02/16/2020
Do we claim the joy of our faith? Do we claim it even when things aren’t going well? The church is filled on Sunday with joy, and singing, but so often we see those same saints on Monday morning with sad faces, somber, and with the look of a mourner. Reentering our day to day life is no reason to abandon the joy we know in Jesus, or the hope we have in our faith. Have we become on again/off again Christians, and what message does that deliver to those around us... and to God?
“And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 13:52 ESV
In this scripture we read that the disciples were joyous, and yet Paul and Barnabas had just been run out of Antioch by the leading people who lived there. Why were they joyous when they had obviously failed? The authorities had contradicted their teaching, and then expelled them from the district...
“But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.”
Acts 13:50 ESV
Our joy is not determined by the world we live in, but by the faith that lives in us. God’s presence in our lives is pure joy! This reality doesn’t change when we leave our place of worship... it doesn’t dwell there in that place, but within each of us.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalms 16:11 ESV
But you say... “my life isn’t good, I have many problems; people hate me because of my faith, and I must face them again when I leave this place. How can I be joyous and glad amidst such hardship?” My friend, this is not new to men and women of faith; no, it is an age old trouble faced my Christians since Jesus first walked as a man. Listen to His words as he delivered the beatitudes...
“"Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.”
Luke 6:22-23 ESV
Being together with other Christians in church is certainly a happy occasion, but our true joy comes from the Lord, and He doesn’t meet us at the sanctuary door only to say goodbye when we leave to go home. God never abandons us, and in this way His Joy is there in us always. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of this fact, and we can do so by prayer, reading God’s Word, and praising Him as we begin each day. Otherwise, Satan claims dominion over us, and stifles our faith, and our joy.
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalms 118:24 ESV
This verse in psalms is sung often by Christians, and is a good verse to read, pray, and sing. It is a reminder that can lift us up, and the shot in the arm that our faith needs against the sickness of Satan who would make our faith ill. Listen to this wonderfully simple, and yet joy filled song...
Some of us love to hear children sing it:
https://youtu.be/cccJhMVFrLs
While others like to sing along with adults:
https://youtu.be/IRLxugEtqx8
But whether sung by children or adults the message is the same uplifting scripture, the tune is simple, and our spirits are brightened! Even the least talented singer will enjoy this song. So, I sing it in the shower, in my car, and hum it to myself when I am facing a hardship... and my joy is restored; yours will be too.
So back to my original questions...” Do we claim the joy of our faith? Do we claim it even when things aren’t going well?” Let me rephrase these questions slightly by asking them in this way “Do you have faith and joy, and does it survive in the hard times?” if your answer to these questions is “Yes”, then you’re joy should be evident in you always. Maybe you just need to remind yourself of this fact with a verse of scripture, and a simple little song each day!
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your joy that bubbles forth from our faith, and your presence. Thank you for your Son Jesus who reminds us that our joy and faith come wrapped together, and are fed by your Holy Spirit. Help us Father in our unbelief so that our faith explodes into bloom, and our joy erupts from within the depths of our soul. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who brings joy into our lives, and pins it there so that we will experience it always. Great are you who defeats the sadness in our lives, and your Son who has overcome the world. We joyfully praise you in the sanctuary, and in every crevice of our lives! You are the essence of joy, and the truth in which we believe. All glory is yours Holy Father, and in that glory you reinvigorate our faith and joy forevermore.
“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:8-9 ESV
Rich Forbes