Sermon- Why should Christians have Joy?
- A question comes up asking why Christians are supposed to be filled with Joy.
- Our obvious answer is, we’re filled with Joy because we’ve been redeemed from
sin & death, & reconciled back to God.
- People, however, want more than that.
- This morning I’m going to tackle the reasons we should be joyful & cheerful, & begin
a two part series that showcases 7 reasons we have Joy.
- Next week’s will also be part of our Veteran‘s Day message too.
- Let’s begin with Jesus’ desire for us.
John 15:8-11
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
- To be filled with the same joy Jesus had.
Q- How did Jesus have Joy?
- He knew the one in whom He served!
- Think about that while we pray.
Prayer
> a lot of people don’t like math, but I can give you the best mathematical equation I
have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails= 4 given!
- How about that, even in math you can find a reason to be happy.
- So now, even in life there are reasons we should be filled with Joy.
- I know I push the idea of we are always witnessing/evangelizing, even when we’re
not trying to, people are watching.
- That’s not always the best motivator to get people out of their dull drums.
- So Let’s get personal with it.
- It should be a great motivation that we are leading others to a saving knowledge of
Jesus Christ.
Q- But isn’t it great knowledge to know that you are saved, forgiven of all your sins?
A. Your sins are forgiven - Matthew 9:2
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
- Jesus’ wards to this man, who was debilitated in a bed, were realize who is in control.
- It is He who stands before you, Jesus!
- He stands before all of us & says, be of good cheer; your sins be forgiven.
- Be joyful for one day you will be with Him, forever!
- The first reason for Joy, is what we’ve been given.
- Now that’s a free gift, directly given to us from God Himself.
- The second reason for Joy is actually attained from what we do.
- It’s called our faith.
Q- How many of us recognize, or remember history of the lady who had an issue of
blood for twelve years?
- This lady had faith, & her faith was honored
B. Your faith is honored- Matthew 9:22
- The moment she touched the hem, or the tzizit (the long tassel hanging down from
the corner of Jesus’ prayer shawl, or tallit)
- This tassel was also called the wings of the prayer shawl.
- Her faith rested on Malachi’s Words.
Malachi 4:2
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
- She recognized Jesus is the righteousness resting under these wings.
- Listen,
B. Matthew 9:22
22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
- By her faith, she has Joy!
- One day all that we have believed in will be affirmed!
*- Now, Imagine with me what it would have been like for this lady to go out in the
throngs of people, trying to touch Jesus garment.
- Add to the moment that she is outcast amongst the people, because she would be
considered unclean because of this issue of blood.
- Not only was her faith a reason for Joy, but also what Jesus did with her fear.
- He took it away!!!
C. Your fears are banished - Matthew 14:27
- If we flip forward in Matthew to chapter 14, we read about the same emotion, fear.
- The Disciples are on the Sea of Galilee, rowing to Capernum that’s not but a little
more than 4 miles away.
- Instead they find themselves fighting the waves for roughly nine hours
- About three and a half miles out, in the middle of the sea.
- & Between 3 to 6 in the morning they see Jesus walking to them on the
water!
- They’re tired, wore out, & ready to give up!
Q- They think it’s a spirit, & I’m sure they’re thinking we’re going to die, but what
happens next?
C. Matthew 14:27
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
- Fear, just like for the lady, was banished/removed.
Q- How often do we face our fears, & we realize the blessing that comes after it is
amazing?
- It can be like the fear we have contemplating walking down this aisle, but the
moment we get there, the blessing is begins.
- The walk of a Christian, is a walk of continual growth & blessing.
- In this event, it was the first time the Disciples bowed down to &
worshipped Jesus.
* In this shows our next cause of Joy
D. Your feebleness is met - Mark 10:49
- Blind Bartimaeus stood outside Jericho calling on Jesus. I’m going to say it was more
of a wailing, irritating call, because people were hushing him, but he got even louder.
- This is us crying out to God in our deepest need.
- We Just can’t do it!
Q- Who hears us?
Q- Who will Listen?
Mark 10:49
49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
- This man throws off his garment, gets up, & (by Christ’s leading) makes his request
for healing known.
- Immediately the man is healed!
Q- Have you ever thought about how feeble we are?
- Looking over the New River Gorge bridge on Bridge Day brings life into
perspective.
- The base jumpers look like little ants, & the boats like toys.
- In life, we are no more than a speck of dust on the timeline of history.
- Our life means no more than, that was a great person in history, but
generations down the road almost none could tell why you were great.
- Bartimaeus was crying out, because that was his cry, God I want to live, just
give me the eyes to live.
* This is where God’s value for us sticks out greater than any person’s value.
- As Jesus pointed out the birds in Luke, also in Matthew. He described them as
part of His creation that He is taking care of, & will not forget.
- But Listen to my last verse,
Luke 12:7
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
- Nothing can compare to how much God loves you.
- All of our lives were meant to live it with the same Joy Jesus has.
- The only way to begin to receive Joy, is to ask for it, like Bartimaeus did his
health.
- We’re going to have time to do that this morning.
- Just ask yourself how full is your Joy meter.
> A Father’s Letter (www.storiesforpreaching.com)
Paul Brand is a brilliant medical doctor who did pioneering work in the treatment of leprosy. He has received the Albert Lasker Award, been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by the Queen, served as the only Westerner on the Mahatma Ghandi foundation, and had medical procedures named after him.
Brand grew up in India, where his parents were missionaries. At the age of nine he was sent to boarding school in England. Five years later, while a 14 year old student there, he received a telegram informing him that his beloved father had died of blackwater fever. Brand cherished fond memories of his father, a man who had a great love for people and a great love for the natural world around him.
A short time after he received news of his father’s death Paul Brand received a letter from his father. It had been posted prior to his father’s death but took some time to reach Brand as it came by ship. It’s words impacted deeply upon the young son. Paul’s father described the hills around their home and then finished with these words: “God means us to delight in his world. It isn’t necessary to know botany or zoology or biology in order to enjoy the manifold life of nature. Just observe. And remember. And compare. And be always looking to God with thankfulness and worship for having placed you in such a delightful corner of the universe as the planet Earth.”
- I hope you got God’s perfect timing in this story.
Q- Why are we sitting here this morning?
- God set up everything so that we might one day cry out to him, & be made
whole.
Q- Are we following, & made whole?
