Joy in the Gospels
If you were not able to attend the HOP Service on September 6th, I would strongly suggest that you take the time to watch the message (the link is at the end of this post!)... Dr. Winston Chu will be with us again next week, looking at Joy through Paul's Epistles.
For today's message, here are his five main points:
Joy Begins with the Gospel: The Savior Has Come
Luke 2:10-11
Joy Comes When the Lost Are Found
Luke 15
Joy Comes from Abiding in Christ
John 15
Joy Does Not Avoid the Cross
John 16:20
Joy Witnesses the Resurrection with Fear
Matthew 28
Questions to Ponder:
A. What is my joy built on?
B. Do I share the Father's joy with others, helping the lost to return?
C. Am I still abiding in Christ?
If our joy is built on circumstances, achievement, answers to prayers, expectations met, then our joy is not built on the Gospels. The Joy of Christ is abundant, because it is in Christ! It is Jesus' own joy. "My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full..." John 15:11
"Therefore, Christians do not rejoice because pain itself is good, nor do we need to pretentd taht suffering does not hurt. Our joy lies in believing that pain is not the past page of the story and death is not the final ending. God can turn a tomb into resurrection, tears into testimony, failure into grace."
Here in the Gospel we see:
Joy begins in Bethlehem: the Savior has been born.
Joy appears when the lost return: when sinners repent, heaven rejoices.
Joy lives in the hearts of those who abide in Christ: His joy becomes our joy.
Joy passes through the cross: sorrow is not denied, but is transformed by God.
Joy reaches its climax at the empty tomb: Jesus has risen, and death is no longer the final ending.
If you weren't able to attend the service, here is the link to the Sunday service. May His Joy be made full in you!
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