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What's your greatest source of joy? The disciples returned from their mission trip exhilarated that "even demons are subject to us in your name!" But Jesus gives a surprising response that challenges our entire understanding of spiritual success and true joy.

Drawing from Luke 10:17-20, this message explores Jesus' gentle rebuke to his disciples when he tells them, "Do not rejoice that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." It's a profound redirection that speaks directly to our tendency to find identity and satisfaction in what we do rather than who we are in Christ.

We dive deep into what it means that Jesus "saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven," unpacking the cosmic battle between God and the forces of darkness. Satan is a defeated foe with limited power—like a junkyard dog on a leash who can bark fiercely but ultimately cannot harm those protected by Christ.

The most sobering portion examines Jesus' warning in Matthew 7:21-23 about those who performed miracles and cast out demons in his name yet will hear "I never knew you." This reveals the chilling possibility of spiritual giftedness without true relationship—a warning sign for anyone whose confidence rests in religious activities rather than regeneration.

While our culture celebrates having our names on impressive documents—house deeds, academic degrees, business documents, or church signs—these temporal achievements will ultimately burn away. The only document that matters eternally is having your name written in heaven's registry.

Whether you're wrestling with doubt, struggling through hardship, or simply seeking a more enduring joy, this message offers the life-changing assurance that in Christ, your eternal security is the one foundation that can never be shaken. Will you anchor your joy there today?

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We challenge the common practice of giving God our leftovers rather than our best, exploring how the prophet Malachi condemned Israel's polluted offerings and what this means for modern believers.

• Paul Harvey's story about a woman giving a 23-year-old frozen turkey to her church perfectly illustrates our tendency to give God what we no longer want
• The Israelites were bringing blind, lame, and sick animals as sacrifices, which God called evil
• Whatever receives our best time, energy, and resources reveals what we truly worship
• We have three main resources: time, talent, and treasure – how we allocate them reveals our priorities
• The shocking truth that God would rather have the temple doors closed than receive insincere worship
• Francis Chan's sobering words: "Leftovers are not merely inadequate from God's point of view... they're evil"
• God deserves our best not because He needs anything from us, but simply because of who He is
• Everyone worships something – whatever you attribute highest value to becomes your master

We close with a prayer of confession from the Book of Common Prayer, acknowledging our failure to honor God as He deserves and seeking His mercy to live lives that truly treasure Him above all else.

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What would you sacrifice to bring someone eternal life?

This powerful question frames our exploration of Acts 10, where Peter's journey to Cornelius marks the moment the gospel first intentionally crossed cultural boundaries to reach the Gentile world. The staggering reality is that today, 3.5 billion people have virtually no access to the gospel—not those who've rejected it, but those who've never had the opportunity to hear it.

Through Peter and Cornelius' story, we discover the essential framework for global missions: God orchestrates, and believers participate. While God does the heavy lifting of salvation, He invites us into three specific ways of participation—praying, going, and sending.

Prayer forms the foundation of all mission work. When we pray for the unreached, for missionaries, and for more laborers, we align our hearts with God's passion that none should perish. True prayer for missions will transform us, breaking our hearts for what breaks God's heart.

The call to "go" isn't for everyone, but missions requires absolute obedience, often without knowing all the details. When Peter heard God's call, he wasn't given the full picture—just the next step. Those who answer this call face sacrifice: leaving comfort, security, relationships, and sometimes risking their lives to bring eternal life to others. Is it worth it? As one missionary shared after years of malaria, attempted break-ins, and family separation: "While the joys abound, the challenges are manifold."

For those not called to go, sending through generous giving becomes our mission. With missionaries needing $6,700-$10,000+ monthly to serve effectively, our financial support makes their work possible. As two teenagers who walked 100 miles to raise funds for a missionary vehicle said, "We wanted to walk so our missionaries would not have to."

The 3.5 billion unreached are not just statistics—they're individuals with names, families, dreams, and eternal souls. How will you respond to reach them? Start a prayer journal. Consider your calling. Give sacrificially. Together, we can bring Christ's hope to every nation, tribe, and tongue.

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