WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Joy Publishing Date: 2015-08-22T06:00:44-07:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/joy/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.280 Guys, we got this new gadget called Periscope. We didn't steal it from the Canadian Navy. 00:00:11.280 --> 00:00:17.120 It's just an app. It's on, you can get it on your phone. And so if you have a Twitter 00:00:17.120 --> 00:00:23.840 account, you can follow anybody who broadcasts things on Periscope. So we are trying this 00:00:23.840 --> 00:00:29.020 for the first time. So today we are broadcasting this on Periscope. So if you have a Twitter 00:00:29.020 --> 00:00:36.060 account and you follow me, as in not follow me but follow me, then you can watch this 00:00:36.060 --> 00:00:45.520 on Periscope. Yeah. My tweet account is at Jacobite 65. Or at Jacobite, I'm not sure, 00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:51.140 but it's one of those. I'll let you know later. Yeah. And I have very few followers. I saw 00:00:51.140 --> 00:00:56.220 this cartoon once in some Christian magazine where Jesus is sitting next to this guy and 00:00:56.220 --> 00:01:06.880 he explained to the guy that when I said follow me, I didn't mean on Twitter. So guys, 00:01:06.880 --> 00:01:15.780 we often believe that joy is an incidental footnote in Christian life. We often believe 00:01:15.780 --> 00:01:22.380 that joy is an incidental footnote in Christian life. As in everything else seems to be more 00:01:22.460 --> 00:01:27.060 important. Joy, yeah, you know how the world is. Goes up one day, goes down the other day. 00:01:27.060 --> 00:01:34.780 Joy is like a footnote in Christian life. And yet, as we go through this teaching, you'll 00:01:34.780 --> 00:01:40.900 find that it's so critical to Christian living. So critical to Christian living. Just want 00:01:40.900 --> 00:01:46.620 to touch on that today. And to begin with, like everything else in the kingdom, joy is 00:01:46.620 --> 00:01:53.380 both a fruit that is given by the Holy Spirit and it's also a character that needs to be worked 00:01:53.380 --> 00:02:01.180 out. That's a strange thing with most things in the kingdom. It is given and it needs to be worked 00:02:01.180 --> 00:02:12.500 out. Paul said even salvation is that way. He said you have been given salvation, but now work out 00:02:12.500 --> 00:02:19.740 your salvation with fear and trembling. Same way, joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It has been 00:02:19.740 --> 00:02:25.300 given to me because the Holy Spirit now lives in me and it is something that he gives to me. And yet, 00:02:25.300 --> 00:02:33.380 it needs to be worked out. It's like this baby that you conceive in your womb. But now that you've 00:02:33.380 --> 00:02:38.580 conceived the baby in your womb, now you have to do things to work out the nine months so that the baby 00:02:38.740 --> 00:02:46.740 is birthed. You may have to quit working hard jobs. You may have to change your diet. You may have 00:02:46.740 --> 00:02:51.720 to eat more. You may have to say no to pickles and chicken, at least my sister had to. What I'm 00:02:51.720 --> 00:02:58.260 trying to say is that joy needs to be worked out once it's given. Go ahead. 00:02:58.260 --> 00:03:15.740 Fear and trembling. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling would be, again, 00:03:15.740 --> 00:03:21.940 my definition of the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the dread of offending the father 00:03:21.940 --> 00:03:30.620 I love. The fear of the Lord is the dread of offending the father that I love. So it's not a 00:03:30.620 --> 00:03:35.340 fear that comes out of, oh shucks, what's he going to do to me? It's a fear that comes out of, oh 00:03:35.340 --> 00:03:41.060 shucks, he loves me so much and I'm beginning to like him that I dread letting anything come 00:03:41.060 --> 00:03:49.220 between him and I because I like him that much. It is all together. Yeah, it's one and the same. 00:03:50.100 --> 00:03:57.740 I would hate to see someone I love go through a bad time or have a relationship that's broken. It 00:03:57.740 --> 00:04:03.620 really bothers me. Even as I go to meet them to fix things inside me, I'm hoping that it'll get 00:04:03.620 --> 00:04:10.900 solved quickly because I don't want to drag it out. That's the sense of it. On one hand, joy is 00:04:10.900 --> 00:04:15.140 given. On the other hand, it needs to be worked out. That's kind of where we are going today 00:04:15.140 --> 00:04:19.900 because it's so much more than a feeling, right? Joy is so much more than a feeling. So when the 00:04:19.900 --> 00:04:31.580 Bible talks about joy, it talks about it in three different ways. It talks about joy as a source. 00:04:31.580 --> 00:04:47.420 It talks about joy as an experience and it talks about joy as an expression. Whenever the Bible 00:04:47.420 --> 00:04:54.420 talks about joy, it talks about it as a source and it talks about it as an experience and it 00:04:54.420 --> 00:04:59.540 talks about it as an expression. I mean right through the Bible, in the Old Testament and the 00:04:59.540 --> 00:05:07.340 New Testament, these three continuously come up. So we're going to start with the source of joy. 00:05:07.340 --> 00:05:19.580 The source of joy. Can I erase this? The source of joy. So if you want to put a subheading, 00:05:19.580 --> 00:05:30.500 you can put it as source of joy and then say seek him and I'll explain that source of joy. 00:05:30.500 --> 00:05:42.420 So guys go to Psalm 16 verse 11. Psalm 16 verse 11. There's a place where joy comes from. There's 00:05:43.380 --> 00:05:55.140 a source for it. I love this beautiful verse man. Psalm 16 verse 11. You make known to me the path of life. 00:05:55.140 --> 00:06:05.380 In your presence, there is fullness of joy at your right hand are pleasures evermore. In your presence 00:06:06.220 --> 00:06:12.260 is fullness of joy. As in guys remember, God invented this thing called joy. He didn't even 00:06:12.260 --> 00:06:21.420 invent it. It is who he is. It is who he is. He's the most joyful being in the universe. Jesus Christ 00:06:21.420 --> 00:06:29.100 was the most joyful being in the universe because he was a visible image of the invisible God. So in 00:06:29.100 --> 00:06:34.700 his presence is fullness of joy and at his right hand are pleasures evermore. So when it comes to 00:06:34.700 --> 00:06:43.780 the source of joy, it is impossible to start or step into joy unless I begin by seeking his presence. 00:06:43.780 --> 00:06:53.060 Impossible. That's where it flows from me. What's happened with Christianity guys is we seek joy in 00:06:53.060 --> 00:06:59.060 charismatic experiences or supposed manifestations of the spirit which will tingle you a little in 00:06:59.060 --> 00:07:03.300 your little finger or give you a spasm in your muscle or have you rolling around in the pews 00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:10.180 with laughter. That's not joy man. Joy is much richer, bigger, broader than that. It's found in a 00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:24.060 person. It's found in a person. Let's take another verse. Matthew 25 21. Doris what did you teach them 00:07:24.060 --> 00:07:43.220 today? Which song? Matthew 25 21. Let's start at verse 20. This is where they settle accounts and 00:07:43.220 --> 00:07:48.140 the guy who had five talents came back bringing five more. Verse 20. And he who had received the 00:07:48.140 --> 00:07:53.660 five talents came forward bringing five talents more saying, Master you delivered to me five 00:07:53.660 --> 00:07:58.580 talents. Here I made five talents more. His master said to him, what does he say to him? He says, 00:07:58.580 --> 00:08:04.660 well done good and faithful servant. You've been faithful over a little. I will set you over much. 00:08:04.660 --> 00:08:13.340 Enter into the joy of who? The joy of your master. Enter into the joy of your master. This is reservoirs 00:08:13.340 --> 00:08:22.900 of joy that God has. It is impossible for me to function in a place of joy or work it out if I 00:08:22.900 --> 00:08:29.820 don't first understand the joy has a source. Joy has a source. Enter into the joy of your master. 00:08:29.820 --> 00:08:36.060 Guys it's critical to living because Nehemiah 8 10 says that the joy of the Lord is my stronghold. 00:08:36.060 --> 00:08:43.620 It's actually stronghold. It's not even strength. The joy of the Lord is my stronghold. For me to 00:08:43.620 --> 00:08:51.300 operate here on earth in a way that is contagious and active requires that I be someone who knows 00:08:51.300 --> 00:08:59.220 how to both access and then work out this thing called joy. And it's not haha. It's not happiness. 00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:04.420 It's not necessarily a plastic smile. It's got nothing to do with that because remember joy can 00:09:04.420 --> 00:09:13.780 exist side by side with hurt, with disappointment, with pain. Joy is not something that exists in 00:09:13.780 --> 00:09:19.340 isolation. Whenever you read the Bible you find that, I mean isn't it fascinating? They call him 00:09:19.380 --> 00:09:26.140 the man of sorrows and yet being the man of sorrows he's a visible image of the invisible God who is 00:09:26.140 --> 00:09:32.220 the most joyful being on the face of the universe. Joy exists side by side. It's not some fake thing 00:09:32.220 --> 00:09:37.420 that Christians practice for two hours in church. This is something we'll have to live throughout 00:09:37.420 --> 00:09:48.220 the week man. Third, let's look at another scripture Psalm 43 verse 4. Then I will go to the altar of 00:09:48.380 --> 00:09:59.580 God, my joy and my delight and I will praise you with the harp, oh Lord you are my God. Psalm 43 verse 4. 00:10:04.380 --> 00:10:10.460 Psalm 43 verse 4. Again we're talking about the source. Then I will go to the altar of God. 00:10:10.460 --> 00:10:14.380 Doesn't matter whether it's on Sunday morning or whether it's in your house or whether it's 00:10:14.460 --> 00:10:21.020 on a mountain. Then I will go to the altar of God. To God my what? My exceeding joy. Again it goes 00:10:21.020 --> 00:10:29.740 back to the source man. My exceeding joy. To God my exceeding joy and I will praise you with the 00:10:29.740 --> 00:10:37.260 harp or lyre, oh God you are my God. Let's take another one. Psalm 45 verse 7. Look where Jesus 00:10:37.260 --> 00:10:47.980 got his joy from. Psalm 45 verse 7. It says about Jesus that you have loved righteousness and you've 00:10:47.980 --> 00:10:54.380 hated wickedness. So look at what God did, what the father did for the son. Therefore God your God 00:10:54.380 --> 00:11:03.260 has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions. Again even Jesus derived his joy 00:11:03.260 --> 00:11:06.940 from the father anointing or pouring upon him. 00:11:09.900 --> 00:11:16.940 Gladness that was beyond anybody else ever possessed. Maybe this needs to be incorporated 00:11:16.940 --> 00:11:21.020 in our prayer life eh? Where you start of the morning saying father just as you did with your 00:11:21.020 --> 00:11:26.860 son Jesus could you anoint me with joy, with gladness and joy that is beyond that of my companions. 00:11:27.820 --> 00:11:32.540 That would be a nuts kind of prayer. I mean I've never prayed that in my life. That's the first 00:11:32.540 --> 00:11:36.700 time I've said it but I want to start that today saying father could you anoint me with joy that 00:11:36.700 --> 00:11:41.020 is beyond that of my companions and then imagine what that life will be like. 00:11:45.420 --> 00:11:49.420 Jeremiah 15 verse 16. Jeremiah 15 16. 00:11:49.420 --> 00:11:59.900 It says there 00:12:02.540 --> 00:12:08.780 your words were found and I ate them and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart. 00:12:09.420 --> 00:12:18.140 That's the other thing. The word of God which is God's spoken word, no no which is God's yeah it's 00:12:18.140 --> 00:12:23.980 God's spoken word written down. The word of God itself can bring you to a place of joy. 00:12:24.940 --> 00:12:31.260 When we discover God's words and digest them they become a source of joy. When we discover God 00:12:31.260 --> 00:12:37.820 through his word and we digest the word that becomes a source of joy. Let me say that again. 00:12:37.820 --> 00:12:44.700 When we discover God through his word and we digest the word as in we begin to live it out, 00:12:44.700 --> 00:12:49.180 practice it. When it begins to change our thinking that becomes a source of joy. 00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:57.100 Guys how sad that we substitute manifestations for this. How sad that we seek 00:12:58.620 --> 00:13:03.820 manifestations instead of seeking God. It's happening in the Christian church all over. 00:13:05.260 --> 00:13:08.380 Any questions before we move on to the experience of joy? 00:13:08.380 --> 00:13:19.100 Am I looking good on Periscope? Okay I'm glad I wore colorful things today. 00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:26.860 Alrighty oh shucks that's on Periscope too right? 00:13:28.700 --> 00:13:31.660 I should I should pretend like I do this every Sunday. 00:13:31.660 --> 00:13:37.180 And so I say to those of you sitting in the overflow room 00:13:40.780 --> 00:13:41.580 and the balcony. 00:13:44.300 --> 00:13:46.780 Let's talk about the experience of joy next. 00:13:50.140 --> 00:13:58.140 Yeah don't pan on the crowd. Yeah the experience of joy. If the source of joy requires that we 00:13:58.140 --> 00:14:06.700 seek him then the experience of joy requires that we obey him. The experience of joy requires 00:14:06.700 --> 00:14:15.980 that we obey him because joy must be experienced guys. I mean what did David say when he had sinned 00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:23.100 and then he comes back to the Lord and here's what he says. He says restore unto me what? The joy of 00:14:23.100 --> 00:14:28.380 your salvation. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation because he knew something was missing 00:14:28.380 --> 00:14:33.260 and it wasn't a concept. It wasn't a thought. It was something that he was bereft of and now he 00:14:33.260 --> 00:14:38.060 wants it back and he says restore unto me the joy of your salvation. So joy needs to be experienced. 00:14:38.700 --> 00:14:46.540 You should read Psalm 63 verses one to five. Psalm 63 verses one to five. It talks about this 00:14:46.540 --> 00:14:49.340 experience and then someone can read it from the message. It sounds even 00:14:52.060 --> 00:14:58.940 more riotous. Psalm 63 one to five. Oh God you are my God. Earnestly I seek you. 00:14:59.580 --> 00:15:07.180 My soul thirsts for you. My flesh faints for you as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:13.660 So I have looked up I've looked you up in the sanctuary. I behold your power and glory because 00:15:13.660 --> 00:15:18.780 your steadfast love is better than life. My lips will praise you. I will bless you as long as I 00:15:18.780 --> 00:15:25.020 live. In your name I lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied with fat and rich food and my mouth 00:15:25.020 --> 00:15:32.220 will praise you with joyful lips. Does someone have it in the message? Yeah listen to it from the 00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:39.980 message. God you're my God. I can't get enough of you. I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God 00:15:40.060 --> 00:15:46.140 traveling across dry and weary deserts. So here I am in the place of worship. Eyes open, 00:15:46.140 --> 00:15:51.340 drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I'm really living at last. My lips 00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:56.940 brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath. My arms wave like banners 00:15:56.940 --> 00:16:03.500 of praise to you. I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy. I smack my lips. It's time to shout praises. 00:16:04.380 --> 00:16:06.380 Talk about experiencing joy. 00:16:10.060 --> 00:16:17.580 So joy needs to be experienced guys. In Psalm 4 verse 7 you can see again this whole idea of 00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:23.580 experiencing joy. He actually compares it to other joyful events and says man with you oh God it's 00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:33.100 more than anything else. It says in Psalm 4 verse 7 it says you have put more joy in my heart than 00:16:33.180 --> 00:16:40.300 they that have grain and wine abound. You have put more joy in my heart than they have when 00:16:40.300 --> 00:16:44.700 their grain and wine abound. One of the most festive times in Israel was when the harvest 00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:49.340 would come in. They had slogged for months together for the harvest and now they had this 00:16:49.340 --> 00:16:55.660 bountiful harvest and people would eat and drink and make merry. And here is now David saying that 00:16:55.660 --> 00:17:01.180 listen God the joy I get from you is so much more than that. The message puts it this way. It says 00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:09.740 that more joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees. 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:17.260 Sometimes I wonder why Eugene Peterson translated it like that. More joy in one ordinary day than 00:17:17.260 --> 00:17:21.100 they get in all their shopping sprees. But we'll leave that alone. We'll stick with the NIV for 00:17:21.100 --> 00:17:27.660 that one. So how much joy can you experience? Guys here's the crazy thing. Look at how much 00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:35.340 joy you can experience. You can, this is nuts. This is absolutely possible. That is why it's crazy. 00:17:35.340 --> 00:17:57.340 You can experience as much joy as Jesus at this present moment is experienced. 00:17:57.820 --> 00:18:05.740 That's the degree of joy that you and I can have. And really it's not happiness that we're talking 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:10.620 about. It's not a feeling though it is also an experience. But how much joy can you experience 00:18:10.620 --> 00:18:19.100 as much as Jesus has been experiencing since eternity to everlasting at this present moment? 00:18:19.100 --> 00:18:23.500 That's the kind of joy you can experience. But Jacob how can you say that? Go to John chapter 15. 00:18:24.060 --> 00:18:30.940 John chapter 15. And he makes the statement there in John chapter 15 11 where he says, 00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:37.420 I have told you this and we'll talk about what he told them later. I have told you this so that my 00:18:37.420 --> 00:18:46.540 joy may be in you and so that your joy may be complete. And the word complete here is fully 00:18:46.540 --> 00:18:54.140 mature. Telius. Fully mature. This is what Jesus is saying to us saying, listen Jacob you know how 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:58.860 much joy you can experience? You can experience the same joy that I presently have. I've always 00:18:58.860 --> 00:19:04.220 had since eternity and I'll always have into eternity. You can have the same joy. But how Jesus? 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:12.060 Because I have told you these things so that my joy as in how the degree to which I'm joyful can 00:19:12.060 --> 00:19:18.940 be yours and your joy can be complete as in it can be completely mature and tell yours. Perfect 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:24.060 in its completion. That's the kind of joy we can experience. What if we experience that two minutes 00:19:24.060 --> 00:19:33.100 a day? Just two minutes a day. If we were able to experience that. I'm not talking about tickling 00:19:33.100 --> 00:19:38.140 yourself to death. I'm talking about knowing in your heart the kind of joy that Jesus knows. 00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:44.460 And so the next question is so what did he tell them? And this is what he tells them. He tells them 00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:53.540 that this is how you need to look at it. To begin with consider this fact that Jesus loves you as 00:19:53.540 --> 00:20:00.380 much as the father loves him. Jesus loves you in the same way. Forget the as much. Think of it this 00:20:00.380 --> 00:20:21.020 way. Jesus loves you. Jesus loves you. Jesus loves Jacob in the same way that the father loves Jesus. 00:20:21.020 --> 00:20:28.780 Guys it's important to know this. I know you've heard this before but put it down not in terms 00:20:28.780 --> 00:20:35.260 of how much but in which way. When you say how much it's quantity you can't understand it. It's 00:20:35.260 --> 00:20:39.900 very hard to measure God's love because it's inexhaustible. So forget the much part of it. 00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:46.540 Think of the way. So here's what Jesus is saying. Jesus is saying hey Jacob I love you in the same 00:20:46.540 --> 00:20:52.140 way that the father loves me. I love you in the same way Jacob that the father loves me. 00:20:52.140 --> 00:20:59.940 The same way. So now you can figure out what that way is as you read the gospels. You find that the 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:04.620 reason Jesus could be joyful was because of the complete confidence he had in his father because 00:21:04.620 --> 00:21:14.260 of his father's love for him. Jesus loves Jacob in the same way that the father loves Jesus. And then 00:21:14.260 --> 00:21:25.060 Jesus goes on to say that remain intimately at home in my love by obeying my commands just as I 00:21:25.060 --> 00:21:33.740 remained intimately in my father's love by obeying his commands. Remain intimately at home in my love 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:43.500 by following my commands just as I remain intimately in my father's love by obeying his commands. And 00:21:43.540 --> 00:21:51.700 then he goes on to say I have told you these things so that your joy my joy may be in you and so that 00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:58.020 your joy may be complete. The point is guys if you want to begin to experience the kind of joy that 00:21:58.020 --> 00:22:06.900 makes life vibrant active passionate godlike contagious then one of the things I cannot avoid 00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:12.060 is obeying his commandments. And why will I obey his commandments? Not because I'm scared of him 00:22:12.060 --> 00:22:18.540 but because I'm deeply in love with him. I love the way it puts it in the message remain intimately 00:22:18.540 --> 00:22:23.540 at home in my love just as I have remained intimately at home in my father's love and how 00:22:23.540 --> 00:22:30.780 do I do that? By obeying his commands. And if you do that Jacob then know this that my joy will be 00:22:30.780 --> 00:22:36.780 in you and your joy will be complete. And by the way where do you start Jacob? Here's where you 00:22:36.780 --> 00:22:43.180 start. Know this without a shadow of a doubt that I love you Jacob as in the same way that the father 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:48.260 has loved me. Do you know what confidence that can give you in the morning that this morning as I go 00:22:48.260 --> 00:22:53.180 to work this morning as I face the situations I have to face Jesus loves me the same way that the 00:22:53.180 --> 00:23:02.380 father loves Jesus. That is nuts man. Jesus loves me the same way that the father loves Jesus. 00:23:02.380 --> 00:23:17.180 Say la. Think about it. Any questions on that before we move on to the third one? Any questions 00:23:17.180 --> 00:23:29.620 guys? The creator of the universe Jesus Christ who has no beginning or no end who says he's the alpha 00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:35.460 and the omega who is the visible image of the invisible God who through him by him and for him 00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:40.580 all things were made who is above all things who is seated above everything else and at whose name 00:23:40.580 --> 00:23:55.260 every knee bows. That Jesus loves me the same way that the father loved him. Yeah. He loves us 00:23:55.300 --> 00:24:01.380 regardless. Yeah that's a good point. He loves us regardless. How do we remain in experience, 00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:10.980 walk in, enjoy that love by obeying his commands? You know I went to this place called Shillong that 00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:19.300 I told you about and Jason was with me when we went and they've got this strange seed that they 00:24:19.300 --> 00:24:26.580 serve with dinner. It's this tiny little seed and so they insisted that I eat it and Jason eat it and 00:24:26.580 --> 00:24:31.900 they were insisting I should have known they were insisting far too much that we eat it and they 00:24:31.900 --> 00:24:39.060 had this look on their face as in something's gonna happen but I didn't use my discernment and I ate 00:24:39.060 --> 00:24:46.260 it and so when you eat the seed it's not hot it's almost tasteless but moments after you eat it 00:24:46.260 --> 00:24:54.300 wherever you touch your tongue to your mouth that part goes numb so I eat the seed and I forgot the 00:24:54.300 --> 00:24:58.820 name of it I try to bring it here but they said it gets dry and loses its power so it's no point 00:24:58.820 --> 00:25:05.540 bringing it so I ate it and then I do this and your lip goes numb you feel like there's hair growing 00:25:05.540 --> 00:25:13.180 there and wherever you touch for about three minutes your mouth goes numb and it's happening 00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:18.140 to me and Jason hasn't eaten it yet and I'm thinking to myself man the food is so tasteless 00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:23.500 now because every place I feel like there's hair growing out and I'm beginning to pray saying 00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:29.220 father I'm a sent one may this not last forever may feeling come back and I can look around the 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:33.020 table and they're sitting there and all waiting for a reaction and they can see something is 00:25:33.020 --> 00:25:43.540 happening and so I didn't tell Jason so in about three or four minutes it came back feeling came 00:25:43.540 --> 00:25:52.340 back and now I insisted that Jason eat it too because I said Jason it really tasted good so 00:25:52.340 --> 00:26:03.260 Jason ate it and Jason's less adept at hiding what's happening so he's saying Jacob and now 00:26:03.260 --> 00:26:08.260 all of us are sitting around and I'm laughing too because I'm done right so now it's his turn and 00:26:08.260 --> 00:26:13.060 it was so much fun why am I telling the telling you this story basically to make fun of Jason 00:26:13.060 --> 00:26:19.260 because he's not here but the second reason I'm telling you this is guys it is possible to sit 00:26:19.260 --> 00:26:26.740 in front of a feast and not relish it tasted because certain parts of you have gone numb so 00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:33.380 it's not that Jesus will ever remove the love from us the way the father loves it but for me to be 00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:38.780 able to walk in it to taste it to feel it without going dull requires that I obey him because in 00:26:38.780 --> 00:26:46.700 obedience my joy I will remain in joy I will remain in it otherwise it's still over you but 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:51.740 you don't realize it it's still over you but you don't realize it I could have made this point 00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:58.620 without going to that story but the story sounded important yes and if Jason is watching on periscope 00:26:58.620 --> 00:27:08.180 too bad you're not here you can't even refute it so any questions on that before you go on I just 00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:13.100 enjoy the fact that now Jesus loves me the same way the father loves him and that if I want to 00:27:13.100 --> 00:27:19.500 always walk in it recognize it taste it feel it and not go numb to it then all I have to do and 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:25.980 it isn't much of a chore start obeying him and enjoy it because at his right hand our pleasures 00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:32.180 forevermore and in his presence is the fullness the completion of this awesome thing that God is 00:27:32.180 --> 00:27:40.780 which is joy remember I said this before John Piper said it once the ultimate intent of God in 00:27:40.860 --> 00:27:49.980 all his works is joy the ultimate intent of God in all his works is joy what was Eden named why 00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:56.340 was Eden named Eden Eden meant delight what did God do every day after he had finished creating 00:27:56.340 --> 00:28:04.340 it is good there was delight in it what does God say when we die and when we go to heaven depending 00:28:04.340 --> 00:28:10.380 on how we've done here well done good and faithful servant enter into the joy of your master why did 00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:17.340 Jesus go to the cross at the way he did for the joy that was set before him the ultimate intent 00:28:17.340 --> 00:28:22.780 of God in all his works is joy it cannot any longer be an incidental footnote in our lives 00:28:22.780 --> 00:28:31.900 any questions okay let's go to the next one the next one is not the experience of joy but the 00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:41.460 the expression of joy the expression of joy the expression of joy and for the expression of joy 00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:51.540 you don't obey him you celebrate him you celebrate him the Bible talks about the source of joy the 00:28:51.540 --> 00:28:57.220 experience of joy and then the expression of joy joy must be expressed must be expressed 00:28:57.220 --> 00:29:13.020 Psalm 5 11 Psalm 5 verse 11 Psalm 5 verse 11 but let all who take refuge in you rejoice let them 00:29:13.020 --> 00:29:18.980 ever sing for joy and spread your protection over them and that those who love your name may exalt 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:29.900 you may all where is it yeah but let all who take refuge in you rejoice and let them ever sing for 00:29:29.900 --> 00:29:37.060 joy it's the right expression of our love for God guys expression singing what we do here is in 00:29:37.060 --> 00:29:48.180 a religious exercise we are called to do that go to Psalm 27 verse 6 Psalm 27 verse 6 Psalm 27 verse 00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:57.940 6 it's our posture it's a posture of a Christian it's impossible guys the only way we can avoid 00:29:57.940 --> 00:30:07.420 these verses is by not reading them or disobeying them Psalm 27 verse 6 and now my head shall be 00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:14.140 lifted up above my enemies all around me and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with whispers 00:30:14.140 --> 00:30:21.620 of joy I will sing and make melody to the Lord no no no not whispers of joy shouts of joy so when 00:30:21.620 --> 00:30:26.860 people wrote on Facebook that oh I'm so glad Chantal's coming back to the church because we 00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:35.340 haven't heard a shout for a while that's a good testimony man shouts of joy what do you do what's 00:30:35.340 --> 00:30:53.420 that sound you make yeah there we go Psalm 98 1 Psalm 98 1 Psalm 98 1 00:30:53.420 --> 00:31:11.540 sorry 98 4 98 4 make a joyful noise to the Lord all earth break forth into joyous song and sing 00:31:11.540 --> 00:31:18.460 praises do you realize that this is God speaking a through David or through Moses and he's saying 00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:22.980 listen guys I've told you about the source of joy I've told you about the experience of joy now 00:31:23.020 --> 00:31:27.860 here's the third thing I need to tell you that joy requires expression and look at what it says 00:31:27.860 --> 00:31:33.260 break forth make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth break forth into joyous song and sing 00:31:33.260 --> 00:31:38.860 praises now each culture may have its own way of expressing joy like if you go to the African 00:31:38.860 --> 00:31:47.420 culture I mean they got moves that will dislocate your hip but they do it so effortlessly you go 00:31:47.420 --> 00:31:51.820 to India it's a different kind you go to Israel it's a different kind so I understand that cultural 00:31:51.860 --> 00:31:59.300 context do define expression but but it's but it's sad when we do not choose to express whatever 00:31:59.300 --> 00:32:06.300 your cultural context be express joy in that but let it be expressed let it not be this cancerous 00:32:06.300 --> 00:32:19.900 silence that sometimes comes and suffocates a church or suffocates you some 149 5 if you 00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:32.660 aren't used to expressing yourself publicly start here some 149 5 let the godly exultant glory let 00:32:32.660 --> 00:32:40.780 them sing for joy on their beds try to finish by about 11 30 or 12 because otherwise your neighbors 00:32:40.780 --> 00:32:48.140 may have a problem but let the godly exultant glory let them sing for joy on their beds let 00:32:48.180 --> 00:32:51.060 them sing for joy on their beds stop there 00:32:58.580 --> 00:33:09.060 Jeremiah 31 13 Jeremiah 31 13 Jeremiah 31 13 00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:25.620 then shall the young women rejoice in the dance and the young men and the old shall be merry I'll 00:33:25.620 --> 00:33:31.500 turn their mourning into joy I'll comfort them and give them gladness for sorrow I will feast 00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:37.140 the soul of the priest with abundance and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness declares 00:33:37.140 --> 00:33:46.820 the Lord dancing is an expression of joy some 20 verse 5 let's look at some more and then we'll 00:33:47.220 --> 00:34:01.780 some 20 verse 5 some 20 verse 5 maybe shout for joy over your salvation and in the name of our 00:34:01.780 --> 00:34:05.900 God set up our banners you know what it's saying that if you read the first four verses it's saying 00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:12.740 when someone is victorious may we shout for joy as in when people come and share testimonies here 00:34:12.820 --> 00:34:18.380 may we shout for joy because of the victories that God has worked out in their lives it's 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:28.380 very it's a proper thing to do guys it's a proper thing to do we can do more than hmm it's a proper 00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:33.340 thing to do it actually says that maybe shout for joy over whose salvation your salvation as in your 00:34:33.340 --> 00:34:39.020 rescue and in the name of a God set up our banners may the Lord fulfill all your petitions look at 00:34:39.020 --> 00:34:53.820 some 47 one some 47 one all the scriptures are on top of your page some 47 one clap your hands all 00:34:53.820 --> 00:35:02.740 people shout to God with loud songs of joy want to try that on three one two three clap your hands 00:35:02.740 --> 00:35:09.020 all people shout to God with loud songs of joy that was so not together so let's try it one more 00:35:09.020 --> 00:35:15.580 time not together one two clap your hands all people shout for God with loud songs of joy so 00:35:15.580 --> 00:35:29.220 it's not just markers that should be drumming okay oh this one is really nice 126 to 126 to 00:35:29.220 --> 00:35:46.140 some 126 verse 2 I know we'd all be in sync this is true yeah some 126 verse 2 I love this when 00:35:46.140 --> 00:35:52.140 the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion as in design is a place of God's dwelling we are the 00:35:52.140 --> 00:35:57.660 place of God's dwelling when the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion we were like those who dream and 00:35:57.820 --> 00:36:03.900 then look at one of the expressions of joy then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue 00:36:03.900 --> 00:36:11.580 with shouts of joy our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongues with shouts of joy just 00:36:11.580 --> 00:36:23.820 imagine that a laughter is part of being joyful one more scripture some 107 22 some 107 22 some 00:36:23.820 --> 00:36:39.420 107 22 this is why whenever you're invited to share stories feel free to come up guys it's 00:36:39.420 --> 00:36:45.140 a command in the Bible it says and let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and tell of his deeds 00:36:45.140 --> 00:36:52.500 in songs of joy so you can either write a song or come and talk about it tell of his deeds in songs 00:36:52.540 --> 00:36:59.740 of joy even telling just so you know expression of joy is so important to God so let me conclude 00:36:59.740 --> 00:37:16.740 any questions before we move on some 107 22 some 107 107 22 that's what we just read so guys you 00:37:16.740 --> 00:37:23.300 can see why Paul keeps saying over and over again if you want to read a book in the Bible that talks 00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:29.780 about joy read the book of Philippians it's just continuously about expressing joy in difficulty 00:37:29.780 --> 00:37:35.900 or sometimes when you're going through trials James talks about it Paul talks about it in the 00:37:35.900 --> 00:37:39.580 book of Philippians the book of Philippians is filled with at least in three or four places 00:37:39.580 --> 00:37:44.540 three places I think with this whole command of rejoice and when he says it the third time in some 00:37:45.020 --> 00:37:49.340 chapter four he says I know I've said this before and it doesn't bother me that I'm saying it again 00:37:49.340 --> 00:37:57.620 rejoice keep saying it rejoice what does it mean to rejoice in the Lord guys it does not mean that 00:37:57.620 --> 00:38:05.380 grief desolation and pain sees it means that something else is experienced alongside your 00:38:05.380 --> 00:38:11.340 hurt something else called joy because sometimes what's happened in Christianity is we've gone to 00:38:11.340 --> 00:38:19.820 the other extreme and we've sanitized joy to the point that it's almost as if desolation grief 00:38:19.820 --> 00:38:26.340 and pain cannot exist along with joy no no no no no desolation pain and grief existed on the cross 00:38:26.340 --> 00:38:35.180 man and yet it says for the joy that was set before him so it exists together it exists together 00:38:35.340 --> 00:38:42.620 that's why Paul says in second Corinthians 6 10 that sorrowful yet always rejoicing he's talking 00:38:42.620 --> 00:38:49.780 about how pressed down beaten but not I mean confused but not destroyed and then he goes on 00:38:49.780 --> 00:38:57.140 to sorrowful but always rejoicing stranger this is what I talked about last week when I said when I 00:38:57.140 --> 00:39:07.300 quoted that quote from Oswald Chambers he says that till you are able to look the blackest darkest 00:39:07.300 --> 00:39:26.780 cloud right in the face without damaging the nature of God it says in Oswald Chambers says 00:39:27.220 --> 00:39:34.340 till you look at the blackest darkest cloud in the face without damaging the nature of God you do 00:39:34.340 --> 00:39:43.020 not really know God what a statement eh when nasty things are happening around you things are breaking 00:39:43.020 --> 00:39:47.820 down some because of your mistake some because of others but through it all through the blackest 00:39:47.820 --> 00:39:53.460 darkest cloud you can look it straight in the face and yet not damage the face of God as in 00:39:54.020 --> 00:39:58.140 you've let me down oh you didn't come through nothing of that sort why because you have this 00:39:58.140 --> 00:40:02.700 confidence that Jesus loves you the same way the father has loved him and there is no shadow 00:40:02.700 --> 00:40:12.420 of turning in him and that then allows sorrow to exist side by side with joy go ahead what will 00:40:12.420 --> 00:40:28.460 the joy looks like at that moment let's talk about that yeah yeah yeah and so yeah and so 00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:37.060 she's basically quoting Habakkuk 317 in her own words so let's look at Habakkuk 317 317 to 19 00:40:37.060 --> 00:40:56.220 Habakkuk 317 to 19 Habakkuk 317 to 19 and here's what it says though the fig tree should not 00:40:56.220 --> 00:41:03.740 blossom nor fruit be on the wine the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food and 00:41:04.100 --> 00:41:10.980 the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls yet I will rejoice in the 00:41:10.980 --> 00:41:17.780 Lord I will take joy in the God of my salvation God the Lord is my strength he makes my feet like 00:41:17.780 --> 00:41:22.620 the deers he makes me tread on my high places so here is a guy who's going through the same 00:41:22.620 --> 00:41:28.700 situation yet he says he'll be joyful so how do we go from a feeling of grief desolation and pain 00:41:28.780 --> 00:41:34.780 to the truth of joy whenever you want to go from feelings to the truth use words to get there 00:41:34.780 --> 00:41:41.340 whenever you want to go from feelings to the truth use words to get there you do not really deny the 00:41:41.340 --> 00:41:49.980 reality of your condition but you move towards the truth with words so someone who's precious to you 00:41:49.980 --> 00:41:56.140 who's died is your daughter or son in a situation that breaks your heart have you just found out 00:41:56.180 --> 00:42:01.700 that there is a doctor's report that is not good have you just found out that your house is going 00:42:01.700 --> 00:42:08.220 to be taken away by the bank because you lost your job how do you go from there to joy and it is with 00:42:08.220 --> 00:42:13.300 words you begin with words saying though the fig tree shall not blossom father this I know 00:42:13.300 --> 00:42:21.500 that you will never abandon me though I just heard a report that is not healthy about my body I thank 00:42:21.500 --> 00:42:27.740 you oh god that you are this though my children have turned away I remember the promise that if 00:42:27.740 --> 00:42:32.980 you train up the child in the way you should bring them they will never depart and so you use words 00:42:32.980 --> 00:42:39.220 and preferably his words not platitudes or lit nice cute poems on hallmark cards and you move 00:42:39.220 --> 00:42:47.180 from feelings to the truth that is the first step guys and as you begin to speak words of truth you 00:42:47.180 --> 00:42:51.740 move from feelings to truth and then a strange thing happens as you begin to do that and your 00:42:51.740 --> 00:42:58.220 mind begins to think differently you find that in the middle of bleakness there is hope and once 00:42:58.220 --> 00:43:06.180 you arrive at that point of hope you know that joy will come you move from a dismal place to a 00:43:06.180 --> 00:43:14.780 place of hope and from hope to joy there has to be hope if there has to be joy there has to be hope 00:43:17.180 --> 00:43:28.220 yeah yeah don't frame your world based on what you see around you frame it around what God has 00:43:28.220 --> 00:43:33.940 spoken and therefore this may be my condition I will not deny its reality because Abraham did 00:43:33.940 --> 00:43:38.540 not deny the fact that he was important but he was persuaded with the words of God and he began 00:43:38.540 --> 00:43:43.980 speaking it and he began to call himself Abraham which itself was a way of saying that he believed 00:43:43.980 --> 00:43:49.300 in God and he slowly began to move towards reality and in the process what happens is hope arises 00:43:49.300 --> 00:43:55.540 guys the one thing that the devil wants to destroy before he destroys joy is hope if he can destroy 00:43:55.540 --> 00:44:01.700 hope he can put me in a spiral that will keep drawing me downwards and what does the Holy Spirit 00:44:01.700 --> 00:44:06.900 want wants to bring me to a place of joy but before you get to joy he wants to restore hope 00:44:06.900 --> 00:44:16.460 and once he restores hope the next step inevitably is joy inevitably is joy so although the victory 00:44:16.460 --> 00:44:22.860 does not blossom I suddenly see this bleak through my bleakness I see this small sign of hope and 00:44:22.860 --> 00:44:30.420 once hope comes my heart begins to beat again my heart begins to beat again go ahead Ian 00:44:36.900 --> 00:45:06.740 yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah 00:45:06.900 --> 00:45:28.780 yeah yeah amazing yeah yeah yeah yeah 00:45:36.900 --> 00:46:02.980 yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah said before him yeah 00:46:06.900 --> 00:46:09.980 yeah 00:46:09.980 --> 00:46:10.380 yeah 00:46:10.380 --> 00:46:10.420 yeah 00:46:10.420 --> 00:46:10.620 yeah 00:46:10.620 --> 00:46:10.660 yeah 00:46:10.660 --> 00:46:11.020 yeah 00:46:11.020 --> 00:46:11.220 yeah 00:46:11.220 --> 00:46:11.300 yeah 00:46:11.300 --> 00:46:11.460 yeah 00:46:11.460 --> 00:46:11.620 yeah 00:46:11.620 --> 00:46:11.700 yeah 00:46:11.700 --> 00:46:11.860 yeah 00:46:11.860 --> 00:46:12.020 yeah 00:46:12.020 --> 00:46:12.100 yeah 00:46:12.100 --> 00:46:12.260 yeah 00:46:12.260 --> 00:46:12.420 yeah 00:46:12.420 --> 00:46:12.500 yeah 00:46:12.500 --> 00:46:12.660 yeah 00:46:12.660 --> 00:46:12.820 yeah 00:46:12.820 --> 00:46:13.060 yeah 00:46:13.060 --> 00:46:13.300 yeah 00:46:13.300 --> 00:46:13.460 yeah 00:46:13.460 --> 00:46:13.620 yeah 00:46:13.620 --> 00:46:13.700 yeah 00:46:13.700 --> 00:46:13.780 yeah 00:46:13.780 --> 00:46:13.860 yeah 00:46:13.860 --> 00:46:14.020 yeah 00:46:14.020 --> 00:46:14.100 yeah 00:46:14.100 --> 00:46:14.260 yeah 00:46:14.260 --> 00:46:14.420 yeah 00:46:14.420 --> 00:46:14.660 yeah 00:46:14.660 --> 00:46:14.820 yeah 00:46:14.820 --> 00:46:14.900 yeah 00:46:14.900 --> 00:46:15.060 yeah 00:46:15.060 --> 00:46:15.220 yeah 00:46:15.220 --> 00:46:15.460 yeah 00:46:15.460 --> 00:46:15.620 yeah 00:46:15.620 --> 00:46:15.700 yeah 00:46:15.700 --> 00:46:15.860 yeah 00:46:15.860 --> 00:46:16.020 yeah 00:46:16.020 --> 00:46:16.180 yeah 00:46:16.180 --> 00:46:16.420 yeah 00:46:16.420 --> 00:46:16.660 yeah 00:46:16.660 --> 00:46:16.820 yeah 00:46:16.820 --> 00:46:17.060 yeah 00:46:17.060 --> 00:46:17.220 yeah 00:46:17.220 --> 00:46:17.380 yeah 00:46:17.380 --> 00:46:17.460 yeah 00:46:17.460 --> 00:46:17.620 yeah 00:46:17.620 --> 00:46:17.780 yeah 00:46:17.780 --> 00:46:17.860 yeah 00:46:17.860 --> 00:46:18.260 yeah 00:46:18.260 --> 00:46:18.420 yeah 00:46:18.420 --> 00:46:18.660 yeah 00:46:18.660 --> 00:46:18.740 yeah 00:46:18.740 --> 00:46:18.820 yeah 00:46:18.820 --> 00:46:19.060 yeah 00:46:19.060 --> 00:46:19.140 yeah 00:46:19.140 --> 00:46:19.220 yeah 00:46:19.220 --> 00:46:19.540 yeah 00:46:19.540 --> 00:46:19.620 yeah 00:46:19.620 --> 00:46:19.780 yeah 00:46:19.780 --> 00:46:20.020 yeah 00:46:20.020 --> 00:46:20.180 yeah 00:46:20.180 --> 00:46:20.260 yeah 00:46:20.260 --> 00:46:20.420 yeah 00:46:20.420 --> 00:46:20.660 yeah 00:46:20.660 --> 00:46:20.740 yeah 00:46:20.740 --> 00:46:20.900 yeah 00:46:20.900 --> 00:46:20.980 yeah 00:46:20.980 --> 00:46:21.220 yeah 00:46:21.220 --> 00:46:21.380 yeah 00:46:21.380 --> 00:46:21.620 yeah 00:46:21.620 --> 00:46:21.700 yeah 00:46:36.900 --> 00:46:37.220 yeah 00:46:37.220 --> 00:46:37.300 yeah 00:46:37.300 --> 00:46:37.460 yeah 00:46:37.460 --> 00:46:37.620 yeah 00:46:37.620 --> 00:46:37.700 yeah 00:46:37.700 --> 00:46:37.860 yeah 00:46:37.860 --> 00:46:38.020 yeah 00:46:38.020 --> 00:46:38.260 yeah 00:46:38.260 --> 00:46:38.420 yeah 00:46:38.420 --> 00:46:38.660 yeah 00:46:38.660 --> 00:46:38.820 yeah 00:46:38.820 --> 00:46:38.980 yeah 00:46:38.980 --> 00:46:39.220 yeah 00:46:39.220 --> 00:46:39.460 yeah 00:46:39.460 --> 00:46:39.700 yeah 00:46:39.700 --> 00:46:39.860 yeah 00:46:39.860 --> 00:46:40.020 yeah 00:46:40.020 --> 00:46:40.260 yeah 00:46:40.260 --> 00:46:40.420 yeah 00:46:40.420 --> 00:46:40.660 yeah 00:46:40.660 --> 00:46:40.820 yeah 00:46:40.820 --> 00:46:41.060 yeah 00:46:41.060 --> 00:46:41.300 yeah 00:46:41.300 --> 00:46:41.460 yeah 00:46:41.460 --> 00:46:41.700 yeah 00:46:41.700 --> 00:46:41.860 yeah 00:46:41.860 --> 00:46:42.020 yeah 00:46:42.020 --> 00:46:42.260 yeah 00:46:42.260 --> 00:46:42.420 yeah 00:46:42.420 --> 00:46:42.500 yeah 00:46:42.500 --> 00:46:42.660 yeah 00:46:42.660 --> 00:46:47.300 and I mean the first bit you talked about is basically from first Corinthians 15 where Paul says 00:46:47.300 --> 00:46:50.100 we should not be like the people of the world who have no hope 00:46:51.460 --> 00:46:55.780 and then in Isaiah 53 that's the second part he was talking about where it says that 00:46:56.420 --> 00:47:02.420 and the will of God will prosper in the hands of his servant Jesus and he shall see a great reward for the 00:47:02.500 --> 00:47:08.260 pouring out of his life which is you and I at the end of the day guys if we can move from bleakness 00:47:08.260 --> 00:47:15.060 to hope then the inevitable next step is joy get to a place of hope and to get to a place of hope 00:47:15.860 --> 00:47:20.660 there is no way to get there without bringing in faith because that's what Habakkuk chapter 3 is 00:47:20.660 --> 00:47:27.300 talking about though the victory but I shall and where will faith come from again coming from that 00:47:27.300 --> 00:47:31.620 place not of standing on the word of God but standing on the nature of God which is revealed 00:47:31.620 --> 00:47:37.700 in the word the nature of God revealed in the word we don't stand on the word of God guys we stand 00:47:37.700 --> 00:47:42.980 on the nature of God revealed in the word you stand on the word of God you'll be hanging by the 00:47:44.900 --> 00:47:50.660 skin of your teeth or the nails of your hands and you'll be scarred stuff is supposed to be 00:47:50.660 --> 00:47:56.100 restful we stand in faith on the nature of God revealed in the word by the Holy Spirit 00:47:57.060 --> 00:48:03.380 that is how we stand and faith will always be coupled with hope hope will inevitably lead 00:48:03.380 --> 00:48:08.900 to joy and joy is guys at the end of the day let me conclude Psalm 40 verse 16 00:48:11.780 --> 00:48:18.500 and by the way we don't rejoice on one hand we don't sanitize desolation pain and grief from 00:48:18.500 --> 00:48:23.380 joy by the same token we don't rejoice because we have successes either 00:48:24.340 --> 00:48:28.420 because that's the other thing Christians rejoice when there are victories and successes 00:48:28.420 --> 00:48:35.940 and yet what did Jesus do say when the 70 came back from their missionary journey they came back 00:48:35.940 --> 00:48:39.860 saying we've cast out demons and all this stuff and what did Jesus say in Luke 17 he said do not 00:48:39.860 --> 00:48:43.140 rejoice that you've cast out demons and all this stuff rejoice that your names are written in the 00:48:43.140 --> 00:48:48.580 book of life why because at the end of the day joy doesn't come because of my victories and because 00:48:48.580 --> 00:48:53.860 of my successes as a Christian it comes because of my relationship my right relationship with 00:48:53.860 --> 00:49:00.900 God once you get that right then victories are like gravy that are a trophy in his collection 00:49:01.940 --> 00:49:06.340 but it comes out of right relationship it says rejoice because your names are written not because 00:49:06.340 --> 00:49:10.900 of this great you did this I sent you out to do them and it's wonderful that you did them but 00:49:10.900 --> 00:49:15.700 know where you're rejoicing starts from the source that it starts from a right relationship with God 00:49:15.700 --> 00:49:23.060 let's stop with Psalm 40 verse 16 Psalm 40 verse 16 Psalm 40 verse 16 00:49:27.860 --> 00:49:34.260 and this is to applies to all of us say everybody sitting here but may all who seek you 00:49:34.820 --> 00:49:44.660 rejoice ah it's a command man but may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you may those who 00:49:44.660 --> 00:49:52.580 love your salvation say continually great is the Lord let all who seek you rejoice let them say to 00:49:52.580 --> 00:49:58.500 the world another version says let all who seek you rejoice let them say to the world 00:49:59.940 --> 00:50:08.420 the Lord be magnified let all who seek you rejoice let them say to the world the Lord be magnified 00:50:08.420 --> 00:50:12.900 I read this somewhere I don't remember where it's not my code it's somebody else who said this 00:50:13.700 --> 00:50:20.020 he said that often to the world God is like a distant comet and your life is the telescope 00:50:20.660 --> 00:50:28.260 what a beautiful line eh to the world God is like a distant comet your life is the telescope 00:50:29.300 --> 00:50:38.340 it brings God nearer it brings God nearer brings God nearer rejoice and magnify him guys the moment 00:50:38.340 --> 00:50:43.700 you rejoice in God he gets magnified your telescope suddenly becomes the Hubble thing 00:50:45.540 --> 00:50:52.740 let me say that line again to most people to many people in the world God is like a distant comet 00:50:53.460 --> 00:51:01.780 just barely visible maybe once every three months like a quick streak you your life is the telescope 00:51:02.180 --> 00:51:08.660 and when you rejoice you magnify him even more and he becomes more evident 00:51:10.180 --> 00:51:14.180 becomes more evident bless you guys