Ps. 107:2
INTRO: Life if filled with sadness and joy. When sadness comes often we pull within and become more solitary. However the joy causes us to desire to share it with others. In fact the more we share joy the more joyful it becomes. A great acrostic for joy is J=Jesus(First), O=Others(Second) and Y=Yourself(Last). We desire joy in our life however, our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition, when infinite joy is offered to us.
We are much like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
I. THE JOY OF THE LORD
Men have pursued joy in every avenue imaginable. Some have successfully found it while others have not. Perhaps it would be easier to describe where joy cannot be found:
Not in Unbelief -- Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote: "I wish I had never been born."
Not in Pleasure -- Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone did. He wrote: "The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone."
Not in Money -- Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: "I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth."
Not in Position and Fame -- Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: "Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret."
Not in Military Glory -- Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent, before he said, "There are no more worlds to conquer."
Where then is real joy found? -- the answer is simple, in Christ alone.
A. Not Dependent upon Circumstances - Hebrews 12:2
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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. The cross was not a joyful circumstance and yet joy was present with the Lord as He endured it for us.
B.. The Strength of Believers. - In Neh. Ch. 8 Ezra read the Word of God to a people who had been in captivity for 70 yrs and never before had heard the Word. It was a new experience to them. They stood as Ezra opened the book and he read from morn till midday while they remained standing. The clear reading of the Law caused them to be convicted of sin which brought about a great emotional outburst and tears of repentance to flow. Ezra made this statement… “…neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
ILLUS: As a third-century man was anticipating death, he penned these last words to a friend: "It's a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people are the Christians--and I am one of them."
That joy in the Lord we have should be shared with others in our deeds, in our activities, in our hospitality, in our friendliness, and in our contentment with what He has done in our lives. But when we share it…. DON’T MUMBLE. If it is worth sharing, share it right. It shouldn’t be half-hearted. Do it heartily!!!
II. THE GOOD NEWS OF THE LORD
ILLUS: Can you imagine the Angels, who are messengers of God, the word “Angel” means “messenger.” Can you imagine the angels delivering God’s message in the fashion of a mailman? They would come with ….”just another message” attitude. The attention they would draw to the content of the message would be so slight that it would not be effective. They are not just a still small sound in the wind…. They came with heavenly choirs, chariots of fire, brilliant lights, shining garments, burning bushes, glowing images, thundering voices, and persuading ways. When the angels came with a message from God often it struck fear in the hearts of men and they had to caution the hearers not to fear, to remain calm and to listen intently to that message.
We have been given some messages as well:
A. A Message of Hope - The dilemma that mankind was in before Christ was almost hopeless. The fall of man had taken place in the garden and ever since that time the separation between man and God had existed. God could not fellowship with sin but allowed man to bring blood sacrifices to offer for sin. However since sin was not forgiven, just rolled back temporarily waiting on the Messiah. When that Messiah (Jesus) came… it brought great hope. The resurrection proved God’s acceptance of the eternal sacrifice paid by the Son and great hope strung up. That message of hope intensified with the promise of the second coming. Titus 2:13
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
B. A Message of Forgiveness - The religious leaders of the day were upset at Jesus saying that He could forgive sin. They stated that only God could forgive sin. Forgiveness seemed to be a new concept to them. Christ went about in His ministry forgiving people their sins and promising eternal life. When one would receive that promise great rejoicing came into their lives and they jumped, shouted and praised God. We have been given that message of forgiveness and the promise of eternal life by trusting Jesus as Savior. Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
C. A Message of Love - We know love because He first loved us. Some have never known love in this life, not the love of a mother that might have abandoned them… the love of a father who left them… or the love of a friend who forsook them. But God loves them. Then message of God loving us enough to send His only begotten Son to die in our stead is enormous. John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
III. A STATEMENT FOR THE LORD
It is nothing to be quiet about. Each message we have been given certainly is a worthwhile message to proclaim.
HOPE - Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
FORGIVENESS - Acts 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
LOVE - 1 John 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
DON’T MUMBLE… proclaim the good news but proclaim it with your actions, your words, your life, your honesty, your integrity, your witness… but do it with clarity and straightforwardness. Too many Mumble with a testimony that is weak, frail, watered down, tainted with sinful ways, dishonest and impure. The world is looking for a clear message. It is a message that will mean eternal life or eternal death to them.
DON’T MUMBLE… it is God’s message not just another subject of interest. It is the greatest message anyone have ever been entrusted to deliver. The clear hearing of the message rests upon your shoulders. It will either be lost or be successful with you.
