Summary: Do you still have your joy? Here’s some ways to keep it.

Goals –

PSALM 51:10-13 ---- The Joy of Salvation

There are tons of churches, that will you what not to do......

Don’t drink, cuss, smoke, work on Sunday, long hair, get a tatoo, raise hands, read that translation, bowl, play lottery , wear pants, go to Vegas– or have any fun

This morning I want to encourage you with some Don’ts

1. Don’t ever feel unqualified— 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

God isn’t compiling a team of heavyweights–

God is the heavyweight— We just get to win

Many of us grew up in churches

Anything would disqualify you

Hair too long— Can’t sing a special

Been divorced– Can’t be in leadership

When I was about 18---- I was a country singer

Someone ask me sing @ Wedding –

Preacher said i couldn’t, sang in bars

I thot one of the fruit of Spirit– Self Control– This guy’s gotta be pushing 400 lbs.–

So I said, "Gluttony’s one of the 7 deadlies— WHY DO YOU GET TO PREACH"----

Needless to say I didn’t get to sing at the wedding

And I probably shouldn’t have said it.

But aren’t we suppose to remove our beam, before we remove their speck

You know the saying—

God doesn’t call the qualified– He qualifies the called

I understand --------that we should life a life acceptable to God

BUT DON”T EVER FEEL UNQUALIFIED

David was qualified– Adulterer, murderer

Abraham— Gave his wife over to a king– to keep from being killed

Solomon—Got Busy with everything that moved

Moses— Murderer— Came down off the mountain--- - DON’T KILL

I’m not condoning their behavior—

BUT YOU TELL ME GOD DIDNT USE THEM

There is only one perfect – THAT IS GOD

2. Don’t let yourself feel overwhelmed— 1 John 4:4 The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

The world throws things at us— The Church throws things at us

Family, Job, Money, Cars, Kids, Marriage, ----

We can feel like we’re drowning

You can find peace & comfort in Christ–

He would not put you here— Without a way to be victorious

What kind of Father would do that

When I begin to think about the responsibility of pastoring 400 people— Overwhelmed

God I can’t do this— HE SAYS— NO YOU CAN’T- BUT WE CAN

If I think about the numbers and growth— FREAKED OUT

IF I think about GOD IS ALWAYS WITH ME___ I CAN BREATHE– I CAN HAVE HOPE

Romans 5:5 Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

You may be lonely, but you’re not alone

You may be sad, but there is hope

You may be hurt, but God is a healer

There is nothing— THAT GOD CAN’T GET YOU THROUGH

3. Don’t get hung up—

When I was young my dad would take fishing- Kids don’t fish... THEY CAST

Sooner or later I’d say, "Can’t get the line in"

MY DAD WOULD SAY----- YOU”RE HUNG UP

Can’t go anywhere, Can’t do anything, You’ll be miserable and DEPRESSED

Christians are HUNG UP— Title, denom, Devil, Music, dress, Tongues, End Times, TBN,

There worried about all these things— FORGET TO LOVE PEOPLE

Matt 23: 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel

This is what Christianity has become for MANY—

BUT NOT US

God called you to be disciples– Share his love–

Salt of the earth/ Light of the world

Don’t get hung up

Christ died so YOU COULD MOVE FORWARD----

Jesus said you’ll know truth—

If it’s doesn’t set you free— IT’S NOT TRUTH

4. Don’t ever Give UP— Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

It’s never too late— TO START BEING GREAT

Satan want’s you to think— The things that truly matter are not worth the trouble

Failure isn’t failure if.. You’re better, You’re Stronger, You’re wiser after you get through it

Failure isn’t an event--- It’s your reaction to the event.

Though a righteous man falls 7 times, he gets back up.

Take the things of the PAST AND STRENGTHEN YOURSELF