2025 0126 Kingdom Culture 16 Rejoice
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The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Culture of Jesus
brings life yet the devil stole it
took Jesus dying on the cross for us to regain life
encouragement is our culture
our flesh and the world condemns
What About Joy
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
righteousness is the means of life
joy and peace flows from this life of Jesus
joy is our response in all circumstances
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
joy and the Holy Spirit are perfectly interwinned
joy must be our response in every circumstance
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
citizens of the Kingdom will have many trials to go with the odsuccesses
joy gets us through the good times and the bad
the eternal hope of being in Jesus fills us with unexplainable joy
this joy is totally spiritual in its source
Push Back Against Joy
the devil opposes everything of God
he will condem to kill our life
he will steal our joy
he will destroy our peace - more on this next sermon
Steal our Joy
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
sin and trials are set before us
our flesh and the world is against us
feeling guilty is the first strategy
forgiveness is the antidote
Jesus has paid for every sin over all our life
Jesus has healed every hurt and offence that comes against us
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
the second strategy of the devil is shame and regret
we may ask forgiveness, we may never do it again
yet the emotions and memories keep us trapped
despair and depression starts to rise
Jesus has set us free - Jesus scorned the shame of hanging on the cross
Jesus endured to receive the joy
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
finally do not grow weary
do not lose heart
joy is our reward of being in Jesus
this joy is eternal and supernatural
set our eyes on Jesus
Stronger Stuff
there are times when trauma occurs
these incidents may be a single one or multiple instances
trauma has deep emotional, pyschological or mental ramifications
it often attacks the very foundation of faith in Jesus
Examples of Trauma
violence - domestic abuse being physical, financial or controlling
sexual abuse by family or friends, leading to intense negative behaviours and family breakdowns
sexual assaults and sex trafficking
death or serious injuries by violent acts or neglect
financial crimes through gambling or scams
Our Response
these events go deep into our being, our identity of who we are in Christ
healing will come but can be a slow and complex process
everything will try to pull the person away from Jesus and away from fellowship
do not accept the label of victimhood - be a MTAC
forgiveness is necessary but not the only thing
it is spiritual, it is physical, it is mental, it is emotional
it may require professional help
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.