December 29, 2019 Full of Jesus’ Joy
/in 2019 Lord’s Day /by Youhyun ChangSenior Overseer Kidong Kim
[John 17:13-19]
God
is joyful.
As
God loves His Son,
He is pleased with His Son (Mt 3:17).
This
is the joy given to God’s Son.
God’s Son is full of this joy.
Jesus said, “If you keep my commands,
you will have the fullness of My joy in you” (Jn 17:13).
Those full of God’s joy
are hated by the world because they do not belong to it.
They are sanctified by the truth of Jesus.
You must be full of the Holy Spirit to be joyful in the truth (Jn 15:10-12).
Grace and truth is the Gospel of joy (Jn 14:20-21).
A slave to sin has no joy (Rom 8:15).
Only those who are justified are full of joy.
Those sick in heart and body have no joy.
You must receive Jesus’ power to be full of joy.
This is God’s will: (1 Thess 5:16-18)
Be joyful always.
To do this, pray continually
and give thanks in all circumstances.
○ Without the Holy Spirit, there is no joy.
Let the Holy Spirit work as He wills.
○ Without the Lord Jesus’ blood, there is no joy.
Receive the forgiveness of sins. Repent and be rid of your sins.
○ Those baptized in immersion are truly joyful.
If baptism becomes a ritual, there is no joy.
Experiencing Jesus is to be baptized.
※ Possess a faith that has joy.
Have God’s joy together with the Son.
Be full of the Holy Spirit! Rejoice again and again!
Coming Soon
The Lord Jesus’ work is not done because someone asks you to do it, and it is not stopped because someone asks you to stop. Whoever receives the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and whoever receives the Lord Jesus’ command to do ministry or do the Lord’s work – they can merely start obeying and working until the death of their bodies. If a person threatens others, aggressively steals money, and then does the Lord’s work – this is the work of a thief. I received such threats. If faith disappears from the Lord’s work, it is tiresome, difficult and unfortunate. If you have faith and obey the Lord, no matter how difficult your situation is, it will remain a happy memory. The Lord forever remembers His 33 years in the world by His deep scars on His palms, legs, and forehead. The Lord will love the spirits of those martyred with Him. He will remember all their efforts to overcome the world and all their labor in the church. He will commend them, reward them, and let them enter the Father’s glory. He will give all shepherds and those with duties the crown that will never fade away. All trees in winter suffer the harsh blizzard and cold weather. But their roots thicken and they reserve much nutrition. When spring comes – the branches rise up, flower buds form, and they grow into exuberant trees. This is the same with the church. For half a century, we suffered dense criticisms and unfair persecution. But like a big tree, we grew thick and reserved much nutrition. We arm ourselves with the truth and better understand the Picture of God’s Will as we see spring coming. The founding overseer of the church was born to be persecuted, the next overseer will blossom with his power and skill, and then there will be bearing of fruit. The blizzard is still active and the cold wind is blowing, but spring will finally come. I overcame this dense persecution. This is my vessel. I have even strength to endure greater persecution. This is my vessel. I am not a small cup but a large vessel used by God. I am not a pot easily broken. I am a golden cup that cannot break. How can I not know this? “No one who has left everything for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age – along with persecutions – and in the age to come eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30, simplified). I believe in this word of the Lord. I received a hundred-fold blessings in this present age and received a hundred-fold persecutions. I will finally receive His reward. I believe in the Lord’s word to “rejoice and be glad.” Semuon, 29th December 2019
Coming Soon
Outline translated by John Kim
Letter translated by John Kim
Interpretations by John Kim
Korean Summary by Ki-Taek Lee