Fresh Sermon by Dr. James L. Wilson

Joyful Faith

Philip. 1:25

NLT "I am convinced of this, so I will continue with you so that you will grow and experience the joy of your faith. "

Many years ago some men were panning for gold in Montana, and one of them found an unusual stone. Breaking it open, he was excited to see that it contained gold. Working eagerly, the men soon discovered an abundance of the precious metal. Happily, they began shouting with delight, "We've found it! We've found gold! We're rich!" They had to interrupt their celebrating, though, to go into a nearby town and stock up on supplies. Before they left camp, the men agreed not to tell a soul about their find. Indeed, no one breathed a word about it to anyone while they were in town. Much to their dismay, however, when they were ready to return, hundreds of men were prepared to follow them. Angry that one of the men had broken the pact, the leader asked: o. k., who "squealed," who told you we found gold. The reply came, "No one had to. Your faces showed it!"

Do you radiate with joy because of the riches of your faith?

There is joy in a firm faith

Paul live an intense life. Whether on the road to Damascus to stamp out the people of "the way," or later as an apostle refusing to bend to pressure to stop preaching that Christ alone saved, Paul was dedicated to his cause.

Is there joy in a firm faith?

Romanian pastor Richard Wurmbrand spent 14 years in prison for preaching the gospel. Although his captors smashed four of his vertebrae and either cut or burned 18 holes in his body, they could not defeat him. He testified, "Alone in my cell, cold, hungry, and in rags, I danced for joy every night." During this time he turned to a fellow prisoner, a man he had led to the Lord before they were arrested, and asked, "Have you any resentment against me that I brought you to Christ?" His response: "I have no words to express my thankfulness that you brought me to the wonderful Savior. I would never have it another way."

Can there be any other kind of faith?

Faith is not liquid that conforms to the shape of its environment. It is a granite substance--strong and massive. Faith demands that the environment conform to it, not it to the environment.

In trials, faith remains firm. Doubts and fears may tickle faith, but they can never overcome it.

Faith may flicker and falter, but it never fails.

Psalm 30:5b NLT Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning.

There is joy in a flowing faith

Billy Graham is fond of saying, "Don't keep the faith, share it." Faith brings joy when it is kept, but it brings a well spring of joy when it is shared.

Dale Shields had given up on himself and on life. According to an article in Parade magazine, Shields settled into a pattern of depression after having had seven-bypass heart surgery. He thought he had nothing to live for. But one day while fishing from a Florida dock, he noticed a dying pelican lying motionless on the rocks. Shields nursed the pelican back to health - and has done the same for more than 2,400 birds since then. Now known as "the Pelican man," he devotes his life to rescuing birds that have been injured by motorboat propellers or fishing lines and hooks. This has resulted in a twofold healing process. Not only have thousands of birds been helped, but Shields has found a reason to live. "They need me," he says. "Somebody's got to help when a bird's in trouble." Joy comes from sharing faith, not just keeping it.

On his night job at Taco Bell, 17-year-old Nicholas was taking orders at the drive-up window. He heard a woman scream, turned, and saw a very pregnant Deborah Anderson standing in front of him. The high-school student pulled off his headset, called the paramedics and tried to make the woman comfortable. But the baby wouldn't wait. "The baby's head just popped out into my hands," Nicholas said.

Paramedics finally arrived and took baby and parents to the hospital. Nicholas cleaned up, "sterilized my hands about a thousand times," and finished his shift.

Nicholas says this event changed his perspective. "Things have been pretty bad in my life lately, and then I got to do this. I'm really glad. This story gives us two lessons: 1) Next time you have to wait at a drive through, be patient. The guy might be busy doing something more important and 2). Joy comes from sharing faith, not just keeping it. (San Diego Union-Tribune (5/23/96)

Henry Blackaby tells the about a time that an 11 year-old girl came forward in his church. She knelt to pray, Weeping. No one joined her, so he knelt beside her. Soon, he realized that she was praying for a lost friend. God had touched her heart and he encouraged her with a deep burden for her friend. As he listened, he soon began to pray with her. He thanked God that he heard her cry and gave His Holy Spirit to help the girl speak boldly to her friend.

That Sunday evening, the girl came to the front again but this time holding the hand of her friend. Both were weeping. Her friend became a Christian that night. Joy comes from sharing faith, not just keeping it.

There is joy in a growing faith

Would you describe your faith as bubbling waters, or as a stale cistern? Is it moving, or is it a gathering place for spiritual mosquitos? John described a growing faith in John 15:10-11 NLT " When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. [11] I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!" Perhaps you, like the Psalmist cry out for God's joy in your life.

Psalm 51:8 NLT Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me-- now let me rejoice.

Psalm 51:12 NLT Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

Psalm 85:6 NLT Won't you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you?

No doubt, God, by His grace, brings us joy. But He also shows us ways to find joy as we grow spiritually.

There is joy in obedience

John 15:10-11 NLT When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. [11] I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

There is joy in submission

John 16:24 NLT You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

There is joy in giving

1 Chron. 29:9 NLT The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy.

Joy comes to those whose faith is growing. Are you growing in obedience, submission and giving?

Is your faith a joy to you? Would you describe it is firm, flowing and growing?