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A Missionary of Joy

March 11, 2001

Text:  James 1:2

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Last week after getting back from Cuba, I was sick with the flu. When you are sick it is usually a good time for the devil to talk to you. He was telling me how poor a pastor I was. How the church was going broke and we were going to end up out of business.

I am glad that God doesn’t leave us with the devil too long before He speaks the truth to us. He said this, “You are a missionary of joy. Mission work is hard. Few want to join in the beginning. Many ridicule the new work. But you are opening a way that others will follow that will result in many churches becoming “houses of joy.”

Suddenly everything that has happened to us in the past few months made sense. Suddenly I became full of joy even though the path we are on has been difficult. It is great to know that you are on the right track even if that means some difficult times for a while.

As I prepared for Sunday’s message I felt wanted to share three things are necessary if we are to fulfill the mission God has given us.

First, we must experience the joy if we are to proclaim the message of joy. So many are preaching about things they have never experienced. I have to admit, I have been guilty of doing the same thing at times. Many preachers preach sermons about joyful worship and yet never joyfully worship. I have seen these people sit on the platform and read the Bible rather than enter into worship. Somehow it seems they think themselves above displaying their adoration of the Savior.

We must experience the joy the disciples did when they saw Jesus resurrected from the dead. Jesus had told his disciples they would be filled with joy: ²⁰Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy… ²²Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. John 16:20, 22

When they witnessed Jesus resurrected from the dead, they were filled with joy. ⁴¹And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴²They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³and he took it and ate it in their presence…. Luke 24:41

After Jesus ascension the disciples continued to be filled with great joy.  ⁵²And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, ⁵³and were continually in the temple ^£praising and blessing God.  Luke 24:52-53.  The disciples were authentic messengers of joy because they experienced the joy for themselves. We will never be successful missionaries of joy until we have experienced the joy of the Lord.

The second factor necessary for us to be successful missionaries of joy is a theology that supports a life of joy and joy filled worship. We have been preaching numerous sermons on joy the past few months that give scriptural basis for joy. I cannot go into these scriptures in detail in this message but will share a couple of observations for now.

In Psalm 30:5 the scripture says, “…Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”  There are times of weeping in our lives but they are supposed to be of short duration. Most Christians have turned this around and have short times of joy and much longer times of sorrow, depression, and despondency.

In Psalm 16:11 the scripture says, “…In Your presence is fullness of joy…” If this scripture is true that means most churches have very little of the presence of God because they certainly are not full of joy. If God comes into our presence, we will be filled with joy. Even John the Baptist in his mother’s womb “leaped for joy” when he came into the presence of Jesus (though Jesus was also in his mother’s womb. See Luke 1:44)

There is no excuse for us not being filled with joy if we in the Kingdom of God. Romans 14:17 says, “The Kingdom of God … is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Even tribulation is not an excuse for not being filled with joy. St. James says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” James 1:2

We have a daunting task ahead. We must share the message of joy until joy becomes the dominant characteristic of most of the Christians in our area.

Finally, if we are going to be successful in being missionaries of joy we must have a commission from the Lord to take the message of joy to the church and to the world. When God spoke to me last week about being missionaries of joy, I believe He commissioned us. We are no longer to just enjoy the joy that has come to us but we are to actively take the message of joy to others. We are to do our best to see others enter into the joy that the Lord has for all Christians.

To be dedicated to the mission of joy we must understand that joy is not optional for Christians. We can’t just “take it or leave it.” We cannot preach our message as a “take it or leave it” message. We must believe in our hearts that the message is for everyone and do all that we can to make sure that everyone understands the message of joy. No, we cannot force joy upon others. But we can forcefully proclaim the message that God wants us to deliver in His name.

Where is your joy level today? Are you experiencing the joy of the Lord in your life frequently? Have you really understood the theology of joy and know that joy is your birthright in the Kingdom of God? Are you ready to become a missionary of joy to others? Are you ready to commit yourself unreservedly to the cause that God has called our church to pursue?

These are important questions. I pray that you are one of those who will continue to stick with us through the hard times of getting the mission started. Soon, there will be a break through and those who have stayed and worked with us during the hard times will begin to see the fruit of our mission.

May the Lord Jesus fill your heart with joy as we enter the mission He has called us to do.

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