The Promise of Joy

Worldview

For me and my family this has been a busy, and in full disclosure, it has been an extremely challenging week!

But, one of the easier days was on Tuesday, when I was taking Sister Carol Abel though our membership class — we are excited to receive her as our newest member next Sunday morning!

But she was talking about some of the things that attract her to this church.

One of the things she mentioned was missions.

I feel so blessed to pastor a church that cares deeply about the Gospel being preached in all the world.

Of course, as the missions magazine given to you today— Worldview — says, all the world is not an easy place to hear the Gospel, let alone put your faith in the Author of it — faith in Jesus.

In many places, to hear the Gospel and then to believe in Jesus means suffering.

The lead article, Glory in Suffering, written by missionary Dick Brogden talks about the suffering of Eve and Abraham (made up names to protect the actual persons)

But further on in his article Brogden (writer of Missionary God, Missionary Bible) then makes some statements that I pray will stop us in our tracks and get us to rethink what following Christ means.

(He asks) What does it mean to walk alongside the Suffering Church?

He says: Jesus-honoring, Gospel-focused living refuses to be silent and refuses to divide.

This week as I encountered situations that some in the church are facing, this statement is incredibly profound!

There are families who are being attacked by the devil — Christian families.

The devil is stealing the identity of our our best and our brightest.

He is deceiving them and setting them on the road to heartache and misery.

These family members tell us they want us to join them in their deception — to embrace, to celebrate their deception — definitely don’t question or speak against it.

But if we silence ourselves, even join them in their demon-inspired delusions, we remove all chance of those family members being delivered from their bondage.

So many times, WE are the only ones who stand between our loved ones and an eternity separated from God.

How do we, as Brogden says, “Live Jesus-honoring, Gospel-focused lives” that refuse to be silent concerning lifestyles that are contrary to God’s Word AND still not be divided from those we love and want to see delivered?

I believe through prayer, the wisdom of the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit.

Because only God’s supernatural intervention can win the day — more importantly, see souls won back to God.

It is a supernatural war.

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 NLT

3 If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

You don’t have to know names or details to pray with these families who are struggling.

Isn’t that the wonderful thing about being baptized in the Holy Spirit?

We can pray in our heavenly prayer language and the Holy Spirit will pray through us about needs that are breaking the hearts of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Brogden goes on the ask: Why does the suffering Church Matter?

There is no glory before suffering. Because our goal is the glory of Jesus among and from all peoples (Revelation 7:9), suffering should be rejoiced in, not rejected. We rejoice in our sufferings because in them Jesus is lifted up as worthy, and because after them Jesus is exalted as glorious.

But then he says:

The testimony of scripture is that suffering is both necessary for the fulfillment of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and a great gift. The scandal is that so many of us are reluctant to receive and embrace suffering for the nations.

May God help us!

So what do we do about the suffering church?

First off all WE must all be on the same page, we must be in unity.

Brogden says: “In Philippians 1:29 we are told suffering is a gift. It has been granted to us.

I don’t know about you, but I struggle with that idea.

I’m an American Christian — we don’t believe in suffering, we believe in prosperity.

But what does that verse say?

Philippians 1:29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

While looking at the context of this verse, the Holy Spirit focused my attention on

Philippians 1:27 NLT

27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.

We come alongside and help our suffering brothers and sisters NOT by fighting one another, but by fighting the devil together.

By standing together in one spirit and purpose.

Only as we are united, forgiving one another, loving one another, caring about one another can we be effective in what Executive Director for AG World Missions says in this video:

VIDEO

PRAYER

In the Face of Suffering There is the Joy of Jesus

Yes, there are a lot of believers who are suffering because of their faith in Jesus.

Read their accounts in the magazine.

Read about the band of brothers in eastern Africa.

Read what Pastor Rod Loy has discovered about the suffering church.

But, incredibly, in the midst of suffering there is also joy.

1 Peter 1:6–8 NASB95

6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

Joy inexpressible and full of glory.

Joy that rests NOT in the circumstances of our lives, but in the fulfillment of God’s promises.

I want to reiterate what I said last Sunday:

Because He loves us, God makes promises to those who follow in obedience to Him.

And what He promises, God will fulfill.

And God has promised us joy.

On this second week of Advent I want us to consider that promise that God has made to His people — a promise fulfilled in the birth of Jesus.

Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus.

Yes, we use it to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

But remembering the birth of Jesus should remind us that Jesus is coming again.

As I encouraged us last Sunday night:

Hebrews 9:28 NASB95

28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

For whom is He coming?

To those who eagerly await HIM.

I’m not looking for the antichrist.

I’m not looking for the tribulation.

I’m not even looking for the abomination of desolation.

I’m looking for Jesus.

As says:

Hebrews 12:2 (2015 AMP) [We look away from all that will distract us to] focus our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith. [He is the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity].

I’m focused, my eyes are fixed (as other translations say) on Jesus.

When we do that we see the joy of Jesus.

Because of the joy set before Him, Jesus suffered.

He was beaten.

He was shamed, humiliated, mocked.

He died on a cross.

But death could not hold Him!

He defeated the grave and rose again.

As this verse, Hebrews 12:2 reminds us — Jesus sits victorious at the right hand of His Father’s throne.

A place where He intercedes for us.

Hebrews 9:24 (NASB95) For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

As we focus on Jesus we become more aware of joy.

Joy fulfilled in the birth of a baby.

A promise of joy for us fulfilled with the birth of Jesus.

Look at the promise given over 600 years before the birth of Messiah, the birth of Jesus. And what a promise it is!

Isaiah 35:3–10 (NLT)

3 With this news [that the Lord will display His glory-vs.2 ], strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. 4 Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.” 5 And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. 6 The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland. 7 The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived. 8 And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there. 9 Lions will not lurk along its course, nor any other ferocious beasts. There will be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will walk on it. 10 Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.

Oh how we long for the day when sorrow and mourning disappear.

When our lives are crowned with everlasting Joy.

When we are filled with joy and gladness.

The Fulfillment of the Promise

That day is coming!

It began 2000 years ago when Jesus was born.

In the same scripture we read last week we see not only the peace we desperately need, but also the joy.

Luke 2:8–11 NASB95

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Good news of great joy.

A Savior is born.

Have you experienced that Savior?

Have you put your trust in Him?

I’m not telling you that when you repent of your sins and surrender your life to Jesus you will have no more problems.

I’m telling you that in the midst of your problems Jesus will give you joy.

And when this life is over, there will be joy forevermore

We live in a fallen world.

A world that has a lot of sadness and few joys.

But this fallen world is not our home.

We identify with Abraham.

Hebrews 11:8–10 NASB95

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Hebrews 13:14 NASB95

14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.

In that city which is to come is the completion of the promise we see in Isaiah 35.

Are you looking for that city?

Are you longing for it?

A few years ago our choir sang a song called City of Joy

Forgive me, but I need you to listen to it as it is sung by the Prestonwood Baptist Church Choir.

Are you ready to go to the City of Joy?

[Invitation to be saved.]

If you did that this morning, please contact us.

Contact us!

New Life Family Church

167 Wesley Mountain Drive

Blairsville, GA 30512

Call or Text: 706-781-6142

www.NewLifeBlairsville.org

facebook.com/NewLifeBlairsville