THE THINGS THAT ROB US OF OUR JOY
Phil. 4: 4-7
I believe if there is anything that God wants His Children to have is Joy!
John 15:11 -- "that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full!
Neh. 8:10 - The joy of the Lord is our strength!
Luke 10:20 - Rejoice because your name is written in heaven!
FOUR THINGS WHICH ROB US OF OUR JOY:
1.CIRCUMSTANCES - Phil. 1:12 - But I have you to understand, brethren, the things which have happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the futherance of the Gospel!
Paul is saying that his circumstances or trouble and trials have not been to hurt him but for the futherance of the Gospel. -- He was not a prisoner of Rome, He was a prisoner of Jesus Christ (Bonds of Christ - 1:13) --- Paul’s Circumstances did not cause him to be discouraged but caused him to do more for Christ! --- If you are a true child of God you are going to have your troubles and trials or Circumstances!
A lot of Christians are Circumstance Christians! --- As long as everything is going good they are OK but when troubles come they get discouraged and quit!
PAUL DID NOT LOOK AT CHRIST THROUGH HIS CIRCUMSTANCES - HE LOOKED AT HIS CIRCUMSTANCES THROUGH CHRIST!
Paul said in Rom. 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that Love God who are the called according to the purpose! --- We the going gets rough, the Christian gets tough! DON’T LET CIRCUMSTANCES ROB YOU OF YOUR JOY!
James 1:2 - Count it all joy..... (Lady at Converse & Flat Tire)
2.PEOPLE - All of us one time or another have lost our joy because of people!
What they are! -- What they say! -- What they do! -- And no doubt we ourselves have caused someone to be unhappy! It works both ways! --- We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth... but sometimes the light gets dim and the salt becomes bitter because of PEOPLE! --- Story of lady with dirty windows
Story of man who the barber waxed his mustache with Limberger Cheese!
Phil. 2: 2,3 - Says to Esteem one another.... Love One Another... Forgive One Another... Receive One Another..... ---- DON’T LET PEOPLE ROB YOU OF YOUR JOY!
3.THINGS - Phil. 3:7,8 --- I Count all things as loss for Jesus!
A desire for material things, Oh what thieves they can be!
Story of Abraham Lincoln and his two boys walking down the road. Mr. Lincoln had three Walnuts and his two boys where crying.... someone said why are they crying? He replied Oh, the same thing wrong with the world, I have three walnuts and they both want two! --- That is the problem with people. --- They are never happy always wanting more. --- The things of this world will never make you happy! --- Jesus warned us about laying up treasures upon this earth... He taught us to lay up treasures in Heaven, for where your treasure is, there is where your heart is!
Phil. 4: 11 - Be Content! --- DON’T LET THINGS ROB YOU OF YOUR JOY!
4.WORRY - Phil 4:6 - Be careful for nothing or Don’t Worry about anything!
AND WHAT DO WE WORRY ABOUT? --- CIRCUMSTANCES - PEOPLE - THINGS! --- If we control these things we will not bother with worry!
COME TO JESUS!
