MEMORY VERSE: Zephaniah 3:17
BACKGROUND: The Scripture says God is a good God and that He always has our good at heart in this world. His supporting promises also attest to His goodness towards mankind. If we can just recall the goodness of Christ from time to time, we should be motivated to accept Him into our lives and serve Him all the days of our lives.
THE JOY OF THE LORD: Nehemiah 8:10-12
The joy of the Lord is your real strength. Those that have not the joy of the Lord are missing the real joy in this world. If the Lord has become your joy you will like to sing praises unto Him always. Then that Scripture will also be fulfilled in your life: “Rejoice in the Lord always and, again, I say rejoice.”
THE JOY IN WORLDLY THINGS: Psalm 73:1-18; Matthew 6:18-21.
In this Book of Psalms, King David was very envious of those who were rich in his day and God told him not to put his trust in worldly riches. It is human nature to pursue worldly things and be distracted by them. Satan is very good at using the things of the world to allure, distract, and injure one’s spiritual life. Satan took Jesus to a high mountain to show Him the glory of the world. He told Christ that he would give Him all those worldly things if only He would bow down before him. Christ rejected the deal. In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches believers not to lay up their treasure upon the earth where ‘motes’ and ‘thieves’ could corrupt and steal. The parable about the rich fool in the Book of Luke 15 teaches us to be rich towards God. Your soul should only bow to God.
THE JOY OF MEETING CHRIST WHEN HE COMES AGAIN: John 14:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Christ has gone to prepare a place for all the believers in Him. He made a solid promise to come back to take them to Himself. He says where He is, believers will be also. That day reserves unspeakable joy for those who will be part of this ascension or rapture – the taking up of the believers. This is more than monetary joy or worldly joy. Apostle Paul called this the taking up of believers to meet with the Lord, our Savior. The trumpet will sound; the dead in Christ will rise first, followed by believers who will still be alive at the time. From time to time you need to hear this message of comfort, regardless of what you are going through in this world.