Are You Experiencing Joy?
“Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.” Psalm 47:1
* With the way the world is going, it is easy to be negative, and feel flustered most of our days. If we keep our eyes focused on what is not right and pay too much attention to the evils such as terrorism, corruption in politics, violence, economic woes, then JOY is hard to come by.
* The world the early & young Christian church experienced was actually worse than it is today. Still, they received the command to rejoice.
* As believers in Christ, we are actually ordered to rejoice always, in good times and bad. Easier said than done, right? But I invite you to look at Paul… in him we have a wonderful model for finding joy in times of great struggle as he journeys with Jesus.
* You already heard & read many times what Paul had to go through as, in his mission to spread the Christian faith, he endured persecution, imprisonment, threats to his life and ultimately death. But in the letters he wrote to the small churches he and his friends had started you will find that he was full of joy because of Christ’s promise of salvation. He was able to experience joy when there was corruption, persecution, pain, illness, financial difficulties. How is that possible?
* Well, listen to what he says to the small church in Philippi: “May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice! Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon.” Philippians 4. The secret is “IN YOUR UNION WITH THE LORD!”
* You are correct when you say that I cannot fully understand the problems you are experiencing right now. But that still does not give you the right to be “crabby” and bitter at all times. Are there times of sadness in one’s life? Yes, but even in Scriptures there a time to grieve, and then the people of God are told to wash their faces, get up and get back to their activities & be productive. Only then will we contribute to a more positive environment around us and make this world a nicer place to live in.
* And that applies even and especially to the church. How so? Do you attend a church? Are you a member of the body of Christ? Let’s imagine that you are. Well then, focus of the great majority of positive things that happen in your church, not on the few little problems that happen there (I am not referring here to doctrinal issues… That is a completely different story). Do not look at the church with colored glasses that see only what is not perfect. If all you do is to criticize what you see as “wrong” in the church, you will not be helpful in edifying the Kingdom of God, you will also damage your relationship within the body of Christ and YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL LIFE. (And please, don’t blame others for it…) No matter what church you belong to, be a POSITIVE FORCE for the Kingdom of God.
* Please start looking at what is good, what edifies, and rejoice. Celebrate the small victories in your life… in your church… CLAP YOUR HANDS! Find joy in your journey to eternal life with Christ & other believers. Life is so much nicer if you do.
* Besides, true joy is not found in anything else but Jesus… in Christ alone… When God’s people in the Old Testament heard the Word of God again and decided to walk with God, they were told, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10.
* Let me close with an historic event I read about the other day… Massena, one of Napoleon’s generals, suddenly appeared with eighteen thousand men before an Austrian town which had no means of defense. The town council had nearly decided to surrender when the old dean of the church reminded them that it was Easter and begged them to hold services as usual and to leave the trouble in God's hands. This they did; and the French hearing the church bells ringing joyfully concluded that an Austrian army had come to relieve the place and quickly broke camp. Before the bells ceased ringing, all the Frenchmen had vanished.
* The incident has often been duplicated in individual lives. They have rung the joy bells in the face of pain, and sickness, and poverty, and fear, and loneliness, and all other trials. Then the joy bells have conquered. Speedily, the foe has slunk away. Speedily, the bell ringers have found themselves in possession of the field. For no enemy is quite so strong as faith accompanied with good cheer.
* REJOICE – You will see what difference it will make in your life!
“Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.” Psalm 47:1
* With the way the world is going, it is easy to be negative, and feel flustered most of our days. If we keep our eyes focused on what is not right and pay too much attention to the evils such as terrorism, corruption in politics, violence, economic woes, then JOY is hard to come by.
* The world the early & young Christian church experienced was actually worse than it is today. Still, they received the command to rejoice.
* As believers in Christ, we are actually ordered to rejoice always, in good times and bad. Easier said than done, right? But I invite you to look at Paul… in him we have a wonderful model for finding joy in times of great struggle as he journeys with Jesus.
* You already heard & read many times what Paul had to go through as, in his mission to spread the Christian faith, he endured persecution, imprisonment, threats to his life and ultimately death. But in the letters he wrote to the small churches he and his friends had started you will find that he was full of joy because of Christ’s promise of salvation. He was able to experience joy when there was corruption, persecution, pain, illness, financial difficulties. How is that possible?
* Well, listen to what he says to the small church in Philippi: “May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice! Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon.” Philippians 4. The secret is “IN YOUR UNION WITH THE LORD!”
* You are correct when you say that I cannot fully understand the problems you are experiencing right now. But that still does not give you the right to be “crabby” and bitter at all times. Are there times of sadness in one’s life? Yes, but even in Scriptures there a time to grieve, and then the people of God are told to wash their faces, get up and get back to their activities & be productive. Only then will we contribute to a more positive environment around us and make this world a nicer place to live in.
* And that applies even and especially to the church. How so? Do you attend a church? Are you a member of the body of Christ? Let’s imagine that you are. Well then, focus of the great majority of positive things that happen in your church, not on the few little problems that happen there (I am not referring here to doctrinal issues… That is a completely different story). Do not look at the church with colored glasses that see only what is not perfect. If all you do is to criticize what you see as “wrong” in the church, you will not be helpful in edifying the Kingdom of God, you will also damage your relationship within the body of Christ and YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL LIFE. (And please, don’t blame others for it…) No matter what church you belong to, be a POSITIVE FORCE for the Kingdom of God.
* Please start looking at what is good, what edifies, and rejoice. Celebrate the small victories in your life… in your church… CLAP YOUR HANDS! Find joy in your journey to eternal life with Christ & other believers. Life is so much nicer if you do.
* Besides, true joy is not found in anything else but Jesus… in Christ alone… When God’s people in the Old Testament heard the Word of God again and decided to walk with God, they were told, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10.
* Let me close with an historic event I read about the other day… Massena, one of Napoleon’s generals, suddenly appeared with eighteen thousand men before an Austrian town which had no means of defense. The town council had nearly decided to surrender when the old dean of the church reminded them that it was Easter and begged them to hold services as usual and to leave the trouble in God's hands. This they did; and the French hearing the church bells ringing joyfully concluded that an Austrian army had come to relieve the place and quickly broke camp. Before the bells ceased ringing, all the Frenchmen had vanished.
* The incident has often been duplicated in individual lives. They have rung the joy bells in the face of pain, and sickness, and poverty, and fear, and loneliness, and all other trials. Then the joy bells have conquered. Speedily, the foe has slunk away. Speedily, the bell ringers have found themselves in possession of the field. For no enemy is quite so strong as faith accompanied with good cheer.
* REJOICE – You will see what difference it will make in your life!