The world pays people to make it laugh. Stand up comedians are paid to make people laugh. Books, movies and pictures abound that has one purpose…to make people laugh! The laughter lasts for a moment and then ceases.
The child of God however has within him rivers of living water flowing, a well springing up into everlasting life, yes, life and that more abundantly! As we allow the spontaneous movement of this life within us we are able to experience a joy unspeakable and full of glory.
WE ARE COMMANDED BY THE WORD OF GOD TO REJOICE!
We are commanded to Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4 KJV
Psalms 132:9 KJV Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
Psalms 35:27-28 KJV Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. 28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. Psalms 32:11 KJV
It is the inherent right of the Christian to rejoice for the Word says: But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. Psalms 5:11 KJV So do we trust Him? Do we love His Name? Then we need to begin rejoicing!
The Bible says A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:... Proverbs 17:22 KJV It is medicine that should be taken regularly without fail!
When the Saviour was born some shepherds had a heavenly visitor who brought joyful news, then was joined by a heavenly host that put on a joyous dazzling display for the shepherds because the Beloved Son had come down to man!
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:10 KJV
Luke 2:13-14 KJV And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
WHAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO REJOICE AND HAVE JOY?
As a citizen of the kingdom of God, we are partakers of not only righteousness and peace but Joy, For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17 KJV
When we dwell in the presence of the Lord we experience fullness of joy! The Word says: Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalms 16:11 KJV
When we ask and receive from the Lord we experience fullness of Joy! Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24 KJV
The Bible says Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. 16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. 17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. Psalms 89:15-17 KJV
Nehemiah 8:8-10 KJV So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
The joy of the Lord does not just strengthen; the joy itself is our strength. This joy helps us to stand and look the enemy full in his eye and laugh when he threatens. It helps us to sing praises during our sufferings and to think little or nothing of the shame connected to serving Him. We are able to praise Him in the storm because we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 KJV
Remember He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32 KJV
THE ENEMY IS ALLOWED ACCESS WHEN WE FAIL TO SERVE GOD WITH JOY
Deuteronomy 28:47-48 KJV 47 Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; 48 Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.
When we serve God without joy we make God a liar and underline our unbelief in His promises. We are in effect saying that I will serve you God for what it is worth but I do not have to be happy about it. We are saying that serving you is no picnic. I also see that while I am burdened with complying with your Word my unsaved friends are having a fun time yet nothing bad seems to happen to them. The tragedy is that we have not allowed God access to our whole life, so He constantly stands outside the door shut out from intimate personal relationship with us. Can you hear Him knocking?
Remember the time you first came to a saving knowledge of Christ. Remember the joy? The sense of newness, the joy, and the praise that filled your heart and flowed from your spirit finding expression through the songs on your lips tone deaf though you may have been. It was the beautiful relationship with the Lord Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 1 Peter 1:8 KJV
What happened to us since then? How we need to get back to that relationship in Christ! The Word says: Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. 16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. 17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. Psalms 89:15-17 KJV
SIN WILL EFFECTIVELY STEAL OUR JOY AND RENDER US INEFFECTIVE
That’s why David prayed: Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Psalms 51:8-13 KJV
JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE SPOKE TO THEM FOR A REASON…A JOYOUS REASON!
Delighting in His Word results in Joy!
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 15:11 KJV
John 17:13 KJV And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. Psalms 119:111 KJV
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16 KJV
Nehemiah 8:8-10 KJV So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Psalms 1:1-2 KJV Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Laughter in our lives is more than just an outward audible expression. It is a definite attitude of the spirit that should be an integral part of the child of God. Your outward expression is an manifestation of your inner influence. Does this influence come from a carnal soulish realm or does it come from a regenerated spirit?
A merry heart does not come naturally... it takes conscious effort to keep it merry. Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit which needs to be cultivated. Galatians 5:22-23 KJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Fruit bearing requires patience, perseverance and persistence.
WE ARE ADVISED ON WHAT TO REJOICE ABOUT
Matthew 5:11-12 KJV Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Luke 6:22-23 KJV Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Luke 10:19-20 KJV Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
John 14:28 KJV Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
James 1:2-4 KJV My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
JESUS KNEW HOW TO REJOICE! HE HAD A REASON TO!
Hebrews 12:1-3 KJV Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
THE EARLY CHURCH KNEW HOW TO REJOICE
2 Corinthians 8:1-2 KJV 1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Romans 15:13-14 KJV Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Acts 5:40-42 KJV And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Acts 16:25-26 KJV And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
As we deliberately develop an attitude of praise and rejoicing in the LORD, the waters of life that flow in us begins to stir and swell and build up into a torrent, a veritable tsunami of joy that hits the enemy with an effectiveness that reverberates throughout the spirit world bringing the hosts of heaven right down into the prison that holds you and suddenly…we are free!
Isaiah 51:11 KJV Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
