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Psalms 51:12 - Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;
and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Some may say the joy we had when we were saved can never be repeated. They
claim you are purest just after you are saved and that you will never be that
pure again. Because of sin in our lives we will never experience that
"salvation joy" again. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS SO. David prayed that
he might have the joy of the Lord’s salvation once again. This joy can come to
us after we have received forgiveness of sins. David had just asked for
forgiveness of sins for committing adultery with Bathsheba and killing her
husband. This same thing can be true for us. If we will confess our sinfulness
before Christ, he will forgive us and then will give us that salvation joy once
again. Also notice verse 13. Then will I teach transgressors their ways and
sinners shall be saved. Maybe the reason people aren’t being saved today is
because saved people don’t have the joy of their salvation. Many erroneously
think they can’t have pure salvation joy again.
I John 1:4 states, And these things write we unto you, that your joy may
be full. II John 1:12 states, Having many things to write unto you, I
would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face
to face, that our joy may be full. Notice that verse 4 speaks of the joy of
the individual (your), but verse 12 speaks of the joy of all (our).
Isaiah 40:31 – This verse shows us Christian growth. When God gives of his
strength and we are saved we begin to fly like the eagle. We’re on cloud nine.
Things of this earth don’t affect us. We are not able to contact others or at
least to understand others because we are not "down to earth". Later
in our Christian experience, we begin to come down to earth. We begin to run and
not be weary. Later, we begin to walk and are not faint. We didn’t quit
running because we got tired. But we discovered that there are greater blessings
in walking with the Lord than there are in running. In our later years as a
Christian, we come down out of the clouds, down to earth, and begin to really
worship God in fulness. We did worship God when we were first saved, but later
as we learn more and more about him, we are able to worship in a fuller sense.
I. Why we don’t have joy.
A. We try to get rid of sin in our body.
1. We believe Romans 7:15-20, but don’t understand how this verse
applies to us.
2. By trying to rid our bodies of sin, we’re trying to do something
Christ didn’t try to do.
3. It’s impossible.
4. We are seeking perfection now, but later it will come.
5. Let us trust God.
6. It is clear that Romans 7:25 is not understood.
7. Romans 8:1-3 is not put in the same context as Romans 7:15-20.
B. Memorize doctrines, but don’t give God glory in our hearts.
1. Revelation 2:1-7 – The church at Ephesus stood firm on Biblical
doctrines, but their heart was not right with God.
2. We’re externally correct, but internally miserable.
3. We’re doing all the right things, but not doing those things in
the right way – through the heart.
C. Fear – II Timothy 1:7 – For God hath not given us the spirit of
fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1. Verse 8 is forgotten, or not applied at all.
2. The fear of death overwhelms us.
3. The fear of sufferings overwhelms us.
4. We fear having to change our way of living, or losing some of the
material possessions we have, or not getting other material possessions we
desire.
5. We fear the Lord might call us to a special work, therefore, we will
have to give up our ambitions and the direction we want our lives to go.
6. We fear we might have to ask forgiveness from God and people. (This
is caused by pride.)
7. I Corinthians 6:20 – We don’t realize we are bought with a
price, and that we belong to another. For ye are bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
II. What our unhappiness shows to others.
A. Proverbs 16:20 – We are not trusting the Lord. He
that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the
LORD, happy is he.
1. If we are unhappy with out decision making, then we
are not trusting God.
2. We can be happy regardless of whatever circumstances
we find ourselves in.
3. Paul and Silas sang at midnight when they were cast
into jail for serving God.
4. We can be happy in the time of death, or in the time
when our loved ones are dying.
B. John 13:17 – If ye know these things, happy are
ye if ye do them. We don’t recognize our power, nor others need of
fellowship (feet washing) (See John 13:3). Jesus knowing that the Father
had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went
to God;
C. Hebrews 13:5,6 – We believe God has forsaken us, or
perhaps will forsake us. Let your conversation be without covetousness;
and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never
leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my
helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
D. James 5:11 – We haven’t endured. Behold, we
count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and
have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender
mercy.
E. 1 Peter 3:14 – But and if ye suffer for
righteousness‘ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror,
neither be troubled. We are not suffering for righteousness sake. (We’re
suffering for some sin we have committed.)
F. III John 4 – We don’t have any righteous children.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
1. We haven’t taught anyone.
2. If we have taught someone, we have no confidence they
will continue. (John 15:16 – Our fruit is not remaining – and that
because we did not ask God.
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