JOY POWER FOR THIS SEASON

JOY POWER FOR THIS SEASON

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

For somebody this WORD is going to shift you to another place

Lift your hands right now and make this declaration: I will hear your words God -- I will receive your word God and I will believe your word.

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 during all the stress and concern that is happening because of facing something new everyday ALL YOU HEAR I COVID 19

Family locked down together 24/7

Finding food and toilet paper

Trying to wear the hats of spouse, work & teacher

Working from home with kids screaming

NO job at all

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.”

LET ME TELL YOU -- JOY IS A POWER

[1] JOY IS BOUNCE BACK POWER

You might say it is a “GET BACK UP POWER”

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.

[2] JOY IS A TAKE YOU THROUGH POWER

It doesn’t matter what you have to go through in life -- the joy of the Lord will give you the ability ....

• To Keep Walking

• To Keep Pushing

• To Keep Praying

• To Keep Praising

• To Keep Sowing

• To Keep Going

We all have to go through stuff sometimes.

AND WE’RE GOING THRU SOME REAL STUFF NOW

TOGETHER

[3] JOY IS A TAKE YOU OVER POWER

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.

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

If anything should SEPARATE US from the world it should be -- THE JOY OF THE LORD

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 — AND THAT’S WHAT THE DEVIL IS TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW

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

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

• He’s Been After Your Bounce Back Power,

• He’s Been After Your Go Through Power,

• He’s Been After Your Take You Over Power.

• He’s Been Trying To Steal Your Holy Ghost Helium

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

Look At Your Neighbor And Tell Them -- I’M POWERING BACK UP IN MY JOY

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.

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 – JOY JOY JOY EXPLODES IN YOU!!

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.

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.

Psalm 16:11 (NKJV) You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

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.