Category: Sermons

Joyfully unto the Lord

Psalms 35:9-10

And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

True joy come from having your hope in the right person

We find hope in having His spirit in us –

We find true hope in looking to Jesus  

Hebrews 12:2 

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy t+ hat was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Revelation 1:5-8

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

We have joy that is indescribable

1 Peter 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Isaiah 55:7-12 –

7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.10  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.12  For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Our greatest joy is yet to come

1 Peter 4:13

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

I Thessalonians 4:16-18:

16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Joy comes when the body unifies.

We need to learn to love each other

Unity will lead to power, spiritual growth and numerical growth 
Acts 1:8   But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 
Acts 1:12-15 -   Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
 Acts 2:1 - And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
We need to be of one mind

Joy comes from seeing others come to Christ –

I Thessalonians 1:6

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.

As a pastor, joy comes in watching your faith grow

Pastors are given to you to teach you truth 
Hebrews 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Even in persecution, we find joy in your faith

II Corinthians 7:4  Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

1 John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

2 John 1:12  Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

3 John 1:4  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Joy comes from realizing who it is that keeps us

Jude 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

John 10:27-30 –  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.

  • We are kept by God – we cannot keep ourselves – we do not have to
  • Real believers follow Jesus and turn from the world
  • No one, not even you, can take you away from Jesus

Joyfully unto the Lord

Psalms 35:9-10

And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.  All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

In this day of covid-19 pandemic, do we still have reason to be Joyful? Has our God given up blessing His kids, those who are born again? Can we still be a blessing to others? Is Jesus the reason for our happiness or have we placed it in things, government, jobs, etc.?  Many “believers” are living fearful lives during this time and I want you to know, that is not how God wants His kids to live.  No, instead He wants us to live joyous victorious lives.  How are you living in these troubling times?

We need to let God know we are a joyful people

Psalms 66:1 Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:

  • We are to rejoice when we are in His presence Psalms 95:2  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms
  • We need to rejoice in our salvation   
Isaiah 61:10 

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

  • We need to rejoice that we have been given His righteousness
  • We need to rejoice that He took all our sin and shame and turned it into jewels before Him

We find peace in the midst of trials 

Psalms 27:4-6 – 4  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.5  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.6  And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord

We have joy even in the midst of life’s greatest trials

  • Joy comes as we gather with other believers
  • God designed fellowship as a source of great joy
  • During great trials we need to run toward God’s house not away from it. – Hebrews 10:24-25 – 24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching Philippians 1:25  And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

Joy always follows darkness

Psalms 30:5  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Joy comes with a pure heart

Psalms 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart

Psalm 51:10-12 – 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

True joy come from having your hope in the right person

Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Peter 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

1 Peter 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Joy comes when the body unifies.

Philippians 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

  • We need to learn to love each other
  • We need to be on one mind – Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Joy comes from seeing others come to Christ

– I Thessalonians 1:6  And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20   For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?  For ye are our glory and joy.

As a pastor, joy comes in watching your faith grow

Pastors are given to you to teach you truth

Hebrews 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Even in persecution, we find joy in your faith

II Corinthians 7:4  Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

1 John 1:4  And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

2 John 1:12  Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

3 John 1:4  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Joy comes from realizing who it is that keeps us

Jude 1:24

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

John 10:27-30

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30  I and my Father are one.

PASS IT ON

Being a mother is one of the greatest privileges known.  Mothers shape the generations to follow.  Sadly, we live in a day in which mothers have given their children over to others to raise. The connection between mothers and children is becoming more and more non-existent.  Please understand, I know that some moms must work.  For those of you who do, your job is most difficult, but your children are depending upon you to help them in their quest to become all that God designed them to be.  So, moms, this one is for you.

Understand that you help shape their spiritual lives

Moms are the ones who by nature nurture the children

Titus 2:3-5 

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

1 Timothy 5:14  

I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Moms need to sacrifice things to produce strong mature adults

Matthew 6:33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Luke 12:31 

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Every child deserves a good mother

Romans 16:13  

Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

  1. Rufus’ mom was instrumental in Paul’s spiritual development
  2. Paul’s parents are not mentioned by name in the scriptures but were prominent Pharisees 
  3. History records his dad and mom as respected among the traditional Jewish religion
  4. Sometimes being a surrogate mom is the best gift you can give

Understand that you will help determine how they feel about themselves.

You can teach them about God’s love for them

John 3:16

  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

You can teach them about God’s forgiveness

Ephesians 4:32

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Colossians 3:13

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

You can teach them how to become a child of THE king

Romans 10:13

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

You can always be a source of spiritual strength in their lives

Understand that you have a responsibility to spend quality and quantity time with them

Slow down and realize today will soon be gone and you will never be able to live it again

James 4:14

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Ephesians 5:15-17

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Enjoy being with them – do not look for excuses

Sacrifice things for time

Reread Deuteronomy 6:6-7

 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Keep your word

James 5:12 

But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Your time is your greatest gift to them

Understand that things are not the important thing in raising godly kids

Teach your kids to do without all the stuff that they do not need

  1. TV in the room
  2. Computer in a private spot
  3. Guard their screen time
  4. Most expensive clothes
  5. Teach them to value of a dollar – make them earn things they want

Take time to teach them to read God’s word

Psalms 119:11 

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Take time to teach them to pray

Philippians 4:6 

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Matthew 7:7 

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

James 4:3 

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Take time to teach them the value of sacrifice

Take time to teach them to love others

1 John 4:7 

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

1 John 4:11 

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Take time to teach them to love themselves

Take time to know their heart

Understand that one day, you will be held accountable for what you have taught your kids.

2 Corinthians 5:10  

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Your children will bring you honor, or they will bring you heartache – you get to shape what they become

  • Learn when to say no
  • Learn when to say yes
  • Learn to say wait