You and I are studying joy this week. It’s like a big jigsaw puzzle in front of us, and by the time we put them all together, I believe you and I are going to have more joy in our lives. Today we’re going to pop a piece called Gratitude into the puzzle. We’re going to catch Jesus in a moment where He experienced great joy. So, join me now in Luke chapter 10.
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Transcription:
Think of a moment in your life when you were just absolutely flooded with joy, so much so that you just had to pray and give thanks to God. I have this phrase that I say when something wonderful happens, I’ll just say, “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ“, and it’s just this little thing between me and God. He knows that I’m extra thankful and extra filled with joy when those words come out of my mouth, they come straight from the deepest part of my heart. Hi there. Welcome to the Bible for Busy People. I’m Erica and you and I are studying joy this week. It’s like a big jigsaw puzzle in front of us, and we’re looking at all of the pieces, and by the time we put ’em all together, I believe you and I are going to have more joy in our lives. Today we’re going to pop a piece called Gratitude into the puzzle. We’re going to catch Jesus in a moment where he experienced great joy. So, join me now in Luke chapter 10, beginning in verse one,
The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples
Beyond the 12 that were his closest friends and companions, okay?
and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. 2 These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. 3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road. 5 “Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’ 6 If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you.
Isn’t that interesting about blessings? They can be boomerangs. That’s really cool. Okay, verse seven,
Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay. 8 “If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you. 9 Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ 10 But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!’ 12 I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day. 13 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 14 Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. 15 And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead.
You’re going, “Erica, where’s the joy?” It’s coming. I promise it’s coming. Verse 16 now.
Then he said to the disciples, “Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.” 17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” 18 “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20 But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”
It’s like my friend Susie says, “Your name is written in the book of life in sharpie.” I’ve always loved that. Okay, here comes the joy, Verse 21.
At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way. 22 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 23 Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. 24 I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”
This is an incredibly special moment for our Lord. It’s finally time. His time has come. The good news is spreading and Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit in this moment, and he invites his Father in and starts to pray, and the three of them are just experiencing this unique and incredible moment of joy together. They’ve been waiting for this and it’s beautiful. You and I can be filled with the Holy Spirit too. All we need is to ask the same Holy Spirit that filled Jesus with joy can fill you with joy. Check out Romans eight, verse 11,
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Okay. I just want to reiterate what you and I just learned together. Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you and lives in me. Wow. Stop and think about it. The joy is in us. We have to be open to it. We have to seek Him, and that’s when we find the joy. Paul writes in Philippians chapter four verses four and five,
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.[
He’s coming back to get us. That fills me with joy. Alright, until next time, be filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, the joy of the Lord for you are loved.
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