Compiled By: Herman Abrahams (Senior Pastor), Cornerstone Faith Ministries, P.O. Box 740,
Westridge 7802, Rep. of South Africa.
E-Mail:
Mentorship2003@yahoo.co.uk
Note to the reader:
If you have been blessed with this sermon compilation, I would be honoured to receive an e-mail from you merely telling me where in the world you are based- I do not need any other information. This is merely so that I can have the pleasure of giving thanks to Almighty God that all over the globe the ministry which he has entrusted to me, is blessing the body of Christ and helping to extend the Kingdom of God. Thank you. Herman Abrahams, Cape Town, South Africa.
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MAINTAIN YOUR JOY or, BEWARE OF JOY STEALERS!! (John 15:10-11)
Introduction:
Undertakers
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court for 30 years. His mind, wit and work earned him the unofficial title of "the greatest justice since John Marshall." At one point in his life, Justice Holmes explained his choice of a career by saying: "I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers." (Moody Bible Institute¡¦s Today In The Word, June, 1988, p. 13.)
The question is ¡§What happened to their joy?¡¨
1. JOY - A FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
One of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy (Gal 5:22)
¡§Joy (¡¥chara¡¦) is a deep and abiding inner rejoicing which was promised to those who abide in Christ and obey His commandments (cf. John 15:10-11)*. It does not depend on circumstances because it rests in God¡¦s sovereign control of all things (cf. Rom. 8:28**)¡¨ [Bible Knowledge Commentary].
* John 15:10-11 ¡§If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father¡¦s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.¡¨
Joy is the byproduct of obedience.
Jesus himself is the source of our joy !!
2. I DON¡¦T HAVE TO LOSE MY JOY BECAUSE OF MY CIRCUMSTANCES.
God is working things out for my good.
** Rom 8:28: ¡§And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.¡¨
Life is full of ups and downs; full of all sorts of happenings. One moment you are going full steam ahead, with the wind in your sails, when suddenly, you hit a sand bar. Maybe you are confused, maybe angry, maybe discouraged. All you know is that all of a sudden, your Joy is gone. There are a host of situations that can rob us of our joy.
„X It may be the loss of a loved one.
„X It may be the loss of a job.
„X It could be the break-up of a relationship.
„X What about pressures at work; relationship problems with colleagues or bosses.
„X It could be a problem in your family; the behaviour of your unsaved husband or wife.
„X You expected that promotion and it went to someone else who has only been with the company for half the time that you¡¦ve been there.
„X You expected to be used in the church in a certain way but this has¡¦nt happened.
„X You car was written off in an accident ¡V and now you don¡¦t have wheels.
It could be concerns about the future: ¡V
„X your children¡¦s education;
„X a life partner ¡V will I ever get married?
„X My exam results ¡V what will they be like?
„X Will I get a job when I finish school or college?
The list is endless:
„X current circumstances,
„X people that have hurt you,
„X concern about the future,
„X even concern about your past.
ALL THESE CAN BE JOY-STEALERS, JOY-ROBBERS!!
These things can distract us from the life that God wants us to enjoy.
Count it all joy
James 1:2-4: ¡§Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.¡¨
¡¥To persecuted Jewish believers scattered among pagan peoples, James gave the surprising advice, Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. Trials should be faced with an attitude of joy. Trials should not be seen as a punishment, a curse, or a calamity but something that must prompt rejoicing. Furthermore they should produce ¡§pure joy¡¨ (lit., ¡§all joy¡¨; i.e., joy that is full or unmixed), not just ¡§some joy¡¨ coupled with much grief.¡¦ [Bible Knowledge Commentary].
3. JOY INVOLVES A CHOICE, A POSITIVE ATTITUDE WE CHOOSE TO EXPRESS.
To experience His abundant, overflowing joy involves a choice. It is a habit of the mind which finds its source in the Spirit of God.
Chuck Swindoll says that joy is
¡§ a positive attitude we choose to express ¡K It is a matter of attitude that stems from your confidence in God- The belief that He is at work, that He is in full control, that He is in the midst of whatever has happened, is happening or will happen.¡¨
As believers we must be on our guard that we don¡¦t get robbed of our joy because of any of life¡¦s happenings ¡V circumstances, people (relationships turned sour), the future or the past. The answer is to abide (rest) in Jesus and to be obedient to His Word (John 15:10-11).
4. CHRISTIANS ARE COMMANDED TO REJOICE!!
A missing quality in the lives of many people today, is joy. It seems so hard to maintain our joy when all around us there is doom and gloom. When we open our newspapers what do we read about?
- Six-month old baby raped
- Cash van robbery outside bank.
- Gang warfare in the inner city.
- Teacher arrested on child abuse charges
- Drug abuse in schools on the increase
- Prisoners escape from police cells.
ON AND ON THE LIST GOES. NEWS THAT DISTURB US!! NEWS THAT AFFECT OUR JOY!1
Paul affirmed the source of the Christian¡¦s joy when he wrote,
¡¥Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!¡¦ (Phil. 4:4).
Our rejoicing is in the Lord ¡V in Him lies our joy!!
Strong¡¦s Concordance gives the following definitions:
¡§Rejoice¡¨ ¡V ¡¥calmly happy¡¦ / be glad
¡§Joy¡¨ ¡V ¡¥calm delight¡¦ / gladness
¡¥The word ¡§rejoice¡¨ appears several times in the epistle (Phil. 1:18 [twice]; Phil. 2:17-18 [twice]; Phil. 3:1; Phil. 4:4 [twice], Phil 4:10). It seems from this repeated emphasis that the Philippian Christians needed this word. Most of God¡¦s people need this challenge often. It is easy for believers to let circumstances discourage them. The cure for discouragement is to rivet one¡¦s attention on the Lord and rejoice in Him. It is significant too that a Roman prisoner (Paul) would beseech people who were free to be joyful in their Savior. It seems that it should be the other way around. Paul learned what every child of God needs to learn¡Xthere can be rejoicing in the Lord even when outward circumstances are contrary to a spirit of rejoicing.¡¦ [Bible Know ledge Commentary].
5. PAUL¡¦S EXPERIENCE (Philippians 1:12-21)
If there was anyone who had reason to give in to despair and claim that he was a victim of his circumstances it was the apostle Paul. From his prison cell in Rome, Paul writes one of the most joy-filled letters anyone could ever read.
i) In spite of his circumstances, Paul remained confident, though a victim (vs 12-14)
ii) Paul was joyful in spite of what others were saying abut him. (vs 15-18)
iii) Paul remained hopeful regardless of the uncertainties of his situation. (vs 19-21)
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Many seed-thoughts for this sermon was obtained from a sermon by Ralph Juthman - ¡¦Skunks, Chains and the Joy of the Lord¡¦ (See www.sermoncentral.com)
Compiled By:
Herman Abrahams (Senior Pastor),
Cornerstone Faith Ministries,
P.O. Box 740
Westridge 7802
Rep. of South Africa.
E-Mail:
Mentorship2003@yahoo.co.uk
