– Advent – a time of reflection and anticipation
– Luke 2:8-11 – ”Exceeding Joy.”
– Happiness – is subjective to your state of mind. It comes from outside yourself and depends on something “happening” that’s unexpected and pleasurable.
– Joy – emanates from within and doesn’t rely on external circumstances.
– The message of exceeding joy was that it was now possible for people to be changed (transformed) from within.
– John 1:4 – Jesus, the LIGHT of men – the Principle of LIFE (Zoe) who brought enlightenment to mankind. – The Transformational Connector to God the Father.
– Matthew 16: 25 – “For My Sake” – For the sake of the TRUTH
– SOUL CONTROL – being bossed around by automatic emotional responses to circumstances
– Two Choices:
1. Keep control – Have to make every decision with incomplete info
2. Give control to God and receive transformational promises of the New Covenant
– 2 Corinthians 3:6 – The LAW kills – The SPIRIT gives life
– Luke 5:1-8 – Two Boats – Our Way / His Way
– Romans 2:4 – God’s KINDNESS leads to repentance
– 1 John 4:19 – We love Him b/c he first loved us
– 1 John 4:10 – True repentance is the result of a revelation of God’s unyielding love for us
– Romans 12:1-2 – Repentance occurs, transforming us as our minds are renewed
– Titus 2:11-12 – Grace is a teacher and leads people to repent
– Grace – Does not result in Superficial Behavior Modification but with Permanent Interior Heart Transformation
– “O Christ, my JOY. Allow us the Joy of your presence that transcends the sorrows of our lives.”