch-enemy of Christian marriage. Thereafter, reading through joyful experiences and comments of participants, I heard a still small voice in my spirit saying “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not” because there is greater condemnation for Christian couples who were at the retreat as teachers and hearers if their marriages fail.
James 3:1(AMP) NOT MANY [of you] should become teachers (self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation].
❓ We therefore want to ask ourselves this week as Christians and disciples of Christ; What’s my Agenda for rejoicing?
▶️ An Agenda is the underlying intentions or motives of a person or group while Rejoicing is being very pleased about something which shows in behaviour.
🛑 Now, asking What’s my Agenda for rejoicing requires my sincere search for the underlying intentions or motives in my rejoicing.
▶️ Bringing our attention back to the text for this week, Seventy Disciples of Christ that were sent on evangelical mission by Jesus Christ came back to give exciting reports of how powers of darkness were subjected at their command.
Luke 10:17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!
🛑 The Master’s response to their rejoicing is our focal point this week.
Jesus’s statement from our text started with; Notwithstanding, Nevertheless, All the same, don’t rejoice just because evil spirits obey you…
▶️ Going back to read previous verse clearly indicates source of power that made Demons to tremble before the Disciples.
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luke 10:19(MSG) See what I’ve given you? Safe passage as you walk on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the Enemy. No one can put a hand on you.
I observe that messages from most fathers-in- the-Lord centre on their achievements in ministry; such as deliverance from barrenness, sicknesses, poverty and many other things God used them to do in the past. Many advertise it on print media and television, create avenues for real and orchestrated testimonies to draw attention for more memberships in their ministries.
▶️ God knows every motives for rejoicing which no one knows. Activities in ministries may look wonderful and evangelical to man but God Who sees the heart can locate iniquity due to involvement of Fleshly desire and display.
🛑 Any Christian programme that is NOT from the Spirit no matter how laudable in the sight of men is unauthorised and regarded as iniquity by God.
Matthew 7:22-23(NLT) On judgment day many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.’
❗Jesus Christ told the seventy Disciples the most important or agenda for rejoicing as Christians;
Luke 10:20(AMP) Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are enrolled in heaven.
Hear the Message version
Luke 10:20(MSG) All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God’s authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you–that’s the agenda for rejoicing.”
On the contrary in this end times, our spiritual leaders triumph greatly in authority over Satan as regards what they do for God in building edifice as worship centres with miraculous works and large followers .
🛑 Jesus Christ said the Agenda for rejoicing is that our names are written in the Book of Life.
Only Christian’s name is found in the Book of Life that belongs to Christ. It is also called “Lamb’s Book of Life”
Revelation 21:27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
🛑 Any name NOT found in the Book of Life will live eternally in Hell fire prepared for Devil and his cohorts.
Revelation 20:15(AMP) And if anyone’s [name] was not found recorded in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire.
❓Can you now see why Salvation through Jesus Christ should be our Agenda for rejoicing?
🛑 What is done for God through the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to Believers MUST NOT be our Agenda for rejoicing BUT what God does for us through Love found in the Fruit of the Spirit.
⚠️ There are gifts of the Spirit for edification of the Church. These gifts cannot take any Christian to Heaven, it is for the work of the ministry in the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
🛑 It is the Fruit of the Spirit derived from the Vine, that is, Jesus Christ that guarantees everlasting life.
⚠️ Let it be known that names written in the Book of Life can be erased.
Revelation 3:5 (AMP) Thus shall he who conquers (is victorious) be clad in white garments, and I will not erase or blot out his name from the Book of Life; I will acknowledge him [as Mine] and I will confess his name openly before My Father and before His angels.
If Christian names can be removed or erased, Salvation of our souls requires cultivation with serious caution against temptations.
Philippians 2:12(AMP) Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).
▶️ Underlying intentions or motives for rejoicing can be detected in times of lack and trials.
Apostle Paul wrote to Christians in prison under torment for preaching Christ. He enthusiastically declared;
Philippians 4:4(AMP) Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!
❓How many Disciples can rejoice in difficult times?
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (AMP) Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, [though] the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation!
Christians with circumcised heart live in the Spirit with indescribable joy within and without reliance on the Flesh or Sinful nature no matter the applauds or praise from men.
Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Philippians 3:3(AMP) For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances–
❓ How many Disciples can rejoice in humiliation by Unbelievers due to Christian faith?
Acts 5:40-41(NLT) The council accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus.
🛑 Judas Iscariot was among Disciples of Christ with power that subdued demons, and heard what Jesus Christ said concerning Agenda for rejoicing, yet Devil got him through covetousness.
⚠️ Unfortunately he died without enjoying reward from betrayal.
Matthew 27:3-5(NLT ) When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and other leaders. “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.” Then Judas threw the money onto the floor of the Temple and went out and hanged himself.
✍ Finally brethren, what should be more paramount in our rejoicing as Christians is the Salvation of our souls, and ensuring our names remain in the Lamb’s Book of Life. NO MATTER spiritual gifts we possess without Love that encompasses; Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Temperance, we are NOTHING.
1 Corinthians 13:2(AMP) And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).
✋ Maranatha.