The Lord takes our sorrow and turns it into joy.

There has been too much sorrow in our lives surrounding us, pain, trouble, misery, grief.  We can all relate to experiencing these things in our lives throughout the last 2 years, not just the last two years but since the fall of Adam.  We need joy.  Joy found in this life is temporary, we need joy that exceeds this world and not bound by the things of this world.  

The world’s idea is to make lemonade out of lemons.  To make what is going on in and around our lives more palatable.  But this idea does not work in the faith.  Jesus did not make the leper’s leprosy ‘not so bad,’ he healed the leper.  He gave him life.  It is dangerous to turn to the world to bring joy into our lives. The joy of the world is too small, too temporary.  

We may think we don’t deserve joy because of our sin, but we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Psalm 102:8-12 NLT

Our sin is not too much for God.  He does not deal harshly as we deserve.

Q. What  is a situation where you felt you did not deserve to be joyful in life because of your sin?

1. MY SORROW TURNS INTO JOY WHEN I RECOGNIZE I’M A SINNER.

Psalm 51:1-4 ESV

King David abused his power, murdered Bathsheba’s husband and he asks God to have mercy on him.  He recognizes he sinned against God. 

The Lord reveals that we have sin inside of us.   We need it out of us.  We need to be rid of worldly idols, lies, and sin that is in us.  We cannot decide if there will be worldly idols around us but we can decide if we let those idols into our lives, into our spirit.  The idols and sin are not going anywhere. But we decide what we let in.

GET THIS WORLD OUT OF ME

The cleansing we need to get the world out of us is in Christ.  

Daniel 1:17-20 ESV

 Daniel did not eat the food devoted to pagan idols and he was stronger and fatter than all the youths who ate and drank of it.  

If we don’t let the things of this world in, God sees it and blesses it. 

1 John 1:9 ESV 

Q. What situation in your life may you need to be a ‘Daniel’ in (i.e. not following the world’s way of doing something, standing up for what you know is true)?

 2. MY SORROW TURNS INTO JOY WHEN I AM REPENTANT.

Psalm 51:7-12 ESV

He restores to us the joy of His salvation. He is the one that rescues us, provides for us. It has nothing to do with us, but it is he who gives us joy.  Joy of salvation in Christ! In his grace he reveals to us we are sinners and saves us. 

Q. What do you remember about the day you received salvation in Christ? (Do you remember the joy, your first thoughts)?

Jonah 3:8-10 ESV

Jonah is more about God’s grace and less about Jonah’s stubbornness.  God is more gracious than we understand – most times more gracious than we think is appropriate.  Praise God that he is in charge of giving grace and not us.  

 REPENTANCE IS ACTION

We know we have the joy of salvation in Christ when we can praise God in a situation that we normally would not praise him in.

Psalm 51:13-15 ESV

Some of us are waiting for the joy of the Lord to fill us, but the joy of the Lord is found in serving His purposes.  When we think we don’t have what it takes we are in the right place to serve his purposes.  We can’t rely on ourselves.

There has to be an action for repentance.

Q. Where do you find joy (what can you tell others about the joy you have)?

Galatians 5:13 NLT

3. MY SORROW TURNS INTO JOY WHEN I SURRENDER AND RECEIVE CHRIST.

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

The Lord reveals to us we are sinners saved by grace.  When we turn to him it is because he has given us a repentant heart and has caused us to turn to him.  It is by His grace that we can be reunited with Christ.

Romans 5:6-8 ESV

Romans 10:9-13 ESV

SERMON IN A SENTENCE:

TRUE JOY IS ONLY FOUND IN CHRIST.

Challenge: 

– Surrender, confess, repent and find the joy of the Lord. Let Him restore you to the joy of your salvation.

– Find a place to serve in the Body.