Welcome to the New Year of Joy in Christ
The 2015 motto in the New Apostolic Church is: JOY IN CHRIST. Joy is the source of strength. Joy is energy. Where there is joy, no tiredness and no boredom comes up. When all are motivated by joy, there is LABOR IN LOVE because all are at work with love. Then giving becomes more blessed than receiving, and that is when THE KINGDOM OF GOD LIVES in us. May our joy in salvation, our joy in fellowship, our joy in serving, and our joy in daily life increase this year as we prepare for the return of the Lord!
NEW YEARS MESSAGE 2015
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:18
Joy is a characteristic of the Bride. This bridal joy is an inspiration of the Holy Spirit, never to be forgotten even on not so happy days.
Joy is not always there in our earthly life. Therefore, it is so vital to focus on the Joy in Christ.
JOY over salvation.
Rejoice in the victory of Christ, His love and His nearness. The Holy Spirit reminds us: Christ is coming soon, but also teaches us how to pray and how to fight against evil, and gives us the strength. Let us not be discouraged by our failure but also not become too lenient with ourselves. There is joy to the overcomer.
JOY in fellowship.
The Lord promised to be where we gather in His name. The first Christians had great joy in their fellowship. Our fellowship is not coincidental. He has drawn us together and therefore human imperfections do not matter. The love of God poured out in our hearts does not allow jealousy or envy. There is joy over one repenting sinner. Every baptism, sealing, and confirmation vow made are a joy in the congregation
JOY in serving.
Our commitment to the Church is a source of joy if we truly see that we work for the Lord and with Him.
JOY in daily life.
The Heavenly Father cares for His children and provides the gifts and powers we need for our daily lives. They must be engaged in the mind and spirit of the gospel and thus serve to our joy and the joy of our loved ones