THE POWER OF A JOYFUL LIFE
Matthew 5:12; Luke 6:22,23; 1 Peter
4:13,14
Many things we do not understand
happen to us in life. Negative things that happen to us usually bring along
with them sorrow, sadness, grief and loss of joy. Christ, in this message, teaches
us not only how to approach life but also what we are to do when negative
things happen to us. This is because He knows the constitution of man: that the
manifestation of negative emotions – grief, sadness, sorrow, worry, anxiety,
fear, anger, hatred, malice – will break down man’s system. But when positive
emotions of joy, gladness and happiness are vent, they will build it up.
There is power in joyfulness. It is a
mental diet that helps our emotions and strengthens the mind. A negative,
depressive attitude destroys while a joyful attitude renews life. Christ then
prescribes that the right attitude during persecution is to “rejoice, and
be exceeding glad ” because
the purpose of the enemy is to, with the persecution, make us sink low and be
so unhappy, dejected, discouraged, depressed, and consequently be sick. But
Jesus wants us to be joyful and healthy. We are neither to sit down in
discouragement and mourn nor beat a retreat because we suffer persecution; we
are to “rejoice …and leap for joy”. In anything that
happens, there is always a positive side to it.
Joy strengthens
our minds. A strong mind builds a strong body; a peaceful mind builds a calm
body. Joy assists our faith, hope and love. A person of negative disposition, a
moody person is capable of spreading sorrow around him. Sorrow of heart
depresses, and causes despair and disease (Nehemiah 2:2). If the heart is
sorrowful, the countenance will be sad and it brings weakness to the body. It
is the inner man that gives the body either strength or weakness. Sadness or
depression is the negative effect of the mind on the body. It is an internal
problem that is oozing out of sad people. The internal condition then
depreciates, destroys and makes a person to have disease on the external body.
But perpetual joy in our spirits and souls, as Christians, will keep us ahead
of our persecutors and on top of our entire problem in the path of progress and
in the enjoyment of good health, strength and power.
1. THE STRENGTHENING POWER OF JOY
Matthew 5:12; Nehemiah 8:10; Psalms
51:8; 28:7,8; 35:9,10; Genesis 45:26-28; Proverbs 25:25; Acts 16:19-26.
Rejoice because joy has a way of
strengthening you. When you are joyful internally, it gives you strength. The
discouragement, depression and grief we suffer as a result of bad news we hear
do not solve our problems. Rather, they compound them. They can cut short a
bright prospect or make one to abandon a promising project. As Christians, we
are to sit down, pray, look at the promises of God concerning those problems.
Then develop your strategy on how to solve the problems. Some don’t eat because
of problem. Don’t sell off your heritage and the Lord will see you through. The
persecution or problem of today will not continue forever; a bright day is
coming. That you have a problem that looks more than you can comprehend is no
reason to be dejected. You have a God that is greater than the enemy. The
things that make you sad do not take responsibility for making you sad by
allowing you to draw your own conclusion; you are actually responsible for your
sadness. Depression distorts mental faculty and hinders a free flow of thought.
When once there is problem, it becomes difficult for some people to think
things through before taking decisions or drawing conclusions. When you believe
a lie, it brings depression to you, and like Jacob, you cannot believe truth
when it eventually comes out. That is what grief, sadness and sorrow do to us.
The strength comes from the inside. Just as nursing
mothers don’t generally fall sick because of joy, so it is with all men. So
long as there is joy, the weakness will disappear. Even if she had been sickly,
as soon as she gives birth, because of joy, she becomes healthy and strong. Joy
brings health.
2. THE SPIRITUAL PILL IN JOY
Matthew 5:12; Proverbs 17:22; Matthew 6:25-31; Proverbs
14:30;15:13,30; 17:22; Isaiah 66:14; Proverbs 13:12.
“A merry heart doeth good like a
medicine”. Knowing this, the Lord discouraged His audience against
worry and anxiety about food, drink and clothing. He knows that worry and
anxiety will tear down the system. Worry and anxiety do not solve any
problem; if anything at all, they have a way of blocking our mind and
making us fall sick, faulty in our thinking. Just as a healthy heart makes
blood circulation in the system easy and the body healthy so the joyful mind
the body. Though you may not be able to prevent hearing negative information,
resolve to not allow any of them to unnecessarily disturb you. If hearing
negative information has brought you sickness, the easier way back to health
and vitality is to cease from hearing that kind of information. Having
recovered, you are to use the shield of faith to protect yourself from bad news
that weakens and breaks the heart and makes the body sick. Envy and jealousy of
what others have attained are destructive to the human body. Praise God for
those who have achieved something; do not envy them. Know that each person has
his own calling and if he achieves something, it is not for you to be jealous.
If he has what you do not have, you don’t need what he has because you don’t do
his work; you have what you need. There is no room for envy. God has given you
the talent and the gift for your calling and that should give you joy.
If you are happy on the inside, it gives you a cheerful
countenance. As believers, there is need for proper information management. If
you have information that belittles, destroys the self-esteem and the image of
others, keep it. This same principle applies to married couples. Make a commitment
to tell your spouse good things that boost morale and sustain good health since
“…a good report maketh the bones fat” (Proverbs
15:30).
When you are expecting something and there is delay, still
make a commitment to live a happy life. God has a reason for this delay. Sarah, Hannah and Elizabeth had delay in
childbirth. But God eventually gave them special children (Isaac, Samuel and
John the Baptist) that were notable in their lifetime.
3. THE STEADY PROGRESS OF THE JOYFUL
Matthew 5:12; Acts 5:40-42; 13:50-52; 14:1-3; Psalm 32:11;
Philippians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16; 2 Corinthians 7:4.
As Christians, the ill-treatment we suffer from other
people on account of our faith is not what kills our joy. It is our negative
interpretation of their actions. No one is capable of robbing another of his
joy. Then, we must interpret everything that happens to us with a positive
attitude that maintains joy. As such, do not feel guilty for what other people
do. The early disciples suffered beating, disgrace, expulsion and imprisonment.
But, rather than concede guilt or ascribe their ordeal to their own failure, “the
disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost ” (Acts 13:52).
And they went on preaching the gospel. The secret is right interpretation of the
actions of their persecutors: that they could do no less to them than they did
to Christ. They crucified Christ. Thus, they put the responsibility on the
persecutors – they did not put the blame on themselves. They rejoiced and
continued to preach the gospel despite their trial for doing the will of God.
Believers must not take the blame for negative actions of others that affect
them because of the gospel.
As a Christian, persecution and trial of faith should not
blur your vision of fulfilling the Great Commission or living a fulfilled
Christian life. Do not allow the reactions of people to control and cancel the
vision you have. Rather, rejoice during persecution, maintain the heavenly
vision and make progress in the service of God. “Be glad in the Lord, and
rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart”
(Psalm 32:11). Joy is the scriptural lifestyle that leads to
steady progress and fulfilment. During trials, don’t allow negative thoughts to
becloud your mind and rob you of your joy. Learn to cultivate the attitude of
joy and “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians
4:4). It will strengthen
your bones, make you to flourish and be a healthy Christian.
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