| The Joy of the Lord is my stremgth" Ice breaker: name 2 things in your life that bring you joy Scriptures: Psalms 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour will you surround him as with a shield. Nehemiah 8:9 ķAnd Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Ever wondered why they wept? 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. In other words there is a time to be sorry & repent & a time to rejoice! Ask anyone what they want in life and most times 9 out of 10, they will say I just want to be happy! Everybody wants to be somebody. Lets think about that for a moment.. Happiness what is it? Some elusive thought, some far away feeling, some distant idea, or some temporal physical possession? Some mushy gushy, ohwie kind of effection? Lets compare the both, Happiness and JOY. HAPPINESS is based on whats happening around you. On circumstances and situations. Whereas JOY is based on what's happening within you! And in between both these theres a whole world of difference. One is emotional the other is spiritual. One temporal the other eternal. One shallow the other solid. The thing to notice about so this called happiness is that it never last, it comes and goes with the winds of adversity, but Joy on the other hand is always present. Always available, always based not on what I do but what he did. It is this Joy that enables us to endure the most difficult of times and troubles. It is a divine presence in the mist of TROUBLED persecution. It is a peace unlike the the world has ever known, it stills the violence of anguish, the winds of bitterness, and the turbulence of troubled lives. It is found in Jesus! In his indwelt presence. It is power indeed! Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: Ah but some of you are wondering yeah right how can I have joy ? you dont know what Im going through, you dont know my troubles, no job, no money, sick in body, my marriage is on the rocks, you gotta be kidding? But you see the key is to abide in Jesus and Jesus abide in you. Jesus said in the world u shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world. And we to must overcome. The key is to be grateful no matter what and show it! LETS LOOK AT THE ANALOGY OF THE VINE: John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit;( You wanna know how to bring glory to God? be a soulwinner ) so shall ye be my disciples. 9 ķAs the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. Anybody catching the theme here? BE OTHERS ORIENTED! In other words be conscious of the needs and hurts of others, try Soulwinning? loving? Abiding in him? His joy, You see they all tie together, to work for his good! And they all bring inner Joy. Hence if you need some joy get to work loving, soulwinning, and abiding in him! Does anybody remember the story in John 7:37 ķIn the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) What was he saying? You cannot find true joy in just going through the motions, in just following the traditions of man, your parents or friends, or trying to get wealth and fame, power and prestigued, not by repeating some ritualistic routine prayer, not even by whats happening around you? but rather what's within you@Jesus.com! |