Sat, Jul 25, 2009
The Agenda for Rejoicing
S - "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the powers of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
O - In this scripture, Jesus is speaking to the disciples about the authority they have over all kinds of evil. Whilst he says it is important to be encouraged by that very idea that no one can "put a hand on you" (v20 - The Message translation), he says the real agenda for rejoicing is not in what you do for God, but what God has done for you. In the latter part of the verse, the scripture says... "rejoice because your names are written in heaven!".
A - How encouraging is it to walk through life knowing in every moment that our God is right by our side. He's won the battle already - and created us with such authority that we can trample serpents and scorpions under our feet. We have no need to fear that which lies ahead of us because God's promise for us is protection from EVERY assault of the enemy. Fear, Brokenness, Loneliness, Anxiety, Depression, all these ways that the enemy attempts to bind us - God has already protected us from them all.
Jesus says at the beginning of this passage that he saw Satan fall with is own eyes, like a bolt of lightning from the sky. He takes this moment to remind us of the safe passage he has given us in himself - no reason to fear the enemy for he has already won. I love knowing that I have every reason to rejoice at all times, because my God has saved the day, he's won the victory - and he is for me and not against me.
I had the most incredible revelation this weekend. For almost my entire Christian walk up to this point, I have always held true to the fact that God walks BESIDE us... in every season, every circumstance, and every situation in life, he's right there beside us. There is something powerful though when we turn our view of Christ as always being right next to us, to actually living inside our hearts. A lecturer from college was speaking about the reality that Jesus wants to experience everything that we do. Every time we feel joy, he's right there within us, experiencing that same joy. When we're hurt, feeling suffering or pain, he's within us, wanting to experience that same hurt, suffering and pain that he might remind us of the safe place he provides for us in him.
I have never quite comprehended the entirety of Christ becoming fully human - but also being fully God. In his becoming human, he became a part of history. He bled like we bled, cried like we cry, and walked around in the same environment that we today walk around in. He gave up everything, became just like us to save the sin of the world. It astounds me how often we as human beings so often think that God couldn't possibly understand how we're feeling, or how much it hurts when someone close to us passes, or when we feel like our heart's broken. When Jesus came to earth, he encompassed everything it meant to be a human being... feelings and all, so if anything, he understands more than anyone on earth.
Understanding the historical Jesus and his place in history - the very revelation that he came and walked on the earth makes Him so much more real to me than this mystical being that we so often consider Jesus to be. Whilst he is incredibly divine, and filled with supernatural powers, he was human just like we are.
I love the message translation of the second half of this passage... "All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over [all kinds of] 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."
His presence with us at all times, in every season, is the greatest reason to rejoice :)
R - God, thank you so much that you love me enough to allow me to feel you presence in every season of my life. I love knowing that you're right here in my heart - experiencing the very same emotions that I am at every time of the day. Thank you so much that you sent your only son, Jesus, into history to become fully human and pay the greatest price that we might return to right relationship with you. I desire to rejoice in every circumstance - be filled with joy anew every morning and know that you're living in me. I'll love you and praise you forever :) Amen!
O - In this scripture, Jesus is speaking to the disciples about the authority they have over all kinds of evil. Whilst he says it is important to be encouraged by that very idea that no one can "put a hand on you" (v20 - The Message translation), he says the real agenda for rejoicing is not in what you do for God, but what God has done for you. In the latter part of the verse, the scripture says... "rejoice because your names are written in heaven!".
A - How encouraging is it to walk through life knowing in every moment that our God is right by our side. He's won the battle already - and created us with such authority that we can trample serpents and scorpions under our feet. We have no need to fear that which lies ahead of us because God's promise for us is protection from EVERY assault of the enemy. Fear, Brokenness, Loneliness, Anxiety, Depression, all these ways that the enemy attempts to bind us - God has already protected us from them all.
Jesus says at the beginning of this passage that he saw Satan fall with is own eyes, like a bolt of lightning from the sky. He takes this moment to remind us of the safe passage he has given us in himself - no reason to fear the enemy for he has already won. I love knowing that I have every reason to rejoice at all times, because my God has saved the day, he's won the victory - and he is for me and not against me.
I had the most incredible revelation this weekend. For almost my entire Christian walk up to this point, I have always held true to the fact that God walks BESIDE us... in every season, every circumstance, and every situation in life, he's right there beside us. There is something powerful though when we turn our view of Christ as always being right next to us, to actually living inside our hearts. A lecturer from college was speaking about the reality that Jesus wants to experience everything that we do. Every time we feel joy, he's right there within us, experiencing that same joy. When we're hurt, feeling suffering or pain, he's within us, wanting to experience that same hurt, suffering and pain that he might remind us of the safe place he provides for us in him.
I have never quite comprehended the entirety of Christ becoming fully human - but also being fully God. In his becoming human, he became a part of history. He bled like we bled, cried like we cry, and walked around in the same environment that we today walk around in. He gave up everything, became just like us to save the sin of the world. It astounds me how often we as human beings so often think that God couldn't possibly understand how we're feeling, or how much it hurts when someone close to us passes, or when we feel like our heart's broken. When Jesus came to earth, he encompassed everything it meant to be a human being... feelings and all, so if anything, he understands more than anyone on earth.
Understanding the historical Jesus and his place in history - the very revelation that he came and walked on the earth makes Him so much more real to me than this mystical being that we so often consider Jesus to be. Whilst he is incredibly divine, and filled with supernatural powers, he was human just like we are.
I love the message translation of the second half of this passage... "All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over [all kinds of] 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."
His presence with us at all times, in every season, is the greatest reason to rejoice :)
R - God, thank you so much that you love me enough to allow me to feel you presence in every season of my life. I love knowing that you're right here in my heart - experiencing the very same emotions that I am at every time of the day. Thank you so much that you sent your only son, Jesus, into history to become fully human and pay the greatest price that we might return to right relationship with you. I desire to rejoice in every circumstance - be filled with joy anew every morning and know that you're living in me. I'll love you and praise you forever :) Amen!
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