Why Should Christians Have Joy? Part 2

Why should Christians have Joy?

- This morning, as part of our remembering our veterans, I want to look at out last

three reasons why Christians have Joy.

- Let’s refresh our memories of what is Jesus’ desire for us in John 15:8-11.

John 15:8-11

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

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.

- Prayer

- Last week we learned our sins removed, faith, fear being banished, & feebleness are

all reason for us to have Joy.

- We have great reasons to have Joy, & as a result people notice our Joy, or to put it

like Paul did, our reasonable service.

Romans 12:1-2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

- By The mercies of God.

- Think of what we deserve!

- An eternity separated from God!

- In His mercy He bore the anger, mockery, contempt, hatred, & greatest of all

judgement that we deserve!

- Out of His Service we receive Joy & want to honor Him with our service, our

pledge.

- Something we will remember December 7th, next month, is the day 2,400 lives

were lost at Pearl Harbor.

- Because of this day droves of young men enlisted, & America changed from

staying out of the War, to being all in.

Q- What drove them to enlist?

- They saw the tragedy that befell someone like them.

Philippians 2:6-7

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

- When we’re saved, we see Jesus to be like us, & then we see the horror/tragedy that

He went through.

Q- Why are there so many who pledge their service to evangelize?

- I liken it to Veterans’ Day. They want to Honor Him that has fallen, but the impact

is so much deeper than that, because the message is, that was fallen but is now

alive!

- Our fifth reason for why we have Joy is, we’re alive so that we may serve!

E. Your service is rewarded - Acts 23:11

- Paul evangelizing in Asia, stopped by Ephesus to basically say his goodbyes. He

was headed to Jerusalem, bound by the Spirit, & knew he’d be arrested there.

- There’s a lot that goes into these events, but basically Paul has been distrusted

& nearly beaten to death by fellow Jews, & was almost Flogged by his

countrymen the Roman soldiers.

- You can read this account in Acts 21:

- Throughout All this commotion Paul continues to remember his desire for God, to

preach the Gospel in Rome.

Q- Why was that important to Paul?

- He knew he could honor God in this way.

- Let’s read Acts 23:11 now. Here’s the reason to have Joy.

E - Acts 23:11

11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

- God says, have Joy. You are serving Me. Your reward is greater than anything you

could imagine.

- Then There is the great assurance of, you are still alive, I’m not be done with you

yet.

Q- Why should we have Joy?

- We’re Alive another day, to serve the Lord.

Q- Can you imagine the anger, not Joy, any of us would have if we went through any of

what Paul did, by his own bloodline & countrymen?

- God takes that same emotion & He turns it into Joy.

- Not only does God say, you’re alive don’t sweat the small stuff. He also tells us

to look at our enemies. He will overcome them.

- That’s our sixth reason your foes are overcome.

- F. Your foes are overcome - John 16:33

- Paul & Silas were whipped & thrown into prison, because they removed a demon

from out of a woman in Thyatira.