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Pastor Darryl Manning's Message for this Week |
March 11, 2001
Text: James 1:2
To listen to the message (43 minutes) in Windows Metafile Format, click here.
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.
To listen to the message (43 minutes) in Windows Metafile Format, click here.
| Message Name: | Date Presented | Bible Scripture Text |
| Open Heavens: Jesus and the Church (3 of 3) | February 18, 2001 | Matthew 3:13 |
| Open Heavens: The Covering (2 of 3) | February 11, 2001 | Is 25:6-9 |
| Open Heavens: Prosperity (1 of 3) | February 4, 2001 | Deuteronomy 28:11-13, Luke 5, Malachi 3:7 & 10 |
| Pray for Daily Bread | January 28, 2001 | Matthew 6:11 |
| Return to Joy | January 21, 2001 | Psalms 16:11 |
| Faith's Highest Purpose | January 07, 2001 | Hebrews 11 |
| Steps of a Godly Man are Ordered By the Lord | December 17, 2000 | Luke 2:1-7 and Palms 37:28 |
| Joy in Your Place! | October 01, 2000 | James 1:2-4 |
| Dead Men Rejoicing | February 27, 2000 | Ezekiel 37 |
| From Weeping to Dancing | February 13, 2000 | Psalm 30 |
| Enjoying the Presence of God | July 18, 1999 |
Exodus 19:16-19 - 20:18-21 |