In the Midst of It All, I Still Have Joy.
2nd Corinthians 8:1–2 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Have you ever been in a place where life seem like it didn’t add up? Bills high, strength low, and tears on your pillow, but you still had a praise on your lips, and a shout in your heart?
That’s where the Church of Macedonia was, they were afflicted, broke, and overlooked, and yet the Apostle Paul said something remarkable.
While in their great trials of affliction, the abundance of their joy was still overflowing.
They didn’t have much, but what they had, they gave it, and they gave it with joy.
That’s the kind of faith we need in this season, the kind that says. Even in the midst of it all, I still have joy.
When the economy is all messed up.
When men and women are being killed in the streets.
When drugs are running rampant in every neighborhood.
When the enemy thought he had me down.
When the storm wouldn’t stop raging against me.
When the money ran low, grace stepped right in. Yep, I still have joy.
Here it is:
The Macedonian churches, Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, were going through some hard times.
Rome had taxed them heavily.
Their economy had collapsed.
They were persecuted for their faith, they were losing homes, their jobs, and even family members for following Christ.
But when Paul was gathering an offering to help the struggling saints in Jerusalem, guess who begged to help? Guess who wanted to give first.
When the Apostle Paul was collecting an offering to help the struggling believers in Jerusalem, many of the wealthier churches were slow to respond, if they responded at all.
But the churches in Macedonia, who were suffering themselves, begged Paul for the opportunity to give.
They didn’t wait for their situation to improve.
They didn’t say, when I get more, I’ll do more.
They said, please, Paul let us help. Let us give something. Let us be a part of blessing somebody else.
And here’s the amazing part:
They were already going through hard times, persecution, poverty, and pressure, but yet their hearts were so full of joy and gratitude insomuch that they wanted to give, even when they barely had anything to offer.
Their attitude was, we may not have a lot in our pockets, but we have joy in our spirit, and that’s enough to make us give.
That’s why Paul used them as an example of true joy and grace in action, because they didn’t give out of abundance; but they gave out of faith and joy.
It was those same poor Macedonian believers. That Paul said, they gave beyond their power.
They had nothing, but yet their joy made them generous, it made them wealthy in the spirit.
They didn’t give because things were good, they gave because God was good.
They didn’t give out of abundance, but they gave out of assurance. Assurance that even when life was breaking, God was still blessing.
Their giving wasn’t a response to comfort, it was a declaration of conviction. They didn’t sow because they had much, but they sowed because they knew who their Source was.
They didn’t give because the situation made sense; they gave because their spirit remembered who never failed them. Gratitude was their language, even in the struggle. They still had Joy.
Somebody that’s here that’s going through ought to shout out, In the midst of it all, I still have joy. (Pause)
Joy Is not controlled by conditions.
Joy isn’t about what’s happening, but it’s about who’s helping.
The Macedonians were in pain, but they still praised.
They were lacking in supplies, but not lacking joy.
They had learned that joy is not a reaction; but it’s a decision.
What this: I know that you can’t control the storms, but you can control the songs in the storms.
You don’t have to sing:
They call it stormy Monday
But Tuesday's just as bad
They call it stormy Monday
But Tuesday's just as bad
and Wednesday's worse
And Thursday's all so bad
The eagle flies on Friday
Saturday I go out to play
The eagle flies on Friday
Saturday I go out to play
Sunday I go to church, yeah
Gonna kneel down and pray
No!!!!!! They were able to sing, I've had many tears and sorrows,
I've had questions for tomorrow,
there've been times I didn't know right from wrong.
But in every situation,
God gave me blessed consolation,
that my trials come to only make me strong.
I can hear them say:
I thank Him for the mountains
And I thank Him for the valleys
And I thank Him for the storms He brought me through
For if I never had a problem
I wouldn't know that He could solve them
And I wouldn't know what faith in God could do.
Through it all I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, and I’ve learned to trust in God
And sometimes, you’ve got to sing through tears, until heaven shifts your atmosphere.
You must know that your Joy is your weapon.
Your joy is your strength.
Your joy is what keeps you going.
Joy keeps you standing.
May I tell you that Real Joy Shows Up When Life tries to shut you down.
Paul said, they were in a great trial of affliction.
That means they weren’t in a little trouble, but it was heavy.
But real joy isn’t seen when everything’s good, but it’s seen when everything’s falling apart.
Because anybody can praise God on the mountaintop.
But true faith is when you can dance in the valley, sing in the storm, and shout when you don’t see the outcome yet.
That’s the kind of joy, that scares the devil.
Because he can touch your money, your house, and your plans
But he can’t touch your joy unless you hand it over.
Let me close this thang. Did you know that joy flows from the Grace of God
Notice what Paul said: The grace of God was bestowed upon them.
That means their joy was not natural, it was supernatural.
It was grace that kept them giving.
Grace that kept them believing.
Grace that kept them smiling.
The reason some of us still have joy, is not because life has been easy, but it’s because grace is greater than our grief.
God’s grace can make a broke person generous.
Grace can make a tired person thankful.
Grace can make a wounded person feel like worshipping.
That’s the miracle of joy, it’s not tied to circumstances, but it’s tied to the Lord.
That reminds me about man named Deacon Thomas.
Years ago, Deacon Thomas was one of those saints who loved coming to church.
He was always smiling, always encouraging, and always lifting people up.
But one year, tragedy struck.
He lost his job of 25 years, then his wife passed away unexpectedly.
At the funeral, people expected to see him crying and broken.
But when the choir started singing I’ve got joy like a river, Deacon Thomas stood up, lifted his hands, and began to shout, thank You, Jesus, I still have joy.
After the service, a young man asked him, Deacon, how can you shout after losing so much?
He said, Son, when I lost my job, God kept my mind.
When I lost my wife, God held my heart.
And when I thought I had lost myself, I found my joy in the Lord.
That day, that young man realized, that Joy is not what you have, but it’s who you know.
Somebody can say. Through the fire, I still have joy.
Through the storm, I still have joy.
When the devil tried to steal my praise, I still have joy.
When they walked out on me, I still have joy.
So don’t let life silence your song.
Joy is heaven’s reminder that you’re still standing by grace.
If the Macedonians could praise in poverty, you can worship in warfare.
If they could rejoice in trials, you can still dance in the dark.
Because the same God that kept them, is keeping you.
So lift your head and declare with power. In the midst of it all, I still have joy.
