Joy Set Before You

Hebrews 12:1–2 NKJV

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I want to talk to you about how you can find strength in every circumstance.

The title of the message is, “Joy Set Before You.” At the end of the message we are going to lay hands on people to receive an impartation of joy.

What if you could escape the monotony of the grind and the exhaustion and complacency that comes from these things?

I think it is true that we are all trying to do the best that we can. What some of us may not know is that there is an abiding joy available to every believer.

We know that life is life. We all experience at some time or other the entropic pull of routine.

Illustration: It’s like when you go to the ocean and start swimming. You don’t realize that you are drifting away from the place you started due to the current working against you.

Imagine having the same source of strength that enabled Jesus to finish the work that He came to do.

Just as the Father did for Jesus, God is setting joy before you so that you will have the endurance to overcome.

We Need An Impartation of Joy

Proverbs 18:1 AMP

1 HE WHO willfully separates and estranges himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire and pretext to break out against all wise and sound judgment.

Most people are inclined to go to the safest, easiest, and most comfortable path. This means that our tendency is to avoid and isolate ourselves as a way of dealing with boredom, monotony, and exhaustion.

And it makes sense because that’s what everyone else is doing.

But these forms of escape only offer a limited benefit at best.

What we need is an impartation of the joy of the Lord.

God is generous and promises to supply all of our need (cf. Philippians 4.19). The joy that sustained Jesus in His life and ministry is available and offered to us. And we know that if it worked for Him it will definitely be more than enough for us (cf. 2 Corinthians 9.8).

Receiving The Joy of the Lord

Nehemiah 8:10 AMP

10 Then [Ezra] told them, Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.

The joy of the LORD is our strength and our stronghold. It preserves us, protects us, and strengthen us so that we can live our best life.

Here are three things that we can do to increase our joy.

Abide

We can understand abide to mean that we stay in a place and stand fast, stay still, remain and endure there.

There are sources of joy that we are supposed to stay in and remain in.

Joy comes from salvation.

Isaiah 35:10 NKJV

10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Joy comes from the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22 NKJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Joy comes from abiding in Christ and in His word.

John 15:9–11 NKJV

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

So how do we abide in the joy of the Lord?

We receive salvation through Jesus by faith.

We receive the Holy Spirit.

We spend time in the Lord’s presence through prayer and study of Scriptures.

We apply ourselves to faithfully keeping the word of God to our lives.

These are the sources of joy that the Lord has provided for us. If we will intentionally go to them we will be able to benefit from the blessing that comes from them.

Illustration: Fiji water vs. Deer Park.

The source matters. If you want joy go to the source and keep drinking from that everlasting fountain.

John 4:14 NKJV

14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

If you want the joy of the Lord, go to the source and abide there.

Acknowledge

Another way that we can increase in joy is to acknowledge what God has done in our lives and remember His prophetic promises and consider His plan for our lives.

Acts 14:15–17 NKJV

15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

When we reflect on how God has blessed us and provided for us and revealed Himself to us, we will be filled with gladness.

Philippians 4:4 NKJV

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

When we are commanded to rejoice in the Lord we are being given a key to receiving more joy. We are being told that joy is something that we stir up and activate.

Illustration: The mood congruent memory effect is when you remember something that's happened to you if the memory is matching your current state. This also works in reverse: make a fearful face and begin to feel fear. Make an angry face and you will begin to feel anger. Smile and you will begin to feel happy.

Jesus encouraged Himself in the Lord by remembering the joy that was set before Him. He often rejoiced at the working of God (Luke 10.21). He knew what the prophetic promise was. He knew what God had done. He was sustained and strengthened by joy.

If you want more joy in your life, stir it up. Remember what God has done. Choose to rejoice in what He has promised to do. Remember that He is working for His purpose and your good and joy will arise (cf. Romans 8.28).

Acquire

In addition to the first two things, we can come to the Lord to acquire joy.

Ecclesiastes 2:26 NKJV

26 For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Psalm 4:6–7 The Message

6 Why is everyone hungry for more? “More, more,” they say. “More, more.” I have God’s more-than-enough, 7 More joy in one ordinary day Than they get in all their shopping sprees.

God gives joy. We can receive the oil of joy from the Spirit of God (Isaiah 61.3). We can receive an impartation of joy from the presence of God (cf. Acts 3.19).

Illustration: There is something about receiving a gift or a blessing that brings joy to your heart.

Psalm 4:7 NKJV

You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.

If you will come to God in faith, you can receive His promise of joy.

Conclusion

When you receive the supernatural joy of the Lord you will receive strength. There will be an empowerment and a joy that overcomes the struggles of everyday.

The joy of the Lord will give you strength to finish the race and receive the reward of faith.

Therefore, abide in the Source of joy. Acknowledge what God has done, the promises He has spoken, and the purposes He has for your life and stir up the joy in your heart. Acquire an impartation of joy through faith.

Today, God is setting joy before you. Come to Him and receive!

Pray to close. Dismiss livestream. Invite people to come forward for an impartation.