Thursday, December 27, 2012

December 28, 2012

"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." Luke 2:10

 
Once famous evangelist, Billy Sunday said, “if you have no joy, there’s a leak in your Christianity.”

 
Joy was a new experience for the shepherds because joy arrived with the coming of Jesus! But it should not be a novel experience for you. Jesus intended for His believers to live in joy:

 
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:11
"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." John 16:24

 
So, what can you learn about joy from this encounter between the angel and the shepherds?

 
First, joy comes from receiving the good news.

 
These shepherds heard the good news in a very dramatic way. The angels came to them with this amazing announcement. How great was that?!

 
You will not get the news from an angel but the good news is no less powerful. One of your main responsibilities is to put yourself into places where you can receive the good news. Whether that be church service or small group or listening on radio or on the Internet or watching TV or in your daily devotions, it is up to you to get your daily dose of good news! No one else can do that for you.

 
How can you have joy if you are not regularly hearing the good news? What are you doing to make sure you regularly hear the good news?

 
Second, joy comes from responding to the good news.

 
The shepherds immediately responded to the good news. When they heard about what was happening they went to see it for themselves.
What do you do with the good news you receive? Do you obey it? Do you test it? Do you live it out in your daily living so that you know it it true? Do you let it guide your decisions and steer your emotions? Joy is not an emotion, but it is an action that leads to positive feelings. Feelings always follow faith and faith is the preferred response to the good news.

 
Living in joy means receiving the good news and responding to the good news and thirdly, joy results from relationship with the good news!

 
Joy is the natural response to living in relationship with Jesus. If you receive the good news just for information you will not live in joy. If you receive purely for inspiration it will not remain. But if you will commit to living in an intimate personal relationship with Jesus, your joy will not leak. The good news is about truth and Jesus IS the Truth! The good news is about finding your way and Jesus IS the Way! The good news is a way of life and Jesus IS the Life!
How is your relationship with Jesus? How well do you know Him? Is He your Source of Joy?

Don't let the joy leak out of your life. Plug that leak by plugging into Jesus! Receive His good news daily and respond to it and live in relationship with it!

 
Have a joyous New Year!

December 27, 2012

"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." John 2:10

 
Over the past several days I have been focusing on the announcement made by the angels to the shepherds that holy night. What was this "good news of great joy"? Why don't we see more joy in the church among believers?

 
We have recognized there should be joy in the presence of God and joy in the pardon from God and because of the peace of God though Christ. Also, you can find joy in the power of God. Christmas was impossible but impossible things happened so Jesus could be born!

 
How about another reason for joy?

 
You can take joy in the promises of God! In the events leading up to and culminating in the birth of Jesus there were 360 prophecies fulfilled. That means that 360 things that God predicted in advance were going to happen happened! And they happened exactly as they were foretold!

 
That incredible fact proves that God had His fingerprints all over the events that led up to the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! And the accuracy of these predictions should give us joy in knowing that the promises of God are true and reliable!

 
Whatever His Word promises He will do!

 
There is no one else you know and love who could keep his promises 100% of the time! Every person over promises and under delivers. BUT NOT GOD!

 
If you are facing a difficult circumstance right now and you desparately need Him to be Who His Word says He is - rejoice! Jesus is everthing He promises He is and He can do and possibly has already done what ever He says. What He can do is posted in His Word. Read it, memorize it and claim it!

 
Find joy in praising Him that He will do what He promises to do! Christmas proves it!