“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
One of the great fringe benefits of being a Christian is joy. Joy is
much better than happiness. Happiness is dependent on circumstances –
good circumstances make you happy... and bad circumstances make you
unhappy. Joy is not based on circumstances; it is based on a personal
relationship with Jesus. It comes when you are right with God.
Joyful people are so fun to be around. They energize everyone they come in contact with. Their attitude is always CAN DO! They are always rejoicing because God is their King, Jesus is their Savior, their names are in the Lamb’s book of life, and “nothing is impossible to him who believes.”
Joyless, sour people are no fun to be around. They deflate everyone
they come in contact with. Nothing is ever right for a joyless, sour
person. They find difficulty in every opportunity. They may be
saved... but it is hard to tell by the way they act... and talk... and
complain. They only time they ever brighten a room is when they leave
it. How sad that God’s children would live like this.
Joy is in the Lord Jesus Christ. To live a life of joy is to live a
life surrendered to Him. If you are sour and joyless, it is because you
are focusing on the wrong things, and you are not letting Jesus fill
and control your heart and life.
Someone has well said, “Joy is the
flag that is flown from the castle of the heart when the King is in
residence.”
Is the King residing over you today? Is He really sitting in the
driver’s seat of your life? It is easy to tell... just check for joy.
My friend, joy is your birthright as a child of God. Joy is a key
component of a powerful witness for Christ. If you look like you just
sucked on a lemon, you are a poor advertisement for Jesus and the
Christian life. We represent the King of Joy to a lost and dying
world... so let Him shine through you. You will be amazed at the
difference!
Lord, I want my life to be filled with You and the joy You bring. I
choose today to take my eyes off my problems and lift them up to you.
Regardless of what may be going on, this is the day that you have
made... and You want me to rejoice and be glad in it. You still love me
and have a wonderful plan for my life. You can do anything and desire
to show Yourself mighty and strong in me. I look to You, surrender anew
and afresh to You, and make the choice, this day, to rejoice in You!
AMEN!
Pastor Jeff Schreve
Sermon Title: Tithe or Perish
Today's Bible Verse...
If you then, though you are evil,
know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your
Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask for him. —Luke 11:13
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Think
of all the great gifts you've been given. Next to Jesus, God's gracious
sacrifice for our salvation, the greatest gift we can receive is God's
abiding presence in the Holy Spirit! He is ours if we ask. In fact, when
we ask God for anything, the Spirit is already in God's presence
interceding for us!
My Prayer...
Abba Father, through the precious Holy Spirit I come before you asking you to empower me, my loved ones, and our church through the power of your Holy Spirit. I pray for renewal to sweep over our country and our world led by your Spirit of grace, power, and love. In the name of Jesus, the giver of this great gift I pray. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
Today's Verse Illustrated
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