Day 33

33 - Rejoicing: Experience His Presence 

“At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth...”

Luke 10:21

What makes you happy? Creating a masterpiece? Doing well in sports? Achieving good grades in school? Maybe it’s your favorite team winning, getting a raise at your job, watching an incredible movie, reading a good book in front of a warm fire, your favorite song coming on the radio, or bagging a big buck or bull elk on a hunting trip? Maybe it's receiving a great gift for Christmas, spending time with family, playing with your dog, getting together with an old friend, or eating Chick-Fil-A? Many things can make us happy.

You will not find any passage in scripture about what makes Jesus happy. You will, however, see that Jesus experienced joy. Joy is very similar to happiness. In fact, it is a state of happiness. it is "an emotion of great delight caused by something exceptionally satisfying." In Luke 10, we see the one and only thing mentioned in the Gospels that was exceptionally satisfying to Jesus and brought Him joy.

Read Luke 10:1-3, 17, 21.

• What made Jesus "full of joy?” 

* * * * *

Jesus had 12 apostles (see Luke 6:12-16), and at least 72 disciples (seen here in Luke 10). In Luke 9:1-6, Jesus sent out His 12 Apostles to work in the harvest field, and here in Luke 10 He sent the 72 disciples to work in the harvest field. It's very likely that Jesus was training His 12 Apostles to be Chair 4 disciple-makers by allowing them to help train the 72 disciples to be Chair 3 workers in the harvest field. Think about it. Jesus invested more time in the 12, and then each of them invested time in 6 of the disciples (making up the 72... the math works for this).

And the Apostles had successfully helped make the 72 disciples into workers in the harvest field, that brought Jesus great joy. He was full of joy! His Apostles were making and multiplying disciples, and His disciples were reproducing by reaching lost people with the gospel.

Think about your relationships with believers and lost people. What have you been doing, and with whom, that brings Jesus joy?

Jesus not only had joy when his disciples (Apostles) were making disciples, but He wanted his disciples to have his joy in them (see John 17:13).

Read John 15:9-11.

• What will bring the joy of Jesus into you and make your joy complete? 

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Some might say that John 16:24 means my joy will be complete when God gives me what I want, and He'll give me what I want if I ask for it "in Jesus' name." Now read the context.

Read John 16:5-24.

Jesus is saying that instead of asking Him in person (because He won't be with them in person much longer... verse 16) for direction and guidance (verses 13, 15, 23), they will ask the Father, and He will give them the guidance that they ask for. Then their joy will be complete!

Seeking the Father and being led by the Holy Spirit is the source of great, complete joy for the disciple! Success, stuff and a trouble-free life might bring temporary happiness, but making disciples, reproducing disciple-makers, seeking God and being led by the Holy Spirit brings lasting, satisfying and complete joy!



Read Luke 24:46-52.

• What is one more thing that brought Jesus' disciples joy? 

* * * * *

These are some of Jesus' final words to His disciples. He told them they would receive the Holy Spirit (verse 49), and that they should be witnesses who share the gospel (verses 47-48). Jesus then ascended to heaven (verse 51). And after that, the disciples worshipped Jesus, and were full of joy. We can be disciples who are full of joy when we accept His mission for us to make disciples and truly worship our great Savior, Jesus Christ! 

Apart From Him…

• Thank God for the joy He has given you during these 40 Days of Disciple-Making as you have prioritized the practice of making disciples. 

* * * * *

Walking As Jesus…

• Encourage a fellow believer by telling them of the joy that you’re experiencing as you see them follow Jesus. 

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• My Personal Disciple-Making Plan: