The Path Of Joy

“The Path Of Joy”

Prayer: Today, we thank You for speaking to the core of our faith. Teach us more and more about Who You are, and strengthen our faith through the power of Your word. by faith, help us to obey you. We choose to praise You and be fully persuaded that You will do what You said You will do. I know I’m not worry, it is your grace and your mercy that sees me where I am and loves me unconditionally. Thank You, Jesus! In Jesus name, Amen!

10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Introduction

Modern man has been pressed “so hard toward useful work and rational calculation he has all but forgotten the joy of ecstatic celebration.”

Celebration brings joy into our life, and joy makes us strong.

The secret of Christian joy is found in the way the believer thinks—his attitudes. Outlook determines outcomes.~Warren Wiersbe

“The Path Of Joy”

1.The Path of Joy is in the spiritual life only one thing will produce genuine joy, and that is obedience. Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

The people wept openly when they heard God’s laws and realized how far they were from obeying them. But Ezra told them they should be filled with joy because the day was holy. It was time to celebrate and to give gifts to those in need.

Celebration is not to be self-centered. Ezra connected celebration with giving. This gave those in need an opportunity to celebrate as well. Often when we celebrate and give to others (even when we don’t feel like it), we are strengthened spiritually and filled with joy. Enter into celebrations that honor God, and allow him to fill you with his joy.

1.The Path of Joy is in the spiritual life only one thing will produce genuine joy, and that is obedience.

2. The Path of Joy God’s desire is to transform the miser, not by pass him.  Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,James1:2.

James doesn’t say if you face trails, but whenever you face them. He assumes that we will have trails and that it is possible to profit from them. The point is not to pretend to be happy when we face pain, but to have a positive outlook(“consider it pure joy”) because of what trails can produce in our lives. James tells us to turn our hardships into times of learning. Tough times can teach us perseverance.

A lady came to work out at the gym. Everything about what she had on said she was going to go for a killer workout. She wore the typical attire, the headband around her head, wristbands around her wrists, and had a water bottle on her side. She stepped into a clear area and bent down to touch her toes in order to stretch. This woman looked very serious about working out. She grabbed some dumbbells, walked over to a bench, sat down. Lifting the weights, she did a couple of bicep curls, put the weights down, and wiped herself off with a towel. In an exasperated voice she said, “Whoof! That’s enough for today!” This lady looked the part but she had not truly come to the gym for a workout.

Many Christians come to church every Sunday looking like they are ready for a workout. We wear the right clothes, sing the right songs, and talk the right talk, but building real strength requires real effort and a little sweat.

God figures that we will not voluntarily go to a spiritual gym so He brings the gym to us. Adverse circumstances, cross-bearing situations, difficult scenarios, and problematic encounters all serve as opportunities for Christian growth.

1.The Path of Joy is in the spiritual life only one thing will produce genuine joy, and that is obedience.

2. The Path of Joy God’s desire is to transform the miser, not by pass him.

3. The Path of Joy is when the power that is in Jesus reaches into our work and play and redeems them, there will be joy where there was once mourning.

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:3

In Conclusion,

Scripture commands us to live in a Spirit of Thanksgiving in the midst of all situations.

1.The Path of Joy is in the spiritual life only one thing will produce genuine joy, and that is obedience.

2. The Path of Joy God’s desire is to transform the miser, not by pass him.

3. The Path of Joy is when the power that is in Jesus reaches into our work and play and redeems them, there will be joy where there was once mourning.

SOMEBODY has come up with a great concept-putting playrooms in doctors’ offices. Many parents bring their kids to the doctor because they are sick and they need the doctor to see them. The playrooms are designed to distract the children from the pain of their problem until their problem gets fixed. The playroom gives them joy in a bad situation.

That’s the way God works. Even though things may not be going the way we want them to be on the outside, God has designed a “playroom” in our soul. In the midst of our circumstances, His joy can distract us from our pain or discomfort, until He makes provision for our change or healing.

IN ORDER for God to bring out the best in His Children, He brings about scenarios in our lives to build strength and character.

When building our physical bodies, development takes on the form of pumping weights, running on a treadmill, and participating in activities that require tennis shoes. Workouts involve some sweat, heavy breathing, and perspiration because something is being developed. God allows trails and adversity to put us in gymnasium situations. Just like the Father did with His Son Jesus, He creates a workout scenario that includes a difficulty that we must work through.

Often people try to pump up people with joy when in reality nothing has happened in their lives. God has not broken into the routine experiences of their daily lives. There will not be a genuine joy until there is a transforming work within us. ~James Foster