Lord’s Day, Vol. 9 No. 52

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Lord’s Day, Vol. 9 No. 52

Family Day 2021

Thank God for His grace for our annual Family Day on 22 December 2021. The theme: Be of Good Cheer. 

The Scripture text was John 16:33 (KJV) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

OUTLINE

  • Peace During Trials is Found by Abiding in Christ
    • Learn of Him and His Ways More Deeply Through His Word
      • Finding the Spirit’s Joy, Commanded to Rejoice
      • Finding God’s Grace, Sufficient
      • Finding Courage to Persevere
    • Take Time to Pray
      • Finding Rest for Our Entire Being
    • Obeying Him More Completely
      • Not My Will But Thine Be Done
  • Understanding Why Trials And Temptations Come Our Way
    • We are In the World, in the Flesh, and we have an Adversary
    • We are Sanctified During Trials
      • Drawn Closer to God 
      • Kept From Sin by God’s Power
      • Experiencing God’s Glory
  • Jesus’ Victory Is Ours Too
    • Victory over Sin
      • His Perfect Obedience
        • Active 
          • Obeying All the Commandments of God
        • Passive
          • His Broken Body Upon the Cross
          • His Cleansing Blood that Washes Away Our Sins
      • His Resurrection from the Dead     
  1. Victory over SatanHis Perfect WordSword of the Spirit
    1. Victory Over the World
      1. His Perfect Peace
        1. Bearing Witness of the Truth
        1. Standing Firm upon His Word
        1. His Glory Manifested in All the Earth

1 John 5:4 (KJV) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

1 John 5:5 (KJV) Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the record of the last words of our Lord’s last sermon to His disciples in John 16:33. The discourse began in John 13:31 when Judas will betray Jesus. He was in the Upper Room with the disciples before He would go to the cross. And He gave His disciples these comforting words of assurance of His abiding presence with them as His Father’s presence was with Him without let-up so that they might have rest in Jesus’ abiding presence through the Holy Spirit Comforter that He will send.  We too might have rest in Jesus’ abiding presence in times of trial and testing. 

The thought of the believer resting in the Lord’s power is well illustrated here.

Two painters each painted a picture to illustrate his concept of rest. The first chose for his scene a still, lone lake among far-off mountains. The second threw on his canvas a thundering waterfall, with a fragile birch tree bending over the foam; at the fork of a branch, almost wet with the cataract’s spray, a robin sat on its nest. The first was only Stagnation but the last was Rest. For in rest there are two elements – tranquillity and energy; silence, turbulence; fearfulness and fearlessness. -Drummond

The phrase “Be of Good Cheer” means “Be of Good Courage – Pres. Act. Imperative), a command to boldly look to Jesus and Him alone continually!

The several instances this phrase occurred, Jesus spoke those words to His disciples and to the Apostle Paul in times of adversity.

  • Disciples Brought a Paralysed Man to Jesus

Matthew 9:2 (KJV) And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”

  • Jesus Walking on Water 

Matthew 14:27 (KJV) But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

  • Jesus Spoke to the Apostle Paul on the Mission to Rome

Acts 23:11 (KJV) And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

  • Jesus’ Assurance of Safety to the Apostle Paul in Shipwreck 

Acts 27:22 (KJV) And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.

May the Lord strengthen His Church with good courage in such a time as this. Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee