all right just keep your bottles open there in Ecclesiastes chapter number 11
I'm going to read to you from Galatians 5 22 and just a reminder I've started a
new series on the fruits of the Spirit and it says in Galatians 5 22 but the
fruit of the Spirit is love and last week I preached on love the next one is
joy so today we'll be covering joy as a fruit of the Spirit then it says peace
long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against such there
is no law now what does it mean by against such there is no law it means
that if we are righteously bringing forth this fruit of the Spirit that our
life represents this fruit of the Holy Spirit wants to create in us that we're
not going to break God's laws okay we're not going to sin okay if you have these
things these are good righteous emotions and characteristics that we want to
build in our lives and as I told you the second one that we're looking at today
is joy now one thing that surprises me in the Christian life just being amongst
different churches amongst different brethren is how little joy there is in
the lives of many believers I mean there are some believers that are recognized
for their joy they seem to be very happy they're very motivational they encourage
the brethren and then there are some that are just very negative right any
time there's bad news they react in a very unpleasant way and they try to
breed a negative or depressing emotion amongst others and so you know joy is
something that we need to develop in our lives and I don't know about you
brethren but I want to live a life of joy like I'd rather live a short life
and just live a happy life they live a long life and be like depressed
everything on my life you know just be downcast and upset and so joy is
definitely something we need to develop but look at Ecclesiastes 11 verse 7
Ecclesiastes 11 actually look at verse number 8 first Ecclesiastes 11 verse 8 it
says but if a man live many years and rejoice in them all did you know it's
possible to rejoice in every year or every day that you live in that it's
possible right if a man live many years and rejoice in them all now let's get
the context of that let's start there in verse number 7 it says truly the light
is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the Sun and so you
might say well hold on it's a really pleasant to behold the Sun passes Kevin
because when I look at the Sun it hurts my eyes you know I start to get some
black spots and I can't say very well it hurts the eyes to look directly at the
Sun yeah but this is speaking about the the Sun rise you know when the Sun
rises and you've got all those colors in the in the in the sky it's a beautiful
thing you can actually look at the Sun it starts to come over the horizon and
it doesn't hurt the eyes at that point in time and so it is a pleasant thing to
see the Sun rising and you soon see that this does have to tie in with an entire
day and then this is in verse number 8 but if a man live many years and rejoice in
them all yet let him remember the days of darkness for they shall be many all
that cometh is vanity so why don't you just notice in verse number 8 there is
we can rejoice in all the days of our life we can rejoice in all the years
that God has given us but also that doesn't mean there's not going to be
difficult times it doesn't mean that there's not gonna be hardships because
it says yet let him remember the days of darkness and like we saw you know
beholding the Sun well the days of darkness represents nice you know
nighttime represents those days of darkness and then as the Sun starts to
rise then you can behold a pleasant thing and the idea there brethren is
that when we go through hardships when we go through difficulties it will feel
like times of darkness it'll feel like you're you're downcast worried upset and
you're gonna go through those emotions as well but at the same time you need to
have the perspective that the Sun will rise that you know that that day follows
the night and so if I'm going through difficulties there will be a solution we
will come to a point where we overcome these difficulties that we experience in
our life and notice there you know you can rejoice in all the years of your
life but there will be days of darkness I'm not here to tell you that you know
the Christian life is a day where you'll never have difficulties you'll never
have sorrows you we all do whether you're saved whether you're unsaved
we're gonna have difficult days all right we're gonna have times when maybe
our finances dry up and we're worried about providing for our families we're
gonna have days where illnesses and maybe chronic diseases affect our bodies
as we get older you're gonna notice that your bodies don't react the same way
they did when you were younger you know you can easily break a bone or these
kinds of things and it'll get you downcast it'll give you a day of
darkness but don't forget God is saying that we can actually rejoice even in the
face of darkness okay look at this online it says rejoice
Oh young man in thy youth now for those of us that are adults you know our youth
was a fun time wasn't it like you probably had a lot of enjoyment during
our youth and we look back at that we go well that went by really quickly you
know when it comes to the young people when it comes to children they feel like
these days are taking so long and they can't wait to grow up and they can't
wait to have all these different responsibilities but the Bible is
telling us Oh young man or young lady rejoice in the days of thy youth you say
why should I rejoice in the days of my youth because you've got less
responsibilities you've got less accountabilities you can actually enjoy
your life you actually have a lot of fun knowing that mom and dad or your
family whoever's taking care of you it is there to watch over you they're there
to provide for you you know the days of the youth is a time when you can have a
lot of fun and you know I'm not one of these parents that are trying to get my
kids to grow up and be like you know like you've just got to act like an
adult even at the age of five at the age of ten no I'm the kind of parent that I
just want my kids to enjoy themselves I want them to run around have fun kick a
ball around right and you know take church seriously I think it's important
for kids to sit in church and sit down and be quiet and listen to the preaching
of God's Word hey but when there's time of fun I want my kids to have fun I want
them to rejoice in the days of the youth so young people I'm telling you know the
Lord wants you to rejoice you know we want to have joy in our lives we want to
develop this this through the spirit well it starts as a young child and join
the days that God has given you in your youth but then it says this in verse
number nine and let that heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth look at
this and walk in the ways of thine hearts and in the sights of thine eyes
but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment think
about that for a moment okay so for the young people as we develop and get older
God does want us to enjoy our lives you know whatever it is that you like to do
God is saying yeah go about and doing it but also keep in mind that God is
going to judge you for the wrong things meaning that we can find joy in wrong
things we can find joy in sin we can find joy in rebellion now that's a wrong
place to find joy and so as we go about life and enjoy our lives and having fun
we need to assess what kind of joy are we having is it a joy that God wants us
to rejoice in or is it something that is wicked and we really should not have a
part in that and if you do you're going to remind yourself that God will judge
you God will bring his hammer down and judge you in his way look at verse
number 10 it says therefore so knowing that God will judge therefore remove
sorrow from thy heart and put away evil from thy flesh for childhood and youth
are vanity okay so the idea of your vanity it means empty so at some point
your youth is you're gonna grow up your youth will be over your days of being
young are going to be over but remember God will judge you even from the actions
that you take as a youth so put away the evil from your flesh and make sure you
rejoice in what God wants you to rejoice in okay so as we go for these fruits of
the Spirit you must remember you know that there's nothing wrong with emotions
there's nothing wrong with these characteristics but God wants us to
experience that in the right way there's nothing wrong with love like I
covered last week as long as we're loving the things that God loves right
there's nothing wrong with hates as long as we're hating the things that God hates
but the problem with love is when you love the things that God hates okay you
need to overcome that well there's nothing wrong with joy there's nothing
wrong with being glad as long as you're enjoying the things that God wants you
to enjoy your life in but if you enjoy things that are wicked well obviously
that that would be a bad place that you're applying those emotions and those
that that you know that outward feeling that comes from your heart you're in
Ecclesiastes so turn to Ecclesiastes chapter 3 as well Ecclesiastes chapter
3 look at verse number 4 Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verse number 4 because you
might say well pastor Kevin how can I rejoice you know in all the days that
God has given me you know when there are difficulties there are hardships and I'm
not trying to deny that because in Ecclesiastes 3-4 it says a time to weep
so there's a time to weep and a time to laugh a time to mourn and a time to
dance and so please you know don't walk away from this swimming you know
thinking that I've told you there's never a time to mourn there's never a
time to have sorrow of course there is okay we saw that those are the days of
darkness there are challenging days that we have gone through or will go through
but don't forget there's lights at the end of the tunnel okay God has a
solution in order to bring us out of that darkness and bring us into lights
bring us into a place of laughter and joy and so even though we experience all
these emotions the point I'm trying to bring forth here is that if joy is the
fruit of the Spirit that ought to be the characteristic that you're known for as
a Christian okay it's not you know I'm not saying there's never a time to not
mourn I'm saying there is a time for that but when people think about your
life your Christian life do they think hey this is a happy person this is a
person who finds joy the Lord who finds joy in what God has given them all the
people look at you and say well this person is really depressing they're
really cast down all the time they're really negative all the time okay if
that's you then this is a fruit of the Spirit that needs to be developed in
your life so how do I develop these fruits don't forget it's a fruit of the
Holy Spirit so it's our time that we spend the Holy Spirit is a time that we
walk in the spirit walk after God's ways and the Holy Spirit will do the
work in our lives to develop this okay you know in our lives can you please now
turn to Proverbs chapter 2 Proverbs chapter 2 Proverbs chapter 2 because I
do want to talk about finding joy in wicked things at the moment okay
Proverbs chapter 2 and I want to show you that it is possible to find joy in
wicked things Proverbs chapter 2 in verse number 12
problems of the two in verse number 12 we will read verse number 10 soon but
let's just start there investments 12 it says to deliver thee from the way of the
evil man from the man that speaketh forward things I want to stop there for
a moment you know there are people that are either that's that desires do evil
to us there are people that seek to cause us to fall but also to turn
against the Lord to sin look at verse number 13 who leave the paths of
uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness look at verse number 14 who rejoice
hey we're called to have joy aren't we but look these people rejoice to do
evil and delight in the forwardness of the wicked so you can see there that it
is possible to rejoice in evil things it is possible to rejoice in sin and
even in Hebrews chapter 11 you don't have to turn there talking about Moses in
verse 24 it says by faith Moses when he was come to years refused to be called
the son of Pharaoh's daughter choosing rather to suffer affliction with the
people of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteem in
the reproach of Christ's greater riches than the treasure in Egypt for he had
respect answer the recompense of the reward so what do we learn there is that
Moses had a decision to make do I suffer for the cause of Christ or do I enjoy
the pleasures of sin for a season and he chose to suffer the reproach of Christ
he's decided to suffer with the people of God instead of we enjoy in sin and
brethren this is this is one of the challenges that we have in our life the
reason you sin yes is because we have a fallen sinful flesh we have a fallen
sinful nature about us but also because sin is enjoyable that's why you see
that's why you go back to your old sins that's why you know even when you sin
your I can't believe I did that and you go back to the sin again it's because
you find joy in that sin but don't forget that joy that enjoyment or the
pleasures of that sin is only for a season it's only for a season it's
short-lived whereas the joy that God gives us is forever it's eternal okay so
don't forget that don't forget that the reason you go and sin is because there
is pleasure there is joy you can enjoy sin and that's the that's the habit you
fall into you know you know for a period of time I actually enjoy doing this but
if you're a believer you have the Holy Ghost in you after you've done that
you're gonna feel regret you're gonna feel guilt you're gonna be like
man I've grieved the Holy Spirit of God within me and you need to find joy in
the right things okay so if you if you're struggling with sin because you
enjoy it you say well I need to replace that enjoyment of wicked evil things and
put that joy into the Lord what the Lord wants me to rejoice in now you should
still be there in Proverbs chapter 2 and verse number 10 if we just backtrack a
little bit it tells us how we can overcome the evil man who seeks joy or
to rejoice in evil things verse number 10 Proverbs chapter 2 verse number 10 I
want you to notice these words it says when wisdom that's word number one when
wisdom enter into thine heart and knowledge there's the other word second
word is pleasant unto thy soul discretion that's the third word
discretion shall preserve thee understanding that's the fourth word
shall keep thee to keep you from what were there that's my talk you'll keep
you to deliver thee from the way of the evil manner the evil man rejoices in
doing wickedness and so God tells us in order for us to not enjoy but not to
give in to enjoy what is evil we need to have wisdom knowledge discretion and
understanding you say all those four words sound very familiar you know
similar to me you know are there any differences let me help you understand
what these words mean first of all let's talk about understanding understanding
is the ability to comprehend the information okay right now as I preach
I'm desiring that you understand so that means I've got to speak with clarity
I've got to maybe repeat myself a few times because I want you to comprehend
the information okay the next one is knowledge what is knowledge well once
you have comprehended the information it's the attainment of truths and facts
okay knowledge is the attainment of truth and facts okay discretion what's
discretion discretion is making correct judgments on the knowledge you've
attained see you attain knowledge all right now how do I work through this
information that I have to make the right decisions and then you've got
wisdom wisdom is the exercise for the application of the knowledge okay so you
might go to to school and or you know you might get an apprenticeship and you
learn that but wisdom is taking what you learn and applying it you know in real
life okay that's that's about that's kind of like being the doer of the word
not just the hero of the word but you go and you take what you've learned and you
apply it that is wisdom okay it's the application of or the exercise of the
of knowledge okay let me give you a quick example of this you know let's
talk about salvation when you go and you preach the gospel to somebody that is
lost the first thing you want to do is to cause them to understand isn't it
okay understanding again is the ability to comprehend the information and so
you'll make sure that your presentation is clear you get out there it's a clear
presentation it's it's simple to understand because you want them to
comprehend what you're saying you know you might even allow them to ask
questions you know if they get stuck on something because you want them to
understand then the next step is knowledge you want them to not just
understand what you're saying but you want them to attain the truths and the
facts that you've told them the verses that you told them right this is why
after the presentation we go back and we start asking questions so would you
admit that you're a sinner yes according to the Bible where do sinners go if they
don't believe in Jesus all they go to hell so by repeating this stuff and by
saying it correctly you know they've obtained okay the knowledge they've got
the knowledge they wanted to give them the next step is discretion there was
discretion once again it's making correct judgment on the knowledge they've
attained so now they've got a balance what they've been told to go to heaven
the good works the false gospels and what you just told them and they've got
to use discretion to decide which one is correct okay and then lastly wisdom
that's the exercise or the application of the knowledge that's when we want
them to okay now that you've you've met you've used discretion to decide which
one's correct we want you to end up you know knowing that believing on Jesus
Christ and him alone is the way to go so you want to call them to exercise and
place their faith on Jesus Christ we often look at them calling upon the name
of the Lord as that expression of them having placed their faith on the Lord
Jesus Christ okay so I just want to understand these ideas are concepts that
we need to understand and accept and you know and this will keep us from
rejoicing in evil or falling against wicked people that are trying to cause
us to you know that are desiring to rejoice in in our evil in our
destruction and of course this comes from the Word of God breath you know but
if you want to find joy you need to know your Bibles even better okay to gain in
the sense again wisdom to use discretion to apply what it is that God wants you
to apply in your life the only way you get this brethren is by knowing your
Bible okay you want more joy read your Bible okay I would say if you struggle
with depression you're upset you know you're constantly worried it's probably
because you just don't pick up your bottle enough okay I'm saying I'm saying
that if that's part of your life as a significant portion of your life being
cast down and negative and upset the only means brethren is you got to pick
up your bottle more okay I'll ask God to give you knowledge wisdom to be able to
rejoice in the right things okay because it's through the Word of God that we
understand what it is that we can rejoice in and so the next half of this
sermon is I want to show you ten things and of course there are more you read
your Bible you'll find more things but ten things that you should be finding
joy in ten things that you should be finding joy in can you please turn to
Psalm 118 Psalm 118 verse number 24 Psalm 118 verse number 24 and we've
already sort of begun with this one at the very beginning of the sermon but
let's look at this again Psalm 118 verse number 24 Psalm 118 verse 24 reads
this is the day that the Lord hath made we will rejoice and be glad in it hey
the day the Lord have made is not just Sunday it's not Monday just Monday it's
every day it's Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday every day that
you wake up to is a day that the Lord hath made okay that means if you're
gonna go through I don't know maybe right now you're facing some trial some
difficulty well you know what God's giving you Sunday right now so you can
rejoice okay maybe tomorrow you're going to work and you know you're gonna be
facing some problems at work and it's getting you worried right now because
you know what Monday's the day that the Lord has given you as well today the
Lord have made and God tells you you're to rejoice in that day just like we
looked at earlier you know that we ought to rejoice in all the years that God has
given us well he also wants us to rejoice in every day that he have made
because don't forget he made that day he made today okay and he's given us the
ability to experience this day all right and don't forget it's the Lord that has
made us you know some people hate Mondays Monday hate Mondays right you
hear about that right I hate Mondays because the first day of work man that's
a bad attitude to have God's given you that day okay so people hate different
days of the week but it's just ridiculous because every day God has
given you and we won't go into that any further I'm sure you understand that
you ought to rejoice in every day that you have now you're in Psalm so please
turn to Psalm 113 Psalm 113 Psalm 113 and while you're turning there I'm going
to read to you from Proverbs 5 18 Proverbs 5 18 which reads let thy fount and
be blessed who this and rejoice with the wife of thy youth rejoice with the wife
of thy youth brethren do you find joy in your spouse you look at your wife man I
have so much joy my love you look at your husband and say you know I have so
much joy I rejoice with my husband I'm so thankful that God has given me this
person well you know what the second thing that you're to find joy in is your
family that's the second thing right find joy in your family I'm seeing
people laugh right so we know obviously there are times we struggle we might
argue have our clients and arguments but don't forget your your Lord God has
given you your spouse they have to find joy in our family because listen you
spend most of your time with your family I mean most of the hours of your day
you're gonna be with your family right for those that go to work you want to
come home and not just come on man I've got to come home to the kids I've got to
come home to the spouse like you just spend a whole time you know for the men
you just spend eight ten twelve hours at work or something I'm sure the next thing
you experience is some joy in your day and so you come home right and you know
you experience your family and you know this is something that I had to work in
in my life because you know we all grow and mature and you know having a life is
a big change to how you used to live your life before when you're single and
then the next big change is the children that come along right and you got start
to adjust to these things and the things that you used to doing when you were
single you realize you're gonna have to prioritize okay those things that I used
to enjoy my hobbies hanging out with my mates I don't have time for that anymore
because I've got to work I've got a wife I've got kids and you got to learn how
to prioritize and I remember and I don't mind saying this because you know we all
have to grow up and learn but I remember after getting married and having a few
kids that you know I kind of struggling with you know trying to maintain the
friends that I had in high school trying to maintain relationships that I
developed in the workforce where they wanted to hang out and kick a ball you
know play some indoor soccer or something and also the idea of having to
come home and have a wife and children that you got to spend time with right
and nurture it and be with us I was struggling with this a lot and I had to
come to a point in my mind where I just realized Lord you know more important
the most important thing that I have is my family and I have to prioritize them
and so I had to start saying no no to the friends no to the work colleagues
no I need to spend time with my wife I've just spent eight hours with you I'm not
gonna spend any more time with you I've got to go and spend time with my wife
and kids during Psalm 113 verse number 9 Psalm 113 verse number 9 it says he
maketh the barren woman to keep house look at this and to be a joyful mother
of children crazier Lord hey you know what mothers you know what it's all to
find joy in your children God wants you to make you a joyful mother of children
you know that means that means also be more joy in your life after having kids
than the joy that you had before having kids and notice it says he make up the
barren woman to keep house you know before I married Christina she was told
that she would be barren she was told that she would never be able to have
kids obviously God had a different plan again I was a young man I'm just stupid
I've been brainwashed by the world I'm thinking well if we don't have kids we
don't have kids who cares okay but now I look back at that I just realized how
stupid how foolish was I to have that mentality right now that I have kids
it's wonderful right God has given us children to rejoice in praise ye the
Lord the Lord has given you this so mothers please you know I know we live
in a world that says well you know being a mother staying home and keeping the
house you know that's just you know that's that's old-fashioned and you
know that's the that's not being uneducated you're not gonna find
fulfillment in your life when they say that they think they think you find
fulfillment in the workplace they thought they think they find you find
fulfillment by not having kids or looking after other people's kids go
work in a child care look after other people's kids in the world you know or
working for some other man right in the workforce no listen they're not they're
not happy okay and the reason they try to make mothers that stay home who raise
the kids unhappy is because they're unhappy themselves you know this is just
a common thing people that are not happy they don't like people that are happy
and they'll try to bring them down to their level and so that's why they
criticize mothers who stay home because they know they're actually having a life
that brings joy all right so we'll define joy in our husband and wife and
we ought to find joy in our children I'll just read another passage to you
Proverbs 23 24 that says the father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice
greatly rejoice fathers and he that beget of a wise child shall have joy of
him notice it doesn't say that just having children will call you to rejoice
just having children calls you to be joy no this is the father of the righteous
so listen having children is one thing anybody can have children okay I know we
have 11 kids but honestly it's not that amazing it's not amazing having 11 kids
anybody can do that okay but what you need to do the difficult part is raising
a righteous generation raising your children to know what it is to do good
what it is to be righteous to please their parents to please the Lord this is
what's impressive okay so if you only have a couple of kids that's all God has
given you you know don't think oh well you know this other family has 11 you
know no because the 11 could be wild children okay who aren't righteous and
look the parents aren't gonna find join that you might have a couple of kids and
they're righteous and they say good and they're wise you train them to know the
things of the Lord they're gonna find more joy in those few kids that you have
they family that has a great number of kids that just while uncontrolled and
rebellious okay so keep that in mind okay that yes God wants us to be find
joy our children as long as we raise them right because if you don't raise
them right they're not gonna bring you joy they're gonna bring you hardship
they're gonna cause heartbreak okay when you see that they go about life and
destroying themselves you'll see me some so please go to some 122 some 122 so the
first thing to find joy was every day that God has given you the second thing
was family and the third thing is church church or to be a place where you find
joy and the fact that you're here this morning tells me you enjoy church okay
you know come in here and you know we're outdoors a little bit and you know
things aren't the way we're comfortable that we actually like things to be but
the fact that you still in church went to know God's Word and to worship him
shows me you find joy in church it says in Psalm 122 verse 1 I was glad when
they said unto me let's go into the house of the Lord now I want to talk to
the kids right now because I know when it comes to the children it's your
parents that bring you to church right your parents are saying all right come
on get up early get ready for church we're going to church okay and so when
your parents come to you and say let us go out to the house of the Lord into the
house of the Lord are you glad children when your parents say that are you glad
when your parents come on get up early it's time for church we've got to get
there and you're like yes I can't wait to get there all right is that you well
if it's not this is something you need to develop in your life you got to find
joy gladness God has given us church God has given us a his house so we can come
and learn more about him but you know what it's not just coming the point here
it's not just being here physically but come to church with joy it's about being
at church spiritually it's about being at church mentally as well this is a
place that I want to be this is a place where I know I'm gonna find joy in the
Lord for a period of time while we're having church service can you please
turn to 2nd John chapter 12 2nd John chapter 12 2nd John chapter 12 this ties
in with church as well but it's a little bit different 2nd John chapter 12 sorry
2nd John 12 2nd John 12 there is no chapter 12 okay but 2nd John verse 12
2nd John verse 12 says having many things to write unto you I would not
write with paper and ink look at this but I trust to come unto you so look John
yeah he's writing things but his real desire is to come to the Brethren because
then it says and speak face to face that our joy may be full okay now John yeah
he was writing this epistle but he says look I'd much rather be with you I'd
much rather be face to face with you so our joy can be full the fourth place
that you ought to have joy in is fellowship with the Brethren okay so
yeah church is important church is wonderful and you know some people come
to church but then as soon as the church service is over all right let's get out
of here I don't want to see that person because last week they didn't say hello
to me so I don't want to see them this way and you're off okay that's not how
church ought to be church ought to be a place where you find joy in the
fellowship that you have with the Brethren this means you have to step out
of your comfort zone and say you know what I might not be necessarily an
outgoing person I might I might be a bit of a shy person I might be a bit
introverted in my personality but I know God wants this fruit in my life to find
joy in my brethren so I'm going to step out and I'm going to talk I'm going to
step out and greet I'm going to step out and ask them about their day I'm going
to ask them about their week I'm going to find out about their families I'm
going to find it at their workplace so I have something that I can talk to them
about okay and this is about and when you do that for everyone you put that
effort in you'll find that it gives you a lot of joy a lot of joy okay this is
something we need to find doing and I said this last week sometimes the
Brethren we're just not going to see eye to eye sometimes we're going to rub
each other the wrong way we're just going to get you know frustrated a
little bit but even if that's the case we're still commanded to love we're
still commanded to find joy in our Brethren okay so let this be a fruit
that the Holy Spirit works in your life can you now please turn to James James
chapter 1 James chapter 1 as we're going through these 10 things I just want you
to assess yourself do I find joy in all these things that we've covered today
and if you say well I honestly and you don't have to tell me it's for yourself
it's when you and God you say there are honestly think some things that I just
do not find joy in well you need to through the Holy Spirit of God develop
this in your life okay otherwise you're missing out on the joy that God wants
you to have you know I think we all agree we want to have happy lives okay
so you got to find joy in all these things that God has given us you're
listening to James chapter 1 verse number 2 James chapter 1 verse number 2
maybe so far the first four things for you are very easy to find joy in but
this one is a hard one right that's number 5 sorry that's number 2 it says
my brethren counted all joy that's up there
count it all joy yeah when when things are going great well yeah that too okay
but it says here counted all joy when you fall into diverse temptations
knowing this at the trying of your faith work of patience but let patience have a
perfect work that you may be perfect an entire wanting nothing if any of you
lack wisdom let him ask of God we looked at that before we look at Proverbs all
right if you need wisdom ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upgrade
if not and it shall be given him so point number five is we ought to find
joy in the midst of difficulties in the midst of difficulties when we face all
kinds of different temptations different struggles different trials in our life
brethren you need to find joy in them you know it's kind of like what we
started you know it's nice you don't necessarily find joy in the night but
you know that eventually that Sun is going to rise you know that eventually a
new day is around the corner well you know what when it comes to the
difficulties that we go through you need to pause for a moment and say well why
am I going for this difficulty why am I going for this challenge is God
chastising me or is this just something else that has developed because we live
in a cursed world well Reverend every time you face some trial difficulty
you'll say you know what I'm gonna find joins I'm gonna count it all joy because
I know God's gonna use this to work in my life he's going to develop patience
he's gonna cause me to be perfect that's well rounded completes right and tire
once you're nothing and if you're struggling you go I just don't know why
I'm going through this difficulty Lord well then you go to God if you lack
wisdom you go to God you go to his word and find out Lord why am I going through
these challenges because there is a reason for it every time you go through
difficulty there's a reason there's a purpose that God is allowing you to go
through it okay and so we ought to find joy in the midst of difficulties and you
know what we've lost say year or so we've all discovered restrictions water
closures different mandates it's been a time of difficulty okay you can either
have one attitude that goes well I don't like any of this I'm not happy with this
or you can just be you know what I'm gonna count all joy this all joy you
know God is going to use this to work in my life to develop something that I need
you know that I desperately need in my life and again if you don't know what
that is go to the Lord and ask him for wisdom all right can you please turn to
Proverbs 15 Proverbs 15 verse 23 Proverbs 15 verse 23 the next one I have
is find joy in the passing on of good counsel or advice okay the passing on of
good counsel or advice Proverbs 15 verse 23 Proverbs 15 verse 23 it says a man
hath joyed by the answer of his mouth and a word spoken in due season how good
is it all right so you know what we need to be mindful about our mouths because
we say those stupid and foolish things okay even I'd say stupid and foolish
things brethren okay I'm not saying that I'm great and wonderful and there's only
wisdom and counsel and great godly advice coming from this mouth not all
the time okay but one thing we need to work on is how we speak okay if we speak
good godly counsel good advice you know we say words that encourages a brother
in the Lord a sister in the Lord you know what the Bible says we can find
joy in that why because we've been able to influence others in a positive way
we've been able to encourage others we can find joy in that have you ever had a
situation where you know a brother or sister has been downcast upset you come
alongside them you said some great words you know what even sometimes just
greeting someone you know lifts up some spirit now you said something and they've
never you know get out of that and they're thankful to say thank you brother
thank you sister for encouraging me you know what they want to be joined that
brethren okay let's be joined that you know when it comes to preaching and I
talk to the different preachers yeah and more often than not preachers don't like
to listen to their own sermons after this right they get recorded put on
YouTube Jerry speaking sometimes you do go back and listen to it to learn to you
know criticize how you presented something to make improvements for the
future but Jerry speaking people don't like going back and listening to their
voice and oh man look at that mistake that I made oh man I really messed up
but here's the thing quite by preaching you've actually imparted a lot of
knowledge a lot of wisdom a lot of counsel a lot of advice and so really
you ought to be finding joy when you get the opportunity to come behind the
pulpit and preach the Word of God as long as you are preaching the words of
God you are preaching words that are fit at the right season okay and you also
find joy in that can you please turn to our some 30 go to some 30 please some 30
I'm up to the same thing that we ought to find join some 30 the same thing and
again this is kind of difficult as well it's similar to finally join the midst
of difficulties because this can be difficult okay but some 30 verse 4 it
says some 30 verse 4 it says sing unto the Lord oh ye saints of his and give
thanks at the remembrance of his holiness look at verse number five for
his anger so whose anger the Lord's anger okay for his anger endureth but a
moment in his favor is life we've been made you up for a night so there's the
same idea of the night of the day we've been made you up for a night so this
but joy cometh in the morning but joy cometh in the morning is this about this
is about the chastisement of the Lord you know what you ought to find joy when
God takes you and gives you a good smack okay when God takes you and chastises
you corrects you for something wrong that you've done you know children ought
to rejoice as well if they have loving parents that chastise and correct their
children when they do wrong now notice there when we are being chastised when
we are being corrected when we are facing the anger of the Lord it says the
anger endureth but a moment okay the end is just a moment in his favor is life
the purpose you chastise is to give somebody a better life okay not to
destroy but to give them a better life this is weeping may endure for our
nights so yeah when you get chastised and if you chastise children you know
there's a lot of weeping okay but the weeping it's just for a moment it's just
for the night that's the part that feels bad but then joy cometh in the
morning okay so my experience with chastising children yeah it's not
wonderful I don't enjoy taking out the rod and applying it to the backside of
my kids okay I mean I can't wait to do that okay there's tears you know there's
the anger that came from your child being disobedient but listen once it's
done and they apologize and and and you know you you forgive them you ought to
just be able to move on from there and say well the night's over that was just
for a moment that was just for a season now it's morning now we can rejoice and
my experience is quite often when you when you apply that rod it's almost like
the child instinctively knows they needed that so they can move on with
their life so they can move on and actually be happy okay and so once you
chastise and you've done it properly you know you don't you ought not to bring it
back up okay you just go well hey it's over you apologize I've forgiven you
let's forget it let's forgive and forget the way God does and let's just move on
forward and have fun okay well that's how it is we've got God
chastises you there might be some weeping there might be some hardship but
you'll find join that knowing that it's for my profits for my life God wants to
develop in me and I know that moving forward we're gonna have a great time
okay the morning's gonna rise and I'm gonna have a great time Lord I'm
thankful that he corrected me in this place because he could have destroyed my
life okay so we ought to find joy in the chastisement of the Lord can you please
go back to Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes chapter 5 Ecclesiastes chapter 5 verse
number 18 Ecclesiastes 5 18 and before we read this we know that we shouldn't
be Christians that are just trying to amass material wealth we ought not to be
Christians that just love money you know and just love the temple things and we
know it's all gonna burn up we're not gonna take it with us to heaven okay we
also have a mindset on eternal matters okay but when we preach these things at
the same time we don't want to be completely removed from this world
because there is a lot to enjoy in this world okay so when you look at
Ecclesiastes chapter 5 verse number 18 Ecclesiastes 5 verse number 18 it says
behold that which I have seen it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink
look at this and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he taketh under the
Sun all the days of his life look at this which God giveth him for it is his
portion so when it comes to our possessions our material wealth that the
things that you have you know why you have it because God gave it to you and
Bob was telling us that we ought to enjoy our possessions we ought to enjoy what God
has given us you know I've got this house I should not go well look at that
double-story house back there I wish God gave me a double-story house you know
right God did not give me that well look at that you know that car over there man
that sporty slick car you know I wish God gave listen God gave me the van I
have to rejoice in the van that God has given me right and so listen there's
nothing wrong with enjoying what God has given us you know what we live in a
blessed country we have a lot of material wealth all of us sometimes we're
able to go out on holidays and enjoy ourselves listen there's nothing wrong
with enjoying those things so long as God has given us so long as you've not
gone and and done wickedly you know I've got into a drug dealing or
something right and and got your wealth by wicked ways as long as you've worked
for it brethren as long as the Lord's provided for that hey rejoice enjoy what
you have there's nothing wrong with that I don't feel that like it's a bad thing
God is the one that's giving you the possessions that you have look at
verse 119 we get to the next point verse 119 it says every man also to whom God
has given riches and wealth and have given him power to eat thereof and to
take his portion look at this and to rejoice in his labor and that's your
workplace that's your job all right all for the mothers that's raising the
children rejoice in his labor look at this it is the gift of God you know your
workplace is the gift of God okay so now I don't like where I work well God give
you a gift you know you're gonna just whine and complain about where you work
you'll whine and complain about the job God has given you okay so if that's you
you just want to complain you land this job I can't do this is probably the job
this job I'm gonna promise isn't God's giving you that as a gift find joy in
the job that God has given you because it's through that job it's for that work
it's for that labor that God has given you the material possessions that you do
have so you can rejoice in that as well you know again we spend a lot of hours
at work don't we men you know get out there 8 10 12 hours sometimes more even
it's a lot of hours it's a lot of time of your day well God wants you to find
joiner you know if you find joiner you're gonna work better you're gonna be
more effective you're gonna be a great employee okay and just gonna enjoy life
a lot more you're not gonna come home irritated and angry and and take it out
on the family when you get home okay as long as you find joy in your work you
gotta find the joy so how do I start make God your employer say whoever
whoever my boss is whoever sits that in that office okay I'm gonna pretend it's
Jesus Christ and whatever work I have I'm doing a work for Christ I'm working
because God has given me this gift God has given me has provided this
employment for me to do my job and again for the mothers you know for those that
stay home hey you got work as well you're laboring as well you know taking
keep up the house and watching the children hey you're gonna find joy in
that as well find joy okay in what God has given you now lastly can you please
turn to Philippians Philippians chapter 3 Philippians chapter 3 in verse number
1 Philippians chapter 3 and verse number 1 the last thing and I suppose the most
important thing that we ought to find joy in just there in Philippians 3 verse
number 1 Philippians 3 1 it says finally my brethren rejoice in the Lord what a
great God that we serve I'm glad we don't have to rejoice in the God of
Hinduism or the gods of Buddhism or the God of Islam those aren't great gods
they didn't die for me all right we ought to rejoice in the Lord look at
this to write the same things to you to me indeed is not grievous but for you
to say first number two beware of dogs beware of evil workers beware of the
concision for we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit of this
and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh again this is
just another passage that reinforces the deity of Christ because we're
commanding vessel free to rejoice in Christ Jesus and verse number one said
rejoice in the Lord so Christ Jesus Jesus is the Lord Jesus is God okay and
so we ought to find joy in our Savior in our Lord okay the best thing to do
Brevani spend time with the Lord a little bit every day we all should be
able to set aside 10 minutes 15 minutes half an hour of a day just to spend time
with the Lord just to pray out to him to open up his word maybe the singer him on
your own if you have to or with the family to spend time and there's going
to be great joy in the Lord when you remember he's watching over you he's
protecting you he's giving you all these other nine things that we've looked at
so far that you can have a joyful life and it's so important I'm going to reach
you from Habakkuk 3 18 it says yes I will rejoice in the Lord I will joy in
the God of my salvation salvation ought to be something you constantly bring
back back up I don't care how bad things get on this book I don't care how low
your bank account gets I don't care how much people reject you or hate you or
what situation you may go through you know how bad your body may get with
sicknesses and illnesses and difficulties that you can get you know
none of that compares to the salvation that God has given us they can even come
close to knowing that we've been saved from hell we say from our sins and we're
gonna spend eternity with God forever saved forever what a great joy so
Brevin whatever hardship you go through please just stop and say well at least
I'm saved at least I'm going to heaven you know I might be suffering from this
illness and this element it's going to give me a shorter life well then I'm
gonna be in heaven closer and earlier then I would have been if I had full
health as long as we find joy in the salvation of God you're in Philippians
let's go to Philippians 4 verse 4 Philippians 4 4 Philippians 4 4 reads
rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice so how often should we
rejoice in the Lord all the way all the time everywhere you go wherever you're
brethren you need to learn how to rejoice in the Lord I don't know how bad
things are going to get in this world I don't know when persecutions really
going to rise against the people of God I don't know when the tribulation to
come will you know will come I don't know when these things get preference
but you know what if one day we're arrested or something you know you put
in solitary confinements you know you're locked up for what you believe or who
you are you know what the Bible tells us to rejoice in the Lord all way even
in that condition we're saying say well you know what I'm suffering for the
cause of Christ I'm gonna be rewarded by Christ for the suffering so you know
what I don't care I'm gonna rejoice in whatever situation I find myself in one
more verse and then we'll finish up please go to Psalm 16 Psalm 16 verse 11
Psalm 16 verse 11 which ties in but I think it's a good conclusion for all of
the above while you train them is going to meet you with those ten things I once
again number one we ought to rejoice every day number two we ought to rejoice
in our families three not to rejoice in the church four we ought to rejoice in
the fellowship of the brethren number five we ought to rejoice in the midst of
difficulties number six we ought to rejoice in the passing on of good
counsel or advice number seven we ought to rejoice in the chastisement of the
Lord number eight we ought to rejoice in the positions that God has given us
number nine we ought to rejoice in the work that God has given us and number
ten we ought to rejoice in the Lord but they're in Psalm 16 verse 11 Psalm 16
verse 11 because if you are telling me pastor Kevin I just will you don't tell
me get it yourself talk to the Lord if you say I you know there are some things
in these 10 lists of 10 I just don't find joy in well this is where you're
gonna find the joy okay Psalm 16 verse 11 it says that will show me the path of
life look at this in thy presence is fullness of joy fullness of joy at my
right hand there are pleasures forevermore so if you're lacking joy in
one of these areas you know what you need to do you need to get close to the
Lord you need to get in the presence of the Lord yeah because in the presence of
the Lord there's fullness of joy at my right hand that's how close feel to be
okay the tears come up here quickly this is my right hand
there's my tears at my right hand that's how close we ought to be to the Lord
where the Lord can stretch out he's got his right hand resting upon you can sit
down okay so in God's presence at his right hand there are pleasures forever
more say God I hate my job well you know what to spend time in the
Prince of God get close to the Lord ask Lord why did you give me this specific
job it seems to be overly difficult there are only difficult people that I
have to work in God will give you the wisdom
God will impart that knowledge to you and help you understand why you have
that job you know and I hate talking about myself but it's an experience that
I have lived okay but you know I work the job where I was you know I talked
to my wife I was traveling a lot I was spending a lot of time away from my
family from my wife you know that I'd go maximum a week away from the home you
know they wanted me there longer sometimes I thought like a month in
other places and I just I can't I'm gonna go for a week I've got a family
kids to look after them and I first it's kind of exciting traveling eventually
you know when you have other responsibilities or you know I had to I
was called to preach to church then I had to bring my pastor sorry pastor I
can't I've got to fly I'm gonna fight the Sunday to get to wherever just be
there for Monday I can't reach and no I was getting upset I was getting
depressed I just under Lord why have you given me this work I know now okay I
know now okay because I was not expecting a church in Sydney that I
would pastoring I was not expecting that I would be traveling back and forth and
have different groups that you have to oversee and maintain right but I look
back now and I go well it's the experience that I got in the job that
God gave me yours his gifts there was a reason behind it there's something God
wanted to develop in my life okay even though it's difficult even though the
times of darkness that I was frustrated but I realized that there was a purpose
behind it that's where you find the joy when you go to say Lord I'm struggling
this area I know you want me fine join this area but I just don't know what it
is Lord can you give me wisdom can you help me understand it's more likely God
is trying to work in you do something your life to help you mature to help you
grow so you can be effective for him sometime later in your life okay but we
learned that by being close in the presence of the Lord by being at his
right hand there are pleasures forevermore there is fullness of joy in
his presence let's pray