Title: True Joy
2011.1.16 Sunday morning worship service
Bible: Acts 5:40-42
Title: True Joy
Acts 5:40-42 ‘40. When they found it right, they called the apostles and whipped them, and forbade them to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. 41 The apostles departed from the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy of reproach for his name's sake, 42. Day after day, whether in the temple or at home, they did not cease teaching and preaching that Jesus was the Christ.” -Amen
When the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to preach the gospel, even though they suffered and were beaten, we see in verse 41 that they considered them worthy of insults and rejoiced. How could they have rejoiced in being persecuted and being beaten?
What is <True Joy>? The whole country was plagued with political tribulation and also foot-and-mouth disease, which filled the country with anxiety and sorrow rather than joy. In times like these, I want to be able to challenge and overcome this time with true joy.
1. The joy of rejoicing that Jesus is the savior
Music, literature, and beautiful things all started from the church. Because all joy is in God, singing and many joyous things happen. Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the way of life; in Your presence are the fulness of joy, and at Your right hand are eternal joys.”
The words to be happy and to be happy mean the same thing. In God there is no pain, no tears, but only joy. There is only joy in heaven. The apostles rejoiced when they were caught and beaten while preaching the gospel, because they rejoiced because they believed that Jesus was the Savior, so the joy of salvation was so great and overflowing with life. Gospel - After testifying that Jesus was the Christ, he was arrested and beaten again, and went out preaching, Acts 5:42 “Every day they were in the temple and in their houses, they did not cease to teach and preach that Jesus was the Christ.”
What motives did you come from and with what kind of heart do you participate in the church? When it is said that living a life of faith like the apostles is the standard, the basis of our joy is the fact that Jesus, the God of salvation, is the Christ.
Hab 3:17-18 ‘17. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 I will rejoice in the LORD, but in the God of my salvation I will rejoice.'
When the apostles returned with joy from casting out demons in the name of the Lord Jesus, the Lord said, Luke 10:20 “But do not rejoice that the demons submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Do you go to church and pray that you will receive blessings in the world first? The order of faith is wrong. Fortunately, if things go well, I will thank God. But what if it doesn't work out? Therefore, I hope you receive the true joy of being saved and enjoying the joy. Psalm 35:9 “My soul rejoices in the LORD; I will rejoice in his salvation.”
2. There is a reward for persecution, and the joy of rejoicing
The Lord gave us the words of 8 blessings, and the greatest of them is the eternal reward in heaven. While the Apostles were preaching the gospel, they never said that they were happy or happy when someone gave a favor. He said he was persecuted and rejoiced. Because they clearly remembered the reward the Lord had told them to receive in heaven, and they rejoiced because that was their hope. Matthew 5:11-12 ‘11. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
When the Lord was carrying the cross, He did not carry it with sorrow, but Hebrews 12:2 “Let us look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and, sitting at the right hand of the throne of God, 1 Peter 4:13 “Rather, rejoice in your participation in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may rejoice and rejoice in His glory.”
Without such a reason for joy, living by believing in Jesus cannot be joyful. Do you want money and fame? It is a fact that can be learned in the world that even if it is filled, it does not bring complete joy. What is true joy? True joy is only in God, only in salvation, and only in the eternal kingdom. With earthly things, joy is short-lived and tedious. May you have true joy.
It is a blessing to me to be able to do church work with joy. Ephesians 6:7 “With a willing heart to serve, as to the Lord, not to men” Colossians 1:24 “Now I rejoice in your afflictions for your sake, and I fill the rest of the sufferings of Christ in my flesh for the sake of his body, the church.”
If we are secularized and seek to satisfy our worldly pleasures, our heavenly rewards will not receive our earthly blessings.
Although the Lord did not say that he laughed, he said several times that he had joy in him.
John 15:11 “I give this to you, that my joy may be in you and your joy may be full.”
I pray that you and I will be victorious in the joy of the Lord, not with the peace that the world gives, but with true peace and joy.