“Be of Good Cheer” Christians Have Good Reason To Be Happy

The World Is Sad There is much depressing news today Because of sin in the world, life is not as it should be. There are troubles, trials and tribulations everywhere: home, work, local church, etc.

Christians Are Happy Christians sometimes forget to be happy; true happiness comes from a right relationship with God A Christian will attract more people to Christ with cheerfulness than with gloom. Do you light up a room when you walk in?

Christians Are Happy “Be of good cheer” is found six times in the NT. Let’s explore this phrase and gain some encouragement from it.

Be of Good Cheer… Your sins are forgiven: Jesus and the man with palsy (Mt. 9:2) Sin separates a man from God (Isa.59:1-2); forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ is a matter of great rejoicing (Lk.15:7, 10, 32; Ac.8:39)

Be of Good Cheer… Our physical health may not be good, but our spiritual life is; someday we will have an incorruptible body Our earthly responsibilities may be heavy, but there is coming eternal rest one day

Be of Good Cheer… Do you need to become a Christian to share this same happiness (Heb.11:6; Ac.17:30; Rom.10:10; Ac.22:16)? Do you need to come back to Christ?

Be of Good Cheer… Your faith has made you whole: Jesus and the woman with the flow of blood (Mt. 9:22) Active, persistent faith is rewarded by Jesus (Jas.2:14ff), and that is something to be happy about

Be of Good Cheer… You are called: Jesus and blind Bartimaeus (Mk.10:49) Jesus is willing to associate with all mankind; he calls you by the gospel (2 Thess.2:14)

Be of Good Cheer… You have Jesus near your side: Jesus calms the storm (Mt.14:27; Mk.6:50) Many things trouble us today, but Jesus can calm our fears with his word (Rom.15:4), with prayer (Heb.4:16), with providential care (2 Cor.7:5-7), and with his brethren (1 Thess.4:18)

Be of Good Cheer… You are victorious: Jesus with his apostles (Jn.16:33) Jesus was about to die, but he was victorious! He looked beyond death to the victory that it would accomplish (Jn.17:4-5; Heb.12:3)

Be of Good Cheer… Our faith in Jesus gives us the victory that overcomes the world (Rom.8:37-39; 1 Jn.5:4-5; Rev.2-3)

Be of Good Cheer… You will not be lied to: Paul on his way to Rome (Ac.23:11; 27:22,25) Paul had great comfort and consolation on these occasions. Why? Paul was not basing his confidence and cheerful disposition upon mere conjecture or speculation of men.

Be of Good Cheer… Paul was cheerful because of a specific message from God. Paul got word from God, and God does not lie (Tit.1:2). When God makes a promise it comes to pass: the flood; destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; the 10 plagues; the resurrection; the second coming of Christ

Be of Good Cheer… Things will be exactly … exactly as God has said. Consider God’s promise of heaven (Jn.14:1-2; 2 Cor.5:6ff; 1 Pet.1:3-5)