August 8, 2021
Sunday
Acts 20:19-24 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
The focus for this passage is verse 24. Paul had a lot of difficulty in his life. God raised him up and used him to keep the church on course. When you get on God’s path, there will always be some sort of opposition. We are living in a fallen world, but we are not of this world. We have been born from above.
Who are you going to be? What kind of person are you going to be? Many people focus more on what they do in life, rather than what they are going to be. The Word should challenge you to be better! Even in our weakness and shallowness, God comes in and can begin a spectacular work! We see that in the Bible time after time! Wouldn’t you like to be the kind of person that when things are going wild around you, it does not move you? What a testimony that would be. Regardless of what comes into your life, nothing could move you. It is possible! Jesus has already paid the price for everything. Salvation has been provided. We have to stand against in the face of adversity!
Just because you have a symptom, does not mean that’s who you are! Do you believe that you are the righteousness of God? Then our job is to resist! We are saints and must refuse to take on the identity of sin, sickness, or disease! With the fear that is being spread by our current media, we must resist. The Bible says not to fear. To do that, you have to get Someone greater in you. We have to get the word abiding in us. How much time did you spend this week reading your Bible? The Word of God is spirit and life! Just like we need natural food, we need spiritual food! Be a Bible reader! The first step in battling the fear and death projected before us, is getting the word solidified and reinforced in our hearts and minds.
Fear is self-preservation based on what will happen to me? Even if you die, you will go to heaven! So why are you in fear? Joy fuels your faith! Joyful people can’t be defeated! Don’t let the media depress you! Don’t fall into the temptation! The Bible says you can live in full health! You don’t have to die in sickness! You can have a joyful ending! Joy is fuel! It’s the gas that keeps you going. Joy is high octane living!
God knows how it’s going to turn out. When you are in sync with Him, you can know how things are going to turn out and you can have joy even in circumstance. You won’t be moved, and you’ll be joyful in the meantime!
Jeremiah 33:10-11 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Again there shall be heard in this place—of which you say, “It Is desolate, without man and without beast”—in the cities of Judah, in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, 11 the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say:
“Praise the Lord of hosts,
For the Lord is good,
For His mercy endures forever”—
and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,’ says the Lord.
Joy has a voice! You have to give it a voice in your life! To have joy you have to express it. You have to determine that this is the kind of person you are going to be. There is a difference in temporary joy and divine joy. There are things of this world that might supply temporary amounts of joy, but it won’t fulfil you. The joy that comes from being close with your heavenly father is a joy that will outlast any circumstance. You can have divine joy because you have the nature of God in you! People of joy succeed in life! If there is anything that the world needs now it is hope and joy! Be that light in life.
John 16: 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Even in a world with trouble, problems, sickness, tragedy, our savior has overcome. You can be a person who is not moved by any of it. You can be a person of joy! The enemy can’t handle you when you are that kind of person. Why? Because it is fuel for your faith! It is fuel for the light inside of you! Cheer up! Everything is going to be alright! Because the word says so!