Living Joyfully in Anticipation of Christ's Return

Devotional

Day 1: Joy as a Healing Balm

A joyful heart is a powerful remedy for the soul, rooted in the assurance of eternal life and God's presence with us. This joy transcends earthly circumstances and is a testament to our faith in Christ. The joy that comes from knowing Christ is not dependent on our external situations but is a deep-seated assurance of His love and salvation. It is a joy that sustains us through trials and tribulations, reminding us of the eternal life we have in Him. This joy is a reflection of our relationship with God, a testament to His presence in our lives, and a source of strength and healing for our souls. [00:00]

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation." (Habakkuk 3:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you choose to find joy in God's presence and promises today, despite your circumstances?

Day 2: Suffering as a Path to Worthiness

Suffering for Christ is not in vain; it is a mark of our worthiness in God's kingdom. It draws us closer to Jesus, who suffered for our sake, and prepares us for the glory to come. Suffering is often seen as a negative experience, but in the context of faith, it becomes a transformative journey. It aligns us with Christ, who endured suffering for our redemption, and it refines our character, making us more like Him. Through suffering, we learn to rely on God's strength and grace, and it becomes a testament to our faith and commitment to His kingdom. [01:01:04]

"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 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." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent experience of suffering. How did it draw you closer to Christ, and how can you see it as a preparation for future glory?

Day 3: Trusting in God's Righteous Judgment

God's judgment is always just and right. We are called to trust in His justice, knowing that He will repay those who afflict His people and grant relief to the afflicted. In a world where injustice often prevails, it is comforting to know that God's judgment is perfect and righteous. He sees the afflictions of His people and promises to bring justice in His time. This assurance allows us to focus on living righteously, trusting that God will handle the injustices we face. It is a call to live with integrity and faith, knowing that God's justice will ultimately prevail. [01:12:13]

"For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him." (Isaiah 30:18, ESV)

Reflection: Consider an injustice you have witnessed or experienced. How can you entrust this situation to God's righteous judgment and focus on living righteously today?

Day 4: Knowing God and Living the Gospel

A personal relationship with God through Jesus is essential. Obeying the gospel means living out the good news of Jesus Christ, who offers us salvation and eternal life. Knowing God is more than just intellectual knowledge; it is an intimate relationship that transforms our lives. It involves obeying the gospel, which is the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection for our sins. This relationship calls us to live in a way that reflects His love and grace, sharing the message of salvation with others. It is a call to live authentically, embodying the values of the gospel in our daily lives. [01:22:24]

"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you deepen your personal relationship with God today, and what specific actions can you take to live out the gospel in your interactions with others?

Day 5: Living with Urgency and Purpose

As we await Christ's return, we are called to live with urgency, sharing the gospel and being active participants in God's mission. Our testimony can lead others to faith and glorify God. The anticipation of Christ's return should inspire us to live purposefully, making the most of every opportunity to share the gospel. It is a call to be active in God's mission, using our unique gifts and testimonies to lead others to faith. Living with urgency means prioritizing what truly matters, focusing on eternal values, and being intentional in our witness for Christ. [01:30:04]

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific way you can share the gospel with someone in your life this week? How can you live with a greater sense of urgency and purpose in your daily activities?

Sermon Summary

Welcome to Lexington Park Baptist Church, where we gather to celebrate the joy and presence of the Lord. Today, we reflect on the profound truth that a joyful heart is indeed good medicine for the soul. As we delve into the Word, we are reminded of the eternal joy and life we have in Christ, and the call to live righteously as we await His return. Our gathering is not just a routine; it is a divine appointment to draw nearer to God, to be filled with His Spirit, and to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.

We are excited to welcome Brendan Pond as our new associate pastor of family ministries, focusing on youth and children. His role is crucial in reaching the Gen Z demographic, bridging the gap between generations, and expanding our ministry's reach. Brendan's presence is a testament to God's provision and the church's commitment to nurturing the next generation in faith.

Our focus today is on the righteous judgment of God as outlined in 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10. This passage challenges us to live in the light of Christ's return, emphasizing that God's judgment is always just and right. We are called to endure suffering for the sake of the kingdom, knowing that it is a mark of our worthiness in God's eyes. Suffering, though difficult, aligns us with Christ and prepares us for the glory to come.

God's judgment is a righteous payback, where He will repay those who afflict His people and grant relief to the afflicted. This assurance allows us to trust in God's ultimate justice and focus on living righteously. We are reminded that knowing God and obeying the gospel are essential to standing firm in faith. The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, offering us eternal life and a relationship with God.

As we anticipate Christ's return, we are encouraged to live with urgency and purpose, sharing the gospel with others. Our testimony can lead others to faith, and we are called to be active participants in God's mission. Let us be a church that knows God, obeys His gospel, and eagerly awaits the day when we will marvel at His glory.

Key Takeaways

1. Joy as Good Medicine: A joyful heart is a powerful remedy for the soul, rooted in the assurance of eternal life and God's presence with us. This joy transcends earthly circumstances and is a testament to our faith in Christ. [00:00]
2. The Role of Suffering: Suffering for Christ is not in vain; it is a mark of our worthiness in God's kingdom. It draws us closer to Jesus, who suffered for our sake, and prepares us for the glory to come. [61:04]
3. God's Righteous Judgment: God's judgment is always just and right. We are called to trust in His justice, knowing that He will repay those who afflict His people and grant relief to the afflicted. [72:13]
4. Knowing God and Obeying the Gospel: A personal relationship with God through Jesus is essential. Obeying the gospel means living out the good news of Jesus Christ, who offers us salvation and eternal life. [82:24]
5. Living with Urgency and Purpose: As we await Christ's return, we are called to live with urgency, sharing the gospel and being active participants in God's mission. Our testimony can lead others to faith and glorify God. [01:30:04]
** [90:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:00] - Opening Prayer
[04:30] - Announcements and Fellowship
[10:00] - Deacon University Encouragement
[15:00] - Missionary Moment
[20:00] - Introduction of Brendan Pond
[27:26] - Brendan's Role and Responsibilities
[35:00] - Offering and Scripture Reading
[45:00] - Sermon Introduction
[55:40] - 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
[61:04] - God's Righteous Judgment
[72:13] - Suffering and Worthiness
[82:24] - Knowing God and the Gospel
[90:04] - Living with Urgency
[92:28] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Sermon Clips

Welcome to Lexington Park Baptist Church, where God is on the move. And hallelujah. So good to see every one of you here today. Listen to the word of the Lord on the front of your programs. A joyful heart is good medicine. So I hope that you're filled with joy today and gratitude, and that will be good medicine to your soul. [00:19:42]

We can see things by faith. And Lord, we are grateful that we can know that we have eternal life, but we also have your presence here with us today. Therefore, may our hearts be filled with joy. And may it be like good medicine to our souls. Lord, may all that we do in this place today honor you and exalt you and lift you high. [00:20:05]

And by the way, can we not take that same guidance? Yeah, we continue to do what is right with the Lord, which should be sharing the gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ, living a righteous life, and then as we do that, we're prepared for Jesus to come back. If you want to ever know if you're ready if Jesus is going to come back, just keep living right with God. [00:56:37]

It is clear evidence of God's righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God's kingdom, for which you also are suffering, since it is just for God to repay, with affliction, those who afflict you, and give relief to you who are afflicted along with us. [00:58:02]

All right, if you're picking up this duality thing, there's two things going on. Those of us that are right with God and those that are not. And so I want to encourage you today. We don't like, I mean, I'm not a hellfire and brimstone preacher, but this is about judgment. And God's righteous judgment. So I want you to understand that there is a day of judgment coming for all of us. [00:59:32]

And if you have done that, then you need to have confidence in that. And it's not that you did anything. God did the work for you. Amen? The cross is the works of Christ in your salvation. Have you accepted Jesus? Are you living for Jesus? And if you are, then you can have confidence that you're living right with God. [01:00:34]

Somehow suffering and justice go hand in hand with God. So today I'm going to talk about a tough topic because if you're not suffering for Jesus or you've never suffered for Jesus or you've never been afflicted or you've never faced trials or tribulations of any sort, I'm not talking about what the world, like just in life, like my health is bad, but real serious issues in our life, then we will face those things. [01:02:14]

So let's deal with this. First of all, God's judgment is always right because he's God. He's God. We are not. Thank God we are not. We could not do it better than he is. As messed up as we may think it is, or I wish God would zap that person, right? Or do this or do that. You know, we don't understand that his righteousness is right and that God still got this thing and why he let some things happen, I don't understand. [01:04:26]

And so even to this moment right now, he is trying to get people to come to know him and be made right with him as he originally intended. So that we can come out of our sin and become, come to know him and know his gospel. But there will be those that will be faced eternal destruction where they will be in a place that's absent. Of God. There is no mercy. There is no love. There is no kindness. There is no grace. Wow. There is no forgiveness. [01:27:03]

So when Christ does come back, those will face the eternal judgment and damnation and that punishment. But then us that are here, we're with God. He'll be glorified through us. Why? All because we know him and have received his gospel. Y 'all get that? Jesus just wants to know you. Jesus just wants you to obey his gospel. [01:30:19]

And Lord, for all of us in there that we've been Christians for a long time and we've kind of settled, we're kind of comfortable. Lord, take us and make us uncomfortable. Bring discomfort to our lives. God, I know that's hard to pray. I don't want anybody to suffer, but God, bring whatever you can to get our attention so that we will know you and obey your gospel. [01:34:02]

We thank you for your word and this powerful opening where Paul goes from just greeting them to immediately dropping right into judgment and the big picture that Jesus is coming back and he's going to judge, but you need to be right with him. So Lord, may we be find ourselves today right with you. Lord, if anyone in this room is not right with you, I pray right now you'll move in their lives, move them to come forward to say, I need Jesus. [01:34:55]

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