Nevertheless, Is Your Name Written in Heaven
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Intro: Probably one of the funniest Christmas movies ever made is “Elf”. Buddy (Will Ferrell) was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa's elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn't fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. As it happens, this is Walter Hobbs (James Caan), a cynical businessman. After a DNA test proves this, Walter reluctantly attempts to start a relationship with the childlike Buddy with crazy chaotic results.
Probably the best line in the movie is when Buddy is working in his fathers store at Christmas. [Play Video, Elf; The Santa Announcement, You Tube 1:02]
Buddy goes crazy when he hears the name Santa, and that he’s coming tomorrow. We get excited when we hear certain names too, especially names of popular or important people we want to meet. But even more exciting than hearing someone’s name is knowing that “Your Name is Written in Heaven.”
Text; Luke 10:17-20
17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
The seventy disciples had finished their mission in the towns that Jesus had sent them to, and it seemed to be a profitable ministry. They have now come back to tell Jesus of all that happened.
1. Returned with Joy; 17-19
1. Returned with Joy; 17-19
Joy- to rejoice, be glad, a celebration.
There are three reasons for the joy found in these disciples
1. They had power over demons in the name of Jesus; v.17
Demons are fallen angels that were cast out of heaven when they rebelled against God with Lucifer. They are enemies of God!
They can possess individuals;
2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons,
They deceive unbelievers;
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
They use false teachers to pervert the Scriptures;
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
2. They had power over Satan’s kingdom in Jesus name; v.18
Jesus was letting his disciples know that the power of Satan was being destroyed one soul at a time through their preaching of the kingdom of God.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
3. They had protection from Satan’s power in Jesus name; v.19
Jesus delegated His authority of protection to these disciples so that Satan could not hinder the ministry He sent them on. If it is God’s purpose to continue using His servant, then God will protect His servant no matter the threat or injury.
3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.
21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss.
22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,
24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’
25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.”
5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.
These disciples were overwhelmed with joy because of what they saw happen in the name of Jesus. But joy must be rooted deeper than what we see, it must be rooted in who we are. Joy is the overflow of life, and the issues of life flow from the heart!
2. True Source of Joy; 20
2. True Source of Joy; 20
Jesus tells the disciples that the true source of joy comes from knowing that your name is written in heaven!
Written- Greek word means “to inscribe/engrave formally and solemnly.” It was used for the signing of a will, a marriage document, a peace treaty, and for the enrolling of a citizen. It means “it stands written and cannot be altered.”
As wonderful as those miracles were, the greatest miracle of all is still the salvation of a lost soul!! Let me share with you three areas of joy knowing your name is written in heaven.
1. We are Adopted; When we are saved, we are adopted into the family of God. He takes us in as His children with all the rights and privileges of His own Son.
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
In the ancient world the family was based on a Roman law called “patria potestas,” the father’s power. The law gave the father absolute authority over his children so long as the father lived. He could work, enslave, sell, and if he wished, he could pronounce the death penalty. Regardless of the child’s adult age, the father held all power over personal and property rights.
Therefore, adoption was a serious matter. Yet, it was a common practice to ensure that a family would not become extinct by having no male children. And when a child was adopted, three legal steps were taken.
1. The adopted son was adopted permanently. He could not be adopted today and disinherited tomorrow. He became a son of the father—forever. He was eternally secure as a son.
2. The adopted son immediately had all the rights of a legitimate son in the new family.
3. The adopted son completely lost all rights in his old family. The adopted son was looked upon as a new person—so new that old debts and obligations connected with his former family were cancelled out and abolished as if they never existed.
Carr, A. (2015). Why You Can Rejoice (Luke 10:17–20). In The Sermon Notebook: New Testament (p. 1302). Alan Carr.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2. Citizenship in Heaven; When we are saved, are names are written in the Lambs Book of Life and we are registered as citizens of heaven.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
All citizens get to enjoy the benefits of their country. Look at some benefits of heaven; No tears, no death, no sickness, no sorrow, no pain, no sin and no curse. If that isn’t good enough, God will be with us face to face, there will be ongoing wonderful worship and we will be able to understand clearly the full scope of God’s love in Jesus Christ! And all of this and more, is guaranteed by the Father, through the Son, sustained by the Holy Spirit. It cannot be altered!
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. Upon a believers death he/she will receive all that God has promised in Christ in heaven!
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Our inheritance in heaven is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit of God that resides in the believer. There should never be a doubt of where you are headed!
3. Headed to Glory; Because we are adopted into the family of God, and are names are written down in heaven as citizens there, we are headed to glory!
Glory- greatness, splendor, majesty, beauty, wonder
23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Knowing that we are headed to glory, a joyless Christian is a contradiction in terms. It is impossible to believe that one knows of his adoption and his inheritance and not have true joy in their life!
How do you worship?
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
How do you serve?
2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
20 For you are our glory and joy.
How do you live?
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Close;
The power to become the children of God through faith is more important than the power to work miracles. In the scriptures we read of those who in Christ’s name cast out demons, as Judas did, and yet will be disowned by Christ in the judgement because his name is not written in heaven.
Let me ask you a question this morning that can only be answered by a “yes or no.”
Is your name written in heaven?
Can you say of Jesus this morning, “I know Him!”