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We encourage you to jot down what you hear God speaking to you about today as you listen to the teaching. Plan on diving deeper into the message by downloading the study guide on Sunday night so you can compare your notes with the guide as a path for deeper spiritual commitment. Once posted, the teaching video and study guide can be found under the Media tab.
By The Spirit … Joy
Welcome to Palm Sunday Weekend at Cypress!
“Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” —Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT)
The people felt sad because of the sin in their lives and other external circumstances. But they could walk in joy because, even in the midst of those feelings, God was doing a great work in them.
Where does this type of supernatural joy come from?
1. Knowing God has a plan for my life
Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. —Psalm 16:5-11 (NLT)
2. Certain that God will work it out
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. —1 Peter 1:8 (NLT)
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross… —Hebrews 12:2 (NLT)
Jesus was certain His Father in Heaven would work it out.
3. When I choose joy
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! —Philippians 4:4 (NIV)
Re = Do it again!
“This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach. It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.
Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.” —Deuteronomy 30:11-16 (NLT)
How do you actually choose joy?
1. Choose to see your situation with new eyes
And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. —Philippians 1:12 (NLT)
Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. —2 Corinthians 11:24-27 (NLT)
Your Perspective gets the final word over your Problem.
2. Use your joy to impact others
For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. —Philippians 1:13-14 (NLT)
One of the best ways to serve the people closest to you is to choose joy for yourself.
A happy heart makes the face cheerful… —Proverbs 15:13 (NIV)
3. Choose to focus on what really matters
It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. —Philippians 1:15-18 (NLT)
Forget about it… I CHOOSE JOY
Did you make a decision to follow Christ for the very first time, or are you recommitting your life to Christ? Congratulations - we are celebrating with you! Cypress wants to walk alongside you as you take this new step in your faith journey. What’s the next right step for you? Click HERE and let us know you made a decision today!