Good News Of Great Joy

Dr. Thamsing Lamkang *

Christmas fever in and around Imphal areas with illuminated stars and carols on 21 December 2013 :: Pix - Ashok Ninghoujam / Gnet Cyber Cafe

Do not be afraid. I bring you Good News of 'Great Joy' that is for "ALL" people. Today in the town of David a savior has been born to "YOU": He is the Messiah, the Lord Luke 2:10-11.

The Good News of Great Joy is for ALL people, yet it is unto YOU. The whole world may celebrate the GN but without 'YOU' it is incomplete and meaningless. Jesus came just for you alone and that gives values to your life.

There are so many type of good news in life that comes in different way. Sometimes, we have no patience to tell others especially, to our near and dear ones. We normally cannot keep the GN within ourselves.

There is such an excitement to tell as many people as we can. And we are more joyful then the people who heard from us. So, "The ultimate goal of Christmas can be fulfill only when you tell the Good News to others".

But why is it so difficult to tell others even after we know and discovered the truth about Jesus and His birth? It is difficult to tell others because 'it is God's Truth and Life Eternal'. Satan works day and night to hinder men to tell about the 'Son of God'. You'll be easily distracted, ashamed and discourage to talk about the greatest news because it is the 'Power of God.' Do you have the passion in telling others or not? If you can't tell the Good News with boldness you're yet to know God's Truth, a simple Truth. "If you cannot tell others about Christ, then, tell Christ about others and soon you'll tell others about Christ." Every heart with Christ is a Missionary, and every heart without Christ is your mission field.

Christmas is Good News, God saying "I want to relate to you. I want you to know me as much as I know you." That's joyful news. It's Good News!

THE REASONS FOR GOOD NEWS (Luke 2:10-14)

o It is 'Good News' because it 'BANISHES FEAR'. The angel said to shepherds 'fear not'. Before Jesus the fear of what happens after death, but Jesus gave us hope when He resurrected.
o It is 'Good News' because it brings 'GREAT JOY'. Fear is the greatest enemy of joy!
o It is 'Good News' because it is for 'ALL PEOPLE', and the desires of all nations Haggai 2:7. There is no class of people, but all have equal rights in Jesus.
o It is 'Good News' because it emphasizes 'HUMAN VALUES'. Gospel is for 'All People', yet it is 'Unto you'. "For what profit is it to man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul" Matt.16:26.
o It is 'Good News' because it 'SAVE SINNERS'. The Savior came to redeem men by the 'New Covenant' 1 Tim.1:14.
o It is 'Good News' because it 'GLORIFIES GOD'. Glory to God in the highest!
o It is 'Good News' because it gives 'REAL & LASTING PEACE' Luke 2:14. Let the peace of God be with men so that he can bring peace to others' heart.

Everyday we read in the Newspaper or listen to the television news; we are confronted with the reality of the Bad News all over the world. Very rarely do we hear of some really good happenings across the world.

Wars, Earthquakes, Famine, Terrorism, Floods, Governments failing and Human beings failing on the most important issues of life. It does seem that the world accepts Bad News as part of the normal process.

Even many are use to and happy to hear bad news or see bad things happening, if its not happening to me that's ok to happen to others, kind of people. But you must consider it happens to you then, how would you react?

What a Joy to know that Jesus was born into this world as the SAVIOR - who would die on the cross for our sins, shed his blood that will clean up our sins, save us from "spiritual death", give us new life in Christ and set us on our way to Eternal life with God. The Life of Jesus answered all the "Big Questions" that every human being will ask.

What is life all about, what happens after death? Who can forgive my sins? Where will I spend eternity? What a Joy to know that Jesus the "Messiah and Savior" of the world - my Savior was born on Christmas Day and that is why we celebrate Christmas.

This Good News is so much needed by the people, but who will carry this Good News to them? What about your own life to them did they 'See and Read' the Good News in me or not? To communicate the Good News must be the prime priority as the followers of Jesus, while we focus on so many things.

Most people are ashamed to Share and Live the Good News. But starting this Christmas let us Live and Speak the Good News wherever we can... beginning this Christmas. As Apostle Paul writes, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God" Rom.1:16.