Rescuing Joy: Our Mission Against Modern Slavery

Devotional

Day 1: The Call to Rescue and Restore

In our journey through life, we encounter numerous callings and causes that demand our attention and action. Today, we reflect on the providential alignment of our mission with the "End It Movement," a global initiative aimed at eradicating modern slavery. This movement, like many others, seeks to bring awareness, prevention, rescue, and restoration to millions trapped in bondage. As Christians, we are called to live lives of love and justice, rescuing people from suffering in the name of Jesus, with the ultimate goal of leading them to eternal joy in Him. [05:24]

Isaiah 58:6-7 (ESV): "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"

Reflection: Who in your community or sphere of influence is in need of rescue or restoration? How can you take a tangible step today to be a part of their journey towards freedom and joy in Christ?

Day 2: Living Between Two Worlds

As Christians, we live in two worlds: the present age and the age to come. This dual existence empowers us to feel the urgency of our mission to alleviate suffering and bring people to eternal joy in Christ. Our identity as Christians is rooted in the reality that we have died and been raised with Christ. We live in this world, yet our hearts are anchored in the world to come. This dual existence allows us to feel the weight of suffering and the urgency of our mission. [07:29]

Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself torn between the present world and the eternal world to come? How can you align your daily actions with the eternal perspective of joy in Christ?

Day 3: Grounding in the Cross

Every significant cause finds its true purpose in a passion for joy in Jesus. When movements lose their grounding in the cross, they lose their soul and eternal significance. The darkness of this world is pervasive, but we are undaunted. We are called to be the light, to penetrate the darkness with the gospel. Our mission is to open the eyes of the blind, turning them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God. [08:22]

1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV): "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

Reflection: Reflect on a cause or movement you are passionate about. How can you ensure that it remains grounded in the cross and the pursuit of everlasting joy in Jesus?

Day 4: Light in the Darkness

We are called to be the light in a world shrouded in darkness, tasked with opening the eyes of the blind and turning them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God. This is a task beyond our natural ability, but with God's help, we can bring people into everlasting joy and friendship with Jesus. [17:10]

Ephesians 5:8-9 (ESV): "For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true)."

Reflection: Identify a specific area of darkness in your community or personal life. How can you be a light in that situation today, bringing the hope and joy of Christ to those around you?

Day 5: Invincible Joy for the Nations

Christian joy is both the energy and the goal of our mission. The angelic announcement of Jesus' birth heralded good news of great joy for all people. Jesus' teachings were meant to fill us with His joy, a joy that is invincible and transformative. This joy is not something we muster on our own; it is a gift from God, meant to be shared with the nations. Our mission is to call all peoples to rejoice in God, to experience the fullness of joy that comes from knowing Him. [21:00]

Psalm 67:4 (ESV): "Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth."

Reflection: How can you share the joy of Christ with someone from a different culture or background today? What steps can you take to ensure that this joy is both received and multiplied?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through life, we encounter numerous callings and causes that demand our attention and action. Today, we reflect on the providential alignment of our mission with the "End It Movement," a global initiative aimed at eradicating modern slavery. This movement, like many others, seeks to bring awareness, prevention, rescue, and restoration to millions trapped in bondage. As Christians, we are called to live lives of love and justice, rescuing people from suffering in the name of Jesus, with the ultimate goal of leading them to eternal joy in Him.

Our identity as Christians is rooted in the reality that we have died and been raised with Christ. We live in this world, yet our hearts are anchored in the world to come. This dual existence allows us to feel the weight of suffering and the urgency of our mission. Every significant cause, every effort to alleviate pain and suffering, finds its true purpose in a passion for joy in Jesus. When movements lose their grounding in the cross and the pursuit of everlasting joy, they lose their soul.

The darkness of this world is pervasive, but we are undaunted. We are called to be the light, to penetrate the darkness with the gospel. Our mission is to open the eyes of the blind, turning them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God. This is a task beyond our natural ability, but with God's help, we can bring people into everlasting joy and friendship with Jesus.

Our joy in Christ is both the energy and the goal of our mission. The angelic announcement of Jesus' birth heralded good news of great joy for all people. Jesus' teachings were meant to fill us with His joy, a joy that is invincible and transformative. This joy is not something we muster on our own; it is a gift from God, meant to be shared with the nations. Our mission is to call all peoples to rejoice in God, to experience the fullness of joy that comes from knowing Him.

Key Takeaways

1. The alignment of our mission with the "End It Movement" highlights the providential call to rescue those in bondage, both physically and spiritually, leading them to eternal joy in Jesus. [05:24]
2. As Christians, we live in two worlds: the present age and the age to come. This dual existence empowers us to feel the urgency of our mission to alleviate suffering and bring people to eternal joy in Christ. [07:29]
3. Every significant cause finds its true purpose in a passion for joy in Jesus. When movements lose their grounding in the cross, they lose their soul and eternal significance. [08:22]
4. We are called to be the light in a world shrouded in darkness, tasked with opening the eyes of the blind and turning them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God. [17:10]
5. Christian joy is both the energy and the goal of our mission. It is a gift from God, meant to be shared with the nations, calling all peoples to rejoice in Him. [21:00]
** [21:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:24] - The Providential Call
[06:27] - Great Causes and Callings
[07:29] - Living in Two Worlds
[08:22] - Passion for Joy in Jesus
[09:46] - Rescuing from Eternal Suffering
[10:28] - The Christian Impulse
[12:57] - Undaunted by the Darkness
[14:32] - The Global Darkness
[15:36] - Jesus, the Light of the World
[17:10] - Opening Eyes to the Light
[18:23] - The Battle Against Darkness
[20:20] - Children of Light
[21:00] - Invincible Joy for the Nations
[22:41] - The Joy of the Incarnation
[24:59] - Calling the Nations to Joy

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Colossians 1:13 - "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son."
John 8:12 - "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Acts 26:17-18 - "I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."

Observation Questions:

What is the significance of the "End It Movement" as mentioned in the sermon, and how does it align with the Christian mission? [05:24]
How does the sermon describe the dual existence of Christians living in both the present age and the age to come? [07:29]
According to the sermon, what happens to movements that lose their grounding in the cross and the pursuit of everlasting joy? [08:22]
What is the role of Christian joy in the mission to bring people from darkness to light, as discussed in the sermon? [21:00]

Interpretation Questions:

How does Colossians 1:13 relate to the idea of being undaunted by the darkness in the world? What does it mean to be transferred to the kingdom of Christ?
In John 8:12, Jesus claims to be the light of the world. How does this statement inform the Christian mission to be a light in the darkness? [15:36]
Acts 26:17-18 describes a mission to open the eyes of the blind. What does this metaphor suggest about the spiritual state of those who have not yet encountered the gospel? [17:10]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of joy in the Christian mission. How does this joy serve as both the energy and the goal of the mission? [21:00]

Application Questions:

Reflect on the "End It Movement" and its mission to eradicate modern slavery. How can you personally contribute to this cause, both physically and spiritually? [05:24]
The sermon speaks of living in two worlds. How does this dual existence affect your daily decisions and priorities? Can you think of a recent situation where this perspective influenced your actions? [07:29]
Consider a movement or cause you are passionate about. How can you ensure it remains grounded in the cross and the pursuit of everlasting joy? [08:22]
In what ways can you be a light in your community, turning others from darkness to light? Identify one specific action you can take this week to share the gospel with someone. [17:10]
The sermon highlights the invincible joy of knowing Jesus. How can you cultivate this joy in your life, especially during challenging times? [21:00]
Think of a person in your life who is spiritually blind. What steps can you take to help open their eyes to the light of the gospel? [17:10]
How can you share the joy of Christ with others in a way that is both genuine and inviting? Identify one person you can reach out to this week to share this joy. [21:00]

Sermon Clips

We live in this age that is passing away and we live in an age to come that will never end and therefore we have bodies in this world and therefore feel everything everybody else feels and we have hearts in Two Worlds this world and the next World therefore we can feel the suffering there when people are split forever from Jesus in Eternal suffering or given to Jesus in Eternal joy. [00:07:29]

I believe that every great eternally significant cause of fighting pain and fighting suffering and fighting everything negative in the world every eternally significant cause is rooted in a passion for joy in Jesus and aiming toward an everlasting passion for joy in Jesus and to the degree that any movement loses its rooting in the cross loses its it its reaching for for Everlasting joy for people it has lost its Soul. [00:08:22]

Christians are people whose blindness inbred native firstborn blindness has been overcome so that we see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ the image of God God who said let light shine out of Darkness has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ and so we who have seen the light now are to be the light. [00:15:36]

I am sending you to open their eyes that they might turn from Darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they might receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are Sanctified by faith in me that's what I'm asking God to do is to send people like that we are sending you to open the eyes of the blind sending you so that people would turn from Darkness to light turn from Satan to God find a place among those who are Sanctified by faith in me. [00:17:10]

Christian Joy the Christian Joy of Friendship with Jesus knowing Jesus being satisfied with Jesus saved by Jesus loved by Jesus United to Jesus brought into friendship and everlasting Union with Jesus that Joy is the Invincible energy and goal energy and end of Frontier mission. [00:21:00]

These things I have spoken to you that my joy might be in you and your joy might be full that's simply staggering the joy of the Son of God becoming your joy that's worth many hours of meditation and much life transformation I have spoken these things to you this exists so that the joy that the Son of God has had in the father infinitely so forever and ever might be the joy with which you enjoy God. [00:23:41]

I will go to God to God my exceeding Joy so Incarnation steady state teaching death and Resurrection all of it that we might know great joy that was the point of the Incarnation that was the point of the teaching that was the point of the death and Resurrection so that the people of God might come into the joy of God in God. [00:24:59]

Our mission is to call the Nations to Joy shout for Joy All Nations be glad in God that's our message Paul this has meant so much to me over the years I mean there are few things that get that gave me a pastoral sense of significance than to believe what Paul said in these next two passages namely 2 Corinthians 1:24 and Philippians. [00:25:59]

Every life lived in love and justice for the rescuing of people from any kind of suffering in the name of Jesus with a view to it leading them into deliverance from Eternal suffering is a great life lived if you gave yourself to this in the name of Jesus you would have lived a great life. [00:06:27]

We are called to be the light in a world shrouded in darkness, tasked with opening the eyes of the blind and turning them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God. This is a task beyond our natural ability, but with God's help, we can bring people into everlasting joy and friendship with Jesus. [00:17:10]

The alignment of our mission with the "End It Movement" highlights the providential call to rescue those in bondage, both physically and spiritually, leading them to eternal joy in Jesus. As Christians, we live in two worlds: the present age and the age to come. This dual existence empowers us to feel the urgency of our mission to alleviate suffering and bring people to eternal joy in Christ. [00:05:24]

Our joy in Christ is both the energy and the goal of our mission. The angelic announcement of Jesus' birth heralded good news of great joy for all people. Jesus' teachings were meant to fill us with His joy, a joy that is invincible and transformative. This joy is not something we muster on our own; it is a gift from God, meant to be shared with the nations. [00:21:00]

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Rescuing Joy: Our Mission Against Modern Slavery

Devotional

Day 1: The Call to Rescue and Restore

Day 2: Living Between Two Worlds

Day 3: Grounding in the Cross

Day 4: Light in the Darkness

Day 5: Invincible Joy for the Nations

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Rescuing Joy: Our Mission Against Modern Slavery

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