Title:- Preparations For Midnight
Luke 10:17-20 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 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. Nonetheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
On this occasion, the disciples returned from their mission with happiness; their conquest complete and victory on their lips. On other occasions, the battle would go hard against them and maybe like John the Baptist they would, in the darkness of the dungeon, have to send an urgent plea to Messiah saying, “Are You really who we thought You were?” Today, out of the silence and darkness of your lives, maybe many of you are asking that very same question. Fear not little flock, Jesus does not want you to be so desperate, despite the heat of battle or the damp of dungeon cells, though at times, we shall undoubtedly feel them both.
Jesus never kept the fact of hardship from his followers. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24 ). The cross of suffering is a dark place and can be as black as midnight in the noon day sun. So here in today’s text, Jesus prepares His disciples for such a midnight. The battle will ebb and flow, victories will come and go, but “Know this though,” He says, “The enemy is ultimately defeated and you are saved, so, REJOICE because your names are written in heaven.”
“Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
“Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
“Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
“Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
“Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
Have you got that?
Many times the fact that our names are written in the book of life may not seem good enough to cause us to rejoice, but my brethren, often times it’s really all we have to hang on to. Make sure these words are a nail in a sure place for you today and also that you know where to find that nail when midnight comes, for it’s the only place you shall be able to hang your heavy troubles on and so be able to bring a rejoicing lightness to your oh so stumbling steps once more.
Listen:- Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. Acts 16:22-26
Pray:- Father, may my happiness be rooted in eternity, may its certain smile shake the earth again and release me from my chains and release those also chained with me. Amen.
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