Untitled Sermon (3)

STAYCATION PT 3

THIS IS PERFECT -- LABOR DAY WEEKEND -- Many people will use this time off as a “STAYCATION” with their families -- and theres still a part of our population that will spend it so busy and wore out and down about life.

LOOK AT THE COMMAND GOD GIVES US ....

Philippians 4:4 (TLB) Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice!

WHY DOES GOD WANT US FULL OF JOY -- HIS JOY

John 10:10 (NKJV) The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

MANY OF YOU HERE TODAY -- you love the Lord with all your heart & you’re doing your best to serve him and you never planned for it to happen and you didn’t think it would ever happen to you -- but somehow -- somewhere along the course of life and the daily grind your joy has leaked out.

THE TRUTH IS IT HAPPENS TO EVERYONE SOMETIME -- Even David the great psalmist, prophet and king who understood more about praise and worship and the presence of God than almost anyone living. One day found that the joy had leaked out.

Psalm 51:12 (NKJV) Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

SEE -- the devil knows that JOY is a tremendous source of POWER to the believer.

Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV)Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

[1] YOU CAN GET BACK UP

Proverbs 24:16 (MSG) No matter how many times you trip them up, God-loyal people don’t stay down long; Soon they’re up on their feet, while the wicked end up flat on their faces.

Romans 5:3 (AMP) Moreover [let us also be full of JOY now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.

Philippians 3:1 (PassionNTPsa) My beloved ones, don’t ever limit your joy or fail to rejoice in the wonderful experience of knowing our Lord Jesus!

[2] YOU HAVE THE CHOICE

The Joy of the Lord gives wings to your faith and gives you the ability to rise above the storm, and the trials and the attacks.

Psalm 5:11 (AMP) But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing and shout for joy, because You make a covering over them and defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You and be in high spirits.

I like to say it like this:

The Joy of the Lord is Holy Ghost Helium -- It’s the internal substance that gives us lifting power

The JOY OF THE LORD gives us the power to break the gravitational pull that wants to DRAG US DOWN into worry and fear and depression and discouragement.

WE HAVE THE CHOICE TO LEAN INTO ONE OR THE OTHER -- JOY OR THE CHOAS OF LIFE!!!

WE HAVE IT

Galatians 5:22 (WEY) The Spirit, on the other hand, brings a harvest of love, joy, peace; patience towards others, kindness, benevolence;

WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON THE SPIRIT -- TAP INTO THAT JOY BY PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST --

Genesis 49:22 (GW) Joseph is a fruitful tree, a fruitful tree by a spring, with branches climbing over a wall.

Joseph was able to overcome every wall and every adversity because he was planted by a well -- that means Joseph was continually drawing from the supply of the JOY OF THE LORD.

The Joy Of The Lord Is Alive -- It’s Contagious

IT only takes one PERSON to change the dynamic of a conversation or interaction -- BY RELEASING JOY

CROWDS OF PEOPLE WHO are unreceptive, not wanting to engage CAN BE TOTALLY TURNED AROUND -- LOOK at stand up comediennes!

I KNOW -- It can be uncomfortable to be confronted by someone who is hurting or has an obvious need.

Whether it is the homeless person on the corner with a sign asking for help or a person with a developmental disability acting out in public,

THE tendency is to avoid eye contact, ignore the situation, and get away from the person as soon as possible.

JESUS TEACHES US to hit these challenges HEAD ON with His Power -- which is energized BY JOY

JOY ELECTRIFIES the atmosphere

WALKING IN HIS JOY -- will cause us to change the way we see peoples needs -- we won’t see them as messy or a nuisance.

As JOYFUL believers -- we can respond in a way that acknowledges each person’s value and need for God.

ILLUSTRATION

· When you can go through the same tests, the same trials, and hardships as the world ---- AND they’re trippin out, and flippin out and freakin out & YOU ARE CHILLIN’ OUT because of the supernatural supply of the JOY OF THE LORD -- they’re going to want what you have.

· Some of you have been going through all kinds of difficulties, hardships, trials, and just plain attacks from hell -- it seems like you get victory in one area then you’re attacked in another area

· It feels like you’re in a continual warfare -- like you’re caught in the spin cycle in the washer and you can’t turn it off.

Here’s The Reason Why -- The Devil Wants To Wear You Out.

Daniel 7:25 says he shall speak great words against the most high and shall wear out the Saints.

If you’d be honest about it TODAY -- most of you are just like me -- the devil has hit you hard -- not just in one area but in multiple areas and the truth is it was a good hit

I mean the devil hit you where it hurt and you felt it and it stunned you,

See The Devil’s been after your strength -- YOUR JOY POWER ....

BUT TODAY -- You Are Taking Steps To Get Your Joy Back In Gear

Come on and Prophesy Over Yourself:

I’m getting my wings back -- I’m getting my pep back in my step -- I’m getting my fire back in my furnace -- I’m getting my power back in my punch -- I’m getting my Holy Ghost Helium back -- I’m getting the wind back in my sails.

Colossians 1:11 (TLB) We are praying, too, that you will be filled with his mighty, glorious strength so that you can keep going no matter what happens—always full of the joy of the Lord,

YOU SEE:

The Devil Made One Big Mistake -- HE FORGOT WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST -- he hit YOU hard -- he knocked YOU down -- and he almost killed YOU -- but he made one mistake ----- HE LEFT YOU BREATHING!!!

IF you’ve got a breath left you can PRAISE THE LORD and if you can praise the Lord you can access the POWER OF GOD, and when you access the power of God -- God is going to turn it around FOR YOU.

John 15:9-11 (GW) “I have loved you the same way the Father has loved me. So live in my love. If you obey my commandments, you will live in my love. I have obeyed my Father’s commandments, and in that way I live in his love. I have told you this so that you will be as joyful as I am, and your joy will be complete.

ILLUSTRATION

I LOVE THIS STORY FROM MAX LUCADO ...

“I have everything I need for joy!” Robert Reed said.

His hands are twisted and his feet are useless. He can’t bathe himself. He can’t feed himself. He can’t brush his teeth, comb his hair, or put on his underwear. Strips of Velcro hold his shirts together. His speech drags like a worn out audiocassette.

Robert has cerebral palsy.

The disease keeps him from driving a car, riding a bike, and going for a walk. But it didn’t keep him from graduating from high school or attending Abilene Christian University, from which he graduate with a degree in Latin. Having cerebral palsy didn’t keep him from teaching at St. Louis Junior College or from venturing overseas on five mission trips.

And Robert’s disease didn’t prevent him from becoming a missionary in Portugal.

He moved to Lisbon, alone, in 1972. There he rented a hotel room and began studying Portuguese. He found a restaurant owner who would feed him after the rush hour and a tutor who would instruct him in the language.

Then he stationed himself daily in a park, where he distributed brochures about Christ. Within six years he led seventy people to the Lord, one of whom became his wife, Rosa.

THAT WAS HIS STAYCATION OF JOY -- ON A BENCH

I heard Robert speak recently. I watched other men carry him in his wheelchair onto the platform. I watched them lay a Bible in his lap. I watched his stiff fingers force open the pages. And I watched people in the audience wipe away tears of admiration from their faces. Robert could have asked for sympathy or pity, but he did just the opposite. He held his bent hand up in the air and boasted, “I have everything I need for joy.”

His shirts are held together by Velcro, but his LIFE IS HELD TOGETHER BY JOY.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 (GW) Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this. Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire.