JOY – Episode 9 – The 72 Returned With Joy

 

JOY – Episode 9 – The 72 Returned With Joy.

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23).

It is at least interesting that the fruit of the Spirit of Joy is positioned between Love and Peace. Could it be coincidental that we must find love which comes before joy in order to find peace in our lives?

When and from what sources do you find joy? Is it in a job well done? From your career, hobby, family, possessions or good fortune?

This word, JOY, in the Bible and from the Greek language in which it was written, is ‘chara’,  (pronounced, ‘khar-ah’), means  joy, delight, gladness, a source of joy. The picture is “to extend favor, lean towards, be favorably disposed”. More properly, it means the awareness of God’s grace and favor. Joy is found when God’s grace is recognized.

Read with me over the coming episodes, examples of what the scriptures say about JOY.

“Now the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!” (Luke 10:17)

What is this kind of joy, and what is the source of this joy? In order to answer this question, first we must get the context of Luke 10:17.

Luke 10:1, Now after this the Lord appointed seventy-two other (disciples), and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go; behold, I am sending you out like lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no money belt, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one along the way. And whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’

“The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; but the one who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

Luke10:17, Now the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!” And Jesus said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to walk on snakes and scorpions, and authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

Luke 10:23, Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things that you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things that you hear, and did not hear them.”

Notice that Jesus sends the 72 disciples out like lambs in the midst of wolves. They are to take no provisions and no means of defense. Their only means is the authority He has given them and from this authority and it this authority, the disciples find joy.

But Jesus says His authority not to be the source of their joy. But the source of their joy is that their names are recorded in heaven!

Jesus teaches His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.

“Truly, I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (see Matthew 16:24-28).

This is wisdom. Everyone lives but once, and then comes judgement (see Hebrews 9:27). And if our focus is only on our accomplishments in this life, even if we gain the entire world and all that it has to offer, but lose our soul, then we will have lost everything. (see Mark 8:36-38). Everything is from dust and will return to dust (see Ecclesiastes 3:20). But, if we knew of the greatest of all treasures that gives a hundred times as much as all we ask or could even imagine in this age and in the age to come, eternal life, wouldn’t we leave all we have and go buy the field containing that treasure? The kingdom of heaven is that field, and Jesus and the Gospel is the treasure. (see Mark 10:29-31). This is where we find lasting joy. This is where our hope and joy spring eternal!

This old world in which we live is filled with many tribulations, sorrows and tears. But Jesus has spoken these things to you, so that in Him, you may have joy and peace. Take courage; He has overcome the world!

These are the oracles and the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. They are the pathway to eternal life and true joy. They are the lamp to your feet and the light to your path! It is not enough to know about them, you must come to know them.

^“Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things that you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things that you hear, and did not hear them.” (see Luke 10:23-24). So it is with us today.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: If you have any comments or questions, please use the comment section below.

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