Understanding The Difference Between Your Standing And Your Circumstances Series

What am I Missing Here?

Steps to Recovering Your Joy

June 13, 2010

Calvary Baptist Church

Ephesians 5:14

NOTE: This sermon is based in part on a sermon by F.B. Meyer entitled, “Where am I Wrong?” This sermon appears as chapter 2 in two of his books, Some Secrets of Christian Living and The Secret of Guidance.

What am I missing here? What is wrong with me? Why am I not finding joy in the Lord?

• First, may I say to you, that it is good that you have noticed this.

• It is only by the Holy Spirit’s work in your life that you even care.

• Furthermore, it is a good sign of genuine conversion.

• For the lost man or woman, there is no thought of this.

• To them, they are just fine and see no need of the question.

• But to you, whose spirits resonate with this preacher’s question, you know that something is missing.

• You see in the faces, in the lives of others, a light, a joy, a power.

• And as you honestly evaluate yourself, you must admit that you do not have this light, this joy, this power!

• Here the words of the Apostle:

Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

SOME PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS

1) Dispositions differ.

• Some by their nature are cheery, resilient, happy go lucky persons.

• To them they think that anyone not like them must be doing something wrong.

• Well, perhaps, but perhaps not!

• It may be that you, my cheery friend, have been born on third base and go through life thinking YOU hit a triple!

• Be careful in your judgment of others lest God must bring you low so that you might understand!

• Some seem to be born in the dark.

• Life plays in a minor key for them.

• In a bright blue sky they will find the one little cloud.

• The glass is half empty to them.

• Please remember that things that we preach to you will not change your fundamental nature!

• To a certain extent, that is your nature, the way God has made you.

• It is not sin to have such a nature, but it is sin to let that nature make you a defeated believer.

• It is a sin to let it hinder the magnetism that can draw others to Christ.

• And it just may be that we can help you.

• It may be that some of it is not your nature, but is an adquired talent.

• I would recommend that you bury that talent!

• Even with such a disposition, you can still find rest for your soul, victory in your Christian walk and serenity and peace in your heart!

2) Emotions are not the test of our spiritual state!

• While it is true that sin will rob you of your joy …

• It does not automatically follow that when the ebb and tide of joy finds itself at a low that you have sin in your life.

• Sometimes, we have run the horse hard, stalled it while wet, and run it hard again the next day.

• Sometimes we burn the candle at both ends.

• The never ending demands of life and family and work and ministry deplete on quickly!

• Mental work can tire our bodies as quickly as physical.

• The book can tire the brain as quickly as the hammer the hand.

• After Elijah’s victory at Mt. Carmel and his flight from Jezebel, he is depleted and in despair.

a) Elijah (1 Kings 19:4)

1 Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

• God does not answer his request according to his prayer.

• God answers by giving food and rest!

• Sometimes our problem is not spiritual, but physical.

b) Jesus (Matthew 26:37–39)

(Matthew 26:37–39) 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Luke 22:44 44 And being in aan agony bhe prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.