Joy
Notes
Transcript
There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.
Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law,
Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said,
Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised.
For my eyes have seen your salvation.
You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples—
a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel.
His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.
Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary: “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed—
and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.
At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
“As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love.
If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
“I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
“In that day you will not ask me anything. Truly I tell you, anything you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.
Until now you have asked for nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.
Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us—
what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia:
During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord,
they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints,
and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will.
I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers,
because I hear of your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus.
I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ.
For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings.
Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way.
For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, because you know that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession.
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in truth.
Sing for joy to God our strength; shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you because you have redeemed me.
Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy,
to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.