Sunday
Sermon
TAKING
JOY INTO YOUR JOURNEY
Date: July 6, 2008
Speaker: Pastor Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference:
1 Thes 5:16; Ps 16:11
Listen
to Audio Sermon
1
THES 5:16 & PSALM 16:11
1 THES 5:16 Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice
and be glad-hearted continually (always);
PSALM 16:11You will show me the path of life; in
Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right
hand there are pleasures forevermore.
WE ARE TOLD TO HAVE JOY CONTINUALLY IN OUR WALKS
OF FAITH. ALSO, WE ARE TOLD THAT THE FULLNESS OF
JOY IS IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.
AS WE ENTER INTO THE 7TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR CHURCH
AND THE BEGINNING OF OUR 8TH YEAR, WE NEED TO EXAMINE
OURSELVES TO SEE IF WE ARE INDEED PEOPLE WHO ARE
WALKING IN JOY.
GOD HAS ORDAINED FOR US TO WALK A PATH THAT HE
HAS LAID OUT FOR US. THIS MAY BE CONSIDERED TO
BE HIS PERFECT WILL FOR OUR LIVES. MOST HOWEVER
WALK IN HIS PERMISSIVE WILL.
WE MAY BE TOO
BUSY TO THINK THAT GOD HAS A PLAN FOR OUR LIFE.
THERE LIES THE REASON FOR FAMILIES
TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN IN THE ADMONISSION OF THE
LORD TO HELP GET THEM STARTED ON THE RIGHT PATH,
ONE THAT IS LED BY GOD’S WORD AND HIS SPIRIT.
EVERY PERSON HERE TODAY AND ALL IN THE WORLD HAVE
SOME TYPE OF ISSUE THEY ARE WALKING THROUGH. THAT
IS, A PROBLEM, BE IT FINANCIAL, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL
THAT THEYARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH EVERY DAY OF THEIR
LIVES. REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID IN JOHN 16:33 I
have told you these things, so that in Me you may
have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world
you have tribulation and trials and distress and
frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage;
be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome
the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm
you and have conquered it for you.]
JESUS SAID THOSE WORDS SO THAT WE WOULD KNOW THAT
IT WOULD NOT BE STRANGE FOR US TO ENCOUNTER TURBULENCE
ON OUR JOURNEYS THROUGH LIFE.
WHAT WE SEEM TO FORGET IS THAT HE TOLD US TO BE
OF GOOD CHEER DURING THESE TIMES AND NOT TO PANIC.
WE ARE NOT TO MOAN AND GROAN AND COMPLAIN. LOOK
AT JUDE 16-19 16These are inveterate murmurers
(grumblers) who complain [of their lot in life],
going after their own desires [controlled by their
passions]; their talk is boastful and arrogant,
[and they claim to] admire men's persons and pay
people flattering compliments to gain advantage.
17But you must remember, beloved, the predictions
which were made by the apostles (the special messengers)
of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed
One).18They told you beforehand, In the last days
(in the end time) there will be scoffers [who seek
to gratify their own unholy desires], following
after their own ungodly passions.
19It is these who are [agitators] setting up distinctions
and causing divisions--merely sensual [creatures,
carnal, worldly-minded people], devoid of the [Holy]
Spirit and destitute of any higher spiritual life.
COMPLAINING ABOUT YOUR LOT IN LIFE AND LETTING
EVERYONE KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT HAPPY IS NOT THE
WAYS OF A BORN AGAIN CHILD OF GOD. THOSE THAT
DO SUCH THINGS ARE NOT SPIRITUAL BUT THEY
ARE FLESHLY.
YOU WILL NEVER GROW INTO A MATURE CHRISTIAN IF
YOU GO ABOUT YOUR LIFE CONTINUOUSLY UNHAPPY AND
WITHOUT JOY. THAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOR TELLS EVERYONE
THAT YOU SPEND LITTLE TIME IN GOD’S PRESENCE.
THAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOR WILL NEVER GROW YOUR CHURCH
THE WAY GOD WANTS IT TO GROW. WHO WOULD WANT
TO FOLLOW THE PATH OF SOMEONE WHO IS ALWAYS COMPLAINING
AND WITHOUT JOY? LOOK AT WHAT PAUL SAYS ABOUT WHAT GOD WILL DO
FOR YOU IN ROMANS 15:13 13May the God of your hope
so fill you with all joy and peace in believing
[through the experience of your faith] that by
the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and
be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.
THIS IS A WRITTEN PICTURE OF HOW CHRISTIANS NEED
TO BE IN THIS WORLD. HOWEVER, MOST ARE SO CAUGHT
UP IN THEIR OWN LITTLE WORLDS OF TRIBULATIONS THAT
THIS IS NOT THE PICTURE WE SHOW THE WORLD.
COMPLAINING AND HAVING LACK OF JOY CAN BE CONTAGIOUS.
IF YOU HANG OUT WITH PEOPLE WITH THESE TRAITS AND
YOU ARE NOT GROUNDED IN THE WORD, YOU TOO WILL
BECOME JUST LIKE THEM.
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT HAPPINESS BECAUSE HAPPINESS
DEPENDS ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE, BUT
JOY DEPENDS ON CHRIST. YOU CAN BE IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE BIGGEST MESS EVER IN YOUR LIFE AND STILL
BE JOYFUL IN CHRIST. REMEMBER, IN HIS PRESENCE
IS FULLNESS OF JOY.
THE SECRET THAN IS TO CONTINUALLY WALK IN HIS
PRESENCE BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE JOY IN FULLNESS
RESIDES.
PHIL 4:4 4Rejoice in the Lord always [delight,
gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!
I LIKE WHAT THE MESSAGE TRANLATION SAYS, 4-5Celebrate
God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make
it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're
on their side, working with them and not against
them. Help them see that the Master is about to
arrive. He could show up any minute!
DID YOU KNOW
THAT GOD COMMANDS US TO BE GLAD. THAT’S
RIGHT, LOOK AT PSALM 37:4 4 Delight yourself
also in the Lord, and He will give you
the desires and secret petitions of your heart.
WHY DID GOD BRING YOU FORTH? LOOK AT ISA 43:6-7
6 I will say to the north, Give up! and to the
south, Keep not back. Bring My sons from afar
and My daughters from the ends of the earth--7Even
everyone who is called by My name, whom I have
created for My glory, whom I have formed, whom
I have made.
IT LOOKS LIKE GOD MADE US TO MAGNIFY HIS GLORY,
THE WAY TELESCOPES MAGNIFY STARS. HE CREATED US
TO PUT HIS GOODNESS AND TRUTH AND BEAUTY AND WISDOM
AND JUSTICE ON DISPLAY. THE DEEPEST DISPLAY OF
GOD’S GLORY COMES FROM DEEP DELIGHT IN ALL
THAT HE IS. OUR PURPOSE IS TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT
GOD IS REALLY ALL ABOUT.
THIS MEANS THAT GOD GETS THE PRAISE AND WE GET
THE PLEASURE. GOD CREATED US SO THAT HE IS MOST
GLORIFIED IN US WHEN WE ARE MOST SATISFIED IN HIM.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:31 31So then, whether you eat
or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the
honor and glory of God.
WHAT GREAT ADVISE THAT IS FOR US. IT IS NOW CLEAR
THAT IN ALL THAT WE DO IT SHOULD BRING HONOR AND
GLORY TO GOD. OUR DUTY COMES FROM HIS DESIGN. SO
OUR FIRST OBLIGATION IS TO SHOW GOD’S VALUE
BY BEING SATISFIED WITH ALL THAT HE IS FOR US.
THIS IS THE ESSENSE OF LOVING GOD. MT 23:37 37And
He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your
God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind (intellect), AND TRUSTING
HIM 1 JOHN 5:3-4 3For the [true] love of God is
this: that we do His commands [keep His ordinances
and are mindful of His precepts and teaching].
And these orders of His are not irksome (burdensome,
oppressive, or grievous).
4For whatever is born of God is victorious over
the world; and this is the victory that conquers
the world, even our faith.
AND BEING THANKFUL TO HIM, PSALM 100:2-4 2 Serve
the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence
with singing!
3Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with
approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has
made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We
are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4Enter
into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering
and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and
say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise
His name! IT IS THE ROOT OF ALL TRUE OBEDIENCE,
ESPECIALLY LOVING OTHERS. COL 1:4-5 4For we have
heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [the leaning
of your entire human personality on Him in absolute
trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and
goodness] and of the love which you [have and show]
for all the saints (God's consecrated ones),
5Because of the hope [of experiencing what is] laid up (reserved and waiting)
for you in heaven. Of this [hope] you heard in the past in the message of the
truth of the Gospel,
CHECK OUT 1 PETER 1:6- 8 6[You should] be exceedingly glad on this account,
though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations,
7So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which
is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified
by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise
and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.
8Without having seen Him, you love Him; though you do not [even] now see Him,
you believe in Him and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant,
heavenly) joy.
THIS JOURNEY THAT WE ARE ALL ON RIGHT NOW CAN BE FILLED WITH TRIALS THAT CAN
GET YOU CAUGHT UP IN FEAR AND IN FEAR IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO EXPRESS
JOY IN EVERY SITUATION.
A CHURCH GROWS WHEN PEOPLE CAN SEE PEOPLE FROM THAT CHURCH WALKING IN THE FULLNESS
OF GOD’S POWER AND NO MATTER WHAT YOUR ISSUES ARE, YOU ARE JOYFUL AND
WITHOUT FEAR. THEY WANT TO BE JUST LIKE YOU AS YOU EXPRESS THE CHARACTER OF
GOD IN THIS WORLD.
THIS WORLD DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS REAL JOY. AS YOU WALK YOUR WALK, IT
WILL NOT BE ALL A BED OF ROSES, BUT YOUR DISPOSITION DURING THESE TRIALS WILL
REFLECT THE REAL YOU OPERATING IN THE STRENGTH AND POWER OF GOD.
THE TWO THINGS THAT STEAL YOUR JOY ARE FEAR AND UNBELIEF. GOD’S WORD
IS THE FINAL AUTHORITY WITH REGARD TO THESE TWO ENEMIES. WHAT ABOUT FEAR?
2 TIMOTHY 1:7 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice,
of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of
power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
(AT THIS TIME PRAY A PRAYER THAT BINDS FEAR IN THE LIVES OF SOME IN ATTENDANCE)
NOW KNOW THIS, THE OPPOSITE OF FAITH IS FEAR! FEAR WILL CHOKE YOUR FAITH. UNBELIEF
AND FEAR ARE VERY CLOSELY RELATED. YOU BREAK FEAR AND FAITH REVIVES.
THE WAY YOU ARE LIVING YOUR LIFE CAN HINDER THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH. YOU MAY
SAY, HOW PASTOR? WHEN YOU HAVE FEAR OR UNBELIEF IN OPERATION, YOU FEAR TELLING
OTHERS ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU. WHEN YOU WALK IN FEAR, YOU HAVE NO
JOY. NO JOY EQUALS THE LACK OF GOD’S STENGTH. THAT LACK EQUALS TOTAL
DEFEAT. WHEN YOU WALK DEFEATED GOD WILL NOT GROW YOU.
HERE IS A GAGE THAT YOU CAN USE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH JOY YOU HAVE:
ANSWER TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS WITH ONE OF THESE RESPONSES.
1. NEVER
2. RARELY
3.SOMETIMES
4. OFTEN
5. ALWAYS
1. I LOVE MY LIFE.
2. I LIKE WHO I AM
3. WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, I FIND MYSELF EAGERLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
MY DAY.
4. I SMILE A LOT WHEN I’M AROUND OTHER PEOPLE.
5. I CELBRATE LIFE.
IF YOU DID NOT ANSWER ALWAYS TO ALL THE QUESTIONS, YOU MAY BE A QUART OR MORE
LOW ON JOY. YOU NEED PRAYER AND A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT GOD HAS CALLED
YOU TO BE AND DO.
HERE IS A TIP, WHEN YOU ARE ABOUT TO COMPLAIN OR MURMUR, CATCH YOURSELF AND
START PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT (TONGUES).
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