Luke chapter 10, I want to bring
the message this morning from verse 17 down through verse 20. Luke 10, 17, down through verse
20. I'm taking the title for the
message from verse 20, where the Lord says, but rather rejoice
because your names are written in heaven." How did your name
end up in this book of God's eternal decrees? Rejoice that
your names are written in heaven. I know this. I didn't put my
name there. Somebody else did. The Lord did,
and He did so way back in eternity. Now, what a glorious thought
to consider. Before the foundation of the
world, the Lord chose a people unto salvation. That is known
as the Bible doctrine of election. Now, whenever you find the truth
of God's electing grace taught in the Word of God, you always
find this Subject next to it, rejoicing in the Lord. Whenever you find the doctrine
of election, you find the doctrine of rejoicing in the Lord. Notice
in verse 21, in that hour, the Lord Jesus Christ rejoiced in
spirit. Because somebody's name was written
down in glory. The Apostle Paul put it this
way in 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 13. He said, we are bound to
give thanks to God for you brethren. There is rejoicing in the Lord
because God has, from the beginning, chosen you unto salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth were
unto He called you by the gospel. God chose a people unto salvation
in that eternal covenant of grace. We call that the Bible doctrine
of election. And God predestinated those people
to be conformed to the image of His Son. Now we read that
word twice in Ephesians chapter 1, predestinated according to
his own purpose, but we also read of that word predestination,
in the book of Romans. Let me just read it to you, Romans
8 verse 29. For whom He did foreknow, He
also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that
He might be the firstborn among many brethren. What is predestination
all about? God has elected a people and
determined to make those people just like Christ. Moreover, whom
He did predestinate, Romans 8 verse 30, Then he also called, and
whom he called, then he also justified, and whom he justified,
then he also glorified." Notice that's all past tense. In the mind and purpose of that
everlasting covenant of grace, the work of salvation is done. Every believer does rejoice in
the sovereign electing love of God in Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ, He is
the elect of God. He's called that in Isaiah 42,
1. Behold my servant, my elect,
and we are chosen in Him and given to Him. Remember the Lord
said in John chapter 6, all that the Father giveth to me will
come to me, and those that come to me I will in no wise cast
out. Every believer rejoices in God's
electing love, God's electing grace, and the Lord Jesus Christ
in our text says here, He rejoiced in spirit. Now remember from
our lessons in this chapter, how the Lord chose 70 men, He
elected those men in that eternal covenant of grace, and in time
redeemed them by His grace, and in time called them out 70 men,
and sent them out to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God.
It says that in verse 1, after these things the Lord appointed
other 70 also, and sent them two by two where He Himself would
later go. And they went preaching the gospel
of the kingdom, and they did so with great success. Because
the Lord sent them. Now how can anyone be sent of
God and not be successful? They were sent of God and they
were blessed of God, given great success to do so. Our Lord says
in verse 16, He that heareth you, heareth me. He that despises
you, despises me. He that despises me despises
God Almighty who sent me. The Lord says to them that he
would speak through them and those that received the message
of the gospel and believed the message of the kingdom of God
would be blessed in him, blessed by believing and receiving salvation
by faith. Who believes the gospel of the
Lord Jesus Christ? I tell you exactly who those
people are. Whosoever believeth that Jesus
is the Christ, he is born of God. He that believeth on the
Son hath life. As many as were ordained to eternal
life believe the gospel. Luke 10, Luke verse 17. The 70
returned with joy. Now, how long they were gone
preaching, it's not given here in Scripture. It's not given
unto us. Maybe weeks, maybe days, maybe
months, we don't know. The 70 that were sent, they came
back, and they came back with joy. With joy. They didn't have any disappointments.
They came back with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject
unto us through thy name. They went preaching the gospel
of the kingdom in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. They said,
even the devils and the demons are subject unto us. Now, they
came back excited, didn't they? I mean, they were, oh man, they,
mmm, boy, said this again. I can just imagine, can't you?
Lord, we're ready to go again. You send us again. The devils
are subject to us. The demons are subject unto us.
We preach the gospel with authority and power. They came back excited
and joyful because the Lord had blessed their ministry. They
came back rejoicing. They had great success. And I
thought about this, who doesn't want to have a successful ministry? Now I certainly do. I don't want
my ministry to be a failure. But notice this, perhaps they
were also lifted up with pride, don't you think? Lord, look what
we've accomplished. I think they came back not only
full of joy, but I think they came back a little bit arrogant.
I think they came back with a little bit of pride and maybe self-glory
and maybe were rejoicing in things that they should not rejoice
in. I thought about this. What is
the determining factor whether a man's ministry is successful
or whether it is a failure? What is the determining factor
whether the ministry we have here is successful or a failure. Now, I'll tell you what most
people think, and you know this is so. Most people think that
success or failure is in the size of the crowd, the crowd
that assembles on Sunday morning. Now I couldn't tell you how many
times I've been asked this question when people away from here find
out that I'm a pastor of the church, the next thing out of
their mouth is this. You know what it is? It's not,
it's not, who do you preach there or what's your message? The next
question out of their mouth is this, how big is your church?
I guarantee you, I've been asked that question I couldn't tell
you how many times. How big is your church? How large
is your church? Well, I've started answering
this way. It's 40 feet this way and 80 feet that way. That's
how big this building is. But see, the determining factor,
whether our ministry is successful or not, is not how many people
that gather in here. Now, I've said this for years,
and I can make good on it. If we're just interested in filling
this building up, I can do that in one week. I mean they'd be
running over. I can fill this building in one
week by clever means and tricks and money and influence. I can
do it. I'm not interested in filling
the building. I'm interested in preaching the
gospel. I'm interested in lifting up
the Lord Jesus Christ and His sheep, they'll hear that message
and they will come. So what is the one factor that
determines whether a man's ministry is successful or not? One thing,
is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ preached there? If it
is, whether it's to three or four, five or six, or to five
hundred, the number doesn't matter. Is the gospel preached? The gospel
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, thank God the gospel is
preached here and has been. It is the gospel of Christ. Is
Christ lifted up? Is the truth of the Word declared?
That alone determines whether we have a successful ministry
or not. I know this, the Lord said, without
Him we can do nothing. But let us never forget, we're
only frail instruments, frail creatures, the Lord uses to preach
the gospel to other frail creatures. Now, if you hold your place there
and find 1 Corinthians chapter 3, if you don't want to turn,
let me just read it to you. The apostle Paul, he had a very
successful ministry, didn't he? Very successful. He was sent
of God. 1 Corinthians chapter 3, notice
what he says here. Who then is Paul? Verse 5. Who
then is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as
the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered,
but it's God that gives the increase. So then, neither is he that planteth
anything, neither is he that watereth, but God. God gives
the increase. God gives the increase. Here's
another scripture. If you find 2 Corinthians chapter
4. You see, we have this treasure
in an earthen vessel, 2 Corinthians 4 verse 5, For we preach not
ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servant
for his sake. For God, who commanded the light
to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in
an earthen vessel, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and
not of us." Not of us. You see, this is God's gospel,
this is God's ministry. He raised it up, He established
it, and He keeps us. Let us always be humbled and
acknowledge that salvation is of the Lord, it is the Lord's
doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Now, back to Luke 10,
look at verse 18. And he said unto them, now this
is a quite interesting statement. The Lord said unto them when
they came back and said, the devils are subject unto us. And
he said to them, oh that's nothing new, that's nothing new. I beheld
Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Now, what's the Lord
saying here? He reminds us and them that all
things are of God. The only reason that demons are
defeated and Satan is defeated is because the Lord Jesus Christ
has all power in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28. He said, go
preach the gospel to everyone, knowing that I have all power
in heaven and in earth, and lo, I'm with you always. Since the
Lord Jesus Christ has all power in heaven and in the earth, that
means no one else has any power. Now, if he has all power, that
means no one else has any power. and the powers that be are ordained
of God. Now this is no new thing or surprising
event to the Lord who is the eternal Son of God who cast Satan
and his rebels out of heaven when they rebelled against God
Almighty and they fell from their first estate. Now find Revelation
chapter 12. Revelation chapter 12. And let
me remind you of these two verses. Find Revelation chapter 12 verse
9. Remember from our study in 2
Peter 2 verse 4, God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast
them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness
to be reserved unto judgment. And then from our study in the
book of Jude, the angels which kept not their first estate,
but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting
chains under darkness unto the judgment of that great day. Now,
let's read Revelation 12 verse 9. And the great dragon was cast
out, the old serpent called the devil. Let's go back to verse
7. There was a war in heaven. Michael
and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon fought
against his angels and prevailed not. Neither was there a place
found anymore. The great dragon was cast out,
that old serpent called the devil. Satan would deceive the whole
world. was cast out into the earth,
and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud
voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation and strength,
and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ. For
the accuser of the brethren is cast down, which accused them
before our God day and night. They overcame him through the
blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony, and they
loved not their lives unto death." Somehow, When Satan rebelled
against God and he said, I will be like God, I will exalt myself. We read about that in Isaiah
14. I will be like the Most High God. God said, no you won't.
No you won't. You'll be cast down. Satan and
all demons are under the absolute and sovereign dominion of the
Lord Jesus Christ. He said, I fell Satan. I cast him out. Now listen to
me carefully. Satan is not an independent rogue
spirit in competition with the Lord Jesus Christ. He's a defeated
demon. But rather, Satan himself is
a willing servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan does nothing
without the will of God being done. Satan is God's devil, not
God's rival. Did you get that? He worketh
all things after the counsel of His own will." The devil is
the servant to God Almighty who does His will in heaven and in
earth, who accomplishes God's purpose. Now, look at verse 19
of Luke 10, and behold, he said, behold, I've given you power. I've given you power to tread
on serpents, on demons, spiders, scorpions, and snakes, and all
these various things, and all the power of the enemy, over
all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means gonna
hurt you. Nothing. Nothing. Now, he says,
I've given you power, all power, and nothing shall hurt you. over the power of the enemy.
Now, let us remember as we go about our daily lives in serving
the Lord that everything that comes to pass in our lives is
for the glory of our God and for our eternal good. All things are of God, of Him,
through Him, and to Him. And He said, and we know that
all things work together for good to them who love God, to
them who are the called according to His eternal purpose. Our Lord promised us, He said,
I'll never leave you, I'll never forsake you, lo, I'm with you
always. Now the powers of these enemies
shall not harm us. the scorpions and the serpents
who represent the evils in this life that lurk about us, that
prowl around us. Peter writes about it in this
way. 1 Peter 5, 8, Be sober, be vigilant,
because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour. But he cannot devour us, because
God Almighty said, nothing going to harm you. Now, if you'll turn
to Luke 22. Luke 22, verse 31. Luke 22, 31. The Lord
said to Simon, Behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that
he may sift you like wheat. seeking whom he may devour."
Look at verse 32, "...but I prayed for you, that your faith fail
not when you are converted. Strengthen the brethren." The
Lord ever lived to intercede for us and to pray for us. Now, the enemies of the gospel
cannot harm us. Their poisonous charges and their
slanderous statements do us no harm. There was no one more slandered
than the Apostle Paul. But he said, those things that
you thought were a hindrance were only to the furtherance
of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, even trials
cannot harm us because these trials come from the hand of
our Father. They're called these light afflictions.
Our Lord said, in me you shall have peace, in this world you
shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome. Peter calls these trials Precious
trials that need be take place. Trials cannot harm us, they work
for our good. Satan and sin cannot harm us,
thanks being to God who has given us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ. The law of God can no longer
harm us. Why? He's redeemed us from the
curse of the law, being made a curse for us. Death can't even
harm us. For me to live is Christ, to
die, gain. Some of our folks here have gained
everything in Christ. They have departed to be with
the Lord, which is far better. You see, death is not our enemy,
it's our friend. Blessed are those who die in
the Lord. Sin and Satan cannot harm us. The law cannot harm us. Death
cannot harm us. Nothing shall harm us. Nothing. Turn to Romans 8. Let's see if
I can make good on that. Preachers, that's a pretty big
promise. God made it. All that He has promised, He's
able to perform. Romans chapter 8. Who can lay
anything to the charge of God the elect? It is God that justifies.
Romans 8.33, Romans 8.34, Who is he that condemneth? It is
Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Who shall separate
us from the love of Christ? Now look at this list carefully.
Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword. Those things are going to separate
you from the love of Christ. As it is written, for thy sake
we are killed all the day long. We are counted as sheep for the
slaughter. Nay, in all things we're more
than conquerors through him that loved us." We're more than conquerors
through him that loved us. I'm persuaded, neither death
nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present
nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is
in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now that's an exhaustive list,
is it not? Nothing and no one can lay anything
to the charge of God's elect. If God be for us, who can be
against us if He's for us? Now, look at verse 20. Luke 10 verse 20, notwithstanding
in this, Find no rejoicing. Find no comfort in that. And
then we do rejoice, we do find comfort, but not alone. Look
what he said, notwithstanding in this rejoice not that the
Spirit are subject unto you, but rather rejoice because your
names are written in heaven. Now, don't rejoice so much in
that that the demons are subject to you, but rather rejoice that
your names are written down by the eternal, unchangeable decree
of God, and that you have eternal life in Christ." Now what's he
talking about here when he says your names are written in heaven? He's talking about the Lamb's
book of life, The Lamb's Book of Life. The Apostle Paul writing
about that in Philippians chapter 4, talking about those fellow
laborers who labored with them, whose names are written in the
Book of Life. Now, turn back to the Revelation.
It's mentioned at least four times in the Revelation. If you'll find Revelation 3 verse
5, He that overcometh, the same
shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot his name
out of the book of life, but will confess his name before
my Father and before His angels." There is that book of life. Now
this is the book of God's eternal decrees, His electing love, and
His electing grace. Turn to Revelation 13 verse 8. all that dwell upon the earth
shall worship Him." That is talking about the beast that's mentioned
in the preceding verses, whose names are not written in the
book of life, of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. So there is an eternal book of
life. Turn to Revelation 17 verse 8, "...the beast that thou sawest,
was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and
go into perdition, and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder
whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation
of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not,
and yet is." Now, one more reference. Find Revelation 20. Revelation
20, verse 11. Now there is this Lamb's Book
of Life. And I saw, this is Revelation
20 verse 11, I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it,
whose face the earth and heaven fled away, and there was no place
found for them. And I saw the dead, small and
great, stand before God, and the books were opened, and another
book was opened, which is the Book of Life, and the dead now,
Those who were dead in their sin were judged out of those
things which were written in the books according to their
works. And the sea gave up the dead
which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which
were in them. And they were judged every man
according to their work, that is, those who were unbelievers,
those who were dead in sin, and death and hell were cast into
the lake of fire. This is the second death, verse
15. Whosoever was not found written
in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire. Now, I
want to be included in this book of life, in the Lamb's book of
life. In that blessed book of life,
all the names of God's elect were written before the foundation
of the world, written eternally, immutably, written forever in
heaven by the sovereign will and sovereign choice of God. We had nothing to do with it.
We call that the unconditional election of grace. One preacher of the past said
this, thank God that he chose us before we were born because
he would not have done so afterward. Would he? No. Our Lord said to those twelve
apostles, you didn't choose me, I chose you. We love Him only
because He first loved us. Now, we rejoice in God's sovereign
election of grace. We rejoice and we preach it. We preach it because the book
of God teaches it. Believers rejoice in the sovereign
election of grace. Sadly, many lost religious people
do not. But all the Lord's people do,
and we give thanks unto God. Now, does the Bible teach the
blessed doctrine of election, that is God choosing a people
unto salvation? Does it? Yes. Do we believe it? Yes, because that's what the
book of God teaches. Now, if you'll find the book
of Romans one more time, Romans 9, Verse 11, For the children being
not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the
purpose of God according to election might stand. Now what is election? That is God's sovereign choice
of sinners to salvation. that the purpose of God, according
to election, might stand not of work, but of him that calleth.
It was said to her, The elder shall serve the younger, as it
is written, Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated. What shall
we say then? Is there unrighteousness with
God? Most people would say, well,
that's not fair. God forbid! For He said to Moses, I will
have mercy on whom I will have mercy. I will have compassion
on whom I will have compassion. So then, it's not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. Does the Bible teach that God
chose a people unto salvation? Absolutely! You have to be an
ignorant fool to deny this book teaches that God elected a people
unto salvation. The word elect, electing and
election are found numerous, numerous times God had chosen
a people unto salvation. Now go back to Ephesians chapter
1. Ephesians chapter 1, what we read earlier. Look at verse
3. We bless God. You see, there's
that doctrine of rejoicing in the Lord. Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with
all spiritual blessing in the heavenlies, in Christ, heavenly
places, in Christ, according according, not according as we
are deserving, not even according as we believe, according as He
has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world that
we should be holy, without blame, before Him in love, having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ, according to
the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of
His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. Now,
what is that teaching us? That is teaching us that God
chose a people unto salvation. Now, several things here, let
me ask you this question. Who did the choosing? Who did
the choosing? Well, right there is the answer.
According as He chose us in Him. He did the choosing. He did the
choosing. Sovereign choice. When did that
choosing take place? What says there? when you walked
an aisle, when you prayed through. That's not what it says. He said
He chose you before the foundation of the world. Now, why did He
choose you? Why did He choose sinners unto
salvation? having predestinated us unto
the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself according to
the good pleasure of His will. That is why He chose a people. And what was the purpose in all
this? Verse 6, to the praise of the
glory of His grace. Now isn't that just Crystal clear,
God chose a people unto salvation. Well, why is this denied? That
is not denied among God's people. It's not denied here. From the
first time that a man stood in this pulpit and preached the
gospel, he preached God's elective purpose, God's elective grace. That's what Brother Mahan preached
here, and that's what's been preached in this pulpit since.
Now how, you're thinking, I know what you're thinking. I want
you to find 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. Now, perhaps you're thinking,
how can I know I'm one of those elect? How can I know my name
is written in the Lamb Book of Life? I can't sneak up on God
and look in that book. I know who, if I could, I know
whose name I'd look for. I'd look for mine and then I'd
look for others. How can I know that I'm one of
the elect and that my name is written in the Lamb's Book of
Life? Right here is the answer to that question. 1 Thessalonians
chapter 1 Verse 4, Knowing, brethren, your
election of God. Peter says to make your calling
and election sure. How do we know anything about
God's electing love? It's by the call of the Gospel.
Knowing, brethren, beloved, your election of God, for our Gospel
came not unto you in word only, But in power and in the Holy
Ghost, with much assurance, as you know what manner of men we
were among you for your sake, you became followers of us and
of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction. There's that joy, joy in the
Holy Spirit. How can I know I'm one of God's
elect by believing the gospel? By him all that believe are justified
from all things which it could not be justified by the law of
Moses. Now, may God give us grace to
believe the gospel. He that believeth on the Son
hath life. He that believeth not the Son
shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. Our Lord says this, Verily, verily,
I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him
that sent me hath everlasting life. You don't believe the gospel
without having life. have everlasting life, and shall
not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and those that
come to me I will in no wise cast out." May God give all of
us grace right now in our heart to trust Christ, to believe the
Lord Jesus Christ, and to always rejoice in Him. You see, that's
what Saving faith does, it rejoices in Christ. The Apostle Paul said,
we are the true circumcision, we are the true Israel of God,
which worship God in the Spirit, that rejoice in Christ Jesus,
and we have no confidence in the flesh. Not mine, not yours. But we have all confidence in
Christ. You see, saving faith looks to
the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, rejoice, my friend, because
your name is written in heaven.