In The Midst Of It All, I Still Have Joy

In the Midst of It All, I Still Have Joy.

2nd Corinthians 8:1–2 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

Have you ever been in a place where life seem like it didn’t add up? Bills high, strength low, and tears on your pillow, but you still had a praise on your lips, and a shout in your heart?

That’s where the Church of Macedonia was, they were afflicted, broke, and overlooked, and yet the Apostle Paul said something remarkable.

While in their great trials of affliction, the abundance of their joy was still overflowing.

They didn’t have much, but what they had, they gave it, and they gave it with joy.

That’s the kind of faith we need in this season, the kind that says. Even in the midst of it all, I still have joy.

When the economy is all messed up.

When men and women are being killed in the streets.

When drugs are running rampant in every neighborhood.

When the enemy thought he had me down.

When the storm wouldn’t stop raging against me.

When the money ran low, grace stepped right in. Yep, I still have joy.

Here it is:

The Macedonian churches, Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, were going through some hard times.

Rome had taxed them heavily.

Their economy had collapsed.

They were persecuted for their faith, they were losing homes, their jobs, and even family members for following Christ.

But when Paul was gathering an offering to help the struggling saints in Jerusalem, guess who begged to help? Guess who wanted to give first.

When the Apostle Paul was collecting an offering to help the struggling believers in Jerusalem, many of the wealthier churches were slow to respond, if they responded at all.

But the churches in Macedonia, who were suffering themselves, begged Paul for the opportunity to give.

They didn’t wait for their situation to improve.

They didn’t say, when I get more, I’ll do more.

They said, please, Paul let us help. Let us give something. Let us be a part of blessing somebody else.

And here’s the amazing part:

They were already going through hard times, persecution, poverty, and pressure, but yet their hearts were so full of joy and gratitude insomuch that they wanted to give, even when they barely had anything to offer.

Their attitude was, we may not have a lot in our pockets, but we have joy in our spirit, and that’s enough to make us give.

That’s why Paul used them as an example of true joy and grace in action, because they didn’t give out of abundance; but they gave out of faith and joy.

It was those same poor Macedonian believers. That Paul said, they gave beyond their power.

They had nothing, but yet their joy made them generous, it made them wealthy in the spirit.

They didn’t give because things were good, they gave because God was good.

They didn’t give out of abundance, but they gave out of assurance. Assurance that even when life was breaking, God was still blessing.

Their giving wasn’t a response to comfort, it was a declaration of conviction. They didn’t sow because they had much, but they sowed because they knew who their Source was.

They didn’t give because the situation made sense; they gave because their spirit remembered who never failed them. Gratitude was their language, even in the struggle. They still had Joy.

Somebody that’s here that’s going through ought to shout out, In the midst of it all, I still have joy. (Pause)

Joy Is not controlled by conditions.

Joy isn’t about what’s happening, but it’s about who’s helping.

The Macedonians were in pain, but they still praised.

They were lacking in supplies, but not lacking joy.

They had learned that joy is not a reaction; but it’s a decision.

What this: I know that you can’t control the storms, but you can control the songs in the storms.

You don’t have to sing:

They call it stormy Monday

But Tuesday's just as bad

They call it stormy Monday

But Tuesday's just as bad

and Wednesday's worse

And Thursday's all so bad

The eagle flies on Friday

Saturday I go out to play

The eagle flies on Friday

Saturday I go out to play

Sunday I go to church, yeah

Gonna kneel down and pray

No!!!!!! They were able to sing, I've had many tears and sorrows,

I've had questions for tomorrow,

there've been times I didn't know right from wrong.

But in every situation,

God gave me blessed consolation,

that my trials come to only make me strong.