What are 5 things that make you smile? Few years ago SF Chronicle
Asked what 5 things make you smile most among answers
Choral music performed well, Awesome hugs, A massage
A good tip, Dance that amazingly clicks, children laughing
Realizing I love my job, Things that are meaty, fatty, & creamy
When someone says "I'm really happy to see you!" and means it
Standing in line to vote and hearing 5 different languages
Waking up find my kitty snuggled on neck w\her cheek on mine,
paw resting on other cheek hearing her tiny nose whistle & snore
Knowing my mama is happier now than other time in her life
Coming home from work and seeing my dog in the window
waking up & realizing I have another hour of sleep,
Pretty lady smiling at me & looks away when I catch her looking
Learn something of character of person by what makes them smile
Lk 10 Jesus sent followers to share his message in world told them
Carry neither a purse or $$ or shoes urgent no time for small talk
When followers return from mission they are beside themselves
Return with Joy and told here Jesus has joy. Isa God says rejoice
Sometimes Christians seem joyless speak of discipleship
Jesus is joyful. True salvation brings joy 5 things make God smile
1. Satan FALLING LIKE LIGHTENING
Bible never questions whether there is Satan or not
Clear there has been an opposing power to power of God
Opposing power is powerful but does not overcome God
Jesus said, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven Vs 18 TNIV
As disciples tell of going to share good news
Jesus smiles about Satan falling from heaven, (the cosmos)
In other words when the forces of darkness and evil defeated
Jesus smiles; Satan is a deceiver, tempter, seat of evil
Who challenges the power of God
How Does Satan fall? AS WE DO JUSTICE, in unjust world
Injustice is the fruit of evil not God
AT FORGIVENESS, when we forgive those who sin vs. us
When it is so natural to hold a grudge Satan falls
WHEN LOVE WINS OVER SELFISHNESS,
WHEN SIN IS DEFEATED in our individual lives struggle
Make Satan fall and Jesus smile
Took an unplanned vacation time this week
Got call Monday afternoon a good friend had died in Cincy
Because of kindness of people here at VBC able to go
My friend dealt with demon of alcoholism in his life
Not all who drink alcoholic any more than all who talk gossips
18 yrs ago friend had to face this demon in his life, talked about it
Made me think of demons I need to face in my life
God smiles but this only happens
2. People APPLYING THE AUTHORITY OF GOD TO LIFE
Although Satan is a "formidable foe" he is a DEFEATED adversary.
Believers in Christ are privileged to walk in same power that raised
Jesus from the dead, & "calmed both wind and sea."
When we live our lives taking up the authority of God, smiles
Look at Vs 17 & 19 NLT disciples blown away
Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name
Jesus “I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy
Vs 18 says power over snakes and scorpions
These were seen as symbols for sinister and evil forces
Many people believe in the Person, word and work of Christ,
But when circumstances test their faith, hard for them hard to stand
As Christ followers called to be an example
World is crying out for those who live faithful life not perfect
So few examples of good many people have given up why try
Remember there is MORE TO YOU THAN MEETS THE EYE
Bible reminds us of spiritual power over and over again
Col 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made
a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."
2 Tim 1:7 "God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power love
but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
Phil 2:13 "it is God who works in you both to will & to do for His good pleasure."
Don’t misunderstand me, I am struggling to put into effect power
Of God in my life, but oh the difference if live out God’s authority
William Wilberforce discouraged in early 1790s after 10 yr battle vs
Slave trade in England. tired & frustrated, opened his Bible
Found a letter written by John Wesley. In part it read
Unless God has raised you up for this very thing,
you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils.
But if God be for you, who can be against you?
Are all of them together stronger than God? John Wesley
Live under the authority of God in your life Jesus will smile
3. Salvation AND NEW LIFE FOR SINNERS
Disciples were excited at the power they had OT joy note
Satan was dethroned they saw God’s authority
But Jesus bring great perspective in next reason to smile
Vs 20 CEV But don't be happy because evil spirits obey you.
Be happy that your names are written in heaven! Vs 20 CEV
Don’t let all this other stuff go to your head
Our greatest joy is that we have been saved ourselves
The Greatest Gift you have ever been given IS SALVATION
God’s ultimate victory over evil
Reminder of who we are and where we have come from
Salvation includes ETERNAL LIFE AND ABUNDANT LIFE
One day going to heaven, different perspective on how we live now
Heaven is a neglected doctrine today spend so much energy making
selves comfortable in life trying to preserve life & ease in any way
Forget that we have been saved from eternal death
Now we are moving on to heaven,
For Christian this life is as bad as it gets
For non-Christian this life is as good as it gets
Jesus smiles when people are saved, become his followers
Reminder to us of what we are really about
Not just good works or exerting power
But spiritual transformation
What is called for is living life of faith God also smiles at
4. Childlike FAITH LIVED OUT
Isaiah has picture of God like a new mother comforting crying baby
We have been saved to serve, have been cleaned up to be used up.
We are called to sacrificial service, follow prompting of God
Into adventure of faithful living
Lay our lives down in service one unto another.
I don’t know it all and neither do you but that’s okay
We are just called to yield ourselves to God in faith
Jesus said “O Father, Lord of heaven & earth, thank you for hiding
these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, &
for revealing them to the childlike.” Vs 21 NLT
Jesus isn’t saying he is glad that smart people can’t see God truth.
He is saying you don’t have a spiritual advantage
by being an intellectual, scientist or philosopher
Someone once said The only way to write a great book is to write it
with the eyes of a child who sees things for the first time
Children see POTENTIAL, POSSIBILITIES,
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN
What we call childlike faith
What are the dreams God has planted in your life?
Will you embrace them in childlike faith
Brings us to 5th reason Jesus smiles
5. Seeing God AT WORK IN THE WORLD
Jesus sees evidence of the working out of God’s eternal plan
Isa God brings joy to many looking to him
Either we believe life is make it up as you go along
That human history is like a meteor out of control or
We believe our lives and human history itself is going somewhere
that God has a plan active at this point in history
Look at Vs 23 NKJV Jesus turned to his disciples and said privately,
“Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see;” Vs 23 NKJV
God does have a plan question is will we live it out
Luke is pointing to church following leadership of the Holy Spirit
Vs 22 Jesus said if you want to know what God is like look at me
Faith in Action does not come from natural ability or education
God puts particular mission-fields before us maybe a place
or to someone, or to a purpose that God has ordained for us.
God provides all the power we need,
To do his good will.
What part do you play?
What is God calling VBC to be and do today?
What is God calling you to change,
5 things that make Jesus smile
How are you a part of Satan falling like lightening?
Are you Exercising the Authority of God in your life?
Are you a Christian? Invite you to accept him today
How are you living out your faith today?
The disciples went out and saw God at work in world
What if they’d stayed home?
Miss out on power of spiritual forces over natural forces
Will you step out today?
