Joy

Pst. Chuks K. Nduka

 

Bible Reference: Nehemiah 8:1-10

Sermon by Pst Chuks Nduka during the 1st Sunday Service of April 10, 2016.

Joy Defined

Joy is an emotion that’s acquired by the anticipation, acquisition or even the expectation of something great or wonderful. Joy isn’t like happiness which is based upon happenings or whether things are going well or not. No, joy remains even amidst the suffering.

As believers, joy should not be a product of circumstances around us but an aftermath of our connection with God, challenges should not determine our joy, and rather, our fellowship with God should.

Factors Used By The Enemy To Steal Our Joy

Circumstances & Challenges

Unfortunately, challenges tend to be what determines believer’s joy. The truth is that challenges most time are not as they appear; they are always magnified, while in the real sense, with Jesus at the centre, it’s small. What steal our joy mostly are circumstances around us and issues that appear as though they are. Our joy should come from assurance which is obtained after regular fellowship with God.

Mistaking Happiness For Joy

Another point worth noting here is that believers in most occasions mistake happiness for joy, but we should know that while happiness is a product of happenings, joy is a product of fellowship with God.

Negative Reactions & Utterances In Time Of Challenges

We should also know that the way we react or the utterances we make in time of challenges will determine how God of satan will react, so to be on the safe side, being joyful in time of challenges will lead to utterances that is godly. In 1Samuel 30:6, we saw David in challenge, but rather than making utterances that is not right, he encouraged himself in the Lord (And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.) In the same vein, Job in Job 2:9 refused to curse God in accordance with the wife’s advice (His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!)We should learn not to react to life based on our circumstances.

Focusing On What You Feel God Has Not Done

It’s always easy to forget what God has done and focus on what we feel He has not done. Psalm 103:2 enjoins us not to forget the good things that God has done to us. These include the life we have; provisions, protection from dangers, etc (Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits)

Tuning Away From God

Tune away from man and tune in to God. The reason is because man has limit to what he can do for you but God is limitless. It is good to cry in time of challenges but we should not always hesitate to tune back to God, our comforter. Psalm 118:8 (It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.)

Not Knowing That God Allows Challenges For Victory

It is important that believers recognize the fact that challenges are part way to victory. God did not call us to a challenge free life. Ignorance of this truth has robbed many Christians of their joy. For every great victory is a challenge.

Finally, if the devil can’t steal your joy, it can’t spoil your mood.