The Joy Sermon

The Joy Sermon

New Life Worship Center

Pastor Dave – “Phone Bible study with believers around the world”

September 15, 2013

Begin:  Good evening everyone!  I am excited to share God’s Word with each of you today.  I want to talk to you about the “Joy of the Lord.”

Scripture:  (Habakkuk 3:17-19) - 17 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.”

Sometimes in life, we feel as though everything around us is falling apart.  Do you ever feel that way?  Your circumstances, the environment you’re in, and just life in general, can be difficult at times.  Sometimes you say, “I cannot take another step!”  And you feel like everything is going wrong:  your family, your finances, your marriage, your career.  Sometimes you can’t even explain what’s happening in your life.  What can you do?

Well, there was a man in the Bible named Habakkuk, who was going through some of the same problems that maybe you are going through.

He had crop failures (food shortages); his animals weren’t producing.  He had no control over his situation.

But he could control his response to God during a trying time.

He saw the collapse of what was most important to him.  And he came to a point in his life where he could say sincerely that even when everything around him failed, he still would rejoice in his God.

He was not controlled by the events around him, but by faith in God’s ability to give us strength!

Remember today that God is the strength of your life!

Live in the strength of His Spirit.  But, you may ask, how do I do that?  How do I keep joy flowing in my life?

The Scripture says in Nehemiah 8:10, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”

We don’t have any problem getting the joy; our problem is keeping the joy.  How do we keep the joy of the Lord in our lives?

1.      Remembering what God’s Word says

·         Memorize Scripture.  Not just read it, but let it get deep into your spirit man, into your heart.

·         It has to go from your head to your heart.

·         Let it travel 18” from your head to your heart.

Nehemiah 8:10:  “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Psalm 16:11:  “In your presence there is joy.”

Isaiah 51:11:  “Everlasting joy shall be upon your head.”

Romans 14:17:  “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but

righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

·         It’s a choice we make.  You must let the Word of God get into your spirit and you will come alive.

·         Joy and knowledge of the Word of God will make your face light up! (smile)

·         To rejoice is to come back to joy again.  How do I keep the joy of the Lord?  Remember what God’s Word says.

2.      Remember who you are in Christ

·         This is very, very important.

·         God’s Word says . . .

·         I am fearfully and wonderfully made

·         I am a child of God

·         I was dead in my sins, but now alive in Christ

·         I am joint heirs with Christ

·         I am a new creation, old things have passed, behold all things become new.

·         Jesus spoke to His disciples (and you are His disciples!) about joy being complete in them.

John 15:11:  “I have told you this, so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

·         Allow the Holy Spirit to work in you and you will see fruit develop in your Christian life.  Part of the fruit of the Spirit is joy.

·         Joy comes from a consistent relationship with Christ.

·         Knowing who you are in Christ, and remembering that, keeps the joy going!

3.      Remembering your past, present and future experiences with God

·         Remembering when you first got saved

·         Remembering the last prayer request and when He answered it.  Praise Him for it!

·         Remembering that God will continue to bless you in the future

·         Don’t let difficult times cancel your joy!

·         You are a child of God!

·         Joy does not depend on circumstances.  Joy comes from God!

·         Don’t forget that!  This is important!

·         Remember, remember, remember!

In closing:  In all of your life, real joy lies in the knowledge that there is a holy God who loves you, lives inside of you, forgives you, paid for your sins and mine, a debt we could not pay, for all eternity, and He has been preparing a place in Heaven for you!  That’s good news!

How do I keep the joy going?

1.      Remember what God’s Word says about joy.

2.      Remember who you are in Christ.

3.      Remember all your past, present, and future experiences with Christ.

Remember, He loves you always!

Joy is a choice!

Do not let anyone, or any circumstance, rob your joy.

The joy of the Lord is your strength.