Embracing Joy Through Sacrifice and Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Joy as Divine Motivation

Jesus' endurance of the cross was not driven by a fleeting emotion but by a profound certainty of joy rooted in the assurance of resurrection and eternal life. This joy was a divine motivation that fueled His genuine love and sacrifice. Understanding this helps us see that the pursuit of joy in our spiritual journey is not sub-moral but rather a reflection of divine purpose. Jesus' example teaches us that true joy is found in aligning our lives with God's promises and purposes, which empowers us to endure hardships with hope and love. [12:15]

Hebrews 12:2 (ESV): "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can seek joy in God's promises rather than in temporary circumstances? How can this shift in focus change your approach to challenges you face today?

Day 2: Stepping Outside the Camp

The call to go "outside the camp" is an invitation to step out of our comfort zones and engage with the world, even when met with resistance. This act of faith mirrors the early Christians' mission and reminds us of our transient existence on earth. By embracing the challenges and reproach that come with living a life of faith, we participate in the mission of sharing the gospel. This call is not about seeking suffering for its own sake but about being willing to face discomfort for the sake of Christ and His message. [13:38]

Hebrews 13:13-14 (ESV): "Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come."

Reflection: What is one specific way you can step outside your comfort zone to share your faith this week? How can you prepare your heart to embrace any challenges or reproach that may come with it?

Day 3: Living for the Eternal City

Our true home is not in this world but in the eternal city to come. This perspective liberates us to live lives of radical, sacrificial love, unshackled by the temporary allurements of this world. By focusing on the eternal, we can prioritize what truly matters and invest in relationships and actions that have lasting significance. This mindset encourages us to live with a sense of purpose and urgency, knowing that our time on earth is temporary and that our ultimate destination is with God. [18:18]

2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV): "As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from temporary concerns to eternal values in your daily life? What is one practical step you can take today to invest in something of eternal significance?

Day 4: Satisfaction in Future Grace

Being satisfied with all that God promises to be for us now and forever is the key to living a life of holiness and love. This satisfaction empowers us to love freely and sacrificially, whether on the mission field or in our local communities. When we find our contentment in God's promises, we are liberated from the need to seek fulfillment in worldly things. This allows us to pour out love and grace to others, reflecting the character of Christ in our interactions and relationships. [19:37]

Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper satisfaction in God's promises today? How might this satisfaction influence your interactions with others and your approach to serving your community?

Day 5: Spreading a Table of Superior Joy

The ultimate goal is to help others see the superior pleasures found in God, leading them to fall out of love with the world and its fleeting temptations. By spreading a table of superior joy, we can help others develop a taste for the eternal. This involves living in such a way that our lives reflect the joy and fulfillment found in Christ, inviting others to experience the same. As we share the gospel and demonstrate the love of God, we offer a compelling alternative to the temporary bait of the devil. [21:26]

Isaiah 55:2-3 (ESV): "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to see the superior joy found in God? How can you intentionally demonstrate and share this joy with them in a way that invites them to seek the eternal over the temporary?

Sermon Summary

In reflecting on the profound journey of Jesus Christ, we are reminded of the immense sacrifice He made for the joy set before Him. Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame, with the assurance of resurrection and the promise of eternal joy. This joy was not a mere fleeting emotion but a profound certainty that sustained Him through His suffering. It is crucial to understand that the pursuit of joy, as demonstrated by Jesus, is not sub-moral but rather a divine motivation that fuels genuine love and sacrifice. Jesus' willingness to suffer outside the gate calls us to join Him in stepping outside our comfort zones, embracing the reproach and challenges that come with living a life of faith.

As we engage with the world, we are called to go "outside the camp," to places of discomfort and challenge, much like the early Christians who were scattered throughout the Roman world. This call to action is not about seeking suffering for its own sake but about participating in the mission of sharing the gospel, even when met with resistance or hostility. The transient nature of this world reminds us that our true home is not here but in the eternal city to come. This perspective liberates us to live lives of radical, sacrificial love, unshackled by the temporary allurements of this world.

The essence of living a Christian life that yields holiness and love lies in being deeply satisfied with all that God promises to be for us now and forever. This satisfaction in future grace empowers us to love freely and sacrificially, whether on the mission field or in our local communities. The ultimate goal is to help others see the superior pleasures found in God, leading them to fall out of love with the world and its fleeting temptations. By spreading a table of superior joy, we can help others develop a taste for the eternal, rather than the temporary bait of the devil.

Key Takeaways

1. moral but a divine motivation that fuels genuine love and sacrifice. [12:15]
2. The call to go "outside the camp" is an invitation to step out of our comfort zones and engage with the world, even when met with resistance. This act of faith mirrors the early Christians' mission and reminds us of our transient existence on earth.

3. Our true home is not in this world but in the eternal city to come. This perspective liberates us to live lives of radical, sacrificial love, unshackled by the temporary allurements of this world.

4. Being satisfied with all that God promises to be for us now and forever is the key to living a life of holiness and love. This satisfaction empowers us to love freely and sacrificially, whether on the mission field or in our local communities.

5. The ultimate goal is to help others see the superior pleasures found in God, leading them to fall out of love with the world and its fleeting temptations. By spreading a table of superior joy, we can help others develop a taste for the eternal.

** [12:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[10:34] - The Joy Set Before Jesus
[11:19] - Jesus' Motivation and Sacrifice
[12:15] - Enduring the Cross for Joy
[13:05] - The Call to Suffer with Christ
[13:38] - Going Outside the Camp
[14:22] - Engaging with the World
[15:33] - Facing Rejection and Resistance
[16:42] - Seeking the Eternal City
[17:28] - The Transience of Earthly Life
[18:18] - The Kingdom of God
[19:08] - Radical, Sacrificial Love
[20:08] - The Superior Pleasures in God
[21:26] - Developing a Taste for the Eternal
[22:22] - Seeking First the Kingdom

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Hebrews 12:2 - "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 13:12-14 - "Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come."

Observation Questions:

What does Hebrews 12:2 reveal about Jesus' motivation for enduring the cross? How does this relate to the concept of joy mentioned in the sermon? [12:15]
According to Hebrews 13:12-14, what does it mean to go "outside the camp" with Jesus? How is this concept illustrated in the sermon? [13:38]
How does the sermon describe the transient nature of our earthly existence and the eternal city we seek? [18:18]
What examples from the sermon illustrate the challenges of engaging with the world while living a life of faith? [15:33]

Interpretation Questions:

How does the joy set before Jesus serve as a divine motivation for love and sacrifice, according to the sermon? [12:15]
In what ways does the call to go "outside the camp" challenge believers to step out of their comfort zones? How does this relate to the early Christians' experiences? [13:38]
How does the perspective of seeking an eternal city influence the way believers live their lives on earth, as discussed in the sermon? [18:18]
What does it mean to be satisfied with all that God promises to be for us now and forever, and how does this satisfaction empower believers to love sacrificially? [19:37]

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you had to endure a difficult situation for the sake of a greater joy. How can Jesus' example of enduring the cross inspire you in similar situations? [12:15]
Identify a specific area in your life where you feel called to step "outside the camp" and engage with the world. What practical steps can you take to embrace this challenge? [13:38]
How does the transient nature of this world affect your priorities and decisions? What changes can you make to focus more on the eternal city to come? [18:18]
Consider the ways you can spread a "table of superior joy" in your community. How can you help others develop a taste for the eternal rather than the temporary? [21:26]
Think about a situation where you felt resistance or hostility while sharing your faith. How can you prepare yourself to respond with love and grace in future encounters? [15:33]
What specific promises of God bring you satisfaction and empower you to live a life of holiness and love? How can you remind yourself of these promises daily? [19:37]
Identify one person in your life who is struggling with the allurements of this world. How can you support them in discovering the superior pleasures found in God? [20:24]

Sermon Clips

"Jesus was sustained by the confidence the hope that on the other side of these days, I will rise from the dead, I will have a resurrection body that won't be bloody in pain anymore, I will have all authority in heaven and on earth I will be exalted to my father's right hand I will gather over the next couple thousand years a people from my name who I will bless with unspeakable joy for all eternity and for that for that I'll endure the cross." [00:11:36]

"Frankly I get bent out of shape when people suggest by way of criticism that the pursuit of joy as a foundation for love is sub-moral and you can see why I get bent out of shape because the implications for Jesus are blasphemous he was sustained by his expectation of resurrection joy through his suffering and it did not minimize his love for us don't presume to have a motive higher than Jesus at the cross that would be dangerous." [00:12:18]

"Let us go out to him outside the camp bearing his reproach so this is a call to suffer Jesus suffered outside the gate now you join him outside the camp what would that be I wonder the people he was writing to they didn't live in camps they were scattered through the Roman world this is a there's a picture going outside the comfortable place the secure place the non-golgotha place let's go outside the camp." [00:13:33]

"For here we don't have a lasting city but we are seeking the city which is to come there it is again so when you contemplate the feeling I don't like reproach I don't like to be made fun of I don't like it when people roll their eyes I don't like it when they call me names I don't like it when they slam doors I don't like it when they whisper in the office I don't like this Jesus didn't like getting crucified." [00:16:46]

"The what sustains you is remembering this city called world earth Minneapolis America is not going to last I just read this morning in my devotions Isaiah 40 the nations are like a drop from a bucket when the judgment arrives on planet earth someday it will make Katrina look like a thimble compared to the pacific ocean of terror it's not going to last it's coming down every catastrophe is a symbol of what's coming wake up new orleans wake up minneapolis wake up bethlehem baptist church everything's coming down but one thing the kingdom of god." [00:17:23]

"Every one of these texts has said to use my language faith in future grace or being satisfied more satisfied way more satisfied in all that god promises to be for us now and forever that is the liberation for love that's the pathway to holiness that's where the battle is to be fought when I think about my whole parenting role my husbanding role my pastoral role my on the street witnessing role." [00:19:59]

"The thing that that drives me most is what can I say that will accomplish the negative and the positive to make people tremble with the insecurity that this world offers and to help people see the magnificence of what has been bought by Jesus Christ for everlasting joy for all who will receive him that's the whole goal is how to help people see the superior pleasures." [00:20:31]

"You show me the path of life in your presence his fullness of joy at your right hand are pleasures forevermore fullness forever fullness forever my whole life is devoted to trying to figure out ways to handle the bible so that people will fall out of love with the world I forget which old puritan said it the goal of a pastor is to put people's taste their mouths out of taste for the bait of satan." [00:20:58]

"It's not how do you get your jaw off the hook that's important once you're there the main goal of the ministry is don't let the bait be attractive and how do you put people out of taste for the bait of the devil and the answer is spread a table that is superior let me pray and then we're going to take a break and come back in a few minutes let's pray." [00:21:47]

"Father in heaven I pray that you would apply this to my life first because I so long to love better to love my wife better my daughter and sons better my church better the neighbors that I have better unknown people that cross my path lord I want to grow in love I want to be a more holy person pure person radically set apart for god not copying the world all the nations seek these things." [00:22:59]

"Jesus said seek first the kingdom and his righteousness that stuff will be added to you as you need it just seek my radical will of love toward enemy friend family church people that like you and people that don't oh god that's what I want for me and I pray it for those who are listening lord make us satisfied with all that you are and promise to be for us in Jesus." [00:23:36]

"So that we are set free from our need for payback now and can give our lives away in love pray this in Jesus name amen." [00:24:31]

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Embracing Joy Through Sacrifice and Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Joy as Divine Motivation

Day 2: Stepping Outside the Camp

Day 3: Living for the Eternal City

Day 4: Satisfaction in Future Grace

Day 5: Spreading a Table of Superior Joy

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing Joy Through Sacrifice and Faith

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