Covenant Baptist Church
Sermon Guide for December 16, 2018
● Hope: the confident anticipation that good will come no matter the present circumstances.
● Peace: the inner sense of calm and rest rising out of hope in/from Jesus
● Joy…
Joy (Webster) – The emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires
11 Simple ways (according to the world) to find joy in everyday life – Success Magazine
1. Stop waiting to be happy
2. Add happiness to your life, right now
3. Make self-care part of your routine
4. Get in a joyful state of mind
5. Stop worrying
6. Appreciate small things
7. Surround yourself with positive people
8. Laugh more
9. Love more*
10. Find bliss in a bucket list
11. Plan your happiness
Can I be joyful when things aren’t well or when I am not successful/fortunate or when I don’t have any near prospect of getting what I hope to have?
Just what is this good news that brings great joy and is for all people?
Kingdom Joy: All surpassing joyfulness or delight in spite of everything else.
Great Joy: The Atmosphere of The Kingdom
● …for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17
● Life in the Kingdom of God is a life in which a deep surpassing joy remains in us in spite of contrary circumstances or even contrary emotions.
● Why is the announcement of Jesus birth and life in His Kingdom exceedingly joyful?
- A Savior was the ONLY option we had to rescue of from the penalty of death sin demanded.
This Savior – Jesus- truly saves. This Savior born that starry night in Bethlehem rescues and redeems us entirely.
That means our…
- Past
- Present
- Future
Receiving and Remaining
● Receiving Joy: Kingdom Joy is from Jesus not things or achievements or circumstances
● These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. John 15:11
● Remaining Joyful: Kingdom joy, because of its source, can remain in our lives regardless of what other circumstances or emotions exist at the same time.
● Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. 2 Corinthians 6:10 NLT
● If you keep My commandments, you will abide(remain) in My love; just as I have kept My Fathers’ commandments and abide in His love. John 15:10
“Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey!”
Kingdom Joy is received by a profound decision of faith and hope in the power of Jesus’ life and the perfection of Jesus’ love.
Going & Growing Soul Training Exercise:
Orient your mind to the Truth: Read and reflect on these verses. Begin to embed them into your soul by reading, reflecting and eventually memorizing them and making them a natural part of your thinking.
This Psalm reminds us to do life with Jesus – to trust Him and follow Him and some amazing things result:
You will make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16:11
This Psalm reminds us to do life with Jesus – to trust Him and follow Him and some amazing things result:
● He leads shows us the best way to live life.
● As we follow Him and learn to remain with Him, His contagious joy infects us.
...and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy and inexpressible and full of glory…1 Peter 1:8**
Peter reminds us not to let the non-physical nature of Jesus allow His immediate, joyful presence escape us. Dwell on the reality of Jesus with you. Let His perfect love settle in and take up residence in your thoughts and in your heart. As you believe in these ways, it will bring great , inexpressible, glorious joy.
