Jesus Prays Part Four
Notes
Transcript
How to Have Joy in the World
How to Have Joy in the World
Christ Against Culture
Christ Above Culture
Christ Transforming Culture
“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
The word “speak” (laleo) suggest that the Lord actually told us he was speaking these words aloud “In the presence of His disciples, before leaving them, so that He may associate them in the joy which He Himself enjoys. This joy is that which is inspired by the certainty with which the Father shelters Him at all times, a certainty to become theirs. (Godet, II, p. 335)
We are “Not of the World” (vs 14, 16)
We are “Not of the World” (vs 14, 16)
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
“But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.
Hans Christian Andersons’ “Ugly Duckling” - “Before it knew how all of this happened, it found itself in a green garden where the trees smelled sweet and bent their long green branches down to the channel that ran past. Oh, here it was beautiful, such a gladness of spring.”
Eventually we too will leave this land and go to a land where the inhabitants have the same redeemed nature as we do.
Until then, we must survive in a world that is hostile to us.
That survival is not about escaping pain and difficulties in this life, it is about remaining faithful.
Faithfulness is living by the Word of God.
Joy comes from Being Sanctified by the Word
Joy comes from Being Sanctified by the Word
This, my dear brothers and sisters, is the fulcrum of sanctification by the Word, it lifts us out of the concerns of this world.
It is what enabled Stephen, while being stoned, to pray for God to forgive those who were tormenting him.
It is what enabled Paul to endure beatings, stoning, shipwreck, snakebite and other persecution.
It is what enabled each of the Apostles to stand firm even to their death for the testimony of Christ.
It is what enables missionaries, pastors, deacons, Sunday school teachers and all Christians to remain faithful.
Joy comes from the WORD OF GOD!
In the Word we learn about God’s Love! God’s Grace, God’s Presence, God’s Power, God’s Provision, God’s Faithfulness, God’s Forgiveness, God’s Holiness, God’s Patience, God’s Protection.
When the world is against you, when hard times come, when difficulties seem overwhelming, when your heart is breaking and you don’t know what to do, TURN TO THE WORD!
When you feel vulnerable, tempted, tormented, distressed, depressed, empty and wandering, TURN TO THE WORD!
When you think you have it all together, when their seems to be no opposition to what you are doing, when everything is going perfect, TURN TO THE WORD.
JOY COMES FROM THE WORD!