Heart for The House
Joy in the House
Psalm 122: ESV
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
When we don’t experience this joy, it’s either because…
- Many don’t go into the House of the Lord.
- There’s a reason that Joy is gone.
*Believers are the billboard for the Kingdom of God. *
The very being of God is Joy.
Psalm 16:11 ESV
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Joy is the identifying quality of a Christian.
*A Key qualifier of a healthy church is Joy.
*
*1 Peter 1:8-9 ESV
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
*When we make the good news sound like band news, its coming from a place of pain or unhealed hurt in our lives. *
*1- Joy comes from knowing you are in right standing with God. *
*Romans 4:7 ESV
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. *
Col 1:12 NIV
and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
Joy can be restored.
*Psalm 51:8-12 ESV
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. *
Psalm 32:1-2 NLT
Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
*2. Joy comes from living a Christ Centered and others focused life. *
2 Corinthians 8:2 NIV
In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
1 Thessalonians 3:9 NIV
How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?
*Co-laboring and serving together brings great joy. *
*3. Joy is the product of suffering for the right reasons. *
*Acts 5:41- 42 ESV
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
*
*4. Joy Must be Traded *
Matthew 10:39 NLT
If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
Isaiah 61: 1-4 NIV
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
What needs to be traded?
*-His beauty for our ashes. *
The remains of the destruction of your life.
The beauty of the cross outweighs the pain of our past.
-Oil of Joy instead of mourning
When you rehearse the pain beyond the proper time, you end up being identified by your pain.
*-Garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness. *
Depression and anxiety is exchanged for a garment of praise.
*5. Joy comes when we are part of the rescue. *
Acts 8:7-8
For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
*When we carry the message of the Kingdom, the product is great Joy!
*
Discussion Questions
1- What were some of your perceptions of church before you came to Jesus? How did they change once you got saved?
2- What does it mean to be a “billboard for the kingdom of God?” How does this challenge you personally?
3- Why does it seem easier for new Christians to be more joyful than established Christians?
4- What is one thing you have do for others that brings you joy? (or have done in the past)
5- How can you remain joyful, even when you encounter a season of suffering in your life?
6- When talking about mourning, how long is the proper time to mourn? How will we know when our mourning has gone beyond the proper time?