Choosing joy in the midst of a difficult season is not denial. Joy is a supernatural gift that is stepped into as we yield to the Spirit of God. Choosing joy transforms us, and gives us access to a perspective that is higher than our current circumstances. In this sermon clip, Bill Johnson challenges us to choose and surrender to joy in every season.
lifestyle Joy isn’t living in denial
that hard things are happening
neither should I subject my heart my
my personhood to the difficulties that
are going on around me otherwise they
Define me
[Music]
Joy is I was going to call it the back
door maybe it’s the front door
it’s it’s the entrance into the things
of God that that for so many for so long
have seemed Out Of Reach and yet there’s
something about The Obedience of
rejoicing
that does such a transformational work
in in US
that we find ourselves
living life at a level that we thought
was Out Of Reach
and it’s Joy
Joy is such a huge commodity in heaven
that the father took Joy
and it says and Jesus endured the cross
because of the joy that was set before
him
Joy
was such a Priceless commodity that
Jesus could endure the most horrific
thing
to ever happen in all of human history
he could endure that because on this
side was the reward and it was called
Joy
so when the Bible says the joy of the
Lord is your strength
it’s not just a smile it’s not just a
giggle it’s that internal combustion of
the presence and the activity of God
that makes everything else
bow everything else is inferior to that
reality of the spirit of God inside of
me that gives me an emotional
a mental encounter with a heart and mind
of God at a level I’ve never known
before and rejoicing introduces me to
that rejoicing is oftentimes is the Act
of Faith it’s the act of surrender that
engages me to that heartbeat of God
Joy is not just the fruit of things
working well
it’s actually
the expression that causes things to
work well
suddenly when you see these glimpses of
Grace
in the Old Testament like this
things in the New Testament at least to
me start making more sense
Rejoice always
pray without ceasing
in everything give thanks
foreign
if the people of God without the spirit
of God resident in them
could step into that Dimension that
reality in God
then how much more can those who
actually have the Holy Spirit
dwelling inside
enable us
to live with extreme extraordinary Joy I
personally think
in some ways
Joy is the Great
evidence
of conversion
and if you think about it
it’s not just because things always work
well because then then you’d be able to
say well these they’re just good at
their job or they have a good family
line or whatever you can trace it back
to Natural Things
but oftentimes
his most brilliant displays of joy
are in people
that just experienced the most horrific
loss
it doesn’t mean that’s what you have to
experience first it just means it stands
out there
it’s like the diamond against black
velvet on the jeweler’s counter is
there’s a there’s a backdrop that makes
this thing pop
and there’s something about the joy of
God that is not subject
to circumstances it is not subject to
World conditions it is not subject to
whether or not I got my dream answered
or not
it lives because the spirit of the
resurrected Christ lives in me and his
nature is a nature of joy
his nature is a nature of delight
so there
rejoiced greatly
because they understood the words
I especially want new Believers to get
that one
because sometimes it just seems like
there’s certain parts of life they’re
just they’re insurmountable so far Out
Of Reach
and and yet he invites us into this
this rapid growth process
that starts because of Joy it runs at
the pace of joy
it doesn’t run at the pace of
self-determination
it runs at the pace of joy
and the person who has just such a hard
time with whatever part of life money
and you you see what the Lord looks for
and requires and anticipates from her
life and it feels so overwhelming and
yet when you start to see it from his
perspective
and I choose Joy
find myself in joy doing out of my
nature was seemed to be impossible and
insurmountable there’s something that
takes place to the heart of a person
that yields enjoy
in many ways
the life of joy is
you’re just kind of stuck with it
it’s your it’s your Birthright
foreign
for you
it was designed for you you were
designed for it
a lifestyle Joy isn’t living in denial
that hard things are happening
that’s that’s not an answer you know
pretending it’s not it’s not good for us
but neither should I subject my heart my
mind
my personhood to the difficulties that
are going on around me otherwise they
Define me
I was just sharing with
the group down here when we took
communion one of my favorite all-time
quotes of George and facts yeah that’s
actually one of my favorite all-time
quotes ever and it’s from George and
banoff that Tom was quoting earlier
and he made this statement he said
if you’re not free from sin
until death
then Jesus isn’t your savior death is
[Music]
thank you
that’s amazing that’s amazing but but
think about how that pertains to Joy how
that pertains to every other aspect of
life
these things are ours because Jesus
bought them not because we earned them
we didn’t prove ourselves good enough
and somehow
rejoicing
before I’ve earned the right to be happy
transforms me
into a person that becomes qualified
to live at a dimension in Christ that is
otherwise unobtainable
so father we give you a thanks
for The Inheritance that we can never
earn
the joy
the peace the Delights all the things
that are just a part of your kingdom
that we can never earn on our own and
yet they belong to us because
Jesus went to battle for us so we just
give thanks
we give you thanks that that rejoicing
is not empty it’s not in vain
but our decision to celebrate your
goodness your promise
all that you are to celebrate it before
we experience breakthrough God I thank
you for that privilege I pray for a
special Grace on this family of
Believers our friends online from around
the world that you to release over us a
Grace
to rejoice
at the understanding of your word that
somehow there would be a connection a
personal breakthrough according to our
surrender to your purposes through Joy I
pray this in Jesus name
yeah I’m so glad that you watched this
video I do pray that it’s a great great
strength and encouragement to you and
I’ve got a verse that it really is My
Cry for all of us and it’s Psalms 20
it’s verse 4. may he grant you your
heart’s desire and fulfill all your
plans
that’s my prayer that’s my prayers that
this would be the season of rich rich
fulfillment
thanks for joining us