Eyes Ever Heavenward!
by Rev. Kirby Williams
The paradox of fighting evil while keeping our eyes on the glory of Christ.
Text: Luke 10:17-20
Date: 05/28/2023, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 106
Description:
When Jesus prepared His seventy-two disciples for the Kingdom task of evangelism, He used two distinct metaphors to describe the endeavor-- He was sending them into a vast field, ripe for harvest and as lambs into the midst of wolves. In this passage we read of their victorious return and report. They were full of joy because even these "wolves", (meaning the forces of evil) were subject to them. Jesus then reveals the profound spiritual significance of this event with an amazing analogy of the crumbling of satan's kingdom of darkness. We will carefully analyze this analogy and the nature of the authority Jesus' non-apostolic disciples exercise over the powers of evil. Although the spiritual battle Jesus describes will rage throughout the history of the church, He warns His disciples (both then and now) not to spend too much time staring at the darkness. But to realize their real source of joy is their citizenship in the Kingdom of Light-- and therefore to keep their eyes ever Heavenward!
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 10:17-20.
A. Context
B. The return of the seventy-two.
1. A joyful report-back session, vs. 17.
a. The foundation of joy.
b. A surprising triumph, Luke 10:9.
i. Identifying the demons.
1) Fallen angels, Rev. 12:3-4, 5:11.
2) Unredeemable angels, Matt. 12:31-32, Rev. 20:10, Matt. 25:41, 8:29, Luke 4:34.
ii. The nature of their triumph, Luke 9:1,40; Jude 23.
2. Watching the fall of satan, vs. 18.
a. A threshold for the forces of evil, Luke 4:2, 8:12, Rev. 12:12.
b. The erosion of the kingdom of darkness.
i. An ongoing phenomenon, Isa. 14:12.
ii. Forming a mental picture.
1) Darkness crumbles into light, Job 1:6, 1Pet. 5:8.
2) An unseen power.
3. Power over the forces of evil, vs. 19.
a. Defining the power.
i. A sovereign gift.
ii. The right to wield the power.
iii. Treading on demons.
iv. A divine power.
1) The power of the enemy is great, Luke 2:9.
2) A sovereign gift, 1John 4:4, Acts 19:15-16.
v. Spiritual protection.
b. The nature of the power.
i. The nature of demonic activity, rev. 12:4, 17.
ii. The power of the Gospel.
4. The everlasting source of joy, vs. 20.
a. The paradox of dealing with evil.
i. Keeping our eyes Heavenward.
ii. Earthly battles, Rev. 2:4-5.
b. True joy is in salvation.
i. A sovereign list, Isa. 4:3, Dan. 12:1, Rev. 3:5, 20:15.
ii. Profound implications.
1) There is no salvation in spiritual battles.
2) Salvation is "made" in heaven, John 10:29.
3) Joy is to be found in Christ.
C. "Morphing" the metaphors.
III. Application
IV. Conclusion
