Why should Christians have Joy?
- This morning, as part of our remembering our veterans, I want to look at out last
three reasons why Christians have Joy.
- Let’s refresh our memories of what is Jesus’ desire for us in John 15:8-11.
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.
- Prayer
- Last week we learned our sins removed, faith, fear being banished, & feebleness are
all reason for us to have Joy.
- We have great reasons to have Joy, & as a result people notice our Joy, or to put it
like Paul did, our reasonable service.
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
- By The mercies of God.
- Think of what we deserve!
- An eternity separated from God!
- In His mercy He bore the anger, mockery, contempt, hatred, & greatest of all
judgement that we deserve!
- Out of His Service we receive Joy & want to honor Him with our service, our
pledge.
- Something we will remember December 7th, next month, is the day 2,400 lives
were lost at Pearl Harbor.
- Because of this day droves of young men enlisted, & America changed from
staying out of the War, to being all in.
Q- What drove them to enlist?
- They saw the tragedy that befell someone like them.
Philippians 2:6-7
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
- When we’re saved, we see Jesus to be like us, & then we see the horror/tragedy that
He went through.
Q- Why are there so many who pledge their service to evangelize?
- I liken it to Veterans’ Day. They want to Honor Him that has fallen, but the impact
is so much deeper than that, because the message is, that was fallen but is now
alive!
- Our fifth reason for why we have Joy is, we’re alive so that we may serve!
E. Your service is rewarded - Acts 23:11
- Paul evangelizing in Asia, stopped by Ephesus to basically say his goodbyes. He
was headed to Jerusalem, bound by the Spirit, & knew he’d be arrested there.
- There’s a lot that goes into these events, but basically Paul has been distrusted
& nearly beaten to death by fellow Jews, & was almost Flogged by his
countrymen the Roman soldiers.
- You can read this account in Acts 21:
- Throughout All this commotion Paul continues to remember his desire for God, to
preach the Gospel in Rome.
Q- Why was that important to Paul?
- He knew he could honor God in this way.
- Let’s read Acts 23:11 now. Here’s the reason to have Joy.
E - Acts 23:11
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
- God says, have Joy. You are serving Me. Your reward is greater than anything you
could imagine.
- Then There is the great assurance of, you are still alive, I’m not be done with you
yet.
Q- Why should we have Joy?
- We’re Alive another day, to serve the Lord.
Q- Can you imagine the anger, not Joy, any of us would have if we went through any of
what Paul did, by his own bloodline & countrymen?
- God takes that same emotion & He turns it into Joy.
- Not only does God say, you’re alive don’t sweat the small stuff. He also tells us
to look at our enemies. He will overcome them.
- That’s our sixth reason your foes are overcome.
- F. Your foes are overcome - John 16:33
- Paul & Silas were whipped & thrown into prison, because they removed a demon
from out of a woman in Thyatira.
- They did something amazing, & yet they were hated.
- The Guard was given orders to keep Paul & Silas safe.
Q- So, What does he do?
- He puts them in the inner part of the prison & shackles their legs.
- Paul & Silas prayed & sang praises to the Lord, & God sent an earthquake
breaking the shackles & opening the jail up.
Q- Wouldn’t That be a great reason to be joyful?
- No, all the prisoners stayed in the prison, & just as the guard was ready to kill
himself. Paul calls out to him saying, we’re all here.
Q- As this Guard came trembling to see the prisoners remained, what happened?
- Let me read it to you, Acts 16:29-31
Acts 16:29-31
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
- God took that enemy & overcame him!
- F John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
- Have Joy! You are still alive, & God is still on His throne!
Q- So, Why should Christians have Joy?
- Well, we have salvation, faith, fear, feebleness, our service is awarded, & our
enemies are overcome.
- That’s a powerful list, but think about the moments you hear a veteran stand up &
recall certain moments of his service.
- We step back & Listen In wonder & awe of what they’ve been through.
- That’s their testimony of their life, & we’re blessed by it.
- Our last reason to have Joy is your testimony is a blessing
- After Paul escaped the Jews, & flogging. He went before Felix the governor in
Caesarea, Festus (Felix’s successor), king Agrippa, & finally was being shipped to
Rome.
- As they sailing bad weather overtook the ship, & some were ready to jump overboar.
Q- What is Paul’s Testimony to them?
G. Your testimony is a blessing
Acts 27:24-25
24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
- God told Paul the ship would run aground on an island. The ship would be a loss, but
all 276 of the men would be spared.
- These men ended up listening to Paul, & all of them survived!
Q- Can you see the Christian Testimony In this?
- I was once lost, but now I’m found.
- I was once a sinner only deserving of an eternity of torment.
- Now I am a renewed man, changed into a child of God, & will one day be in Glory
forevermore.
- The blessing is when someone listens to that, & is saved.
- God gave us Joy to have while we are living.
- It’s an emotion for us, & a reality for the world to behold.
- That should Be our motivation to live in joy
> Chapman’s Burden www.Ministry127.com
One morning R.C. Chapman, a devout Christian, was asked how he was feeling. His reply was, “I'm burdened this morning!”. But his happy countenance contradicted his words.
So the questioner exclaimed in surprise, “Are you really burdened, Mr. Chapman?”
“Yes, but it's a wounderful burden--it's an overabundance of blessings for which I cannot find enough time or words to express my gratitude!”
Seeing the puzzled look on the face of his friend, Chapman added with a smile, “I am referring to Psalm 68:19, ‘Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.’ which fully describes my condition. In that verse the Father in Heaven reminds us that He daily loads us with benefits.”
- The Psalmist described the blessings that surround us, If we would just take a moment to recognize them.
- This is much like our Veterans, willing to lay down their lives.
- We are surrounded by valiant men & women, if we would just be willing to notice
them.
- In this invitation, let’s take time to soak up God’s blessings, & be filled in His joy.
