Joyfully Hoping For God 2 (A Joyful Hope)

Jesus once said in Matthew 12:43-45 “43 When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

That’s why we need to yield to God and be occupied with His Spirit so that the devil won’t deceive us anymore and dwell in our lives again and start to punish us, ruin our lives once more. But instead, be busy with God and be busy with His Kingdom as well serving Him until He comes again.

Conclusion:

Illustration:

I really like this story about Professor William Phelps. He taught English Literature at Yale from 1892-1933. Dr. Phelps was grading tests shortly before one Christmas, and he saw a note a student had written next to a tough question on the test. The student wrote, "God only knows the answer to this question. Merry Christmas."

The professor returned the test with his own note under the student’s comment: "God gets an A. You get an F. -- Happy New Year."

I like that statement: "God gets an A." When our world is falling apart and nothing seems to be going our way, God gets an A, our Adoration and Awesome Praise despite of all difficulties in life! Then we will get an F (not a failing grade) but that is Filled with JOY!

So, in summary, the 3 major effects of a joyful hope to God’s people are:

We have a J-ubilant Hope to leave our old and sinful life – our Joy of Salvation

We have an O-verflowing Hope to love God – our Joy of Sacrifice

We have a Y-ielding Hope to live with God – our Joy of Service

Jesus promised us that His joy will always be with us to complete us or to fill us.

John 15:11 NIV “I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Are you joyfully hoping for God right now?

As I close, I like the song Pastor Joey entitled

“Sa Piling Mo”

Nais kong mamasdan ang Iyong kagandahan – the longing of Zacchaeus to see Jesus

Nais kong Manahan sa Piling Mo kailanman – to leave the old life in order to be with God

Ang ibigin Ka ang syang nais ko – the act of loving Jesus through the alabaster jar

Ang sambahin Ka ang syang mithi – the act of pouring the expensive perfume to Jesus’ head and feet

Hindi na lalayo, hindi na lalayo – the response of the Gadarene man being delivered

Ang pangako ko…

Sa piling Mo napapawi ang pangamba

Sa piling Mo lubos ang pag-asa (overflowing hope)

Sa piling Mo galak ay umaapaw (overflowing joy)

Sa piling Mo O Diyos

Sa piling Mo…