Message of Joy
The sermon emphasizes the importance of loving Jesus and experiencing God's love, which is the greatest joy and power for overcoming life's challenges.
In this sermon transcript titled 'Message of Joy' by Basil E. Schlink, the speaker explores the concept of loving Jesus as a privilege and the greatest joy. The transcript emphasizes that loving Jesus means having a personal and intimate relationship with Him. The speaker references John chapter 14, where Jesus states that those who love Him will be loved by the Father and that He will manifest Himself to them. The transcript concludes by highlighting the power of love and the invitation from Jesus to love Him above all things, as it allows God Himself to dwell within believers and work through them.
Full Transcript
God lives and works today. We will see this more practically in today's meditation, that loving Jesus is a privilege and the greatest joy there is. But what does it really mean to be allowed to love him? Today's meditation, called Message of Joy by Basilia Schlenk, gives us a biblical answer to this question.
Jesus, radiating beauty, light and sacred majesty. Jesus, throned and high exalted, over every sovereignty. Beauty marks now all thy bearing, decked with God's nobility.
Love now shines from all thy features, which the angels joy to see. Jesus says in John chapter 14, He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.
And if a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. What a request, what a challenge, what a message of joy which Jesus always begins with these words, If you love me. The first question he asked Peter after the resurrection was, Do you love me? Again and again we find Jesus talking about this love.
What does it mean to be allowed to love God above all things? Jesus answers this by saying, If anyone loves me, God himself will come and live within him. He who made heaven and earth will dwell in us. He'll pray in us and speak through us.
All power and authority is given to him. He is the victor who solves our problems and carries out all his plans. Jesus, you are our glorious Lord, my blessed Father, feel the thought, Jesus, our joy eternal.
Now we can say, the greatest and strongest power there is, whether for our inner conflicts and battles or for the needs of our nation, is the power of love. This love entails the most personal relationship of our hearts to Jesus. It means that he is our closest, most intimate friend.
We will be asked only one question in eternity, Have we loved Jesus? Jesus is love everlasting, He came to us below, That God to all his children, A selfless love might show. Eternal love is still waiting, And bleeds with every heart. Oh won't you hear and answer, I cannot bear to part.
That's God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099. God bless you.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to the Message of Joy
- A. Loving Jesus is a privilege and the greatest joy
- B. What does it mean to be allowed to love God above all things?
- II. Jesus' Teaching on Love
- A. Keeping God's commandments is loving Him
- B. God's love is reciprocated when we love Him
- III. The Power of Love
- A. God dwells in us when we love Him
- B. Love is the greatest power for inner conflicts and nation's needs
- IV. The Personal Relationship with Jesus
- A. Jesus is our closest and most intimate friend
- B. Love entails a personal relationship of our hearts to Jesus
Key Quotes
“He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.” — Basilea Schlink
“If anyone loves me, God himself will come and live within him.” — Basilea Schlink
“Jesus, you are our glorious Lord, my blessed Father, feel the thought, Jesus, our joy eternal.” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- We should strive to have a personal relationship with Jesus, which involves keeping His commandments and loving Him.
- God's love is the greatest power for overcoming inner conflicts and nation's needs, and it comes from a personal relationship with Jesus.
- We will be asked in eternity if we have loved Jesus, so we should make loving Him our top priority.