1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:17,480 Hey GoJerk family, Pastor Julie here. I am so excited to be with you again on this podcast 2 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:21,160 as we are looking at joy. I'm here with Laura. 3 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:24,760 Hello everyone. I'm here with Pastor Matt Hattavah. 4 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:26,160 Hey everybody. 5 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:27,160 And Gilbert. 6 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:28,160 Hey everyone. 7 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:30,160 We're having a good time. 8 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:31,160 We're having a great time. 9 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:32,160 Amazing time. 10 00:00:32,160 --> 00:00:40,680 I mean, it's holidays and what a wonderful way to celebrate the gift that God has given 11 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:47,000 us to be together and look into the truth of God's Word. I love it. I just, I love 12 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:48,000 our time together. 13 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:52,160 That's right. The first thing I want to say is Merry Christmas to my Go Church family. 14 00:00:52,160 --> 00:00:54,240 Merry Christmas! 15 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:56,280 I sounded really unjoyful there. 16 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:59,480 I thought you were very joyful. 17 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:05,780 You know what? You know what I really enjoy is the fact that we had to actively try to 18 00:01:05,780 --> 00:01:09,320 stop laughing to start recording. 19 00:01:09,320 --> 00:01:14,160 So what we're talking about we're doing in this room. 20 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:20,440 And I trust that you are growing in this and that as we go through this month, that you 21 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:27,280 are able to keep exercising your joy and not to suppress it. That you know, this is giving 22 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:33,720 you faith to say, no, I will rejoice. I will laugh. It's okay if things don't seem right. 23 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:40,320 It's okay if I seem crazy to the world because they know that I'm going through this problem 24 00:01:40,320 --> 00:01:41,400 or that situation. 25 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:43,360 We really shouldn't fit in. 26 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:44,360 That's right. 27 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:48,360 We are in the world, but we're not of the world. 28 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:49,360 Yeah. 29 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,520 So we're going to talk about joy in action. 30 00:01:52,520 --> 00:02:03,260 And one of my Rayma teachers, Rayma instructors, when I was in Bible school, his grandson actually 31 00:02:03,260 --> 00:02:07,500 shared this story years later. 32 00:02:07,500 --> 00:02:11,840 But it was about the time I was in Bible school. 33 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:18,000 His grandson was just a young teenager and they had stopped at a filling station to get 34 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:22,280 gas in their vehicle. 35 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:33,820 And the Rayma instructor, his name is Cooper, and he looked over and he saw this young couple. 36 00:02:33,820 --> 00:02:37,200 They were maybe in their 20s. 37 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:45,720 And they're just hugging next to the gas station or next to the gas pump while their car is 38 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:48,160 filling. 39 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:52,120 And his grandson told the story from his perspective. 40 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:58,440 So his grandson is sitting in the car and he sees Cooper, his grandfather, look over, 41 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:03,480 see this young couple and he thought, oh no. 42 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:10,160 And sure enough, here goes Cooper over to this young couple and he begins talking to 43 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:12,260 them about Jesus. 44 00:03:12,260 --> 00:03:16,120 Just ask them, you know, do you all know Jesus? 45 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:17,920 Have you confessed Jesus as your Lord? 46 00:03:17,920 --> 00:03:19,480 You know, Jesus has a plan for you. 47 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:21,120 Jesus loves you. 48 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,720 And the grandson is sitting in the car just like, oh, I'm so embarrassed. 49 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:32,560 You know, this Cooper is, my grandfather has just went and interrupted their day. 50 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:34,200 But guess what happened? 51 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:40,000 He led both of these young people to the Lord. 52 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:50,120 And they both confessed Jesus that day, which, you know, a couple of weeks ago in our podcast, 53 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:58,280 we were talking about the 99, leaving the 99 for that lost one and the Lord saying, 54 00:03:58,280 --> 00:03:59,280 rejoice with me. 55 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,360 So this was a time of rejoicing. 56 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,000 All of heaven rejoices when someone comes. 57 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:05,640 Well, Cooper was very happy. 58 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:08,920 The grandson was happy that it was over. 59 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:17,560 And when he related that story, he said, I realized something. 60 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:19,880 He said, it took me a while to understand it. 61 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,000 He said, but I realized something that day. 62 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:27,280 He said, my grandfather was an alien. 63 00:04:27,280 --> 00:04:33,440 He did not belong to the world. 64 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:40,640 He didn't fit in with the world because in the way the world works, you just leave people 65 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:41,640 alone. 66 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:42,640 Right. 67 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:51,000 But he didn't try to fit in because he had a message that he needed to give away. 68 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,280 And what is joy in action? 69 00:04:54,280 --> 00:05:01,680 It's letting other people know about this hope that we're carrying around on the inside. 70 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:02,680 That's right. 71 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:03,680 That's so good. 72 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:04,680 Praise God. 73 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:06,960 So we should all rejoice with him, right? 74 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:09,480 Yeah, that's what Jesus said. 75 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:10,480 Yeah. 76 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:11,880 Well, we rejoice in that. 77 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:13,320 That's amazing. 78 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:20,360 You know, we mentioned something two years ago on the joy message that we did. 79 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:25,320 And we said this, that joy shared is joy multiplied. 80 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:26,320 That's right. 81 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:27,960 And we just want to act on that. 82 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:29,760 And we want to see that going forward. 83 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:34,480 You know, this is the last week that we talk about joy, but it is not the last week that 84 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:35,480 we rejoice. 85 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:41,600 It is not the last week that we keep practicing what we're seeing today. 86 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:45,240 And we are supposed to share that joy. 87 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:51,120 You know, when we go back to that place where the Lord has that expression, rejoice with 88 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:54,800 me because I found that lost sheep. 89 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,780 Rejoice with me because that gold coin was lost and now it's found. 90 00:05:58,780 --> 00:06:03,280 Rejoice with me because my son who was lost is now found and he is home. 91 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:06,960 So joy shared is joy multiplied. 92 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:10,400 And we want to take our joy and act on it. 93 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:12,180 We want to put it in action. 94 00:06:12,180 --> 00:06:14,200 And this week, that's what we're going to talk about. 95 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:21,920 Joy is a response of faith, our response of faith to the word of God that we believe. 96 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:29,480 Joy is a supernatural response which brings supernatural results into the world. 97 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:37,880 So last week we developed the idea that joy is a response of faith. 98 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:44,760 This week, we want to take it further and say that joy is a releasing of faith. 99 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:53,040 You know, joy is what takes our believing and turns it into receiving or turns it into 100 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:56,880 acting on what we believe, expecting a result. 101 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:58,520 And that's what we're going to talk about. 102 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:03,160 And I just want to, I want to read two passages of scripture back to back and we're going 103 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:05,980 to talk about the second one a little bit. 104 00:07:05,980 --> 00:07:19,280 So the first one I want to read is in Isaiah chapter 12 in verse 3, it says this, therefore 105 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:25,120 with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 106 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:31,880 You notice the joy, so we've been talking last week that, you know, joy, you know, the 107 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:39,680 joy that we have is our strength and that we are using joy to accomplish something and 108 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:41,240 to do something. 109 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:47,200 And here we see that with joy we are able to draw out promises of God. 110 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:53,800 We're able to go deep into that well of life because we know that there is a well of life 111 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:58,040 in our spirit because the word of God dwells in our spirit. 112 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:06,120 And so with joy we're able to draw those promises out, draw that life out of those deep places 113 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:09,040 and pour it out into the world. 114 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:15,200 Just like we saw that, you know, in that story that the joy of the Lord leads us to want 115 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:18,040 to tell other people, hey, I'm joyful. 116 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:19,340 You should be joyful too. 117 00:08:19,340 --> 00:08:23,000 You can be joyful because what I have you can have as well. 118 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,960 That's sharing the gospel, plain and simple. 119 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:30,600 You know, our lives can be expressions of that but we also need to put that in action. 120 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,920 We need to deliberately tell people about it. 121 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:40,480 And you know, people who are so bold to constantly do that, it's such an inspiration to me to 122 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:46,160 be honest that, you know, they never disconnect from that joy that they have and that strength 123 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:53,200 that they have and that, you know, that willing, that heart of God to want to tell others that 124 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,680 that joy that I have that belongs to you. 125 00:08:56,680 --> 00:09:02,520 And you know, to be honest, that's also in my personal experience when I try to share 126 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:03,520 the gospel. 127 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:09,400 I always say that, you know, my life is going to be a picture of that. 128 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:15,640 And especially when there's access for me to do that with people, with my friends, I 129 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:17,760 say, look, I will share. 130 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:22,200 I will share this one time and I will tell them about it. 131 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:24,080 And what they receive is what they receive. 132 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:25,080 They know my number. 133 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:26,480 They know where to find me. 134 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:34,120 But my life will be an expression of the gospel and an expression of the joy of the Lord. 135 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:43,340 And you know, if it turns into a debate, if it turns into some kind of just back and forth 136 00:09:43,340 --> 00:09:48,660 intellectual discussion, to be honest, I cut it off and I say, listen, what I experience 137 00:09:48,660 --> 00:09:54,320 on a daily basis, I just want for you to experience it one time. 138 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:55,320 That is it. 139 00:09:55,320 --> 00:10:02,520 And that's going back to allowing the joy of the Lord to work in my life and, you know, 140 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:05,780 to then help me draw things out to work in their lives. 141 00:10:05,780 --> 00:10:07,680 So I want to go back to... 142 00:10:07,680 --> 00:10:13,280 You know, someone asked me, once they said, well, what do I say if someone presents, you 143 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:17,320 know, this argument about the gospel? 144 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,000 What does the Bible say? 145 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,760 I don't argue with people at all. 146 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:24,840 Just tell them what the Bible says. 147 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:29,680 People argue with the Bible all they want, but no one can argue with me because I'm just 148 00:10:29,680 --> 00:10:30,680 not... 149 00:10:30,680 --> 00:10:32,920 I'm not going to participate in that. 150 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:34,600 We never want to win arguments. 151 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:40,200 That's why I love Alpha, which is starting in just a couple of weeks. 152 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,860 And Alpha, we don't try to win arguments. 153 00:10:42,860 --> 00:10:45,400 We just want to win people. 154 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,140 That's right. 155 00:10:47,140 --> 00:10:54,440 So let's go back to the second scripture that I want us to talk about, which is James chapter 156 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:57,000 one, verses two through to four. 157 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:01,920 I'm going to read this and we can just add some light to this. 158 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:09,460 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing 159 00:11:09,460 --> 00:11:12,560 of your faith produces patience. 160 00:11:12,560 --> 00:11:20,680 And let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 161 00:11:20,680 --> 00:11:24,960 So here there's a picture of things coming your way. 162 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:29,720 How do you respond to it so that you can get to the other side? 163 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:33,540 So that we are perfect and complete. 164 00:11:33,540 --> 00:11:39,760 So perfect means complete, you know, and we lack nothing. 165 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:44,080 So everything that's missing, everything that's not right, that changes. 166 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:45,200 How do we get to that place? 167 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:48,360 And we see a few things here. 168 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:51,860 Joy, so count it all joy. 169 00:11:51,860 --> 00:12:01,240 And then we talk about faith and we talk about patience, having their perfect work. 170 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:04,440 But it all starts with joy, you know, count it all joy. 171 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:13,920 So this count it all joy, this actively rejoice is an expression or it's a command when things 172 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:15,420 are not right. 173 00:12:15,420 --> 00:12:17,760 It's not really a command of when things are right. 174 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:23,700 Like Pastor Matt said last week, which I really enjoyed, you know, you rejoice when things 175 00:12:23,700 --> 00:12:27,680 are bad, but you can be happy when things turn around, right? 176 00:12:27,680 --> 00:12:34,080 Because happiness is an emotional response to an outward circumstance. 177 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:41,640 And we have to count it all joy when things are bad so that there is power in the response, 178 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:43,840 the faith response to turn those things around. 179 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:49,000 Laura, do you have any opportunities to count things joy? 180 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:51,600 Of course. 181 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:58,160 What you were saying about the first week we were talking about our nature, God never 182 00:12:58,160 --> 00:12:59,160 changes. 183 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:00,160 We know that. 184 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:04,640 His nature is joy and His nature is in us. 185 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:08,800 We have joy and also God is so generous. 186 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:14,760 So when we see the verses about rejoicing with others, about others, it's because our 187 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:18,840 nature is to be generous and rejoice with others. 188 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:21,640 And I just love that. 189 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:28,160 And no matter what happens around you, this joy is always with you and you intentionally 190 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:33,880 keep it and grow it because no one can change their nature. 191 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,520 Whatever they do, the joy will be there forever. 192 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:38,000 Yeah, just love that. 193 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:44,240 So I, you know, at the beginning of when I met Laura, I used to always just joke with 194 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:46,120 her like, why are you always smiling? 195 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:47,120 Stop smiling. 196 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:50,560 And obviously that's, you know, that's a joke. 197 00:13:50,560 --> 00:13:53,320 I would never encourage you in real life to stop smiling. 198 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:57,280 That's why we're doing a whole month on joy. 199 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:03,040 But it's just because every time I see Laura, there's something in her that can't be contained 200 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:04,040 in her. 201 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:07,120 There's always something in her that shows up on her face. 202 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:13,280 You know, so, so out of a joke, I say that, but, but that is true. 203 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:18,840 I mean, if you met Laura, you, you would think there's not a problem in her life, not a problem 204 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:25,880 around her, not a problem in anything that, that is, that is going on to do with Laura, 205 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:30,080 that she lives in the world just as you and I live in the world. 206 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:31,080 Right? 207 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:32,080 Yes. 208 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:33,080 That's true. 209 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:39,080 The, the verse here in James that you read, the passage is something that we should really 210 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:41,440 pay attention to. 211 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:47,880 Like I said, the spiritual response to problems is to rejoice. 212 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:51,560 And James, he calls, he says there, count it joy. 213 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:54,080 That's how the passage starts, count it joy. 214 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:58,960 So if I have to count something, it means maybe it's not just automatically, I'm not 215 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:06,680 going to automatically recognize it as, ah, this is something that my emotions would treat 216 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,760 as happiness. 217 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:18,560 But look at the way it ends in, in verse four, lacking nothing. 218 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:22,000 So work backwards, lacking nothing. 219 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:23,600 Does that sound good? 220 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:26,320 Or let me ask it a different way. 221 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,800 Is there something that you can point, point your finger to right now in your life and 222 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:32,440 say, this is lacking. 223 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:36,080 There's something that, that needs development there. 224 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:46,200 I need to receive more in this area, whether it's relationships, maybe it's an area of 225 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:55,400 development in character, maybe it's, ah, finances, whatever it is, if there is a thing 226 00:15:55,400 --> 00:16:02,960 in your life that you can point to as lack, take this as a starting place and work backwards. 227 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:03,960 Work backwards. 228 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:04,960 What do I mean work backwards? 229 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:11,080 Well, just right there in verse four, it says, if I'm going to be in a place of lacking nothing, 230 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:18,040 then I need to do something about patience, patience, having a work of completion. 231 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:19,040 Hmm. 232 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:20,040 What is, what is that? 233 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:28,760 The, the, oh, this is something about the, the testing or proving of my faith. 234 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:33,920 And then I get to verse two, count it joy. 235 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:40,880 If I want to get to the place where I lack nothing, then I don't need to wait until I 236 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:42,080 lack nothing. 237 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:44,140 I need to do something. 238 00:16:44,140 --> 00:16:45,840 What is it that I need to do? 239 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:56,040 I need to start counting things as joy or like Paul in the letter to the church in Philippi, 240 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:57,880 I just rejoice. 241 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,480 I rejoice at all times. 242 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:05,440 I rejoice in and under any circumstance. 243 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:06,440 Why? 244 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:13,600 Because the word of God will not fail, cannot fail and God's promises to me are true. 245 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:19,740 The Bible says that the Lord is able to make all grace abound toward me. 246 00:17:19,740 --> 00:17:21,800 We shouted about that all summer long. 247 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:22,800 Yes. 248 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:24,200 Well, that passage is still true today. 249 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:25,200 Yep. 250 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:30,600 And so despite what circumstances might try to convince me otherwise, if I can find lack 251 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:36,280 in my life, all I have to do is work backwards to verse two and start saying, ah, here's 252 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:39,880 an opportunity for me to count this joy. 253 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:46,800 And I'll know if I count it joy by what I do, those expressions of joy. 254 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:54,080 So a great response, a spiritual response to problems is to rejoice. 255 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:55,560 Amen. 256 00:17:55,560 --> 00:18:04,280 Our main scripture, the one Thessalonians 5, 16, the short verse, rejoice always. 257 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:05,280 Always. 258 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:10,600 And it's not tied to anything if you're happy, if everything is fine. 259 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:11,840 That's it. 260 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:14,320 Rejoice always, no matter what. 261 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:16,880 Rejoice always, full stop. 262 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:17,880 Yes. 263 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:21,880 If you're unsure what that looks like, do what Lara does. 264 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:23,600 Yes. 265 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:33,080 I do want to add something to this that Peter says in 1 Peter chapter one verses eight and 266 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:34,440 nine. 267 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:39,360 He says this, though you have not seen him, you love him. 268 00:18:39,360 --> 00:18:45,900 Though now you do not see him, yet believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full 269 00:18:45,900 --> 00:18:46,960 of glory. 270 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:50,080 So we go back to what we were talking about last week. 271 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:52,440 Yet believing you rejoice. 272 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:58,840 So in believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. 273 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:06,440 So joy inexpressible manifests in very ugly ways sometimes or whatever you want to, ugly 274 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:11,320 in terms of what it looks like, not what is going on in you. 275 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:18,920 But verse nine says this, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 276 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:22,800 So because we believe, we rejoice. 277 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:27,360 And because we rejoice, we receive the end of our faith. 278 00:19:27,360 --> 00:19:33,200 So joy is the strength of the Lord in any situation. 279 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:41,600 And it is an outworking of our faith, but it is also the thing that gets us from believing 280 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:47,120 to receiving according to what Peter just said right here. 281 00:19:47,120 --> 00:19:51,520 So let's dig into this a little bit. 282 00:19:51,520 --> 00:20:00,840 One of the things about Bible interpretation is to see who is speaking and then to understand 283 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:02,920 who is being spoken to. 284 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:09,800 We understand that the Word of God is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and so we say that the 285 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:14,340 Word of God is God speaking to me. 286 00:20:14,340 --> 00:20:23,160 I want to dig into this letter that Peter wrote, this verse here, joy, inexpressible 287 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:25,400 joy. 288 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:35,160 In the translation that I have is joy unspeakable and full of glory. 289 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:44,880 Well yeah, the Christians in Peter's ministry had great joy because of course Peter was 290 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:51,280 their minister and pastor, and they didn't have any problems, right? 291 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:55,080 I mean, because their pastor was one of the twelve pastors. 292 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:56,080 What's wrong with Pastor Matt? 293 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:57,080 I don't know. 294 00:20:57,080 --> 00:20:58,080 That's a Julie. 295 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:01,280 But look, back up. 296 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:04,240 Who did Peter write this letter to? 297 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:11,400 Verse one, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the foreigners that have been scattered 298 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:19,000 throughout Pontius, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. 299 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:25,680 Peter wrote this epistle under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and it applies to the 300 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:32,180 church in Beirut, but he wrote it to those who had been scattered. 301 00:21:32,180 --> 00:21:34,640 What do you mean scattered? 302 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:47,520 Rome came in and destroyed the city of Jerusalem, and there were many people that fled for their 303 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:59,360 life, and they actually went to regions of what is today central modern-day Turkey. 304 00:21:59,360 --> 00:22:07,800 We have actually visited some of these places in Cappadocia where Christians made caves 305 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:14,580 and lived in the side of hills. 306 00:22:14,580 --> 00:22:24,880 These were the people that Peter said, whom having not seen you love. 307 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:33,880 So despite the fact that they had lost their homes, businesses, and moved to a different 308 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:38,840 region in spite of that. 309 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:40,320 Because of destruction? 310 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:44,100 Because of destruction, because of natural circumstances. 311 00:22:44,100 --> 00:22:48,560 Talk about a bad situation. 312 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:55,800 They were still in a place of confident expectation that Jesus is Lord, that God's promises are 313 00:22:55,800 --> 00:23:06,320 true, and they are experiencing joy that cannot be expressed in words. 314 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:16,440 I think we can make it with, you know, AC. 315 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:25,160 My point is here we have an example where the natural circumstances were bad, and in 316 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:29,320 those natural circumstances believers are doing what? 317 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:30,520 Counting it all joy. 318 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:32,560 What happens when they count it all joy? 319 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:33,940 They receive. 320 00:23:33,940 --> 00:23:35,960 What happens when they count it all joy? 321 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:40,940 They move into a place of lacking nothing. 322 00:23:40,940 --> 00:23:43,280 Everybody would like to receive. 323 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:48,800 Everybody wants to be in a place of lacking nothing, but there are too few of us that 324 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:56,720 are willing to count it joy and act like the word of God is true and rejoice now without 325 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:58,160 having seen. 326 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:01,360 That's so powerful the way he says it. 327 00:24:01,360 --> 00:24:08,120 In verse 7 it says, the trial of your faith being much more precious than gold that perishes, 328 00:24:08,120 --> 00:24:12,700 though it be tried with fire, might be found unto the praise and honor and glory at the 329 00:24:12,700 --> 00:24:14,320 appearing of Jesus. 330 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:21,920 Jesus, the one that you have not seen, you love, in whom though now you don't see him, 331 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:24,440 yet believing, you rejoice. 332 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:26,100 You rejoice. 333 00:24:26,100 --> 00:24:30,220 And what happens when we rejoice of the thing that we do not see? 334 00:24:30,220 --> 00:24:34,520 We see it. 335 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:38,920 That works 2000 years ago, and it works today. 336 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:40,280 It works for Laura. 337 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:42,280 It'll work for you. 338 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:44,360 Praise God. 339 00:24:44,360 --> 00:24:46,760 Praise God. 340 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:53,840 I also want to point out that a scripture in Psalm 35 verse 27, which is one of my favorite 341 00:24:53,840 --> 00:25:01,560 scriptures, I would probably say that about half of the Bible, to be fair. 342 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:07,360 But here the psalmist is saying, let them shout for joy and be glad who favor my righteous 343 00:25:07,360 --> 00:25:11,760 cause and let them say continually, let the Lord be magnified. 344 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:16,760 Because he takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. 345 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:20,000 Let me turn this into New Testament language of his son. 346 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:22,040 He takes pleasure in my prosperity. 347 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:27,280 The fact is that that was not written at a time when the psalmist was enjoying prosperity. 348 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:31,840 It was not written at a time where he was enjoying great success. 349 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:38,360 Because that word prosperity can also be translated as success. 350 00:25:38,360 --> 00:25:43,920 But what he does say, what he starts with is, let them shout for joy and be glad. 351 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:44,920 Yeah. 352 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:51,800 So at a time when the natural circumstances appeared the opposite, he rejoiced and shouted 353 00:25:51,800 --> 00:26:01,240 about something that was true because he knows who he is. 354 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:10,160 People that live their life out here in the earth sad and somber and just full of just 355 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:18,920 heaviness are going to really have an adjustment in heaven because heaven is not like that 356 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:19,920 at all. 357 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:21,400 And his presence is fullness. 358 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:22,400 Fullness of joy. 359 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:24,720 They say, he's not like that. 360 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:27,000 He's not just sad and somber and angry. 361 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:28,920 He laughs, he sings. 362 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:30,200 This is who he is. 363 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:32,760 That's why kids love to be around Jesus. 364 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:35,120 It's just who he is. 365 00:26:35,120 --> 00:26:37,840 Imagine you're sitting there and he's like, come here, come here. 366 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:40,000 Let me sing a song over you. 367 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:41,640 Let me rejoice over you. 368 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:43,520 Don't get embarrassed because it's going to happen. 369 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:45,520 Just get ready. 370 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:46,520 Praise God. 371 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:49,040 It's amazing. 372 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:56,320 So reading Proverbs 17 verse 22 in the light of what we just have seen and what we just 373 00:26:56,320 --> 00:27:03,080 received, it says this, a merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries 374 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:04,440 the bones. 375 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:06,160 This is not just an expression. 376 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:07,680 This is the fact. 377 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:08,720 This is the truth. 378 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:12,040 When we rejoice, we're making room. 379 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:19,440 Our Christmas gift this year to Go Church is a prescription to the very best medicine. 380 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:22,200 And that is laughter. 381 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:24,520 A merry heart. 382 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:25,680 Start laughing. 383 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:29,360 Even if you don't feel like it, because you don't feel like it, when you don't feel like 384 00:27:29,360 --> 00:27:35,600 it, especially when you don't feel like it, especially when it doesn't look like it, laugh 385 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:37,960 because the Bible is true. 386 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:45,840 And it moves us into a place where we lack nothing and we receive what we do not see. 387 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:47,080 It's not ho ho ho. 388 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:49,080 It's ha ha ha. 389 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:51,360 That's exactly right. 390 00:27:51,360 --> 00:27:52,360 That's exactly right. 391 00:27:52,360 --> 00:27:53,360 I love it. 392 00:27:53,360 --> 00:27:54,360 That's amazing. 393 00:27:54,360 --> 00:27:55,360 I love it. 394 00:27:55,360 --> 00:27:56,360 I love it. 395 00:27:56,360 --> 00:27:57,360 Praise God. 396 00:27:57,360 --> 00:28:03,600 So let's take a step further and talk about something practical here. 397 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:05,960 How do I stir up joy? 398 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:09,700 So we said we're not, you know, we can't lose joy. 399 00:28:09,700 --> 00:28:11,960 All we can do is suppress it. 400 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:13,960 So how do we stir it up? 401 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:16,920 What if, you know, I don't, I don't feel joyful. 402 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:17,920 It seems really difficult. 403 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:20,800 I mean, we just, we just answered one of the most obvious things. 404 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:25,080 Just laugh, you know, get, get up and do something. 405 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:27,360 Act on what you believe. 406 00:28:27,360 --> 00:28:32,480 And that is so, so I have a couple of practical points that, you know, they really helped 407 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:38,800 me and they're, they're practical, but they're also scriptural, which is doing. 408 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:42,760 So the first thing I want to say is speaking the word of God. 409 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:47,000 So putting the word of God in my mouth, you know, sometimes if I don't, if I don't feel 410 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:52,000 right, sometimes, you know, my, my emotions are just like kind of nagging at me. 411 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:53,600 I'll do something a little weird. 412 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:59,280 I will stand in front of a mirror and I'll start talking the word of God to myself. 413 00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:04,600 You know, I'll do what, what the Psalmist and Psalm 42 and verse five, what he, what 414 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:07,840 he does, you know, he says, why are you cast down? 415 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:11,440 Oh, my soul, hope in God, keep your hope in God. 416 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:12,960 And I start talking to myself. 417 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:14,240 He's done too much for you. 418 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:15,880 Do you know what you have in you? 419 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:19,520 Do you know what he's expecting to do for you? 420 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:21,400 Do you know what he's trying to do in your life? 421 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:23,400 Do you understand how valuable you are? 422 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:28,280 And I just start talking the word of God to myself. 423 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:31,960 And I do want to say that that, that is scripture. 424 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:35,680 So let me, let me read Proverbs 15 verse 23. 425 00:29:35,680 --> 00:29:43,960 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth and a word spoken in due season, how good it is. 426 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:45,280 That's scripture. 427 00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:50,340 If I talk according to words of my mouth, I have joy. 428 00:29:50,340 --> 00:29:57,320 So if I'm speaking, I'm allowing the joy of the Lord to flow out of my belly into my life. 429 00:29:57,320 --> 00:29:59,440 And so that is the first thing I want to say. 430 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:04,360 Talk the word of God, you know, sit, sit someone down and start bragging about God. 431 00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:05,920 Do you know what God's done for me? 432 00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:07,400 Do you know what God's doing for you? 433 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:09,240 Do you understand how big he is? 434 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:11,680 Do you like, you start magnifying the Lord. 435 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:14,120 Everything else looks small in front of him. 436 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:15,120 Yeah. 437 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:18,160 So, and you're saying, let's take it a step further. 438 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:26,240 Let's, let's take this one practical step and, and let me ask, do you know someone right 439 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:34,720 now that if you're not in the, in the, the ready to rejoice on your own and shout at 440 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:43,560 yourself in the mirror, do you have someone you can call and say, hey, tell me, tell me 441 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:46,480 how blessed I am. 442 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:53,320 Do me a favor and remind me how healed I am. 443 00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:55,800 Do you have, can, can you think of that person? 444 00:30:55,800 --> 00:30:58,600 I hope they're in your grow group. 445 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:04,040 And then let me, let me take it as a step further. 446 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:08,600 Are you that person for someone else? 447 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:16,480 Do people know if I call Laura, I know, I know exactly what I'm going to get. 448 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:19,080 I'm going to get like a faith injection. 449 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:21,240 I'm going to get a rejoice injection. 450 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:24,240 I'm going to get a joy injection. 451 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:30,240 Or do they think, well, if I call this person, I'm going to hear, you know, like what this 452 00:31:30,240 --> 00:31:35,680 politician said, what this thing said, wonder what the Americans are going to do. 453 00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:38,960 Let me tell you something, speaking on behalf of America, nothing. 454 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:48,320 There, we're, we're not in charge of anything, but honestly, who are you to the people around 455 00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:49,320 you? 456 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:58,360 Are you the voice that encourages them, that says our key scripture, rejoice always? 457 00:31:58,360 --> 00:32:05,400 Or do you need to spend some time with someone that encourages you to rejoice? 458 00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:08,120 And what I would say is do both. 459 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:14,280 Know, know who to go to, to get that joy injection. 460 00:32:14,280 --> 00:32:15,280 Yeah. 461 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:20,040 And I'm speaking to all the faith friends who want to be faith friends. 462 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:22,400 Don't be a voice of condemnation. 463 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:26,120 Don't tell your friend three, four, five, 10 things that they haven't done. 464 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:28,800 And if they did, they wouldn't be in the position they're in. 465 00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:30,320 Be a voice of faith, right? 466 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:33,640 Be a voice of who God is, because God doesn't condemn us. 467 00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:34,640 So we don't condemn anyone. 468 00:32:34,640 --> 00:32:36,840 Like we don't put them in condemnation. 469 00:32:36,840 --> 00:32:42,240 We just tell them what God is trying to tell them all the time, which is I love you. 470 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:43,400 I did this for you. 471 00:32:43,400 --> 00:32:44,600 I have big plans for you. 472 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:45,760 I'm taking you further. 473 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:47,440 I don't want you in a bad position. 474 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:49,080 I don't want you here. 475 00:32:49,080 --> 00:32:50,600 I want you there. 476 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:53,400 And this is what we do as faith friends. 477 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:58,920 You know, another, another point I just want to talk about in terms of something practical, 478 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:01,960 which is how do I stir up joy in humility? 479 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:02,960 Yeah. 480 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:10,160 So Psalm 118, there's, there's a verse which says, you know, this is the day that the Lord 481 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:11,160 has made. 482 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:12,160 I will be glad. 483 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:14,600 I will rejoice in it. 484 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:19,920 Does that, like Laura was saying, does that include when the day is sunny or when things 485 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:20,920 are good? 486 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:28,760 No, it's rejoicing in the fact that I recognize God in this more than I recognize problems 487 00:33:28,760 --> 00:33:34,000 in this more than I recognize, you know, the weight of my issues in this. 488 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:36,020 No, I recognize God in this. 489 00:33:36,020 --> 00:33:38,680 So I will rejo, I will humble myself. 490 00:33:38,680 --> 00:33:43,040 Humble myself is get over my emotions, get over the fact that, you know, I look good 491 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:49,080 when I sulk, you know, over, over getting the, getting over this idea that, you know, 492 00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:52,440 what are people going to think of me if I rejoice and things are going bad? 493 00:33:52,440 --> 00:33:54,280 Like they'll think this and they'll think that. 494 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:55,520 Yeah, that's, that's fine. 495 00:33:55,520 --> 00:33:56,560 No, who cares? 496 00:33:56,560 --> 00:34:05,720 You know, the, the fact is we humble ourselves before the Lord because we know who he is. 497 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:11,360 Yeah, we might not see it now, but we know who he is and we know what he's trying to 498 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:12,360 do. 499 00:34:12,360 --> 00:34:13,360 So I will rejoice in that. 500 00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:15,880 I will actively get over myself. 501 00:34:15,880 --> 00:34:21,880 This is, I know that this doesn't sound logical, but this is a practical element, practical 502 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:22,880 element. 503 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:26,040 Number one, talk to myself, talk to someone else who's going to inject me with the word 504 00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:27,040 of God. 505 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:33,560 And number two, actively get over yourself, actively humble yourself. 506 00:34:33,560 --> 00:34:38,640 Remind yourself that God is bigger and greater than any problem you're facing. 507 00:34:38,640 --> 00:34:39,640 That's right. 508 00:34:39,640 --> 00:34:40,640 That's right. 509 00:34:40,640 --> 00:34:42,040 Praise God. 510 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:48,680 I know that we're running longer than we have this month in our, you know, in this podcast. 511 00:34:48,680 --> 00:34:52,600 I wish I could say this is because it's a Christmas special, but the reality is there's 512 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:56,040 just so much that we want to talk about. 513 00:34:56,040 --> 00:35:02,680 And as we get to the end of this podcast, there are, there's just one more thing I want 514 00:35:02,680 --> 00:35:08,480 to talk about, which is the need to exercise joy in order to go. 515 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:13,800 And this is something that Pastor Matt shared in that first story, that first illustration 516 00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:16,320 at the beginning of this podcast. 517 00:35:16,320 --> 00:35:20,920 And I want to point this out in scripture and this stood out to me and I just saw this 518 00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:30,280 recently, honestly, but in, in Matthew 28 in verse nine and 10, when, when Jesus appears 519 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:36,640 to the women who come to the tomb, this is the first time that Jesus is seen after the 520 00:35:36,640 --> 00:35:42,800 resurrection and the first time that he speaks according to the, according to the account 521 00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:44,720 of, of Matthew. 522 00:35:44,720 --> 00:35:49,880 The first thing that Jesus says is rejoice. 523 00:35:49,880 --> 00:35:51,720 That is the first thing he says. 524 00:35:51,720 --> 00:35:59,320 And some translations it's actually, you know, translated as hail or greetings, but the direct 525 00:35:59,320 --> 00:36:05,380 word is cheer or cheerful or be cheerful or rejoice, you know? 526 00:36:05,380 --> 00:36:11,040 So imagine that is the first thing that Jesus says rejoice because now there's something 527 00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:12,040 new that happened. 528 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:15,440 Now there is a, a new reality for you. 529 00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:16,440 Rejoice. 530 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:17,440 Hallelujah. 531 00:36:17,440 --> 00:36:18,440 That's so powerful. 532 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:20,840 That's so powerful to me that stood out to me so much. 533 00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:25,240 Honestly, it's like this word just came off the page and slapped me in the face. 534 00:36:25,240 --> 00:36:26,240 Just rejoice. 535 00:36:26,240 --> 00:36:27,240 It was amazing. 536 00:36:27,240 --> 00:36:28,240 That's a good slap. 537 00:36:28,240 --> 00:36:30,680 Yeah, it's a great slap. 538 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:35,040 And verse 10, the next things he said is do not be afraid. 539 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:38,560 And then he says, go, go and tell. 540 00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:40,840 But first thing he says is rejoice. 541 00:36:40,840 --> 00:36:43,960 So, so there's something that we need. 542 00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:48,360 Like this is, this is something that will actively strengthen our ability to go out 543 00:36:48,360 --> 00:36:54,120 and share the gospel and share the light of the gospel. 544 00:36:54,120 --> 00:36:59,840 Not only the words, not only the story, but the light and the life of the gospel, because 545 00:36:59,840 --> 00:37:06,200 we share that when we put on joy, when we actively rejoice, when we live in the joy 546 00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:07,560 of the Lord. 547 00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:09,560 Praise God. 548 00:37:09,560 --> 00:37:10,560 That's so good. 549 00:37:10,560 --> 00:37:11,560 Yeah. 550 00:37:11,560 --> 00:37:14,280 It got me so excited when I saw that. 551 00:37:14,280 --> 00:37:15,280 Rejoice. 552 00:37:15,280 --> 00:37:20,280 The first thing, you know, we always talk about the great commission and this is it. 553 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:21,280 This is it. 554 00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:22,760 Like this is the first thing he says. 555 00:37:22,760 --> 00:37:23,760 Rejoice. 556 00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:26,160 That's part of the great commission really. 557 00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:29,480 You know, so, yeah. 558 00:37:29,480 --> 00:37:34,240 So the final thing I want to say is I just want to point us to the Bible illustration 559 00:37:34,240 --> 00:37:39,880 that we're going to be talking about in our Grow Groups this week. 560 00:37:39,880 --> 00:37:40,880 It is Christmas. 561 00:37:40,880 --> 00:37:41,880 It's the week of Christmas. 562 00:37:41,880 --> 00:37:49,080 We've been celebrating together with our families, with our church family, and we don't, you 563 00:37:49,080 --> 00:37:51,760 know, we want to keep talking about the Christmas story. 564 00:37:51,760 --> 00:37:57,340 We're going to keep talking about joy in the Christmas story. 565 00:37:57,340 --> 00:38:03,320 And so I want to point us to two passages of scripture that I would invite everyone 566 00:38:03,320 --> 00:38:11,440 to read through and really keep your glasses on to see the words joy, rejoice. 567 00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:15,280 Someone who gets up and shouts really loud, praises God. 568 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:16,560 Keep those glasses on. 569 00:38:16,560 --> 00:38:19,080 And so the passages are this. 570 00:38:19,080 --> 00:38:28,720 So first passage is Matthew chapter two, verses one through to 11 and Luke chapter one, verse 571 00:38:28,720 --> 00:38:33,680 39, all the way through to chapter two, verse 40. 572 00:38:33,680 --> 00:38:37,200 I encourage everyone to read those and look at different stories. 573 00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:41,960 And what you will notice that there are many different people around the Christmas story 574 00:38:41,960 --> 00:38:48,800 who get a revelation of the hope that is born that day and who respond in a certain way. 575 00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:55,320 And that way is joy. 576 00:38:55,320 --> 00:39:01,360 I love so many of these, you know, the shepherds. 577 00:39:01,360 --> 00:39:09,480 One of my favorites, the shepherds rejoice and they run in and see the newborn babe, 578 00:39:09,480 --> 00:39:15,400 but they know about it because the angels are rejoicing. 579 00:39:15,400 --> 00:39:21,800 And one day I was reading that and I thought, you know, the angels didn't decide, hey, these 580 00:39:21,800 --> 00:39:30,960 few shepherds, they probably need some, some just a special Christmas choir song. 581 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:38,280 All of heaven had been aimed at this one point. 582 00:39:38,280 --> 00:39:42,040 And so all of heaven is rejoicing. 583 00:39:42,040 --> 00:39:47,860 And here over these shepherds that are keeping watch over the night, do you know what they 584 00:39:47,860 --> 00:39:51,200 were watching over? 585 00:39:51,200 --> 00:40:00,200 They were watching over the lambs that were for Passover. 586 00:40:00,200 --> 00:40:11,000 And they, they got the news that the lamb that Abraham had said that the Lord would 587 00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:17,480 prepare was ready. 588 00:40:17,480 --> 00:40:18,480 He's so good. 589 00:40:18,480 --> 00:40:19,480 Yeah, he is. 590 00:40:19,480 --> 00:40:20,480 Praise God. 591 00:40:20,480 --> 00:40:21,480 Praise God. 592 00:40:21,480 --> 00:40:22,480 Praise so good. 593 00:40:22,480 --> 00:40:32,280 Simeon and Anna, you know, these are, these are two people we know very little about except 594 00:40:32,280 --> 00:40:44,280 that they gave their life in praying like champions for the plan of God. 595 00:40:44,280 --> 00:40:52,240 There are people, there are people that you and I, we haven't met yet, but they have prayed 596 00:40:52,240 --> 00:41:01,360 for the ministry that Go Church Beirut is doing in Lebanon. 597 00:41:01,360 --> 00:41:04,160 Simeon and Anna, they prayed. 598 00:41:04,160 --> 00:41:10,360 And when they saw Jesus just as a baby, they rejoice. 599 00:41:10,360 --> 00:41:21,840 You got to read this for yourself and see the joy that comes from the place of faith 600 00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:27,880 and confidence that what God promised, He is well able to perform. 601 00:41:27,880 --> 00:41:28,880 Yeah. 602 00:41:28,880 --> 00:41:29,880 Yeah. 603 00:41:29,880 --> 00:41:37,560 What really stands out to me is how if you look at this from the outside, everyone's 604 00:41:37,560 --> 00:41:40,760 rejoicing over a baby that was born. 605 00:41:40,760 --> 00:41:43,880 This isn't the first baby that was born on earth. 606 00:41:43,880 --> 00:41:49,080 Of course, those who know the parents, those who know the family will rejoice. 607 00:41:49,080 --> 00:41:52,280 But the fact is so much more is happening. 608 00:41:52,280 --> 00:41:55,880 So much more is happening in this Christmas story than a baby being born. 609 00:41:55,880 --> 00:41:58,620 It's like we were talking at the beginning of the month. 610 00:41:58,620 --> 00:42:09,240 This is the hope of the reconciliation between God and the whole of humanity birthed that 611 00:42:09,240 --> 00:42:10,240 moment. 612 00:42:10,240 --> 00:42:11,240 Yeah. 613 00:42:11,240 --> 00:42:18,160 And those who saw that in the spirit, you can't help but to rejoice. 614 00:42:18,160 --> 00:42:20,520 You know, maybe you're listening to this podcast. 615 00:42:20,520 --> 00:42:22,480 Maybe you've been listening to the podcast all month. 616 00:42:22,480 --> 00:42:27,040 You found us on social media and you clicked on wanted to hear more. 617 00:42:27,040 --> 00:42:29,200 And you don't know what this joy is that we're talking about. 618 00:42:29,200 --> 00:42:33,560 And you don't understand what Gilbert just shared about, you know, this baby being the 619 00:42:33,560 --> 00:42:37,720 hope of humanity, bridging the gap between God and man. 620 00:42:37,720 --> 00:42:39,160 But you can. 621 00:42:39,160 --> 00:42:42,000 You can have this joy in your heart. 622 00:42:42,000 --> 00:42:47,560 And it's as easy, you know, in the Bible, it says in Romans chapter 10 verses nine and 623 00:42:47,560 --> 00:42:53,160 10, the Bible says that if you believe in your heart that Jesus died for you and was 624 00:42:53,160 --> 00:42:58,640 raised from the dead and you say Jesus is your Lord with your mouth, that you will be 625 00:42:58,640 --> 00:42:59,640 saved. 626 00:42:59,640 --> 00:43:01,480 You are safe from that moment. 627 00:43:01,480 --> 00:43:03,080 So it's not hard. 628 00:43:03,080 --> 00:43:04,080 It's not a big step. 629 00:43:04,080 --> 00:43:06,820 It's not something that's challenging for you to do. 630 00:43:06,820 --> 00:43:11,760 All you have to do is believe and confess Jesus as your Lord with your mouth. 631 00:43:11,760 --> 00:43:16,900 And you can have this joy activated in your life. 632 00:43:16,900 --> 00:43:19,200 You can have this confidence. 633 00:43:19,200 --> 00:43:24,720 And that excites me so much because we don't have to work hard to experience His unconditional 634 00:43:24,720 --> 00:43:26,080 love for us. 635 00:43:26,080 --> 00:43:27,080 It's just there. 636 00:43:27,080 --> 00:43:31,600 All we have to do is use our mouth to receive it. 637 00:43:31,600 --> 00:43:33,640 So go church family. 638 00:43:33,640 --> 00:43:40,120 As you're listening to the podcast this month, as you've heard about joy in love and joy 639 00:43:40,120 --> 00:43:47,960 in activation, I encourage you to share this joy with someone else. 640 00:43:47,960 --> 00:43:52,160 And if you're joining the podcast for the first time and you've never met any of us, 641 00:43:52,160 --> 00:43:55,600 join us in January for our Big Sunday Gathering, the second Sunday of the month. 642 00:43:55,600 --> 00:44:00,440 You'll get to meet Laura and Gilbert and Pastor Matt and myself at our Big Sunday Gathering 643 00:44:00,440 --> 00:44:03,200 because we are looking for you. 644 00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:09,280 We are excited to meet you and we're excited to hear how the joy of the Lord is your strength 645 00:44:09,280 --> 00:44:10,280 in your life. 646 00:44:10,280 --> 00:44:11,280 Amen. 647 00:44:11,280 --> 00:44:12,280 Amen. 648 00:44:12,280 --> 00:44:13,840 Praise God. 649 00:44:13,840 --> 00:44:16,640 Well, we love you. 650 00:44:16,640 --> 00:44:19,680 We want to wish you a very Merry Christmas. 651 00:44:19,680 --> 00:44:29,440 And I want to finish this podcast series with just this one passage from the epistle to 652 00:44:29,440 --> 00:44:30,440 the Hebrews. 653 00:44:30,440 --> 00:44:35,120 It's a New Testament epistle, New Testament book. 654 00:44:35,120 --> 00:44:40,480 It's a little different than the other epistles because it's actually a sermon. 655 00:44:40,480 --> 00:44:42,680 It's a written sermon. 656 00:44:42,680 --> 00:44:53,040 And Hebrews chapter two, verse 17, I am reading from the truth New Testament. 657 00:44:53,040 --> 00:45:00,680 So the literal rendering from the Greek says to accomplish this. 658 00:45:00,680 --> 00:45:02,240 What is this? 659 00:45:02,240 --> 00:45:08,360 The salvation, the plan of redemption, this thing that we've been talking about to accomplish 660 00:45:08,360 --> 00:45:14,720 this Jesus had to be made like us in every respect. 661 00:45:14,720 --> 00:45:21,560 He became our high priest, the one who offered the perfect sacrifice of himself to God, the 662 00:45:21,560 --> 00:45:28,760 merciful and faithful high priest who was obedient in his service to God. 663 00:45:28,760 --> 00:45:39,760 In this way, he made the act of redemption, remission, the forgiveness of sins, the act 664 00:45:39,760 --> 00:45:49,360 by which we are again made one with God because all of our sins are forgiven. 665 00:45:49,360 --> 00:45:55,560 To be the one who would act on our behalf, he had to be subjected to temptation just 666 00:45:55,560 --> 00:46:00,200 as we are, yet without sin. 667 00:46:00,200 --> 00:46:09,600 And now he is able to help us when we need to overcome temptation. 668 00:46:09,600 --> 00:46:22,320 God's gift to us, the Christmas gift is what he did for us in Jesus. 669 00:46:22,320 --> 00:46:34,080 And Jesus, he completed the plan of salvation, he completed the plan of God and he did it 670 00:46:34,080 --> 00:46:36,080 for us. 671 00:46:36,080 --> 00:46:40,840 And that is a reason to rejoice. 672 00:46:40,840 --> 00:46:44,360 That is a reason to be full of joy. 673 00:46:44,360 --> 00:46:52,480 This isn't just for the holiday season, but this is something to set ourselves for the 674 00:46:52,480 --> 00:47:04,080 new year and to be people of joy because we belong to him, we're his children and we're 675 00:47:04,080 --> 00:47:07,080 the fruit of his plan. 676 00:47:07,080 --> 00:47:12,080 And we love you and we look forward to seeing you in the new year. 677 00:47:12,080 --> 00:47:13,080 God bless you. 678 00:47:13,080 --> 00:47:16,920 Merry Christmas. 679 00:47:16,920 --> 00:47:18,760 Thank you for listening. 680 00:47:18,760 --> 00:47:22,920 Go Church Beirut is your place to love, grow and go. 681 00:47:22,920 --> 00:47:26,920 We want everyone to experience the unconditional love of God. 682 00:47:26,920 --> 00:47:31,600 Grow in his love and go with his love to the rest of the world. 683 00:47:31,600 --> 00:47:35,720 On behalf of the entire Go Church family, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy 684 00:47:35,720 --> 00:47:43,480 New Year.