5 Things That Make God Smile

What are 5 things that make you smile? Few years ago SF Chronicle

Asked what 5 things make you smile most among answers

Choral music performed well, Awesome hugs, A massage

A good tip, Dance that amazingly clicks, children laughing

Realizing I love my job, Things that are meaty, fatty, & creamy

When someone says "I'm really happy to see you!" and means it

Standing in line to vote and hearing 5 different languages

Waking up find my kitty snuggled on neck w\her cheek on mine,

paw resting on other cheek hearing her tiny nose whistle & snore

Knowing my mama is happier now than other time in her life

Coming home from work and seeing my dog in the window

waking up & realizing I have another hour of sleep,

Pretty lady smiling at me & looks away when I catch her looking

Learn something of character of person by what makes them smile

Lk 10 Jesus sent followers to share his message in world told them

Carry neither a purse or $$ or shoes urgent no time for small talk

When followers return from mission they are beside themselves

Return with Joy and told here Jesus has joy. Isa God says rejoice

Sometimes Christians seem joyless speak of discipleship

Jesus is joyful. True salvation brings joy 5 things make God smile

1. Satan FALLING LIKE LIGHTENING

Bible never questions whether there is Satan or not

Clear there has been an opposing power to power of God

Opposing power is powerful but does not overcome God

Jesus said, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven Vs 18 TNIV

As disciples tell of going to share good news

Jesus smiles about Satan falling from heaven, (the cosmos)

In other words when the forces of darkness and evil defeated

Jesus smiles; Satan is a deceiver, tempter, seat of evil

Who challenges the power of God

How Does Satan fall? AS WE DO JUSTICE, in unjust world

Injustice is the fruit of evil not God

AT FORGIVENESS, when we forgive those who sin vs. us

When it is so natural to hold a grudge Satan falls

WHEN LOVE WINS OVER SELFISHNESS,

WHEN SIN IS DEFEATED in our individual lives struggle

Make Satan fall and Jesus smile

Took an unplanned vacation time this week

Got call Monday afternoon a good friend had died in Cincy

Because of kindness of people here at VBC able to go

My friend dealt with demon of alcoholism in his life

Not all who drink alcoholic any more than all who talk gossips

18 yrs ago friend had to face this demon in his life, talked about it

Made me think of demons I need to face in my life

God smiles but this only happens

2. People APPLYING THE AUTHORITY OF GOD TO LIFE

Although Satan is a "formidable foe" he is a DEFEATED adversary.

Believers in Christ are privileged to walk in same power that raised

Jesus from the dead, & "calmed both wind and sea."

When we live our lives taking up the authority of God, smiles

Look at Vs 17 & 19 NLT disciples blown away

Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name

Jesus “I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy

Vs 18 says power over snakes and scorpions

These were seen as symbols for sinister and evil forces

Many people believe in the Person, word and work of Christ,

But when circumstances test their faith, hard for them hard to stand

As Christ followers called to be an example

World is crying out for those who live faithful life not perfect

So few examples of good many people have given up why try

Remember there is MORE TO YOU THAN MEETS THE EYE

Bible reminds us of spiritual power over and over again

Col 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made

a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

2 Tim 1:7 "God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power love

but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

Phil 2:13 "it is God who works in you both to will & to do for His good pleasure."

Don’t misunderstand me, I am struggling to put into effect power

Of God in my life, but oh the difference if live out God’s authority

William Wilberforce discouraged in early 1790s after 10 yr battle vs

Slave trade in England. tired & frustrated, opened his Bible

Found a letter written by John Wesley. In part it read

Unless God has raised you up for this very thing,

you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils.

But if God be for you, who can be against you?

Are all of them together stronger than God? John Wesley