DO YOU KNOW WHAT TODAY IS?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
KJV
1 Thes. 5:16 Rejoice evermore.
Message
1 Thes. 5:16 Be cheerful no matter what;
NLT
1 Thes. 5:16 Always be joyful.
NIV
Thes. 5:16 Be joyful always;
Let me ask you a question?
Is wisdom wisdom if you never use it?
I was told a story of a multi-millionaire in the old west.
He would often need someone to drive their horse drawn coach
places to take his children. He was only going to hire the best driver
of the day.
He took the top two candidates up on a mountain trail. He would
test the two drivers and give the job to the best driver. The mountain
trail went pass some very steep cliffs.
The millionaire told the young man to drive first.
The young man drove down the road and to the cliff area.
The young man demonstrated his driving skills.
He drove within 1/2 inch of the cliff’s edge as fast as the horses could
run. The young man was really a daredevil and took many chances.
Once two of the wheels were on the lip of the edge.
The dad was amazed at both the speed and the accuracy of the
young man’s skills.
Then the Father tested the other candidate for the job.
As the man drove down the mountain roadway he took his
time and he stayed as great a distance as he could away from
the steep cliffs. He used great skill to drive the horse driven coach.
He seemed to communicate with the horses and he avoided any
danger before them.
NOW, WHICH DRIVER DID THE FATHER HIRE TO DRIVE HIS
CHILDREN? He hired the mature one, the one that would never
endanger the lives of his precious cargo.
WISDOM IS NOT ALWAYS A CIRCUS?
I. HAVE YOU EVER FORGOT WHAT TODAY IS?
A. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TODAY IS?
Today is my 38th anniversary. Oct 24, 1970 I married Linda McDowell.
Twice I forgot our wedding anniversary... they should break a man’s finger for forgetting his anniversary.
One year I noted Linda was acting strangely? We went to bed, and Linda said
YOU FORGOT! I said: FORGOT WHAT?
She replied: Our anniversary!
I said: No, I didn’t forget, I ran and got $20.00 out of my billfold and gave it to her.
B. THE VERY NEXT YEAR, LINDA WAS ACTING STRANELY? (I am slow?)
We went to bed, she said: YOU FORGOT OUR ANNIVERSARY AGAIN...
I said: NO, I didn’t I just wanted to see if you remembered? I got up to go get her some money...
SHE SAID: YESTERDAY WAS OUR ANNIVERSAY, I JUST WANTED TO WAIT AND
SEE WHAT YOU WOULD DO...
C. I probably have never forgot my birthday?
I have never forgot CHRISTMAS... !!!
D. OFTEN I FORGET WHAT TODAY IS --- TODAY IS A DAY MADE BY OUR GOD FOR
US ... GOD’S DESIGN FOR THIS DAY IS VERY CLEAR --- CELEBRATE... ENJOY LIFE... Today has a DIVINE PURPOSE...
KJV:
Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Message:
Psalm 118:24 This is the very day God acted— let’s celebrate and be festive!
E. OFTEN NEW TESTAMNET BELIEVERS GREETED ONE ANOTHER WITH THE WORD:
REJOICE! So rejoice was a salutation expressing a good wish for a blessing on a person!
F. DO WE REJOICE IN JEHOVAH?
II. GOD MADE TODAY! GOD MADE TODAY FOR US! GOD MADE TODAY FOR
US TO REJOICE AND BE GLAD.
A. WHEN I TAUGHT SCHOOL --- I hated to loan my students my magic markers... I could use them forever and they worked... I could loan my markers to the students and they would press hard and absolutely ruin the tips on the markers.
So one day I refused to loan the markers. When I went to use them --- they were dried up --- worthless... while I saved my markers --- I also lost them?
Philip. 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
B. THERE ARE MANY LITERARY TOOLS THAT SCHOLARS KNOW...
ONE LITERARY TOOL IS THE POWER OF REPETITION.
Every Mom knows there is power in repeating something if you want someone
to hear...
C. PAUL KNEW THE LITERARY TOOL OF REPETITION:
KJV:
Philip. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
MESSAGE:
Philip. 4:4 Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!
LIVING:
Philip. 4:4 Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice!
III. WHAT IS GOD’S JOY? DOES GOD JOY DIFFER FROM THIS WORLD’S
JOY?
1 Tim. 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
A. REJOICE:
To feel great joy, be glad, delight, be happy, delighted, celebrate.
B. JOY:
JOY IS THE FRUIT OF A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
Joy is not something people can create by fleshly methods.
A state of well being that comes from knowing and serving God.
We have several synonymous words for joy:
Joy, happiness, pleasure, delight, merriment, enjoyment.
C. JOY is found over 150 times in the Bible.
Include joyful, joyous --- it tops 200 times.
The word REJOICE is in the Bible over 200 times.
IV. MANY PEOPLE FEEL LIKE SERVING GOD IS A GREAT JOY KILLER?
SEEMS L-IF-E --- HAS AN "IF" IN IT...
A. In Paul’s writings he WARNS THAT SELFISHNESS and SELF-PLEASURE CAN
NEVER LEAD TO JOY AND HAPPINESS.
1 Tim. 5:6 But she that in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
B. Solomon teaches us in Ecclesiastes chapter 2 --- there is a sad testimony of one that tried to build his life on pleasure...
SOLOMON SEEMED TO BE LEFT DISILLIUSIONED AND VERY EMPTY.
C. PLEASURE SEEKING AND FEEL GOOD GOALS OFTEN LEAD TO ADDICTION AND
BONDAGE. Pleasure is a self-serving and vicious cycle.
D. LUKE 15 SHOWS THAT THE REAL GOD JOY OF LIFE ---
THE LOST SHEEP; THE LOST COINS, AND THE TWO SONS RECORD ---
GOD JOY IS LEADING OTHERS TO JESUS’ HEART!
V. GOD JOY IS FOUND IN SOME STRANGE PLACES...
CAN WE FIND JOY IN WHAT GOD GIVES?
A. CAN WE REJOICE IN THE FAMILY?
Barren Sarah declares: GOD HAS MADE ME LAUGH... Gen. 21:6
B. Barren Hannah finds JOY in her dysfunctional home, even before
God answers her prayer. Hannah rejoiced before SAMUEL’S BIRTH.
1 Samuel 2:1
C. The people of God were working in the VALLEY, they REJOICED
WHEN THEY SAW THE ARK OF THE COVANENT WAS COMING HOME...
1 Samuel 6:13
D. The wise men REJOICED when they saw the star and UNDERSTOOD
GOD’S SON WAS COMING TO LIVE AMONG US... Mat. 2:10
VI. GOD’S JOY CAN MAKE US REJOICE WHEN THINGS DON’T APPEAR TO
BE GOOD... GOD JOY WILL LEAD SINGING WHEN IN JAIL...
A. The King loved to be popular. He saw that JAILING the Christians seemed to help people love him more... So the MEAN KING locked the BOYS behind bars. The MEAN KING KILLED A PREACHER and the people loved it so much he decided to KILL A FEW MORE...
Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
B. GOD JOY REJOICES WHILE IN JAIL...
Bill Gaither has never had a PRISON SINGING?
Paul did...
KJV
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
LB...
James 1:2 Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy,
MESSAGE
James 1:2 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.
VII. THERE IS A PRECIOUS BRIDEGROOM... WE CAN’T MOURN IN HIS PRESENCE...
WE HAVE A BANNER OVER US. GOD’S BANNER MUST ESTABLISH A GREAT
CONFIDENCE ...
WE ARE CALLED TO BE FAITHFUL AND DRIVE AWAY ALL LIFE’S SORROWS
AND GRIEFS... WE MUST REJOICE IN HIM!
Rev. 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
A. GOD PROMISED TO BE OUR GOD!
WE ARE ADOPTED!
Song 1:4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.
B. MUCH OF THE WORK WE DO --- WE DO FOR GOD...
WORK DONE FOR GOD IS OK?
OUR GOAL MUST BE GOD’S WORK TO BE DONE THROUGH US...
It is all about the SWEET PRESENCE OF GOD... all we have must be laid up
in JESUS!
VIII. SOMETIMES WE GO THROUGH MARA... NAOMI TASTED MUCH BITTERNESS...
YET SHE LEARNED TO BE GLAD IN HIM... GOD HAS A PLAN!
A. MARA HAS BEEN A BITTER POOL AND TROUBLES HAVE TRIED TO CRUSH...
CAN WE REJOICE? CAN WE REJOICE WITH OTHERS?
Ruth 4:14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
[15] And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.
B. We all have blessedness upon blessedness...
WE SHOULD HAVE A DOUBLE- PORTION...
C. 1,100 YEARS LATER BOAZ AND RUTH ARE IN THE LINAGE OF JESUS
GOD’S SON... REJOICE!
IX. THE TESTING IS NOT STRANGE... TRIBULATION HAS A PURPOSE...
GOD’S LOVE CAN REJOICE...
A. DON’T WORRY --- FIERY FURNACES HAVE A PURPOSE...
B. TO RAISE FROM A SHEPHERD TO A KING MIGHT MEAN FACING
A GIANT!
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
[13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
X. KNOW WHEN TO REJOICE... THIS DAY IS CREATED FOR REJOICING...
WE WILL WASTE THIS DAY IF WE DO NOT FIND THE HEART OF REJOICING...
A. If you can’t be happy where you are --- What makes you think you will be
happy in another place?
B. JOY IS MADE --- NOT FOUND.
Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
C. To rejoice, to find joy comes from a HEALTHY MENTAL ATTITUDE,
a GRATEFUL SPIRIT, a CLEAR CONSCIENCE and a HEART FULL OF
KINDNESS and COMPASSION!
D. Which is more important to a REJOICING SPIRIT --- your position?
or your DISPOSITION?
XI. HOW CAN YOU FIND JOY?
A. Don’t worry --- keep your mind away from weariness...
B. Be a GIVER --- not a taker. Give your heart not your tongue.
C. SING, hum or whistle...
D. JOY --- J-esus first, O-thers second, Y-ourself last.
E. Be CONTENT where ever you find yourself!
F. Speak smooth words, they are easier to eat.
G. Never focus on anything but what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely,
virtue and good report. Phil. 4:8
CONCLUSION:
MAKE UP YOUR MIND TO USE TODAY TO REJOICE AND BE GLAD...
LOOKING FOR SURE STEPS TO JOY?
TRY THE CHURCH STEPS!!!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Please pass this on to others!
