Stay Focused Series
Part 1 was about the importance of staying focused
Part 2, I shared a testimony of a miracle we experienced because we stayed focused.
Part 3 was the 1st of 4 keys to the “HOW” we stay focused: “Stay in the Word“.
Part 4, Stay in Faith
Part 5, Stay in Fellowship
This is the final point in this series, Part 6… Stay in Joy!
In this post, I’m going to focus on the JOY of being a Christian.
Too many times in the process of believing God – you can get all worked up and all worked out trying to believe Him that now believing Him becomes a chore, it’s no longer easy.
Remember back to the day you gave your life to Christ? You couldn’t wait to tell everyone, you couldn’t explain the joy, you were so full of joy, it was overflowing out of you!
Too many are not having fun as Christians any longer. Being a Christian and believing what God says in His Word has become a dread. They’ve lost their joy in the struggle to believe Him. Too many are struggling with the Joy of their Salvation.
We need to take time out and remind ourselves of who God is!
Psalms 16:8-11, “I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my inner self] rejoices; my body too shall rest and confidently dwell in safety, For You will not abandon me to Sheol (the place of the dead), neither will You suffer Your holy one [Holy One] to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”
I love how it is said in The Message! It sounds like David wrote it while doing a little gig or dance, “I’m happy from the inside out, and from the outside in…”
Philippians 1:23-25 – “But I am hard pressed between the two. My yearning desire is to depart (to be free of this world, to set forth) and be with Christ, for that is far, far better; But to remain in my body is more needful and essential for your sake. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and stay by you all, to promote your progress and joy in believing,”
Why didn’t Paul die in that place? It sounds like he wanted to be free because he knew he needed to help others get their joy back. It was better for him to stay here on this Earth to help your furtherance and the joy of faith!
Some Christians look like they’ve been baptized in Pickle Juice; they tie a rope in the gospel rope and hold on, “Pray we make it” – where living by Faith is a dread.
In Vs 25, Paul says he wants “To see you grow and become happy in your faith.” (NLT)
Those first things you experienced as a baby Christian, you were so excited, you found out that the things God says in His Word actually worked, but soon… it gets harder or… you forget. There was a time you thought it was fun, you looked forward to prove to the devil that he is a liar.
If that’s you, you need to pray, “Restore unto me the joy of your salvation”… Psalms 51:12
Remember that HIS yoke is easy, and HIS burden is light… LEARN TO LIVE FREELY AND LIGHTLY!!
LIGHTEN UP!! THE GOSPEL IS ALSO CALLED… GOOD NEWS!!
Matthew 11:30 – “For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good – not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.”
Psalms 33:12 – “Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the nation whose God is the Lord.”
As Christians, we are blessed when God is our Lord, which means we are HAPPY, FORTUNATE, TO BE ENVIED! To be envied… that is what our life is to be – to be envied!
Have you ever heard this song by Janny Grein before? Listen past the first song, “More Than Conquerors,” which is good, but listen through to “Count It All Joy.” It’s James 1 to a song. It is simply amazing, in my estimation! I grew up listening to her. Listening to her again brings back sweet memories! 🙂
James 1:2 (The Message), “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.“
I have a few practical tips to maintaining your joy that I’ll share with you soon, I preached them this past Sunday at Church!
