When Living For God Becomes A Joy
Romans 14:17
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
John 15:10-11
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.
I. Some people think living for God is too difficult.
A. The time commitment is too demanding.
B. The standards are too hard.
C. They don’t agree with the principal of tithe and offering.
D. Some find living for God restrictive and binding.
E. The young people don’t “get to do anything”.
F. There is a reason why some feel this way.
Romans 8:6-8
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Another translation says...
Romans 8:6-8
6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so;
8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Basically, those who are so concerned about pleasing the flesh are hostile towards the ways of God.
I. When you hold on to something you know God is not happy with, you will not have joy in your walk with God.
H. The standards we live, which are more than the way we dress, are not pleasing to the flesh. Those who resist the standards are more concerned about the flesh than they are about pleasing God.
I. People with a carnal mind-set are miserable in trying to live for God.
J. Living for God is the most difficult thing for someone who is carnally minded.
II. However, I contend that living for God can be an absolute joy!
A. What is joy?
I. Simply put, joy is gladness.
II. It means pleasure, satisfaction or cheerfulness.
B. We ought to be the happiest people alive.
C. When we focus on the benefits of living for God, that is when living for God becomes a joy!
Luke 6:23
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
D. I have seen people leap when they get money, gifts or surprises.
E. We are instructed to leap for joy because our reward in heaven is great.
F. The song says it’s going to be worth it all!
Revelation 21:3-4
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
III. The ark of God was at the house of Obededum.
A. King David heard how God was blessing the house of Obededum.
B. The Bible tells us David gathered all Israel in Jerusalem.
I. This was not convenient.
II. This was time consuming.
III. This disrupted everyone’s schedule.
C. David informed the priests, they were going to carry the ark on their shoulders.
I. This required work.
II. They could not relax and take their ease.
III. They had no choice in the matter.
IV. They had to assume their God-given responsibilities.
D. David made further preparation.
1 Chronicles 15:16
16 And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.
E. Now look at the rest of the procession:
1 Chronicles 15:19-24
19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;
20 And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;
21 And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.
22 And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.
23 And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.
24 And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obededom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.
F. Everyone was going to participate.
G. Imagine the consumption of time.
H. Everything had to be done a certain way...according to the Word of God...not according to somebodies personal preconceived ideas of how “it ought to be”.
I. Verse 25 gives us an insight to the desires of David and everyone else present.
1 Chronicles 15:25
25 So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obededom with joy.
J. No matter how inconvenient this process of bringing the ark of God to Jerusalem was.
I. They did it with joy.
K. The hunger for the presence of God was so great...they did it with joy.
L. They overlooked the expense.
M. They ignored the “hassle” and time commitment of getting together.
N. They put aside everything else for this occasion of ushering the presence of God into Jerusalem.
O. They did it with joy!!
IV. When our focus is completely on God and pleasing Him...is when living for God becomes a joy.
A. No wonder Christ said, “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. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
B. The scripture teaches us HOW to live a life of joy:
Psalm 100:1-5
1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
C. Some are weak in their walk with God...because their living for Him has not become a joy.
Nehemiah 8:10
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
D. That word sorry can mean torture or grieving.
I. Living for God is not torturous...it is a joy!
II. That joy is your strength.
V. When living for God becomes a joy is when you become your strongest in the faith.
Romans 14:17
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
VI. Those who hate you will become ashamed if living for God becomes a joy.
Isaiah 66:5
5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.Those who hate you will become ashamed if living for God becomes a joy.
Isaiah 66:5
5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
VII. What else happens when living for God becomes a joy?
Joel 1:12
12 The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.
A. When living for God becomes a joy is when we will have revival.
B. When living for God becomes a joy is when we will have evangelism.
C. When living for God becomes a joy is when backsliders come home.
D. When living for God becomes a joy is when the awesome power of God is manifest.
E. When living for God becomes a joy is when signs and wonders will be seen.
