Armageddun wrote:
GRIEF AND JOY
"I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices." John 16:20
"Griefs exalt us, and troubles lift us."
---Charles Spurgeon .....
The disciples had come with Jesus into Jerusalem with great expectations. The Messiah's moment of victory had come. But how painful the moment and obscure the victory! They had no idea. They would later recall those words of Jesus---while the world rejoiced at the downfall of a "troublemaker," the disciples grieved the death of a dream. Later, He tells them, the moods will be reversed; their grief will be turned to joy (v.22) when they realize the dream was greater than they had imagined.
Jesus could just as easily say these words to us. We know His victory came through the Cross; it's not His death we grieve today. But His Cross also belongs to us as His disciples; we're called to take it upon ourselves. Meanwhile, the world rejoices. It pities those who have fallen "victim" to the constraints of the Christian faith. It can't imagine that we find fulfillment without following their unbridled pursuit of physical and emotional pleasure.
But in our grief, there is joy. And in our joy, there is grief. We know both simultaneously. The Cross is painful, and the world's rejection hurts. We live in a broken world, part of our own doing, and we suffer because of it. But we rejoice that the suffering does not compare to the glory to be revealed (Romans 8:18). We look forward to a coming celebration, and we can begin celebrating even now.
Many Christians have not found the balance between grief and joy. We can either wallow in the former, forgetting the joy of knowing Jesus and His promises He gives us, or dwell on the latter as escapists, unmindful of the needs of our generation. Our joy is to be a sober-minded joy, and our grief is to be a hopeful grief. Heartfelt ministry and joyful expectation---both are the inheritance of Jesus's disciples.
GRIEF AND JOY br br "I tell you the truth, y... (
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WHAT CAN YOU GIVE JESUS FOR CHRISTMAS?
PS 116:12
CHRISTMAS TIME IS THE TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN GIFT GIVING DOMINATES OUR THINKING.
IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, WE THINK AND PLAN TO AT LEAST TRY TO MATCH THE GIFT WITH THE PERSON WE ARE THINKING OF.
AS WE ALL KNOW THERE IS USUALLY THAT ONE OR TWO PERSONS THAT ARE SO HARD TO BUY FOR, THEY SEEM TO HAVE EVERYTHING, AND WE ARE OFTEN AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO GET THEM.
WELL, I SUPPOSE THE LORD WOULD FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY, AFTER ALL, THE BIBLE SAYS ALL THE GOLD ALL THE SILVER ARE HIS.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT OUR FATHER OWNS THE CATTLE OF A THOUSAND HILLS. AND IF HE IS THE CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF THIS ENTIRE UNIVERSE, WHAT COULD WE, LITTLE US, POSSIBLY GIVE TO THE LORD JESUS AS A PRESENT.
PS 116 COULD VERY WELL BE CALLED THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING LIST FOR THE LORD.
IT COULD BE CALLED GOD'S WISH BOOK.
WHILE THERE IS really NOTHING THAT LINKS-IT WITH THE CHRISTMAS STORY, IT GIVES US A GOOD CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT THE LORD WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE FROM ALL OF US, NOT JUST AT CHRISTMAS, BUT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE YEAR.
FIRST OF ALL, THE PSALMIST ASKS THE QUESTION, WHAT SHALL I RENDER UNTO THE LORD FOR ALL HIS BENEFITS TOWARDS ME?
QUICKLY, LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE BENEFITS, SO WE CAN GET A BETTER PICTURE OF THE GIFTS THAT WE MIGHT CONSIDER GIVING HIM.
A. IN V-2 HE HAS AN INCLINED EAR UNTO ME.
LIKE AN ANXIOUSLY INTERESTED FATHER, HE BENDS HIS HEAD TO LISTEN TO OUR PRAYERS.
WHAT A PRECIOUS PRIVILEGE TO HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING, WISE, LISTENING EAR OF GOD.
B. V-3 WE HAVE BEEN DELIVERED FROM DEATH. WE HAVE THIS VICTORY THROUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST 1 COR. 15:55-57 ROM 6:23.
C.. V-7 WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN BOUNTIFUL TREATMENT.
OUR NEEDS ARE SUPPLIED OUT OF HIS RICHES.
D.V-16 WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN FREEDOM FROM BONDAGE.
THE BONDS OF SIN, DOUBT, FEAR HAVE BEEN SNAPPED. WE HAVE THE LIBERTY TO SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS.
THAT'S A QUICK LOOK AT JUST A FEW OF THE BENEFITS...SO WITH THOSE IN MIND WHAT KINDS OF GIFTS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR JESUS?
1.V-1 HOW ABOUT GIVING JESUS YOUR LOVE FOR CHRISTMAS?
THE BIBLE SAYS WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.
WE DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT JESUS NOT LIKING THE GIFT OF LOVE BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT, TELLS US THAT THE GREATEST GIFT IS THE GIFT OF LOVE. 1 COR 13.
2. HOW ABOUT JUST KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH JESUS ON A REGULAR BASIS? V-2.
3. HOW ABOUT GIVING JESUS WORSHIP, PRAISE, AS WELL AS PRAYER. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ISN'T TO POPULAR WITH MAN. But just wait until you get into a tight spot or a deep need and you can't spend enough time on your knees.
4. HOW ABOUT GIVING JESUS YOUR REST. V-7.
SOUNDS SILLY DOESN'T IT. PERHAPS A BETTER WAY OF SAYING IT WOULD BE, HOW ABOUT JUST PUTTING YOUR CONFIDENCE IN JESUS TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THINGS. THINK ABOUT IT, WHEN YOU PUT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN JESUS, YOU ARE GIVING UP ALL WORRY.
5.HOW ABOUt taking a walk with Jesus every day? v-9
JUST THINK OF HOW GREAT WE WOULD FEEL IF WE WOULD START AND FINISH EVERYDAY WALKING WITH JESUS.
6. HOW ABOUT SPEAKING UP FOR JESUS. V-10
YOU SEE WHEN YOU SPEAK, WITNESS, OR TESTIFY FOR JESUS, YOU ARE IN SOME POWERFUL COMPANY BECAUSE THAT IS THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. And He will be with you to guide you. To help you witness and give glory to Jesus as you share the gospel with those who are lost.
7. HOW ABOUT LETTING JESUS BLESS YOU.V-13
YOU SEE UNLIKE MAN, WE RENDER HONOR TO THE LORD THE MORE WE TAKE OR RECEIVE FROM HIM.
THE LORD WANTS TO GIVE US EVERY GOOD THING. BUT OFTEN PRIDE OR DISOBEDIENCE STOPS THE FLOW OF HIS BLESSINGS.
ONE LAST THOUGHT FOR A POSSIBLE GIFT FOR JESUS THIS YEAR. V-17-18.
HOW ABOUT DOING WHAT WE SAY WE WILL DO FOR THE LORD.
WE COULD PAY OUR VOWS,
OFFER OUR SERVICE IN HIS NAME,
OFFER OUR THANKFULNESS.
WHILE THese MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A VERY COSTLY ITEMs, IT IS WELL PLEASING TO THE LORD.
HEB.13:15-16.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO GIVE JESUS FOR CHRISTMAS.
SOMEONE HAS SAID THE GREATNESS OF A MAN IS SHOWN BY THE SIMPLICITY OF HIS WISDOM.
NONE OF THESE GIFTS WILL BANKRUPT YOU, they are all simple and most of them can be so rewarding to give. IN FACT, THESE ARE GIFTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE CHRIST HAPPY, AND YOU A MUCH MORE FAITHFUL PERSON.
THESE INEXPENSIVE BUT WELL CHOSEN GIFTS WILL SHOW you your INSIGHT, LOVE, TRUST, AND OBEDIENCE TO JESUS.
REMEMBER, JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON. CHRISTMAS SHOULD NOT ONLY INCLUDE JESUS, BUT IT SHOULD ALSO START WITH HIM FIRST, PLEASING HIM FIRST.