Sermon Tone Analysis

We’re working our way closely to the end of Revelation, and one of the most difficult things to do in the face of a society that wants to destroy you is to have joy.

You just don’t feel like being happy when you feel like you’re surrounded by enemies, and it becomes incredibly hard to follow Jesus’ command to love your enemies when you don’t feel like it, but let me tell you: Joy is a discipline, not a feeling.

This crowd is described as sounding like mighty ocean waves or crashes of thunder.

This sounds awesome.

If you’re having a hard time picturing this, think about this:

November 1st, 2015, Wade Davis pitching against Wilmer Flores.

It was the bottom of the 12th.

The count was 1-2 in Game 5 of the World Series.

You probably remember it.

But listen to the crowd here:

[Video]

That’s similar to the sound being described here.

Most of you are Royals fans.

Do you remember how you felt when you found out that they had won?

It was one of extreme happiness I’m guessing.

That’s the feeling being described here.

And that’s the natural feeling we feel when we see the justice of God.

Think about your life, and how you’re created.

You are created by God to experience extreme happiness at times.

Do you really think that will be at it’s highest here on earth?

This is the moment we’ve been waiting for throughout all of history!

But here’s the thing: it’s so certain to happen, that we can choose to celebrate it now.

Because Joy is a discipline, not a feeling.

Paul agrees with this when he commands people to rejoice:

How can he command us to rejoice if it’s a feeling?

We’re all familiar with feelings.

Can you control how you feel?

Of course not.

Can you control what you do?

Yes.

Guess what: psychology shows us that generally, feelings follow actions.

Try it right now: if you’re not having a good day, smile a good, genuine smile.

Let it get to your eyes, not like a grimace.

This should affect how you live.

Joy is a discipline, not a feeling.

How often do you choose joy?

In your marriage, are you joyful?

Do you intentionally remind yourself that children are a blessing?

Do you remind yourself of peoples’ good qualities?

Are you more complementary or critical?

When you talk about other people, do you praise their good qualities more, or do you criticize them?

Do you really think that what you say about people will not color how you feel about them?

This is why relationships fail: there’s an issue, and you begin to think the worst of the other person, you choose bitterness rather than forgiveness, and you let that self-talk erode the foundation of your relationship, and the relationship ends because you’ve failed to choose joy.

Choose joy.

Practice the discipline of smiling genuinely and letting that affect how you deal with people.

This is the basic misunderstanding about marriage in our society.

[[Goo-goo eyed, “I love you”s /// marriage is based on feelings, not choice.

Marriages that last are ones based on the foundation of the CHOICE to love someone.]]

What are you choosing?

Joy is a discipline, not a feeling.

Finally the justice of God has come to fruition.

And the saints can't help it, they break out into song!

It’s exciting!

I don’t really need to comment on this right now.

What I really want to focus on is the last part:

The fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.

We are not saved by our works, we’re saved by Jesus’ works, but how we behave is the evidence that we are saved.

Who you are determines what you do.

And what you do, determines how your attitude.

I’m always concerned for those people who call themselves followers of Jesus, but they don’t act it out.

I am troubled by people who go to church on Sunday and claim salvation, but use that as a license to continue how they want rather than how Jesus commands us to.

This is what is in mind when Jesus tells this story:

In this parable, everyone is invited.

Just like with the gospel, many are invited.

Most do not come.

The Jews who reject Jesus are the ones who declined the invitation here.

But there are some who show up who just want a free lunch without participating in the celebration of the wedding.

These are deeds.

Those people who want to take advantage of Jesus’ grace without submitting to him as Lord are guilty of seeking “cheap grace”.

[[Preach the Gospel]]

The question both here and in Revelation 19 is “are you wearing clothes?” Are you choosing to obey that which Scripture commands- and that includes the command to joy?

What does your attitude look like?

How does it affect your behavior?

Your feelings will follow your actions.

What are you choosing?

Joy is a discipline, not a feeling.

You are chosen.

You are loved.

You are called by God.

You are blessed if you persevere until the end and you also attend the wedding feast of the lamb.

And part of that is joy.

Choose joy.

Joy is a discipline, not a feeling.

This to me, is one of the funniest scenes in the entire Bible.

John sees this magnificent vision and he just overflows with worship, and bows down to the nearest thing to him.

And the angel freaks out!

And his response is emphatic.

The only thing worthy of worship is God!

Not Babylon, not angels, not possessions, not comfort, not life.

Only God is worthy of our worship.

And our joy is an outpouring of our worship.

Remember, last week, I said that worship is a lifestyle, not a moment: our choosing of joy is the result of a life of worship because Joy is a discipline, not a feeling.

Our joy is our worship.

Our lives are lives of worship, so choose joy.

And as you worship, and as you choose joy, you will speak.

Because the joy of Jesus is contagious.

And as people see your worship, as people see your commitment to joy, they will give you opportunities to share the testimony about Jesus.

And that’s prophecy.

And then John defines prophecy.

It's not about prediction.