“Remaining Full of Joy” (Part II)

Date: 10/5/2011
Speaker: Pastor Johnny Moore

Joy; something everyone likes, everyone wants, but something that is difficult to hold on to. Jesus tells us that He desires for us to remain full of His joy (John 15:11).

     Happiness is something that is based on our present circumstances.  For instance, if everything is going our way, we are happy. If everything is going wrong, we are not happy. But the “joy” that Jesus was talking about is not based on our present circumstances. It is based on the Word of God, which never changes. Therefore, God intends for His children to remain full of joy in order that we might be well able to face and overcome any thing that comes our way. Remember Nehemiah 8:10? “...The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

     To Remain Full of Joy:

     #1—Declare That It Is God’s Will For Me To Have Great Joy

     #2—Believe That Jesus Has Already Overcome Every Problem In My Life

#3—Let Jesus Turn My Sorrow Into Joy: Some folks do not experience the joy of the Lord because they enjoy the attention that sorrow brings. Peter says to “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time; casting all of your cares upon Him, because He careth for you” (I Peter 5:6-8). God desires to exalt us, to bring joy into our lives. However, this process starts with us, not with God. We must first humble ourselves.  We do that by realizing that we can not make it on our own. We must have God in our lives. We must cast all our cares on Him. When these cares (or weights) are cast off, this in itself will cause us to rise. Our “sorrow” then begins to become “joy.”

#4—Let The World See The Joy Flowing Out Of You: James 5:13 says, “Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms …” Proverbs 15:13 says, “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance (face).” David tells us in Psalm 32:11 to “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart.” When your team is winning, nobody wonders whether or not you are joyful. They can see it all over you. If you are a child of God, you are on the winning team. If you are joyful, notify your face!

Jesus said it like this: “These things I have spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you that your joy might be made full.”

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