Increase Your Joy Luke 8 :13 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
The following things will increase your joy:
Receiving God’s Words – Luke 8:13, “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy;and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.” Some people get really excited when they first pick up a Bible and begin to read it and receive its words.
1 Thes 1:6, “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joyof the Holy Ghost.” There is joy in knowing that affliction and trial are part of the routine – the joy of seeing that God’s words do not return void – the joy of knowing that the Bible is truth without error – the joy of knowing the Bible’s discernment of your heart – the joy of understanding God’s words after tedious study – the joy of seeing the change the Bible has made in your life.
Believing Jesus – 1 Pet 1:8, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joyunspeakable and full of glory.” If Jesus weren’t coming back and we weren’t going to rise to meet him we would of all people be most miserable – there is joy in knowing he is real and there is joy in walking with him – this joy is so good it is unspeakable – you have to find out what it is like for yourself.
Seeing Souls Saved – Luke 15:7, “I say unto you, that likewise joyshall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” 1 Thes 2:19-20, “For what is our hope, or joy,or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.”
Fellowship In The Gospel – Phil 1:4-5, “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now – the joy of fellowshipping with a missionary in the gospel and the joy that missionaries get out of your fellowship in the gospel – the joy two people get fellowshipping in the gospel together as they preach to the lost – the joy of making a mission trip together – the joy of fellowshipping in missions by giving [2 Cor 8:1-4].
Hearing Your Children Walk In Truth – 3 John 4, “I have no greater joythan to hear that my children walk in truth.” It takes discipleship to do this but what great joy to see the new converts to the Lord stick – just look around the room – you all stuck and have grown immensely in the Lord.
Receiving Answers To Prayer – John 16:24, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joymay be full.” The joy of praying and praying and seeing the thing come to pass – “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Conclusion: These things will increase your joy in the Lord.