#1 REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS, JOY IS ESSENTIAL
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I. DO WE UNDERSTAND HOW WE DEVELOP BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS?
ARE DID I JUST ONE DAY WAKE UP --- AND HERE I AM?
A. SOME TEND TO BLAME WHO THHEY ARE AND THE WAY THEY ARE ON OTHER PEOPLE?
My Mom, My Dad... my family...
Well God made me this way?
Others say the DEVIL MADE ME DO IT?
May I got up on the wrong side of the bed? The bed made me be this way...
B. LIFE DEVELOPS BY TWO DIFFERENT, DISTINCT MEANS...
1. INSTINCT...innate (inborn) pattern of behavior... innate impulsion... drive
You never went to a class to learn how to breathe, to suck a bottle, etc...
These skills were inborn in your brain...
2. LEARNED... to gain by knowledge or skill, memorize, to study, to be taught,
You learned to count, you learned you A,B,C's, you learn the capitals of the states...
YOU LEARN TO PLAY MUSIC
C. IT IS EASY TO DO THINGS INSTINCTIVELY, LEARNING CAN BE VERY HARD...
D. CONTENTMENT IS NOT AN INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR PATTERN...
YOU LEARN TO BE CONTENT OR TO GRIP AND BE FUSSY...
Philip. 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am,
therewith to be content.
E. WE CAN FALL INTO A TERRIBLE TRAP...
THE TRAP CAN BE HABITUAL...
Philip. 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
II. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN JOY AND HAPPINESS?
ARE THE MOODS I FIND MY SELF DEVELOPING FROM A THINKING PATTERN I HAVE ALLOWED
TO GROW AND DEVELOP? CAN THINKING PATTERNS AND BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS BECOME
SPIRITUAL STRONGHOLDS?
A. KNOW OUR WORDS?
MOOD:
State of mind or feeling, fits of melancholy or bad temper
MOODSWINGS:
Marked change in temperament, EUPHORIA TO DEPRESSION...
HAPPY:
Feeling or showing pleasure or contentment,glad, joyful...
JOY:
Pleasure, extreme gladness, the thing that causes joy, delight
REJOICE:
Feel great joy, be glad
CONTENTMENT:
Satisfied state, tranquil happiness, peace...
1 Tim. 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Proverbs 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.
B. DO I CONTROL MY EMOTIONS?
C. DO MY EMOTIONS CONTROL ME?
III. PAUL IS ON A MISSION JOURNEY, AND HE IS IMPRISONED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A
ROMAN JAIL. WHILE IN PRISON PAUL WRITES THIS WONDERFUL LETTER OF LOVE, WARMTH,
UNITY, STEADFASTNESS, KINDNESS... THE BOOK OF PHILIPIANS IS ABOUT JOY, CHRISTIAN JOY...
A. PAUL'S LESSON IS REJOICING AND JOY ARE NOT SURFACE EMOTIONS THAT WORK WHEN
EVERYTHING IS WONDERFUL AND LIFE LOOKS SO GOOD...
B. REJOICING & JOY DO NOT COME FROM SUPER OUTWARD CONDITIONS...
C. PAUL LEARNED JESUS' JOY WORKS DURING SUFFERING, PERSECUTION, TRIALS AND STORMS.
OUR CHRISTIAN JOY IS FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST ALONE.
D. PAUL LEARNED OUR GOD TURNS TERRIBLE DARK TIMES, GREAT SUFFERING... TO YOUR GOOD...
AND GOD'S WONDERFUL GLORY...
LOOK WHAT PAUL WROTE TO US...
Philip. 1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance
and joy of faith;
26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
Philip. 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run
in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Philip. 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed
is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
Philip. 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus,
and have no confidence in the flesh.
Philip. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Philip. 4:10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again;
wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
PAUL WAS LOOKING FOR THE LORD TO COME AGAIN...
PAUL MENTIONS JOY 6 TIMES IN PHILIPPIANS & REJOICE 9 TIMES...
15 TIMES IN 4 CHAPTERS WRITTEN IN PRISON...
YOU LEARN TO BE CONTENT OR TO GRIP AND BE FUSSY...
Philip. 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am,
therewith to be content.
NO WONDER PAUL SAID HE LEARNED TO BE CONTENT...
IV. WE LIVE IN ONE OF THE MOST UNDISCIPLINED NATIONS ON EARTH...
A. DISCIPLINE:
Training that corrects, MOLDS,
Control gained by obedience and submission
Training, penalty for wrong doing...
B. There are two kinds of DISCIPLINE:
1. By others
2. Self...
The goal of every adult is self-correction and discipline...
Hebrews 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit,
that we might be partakers of his holiness.
[11] Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it
yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
LIVING BIBLE
Hebrews 12:10 Our earthly fathers trained us for a few brief years, doing the best for us that they knew how,
but God's correction is always right and for our best good, that we may share his holiness.
[11] Being punished isn't enjoyable while it is happening--it hurts! But afterwards we can see the result,
a quiet growth in grace and character.
C. WE NEED TO DISCIPLINE OUR HEARTS TO INCLINE THEM TO JOY/REJOICING...
V. SIX TIMES IN THE BIBLE IT SAYS THAT OUR JOY MAY BE FULL...
THAT JOY SHOULD REMAIN, CONTINUE, STAY, STICK, TARRY...
A. We are designed to OPERATE WITH FULL JOY TANKS...
B. Do you know a gas tank ran empty is prone to pick up water and rust...
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy
might be full.
C. Your joy DEPENDS ON NO ONE...
No one can make you happy or sad, it is your choice... HOW WILL I VIEW THESE FACTS?
John 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice,
and your joy no man taketh from you.
VI. IDENTIFY JOY STEALERS... A TROUBLED HEART IS UP TO YOU,
EITHER ASK AND BELIEVE OR REALIZE I CAN DEVELOPED A LONG TERM TROUBLED HEART.
A. What is a troubled heart? How do you get a troubled heart?
How long does a troubled heart stay?
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
B GOD HAS A GIFT, ACCEPT IT OR REFUSE IT?
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
C. YOU MUST LEARN TO ASK AND BELIEVE...
GOD HAS A BETTER IDEA...
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
THE LESSON OF MAGICIAN AND THE FEARFUL MOUSE... TURN ME INTO A CAT...
MOUSE FEARED CAT... CAT FEARED DOG... DOG FEARED THE TIGER...
THE TIGER FEARED THE MAN...
THE MAGICIAN TURNS BACK INTO MOUSE... WE ARE WHAT WE FEAR...
This is a start of several lesson dealing with JOY, REJOICING, PEACE...
WE MUST ACCEPT WE HAVE A PART TO DO WITH WHERE WE ARE WALKING...
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Pass it on?
