Thank you for taking time to read the message this week. I hope that you are all well and having a good week. I am glad to have the opportunity to bring this message to you this week.
Well, we are in the heart of the Advent season. Christmas is just around the corner, and I have to admit that this year I am really behind. I usually have my cards sent out and some Christmas shopping done already. But, not this year. Hopefully, I can get in gear with the holiday spirit pretty soon.
For the past couple of weeks now, we've been looking at some of what Jesus has accomplished through His incarnation. By coming into this world, Jesus brought hope for today and for the future. He is the Prince of Peace who provides peace in our hearts, and ultimately, He will bring peace to this troubled world.
Today, I want us to focus on the fact that the coming of Jesus brings joy. Joy is something that the Christmas season is all about. I can remember some really joyous Christmas times with my family when we were all together. We always had a lot of fun at Christmas. We always had Christmas Eve with my Dad's children from his first marriage. On Christmas Day, my Mom, Dad and I-- Toby too -- would open our presents and have a really nice Christmas feast. I have a lot of joyful and wonderful memories of Christmas.
This joy that we have at the Christmas season is due to the fact that Jesus has come into the world. His birth was a joyous occasion as we know that the shepherds who heard of His birth were filled with joy and immediately went to find the baby that the angels had told them about.
One of the verses in the Bible that really speaks to joy is I Peter 1:8 that tells us, "Whom having not seen, ye love, in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." There is a song with that title, "Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory" that we used to sing in church when I was a boy. Jesus is the one who brings such great joy.
Why is it that we can have so much joy in Jesus? Jesus has come and we no longer have to live in sin and be separated from God the Father. Jesus has redeemed us, and we can have forgiveness and newness of life in and through Him. That is something to feel joy about.
We can be filled with joy knowing that Jesus is always with us. He will never leave us and He will never forsake us. On top of that, we can be filled with joy knowing that Jesus has prepared a place for us in Heaven. When those who are in Christ pass from this world, they immediately go to be with Jesus, and they will be with Him forever and forever in a place with no heartache and no sorrow. That brings great joy to me, and I hope that it brings great joy to you.
Jesus has come. We can have joy in Him. Let the joy of knowing and loving Jesus fill your hearts this Advent season. Amen.
Prayer Requests
I went to the doctor this week. I hope that with some new medicine and treatments I will get to feeling better. Thank you for your prayers. Also, please pray that I can find a different job. The one I have now I believe is contributing to my overall lack of health.
Please keep praying for peace in the world. Let us really focus on Ukraine this week. Also pray for peace in Sudan and keep praying for Israel and Gaza. I would also like us to pray that the situation in Venezuela does not end violently.
Continue to pray for those recovering from natural disasters. I saw some pictures from Jamaica, and they really need our prayers right now.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Maldives and Saudi Arabia. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, I will post the verses on Tuesday and the book chapter on Wednesday. I will have another Advent message next week. May God bless you all.
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