The Gift of Joy!
Jesus' promise of joy is not just a feeling, but a reality that comes from suffering and repentance, leading to intimate union with Him.
In this sermon, Basilia Schlink shares her testimony of finding joy in her relationship with God. She describes how her sisterhood experienced tears of repentance and sorrow due to their sins and the difficult circumstances they faced. However, she explains that true joy comes from suffering and drawing close to Jesus. By placing their lives under His will and lordship, they have found true happiness. The sermon emphasizes the importance of intimate union with Jesus and the everlasting joy that comes from praising and loving Him.
Full Transcript
God lives and works today. Whoever has experienced God's reality in his life has found a spring of ever-flowing joy and blessedness. But what can we do if we don't have His joy? Listen to the testimony of Basilio Schlenk in today's meditation, The Gift of Joy.
The Gift of Joy Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John, Chapter 16, Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. That is, the joy in and with him. But what is this joy like? From the moment of our foundation, the birth of our sisterhood, we were more like a child of tears.
On the one hand, there were many tears of repentance because we were constantly shown how much trouble we caused Jesus and our Heavenly Father with our sins, and how guilty we became towards Him and other people. Furthermore, we were born at a time of death and destruction, while bombs were raining upon our city. This, too, meant deep sorrow and tears.
Then God let persecution and disgrace come upon us. That, too, brought tears. And Jesus can still speak of the joy that no one can take from us? What does that mean? In another place, Jesus says, Those who weep here will laugh.
The blissful joy in Jesus comes out of suffering. Repentance and suffering drive us to Him, into His arms, where His blood cleanses us and He draws us to His heart. Suffering, disgrace, and persecution bring us close to Jesus, and intimate union with Him is the happiest thing there is.
What grace has given me Thy beauteous face to see Near Thee to dwell always Like sweet celestial wine Drinks in this song of mine Thy loveliness, O Christ When our sisterhood experienced all this, our joy was really the way Jesus said it would be. This joy constantly increases. It pervades our everyday life, and we experience it especially in our evening meetings, when we sing of Jesus and His name and His glory, when we praise Him as the Lamb upon the highest throne, the King of all kings, the Lord who will come again in majesty and glory, the Bridegroom of our souls who loves us a thousand times more than any human being could.
Who makes as happy Jesus as you? Therefore my heart rejoices in you Jesus, O joy eternal Jesus, my Lord, my God and my King You fill my heart with praise to sing Jesus, O joy eternal Jesus, no one makes us as happy as He who is eternal joy. Therefore, choose Him. Place your life unto His will and His lordship, and you will become truly happy.
This program by Basilea Schlink has come to you from the little land of Canaan. If you would like a free leaflet by the same author, please write to God Lives and Works Today 9849 North 40th Street Phoenix, Arizona 85028-4099 That's God Lives and Works Today 9849 North 40th Street Phoenix, Arizona 85028-4099 God bless you.
Sermon Outline
- The Gift of Joy
- The Experience of Joy in Suffering
- The Pervasiveness of Joy
- In Everyday Life
- In Worship and Praise
- In Intimate Union with Jesus
Key Quotes
“What does that mean? In another place, Jesus says, Those who weep here will laugh.” — Basilea Schlink
“What grace has given me Thy beauteous face to see Near Thee to dwell always Like sweet celestial wine Drinks in this song of mine Thy loveliness, O Christ” — Basilea Schlink
“Therefore my heart rejoices in you Jesus, O joy eternal Jesus, my Lord, my God and my King You fill my heart with praise to sing Jesus, O joy eternal Jesus, no one makes us as happy as He who is eternal joy.” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- We can experience joy in our everyday lives by placing our lives unto Jesus' will and lordship.
- Suffering and repentance can drive us to Jesus and into His arms, where we can experience His joy.
- Intimate union with Jesus is the happiest thing there is, and it is available to all who choose Him.