Great Joy and Great Sorrow

Philemon 1:7 NKJV

7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

Romans 9:1-3 NKJV

1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 

2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 

3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,

Romans 9:1–3 MSG

At the same time, you need to know that I carry with me at all times a huge sorrow. It’s an enormous pain deep within me, and I’m never free of it. I’m not exaggerating—Christ and the Holy Spirit are my witnesses. It’s the Israelites … If there were any way I could be cursed by the Messiah so they could be blessed by him, I’d do it in a minute. They’re my family.

Paul was willing to go to hell so that they could go to heaven. 

1. Paul said this because he understood the condition of lost people. Sometimes, we as Christians forget it.

Ephesians 2:12 NKJV

12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

2. Before Christ, we have condemnation.  Condemnation means being found guilty of being worthy of a death sentence.  

John 3:16-18 NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Romans 10:9 NKJV

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13-14 NKJV

13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

3. We must have compassion for people.  Compassion means to put action to your love.  It means to have passion in action. 

Mark 6:34 NKJV

34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

If you have great sorrow for someone who is lost, you will have great joy for them when they are saved.  

John 16:20 NKJV

20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Jesus's burden is for those who don't know Him. We must take Christ's burden for the lost.  To exchange whatever burdens you for what burden's Him.

Lord Jesus, please give me a burden for those who you are preparing for me to share You with.   

 

John 1:45-46 NKJV

45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 

46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Ask, What is the Holy Spirit saying to me through this message?

Robert Morris, Gateway Church