IMPACT Recap

Count It All Joy

December 25, 2022 · 0:46:45

JoySufferingHealing

Recap

Pastor Travis Hearn opened his Christmas Eve message by sharing his personal testimony of suffering a severe brain aneurysm and stroke in November 2022. He framed this trial as a spiritual attack, declaring his determination to fight and continue preaching. The central message, drawn from James 1:2-4, was to 'count it all joy' when facing various trials. Pastor Travis provided four biblical reasons for this perspective. First, Jesus Himself is our ultimate and unshakeable joy, a truth celebrated in the Christmas story of a Savior born for all people. Second, trials present new opportunities for growth, ministry, and sharing the Gospel that would not exist otherwise. Third, trials deepen our faith and trust in God, drawing us closer to Him as we fix our thoughts on His promises. Fourth, trials, when surrendered to God, make us both stronger in the Lord's power and softer in compassion, allowing us to comfort others with the comfort we have received. He closed by encouraging the congregation not to waste their pain but to use their stories for God's glory, leading in a prayer of commitment and surrender.

Main Points

  • Jesus is our unshakeable joy, and no trial can take Him away from us.
  • Trials present new opportunities for growth, ministry, and sharing the Gospel.
  • Trials deepen our faith and make us stronger in God's power and softer in compassion for others.

Verses Mentioned

  • James 1:2-4 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (NIV)
  • Philippians 1:21-22 - "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!" (NIV)
  • Philippians 3:7-8 - "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ" (NIV)
  • Luke 2:7-11 - "and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'" (NIV)
  • Isaiah 9:6 - "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (NIV)
  • Philippians 1:12 - "Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel." (NIV)
  • Philippians 4:6-8 - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (NIV)
  • Colossians 3:2 - "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." (NIV)
  • Ephesians 6:10 - "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." (NIV)
  • 2 Corinthians 12:10 - "That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (NIV)
  • Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (NIV)
  • Ezekiel 36:26 - "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." (NIV)
  • Proverbs 20:30 - "Blows and wounds scrub away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being." (NIV)
  • 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." (NIV)

Daily Action Plan

Monday

Scripture Reflection: James 1:2-4 (NIV) - 'Consider it pure joy...whenever you face trials...'

Focus Point: Choosing joy in trials.

Action Plan: Identify one current challenge and write down one reason you can thank God in the midst of it.

Deep Prayer: Lord, help me see my trials through Your eyes and choose joy today, trusting Your purpose.

Tuesday

Scripture Reflection: Philippians 3:7-8 (NIV) - 'I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ...'

Focus Point: Jesus as our ultimate joy.

Action Plan: Spend 10 minutes in worship, focusing solely on who Jesus is, not on your requests.

Deep Prayer: Jesus, You are my joy. Remind me that nothing in this world compares to knowing You.

Wednesday

Scripture Reflection: Philippians 1:12 (NIV) - '...what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.'

Focus Point: Trials as new opportunities.

Action Plan: Consider how your current struggle might open a door to encourage someone else. Send a text of hope to a friend.

Deep Prayer: God, open my eyes to see the opportunities for Your glory within my difficulties.

Thursday

Scripture Reflection: Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV) - 'Do not be anxious about anything...think about such things.'

Focus Point: Deepening faith by fixing our thoughts.

Action Plan: When a worry arises today, consciously replace it by reciting a promise of God (e.g., 'God is with me').

Deep Prayer: Father, guard my heart and mind with Your peace as I fix my thoughts on what is true and praiseworthy.

Friday

Scripture Reflection: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV) - '...who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those...'

Focus Point: Using our pain to comfort others.

Action Plan: Reflect on a past trial. Reach out to someone you know is facing a similar situation to offer empathy and prayer.

Deep Prayer: God of all comfort, use the comfort You've given me to be a source of strength for someone else today.

Saturday

Scripture Reflection: Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV) - 'I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you...'

Focus Point: Becoming stronger and softer through trials.

Action Plan: Perform one intentional act of tenderheartedness (e.g., a kind word, a helping hand, a patient response).

Deep Prayer: Lord, make my heart more like Yours—strong in Your power and soft with Your compassion.

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