Reclaiming My Joy

Nehemiah 8:10 NRSV

10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

John 15:11 NRSV

11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

THERE IS A PHRASE THAT WAS MADE POPULAR BY CONGRESSWOMAN MAXINE WATERS FROM CALIFORNIA DURING A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING. IT WAS

DURING THAT HEARING THAT CONGRESSWOMAN WATERS ASKED A CONGRESSMAN TO ANSWER A QUESTION….AND AS THAT PERSON BEGAN TO

RESPOND….IT BECAME APPARENT AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THAT HE WAS NOT REALLY ANSWERING THE QUESTION…..HE BEGAN TO RANT ABOUT

SOMETHING OFF TOPIC THAT WASN’T RELEVANT TO THE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED.

WHAT WE MUST UNDERSTAND IS THAT DURING THESE HEARINGS THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME GIVEN TO EACH CONGRESS PERSON TO GET

THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. IF THEIR TIME IS USED UP AND THEY DON’T GET AN ANSWER TO THEIR QUESTION….THEN THAT’S IT, THEY DON’T GET

ADDITIONAL TIME….THEY DON’T GET BACK THE TIME THEY HAD…….SO TO PREVENT THE WASTE OF TIME…….CONGRESSWOMAN WATERS SAID….. “I’M

RECLAIMING MY TIME”. IN OTHER WORDS, SHE WAS TAKING BACK WHAT BELONGED TO HER…..BECAUSE SHE KNEW IT BELONG TO HER AND SHE WASN’T

GOING TO ALLOW SOMEONE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT……OR ABUSE IT….. SHE KNEW THAT SHE HAD TO TAKE CHARGE …. BE BOLD AND “RECLAIM HER

TIME”.

FROM OUR TEXT THIS MORNING……I WANT TO USE FOR A TOPIC…….

RECLAIMING YOUR JOY

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE FACED WITH TODAY IN THIS WORLD IS THE LACK OF JOY.

WHAT’S EVEN MORE TROUBLING IS THAT, THE LACK OF JOY IS COMING FROM CHRISTIANS.

ALTHOUGH WE KNOW THAT WE DON’T RECEIVE JOY FROM THIS WORLD, THERE ARE THINGS OF THIS WORLD THAT SEEM TO KIDNAP OUR JOY FROM US.

LET’S SEE IF I CAN MAKE THIS REAL……..DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOU….

DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNINGS….GIVE A BIG SIGH ….AND THINK ABOUT YOUR TROUBLES OR PROBLEMS….INSTEAD OF WELCOMING THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD?

DO YOU RUSH AROUND ANXIOUSLY ….GOING ABOUT YOUR DAILY ROUTINE ….GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING…..INSTEAD OF BEING THANKFUL FOR THE GOODNESS OF GOD?

DO YOU FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE INSTEAD OF REMEMBERING THE GREATNESS OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER?

DID YOU COME INTO CHURCH THIS MORNING…..PUT ON YOUR HAPPY FACE….CLAIM THAT YOU ARE “BLESSED” TO THOSE WHO ASKED YOU HOW YOU WERE DOING….WHEN YOU REALLY DON’T FEEL LIKE YOU ARE “BLESSED”

IF ONE OR MORE OF THOSE DESCRIBE YOU MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS……I’M HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU THIS MORNING……TO RECLAIM YOUR JOY.

YOU HAVE TO BE BOLD AND NOT ALLOW THE PROBLEMS AND TRIALS OF THIS WORLD TO TAKE YOUR JOY.......YOU HAVE TO RECLAIM YOUR JOY

NOW…..WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JOY AND HAPPINESS….

HAPPINESS COMES AND GOES. HAPPINESS IS DEPENDENT ON OUR CIRCUMSTANCES. HAPPINESS DOESN’T HELP US THROUGH THE DIFFICULT TIMES OF LIFE.

WE WILL ALWAYS FIND MOMENTS OF HAPPINESS DURING A TOUGH TIME, BUT THAT HAPPINESS WILL NOT LAST.

JOY IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT. TRUE JOY IS A GIFT FROM GOD.

JOY COMES WHEN WE ARE AWARE OF GOD’S GRACE AND PRESENCE, WHEN WE KNOW WE’VE EXPERIENCED GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS IN OUR LIVES. JOYS COMES WHEN WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

AND IT’S AVAILABLE TO EVERY PERSON WHO PROCLAIMS FAITH IN JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR.

THINK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JOY AND HAPPINESS.

HAPPINESS IS A STATE OF MIND.

JOY IS A MIND-SET / OR YOU CAN SAY CONDITION OF YOUR HEART.

HAPPINESS IS TEMPORARY.

JOY IN THE LORD IS A CONSTANT.

HAPPINESS IS DEPENDENT ON WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW.

JOY IS NOT DEPENDENT ON CIRCUMSTANCES.

WE CAN BE JOYFUL REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

WE KNOW THAT EVERYDAY WON’T BE SUNNY….AND SOMETIMES THE RAIN COMES OUR WAY……

I WANT TO REMIND YOU TODAY MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO GROW…..EVERY NOW AND THEN……THERE NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE RAIN THAT COMES YOUR WAY.

BUT EVEN DURING THE RAIN…..I’M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN STILL EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF THE LORD.

JAMES TELLS US “CONSIDER IT PURE JOY, MY BROTHERS WHENEVER YOU FACE TRIALS OF MANY KINDS…BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH DEVELOPS PERSEVERANCE…”

THERE ARE THINGS OF THIS WORLD THAT WILL TRY TO HIJACK US…… OF THE JOY THAT GOD DESIRES FOR US TO HAVE.

I CALL THEM JOY JACKERS… THINGS THAT HIJACK YOU OF THE JOY IN YOUR LIFE…..

YOU MAY KNOW THEM AS WORRYING…….CONFLICT……..FEAR……DISSATISFACTION…….LIVING IN THE PAST…..NEGATIVE PEOPLE……AND SIN……..JUST TO NAME A FEW.

BUT I’M HERE THIS MORNING TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO…..RECLAIM YOUR JOY.

YES MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS…..THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HIJACK US OF THE JOY GOD WANTS US TO EXPERIENCE IN OUR LIVES.

I’M HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO RECLAIM YOUR JOY. WHY DO I SAY RECLAIM YOUR JOY? WELL I’M GLAD YOU ASKED……..BECAUSE THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS……. AS A CHILD OF GOD……THAT HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLING INSIDE YOU…. YOU HAVE THE JOY OF THE LORD INSIDE OF YOU…….BUT YOU HAVE ALLOWED THE JOY JACKERS……TO KIDNAP…..TAKE HOSTAGE…….AND STEAL THE JOY YOU ALREADY HAD……

BUT I’M HERE TO PROCLAIM TO YOU …… YOU NEED TO RECLAIM YOUR JOY……

HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THOSE WEBSITES WHERE YOU CAN GO TO AND RECLAIM LOST PROPERTY OR MONEY THAT MAY BE OWED TO YOU…… YOU

SEE…..IT WAS ALWAYS YOURS…....THE PROPERTY WAS ALREADY YOURS…….THAT MONEY BELONGED TO YOU……YOU JUST HAD TO THE

WEBSITE…..PUT IN YOUR INFORMATION…….SHOW PROOF THAT IT BELONGS TO YOU……GET A NOTARY….TO VERIFY THAT IT’S YOUR

SIGNATURE……..AND THEN SUBMIT….YOUR CLAIM…….TO RECLAIM…..WHAT ALREADY BELONGED TO YOU……

AND JUST LIKE YOU CAN RECLAIM THAT PROPERTY OR MONEY……..

I’M HERE AT 201 WAYNE STREET TO SOUND THE ALARM…….AND TELL YOU……RECLAIM YOUR JOY….

BUT THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS……THE JOY……THAT ALREADY BELONGS TO YOU…….YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO TO A WEBSITE AND PUT IN YOUR INFORMATION…. YOU SIMPLY NEED TO ASK…….

THE WORD OF GOD TELLS US…….IN JOHN 16:24…… ASK AND YOU WILL RECEIVE, AND YOUR JOY WILL BE COMPLETE.

AND YOU DON’T NEED TO SHOW ANY PROOF…..THAT YOU ARE WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE……AS A CHILD OF GOD…..

BECAUSE MY BIBLE TELLS ME….IN ROMANS 8 AND 16….. THE SPIRIT HIMSELF BEARS WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRIT THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD

NO NEED TO GO TO A NOTARY AND SIGN……FOR THE WORD SAYS…..REJOICE THAT YOUR NAME IS WRITTEN IN HEAVEN.

SO YOU NEED TO STAND UP……REBUKE THE JOY JACKERS…….TELL SATAN TO GET BEHIND THEE…….AND TAKE BACK WHAT ALREADY BELONGS TO YOU!!

RECLAIM YOUR JOY…….

IF WE LOOK AT OUR TEXT IN JOHN 15 THIS AFTERNOON WE SEE THAT JOY IS WONDERFUL AND PERFECT FREE GIFT THAT THE LORD WANTS US TO NOT ONLY HAVE…..BUT IT IS A CONDITION OR A STATE OF EXISTENCE THAT THE LORD WANTS US TO EXPERIENCE.

LOOK WHAT HE SAYS…….THESE THING’S I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU, THAT MY JOY MAY REMAIN IN YOU, AND THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL.

IN THE A CLAUSE OF THIS TEXT…..JESUS LET’S US KNOW….THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS HE TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THAT THEY ARE TO DO…… HE SAID…..”THESE THINGS…” JUST WHAT ARE THE “THESE THINGS..” THAT JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT……

WELL….IN THE PREVIOUS VERSUS…..JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES…..THAT THEY ARE TO ABIDE IN HIM…..AND ABIDE IN HIS LOVE.

AS JESUS SAID, IF WE DON’T ABIDE IN HIM, WHICH MEANS, WE ARE DWELLING, REMAINING, OR CONNECTED TO HIM, THEN WE ARE WORTHLESS.

WE ARE THROWN INTO THE FIRE. ISN’T THAT WHAT YOU DO WITH BRANCHES THAT ARE NOT GROWING. WE TAKE THOSE DEAD BRANCHES AND USE THEM TO START A FIRE.

YOU SEE, WHEN JESUS TELLS US HE HAS SAID THESE THINGS TO US SO

THAT HIS JOY MAY BE IN YOU AND OUR JOY WOULD BE FULL . . .

FIRST …….AND WE OFTEN MISS THIS. WE TRY TO FIND JOY AND HAPPINESS ON OUR OWN TERMS.

WE TRY TO FILL OURSELVES IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE . . . THAT WE CAN THINK OF.

THE ENEMY KNOWS WE’RE WEAK.

THAT’S WHY HE MAKES SIN ENTICING.

WE THINK IF WE FULFILL SINFUL DESIRES WE WILL FINALLY BE HAPPY.

SO WE BUY TOO MUCH ON CREDIT, THINKING A NEW TOY ….CAR, ELECTRONIC, JEWELRY, CLOTHING, PHONE WILL MAKE US REALLY HAPPY. WE QUICKLY LEARN IT DIDN’T WORK.

NOW WE HAVE DEBT.

WE LOOK FOR LOVE OUTSIDE OF OUR MARRIAGES OR RELATIONSHIPS.

WE THINK A LITTLE EXCITEMENT WILL MAKE US HAPPY, AND WE END UP FILLED WITH GUILT.

WE FOCUS ON PLEASING OURSELVES INSTEAD OF SERVING OTHERS.

WE ARE LED BY SATAN TO MAKE LIFE ALL ABOUT US.

HE WANTS US TO DO ANYTHING OUTSIDE GOD’S DESIGN FOR US SO THAT WE END UP LOST…

BUT GOD’S DESIGN FOR US IS JOY.

SO, THE FIRST POINT, IS THAT OUR JOY DOESN’T COME FROM THE WORLD, BUT OUR JOY COMES FROM CHRIST!

LOOK AGAIN, HE SAID MY JOY WOULD BE IN YOU!!

IT’S HIS JOY WHICH FILLS US.

NOT THE WORLD’S JOY, NOT MY FAMILY’S JOY, NOT EVEN MY JOY.

BUT IT IS ALWAYS CHRIST’S JOY WHICH FILLS ME!!

THE SECOND POINT IS THAT CHRIST GIVES US HIS JOY SO THAT WE MAY BE COMPLETELY FILLED WITH JOY.

THE WORD FILLED LITERALLY MEANS ~

TO FILL TO THE FULL / TO CAUSE TO ABOUND / FILL TO THE BRIM

TO FURNISH OR SUPPLY LIBERALLY

TO FILL TO THE TOP: SO THAT NOTHING SHALL BE WANTING TO FULL MEASURE,

THAT MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IS THE AMOUNT OF JOY WE ARE SUPPLIED WITH.

WE RECEIVE SO MUCH THAT IT IS FILLED TO THE TOP OF OUR JOY CUP.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD SOMEONE GIVE YOU A CUP OF SOMETHING AND IT’S FILLED TO THE TOP!

YOU HAVE TO SLOWLY PUT THE CUP TO YOUR MOUTH AND SIP SOME IT OUT….SO IT DOESN’T SPILL….. BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH IN YOUR CUP.

THAT’S THE PICTURE JESUS WANTS US TO GET FROM THIS.

BUT IF TRUTH BE TOLD….. THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME…WHO SAY THEY FOLLOW CHRIST?

MOST OF US LOOK LIKE WE’VE BEEN DEFEATED.

FROM THE LOOK ON MOST OF OUR FACES WE LOOK LIKE WE BEEN SUCKING ON LEMONS…..FACES ALL FROWNED UP…….

YET, WE’RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE JOY.

FROM THE LOOK ON OUR FACES YOU WOULD THINK GOD IS ANGRY AND HAS COMMANDED US TO BE ANGRY TOO.

BUT GOD ……IS A GOD OF JOY.

AND IF I CAN BE REAL WITH YOU…..SOMETIMES WE JACK OURSELVES OF OUR JOY……

WE NEED TO STOP WALLOWING, WHINING, AND COMPLAINING AND GRAB ONTO GOD’S JOY.

JUST LIKE SALVATION, JOY IS A FREE AND PERFECT GIFT FROM HIM, AND WE MUST REACH OUT AND ACCEPT THAT GIFT. GRAB ONTO IT. LIKE A LIFELINE.

I LIKE HOW THE GEORGIA MASS CHOIR SAYS IT….IN THEIR SONG JOY…..

Joy, joy, God's great joy Joy, joy, down in my soul Oh, sweet, beautiful, soul saving joy Oh, joy, joy in my soul

Then the song writer goes on to say……

Do you know what I call Him? Listen! The Master's joy (the Master's joy) My Master, my Master's joy, yeah, yeah, yeah , yeah Listen, my Savior's joy (my Savior's joy) Yes, He is, you know what else He is? The lily of the valley (the lily of the valley, joy) Thank you, Jesus, listen, Alpha and Omega, joy (Alpha and Omega, joy) Listen, in the midnight hour (in the midnight hour, joy) You know He does, He gives me strength and power (He gives me strength and power, joy) Listen what I like, listen, no food on the table (no food on the table, joy) Thank You, Jesus, I know that He is able (I know that He is able, joy) And you know I can't find the word to say, you what I say, hey hey hey (hey hey hey, joy)

CHOOSE JOY.

OVER BITTERNESS, ANGER, AND SORROW.

CHOOSE JOY.

OVER NEGATIVITY, SPITE, AND FRUSTRATION

CHOOSE JOY

OVER GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING

CHOOSE A JOY JAMBOREE…..INSTEAD OF A PITY PARTY……

CHOOSE A JOY JUBLILEE……INSTEAD OF BROKE…..BUSTED AND DISGUSTED BANQUET

RECLAIM YOUR JOY……

NOT ONLY CAN WE BE FULL TO THE RIM…….WITH THE JOY OF JESUS…… I BELIEVE NEHEMIAH……GIVES US SOME INSIGHT ON THE JOY WE CAN HAVE…..

LET’S LOOK AT THE LAST CLAUSE OF VERSE 10 …..NEHEMIAH TELLS US…..”FOR THE JOY OF THE LORD, IS YOUR STRENGTH.”

AND I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS…….BUT IT’S GOOD TO KNOW THAT WE CAN WALK IN THE JOY OF THE LORD…..AND KNOW HE IS DOING A GREAT WORK.

YES NEHEMIAH WAS TELLING THE PEOPLE…..LOOK…..DON’T MOURN……DON’T BE SAD….EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE CONVICTED IN YOUR HEARTS OF YOUR SIN AND WRONGDOING……..GOD IS DOING A GREAT WORK IN US…..SO REJOICE…..IN HIS JOY.

BE GLAD……IN HIS JOY!

RECLAIM YOUR JOY FBC…….KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THE JOY OF GOD……ALREADY IN YOU……BUT YOU HAVE TO BE READY TO RECEIVE WHAT ALREADY BELONGS TO YOU…… IT’S A CHOICE THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE…..

WE EVEN SEE THAT IN NEHEMIAH 8 AND 12……. AND ALL THE PEOPLE WENT THEIR WAY TO EAT AND DRINK, TO SEND PORTIONS AND REJOICE GREATLY, BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTOOD THE WORDS THAT WERE DECLARED TO THEM. [NEH 8:12 NKJV]

THE PEOPLE MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO REJOICE GREATLY…….. THEY COULD OF SWAM IN THEIR SORROW OF SIN…….BUT INSTEAD……THEY DECIDED TO REJOICE IN THE LORD……..

RECLAIM YOUR JOY…..MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS…….. YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE LIFE LIKE YOU’RE DEFEATED…..

DON’T YOU KNOW YOU HAVE VICTORY IN JESUS……

DON’T YOU KNOW THAT YOU’RE A CHILD OF THE ALMIGHTY LIVING GOD!!!

DON’T YOU KNOW THAT ….. YOU HAVE BEEN FILLED IN HIM……. WHO IS THE HEAD OF ALL RULE AND AUTHORITY.

DON’T YOU KNOW…….THAT HE DID IT FOR YOU………AND HE DID IT FOR ME………

OVER 2000 YEARS AGO………….ON MOUNT CALVARY………….

THEY HUNG HIM HIGH……….AND STRETCHED HIM WIDE……..

HE HUNG HIS HEAD………….AND THEN HE DIED…………

BUT THAT’S NOT HOW…….THE STORY ENDS………… BECAUSE EARLY………..ON SUNDAY MORNING……

HE GOT UP ……..WITH ALL POWER ……IN HIS HANDS…...

RECLAIM YOUR JOY……

RECLAIM YOUR JOY……

SAY YEAH!!!