Joy In The Presence Of The Lord

JOY IN THE PRSENCE OF THE LORD!

Phl 3:8 NKJV Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

Evangelist Billy Graham was asked what he loved most of the many years of ministry God gave him? His answer without hesitation was the fellowship he had with Jesus, to sense His presence, to receive some of His wisdom and to have Him guide and direct him. That had been the greatest joy of his ministry.

Since Billy was one of my great examples along with my 3 mentors that I worked with, Kathryn Kuhlman, T.L. Osborn and My pastor, Leroy (Tad) McAnallen. Let me just remark on these 4 reasons to the great joy of Billy Graham.

1. His fellowship with Jesus. Like the gospel song. ‘Fellowship with Jesus, oh what joy divine.’

A. Where then is real joy found? -- the answer is simple, in Christ alone.

B. Joy is the by-product of obedience.

C. The joy of the Lord is our strength.

2. Sense His presence. Luk 24:32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

A. Psa 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

B. To be a joyful Christian is to know God’s presence.

3. Receive some of His wisdom. James 1:5 (NKJV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

A. The story of Scripture begins and ends with the presence of God.

4. To have the Lord guide and direct me. Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

A. To be a joyful Christian is to know God’s presence.

Then into His hands went mine,

And into my heart came He,

And I walk in the light divine

The path I had feared to see.

NOW YOU SEE WHY BILLY GRAHAM WAS SUCH GREAT SOULWINNER!