JOY AND GLADNESS
(The Life You Were Meant to Live - November 28, 2021)
Series Big Idea: "God wants us to be growing in His joy and gladness"
Sermon Big Idea: "Embracing the presence of God in our lives brings joy and gladness"
Key Scripture (Acts 2:25-28)
Would you agree that everyone wants to be happy? Remember the Rolling Stones? They claimed they couldn’t get no satisfaction. But it was clear that satisfaction was their ultimate dream. The search for joy and happiness is at the root of all human behavior. But, people are searching in the wrong place.
People get married and pursue careers and get divorced and change careers for the same reason; to find happiness through these things. One of the greatest lies Satan tells us is that God wants to keep us all miserable. But if we read the Bible, we will see that God is the essence of great joy and everyone who knows Him can have true and lasting joy.
In our passage today, the Apostle Peter, preaching on the Day of Pentecost, cited (Psalm 16:8-11). He applied it to Jesus Christ. Peter argued in this text that this Psalm didn’t apply only to King David but mostly to his descendant, Jesus the Messiah, whom God raised from the dead. The key to the passage is that Jesus was full of God's joy and gladness. And since Jesus was full of God's joy and gladness, if we are growing to be like Christ, we will be growing in God's joy and gladness.
(Acts 2:25-28)
25 For David says of Him: I saw the Lord ever before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope, 27 because You will not leave me in Hades or allow Your Holy One to see decay. 28 You have revealed the paths of life to me; You will fill me with gladness in Your presence.
We know that Scripture teaches that joy and gladness come from God, but our passage today eludes to why and how this is true.
When we are constantly aware of God's presence, we are filled with joy and gladness
Although (Isaiah 53:4) says that Jesus was known as the man of sorrows and the One who bore our grief, we need not look any further for a picture of biblical joy and gladness because the life of Christ is the greatest example. When Jesus was in the garden before going to the cross He told His disciples He was grieved to the point of death (Mark 14:34). But in (Hebrews 12:2) it is stated that for the joy set before Him He endured the cross. No, the cross in itself wasn't joyful, but the joy that lie ahead was. He was well aware of the Father's presence and that made Him joyful.
The shortest verse in the Bible (John 11:35) "Jesus wept", and the shortest verse in the Greek NT (1 Thessalonians 5:16) "Rejoice always", seem to contradict each other, but biblical joy and gladness does not deny sorrow and grief. Biblical joy and gladness are the foundation in God that will sustain the believer in Christ through times of sorrow and grief.
Jesus told His disciples He wanted His joy to made full in them (John 15:11; 17:13). Even though He acknowledged they would grieve when He was crucified, He also promised that they would rejoice when He was raised again, and that no one could rob them of their joy (John 16:20-22). The Bible does not deny the existence of sorrow and grief in the life of a believer, but it overpowers such moments because it is based on God's sovereignty and His certain promises to believers.
CONCLUSION
Throughout His entire life, Jesus knew the Father was with Him at all times. He never lived unto Himself. He only felt the Father's absence on the cross when He cried, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus always lived in in God's presence.
This is the key to God's joy and gladness. It is to be aware daily of the awesome presence of the Lord. And then even when we do go through trials, we will not lose our joy, because God is with us.
Here are three things that may help move you in the right direction:
- Spend time with God in His Word and in prayer - you may have to change your schedule to meet God daily before you head out the door. Memorize and meditate on His Word throughout your day.
- You should look for God's hand in all your day-to-day activities - literally everything is from God's hand. Nothing is by chance.
- Get into the habit of enjoying God's creation regularly - He created it all, so get out and enjoy it!
Embracing the presence of God in our lives brings joy and gladness.
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideals for this message, are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
Water, Mark, ed. Encyclopedia of Bible Facts. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2004. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.
NIV, Archaeological Study Bible, eBook: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture
Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Duane Garrett, and Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
NIV, First-Century Study Bible, eBook: Explore Scripture in Its Jewish and Early Christian Context
Zondervan, Kent Dobson, and Ed Dobson
Hughes, Robert B. and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1990. WORDsearch CROSS e-book. Revised edition of New Bible Companion.
Cole, Steven J. Acts. Dallas: Galaxie Software, 2017. Print. Steven J. Cole Commentary Series.
Fernando, Ajith. Acts. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.
Garland, David E. Acts. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2017. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.
Vaughan, Curtis. Acts. Cape Coral, FL: Founders Press, 2009. Print. Founders Study Guide Commentary.
Gangel, Kenneth O. Acts. Vol. 5. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.
Polhill, John B. Acts. Vol. 26. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992. Print. The New American Commentary.
Peterson, David G. The Acts of the Apostles. Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009. Print. The Pillar New Testament Commentary.
Schnabel, Eckhard J. Acts. Expanded Digital Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012. Print. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament.
WORDsearch. Adult Questions for LESSONmaker. WORDsearch. Print.
Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. Print.
MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible.Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006. Print.
Smith, Jerome H. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word. Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992. Print.
Robertson, A.T. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933. Print.
Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887. Print.
AFTER THE MESSAGE
After hearing today's message there may be a decision you have made and you want a pastor to connect with you. We want to make this easy for you. Just scroll to the bottom of this page and fill out the form and our pastor will contact you in the way you prefer.