Sunday Service
Oh, well, let's let's have some for a request here. I think we have two of them. today
Evelyn Norris thank you for the prayer request. We're going to pray for our president. And Leona, we're going to pray for you and your Towing your situation with your help.
Pray for mr. Grant fall used to be a co-pastor here long time ago and he's struggling now with Dad health and diabetes and that's where thing and let's go to print right now. your heavenly father you do want to lift up. All that are hurting all that needs your touch your loving touch on their life. We pray for our country also have your touch that you shine your light of Truth underwear Nation expose what needs to be exposed? And thank you Father. Your sister Evelyn North wants us to pray for our president. That's what we're going to do. We're going to pray for his protection for his healing and good health. Be able to lead our country with wisdom and guidance in biblical values and principles of the Lord trust God and everything that he does that she may be safe from any enemies that want to kill and destroy. We thank you for this father very much. Your dear sweet Leona. She's been struggling father. We just want your hand and touch Mercy Grace love and favor on it on her healing. I think there's drawing her closer and closer to the Lord. Thank you that she could appreciate in heaven. We're going to have indestructible. Bodies that are aren't subject to injury or disease and we're just so thankful for that Joy that's coming around the corner for all of us. We're just so thankful for that. We just pray right now though at the suffering that she's going through will come to an end and she'll be able to get back on her walk around walk around and do the do the walking and ended the wonderful Joy that she has in being able to see her surroundings and walk around. Again. Thank you Father for that Leslie on in that way into this. Mr. Grant fall that time. So good to this church long ago. We pray that that he doesn't suffer. I am is not in pain and torture through his disease father. We pray your hand a favor on him lift him up and heal him father. Thank you Lord. Thank you Father that you healed the community of powers. You do pray that you put your hand of loving guidance and bring the lost to you. Bring them to this church that we may be able to be loving ambassadors of Jesus to them. So they may realize that their sin needs to be forgiven by a great Lord that is poured out his love for him them that they may come to Christ and we maybe enjoy them as neighbors and friends and then enjoy them as brothers and sisters in the kingdom of God someday. So we just pray for the school at the high school and all the other schools and powers that the children will be taught the truth you pray eventually, they'll be Bibles in every classroom around this. The sun Nation father. We thank you for that. God bless the Christian schools and colleges and thank you for all the police and all that wear a badge and and a uniform they may be save protected and successful in their job.
Foreign and domestic lie, they run to danger for us father and we are so grateful for them. Pray for them being persecuted some ways. Sometimes we pray that it'll be nothing but a blessing and reward for them as they stand for righteousness. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake we're just so thankful that they're there. We thank you now father has we go forward in this message again. We love you. And we thank you and we praise all this to you father. And our lord. Jesus is precious. Holy saving name. Amen. I think it's super Church time now for the kitties. God bless them little angels.
Don't you just love it?
No Zack. polarized car sweet
Okay.
bear with me folks
I'm going to read the scripture reading again, cuz it's it's just profound Isaiah 61 verse 10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord. My soul shall rejoice in my God for he is clothed me with the garments of Salvation Andrade me in a robe of his righteousness.
Amen to that
I do have to read. I'm about a pastor. So this is something that I'm just going to have to struggle with and I thank you for being patient with me before I get started. I got to tell you that my wife wanted me to tell funny jokes with the sermon and not to know why anybody. And I get that filled with laughter. Sorry, honey. I don't think I'll be able to do that, but it is transformational and I hope you get something out of it.
It's it's more it's more of a
biblical counseling maybe even more than just the typical sermon so Anyway, here we go.
We have to acknowledge that our attitudes are established by a pattern of thinking over time. Everyone has a thinking pattern. But they've developed during their lifetime. I was born with a certain temperament, but your attitude is developed over time by your thinking. Are you possibly heard it said that. Change your thinking and you change your life? It's not that easy. But it can be done and it takes time. Why you change your attitude? Cuz it's been studied and proven and it's hard to believe that you don't have to be brilliant intellectually talented or Rich. It's our attitude that makes a big difference in how we enjoy our life. Attitudes are predictors of our future experience and enjoyment. What God expects you to have an attitude of Thanksgiving joy, loving-kindness and humility. How about the Beatitudes? A Jesus mentioned in The Sermon on the Mount that bees are Godly attitudes that bring blessing according to our Lord. Blessed are you that have this attitude? Today we want to focus on the attitude of joy. The joy of the Lord is our strength and it's absolutely true Amen. In other words The Joy that's in our Salvation in Christ. David cried out in Psalms 51 verse 12. He said restore me to the joy of your salvation and make me willing to obey you.
Philippians 4 verse 4 rejoice in the lord always and again I say rejoice. Attitudes or life practices that we can choose and change? Because of our thinking patterns we become so they become so habitual on automatic that we can falsely think that we didn't choose them. Have you ever said this is just the way I am. That implies you have no choice. Remember you're giving a temperament. But you Choose Your Attitude whether you're aware of it or not, and because these b**** will attitudes happen so often and automatically we fail to appreciate that we can actually choose.
It's good news that if we practice our way in the negative attitudes, we can also practice our way out of them.
And they will yield better life circumstances. This isn't psychology 101. It's Philippians 4 verse 8. It says finally brothers and sisters. Whatever is true. Whatever is Noble whatever is right, whatever is pure. Whatever is lovely whatever is admirable.
If there's anything excellent or praiseworthy think about such things. Think differently again with the scripture in mind you change your thinking you change your life. We renew our minds through scripture the truth. I personally feel like this when I was unsaved I was caught up in all types of typical worldly things of life. Some truths along with a lot of lies for my spiritual enemies. The world The Temptations of the Flesh and the Devil Himself and his minions are allowing these lies of who I am. What is my real purpose for living? What is it? How should I even live my life? And what am I even Living For? Causing my mind not to function like it should because her lies about those things and bad thinking leads to choices that lead to nothing really good. So my mind was actually suffering from what I call a form of mental illness. My mind was not living up to what my Creator wanted it to be.
Disorderly thinking and believing lies eventually leads to confusion. Doubt and overall frustration and that frustration can eventually lead to bitterness and even anger. Well Along Came the truth the way and the life the savior of my life Jesus now that I have the Lord's word of Truth to study my mind became more orderly and I found out who I truly am.
What my purpose for living was and how I should live my life. The word of God was healing me bit by bit over time. I discovered that have an orderly thinking and not the chaos of lies going on in my mind. I was experiencing a piece.
A calming of my mind was taking place. Over the years this piece. This is the kind of Peace. The world doesn't know. It's set me up to finally have Godly Joy. You can't have peace. I need a can of Joy with out that piece. Joy that the unsaved again can't have. I miss final stage of crowning Joy was all the result of What the Lord Has Done For Me? So the form that goes like this God's truth brings orderly and healthy thinking for better consequences, which allow a piece of most tablets. And that piece of mind us for the kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but I'm living a life of goodness. Peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Brothers and sisters, I got to tell you that being. Joyfield Sons and Daughters of God pleases Our Father the Son Jesus in the Holy Spirit. Remember our goal as Christians is the is to please the father give him all glory and enjoy his blessings forever. Joy is a choice actually. You're so example of choosing Joy. I want to tell you a little Story I Heard. Her husband of 70 years had passed away.
And our only option of living now was the interim nursing facility for the elderly. She waited in the lobby for a long time and then finally someone came to get her and told her that her room was ready. She was escorted down the corridor her attendant describe the room to her down to the curtains on the windows. She said I love it. But you haven't seen the room yet. He said. She said that doesn't have anything to do with it happiness is something you decide on a head of time. What do I like my room or not doesn't depend on how my furniture is arranged. It's how I arrange my mind she Sharp. She said my happiness is not based on how the room is arranged. It's how I how I choose to be content with what God has given me. Play Caleb and Joshua wanted to enter the land of milk and honey saying it's not how the promised land of the rain. It's how they arrange their minds their attitude. They knew what God had promised now. Not as Christians, we have an obligation to express our joy for what God has provided us and done for us. Just the sheer fact that is a saved person. We are inheritors of all that our wonderful father. God has provided for us in his kingdom. Joy, that all our sins have been covered by the blood of the savior. Holy spirit is alive and living within the born-again believer. Joy, that will be we will be receiving amazing new body. That's not subject to disease or injury. It'll be the end of evil in sin with joyous thought. We have joy because we have the Bible the awesome revelation of God to us. Pictures of joy for the many Christian brothers and sisters There Are Spiritual family the church the body of Christ. How about the joy we should have for all the promises of God.
We have a choice that we can pray to God and receive His blessings. I could go on and on about the attitude of Joy. There's a Christian should have daily. Of course, there's going to be trouble as Jesus told us as long as we're in this world. We're going to have trouble.
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He know he can go ahead and says we're going to have joy because he has overcome this world. You told us not to worry and have faith. Of course, we're done born with those who mourn and hurting where the weep with those who weep. We're not to remain downcast and it continually gloomy State that's only four season.
other Christians that have horrible trouble in this world with pain and suffering and they say they have no hope you may say I have a legitimate reason to be miserable and remain miserable. No healing insight. I get that but remember even if all joy escapes them in this life at least. There's a there's a joyous hope and that's this. This life will end an ultimate healing and the end of misery will come guaranteed after this life ends. That's all we got. We have the hope of joy in heaven. How God expects expects us to keep our eye on that. Hope of joy in the midst of our trip Lee Darkness There's also another reality and it's this we can let our misery become an idol. Idle is what's taking up too much space in our mind and crowding out our attention to the Lord. He needs to be the centerpiece of our life not ourselves.
Are you can actually make it idle of yourself? Idol gets in the way of surrendering our will to the Lord. Be careful in making Idols in this way. Jesus stated he stated this Let the dead bury the dead and come follow me. Keep your hand on the plow. Looking forward. Look back. The rich man had concerns about his money his Idol and he could not move forward with the Lord and he was sad. After a time of mourning and suffering return to the joy of the Lord of our Salvation, that's where our strength is. Psalms 30 verse 5 weeping may endure for a night or a season but joy comes in the morning. The always reflect on the reasons of our joy. Another thing to consider is a depressed ungrateful downcast gloomy or bitter Christian is not a good representative of Our Lord. Need to be shining examples of what wonderful things the Christian life brings us. Especially attitude of joy, peace gratefulness and kindness not the opposite. Ruby ambassadors of Jesus Brothers again. Another thing to consider is this What is our heavenly father think when we are not joyful for all that? He's done for our lives.
Looking at us saying is this your attitude? What more will it take? I've given you all this and more including all my promises and this is your gloomy attitude.
The father is the one we're all to please again. It's the Christians goal to please the father give him glory and invite His blessings. Remember that sorry. It's the it's the Golden Nugget of our Christian Life. That's our goal, please the father remember always that brings blessings and pleases the father. Another tidbit is that delayed obedience is disobedience.
There's a recent time when I had delayed obedience. I've been drinking two cups of coffee a day for a long time and the Holy Spirit kept convicting me that I should back off the coffee teeth, and I said I will someday but not now.
Delay, a couple months ago. I had a terrible time in my prostate. So I did some research and found out from many sources that coffee is the number one irritant of the I went through a time of suffering and pain. What's the consequence of not following God's still Small Voice is leading.
Fly limited the coffee drinking immediately stopped and I found relief. Total Beauty and skin also be life threatening. One time when we were stopped at a red light leaving coos coos Bay. The light turned green and I immediately out of my mouth shouted look both ways. I never do such a thing. So we both obeyed immediately and immediately look both ways and just then a big white vegan came barreling through the red light about 45 miles an hour. It would have crashed into the driver's door and seriously injured box. So when God Force those words out of my mouth I slammed on the brakes and avoided a trip to the hospital or maybe even the morgue God has 1 verse 12 says and giving joyful. Thanks to the father who qualified you to share in the inheritance of this. Holy people in the Kingdom of Light. Amen. I'm here is something we could do to break our habit of a sour attitude? That is get your hands on a little pocket-sized booklet called the promises of God. It's simply a Bible scripture promises that are listed categorically. So whenever you're overtaken by gloom-and-doom just open up this little booklet and bring back the joy of the Lord and please him. Also do your best to memorize as many Godly promises as possible. So they'll have you'll have them ready at a moment's notice. Now if you're serious about changing your attitude towards more joy that this is a tool his promises bring us joy and confidence. So what's been taking up space in your mind? Is it leading you to have a more? Joyful attitude one that's pleasing to God? Delete whatever is taking up space that just pleases the father and replace it with what the Bible says again. I want to drive the point home in Philippians 4 verse 8, finally brothers and sisters. Whatever is true. Whatever is Noble whatever is right, whatever is pure whatever is lovely whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things. How about this person Psalms psalm 16 verse 11 in his presence.
Speaking of his presents the holy spirit is present in all of us that are born again. So we're in his presence and we should be experiencing his Joy. So don't forget that everything is going through the holy spirit is going through it with you and he's your helper your counselor. And your comforter is the presence of God and he will bring joy despite your circumstances if you let him We have to own our own attitude. Here's a story that XX exemplifies that we have to own our own attitude. It's two construction guys are on their lunch break at work. The first guy says I can't believe it's bologna again. I hate bologna sandwiches. This is been the fourth time this week. I've had bologna I can't stand bologna. Close friend says so why don't you say something to your wife be complaining guy says what good would that do I make my own sandwiches?
Again, we make we make our own choice of what attitude we take on we have to ask ourselves. Do we want to live a joyous life. Do you want to say that? You're the most joyous person? You know how you do? Here's a quote from swindle. The longer I live the more I realize the impact of attitude on my life. Remarkable thing is that we have a choice everyday regarding attitude. We will Embrace for that day. He also says we cannot change our past we cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way. You cannot change the inevitable. He says I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it with my attitude will be I will choose. I want you to be What attitude I will choose. Have you ever said you make me so fill in the blank? Well, actually that's a false statement. Because no one really cute. only you can choose what reaction you nobody can force you to have a certain reaction. Don't give somebody that power over your life.
No one can make you mad or make you joyous evening. It's an inside job. Can influence you of course, but they can't make you think anything. You make me so is actually a statement of a responsibility. It's saying I'm not me.
We should be in charge of our thoughts and our reactions in our attitudes. We have to admit that we can't change our attitude until we admit we can choose it. Then a different Choice becomes our option. It's so foundational to a joyous life. Changing an attitude takes time and patience. It doesn't happen overnight. But you can accelerated by being enthusiastic and bringing about your new way of thinking. Longer and deeper. We've had problematic thinking in our pattern of life that that kind of pattern. Could Bean the longer it may take to establish a new thinking habit. If you find your being continually disappointed by somebody one thing you can do to avoid disappointment. And cause you to temporarily lose the to remember that disappointment usually always comes from our high expectations of other people.
Lower we keep that bar of expectation for human beings the better. You don't even we Christians are always delightful. We're not perfect. We're still broken toys being fixed by great God. But you don't always to keep the bar of expectations very high for God and his love and Promises. Sophie and I are trying to our best practices it takes time, but it works keep that Barlow for humans. I forgot. Adam over the Lord Jesus Christ. You are a Stave child of God a new person at that moment with the Holy Spirit dwelling you praise God. there's so many life improvements that take place over time as you draw closer and closer in relationship with God, especially as you become more obedient to the Lord's teachings and the Holy Spirit lyrics your son example When I was first saved and became a Christian. I didn't realize all that God wanted me to become. Didn't happen immediately. Some things did you but a lot different in the beginning I continue to watch R-rated movies and shows not realizing how Unholy and simple the content was and no clue how it was hurting my soul. These images and influences were downloading in my mind. And it's exactly what God teaches us not to do.
lustful gory violence perverted subject matter As I began to stay the Bible more finding out what God's will was for my daily life. To be holy and blameless as he is. This began to sink in and more and more. I felt the Holy Spirit can pick me up on doing this is all a progressive upward movement towards godliness. Our lives change over time. It's what it's what we call sanctification maturing us. So that will become more full of salt and light the others and have drawing power that leads down to the Lord's Gospel of salvation. Another words, we don't immediately become spiritually mature overnight the same thing with changing our thinking habits. Remember, we're to be in the process of renewing our minds. Changing often times feel strange at first story that exemplifies that when we change it feels strange. I had a friend that played golf. You realize he wasn't getting any better at playing the game. So we took a few lessons. At the first lesson the teaching pro had him. Hit some balls and a few times after observing his golf swing the pro asked him how long you been playing baseball? Because his swing didn't look like what it should look like. The pro changed his grip on the club. Change the stats. And my friend said this feels weird. It doesn't feel good. But in time after practice practicing this new way of hitting the ball my friend improved by changing and it no longer felt strange.
Here's the principle of change if it doesn't feel strange. Most likely you didn't change. Same with those who profess salvation.
If there hasn't been any change in how they live their lives over time and something is really strange of hand is quite possibly actually maybe never even saved us because we should be able to look back into the rear view mirror of our life and see a definite change as Christians. Change always feels different you might say. Hey this isn't me. Well, yes, it isn't you yet, but it's going to be an approved you down the road apiece. If it feels strange good that means you're on the road to Improvement. If we revert back to our old ways. We're going to get our old way of doing life. Remember how close the wandering Jew's the wandering Jew's were to the promised land. They were Incredibly Close. In fact when we read about there were right on the border, right smack-dab on the border a whole generation was this close to receiving God's best and missed it. Here's good news. You are this close to God's best the joy-filled attitude. That is rightfully yours. Cross that border and receive it God's promises are for you to dwell upon in to pray and receive.
Number of the joy of the Lord is your strength. A joyful attitude is a choice Paul shout rejoice. And again, I say rejoice ultimately weird to be living for Christ as his joyous kind and peaceful ambassadors not living for ourselves, but living for him again where to be Christ centered people letting Jesus take up the space in our minds with a goal of pleasing him always making Idols of anything other than our Lord God eventually will rob us of our joy. Also remember that unforgiveness is a joy Thief.
Forgiveness is so very important to the Christian Life. It's fun to Belle. It's a big part of the Lord's Prayer. unforgiveness is a form of bitterness in Conflict mightily with the joy that's rightfully yours and the joy returns with when forgiveness is given
forgiveness is not always an easy choice. And sometimes we don't want to forgive. But to be obedient to God we forgive by faith and obedience. Trusting God that the feeling associated with forgiveness will eventually take place. Which female won the event that caused the bitter feelings? Again work we are choosing what we allow our minds to dwell on as a pastor told me a story about a man thing to him. And the Pastor said by faith and obedience to God, I forgive him. But this horrible event and person kept coming up in his mind stirring up. Some of the bad feelings are associated with it. The Pastor said
I had to continually forgive this man over and over again. You said that in order to get this man from looting in his mind rent-free, he would daily in the shower only when washing his hair. You would sing the song there. I think it's from the movie South Pacific or maybe a shampoo commercial. By the way, my wife told me to sing this and I'm not going to do it. smoke it goes like this. I'm going to wash that man right out of my hair or out of my head and send him on his way over.
And finally after a lot of hair wash a place. And the man was evicted from the pastor's mine permanently and real forgiveness was established.
Another thing we should do regarding a difficult forgiveness. It's a pray for the person that you're having trouble forgiving absolutely this really helps if I said before some things do take time, but we have to keep at it Proverbs 17 verse 22 says a joyful heart is the health of the body.
Set another way a merry heart doeth good like medicine. That's my opinion that Doom and Gloom begets weakness. Again, the joy of the Lord is our strength. That's the theme of this.
preaching here I'm like you I love the Bible verses on Joy because they confirm a joy is a beautiful gift from God that can be experienced in every season of your life. Matter what you're going through James one verse two and three remember it says consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters tour. Is that when you see definitely not worth the fight every single time? 1st Thessalonians 5 verse 16 through 18. It says Rejoice always pray continually give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
our sweet friend Joanna McNeil send Bible scripture throughout the week and one from the other day is Psalm 31 verse 7. I will be glad and rejoice in your mercy for you have considered my trouble.
Generally happiness is a temporary thing based on circumstances happiness is the feeling you get when things are going well, but the other hand is a deep sense of pleasure Delight gladness in a that is independent of circumstance Joy flows from our deeply rooted trust that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him. Also wasn't here in Jordans of the light God. This can cause your heart to smile even if things seem to be falling apart a penis where does my strength come from the joy of my salvation all the time? There are so many wonderful things that our Salvation is provided for us or always remind us why we have this ongoing joy that the unsaved can experience. This is the joy. The world doesn't know where to be a peculiar people because of this ever-present joy and peace in our Christian Life. Sparking, but about Charles Spurgeon. He said holy Joy oil the wheels of your life's machinery.
Holy Joy will strengthen you for your daily labor?
Only joy will beautify and give you an influence over the lives of others and opening them to on the Lord.
Here's a story about two different kinds of husband. Two wives were sitting there in the laundry room at the laundromat doing their laundry. But they were both mending their husbands pants while they're waiting for their laundry. When wife said my husband is so miserable. Nothing goes right at work at our home is a place of despair. Especially when he comes home from work. We go to church you complains about the music idiot. the other wife said my husband is so full of joy. Can't wait to go to church. He loves the sermons. We laugh all the time and enjoy our family life and our home life. He got very quiet in the laundry room is the women both continue sewing their pants. butt pants one with patching the seat of the pants and the other was catching the knee due to her husband's regular praying. Nasir is praying rings.
As we close today, maybe we should consider this. This is a bit extreme, but it gets to the point. What would it be? Like if the lord gave you 15 seconds to experience hell? To see and feel what it's all about. And then immediately give you 15 seconds in heaven. A home where we're headed as Christians. God giving you this experience just so that you can compare the two worlds.
I tell you brothers and sisters we'd be so overwhelmed with the joy of our Salvation. Think about it. We be kissing Jesus feet tears of joy.
Jesus is called our savior. How's that title for a profound reason savior? We use children of God. What are we saved from? We're saved from God's Wrath of being thrown into Eternal damnation into hell. For rejecting The Father's Love and is sent in his sons. And son. Jesus is offered to give our sins over by his Precious Blood and sacrifice on the cross for giving them. Rejection of such a great love offering will eternally separate The Sinner from the kingdom of heaven.
consider this The unsaved sinner this Earthly life is the closest he'll ever need anything heavenly. Beyonce this is it this is their most Heavenly experience being on this Earth if they go to their death without their sins forgiven But for us save children of God, this Earthly life is the closest to Alex. Will ever.
Future looks very bright. Now if anyone here hasn't made the choice to make the Savior Jesus Christ Our Lord and Master. Please consider how important it is to your soul. Today, you can become a child of God. Not just a creation of God. the truth Heaven or Hell so after the service today, if you want to give your life to Jesus and be saved just come talk to me in the Lord will make sure your eternity will be a joyous one.
Let's pray. Put our hearts out to reach out to the Lost.
Give us a wonderful testimony of what God has done for us and our salvation. Micolash realized that there needed for sins forgiven before that. They're like ants here on Earth. Realizing that there truly a sinner in need of saving grace and mercy that our lord Jesus provides for us. They become children of God sharing the great inheritance leaking. Maybe remind them the incredible importance of their inter a trinity.
A father may we never be ashamed of your gospel? And you take the fear of being away from us.
And we both share your your Plan of Salvation to the Lost. We have many Divine appointments this season any unsaved family members friends neighbors or coworkers are whoever we run into Lord. Bring it to us father that we may share the joy of your salvation.
Praise you I was going to this church building and you do it with a new sense of joy and Thanksgiving and the Lord of our salvation.
You think I'll ever thank you Father for all these things. Thank you for listening to our prayers today. God bless these people. People people that come to listen to your word and praise you pray. Thank you Lord by all these things in Jesus is Holy.
amen