WITNESS OF HIS JOY
MEMORY
VERSE
Thou
wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right
hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalm 16:11
READ
Luke 2:8-10
Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luke 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory
of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring
you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
MESSAGE
We are saved to bear witness of God's goodness in
our lives, particularly His power to heal and ability to give peace. God also
wants us to be witnesses of His joy. Psalm 16:11 says joy is always available
where God is present. But for this truth, how could Paul and Silas be singing
in prison (Acts 16:25-26)? In 1975, I went to Kirikiri prisons (Lagos, Nigeria)
for the first time together with an elder. There was a young man who was
playing the organ and dancing with so much joy that I could not ignore him, he
was about to be released? I asked. The elder told me that the boy bagged a life
sentence: he had a quarrel with his friend, gave him a slap and the friend fell
down and died. He was charged accordingly and sentenced to death but appealed
and his sentence was commuted to life. In prison, he met the Lord and
discovered that one could be in prison and yet be spiritually free.
Recently, I visited the prison and a man was
introduced to me who has been there for 28 years on death row. When every other
inmate is sleeping, those on death row will be half awake listening for the
footsteps of the executioners until 5 a.m. before they can be sure they will
still be alive for that day. Imagine living like this for 28 years! While
conducting a service for them, he was singing, shouting and clapping that at
least God had given him another day. If somebody whose life is filled with lots
of suspense can praise God for each day, why should we not praise God more with
a full life ahead of us? It is sad that some believers would have to be pushed
or virtually compelled to praise God. Are you a proof producer of His joy? We
are not expected to be in sorrow like those who don't know the Lord because we
have the joy that they don't have. The only time some believers will know a
measure of happiness is when a good thing happens to them - say they buy a car,
receive a promotion, or have a financial breakthrough. But our joy is not
dependent on these fading earthly things. A believer who has no dime in his
pocket should be like he owns the world and yes he does, as a joint heir with
Jesus!
ACTION
POINT
A popular anecdote says, I was complaining I had no
shoes until I met a man who had no legs. If you have legs but no shoes, thank
God for your legs
The joy of the lord is my strength. Father, let your joy overflow my life at all times. Thank u Jesus.
ReplyDeleteWow!!! I must say: Lord am really sorry for being an ingrate all along.Lord as I walk in d consciousness that ur presence is always with me, I dwell in an unending joy always. Tank u Jesus for being with me always, tank U for making me a partaker n a sharer of ur joy. Glory n honour be unto u IJN. Tank u Pst for ds word. More grace IJN
ReplyDeleteGod I thank you for my legs. I thank you for your love. I praise you cos you will forever be the same.
ReplyDeleteI'll praise you Lord forever more.
ReplyDeleteGod I wil serve U til my life everlasting,just give me more grace,more power and energise me more,I want to knw u more and love U more bcos ur so wonderful to me.I never see who is like God.I bow b4 U
ReplyDeleteFather lord I thank u 4 d breathe of life
ReplyDeleteOh Lord, I lift up my voice n say thank u for the gift of life.
ReplyDeleteWill praise Jesus forever
ReplyDeleteWhat more can I say to this my God of love, mercy n grace. I bless ur Name my JOY n HOPE and ernestly pray that ur Joy will not depart from my life n home. Thank u my Joy.
ReplyDeleteI still have Joy after all I have been through,thank you Jesus for making me experience Joy Unspeakable
ReplyDeleteLord I praise your holy name cause u re God may me nd my generation never fall short of your glory in jesus name
ReplyDeleteThank U Jesus
ReplyDeleteThe more you thank him the more you are blessed.in what ever situation we find ourselves let give thanks.I thank God for the gift of life that no one else in the universe can offer.thank you jesus
ReplyDeleteLord am sorry ,forgive me for not praising our Onl NAME.Thanks for the gift of LIFE
ReplyDeleteThank you Lord for your love yesterday, today and tomorrow
ReplyDeleteThank u Lord 4 ur love n mercy
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say unto you Lord, all I have to say is thank you Lord!!!!!! I refuse to be an ingrate to God, cos his servant Bishop David Oyedepo wud always say only great fools re Ungrateful, he wud also say, it is foolishness to be shameful of wat is gainful, So tell me, why won't I be grateful to God and sing his praise aloud joyfully. I Love you Lord!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLord I celebrate & praise You forever,my Agama Turu Gi MmaMma!
ReplyDeleteThank you Lord for this message, isorry for being so selfish, for being joyful n you only when have positive outcomes, repent and ask for the grace that I can have immeasurable happiness in you. I'm Thankful Lord
DeleteFather, I thank Thee!
ReplyDeleteFather, I thank yor for the gift of life and salvation
ReplyDeleteI'll enta His gate wit tnksgivin in my Heart;I'll enta His court wt prais
ReplyDeleteFather, I thank Thee for the gift of life that you have given to me, my family and my friends. May your name be highly praise above all names. Please give us the strength to prase and serve you more and more.. AMEN..
ReplyDeleteI will praise u lord with every breath that I take.
ReplyDeleteThank You Jesus for the gift for life for me and my family. Praise be Thy Holy Name.
ReplyDelete