How to add Joy to your Life

Introduction:

A. Many people will never experience the Joy-filled victorious Christian Life that God intended for us to have.

B. The Christian life is a train that runs on two rails: faith and obedience.

i. Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

ii. James 2:17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

iii. The old hymn Trust and Obey says it best: When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word what a glory he sheds on our way, while we do His good will He abides with us still and with all who will trust and obey. Trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.

iv. If you don’t obey Christ then you don;t know Christ.

a. John 10:25–29 “Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

I. Obedience is a requirement for Joy.

A. We obey because God is sovereign.

i. Notice the phrase in verse 29 we ought to obey.

B. We obey because Christ is savior.

i. We owe the Lord.

C. We obey because the Holy Spirit is within us.

i. We have a duty.

II. Obedience is the reason for Joy.

A. 1 Samuel 15:22–23 “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king.”

i. When we disobey the Lord we are in open rebellion against God.

ii. Equal to witchcraft in wickedness.

B. If you love Him you will obey Him

i. 1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

C. What are his commands?

i. John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

ii. Matthew 28:18–20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

iii. Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

iv. Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

III. Obedience is the realization of Joy.

A. When we obey we experience the fullness of his Joy.

B.

C.

Iv. Conclusion.

A. Are you obeying the Lord today?

B. Perhaps you cannot because you do not know Him.

C. You need to recieve Jesus today!

D. You need to Obey God today!!!!