Peace And Joy

Introduction: Why Me Lord?

Background: One of the ways we can stand firm in the faith is to remember who it is we serve.

Purpose Statement: Christians have every reason to rejoice because…

I. The LORD is with you (v. 5)

A. Yahweh Shammah: The Lord is There

1. Context of Ezekiel 48:35

2. His Eyes Song

B. Do you look like this is true? (Look at verse)

1. What is the forbearing spirit?

2. Is it evident in you to all men?

C. Do you live like this is true?

1. If I went to your workplace, neighbors…

2. 7 Year old Boy Illustration

II. The Lord Provides (v. 6)

A. Yahweh Jireh – The Lord will provide

1. Genesis 22:13-14

2. Lucy the Dog Illustration

B. Anxiety serves no useful purpose

1. Matthew 6:24-34

2. It robs us of Joy

C. God wants you to lean upon Him

1. Prayer

2. Supplication

3. Thanksgiving

III. The Lord is Your Peace (v. 7a)

A. Yahweh Shalom – The Lord is peace

1. Judges 6:24

2. The close connection between joy and peace

B. It baffles the minds of the lost

1. How can one be joyous in bad circumstances?

2. DL Moody quote

C. Sometimes it can baffle your mind

1. Matthew Henry Story

2. The medicinal power of Joy

IV. The Lord is Your Helper (v. 7b)

A. Comforter, Counselor, Helper

1. John 14:16-17; 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-11

2. World Religions Illustration

B. For your heart

1. Daily meditation

2. Heart in Scripture Illustration

C. For your mind

1. That’s not Jade Illustration

2. You learn the Truth by handling the Truth

Conclusion: Don’t let distance from God rob you of your joy

WHY ME LORD?

Why Me Lord what have I ever done to deserve even one of the pleasures I’ve known

Why me Lord, what did I ever do to deserve loving You And the kindness You’ve shown

Lord help me Jesus I’ve wasted it...So help me Jesus, You know what I am

Now that I know that I’ve needed you...So help me Jesus my soul’s in Your hands

Try me Lord, if You think there’s a way I can ever repay, all I’ve taken from You

Maybe Lord, I can show someone else What I’ve been through myself, On my way back to You

Lord help me Jesus I’ve wasted it...So help me Jesus, You know what I am

Now that I know that I’ve needed you...So help me Jesus my soul’s in Your hands

WHY ASK WHY ME?

“In all fairness, if we ask the ‘Why me?’ question in regard to our burdens, we should also ask it in regard to our blessings.

“We take for granted 100 days of perfect health, and then grumble about one day of aches and pains.

“We drive the freeway hundreds of times without incident, and then ask, ‘Why me?’ the one time we have a flat tire or engine trouble.

“We casually accept the fact when our family is together for the holidays, but when we are separated, we dwell on our loneliness.

“How often do we say, ‘Why me?’ as we count our blessings?

“Rather than feeling sad about what we don’t have, doesn’t it make more sense to feel a kind of rollicking rejoicing over everything we do have?”

Dr. Dale Turner, quoted in MSC Health Action News, Vol. XVII, No. 11, Nov./Dec., 1997, p.

EZEKIEL 48:35

"{The city shall be} 18,000 {cubits} round about; and the name of the city from {that} day {shall be,} ’The LORD is there.’" (NAS)

HIS EYES

Sometimes I look above me when stars are shining, And I feel so small

How could the God of heaven and all creation, Know I’m here at all

But then in the silence He whispers, My child I created you too

And you’re my most precious creation, I even gave my Son for you

His eyes are always upon us, His eyes never close in sleep

And no matter where you go, You will always be in His eyes, In His eyes

7 YEAR OLD BOY

A seven-year-old boy approached his pastor one morning after the sermon. He said to the pastor, "Didn’t you say I have ask Jesus Christ into my heart in order to be a Christian?"

"That is what I said," replied the pastor.

"Well, how big is Jesus?" asked the boy.

"I’m not sure, but I bet He’s pretty big, because He was a carpenter," the pastor told him.

"That’s what I thought," said the little boy. "So as little as I am, and as big as Jesus is, wouldn’t He stick out if I asked Him into my heart?"

To this the pastor smiled, "He will stick out more than you think."

GENESIS 22:13-14

13 Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind {him} a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.