Thanks be to God for a new day. I am thankful to the Lord for the opportunity to post the message. I hope that all of you are well.
Since the start of the year, we've been looking into what we can do to have a great year in the Lord. Last week, I posted a sermon about the message of John the Baptist. Starting with today's message, we are going to be looking into what the Bible has to say about joy.
When we become followers of Jesus, we become a new creation in Jesus. The old is gone and the new has come. When we receive Jesus into our lives, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit then begins to work in our lives to produce what the Bible calls the fruit of the Spirit. This fruit can be described as the qualities that are in our lives as a result of our letting the Lord have His will and His way within our lives.
One of the fruits of the Spirit mentioned to us in Galatians 5 is joy. A Christian who is being led by the Holy Spirit will have a life of joy. Now, what does this mean, and what does it not mean. First of all, it does not mean that we are always going to be happy about everything that is going on in our lives and in this world. Bad things do happen to good people. Christians are not immune from the problems that beset all who are on the earth. Jesus told us that in this world we will have persecution. It isn't all roses being a follower of Jesus.
Even though we will have problems in this life, those of us who follow Jesus can still be filled with joy. How is that possible?
The reason that we can have joy in all circumstances in our life is because we belong to Jesus. I Peter 1:8-9 tells us, "Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with with an indescribable and glorious joy."
Those of us who know Jesus as Savior and Lord can have a joy that goes beyond words because He is in us and has redeemed us from our sins. He has saved us and given us a new life in Him. He lives within us, and He lets us know that He is always with us. Jesus will never leave us as we go through this life. We can be joyful knowing that He will never forsake us and He will never leave us alone.
We can be joyful knowing that we have a home in heaven with Jesus. Jesus has told us that He has gone to prepare a place for us in Heaven. Those who are in Him can rejoice and be joyful knowing that for all of eternity that we will be with Jesus in a place where there is no sin, sorry or heartache. All is good, and right.
Heaven will be the ultimate joy. I am joyful knowing that life with Jesus face to face is in my future. It is not because of anything that I have done, but it is because of what Jesus has done for me. Not only will I be with Jesus, but I can have ultimate joy knowing that one day I will be reunited with all of my loved ones who have gone before me to be with Jesus. As we go through these troubled days in our world, we can also be joyful knowing that one day, Jesus will restore all things to the way that they were before sin entered into the world.
Joy is possible through a relationship with the Lord Jesus. If you trust Him as Lord and Savior, He will give you an indescribable joy that will last throughout all of eternity. Amen
Prayer Requests
Please keep praying about my job situation. Please keep praying that I will feel better. Thank you.
Continue to pray for peace. Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Sudan and Congo all need our prayers for peace right now.
Pray for justice for the poor and the oppressed.
We can thank the Lord that the fires in California have been contained. Let us pray that those affected by the fires will get the help and the aid that they need. Let us also pray for aid and help to reach those in the US southeast and those in Mayotte.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Bosnia and Albania. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, we will continue with our current series. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all.
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