Go! And Rejoice in the Lord Always
Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
As we gather to hear Your Word, we ask that You open our ears to listen, our minds to understand, and our hearts to receive. May we be transformed by the power of Your truth. Help us find our joy in You, regardless of our circumstances. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Risen Saviour, Amen.
Introduction:
Have you ever stood in awe at a sunrise or sunset—when the sky bursts into vibrant colours, and everything feels still for a moment? In those sacred seconds, joy awakens in our soul. That joy, my friends, is not just a fleeting emotion—it is a gift from God. And today, we’ll explore the kind of joy that is eternal, unwavering, and rooted in the Lord.
Let’s read the words of Psalm 65:8 (NLT): “Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.”
Our God is a joy-giver. He inspires shouts of joy from sunrise to sunset—from one end of the earth to the other. But what is this joy? Where does it come from? How can we live in it, especially when life is hard?
Let’s turn to the Word of God and find out.
1. Psalm 65:8 (NLT): “Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.”
The word "joy" here is ?????? (rinah) — it means a loud shout of rejoicing, often in worship. It’s not quiet contentment; it’s celebratory, vocal, and rooted in awe of God’s power and presence.
Psalm 65 is a song of praise written by David. It exalts God's goodness in answering prayers, forgiving sins, and sustaining the earth. The psalm declares that all creation responds to God's majesty with joy. God's wonders are not limited to Jerusalem but stretch across the earth.
Whether you're in Southend or South Africa, in pain or prosperity, God's greatness calls for joyful worship. True joy flows not from your bank account or your popularity, but from your awe of who God is.
Max Lucado wrote: "The maker of the stars would rather die for you than live without you. And that is the joy we cannot lose."
I love that! Lucado reminds us that our joy doesn’t rest in our circumstances but in our Saviour, who loved us to death—and beyond.
2. James 1:2 (NLT): “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”
The word for "joy" here is ?a?? (chara) — deep gladness that comes from grace. It’s not happiness, which changes with circumstances. This is rooted in divine perspective.
James was writing to scattered Jewish believers facing persecution and hardship. He wasn’t encouraging denial of pain—he was pointing them to a greater reality: that God uses trials to build faith.
The Diamond in the Rough
A diamond forms under immense pressure. What looks like a buried lump of coal transforms into a treasure through time and trial. So too with us—our difficulties are God’s tools to shape Christlikeness.
Charles Stanley once said: "God’s purpose in our pain is not to destroy us, but to grow us."
That’s not just comforting—it’s empowering. You and I can count it all joy because God is doing something eternal through our temporary trials.
3. Galatians 5:22 (NLT): “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…”
Joy is not something we conjure up—it is produced by the Holy Spirit. It is fruit—not a feeling. It grows in surrendered soil.
The word “fruit” is ?a?p?? (karpos) — it indicates organic growth. The Spirit cultivates joy in us as we abide in Christ.
Joy is the evidence that we’re walking in step with the Spirit. We won’t always feel joyful, but we can always choose joy—because the Spirit within us empowers us.
R.T. Kendall wrote: "The ultimate proof of the Spirit-filled life is not speaking in tongues, but a transformed character filled with love and joy."
That’s a necessary challenge. The joy we bear is not emotional hype—it’s Spirit-wrought holiness.
4. John 16:22 (NLT): “So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.”
Jesus spoke these words to His disciples just before His arrest. He promised them joy—not in the absence of sorrow—but in the certainty of His resurrection.
"Rejoice" here is ?a??? (chairo) — to be exceedingly glad, often in the context of victory or reunion.
Jesus guarantees resurrection joy—a joy that no trial, no loss, no death can steal from us. Because Jesus lives, we can rejoice now and forever.
John Piper once said: "Christian joy is not a sprinkling of sugar on the natural pleasures of life. It is the flavour of faith in the furnace of affliction."
Yes! The joy Christ gives is eternal, invincible, and anchored in the resurrection. That’s the joy the world cannot steal.
Gospel Presentation:
Let me tell you why we can have joy at all: it’s because Jesus bore our grief so we could receive His joy.
He lived a perfect, sinless life.
He went to the cross and willingly took our place.
He was crucified, dead, and buried.
On the third day, He rose again in power and victory.
This is the Gospel: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, paid for your sin, conquered death, and offers you eternal life.
True joy begins when you repent of your sin and place your faith in Jesus.
The Orphan and the Adoption Letter
There once was an orphaned boy living on the streets. One day, a stranger handed him a sealed envelope. Inside, it read: “You’ve been adopted. A new home awaits. You are now a son—not a beggar.” At first, he didn’t believe it. But when he finally accepted it, his life changed forever.
The Gospel is that letter from the Father to you. Joy comes when you stop surviving and start living as a child of God through Jesus Christ.
Call to Action:
To the Believer:
Choose joy today.
Let the Spirit cultivate joy in you.
Rejoice in the Lord—not your circumstances.
To the Seeker:
You’ve chased temporary happiness long enough.
Come to the Source of everlasting joy—Jesus Christ.
Repent. Believe. Be saved today.
Invitation to Salvation:
If you want to begin a life of true joy, pray with me:
Lord Jesus, I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I turn from my old life and trust You as my Lord and Saviour. Come into my life and fill me with Your Spirit. Make me new. I receive Your joy. Amen.
Benediction:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.
May your life echo with praise from sunrise to sunset.
May your heart rejoice in trials, and your soul overflow with the fruit of the Spirit.
And may no one and nothing ever rob you of the joy you have in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
