Wide Open Doors – 4

Wide Open Doors – 4

Subject – Keeping Our Joy

By Rick Welborne

1 Corinthians 16:9 (NLT2) ⁹ There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me. 

John 10:10 (NKJV) 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

–It has been my observation by watching people that the enemy has tried everything he can to rob us of the abundant life that God has planned for us.

–Because of adversity many have lost their joy and it shows on their countenance. Many are not Living in Freedom Every Day.

–Some people think that when Christians use the term “joy” that it is just a substitute for the word “happy” but there is definitely a difference in the two.

1. Happiness Verses Joy.

–In the late eighties Bobby McFerrin wrote and sang a little song in a Carribean style  called “Don’t worry, be happy”.  It made it to number one on the charts...people loved it.

–All of us love being happy and we would like to be happy more but the question is how?

Cymbala: Happiness ebbs and flows based on our changing circumstances. A new baby or grandchild is born, and we are all smiles. We win a free vacation, and we are ecstatic. The boss gives us a big raise just when we need extra money, and we are elated. But the euphoria is only temporary. Inevitably something happens and takes with it our happiness. The baby gets sick, the vacation gets rained on, our job is eliminated by a corporate merger. The positive feeling is fleeting. At best we are left feeling empty and at worse, even angry.

–So how do we get our happiness back when our situation changes? We can’t wish happiness back. We can’t chase it. Trying harder to regain it only leaves us frustrated.

–If circumstances alone make us happy, then our situation has to change for us to be happy again. We will never have control over the things that make for “Be happy, Don’t worry”

–Happiness is circumstantial and elusive, but joy is not circumstantial. We can have joy even when we are not happy. Here is the key... Holy Spirit gives us joy.

Galatians 5:22‑23 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                    22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

23 gentleness, self‑control. Against such there is no law. 

–Isn’t it interesting that joy is mentioned right after love. It is obvious that God does not want us to live depressed, cranky, and bitter lives. 

–He knows that happiness is fleeting so He gives us supernatural joy through the Holy Spirit that transcends our circumstances.

–Joy is a beautiful gift that accompanies salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and it is imparted to us by Holy Spirit into our inner most being.

–Cymbala: If joy is a gift, we should expect to see more of it in the church, yet we are often surprised when we do. However, when we recognize that true joy doesn’t come from our circumstances but rather from God and His Holy Spirit, we begin to see joy as a blessing for everyday life. And that joy from the Spirit will make us distinctive to the culture around us.

2. The Apostle Paul and Joy.

2 Corinthians 6:4‑10 (NKJV) 

4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 

5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 

6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 

7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 

8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 

9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 

10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 

Barnes Notes on the New Testament - Always rejoicing. So Paul was, notwithstanding the fact that he always appeared to have occasion for grief. Religion had a power not only to sustain the soul in trial, but to fill it with positive joy. The sources of his joy were doubtless the assurances of the Divine favor, and the hopes of eternal glory. And the same is true of religion always. There is an internal peace and joy which the world may not see or appreciate, but which is far more than a compensation for all the trials which the Christian endures. 

–Here it is church: This is the power of God to be witnesses...you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.

–When the world sees us with joy and peace in the middle of great trial and affliction they are challenged to question...what is the source of this person’s joy...I need that! 

The Apostle Paul and Silas are perfect examples of this:

Acts 16:22‑31 (NKJV) (After casting the demon possessed girl who followed them:

22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 

23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 

24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 

26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. 

27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 

28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." 

29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 

30 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 

31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." 

–Do you think Paul and Silas…drug in front of the magistrates, clothes torn off, beaten with rods, and thrown into the inner prison with their feet placed in stocks? They were obviously not happy!

–Can you imagine the humiliation and the pain that they went thru but I guess they had made a decision to bless the Lord at all times…his praise be continually in their mouths. How do you know that?

--25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 

–What? Surrounded by darkness, surrounded by criminals, surrounded by the stench (no restrooms), hurting, and bleeding they had joy in the middle of it all!

–The prisoners were listening, your children, your spouse, your co-workers, your church family, your enemies are all listening to see if what you have is real. They need to know it is real!

–Someone else is listening...God is listening...Dan Betzer...God tapping His foot!

–What was the end result of having Holy Spirit joy in the middle of a trial:  immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. 

–Most important thing. What must we do to be saved?  When we walk in supernatural joy provided by Holy Spirit instead of hoping for allusive happiness...People come to Christ and their families.

Key - “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and let the fruit of joy be in your life”.

–Bless the Lord at all times, put on the whole armor of God, let the chains be broken in your lives, go thru that wide open door. 

–Horatio Spafford - 1828-1888 - A Chicago lawyer.  In 1870 his only son (4) died from Scarlet Fever...A year later he had greatly invested in real estate in Chicago...Fires destroyed all of his investments...after these tragedies he, his wife, and four daughters planned a trip to England...two reasons...to rest and to help evangelist DL Moody with his meetings.  A last minute business situation made Spafford have to stay behind while he sent his family ahead on the ship. He was to join them later. Nine days later he receives this telegram from his wife “Saved alone” four daughters drown. Sank in twelve minutes. He boarded a ship to go comfort his wife and at the place where the ship sank he penned these words.  

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul!

It is well ... with my soul!

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Galatians 5:22‑25 (NKJV) 

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

23 gentleness, self‑control. Against such there is no law. 

24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.