Galatians 5:22-23, NIV
22 But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control.
Nehemiah 8:10 NIV
Nehemiah said, "Go
and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing
prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the
LORD is your strength."
In observance of the 3rd week of Advent,
today we turn our attention towards the topic of Joy. Some may ask the
question, “How can we discuss being joyful in the midst of all of this pain?”
The CDC has warned that we could see more than 3,000 deaths per day if the
COVID-19 pandemic is not controlled. Many are losing or have lost their jobs
and do not know how they can make it. Parents and teachers are struggling with
online learning. The list goes on and on. How and the world can we discuss
joy???
In Nehemiah 8:10, as the people of Israel listened
to the priest Ezra read from the book of the law from sunrise until noon, they
mourned their life circumstances. They were struggling to rebuild the city that
had been left in ruins after Babylonian captivity. They were struggling to rebuild
the wall around the city that was a source of protection and safety. But more
than that, they were struggling to rebuild their faith and their damaged
relationship with God.
As Ezra read the sacred text, the people
mourned and wept. They wept because they had fallen away from righteous living.
They wept because of their sinful disobedience. And they wept because of the
consequences they faced as a result of their foolish, wicked and idolatrous
ways. Upon seeing their pain and grief over their past sins, Nehemiah, in so
many words told the people, “You can’t do anything about your past. Some of
this pain is due to the consequences of cultural and individual sin. You can’t
change the past. But you can make up your mind right now to walk with God and
live consistently for Him! The joy of the LORD is your strength.”
This joy that Nehemiah spoke of had to be
deliberate. It had to be a decision
to embrace the forgiveness, love and opportunities that God was offering them
at that moment. This understanding of
Joy transcends feel good emotions. It is
larger and more intent than happiness.
Happiness is based upon what is “happening.” But “Joy” is based upon
our faith, hope and trust in Almighty God, no matter what is happening. This
Joy produces strength, faith, hope, endurance and the blessed assurance that
the God we serve loves us unconditionally and wants us to move forward, no
matter how sordid or corrupt our pasts may have been. This joy reminds us that God is our refuge
and strength, a very present help in the time of trouble.
The New Testament
Book of Galatians reminds us that Joy is one of the “fruits of the
Spirit.”
In other words, the child of God has a depth level peace, contentment and
assurance that no matter what life may bring, God is with us! Feelings will rise and fall.
True joy, however is a daily decision to remain focused upon the
God who is able to “keep us from falling and to present us faultless before His
presence with exceeding joy!” (Jude vs.24)
True joy is sustained within us when we purposefully, deliberately,
intentionally make the choice to see God in the midst of our every situation
and circumstance. It
is the decision to trust God in all things, to praise God in all things and to
believe that God is with us and is available to help us not to slip back into
ungodly and destructive ways.
Depression,
oppression, perpetual sorrow, sadness and worry do not befit, suit or look good
on the child of God. The oppression of
the enemy does not suit, befit or look good on the child of God because our God
is bigger than any trial, situation or circumstance that the enemy can throw at
us. Emotional bondage, constant
complaining, constant drama in the life of the child of God is not befitting,
does not suit, does not look good on the child of God. It does not suit you!
That does not mean
that we won’t experience sorrow or worry, or struggle or trials or
problems. But what is means is that the
child of God walks in the conviction that “weeping may endure for a night, but
joy comes in the morning!” The child of
God walks in the blessed assurance that the Lord’s mercies are new every
morning – great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.”
The child of God
walks in the favor of God, knowing that everything is somehow going to work
together for our good. Therefore, the
child of God “puts on” the garment of praise, and makes the bold declaration,
“I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my
mouth… and praises God in advance for His blessings and His deliverance.” The child of God lifts up holy hands, bows
down his or her head, shouts in triumph, plucks the strings of their hear and
declares, “be exalted, O God above my situation and circumstances – I will let
your glory be all over me!”
The child of God
understands that God is mighty to save, that His compassions fail not, that He
is a provider, a keeper, a sustainer, a deliverer. The child of God also understands that we are
the hands and the feet of Jesus. God
wants to use us to help relieve pain, to help feed the hungry, to help clothe
the naked – Our joy in the Lord is obvious to all by the love and the care
and the compassion that we show.
True Joy gives more than just lip service, true joy produces
“life service.” The way we walk, the
way we talk the way we treat people, the songs we sing, the love we show, the
compassion we give, the prayers we pray, the gifts and talents we share all are
examples of our joy!
Be intentional about keeping
your joy.
Resist the temptation to wallow in the past,
in
depression, in
self-pity, in anything that drains you of the strength and vitality available
to you through the love of God our Father, the grace of our elder brother,
Jesus Christ, and the sweet communion of the blessed Holy Spirit. Be
intentional about keeping your joy! Put on the garments of Joy and Praise! Be
intentional about keeping your joy! Determine to keep your spirit filled
with the joy of the Lord and praise each day. May you walk by faith, continually
give God praise, live in peace and remain determined to keep your joy!
In Faith, Hope and Joy,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org
