Joy?
Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 4:35 pmLuke 2: 8-20
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
I heard this sermon this morning and was led to share it with you. There is so much we often miss in these verses. My prayer is that you too, would let the truth of these words sink into your hearts and free your spirit as intended by the Lord for you to do.
It's so easy to believe that God sent Jesus to save other people. When it comes to us personally, however, its a little tough...cause we know us. We live with us and know the deepest darkest places of our hearts and deeds. We forget that God does, too.
In vs. 10 the angel of the Lord said good tidings of great joy to all people. In vs. 11 He says to YOU a SAVIOUR is born which is Christ the Lord.
Genesis 18:14:Is any thing too hard for the LORD?
Vs. 14 says that it is God's good will toward men. His plan was always to save all men through the blood of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. There is nothing His blood can't cover.
In vs. 15, the shepherds who heard the good news could have started questioning what they had just seen and heard. They could have stayed where they were and let doubt set in and think to themselves that this message was for everyone else. They chose to hurry to seek what the Lord had told them, though, in faith that what was said by the Lord, they would find. When they found Him, they went away with joy in their hearts....spreading the word, praising and glorifying God!
Do we argue with the Lord? When we are told that the blood of Jesus covers our pasts, that His grace is sufficient, do we, in faith, choose to believe His word or do we focus on the things we have done or the things others have done to us? Do we choose to believe that God will help us in His power to forgive those who have hurt us and do we choose to believe that He no longer sees our sins when we have taken them to Him with a heart of true repentance? Isnt this the whole reason Jesus was born, crucified and resurrected..to bridge that gap between God and us?
As we come to this Christmas season...are we just getting through it? We have lost loved ones this past year. We have faced some tough things. Some of our family members are not with us for one reason or another..and its so easy to focus on what we don't have. We dont have to just get "through" this season...which brings us to this........
There are 2 things that will keep us from having the joy the Lord intended for us to have, not only through the Christmas season, but throughout every day....
One is unforgiveness. Unforgiveness holds us and others in bondage for things they or we have done. His blood has covered our sins and we are not higher than He is. If we are holding someone else accountable for something they have done to us, we can choose to forgive this soul, knowing that the things they have done were done by the enemy of our souls working through them. Pray for them. Pray the Lord would help you, by His power in you, to forgive them.
The second biggest killer of joy is our mind sets..out thoughts. What do we focus on? Are our thoughts consumed by our pasts? other people...what we dont have? Or, will we choose to look for the blessings in the things we do have; The greatest of these, being His children, saved, sanctified and justified through the blood of Jesus.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
My brothers and sisters in Jesus..His blood was enough. His Grace is sufficient. If you want the joy He has promised you....focus in Him, His love and mercy for you. Take the thoughts that you are too far out of His reach and have sinned too much, that His promises were not for you and get them out of your thought process. Believe what God has said. You are so precious to Him. You were created by Him, for Him, from His good will and for His glory. You are a precious child of the most high God. His love is unconditional. Take hold of these truths and know that they are for YOU..and then take this truth and give it to others..so they may know of the hope we have in Jesus. Praise Him, give Him glory for the things He has done. None of us deserve it, but this IS His love for you.
J-Jesus
O-zero
Y-You
Let nothing stand between Jesus and you.
I love you all so very much. He loves you oh so much more...more than life itself.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a year full of blessings. Look for them..they are there if we will focus on them and not the situations around us.
In Jesus,
love momo
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
I heard this sermon this morning and was led to share it with you. There is so much we often miss in these verses. My prayer is that you too, would let the truth of these words sink into your hearts and free your spirit as intended by the Lord for you to do.
It's so easy to believe that God sent Jesus to save other people. When it comes to us personally, however, its a little tough...cause we know us. We live with us and know the deepest darkest places of our hearts and deeds. We forget that God does, too.
In vs. 10 the angel of the Lord said good tidings of great joy to all people. In vs. 11 He says to YOU a SAVIOUR is born which is Christ the Lord.
Genesis 18:14:Is any thing too hard for the LORD?
Vs. 14 says that it is God's good will toward men. His plan was always to save all men through the blood of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. There is nothing His blood can't cover.
In vs. 15, the shepherds who heard the good news could have started questioning what they had just seen and heard. They could have stayed where they were and let doubt set in and think to themselves that this message was for everyone else. They chose to hurry to seek what the Lord had told them, though, in faith that what was said by the Lord, they would find. When they found Him, they went away with joy in their hearts....spreading the word, praising and glorifying God!
Do we argue with the Lord? When we are told that the blood of Jesus covers our pasts, that His grace is sufficient, do we, in faith, choose to believe His word or do we focus on the things we have done or the things others have done to us? Do we choose to believe that God will help us in His power to forgive those who have hurt us and do we choose to believe that He no longer sees our sins when we have taken them to Him with a heart of true repentance? Isnt this the whole reason Jesus was born, crucified and resurrected..to bridge that gap between God and us?
As we come to this Christmas season...are we just getting through it? We have lost loved ones this past year. We have faced some tough things. Some of our family members are not with us for one reason or another..and its so easy to focus on what we don't have. We dont have to just get "through" this season...which brings us to this........
There are 2 things that will keep us from having the joy the Lord intended for us to have, not only through the Christmas season, but throughout every day....
One is unforgiveness. Unforgiveness holds us and others in bondage for things they or we have done. His blood has covered our sins and we are not higher than He is. If we are holding someone else accountable for something they have done to us, we can choose to forgive this soul, knowing that the things they have done were done by the enemy of our souls working through them. Pray for them. Pray the Lord would help you, by His power in you, to forgive them.
The second biggest killer of joy is our mind sets..out thoughts. What do we focus on? Are our thoughts consumed by our pasts? other people...what we dont have? Or, will we choose to look for the blessings in the things we do have; The greatest of these, being His children, saved, sanctified and justified through the blood of Jesus.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
My brothers and sisters in Jesus..His blood was enough. His Grace is sufficient. If you want the joy He has promised you....focus in Him, His love and mercy for you. Take the thoughts that you are too far out of His reach and have sinned too much, that His promises were not for you and get them out of your thought process. Believe what God has said. You are so precious to Him. You were created by Him, for Him, from His good will and for His glory. You are a precious child of the most high God. His love is unconditional. Take hold of these truths and know that they are for YOU..and then take this truth and give it to others..so they may know of the hope we have in Jesus. Praise Him, give Him glory for the things He has done. None of us deserve it, but this IS His love for you.
J-Jesus
O-zero
Y-You
Let nothing stand between Jesus and you.
I love you all so very much. He loves you oh so much more...more than life itself.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a year full of blessings. Look for them..they are there if we will focus on them and not the situations around us.
In Jesus,
love momo
