I. What God Wants For You
A. Joy V. 10
1. Joy-To rejoice, be glad, to be well, to thrive.
2. Joy is more of a state of being as compared to a passing moment
3. Joy is based upon unchanging truth; happiness is momentary, fleeting.
4. John 16:22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
a. After Jesus’ resurrection & ascension, the disciples would be greatly persecuted, but the enduring truth of Jesus being raised from the dead would give them a permanent joy that no one could take away.
5. Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
6. Joy comes from knowing and trusting God, who never changes.
7. 2 Peter 1:4 …have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises…
8. God’s desire for us is that we have joy from knowing Him.
9. Man’s efforts center on man as opposed to God-
Life Power Philosophy-But unless you have given yourself permission to follow your own dreams, guided by your own conscience, you will never be completely happy, fulfilled or satisfied.
B. Peace V. 14
1. Unsaved man is at enmity with God.
Isaiah 59:1, 2 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
2. Guilt- Indicator of our sins. We’ll go towards or away from God b/c of our sins
a. Many people are inappropriately blamed by others.
It is possible to feel inappropriately guilty.
b. Most people are more concerned with guilt in human relationships rather than with guilt towards God
c. “Dealing With Guilt”– 60,000,000+ references on Google search. 12/2022
d. Many web pages suggest ways to deal with guilt, including hypnosis downloads, how not to be manipulated by others, establishing your own standards of right & wrong.
2. Peace with God– the absence of hostility between God and man
a. Romans 5:1, 2 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3. The peace of God
a. Peace of God- not dependent upon an absence of hostility or turmoil, but is established by understanding God’s sovereignty over one’s life.
b. Strong’s Concordance-the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God & content w/ its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is.
c. Philippians 4:6, 7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
II. His Method Of Accomplishing That Desire
A. God Is The Initiator
1. Jesus born into our world.
2. Heaven rejoiced and sent innumerable angels to sing about God’s plan to bring you joy and peace.
3. God’s method to bring us joy and peace comes through a Savior. Not our efforts.
B. God’s Provision-Salvation
1. Jesus was born a Savior V. 11
2. God didn’t send a method, a philosophy, a movement, a self-help program.
3. Matthew 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
4. Sins-
a. To miss the mark, to err, to be mistaken, to do wrong, or not do right
b. To wander from the law of God
5. Jesus came to save us/ heal us/ deliver us/ rescue us from our sins.
a. Our sins against God
b. Our sins against others
c. Our sins against ourselves
C. Salvation Has Two Aspects
1. Judicial pardon
a. We already looked at man’s efforts regarding guilt
b. Romans 5:1 states God’s method to forgive sins, along with the guilt and judgment of those sins.
2. Personal healing, wholeness
3. Salvation- general definition
a. to save, keep safe and sound
b. to rescue from danger or destruction
c. to save a suffering one
d. to make well, heal, restore to health
e. to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue
4. God saves and preserves us from the effect of our sins in this life
5. God saves and preserves us from the effect of our sins for all eternity
D. Follow The Steps Of The Shepherds Vs. 15-20
1. They investigated that which God made known to them.
2. They believed the truth about God’s provision for mankind
3. They received God’s gift: salvation that brings joy and peace