Your Names Are Written In Heaven

Rejoice That Your Names Are Written In Heaven

Luke 10:17-20 “The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you.  Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

The verse is very powerful for two different reasons.  The first one is the disciples were sent out by Jesus to spread to good news of the Gospel and they were able to do signs and wonders as Jesus was.  The disciples were excited to come back and tell Jesus how good they did on their assignment.  They were filled with joy because they were able to cast out demons in Jesus’ name.  Then Jesus told them He gave them he authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you.  This definitely deserves some time for us to stop and really think about.  Jesus gave them authority over all the power of the enemy; and nothing would hurt them.  Did you know He gave you that same power as well?  

It says in John 14:12-14, “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.  I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”  Jesus was able to do a lot more than cast out demons.  He was able to heal people, physical healings and emotional healings, He was able to perform miracles, he was able to inspire and teach others.  In this verse in John’s gospel Jesus is telling us that we will also do the works that He did and we will actually be able to do greater works than these.  Do you believe this?  Do you believe you will do the works Jesus did and even greater works? We read about first the 12 and then the 70 that Jesus sent out to spread the good news and they came back saying they were able to do the works he did.  If we can see it happened just as He said in the Bible, why do we struggle to believe it?  

Some of us may not think it is possible to do the works Jesus did because we are normal, ordinary, boring people.  It takes extraordinary people to perform miracles.  This is what many of us think.  What could I do, I’m not anyone special?  I have two things to say to that.  First, you are special, we all are, because God made us in His likeness and image and because we are His chosen children.  Second, I’ve got a newsflash for you, none of the apostles were any more special than you or I before they started following Jesus.  If you have not watched the series The Chosen, you really should give it a try.  What I love the most about the series is how human everyone is, even Jesus.  It shows who the apostles were before they were chosen.  They were regular, every day people.  They were not the richest people, they were not the ones that were getting everything right, they were not the ones everyone looked up to.  They were the people who’s hearts were touched when they met Jesus.  They were the ones who knew after spending a very short time with Jesus, that there was no where else they would rather be.  They were the ones that said yes.  

I love the series because it shows their humanity. It shows how some of Jesus’ followers didn’t know scripture well and so they started to learn it.  The series shows how they all have doubts, just as we do, as to their worthiness to be followers.  In an episode I saw this week, one of the brothers, I think it was James, said he didn’t understand much at all of what was going on.  Isn’t that us so much of the time?  We want to understand what the Bible is saying and yet sometimes it is just above our heads.  If I could get one message out to everyone in the world it would be to “not count yourself out.”  I wish everyone would hear this verse in John 14:12-14, “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.  I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it,” and accept it as their truth.  I wish everyone would hear this and know that Jesus was talking to them when He said it.  

I know we don’t feel special enough to think we could perform healings and miracles and yet the Bible says we are.  It also says in Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”  We don’t have to feel we are good enough.  We just have to trust God is faithful and that Jesus wouldn’t say something if it wasn’t true.  There are people all over the world who have made a decision to believe this Word of God and because they believe it they are doing the works that Jesus did and even greater works.  What would it take for you to believe this Word of God?  Why is it you believe other things God has said and yet you struggle to believe this one?  How would your life change if you adopted this word as your personal truth?

The second reason the verse above is so powerful is because of the last line, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”  How powerful is that?  These apostles have just come back from doing signs and wonders and Jesus tells them not to rejoice over that, but to rejoice because their names are written in Heaven.  Imagine hearing those words from Jesus?  God wants us to spread the Good News of the Gospel.  He wants us to bring others to our faith.  He wants us to build up the faith of others.  One great way to build up the faith of others is to perform signs and miracles.  Even if you are not performing signs and miracles, you have probably seen some miracles in your life time, especially if you have ever prayed for anything then you have received some answered prayers.  Who are you sharing those answered prayers with? How are you using all God is doing in your life to help build the faith of others?

Evangelization, which we are all called to do, isn’t only about going out and preaching the Word of God.  A lot of the time it is about living your life as a living example of Christ.  Remember what my dad said the other day in his witness?  Other people in our neighbor hood would come up to him and say they noticed he had a different kind of peace around him and they wanted to know how to get it.  That is our ultimate goal.  That right there should be our goal for living each day.  How can we live today so someone will notice it and want to have it? We can keep that in our minds with each decision we make.  When I do this will I being a reflection of Jesus?  If other people saw me do this, would they think of God, would they want to have more of what I have?  How can I take all God has given me and have it reflect Jesus back to the world?  Those are some great things to ponder of this next week.  I want to rejoice that my name is written in Heaven.

Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode today.  Lord, we want to do greater works than you, please help us.  We believe Lord, help our unbelief.  Help soften our hearts and change our hearts and minds so we can believe you will give us whatever we ask.  Help us to believe we can do the works you do.  Lord, we could be helping so many more people if we could just believe. Help us to want to believe as we know you can help us do anything we ask for Lord.  Help us to rejoice that our name is written in Heaven.  Thank you for writing our name in Heaven Lord.  We are so very grateful you are so kind to us.  You love us so much and we are so thankful.  You are our almighty and loving Father.  You are the Prince of Piece and the Lion of Judah.  We love you Lord and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus’ holy name, Amen.  

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus.  I look forward to spending time with you again tomorrow.  Remember, Jesus love you and so do I! Have a blessed day!