Tag Archives: Joy

April 8, 2024

The Lord’s Day Sermon Manuscript for March 31, 2024

By Jason

Here’s the link to download the manuscript if you are interested:

26e28094hebrews-10.32-39e28094living-in-light-of-the-coming-resurrection Download

Leave a comment | tags: Afflictions, Christ, Enduring Faith, Faith, Future Reward, Hebrews, Hebrews 10, Hope, Joy, Past Faithfulness, Perseverance, Present Struggle, resurrection, suffering, Trials | posted in Sermon Manuscripts

November 28, 2023

Daily Encouragement

By Jason

It seems I notice more and more our faith in Christ becoming visible through gladly obeying Christ’s commands each time I read the Scriptures. Today, John chapter 13 ends in that way.

John 13:34-35

[34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. [35] By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

As you might know, Jesus is beginning his farewell to his disciples. Obviously everything Jesus says is important but this is the first thing he says which gives it an added emphasis.

To circle back to what he said might bring up a question—what’s new about the commandment? If we compare this commandment with loving your neighbor as yourself then we can easily spot the difference. Jesus has raised the standard of love to say—love each other the way I have loved you. These disciples have seen how he loved them and others for nearly 3 years.

His ultimate display of love is wrapped up in the farewell. He knows that he is about to lay down his life for them. He asks his disciples to do the same for each other. Why? Well, the way we know Jesus loved us was clearly displayed on the cross. So too if we lay down our lives for each other then ALL MEN will know that we are Christ’s disciples.

Of course laying down your life for each other will not likely mean physical death though it’s possible. But it most certainly means that we are dying to self. It means we are gladly serving others and their needs not just ourselves.

This extraordinary love has massive implications in the world. To make Jesus known comes not only through word but also deed. When we focus on and believe in how Christ has loved us—his enemies who are tax collectors and sinners—then we should not find it so difficult to love each other.

Go make Jesus known! Know him and make him known!

Leave a comment | tags: Abiding, encouragement, Faith, Holy Spirit, Hope, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Joy, Love, Mercy, Peace, Perseverance, Redemption, The Glory of God, Waiting | posted in Daily Exhortations and Encouragements

November 25, 2023

Daily Encouragement

By Jason

This is a particular encouragement to do something regularly. Sometimes the encouragement is to believe a particular truth about God or be reminded of them. Certainly, there are truths that make this action something we should be encouraged to do but the focus is on God’s response to the thing we ought to do. And upon seeing how God responds that just might encourage you to do it with gladness.

As I near the end of the great book of Daniel, I noticed something I had not previously seen. The book of Daniel shows the people of God in a very favorable light. If Daniel and his three friends are representatives of how Israel trusts and obeys the Lord under dire circumstances then you might wonder why they are in exile at all.

However in chapter 9, Daniel prays a prayer of confession. However favorable we saw the people of God is now made clear and the exile makes very good sense. Obviously, this is already clear from Jeremiah which is the backstory to Daniel.

The first 19 verses of chapter 9 are the beginning words of the confession. However in verse 20, while he’s confessing, a familiar visitor comes to see Daniel. It says this—Daniel 9:20-23

[20] While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the LORD my God for the holy hill of my God, [21] while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. [22] He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. [23] At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.

You can hear the setup—while I was praying. We don’t know why until the visitor, Gabriel tells him (and us) there in 23. What he’s saying is, this is how God responded when you started confessing. The word went out and I was sent to speak with you.

Now you might be thinking, God isn’t likely to send Gabriel to see me when I confess my sins. Maybe not but why is there any need of that? Is that the motive to confess? God already knows AND he commands us to confess. We have offended the Holy God of the universe! We ought to confess!

Well, we have the Holy Spirit indwelling in us! We have something greater than Daniel! However notice that before confession, Daniel was troubled and confused about the visions he had seen. But upon confessing his sins, Gabriel is sent to explain them.

Some of our confusion with God’s word is not our lack of effort but rather our lack of repentance. However, don’t miss the point of the encouragement. God loves his people and responds to them quickly and gives them aid! Be encouraged to confess even if there is no obvious return because God hears you and forgives!

Leave a comment | tags: Abiding, Believing, Christ, Confess, encouragement, Faith, Grace, Holy Spirit, Hope, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Joy, Love, Perseverance, Prayer, praying, Repentance, resurrection, Sin, sovereign, The Glory of God | posted in Daily Exhortations and Encouragements

October 12, 2023

Daily Encouragement

By Jason

I suppose this is a simple encouragement but I hope helpful nonetheless. James ends with a list of things as do several of the NT letters. He begins that list like this…

James 5:13

[13] Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

I’ve often wondered what a service like this would look like. It seems as though it’s in the context of the gathering. How do you decide who is to pray? Anyone among the body who is suffering. Who sings? Anyone among the body who is cheerful.

Obviously, there are other places where order is demanded and rightly so. But where does this fit in? And did you notice, we often pray for those who suffer and we should. But here the one suffering ought to pray. The one who is to sing is one who’s of good courage not the one most talented in musical skills.

Maybe this isn’t meant to be something done in the assembly. Nevertheless, we ought to pray when we suffer and not merely leave it to someone else. When we are cheerful we ought to sing praises to the Lord and not just enjoy our own cheerfulness as though we have obtained it on our own.

Prayer and praise are fundamental responses of the believer! We are going to suffer and we are going to be cheerful. Let’s spend them on godward things not ourselves.

Leave a comment | tags: Abiding, cheerful, encouragement, Faith, Grace, Hope, James, Joy, Opposition, Perseverance, Prayer, praying, singing, suffering | posted in Daily Exhortations and Encouragements

October 6, 2023

Daily Encouragement

By Jason

Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

As I was preparing for our Wednesday night study in Proverbs, one of the phrases that we did not get to was the one above from Proverbs 3:7. So, fearing the Lord in part is turning away from that which God says is evil. The wise see God’s instruction as good and life-giving.

As I was reading Ecclesiastes this morning, the Preacher says this:

Ecclesiastes 4:13

Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice.

As we know from Proverbs, the wise become wiser by continually seeking to gladly walk in God’s amazing ways. To be wise does not mean there’s nothing else for us to learn. While it may be that you know God’s ways, it’s another thing to do them and apply them to every situation that is thrown at you in life all of your days.

As we get older as the passage from Ecclesiastes points out concerning the youth and old, even the aged can be foolish. Old age does not guarantee wisdom. Indeed, there are temptations for us all. But in particular, those advanced in years tend to think they need no further instruction nor any need to grow. That’s just not true.

But don’t miss the great value spoken of concerning wisdom: it’s better to be poor and wise than foolish and king (powerful and wealthy). If God’s good ways are not valuable to you then you will likely find yourself thinking you are wise in your own eyes which is a dangerous place to be.

Seek the good in your youth and when you are advanced in years. Seek wisdom no matter the current outcome. Do what is right no matter the cost. In other words, trust in Christ and follow him and you will save your soul forever.

Leave a comment | tags: Abiding, encouragement, Faith, following, foolishness, God, Grace, Humility, Jesus Christ, Joy, obeying gladly, old, Perseverance, poor, Proverbs, trusting, wealthy, Wisdom, youth | posted in Daily Exhortations and Encouragements

September 28, 2023

Daily Encouragement

By Jason

Psalm 20 has an interesting arrangement. It doesn’t follow the pattern of many psalms. It begins with a series of blessings. Its focus is on the King—the king of Psalm 2 to be sure.

From the promise of Gen 3:15 to 2 Samuel 7:16, the Lord fulfilled his promise for this child who would crush the head of the serpent as God’s Anointed! It seems impossible for those promises to be fulfilled. Each promise seemed to be in jeopardy from the wickedness of Judah to the line of David nearly being snuffed out.

As the psalm seems to acknowledge, troubles came and God answered the pleas and protected the King. All of God’s plans were fulfilled according to verse 4.

This brought about a salvation in which it must be celebrated. The streets are filled with shouts of joy. Like a victory in battle, they parade through the city with banners!

Indeed, it is a battle of sorts. One that cannot be won by mighty horses and iron chariots. They cannot be trusted but it is the Lord we trust.

Psalm 20:7–9

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright.
O Lord, save the king!
May he answer us when we call.

You will have need of calling on the Lord today. He’s worthy and capable to answer.

1 Comment | tags: encouragement, faithfulness, Joy, King, Prayer, Promises, Psalm 20, Psalms, suffering, The Anointed | posted in Daily Exhortations and Encouragements

September 26, 2023

Daily Encouragement

By Jason

This was an observation and a continuation from yesterday’s encouragement.

After Jesus sought his scattered disciples and gave them evidence of his resurrection he gives them even more—understanding of God’s Word.

Luke 24:45-46

[45] Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, [46] and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.

The resurrection of Christ resulted in the new exodus…the new creation. The result of understanding how all that fit together and what they should do in light of it is further evidence not of just the living Savior but the living Word.

—Repentance and forgiveness was to be proclaimed to all nations.

—The promise of the Holy Spirit was coming.

—They worshipped Jesus (instead of hiding).

—They gladly obeyed as they returned to Jerusalem to wait on the promise.

—And they returned with great joy!

This is what happened when they understood the Word. May the Lord open our eyes to understand his word and resurrection and may it have the same effect on us.

Leave a comment | tags: Christ, encouragement, Faith, Grace, Humility, Jesus, Joy, Luke, praying, resurrection, The Glory of God, Waiting | posted in Daily Exhortations and Encouragements