A HEAVENLY PERSPECTIVE #3

NAMES WRITTEN IN HEAVEN

Luke 10:17-20
We are going to continue our series about HEAVEN: Its important for us to Understand & Remember that there is an eternity…
After this life we will go some where… We want that place to be heaven… But we need to understand that THIS LIFE is impacting the
next: Our choices/words/actions/relationships/appetites… They will take us some where-
Jesus: Greatly impacts our eternity: What we think about him/are we living for him/have we put our faith in him/are we surrendered to
him/Have you been forgiven by Him…
We started by looking at the idea that God wants to spend eternity with you… Last week we looked at Jesus statement “Unless a man be
born again he cannot enter the KOH” …
Today: We are going to look at Names Written in Heaven: When heaven knows your name, it works out practically in life, and it will
make the difference in Eternity-

Luke 10:17-20
17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt
you.
20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

I THE NEED FOR POWER

A- In life there is going to be a lot that we cannot face on our own-
1. The context of our scripture specifically deals with MINISTRY & Need: Jesus sends the 70 into ministry-
a. Tells them to preach the KOH is at hand & Heal the sick- They were going to need power beyond themselves to accomplish this-
2. But this is true for all of life- There is a lot that we will not be able to face on our own-
a. Mentally: There are things that can weigh on us/naw at our mind/overwhelm us- anxiety & depression- crisis & circumstances of
life- unexpected turns- & we need power beyond ourselves!
b. Physically: Health & Sickness- beyond what medicine can do- or treatment can do/Life’s issues & changes where we need a
MIRACLE!
c. Spiritually: There are powers beyond the natural that we cannot fight or confront in our human understanding & limitations… The
bible speaks of: Demonic assault/weapons formed/Dominion: ministry/finances/health/deliverance-
3. So the answer to our need is Jesus! …He is the power we need beyond ourselves-
a. Luke 10:19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and
nothing shall hurt you.
i. Authority is a greek word that carries the idea of: freedom, mastery, delegated influence. POWER & CONTROL
B- This is POWER given to:
1. Change Things: With Jesus… circumstances can change- things don't have to stay the same-
a. John 5:5-6 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that
he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?”
i. Here at the pool of Bethesda; 38 years unable to walk… and in a moment with Jesus everything changes!
2. Reverse Things: Isaiah 54:17 no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises
against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”
a. Here are strategies planned against, & words risen against… God says; I have power to reverse them, to turn them back upon the
sender-
i. 1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the
world. GREATER POWER… Greater influence… to REVERSE opposition.
3. Create Things: Create what doesn't exist-
a. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is the currency of the
Kingdom… Its When we believe God for things that don't yet exist, in essence things can be created!
b. Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of
things that are visible. God created the world by SPEAKING… He has deposited to us that same power- To create what doesn't yet
exist-
i. Creative Healing, Miracle Money, Dramatic Conversion-
4. Secure Things: Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you
will have them.
a. Dominion in an area of life: Where you gain a victory, and secure the victory!
b. Favor: Where you secure favor on a job/in a city/even a Nation (Pr. Aragon & Navajo Nation)
c. Text: Eternity: Luke 10:20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are
written in heaven.” Jesus in His authority secures our eternity!
5. Now; All of this is Dependent on Jesus & your name being known by Him- Your name Written in His book of Life
II YOUR NAME IN HEAVEN
A- So, we need to think: What makes our name known in Heaven?
1. Faith in the NAME & WORK of Jesus Christ-
a. Last week we looked at being born again… Placing your faith in Jesus, makes you right with God (way, truth, life)
i. An extension of that is: Your name being added to the Book of Life-
1. Luke 10:20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in
heaven.” Written in Heaven… Written into the book of LIFE… These 70 surrendered to the LIFE (Jesus)
2. They were written into Eternities record!
b. Luke 23:42-43 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you,
today you will be with me in paradise.” Here is the thief on the cross, and his last act of life is Faith in Jesus, and Jesus assures him of
Heaven

2. So, Believing is the start: Then connected is Obedience

a. John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God
remains on him. Here we see 2 ideas: Believing in Jesus gives eternal life: Forgiveness of sin
b. Obeying Jesus- secures eternal life…
i. Believing is an act of faith… Obeying is the ACTION of faith- Its Ongoing, Steadfast in the same direction-
ii. Revelation 3:5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I
will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Jesus speaking to the church at Sardis: dealing with complacency &
compromise, but some have kept their garments clean… Some haven't become distracted… I will confess your name before God!
1. So, Jesus stresses to us: Those who maintain obedience to Him will preserve their name in Heaven!
2. Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God… YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR RIGHT
WITH GOD! A witness/confidence/peace takes place in us-
B- Q: So, What makes us UNKNOWN in Heaven?
1. Sin: Exodus 32:33 But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.
a. Sin: We are all born with, and need to fix it with Jesus… Isaiah 59:2 And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will
not hear.
b. The old saying: We aren't sinners b/c we sinned, we sin b/c we are sinners… It means we don’t start off pure and acquire the habit
of sinning by doing it repeatedly over time. We are born sinners and our sinful behavior is a manifestation of our nature.
i. Psalm 51:5 “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” ITS IN US-
c. Our sin HIDES Gods face from us- Keeps us UNKNOWN- Thats in a relationship context-
2. Iniquity: Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
a. Iniquity is different from sin: Iniquity is: I KNOW its wrong, but I will continue to do it anyways! (take residence)
b. Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. Known Wickedness/Idolatry
c. Matthew 7:23 KJV And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
i. Iniquity in the NT: Greek word Lawlessness I know Gods law, but Ive chosen, not only to break it, but live breaking it- Simply put
its DISOBEDIENCE!
3. These will cost you your name in Heaven! Make your name UNKNOWN
a. The Unsaved & Unrepentant
C-Theres a third word for disobedience: Trespasses:
1. How many understand; We are NOT sinless, and b/c we still live under the curse of sin its possible to mess up…
a. Trespasses means though we might cross a line/boundary, we are quick to fix it & get back on track
i. Isaiah 43:25 “I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
ii. Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
iii. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2. So; We need to understand: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
a. It has to do with our attitude & relationship with Sin-
i. Attitude of: I Desire to please God
ii. Relationship of: I don't want to do this AGAIN
b. Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Here is Davids prayer of repentance; after
sin, after trespass, after iniquity… and he is forgiven… b/c he changed his relationship w sin-
i. 1 John 3:6-8 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little
children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of
sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works
of the devil. A changed heart & attitude towards sin-
c. God makes a way for us to get right and KEEP our name in heaven… But this has to be done in THIS LIFE-
ii. Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
iii. 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things
done in the body, whether good or bad. Done in the BODY- Choices/relationships/Jesus-
c. THE GOAL IS KEEPING YOUR NAME IN HEAVEN!
III WRITTEN IN HEAVEN
A- Your name written in heaven has personal practical application-
1. It brings a Confidence to your Salvation: The bible is Gods self revelation, and reveals to us His involvement with PEOPLE-
a. Abraham: Genesis 18:17 The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, Here God makes known to Abraham
the judgement to come upon Sodom… Abraham prays on behalf of the city-
i. God knows his name! Thats amazing!
b. Job 1:8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless
and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” What does heaven say about you!?
i. Heaven knew Jobs name… and all through Job we read of these conversations (prayers) with God-
c. Hezekiah: Isaiah 38:2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD,
i. Isaiah 38:4-5 And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of David
your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years. Heaven heard & Heaven
knew his name!
d. Solomon: 1 Kings 3:5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”
To Solomon… after 1,000 burnt offerings to God… Heaven visited with Solomon, knew his name
e. Cornelius: Acts 10:31 Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.
f. This is encouraging for us: B/c our prayers are reaching heaven, and the God who KNOWS you is moving through them & for YOU
i. Revelations 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.
2. Impacts your SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY:
a. Text: V17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
i. We have AUTHORITY… Spiritual power that works out in Life- WE NEED THIS
b. Acts 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
i. This story details the cost of heaven not knowing your name- Theres going to be a lack in life
ii. The spirits attack them, and strip them, and wounded them-
3. Impacts your ETERNITY:
a. V20 rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” The ultimate reason we want heaven to know our name is so that we can make
heaven our eternal home!
i. More than all the other reasons; Jesus says- this is the greatest reason!
b. Revelations 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
B- So this text teaches us that: Their ministry was not to become an experience of power leading to pride, but an experience of
servanthood to Jesus, to make heaven our home & to help OTHERS make heaven their home-
1. Is your name known in heaven? Is your name in the book?
2. Take confidence in your prayers/needs/money/marriage/health… My name is in heaven, and I claim favor-