Sermon Central
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The Hope That Comes From Jesus Christ Series
Contributed by Shawn Drake on Dec 24, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: This is the 47th sermon in the series "3:16- Numbers That Bring Hope".
Series: 3:16- Numbers That Bring Hope [#47]
THE HOPE THAT COMES FROM JESUS CHRIST
Introduction:
This week in this Advent portion of our series, we are looking at the joy that comes from Jesus Christ.
Luke 2:8-10 (NIV)
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
Most likely, the shepherds that the angel spoke to were not just ordinary shepherds. These shepherds were watching sheep that were going to be used as temple sacrifices. The shepherds themselves were outcasts to the religious community of Jesus’ time; and this is who God sent the angel to speak to. While the shepherds were afraid, the angel told them to be joyful.
Our text today, explains everything we need to know about Jesus Christ in order to have joy.
1 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
“Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.”
I want to read this passage to you from the Easy To Read Version of the Bible.
1 Timothy 3:16 (ERV)
“Without a doubt, the secret of our life of worship is great: Christ was shown to us in human form; the Spirit proved that he was right; he was seen by angels. The message about him was told to the nations; people in the world believed in him; he was taken up to heaven in glory.”
It is definetly a mystery, (a secret) to the world how Christians can have joy in the midst of trouble. That mystery is a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The secret to our joy is…
1. The birth of Jesus.
Christmas is about the Son of God leaving Heaven and taking on the form of a human. No one had seen God. In fact, Scripture tells us that God is Spirit. Jesus is God in the flesh. Jesus had to become one of us so that He could save us.
The secret to our joy is…
2. The Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit of God conceived the Messiah in a virgin girl named Mary. Through the power of the Holy Spirit of God; Jesus was raised from the dead. The Holy Spirit has proved that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. It is through the Holy Spirit that children of God have victory. The Holy Spirit is your guaranteeor of your eternal salvation.
The secret to our joy is…
3. Seen by angels.
The angels have been around even before mankind. A third of the angels were cast out of Heaven when they followed Lucifer in the rebellion against God. Throughout the Bible, we see God using the angels as warriors, messengers, etc… The angels do what God tells them to do. The angels celebrated the birth of Jesus. The angels, (including the fallen angels) knew that Jesus was going to have victory over death, sin, Satan, and hell.
The secret to our joy is…
4. Told to all.
The message of Jesus Christ is for all people. “For God so loved the world”. We are to share the message of Jesus Christ to all people.
The secret to our joy is…
5. Believing in Jesus Christ as your Savior.
We are told that if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God raised from the dead, you will be saved.
The secret to our joy is…
6. The ascension of Jesus Christ.
After Jesus died on a cross and arose from the dead on the 3rd day, He walked on this Earth for 40 days. After that, He ascended into Heaven. Jesus is now at the right hand throne of God. His task is finished.
There will be a day when the Archangel will shout and the trumpet will sound; and all of the dead in Christ shall rise 1st and then those believers who remain will rise.
Conclusion:
No matter what is going on around you, through Jesus Christ there can be joy. The joy of the Lord is our strength. When people watch your life, do they want to know what the secret to your joy is; or do they not want what you have?
