Joy To The World
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Introduction
Introduction
Joy — a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
Joy — Delight of mind arising from the consideration of a present, or assured possession of some future good.
All of us want to have a life filled with joy. We want a constant feeling of pleasure and happiness. We want a life described as a bed of roses. We want a life void of problems, struggles, pain, sickness or death. We want wealth, health and happiness.
Joy — Delight of mind arising from the consideration of a present, or assured possession of some future good.
Joy — Delight of mind arising from the consideration of a present, or assured possession of some future good.
But such a life is completely based upon favorable circumstances…nothing of this world is secure…nothing can be completely relied upon…That’s why if we are to have joy in this world we have to lay hold of something out of this world. Only something OUT of this world could ever bring joy INTO this world!
The Christian has a definition of joy which far exceeds any secular definition. The world is stuck in their present circumstances. Such feelings are here today and gone tomorrow.
So here are the angels shouting joy has come into our world…someone has stepped from another world into our world… Jesus is born
The joy is this — The Savior has been born. The Christ has come into the world. This good news changes everything…it changes the way we see and experience our past, present and future. Nothing will ever be the same light again.
Real joy can be had…the place to find it is in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
This is why it is ludicrous some of the sermons preached by so called health and wealth preachers today…have your best life now…name it claim it…God always wants you to be healthy and wealthy.
The best life for a believer will never be now…the best we can have here is the hope of a better life in the future…but the hope of this better life places a genuine joy in our heart which can be realized regardless of our present circumstances.
We can always enjoy a delight of mind when we consider the promises of our Savior…what He has done to our past, how He impacts our present and what He has promised to do in our future.
The Christian has happiness of heart regardless present circumstances because our life/joy is secure in the promises of Christ and what He says about our future.
The Christian has happiness of heart regardless present circumstances because our life/joy is secure in the
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Joy — Delight of mind arising from the consideration of a present, or assured possession of some future good.
Takes Care of Our Past
Takes Care of Our Past
Our j
Some of you have walked in here with a burden…it is a burden of past sin. You bear shame for sins of your youth. I have news for you…you are not alone. We all have sin in our past…sometimes in our present…and unless the Lord returns will have some in the future. But as for the past...
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
Sins of the past are a favorite of satan because there is nothing you can do to undo what you did. It is always there in your memory and it is a fact of your life.
The Mongolian Peasant Principle...I wonder if you’ve heard of the Mongolian peasant principle? It was developed during the time when Joseph Stalin ruled Russia. Mr Stalin was not a very nice person – he made a habit of sending his opponents off to prison. But before packing them off to the gulag he made them confess to crimes they’d never committed.
I wonder if you’ve heard of the Mongolian peasant principle? It was developed during the time when Joseph Stalin ruled Russia. Mr Stalin was not a very nice person – he made a habit of sending his opponents off to prison. But before packing them off to the gulag he made them confess to crimes they’d never committed.
It’s rumoured that Stalin had a psychologist working for him who could get a person to confess to just about any crime, regardless of whether they’d actually committed it or not. The psychologist said that the secret of his success was the Mongolian peasant principle.
It’s rumoured that Stalin had a psychologist working for him who could get a person to confess to just about any crime, regardless of whether they’d actually committed it or not. The psychologist said that the secret of his success was the Mongolian peasant principle.
It works like this. Imagine a poor, shabby and “unimportant” man is brought into a large office that obviously belongs to an important person. Everything in the office smacks of authority: the dark mahogany walls; the huge oak desk; the high leather chair; the grey-haired general with rows of medals on his chest sitting there proudly and powerfully.
It works like this. Imagine a poor, shabby and “unimportant” man is brought into a large office that obviously belongs to an important person. Everything in the office smacks of authority: the dark mahogany walls; the huge oak desk; the high leather chair; the grey-haired general with rows of medals on his chest sitting there proudly and powerfully.
The general speaks to the shabby, uncomfortable visitor. “I have a million roubles in my desk drawer. Here, take a look, they’re all yours.”
The general speaks to the shabby, uncomfortable visitor. “I have a million roubles in my desk drawer. Here, take a look, they’re all yours.” “All mine?” says the shabby, uncomfortable visitor “Yes, all yours, on one condition.” “What condition?” “You must press this small red button on my desk” says the general. “What happens when I press the button?” “An old man in Mongolia drops dead.” “He dies?!” “Yes. He dies at once, without any pain.” “But why, what did he do?” “That’s none of your business. Trust me. It is good for the people. All you need to know is that the moment you press the button, the peasant dies. And you get a million roubles”
“All mine?” says the shabby, uncomfortable visitor
“Yes, all yours, on one condition.”
“What condition?”
“You must press this small red button on my desk” says the general.
“What happens when I press the button?”
“An old man in Mongolia drops dead.”
The poor, shabby, unimportant, uncomfortable man sits silent for a long moment. Then he slowly reaches forward and pushes the red button. He takes the money and goes home. But for the rest of his life he’s haunted by the memory of what he did. He can’t bring himself to spend a cent his ill gotten gain. He’s tormented day and night, until finally, 5 years later, he commits suicide. The million roubles are found stuffed in a sack under his bed; the State takes them back on the day of his funeral.
“He dies?!”
“Yes. He dies at once, without any pain.”
“But why, what did he do?”
“You see” Stalin’s psychologist says, “everybody has a Mongolian peasant in his life. Everyone has done something for which they feel deep shame. I hunt around in their memory until I find it. Then once I’ve found the peasant I dangle him in front of their eyes until the person is writhing in shame for being such a wretched human being. He will confess to anything to atone for his shame.”
“That’s none of your business. Trust me. It is good for the people. All you need to know is that the moment you press the button, the peasant dies. And you get a million roubles”
The poor, shabby, unimportant, uncomfortable man sits silent for a long moment. Then he slowly reaches forward and pushes the red button. He takes the money and goes home. But for the rest of his life he’s haunted by the memory of what he did. He can’t bring himself to spend a cent his ill gotten gain. He’s tormented day and night, until finally, 5 years later, he commits suicide. The million roubles are found stuffed in a sack under his bed; the State takes them back on the day of his funeral.
“You see” Stalin’s psychologist says, “everybody has a Mongolian peasant in his life. Everyone has done something for which they feel deep shame. I hunt around in their memory until I find it. Then once I’ve found the peasant I dangle him in front of their eyes until the person is writhing in shame for being such a wretched human being. He will confess to anything to atone for his shame.”
Satan is called the “accuser of the brethren” in
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.
This means Satan so often accuses Christians of their sins that he is identified by that action…He makes it his job to remind us of our past failures so that we will live in the shame, guilt and condemnation of the past. That we might become paralyzed and robbed of any joy that could be ours if we would only have faith for the joy Christ came to give.
If you are living in shame, guilt and condemnation...how much joy can you have? Is it possible to live in a joy filled life if you are constantly living in the failures and shame of your past?
Christ is our Savior…the Savior from our past sins. He was born that night to live and die to pay for all of our sins past, present and future. All of our sin. Yes we were guilty of sinning against God and others…yes we lied, cheated, stole and maybe a lot worse…but every sin of our past is covered by the life, death and resurrection of the Son of God…Jesus Christ…our Savior.
Now we can say…
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Nothing. Nothing can separate us from His forgiveness…our sin is dealt with in the cross…it is done…finished and over. God loves us and no longer holds our sin against us.
God will never look upon our past and hold it to our account because it has been paid for by the blood of Christ on the Cross.
Now you say…what about the people I hurt in my past. The Savior is their Savior too…and if someone needs to be saved from the hurt and pain caused them Jesus is there to heal their heart so they can have joy as well.
We cannot make up for our past wrongs…we cannot go back in time and erase them…we cannot remove the pain we caused other people…but our Savior forgives us…pays the price for our sins…and…we can pray he heals the heart of anyone who suffered any kind of hurt because of our sin in the past.
Takes Care of Today
Takes Care of Today
Jesus takes care of our present as well…not only in the forgiving us of sins we commit today…but also in the how to’s of how we live our life today.
We have a Lord now…a God over us…one who loves us…and cares more for our present and future than we can ever imagine.
Our Savior has a plan for us…He has things He has prepared for us to do…but more than this…He is perfecting us in the present…He is working everything in our life together to mold and shape us into the image of His Son Jesus Christ.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
God has begun a good work in us when we came into relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. He is working it out day by day and moment by moment.
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
There will come a day when we are perfect in Christ…today is a part of that process…so when we have a good day or we have a bad day…everyday is a day on the road to perfection.
Takes Care of Our Future
Takes Care of Our Future
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus sing His mercy and HIs grace…in those mansions bright and blessed He’ll prepare for us a place…when we all get to heaven what a day of rejoicing that will be…when we all see Jesus we’ll sing and shout the victory!
During World War II, a military governor met with General George Patton in Sicily. When he praised Patton highly for his courage and bravery, the general replied, "Sir, I am not a brave man. . . The truth is, I am an utter craven coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn't so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands." Years later, when Patton's autobiography was published, it contained this significant statement by the general: "I learned very early in my life never to take counsel of my fears."
The whole world lay in fear of death…but we need not take counsel of our fears!
On his deathbed, British preacher Charles Simeon smiled brightly and asked the people gathered in his room, "What do you think especially gives me comfort at this time?" When they all remained silent, he exclaimed, "The creation! I ask myself, 'Did Jehovah create the world or did I?' He did! Now if He made the world and all the rolling spheres of the universe, He certainly can take care of me. Into Jesus' hands I can safely commit my spirit!"
Hudson Taylor, founder of China Inland Mission, in the closing months of his life said to a friend, "I am so weak. I can't read my Bible. I can't even pray. I can only lie still in God's arms like a little child and trust."
Hudson Taylor, founder of China Inland Mission, in the closing months of his life said to a friend, "I am so weak. I can't read my Bible. I can't even pray. I can only lie still in God's arms like a little child and trust."
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
Every man dies…every woman dies…and if we did not have Jesus and His promises concerning that moment sure to come…we would have reason to be out of our mind afraid…in fact it would be reasonable to be terrified.
But Jesus came so that in the face of our impending death we might have joy…a delight of mind…as we consider His promises and the hope of heaven which He assured would be our eternal home.
Our Savior takes care of our future life here on earth as well as our eternal life soon to come.
Conclusions
Conclusions
No life is going to be perfect on this earth. We can never find joy in never-ending happy circumstances this side of heaven. But, come what may, we can always have joy if we keep in mind and consider in our heart what Jesus came to do for us in that manger 2000 years ago…
Jesus is right now taking care of our sins…all of our present imperfections…and our fear of the future…if we keep our mind on His work on our behalf…no present storm can rob us of the assured good we find in Him.
The shepherds were told by the angels that joy had come to the world in the person of Jesus Christ…He would be the only place true and lasting joy would ever be found…He is our savior from sin…guarantee that we will one day be made perfect…and always have eternal life
Have you found your joy in Jesus yet?