Sunday
Morning Bible Study
January
17, 2016
Introduction
Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel
preached? Does it address the person who is: Empty, lonely, guilty, or afraid
to die? Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk
– Meat – Manna Preach for a decision Is the church loved? Regular: 2900 words Communion:
2500 words Video=75wpm
Luke was a doctor and a travelling companion of the apostle Paul.
He wrote this book while Paul was in prison.
In writing this book about Jesus, Luke made use of other older documents
like the Gospel of Mark, as well as extensive eyewitness accounts.
Jesus’ ministry is well under way, and the people have been amazed not just
at the things He’s been teaching, but the things He’s been doing.
Last week we read about Jesus choosing seventy men, and sending them out in
pairs to prepare the various cities He would visit as He makes His way to
Jerusalem.
The seventy have now returned to report on what happened on their mission
trips.
10:17-24 The Seventy Report
:17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are
subject to us in Your name.”
returned – hupostrepho
– to turn back; to turn about; to return
joy – chara
– joy, gladness
demons – daimonion
– the divine power, deity, divinity; a spirit, a being inferior to God,
superior to men; evil spirits or the messengers and ministers of the devil
subject – hupotasso
– to arrange under, to subordinate; to subject, put in subjection; to
subject one’s self, obey; to submit to one’s control; to yield to one’s
admonition or advice; to obey, be subject; A Greek military term meaning
"to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a
leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving
in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden".
name – onoma
– name: univ. of proper names; the name is used for everything which the name
covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by
mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one’s rank, authority,
interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc.
:17 returned with joy
These seventy missionaries are
blown away with what God had done while they were out sharing about Jesus.
:17 even the demons are subject
When these seventy found themselves confronted with the demonic, the
mention of the name of Jesus would bring the demons into submission.
These disciples were blown away by this.
When Jesus sent out the twelve
apostles earlier, He had specifically given them the power and authority over
demons:
(Luke 9:1 NKJV) Then He called His
twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons,
and to cure diseases.
Luke didn’t record that Jesus had
done this same thing with the seventy.
Yet when they return, they report
that they too have the same authority over the demonic.
:18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
I saw – theoreo
– to be a spectator, look at, behold; to view attentively, take a view of,
survey; to view mentally, consider; to see; to perceive with the eyes, to enjoy
the presence of one; to discern, descry; to ascertain, find out by seeing; word
not used of an indifferent spectator, but of one who looks at a thing with
interest and for a purpose; would be used of a general officially reviewing or
inspecting his army denotes a careful observation of details. The verb is an
imperfect tense, carrying the idea of continuous action in the past.
Satan – Satanas
– adversary (one who opposes another in purpose or act), the name given to;
the prince of evil spirits, the inveterate adversary of God and Christ
lightning – astrape
– lightning
heaven – ouranos
– the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it; the region
above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and
consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings
fall – pipto
– to descend from a higher place to a lower; to fall (either from or upon);
to be thrust down. The verb is an aorist participle.
:18 I saw Satan fall
I saw – theoreo
– to be a spectator, look at, behold; to view attentively
This word is not used of an
indifferent spectator, but of one who looks at a thing with interest and for a
purpose.
The verb is an imperfect tense,
carrying the idea of continuous action in the past.
All the time that these guys were
out on the mission field, Jesus was watching carefully in the realm of the
Spirit and seeing Satan being defeated over and over.
There is some important theology we need to discuss that some people
misunderstand.
Satan has access to heaven.
(Job 1:6 NKJV) Now there
was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.
He currently is at work night and day in heaven.
(Revelation 12:10
NKJV) …the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day
and night…
He has had “falls” from heaven before.
(Isaiah 14:12 NKJV)
“How
you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!
(Ezekiel 28:16 NKJV) “By the
abundance of your trading You became
filled with violence within, And you
sinned; Therefore I cast you
as a profane thing Out of the
mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O
covering cherub, From the midst of the
fiery stones.
There will be a day when Satan will be permanently excluded from heaven for
good. According to the order of Revelation 12, it will happen 3 ½ years into
the Tribulation, when the antichrist rules the world.
(Revelation 12:7–11
NKJV) —7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the
dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a
place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out,
that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world;
he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 Then I heard
a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of
our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our
brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they
overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and
they did not love their lives to the death.
Satan is cast out at the same time the antichrist is
possessed by Satan himself.
In our passage, Jesus is not talking about Satan’s final exclusion from
heaven, but He’s talking about how He could see the effects of the disciples’ spiritual
warfare against the demonic powers, causing Satan to have temporary “falls”.
Jesus said that what we did on earth would affect what happened in heaven:
(Matthew 18:18 NKJV)
“Assuredly,
I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever
you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
You too have that authority in Jesus’ name.
: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.
I give – didomi
– to give; to give something to someone
authority – exousia
– power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases; physical and mental
power; the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege); the power
of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be
submitted to by others and obeyed); jurisdiction
to trample – pateo
– to tread; to trample, crush with the feet; to advance by setting foot
upon, tread upon: to encounter successfully the greatest perils from the
machinations and persecutions with which Satan would fain thwart the preaching
of the gospel; to tread under foot, trample on, i.e. to treat with insult and
contempt: to desecrate the holy city by devastation and outrage
serpents – ophis
– snake, serpent; with the ancients, the serpent was an emblem of cunning
and wisdom. The serpent who deceived Eve was regarded by the Jews as the devil.
scorpions – skorpios
– a scorpion, the name of a little animal, somewhat resembling a lobster,
which in warm regions lurk, esp. in stone walls; it has a poisonous sting in
its tail
all – pas –
individually; each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things,
everything
power – dunamis
– strength, power, ability
:19 trample on serpents and scorpions
Paul saw this work out literally.
When he was shipwrecked on the island of Malta, he got bit by a poisonous
snake while gathering wood for a fire.
While the natives were expecting Paul swell up and die, he didn’t. He just
shook the snake off into the fire and when on as normal (Acts 28:4-6)
(Acts 28:4–6 NKJV) —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. 6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly
fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come
to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
:19 I give you the authority
Lesson
Authority in the name
It’s Jesus that has the actual authority over the demonic world, and He
gives His authority to us.
When you were younger, suppose your dad gave you his credit card to shop at
the store.
Your ability to purchase things wasn’t based on your credit, but your dad’s
credit.
Illustration
I heard that…
All eyes were on the
radiant bride as her father escorted her down the aisle. They reached the altar
and the waiting groom. The bride kissed her father and placed something in his
hand. The guests in the front pews responded with ripples of laughter. Even the
pastor smiled broadly. As her father gave her away in marriage, the bride gave
him back his credit card.
The authority we have in life, the authority we have over the demonic realm
is something similar to using your dad’s credit card, but there’s no card,
there’s just a name.
The name is Jesus.
It’s as if Jesus gives us His credit card, His authority.
This authority includes authority over the demonic realm in
the name of Jesus Christ.
Even the angels don’t use their own authority, but the authority of the
Lord.
(Jude 9 NKJV) Yet Michael
the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of
Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord
rebuke you!”
Use the name of Jesus.
:19 nothing shall by any means hurt you
Lesson
Invincibility
Does this mean that as believers we are invincible?
I think that like Boris, we need to be careful just where we take this idea
of “invincibility”.
There will certainly be times when we will have God’s protection from
things that might physically harm us, just like Paul’s protection from the
snake.
But keep in mind that most of the men Jesus is speaking to will eventually
suffer martyrdom for following Jesus.
Jesus Himself will be crucified.
I believe the protection that Jesus speaks of is spiritual protection.
The word He uses has a spiritual component.
hurt – adikeo (“not” +
“just”) – to do some sin in some respect; to wrong someone, act wickedly
towards him
The ultimate protection is eternal, spiritual protection. Jesus said,
(Matthew 10:28
NKJV) And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
People may be able to hurt you physically, but they can’t
destroy your soul because your soul is in God’s hands.
The person we ought to respect (or, fear) is God because
He is the one who has authority to either protect you, or send you to hell.
When we follow Jesus, we are under God’s protection.
Paul wrote,
(Romans
8:35–39 NKJV) —35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword? 36 As it is
written: “For Your
sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all
these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am
persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor
powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other
created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
God’s love for us is invincible.
:20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to
you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
rejoice – chairo
– to rejoice, be glad; to rejoice exceedingly
subject – hupotasso
– to arrange under, to subordinate; to subject, put in subjection; to
subject one’s self, obey; to submit to one’s control; to yield to one’s
admonition or advice; to obey, be subject; A Greek military term meaning
"to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a
leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving
in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden".
rather – mallon
– more, to a greater degree, rather; much, by far; rather, sooner; more
willingly, more readily, sooner
names – onoma
– name: univ. of proper names; the name is used for everything which the
name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind
by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one’s rank, authority,
interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc.
:20 names written in heaven
There are books in heaven, listing who is saved,
who is going to be alive in heaven. (Phil. 4:3; Rev. 20:15)
(Philippians 4:3 NKJV) And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored
with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers,
whose names are in the Book of Life.
(Revelation 20:15 NKJV) And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into
the lake of fire.
Jesus is saying that the disciples shouldn’t be as excited about their authority
over demons as they should their eternal life.
Lesson
Temporal vs. Eternal
We tend to put far too much weight on things that are only important at the
moment, but are not too important in eternity.
Jesus said,
(Matthew 7:21–23
NKJV) —21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom
of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will
say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast
out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I
will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness!’
It’s way more important that you know Jesus and have
eternal life, than whether or not you can prophesy, cast out demons, or work
miracles now.
Sometimes it’s the difficulties in life that take
so much of our attention. Paul wrote,
(2 Corinthians
4:16–18 NKJV) —16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is
perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are
seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Our physical troubles are only temporary. When we are in
heaven, they will just appear as the smallest blip in the history of our lives.
What are you more concerned about?
Are you more concerned about your comfort during this
brief moment we’re on earth, or are you thinking about the bigger picture?
Is your name written in heaven?
:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You,
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the
wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed
good in Your sight.
rejoiced – agalliao
(“much” + “leap up”) – to exult, rejoice exceedingly, be exceeding glad
I thank – exomologeo
– to confess; to profess; acknowledge openly and joyfully; to one’s honour:
to celebrate, give praise to
hidden – apokrupto
– to hide; concealing, keeping secret
wise – sophos
– wise; skilled, expert: of artificers; wise, skilled in letters,
cultivated, learned
prudent – sunetos
– intelligent, having understanding, wise, learned
revealed – apokalupto
– to uncover, lay open what has been veiled or covered up; disclose, make
bare; to make known, make manifest, disclose what before was unknown
babes – nepios – an infant,
little child; a minor, not of age; metaph. childish, untaught, unskilled
good – eudokia
– will, choice; good will, kindly intent, benevolence; delight, pleasure,
satisfaction
sight – emprosthen
– in front, before; before, in the presence of, i.e. opposite to, over
against one; before, in the sight of
:21 Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit
Luke doesn’t use the same word for
“joy” or “rejoice” that he used of the disciples (the normal word for rejoice –
chairo), but seems to use a stronger
word.
rejoiced – agalliao
(“much” + “leap up”) – to exult, rejoice exceedingly, be exceeding glad
Jesus is not “anti-joy”. He knows
all about joy.
:21 revealed them to babes
babes – nepios – an infant, little child; not of
age; childish, untaught, unskilled
If the seventy overheard Jesus’ prayer, I’m not sure how encouraged they
might have felt.
I might have felt offended if I’ve been casting out demons, but Jesus calls
me a “kid”.
Lesson
Proud vs. Humble
It’s not that Christianity is for idiots and that smart people aren’t
believers.
There are some incredibly smart people who have become believers.
There are very intelligent answers to the questions that the critics will
suggest.
It’s that to follow Jesus you have to learn to humble yourself.
You have to take that pride of your intellect and submit it to the Lord of
Lords.
God can reach smart, proud, intellectual people, but they have to be ready
to humble themselves and respond when God moves.
Meet Eric Metaxas.
Eric is an author, philosopher, humorist, and overall smart fellow.
He’s written books about God, miracles, and biographies about William
Wilberforce and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. His Bonhoeffer biography was a #1 New York
Times Best Seller. And then he’s also written deep things like Veggie Tales
scripts.
He’s a graduate of Yale, has spoken at the President’s prayer breakfast, hosts
a program called “Socrates in the City”, a radio program called “BreakPoint”, his
books have been praised by Tim Keller, Dick Cavett, and Ann B. David (Alice of
the Brady Bunch). Quite a diverse fellow.
Eric was not always a believer. This is a bit longer video than normal…
I find it interesting that God used something as humble as
a dream about a fish to finally break through to a smart fellow like Eric.
Whoever you are, whether you’re an intellectual giant or the village idiot,
you must learn to humble yourself if you want to know God.
(1 Peter 5:5b–6
NKJV) —5b …be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under
the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time
:22 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who
the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the
one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
delivered to – paradidomi
– to give into the hands (of another); to give over into (one’s) power or
use; to deliver to one something to keep, use, take care of, manage
knows – ginosko
– to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel; to
know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of
wills – boulomai
– to will deliberately, have a purpose, be minded; of willing as an
affection, to desire
reveal – apokalupto
– to uncover, lay open what has been veiled or covered up; disclose, make
bare; to make known, make manifest, disclose what before was unknown
:22 no one … except the Son
First He says,
Nobody really understands Jesus like the Father.
Then He says,
Nobody really understands the Father except Jesus and those of us who come
to Jesus.
Lesson
Only through Jesus
There is only one way to know God, and that’s through His Son Jesus Christ.
All roads might lead to God, but
not all roads lead to heaven.
If you believe in Buddha, you will
one day meet God, but you won’t go to heaven.
If you believe in Allah and
Mohammed is his prophet, you will one day meet God, but you won’t go to heaven.
If you believe in Jesus, you will
not only meet God, but you will go to heaven.
We don’t proclaim that Jesus is the only way out of snobbery.
Jesus said it:
(John
14:6 NKJV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through Me.
The apostles said it too…
(Acts
4:12 NKJV) Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name
under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Why is God so narrow minded when it comes to heaven?
Jesus is the only one who took care of the problem that keeps men from
heaven.
Jesus is the only one who has died for your sins, and it’s
your sins that keep you from heaven.
If there was only one antidote to the poison you’ve just
drank, why would you want anything but the antidote?
:23 Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are
the eyes which see the things you see;
:24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what
you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not
heard it.”
:23 disciples – mathetes
– a learner, pupil, disciple
:23 privately – idios
– pertaining to one’s self, one’s own, belonging to one’s self
:23 blessed – makarios
– blessed, happy
:23 eyes – ophthalmos
– the eye; metaph. the eyes of the mind, the faculty of knowing
:23 see – blepo
– to see, discern, of the bodily eye; metaph. to see with the mind’s eye
:24 desired – thelo
– to will, have in mind, intend; to be resolved or determined, to purpose;
to desire, to wish; to love; to like to do a thing, be fond of doing; to take
delight in, have pleasure
:24 to see – eido
– to see; to perceive with the eyes; to know
:24 you see – blepo
– to see, discern, of the bodily eye; metaph. to see with the mind’s eye
:24 have not seen – eido
– to see; to perceive with the eyes; to know
:24 prophets and kings have desired to see
Jesus uses two different words for “see” in vs. 24.
You could translate it, “many
prophets and kings have desired to see what you see with your eyes, and have
not seen it…”
These people that were following Jesus were common folks: fishermen, tax
collectors, ordinary people.
Yet they were seeing with their own eyes things that prophets and kings had
longed to see.
They were seeing the Messiah in the flesh.
Lesson
Exciting times
I think that since the creation of the universe, there are periods of human
history that would be the most exciting to live in.
The disciples were living in one of them, when the Messiah Himself would
walk on this earth among mankind.
I have often wondered what it would have been like to have walked and
talked with Jesus face to face. What an incredible time that would have been to
live in.
When people visit Israel, they often want to walk where Jesus walked.
Yet the biggest moment in human history will be when the Messiah comes back
the second time.
He will return to rule and reign over this earth.
There are some three hundred prophecies that speak of His first coming, but
there are over five hundred that speak of His Second Coming.
We are living in those times. It’s
going to happen soon.
Be ready for His return.
It starts by opening your heart to Him and believing in
Him.