Recipe For Joy Series

Recipe for Joy

Introduction, Is there any thing robbing you of your joy?

1) Worry is the great thief of joy

2) Most of what we worry about will never happen.

Example of women who worry about getting stomach cancer for 40 yr., she

eventually died of pneumonia.

3) Its alright to have concerns, Illustration, example of monastery in Portugal that was on a 300 ft.cliff. The only way to get to the monastery is by a large basket that is hoisted by a rope. A visiting person while riding the basket notice that the rope looked old and frayed. Seeking to calm his concern about the rope he asked the monk riding with him how often the rope was replaced. The monk replied whenever it breaks. Now that is a good reason to be concerned!

Text, Philippians 4:6-8

Recipe for Joy

I. Rejoice in the Lord (v4) (Celebrate)

II. Lighten Up (v5) (Tolerate)

III. Supplicate (v6,7)

III. Cast your cares upon the Lord (1Peter 5:7)

“Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.”

A. “Be anxious for nothing”

B. Take you concerns to God in pray

C. Pray with thanksgiving, for what He has done and will do.

D. The results (v7)

IV. Think on the Right Things (v8) (Meditate)

A. “Let your mind dwell on these things

B. Your thoughts determine you attitudes and actions

C. What to dwell on? God’s Word (Joshua 1:8)

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth but you shall meditate on it

day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it,

for then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have success.”

(Psalms 1:2)

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, an in His law he meditates day and night.”

The Word of God is powerful.

Joke about elderly lady who came home after a church service and found an intruder

in her home robbing her house. The elderly lady yelled out Acts 2:38. The intruder froze and didn’t move until the police came. After the police officer handcuffed the intruded he asked him why he hadn’t run away but stayed until the police arrived. The officer explained that the lady just had quoted a scripture reference. The intruder replied, “a scripture reference, I thought she said she had an ax the two 38s.

Has worry robbed you of your joy?

Is your rejoicing dependent on your circumstances

How well do you tolerate others?

Have you learned to cast your care (worries) upon the Lord?

Are you filling your mind with the Word of God?