November 30, 2000, TE: How to Have a Merry Heart

November 30th, 2000, Thursday Evening
>> REVIVAL WEEK <<

"How to Have a Merry Heart"
GOD wants you to be happy even in the face of adversity
(Special REVIVAL Speaker: Pastor Jim Payne)

OPENING: Proverbs 15:13, KJV

If any should have a cheerful heart, it should be Christian children (and "children" is not defined by age--for we should all should be as the children--humble--as Matthew 18:4 directs).
The TV news about Election2000 disgusts us but in relation to eternity (what is unseen), this whole event is a temporal joke. We shouldn't worry about it.
We know our Provider ... He'll:
- Never leave or forsake us
- Save us
- Provide to make us content
So don't say, "I'll die tomorrow if the economy crashes" because GOD supplies our need.
Romans 8:35-36: While we, as Christians, are "as sheep for the slaughter", with Jesus Christ, we cannot be separated from GOD.
SO WHY DO WE WORRY, FRET, OR FUSS?
- Isaiah 9:6: If Jesus is "Wonderful, "Counseller", and "Prince of Peace" then why do we need to see a shrink?
- Today, joys are based on external factors, and seeing others in sorrow and despair.
- But with GOD, sorrows/despair aren't a factor. Jesus Christ comes into us--he lifts us up in Himself to the throne of GOD. He takes up root in your heart and plants a fruit garden of love.
  - Fruit of Love is not external (i.e., wars, hate etc.) but internal (i.e., peace, joy, gentleness, longsuffering).
- Yet, when we walk "in the flesh" of the externals, it takes away the joy and happiness and adds sadness and discontentment.
- Today, young people live life without hope, purpose, or joy. They are looking for joy, love, an authority figure, and purpose.
- With Jesus Christ in your life, you can rejoice in poverty, in the hospital, in jail, etc.
- Matthew 9:1-2: Notice before healing the man with palsy, Jesus commands to "be of good cheer".
  - A fatal car wreck, palsy, or cancer will not take you to hell--sin will. Yet, reverse that: live in perfect health for your entire life and you can still go to hell! Therefore, good health is not key to good cheer!
REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL:
- #1: JESUS CHRIST HAS ALREADY PAID FOR EVERY ONE OF OUR SINS SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE OF ETERNAL HELL (if you're saved).
  - 1 Peter 2:24: From the painful stripes of Jesus Christ were we all healed. Our sins entered him on the cross. While He didn't know sin, he was made sin for us.
  - Jesus was even declared innocent by those persecuted Him:
    - Centurion who oversaw Jesus' crucifixion (Matthew 27:54)
    - Pilate (Luke 23:4)
    - Judas Iscariot--the disciple who betrayed Jesus (Matthew 27:3-4)
    - One of the thieves being crucified next to Jesus (Luke 23:39-43)
    - Jesus wasn't killed by any man. He willingly died for us. It had to be this way else there would be no salvation.
- Don't worry about the neighbor next door, gas prices, or the Election2000 situation in Florida. What's for sure is that your sins are forgiven and you're going to heaven (if you're saved) because of the blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, let the devil roar, and don't worry about how bad things get. Be in good cheer!
- Matthew 14:24-25: The wind beating the ship is like how contrary and tough the world is on us; But while still in the night, Jesus comes for His own
- #2: JESUS CHRIST IS PRESENT IN THE STORMS OF LIFE
  - Matthew 14:27: Jesus specifically commands to "be of good cheer". Jesus is not in you to stop troubles, storms, and difficulties but rather to be with you in the storm--to see you through it. We should be cheerful.
- #3: LIFE NOT BEING FAIR TO YOU CAN BE ETERNALLY REWARDING
  - John 16:33: Jesus proclaims bad things will happen to good people. Today, Christians look to cut corners to avoid tribulations. However, all that live in GOD must suffer for His namesake so that we may reign with Him in eternity. If Jesus is in you already, then you've overcome the world. Be of good cheer!
  - Philippians 1:29: We must suffer (be mocked, ridiculed for being Christian, trespassed against) to understand what Jesus Christ went through to bring GOD into people's lives. Depending on how much we're cheerful to suffer for our Savior will determine your inheritance of 2 Timothy 4:8.
  - Galatians 1:13-14: On the flip side, good things will happen to bad people. Since the world does not (and does not want to) know Jesus, those who love the world's philosophy will be rewarded with worldly, temporal things. Look at Paul--he received all the honor and glory of the Pharisees and those who loved the law. But as soon as Paul came to know Christ, those people turned on him. And that's why the book of Galatians was written. Paul wrote these letters to the churches of Galatia to defend his preaching of the true gospel!
    - Acts 23:11: The LORD came to Paul in jail (where back then, jails didn't have air conditioning, carpeting, cable TV, and entertainment but rather were dark, dirty, cold, with leg/arm chains, and full of disease) and told Paul to be of good cheer because things are about to get worse (in that once Paul gets out of jail here, he must witness of Christ in Rome, next).
  - Acts 27: 14-15,21-22: This says that Christians serving GOD can lose everything except the most important thing--Jesus Christ (in other words, temporal, worldly things like that ship may perish but not man died here).
  - Acts 27:22-26: Even Paul told the shipwrecked to "be of good cheer". We should all be of good cheer because we have a book that's constant and true--as opposed to the Wall Street Journal or Larry King Dead.
- Revelation 1:1: Just as things must come to pass--good and bad--never forget that GOD is still on the Throne. Today, people are so sad, sorrowful, worried, fretting, and changing. Yet, GOD and His Word are unchanging. So why be happy? Because GOD's word comes to pass.
4 WAYS TO GO ABOUT CHEERFULLY
- #1: STAND UP FOR YOUR SAVIOUR
  - Acts 24:10: Speak on your own behalf concerning Christ--take a stand for Him. This goes against the flesh. And note Paul "cheerfully" answered!
  - Children shouldn't be sorrowful when going to church activities. It shouldn't be a burden or a drag--go with joy, gladness; Your resentment will reflect upon others, too. If you resent going to church, others will see your sadness and say, "Why would I want to be a part of that? That appears to be a drudge!"
- #2: SHOW MERCY/KINDNESS UPON OTHERS
  - Romans 12:8: Don't just do unto others, do unto others with cheer and gladness. It's tough to stand back and let another have the higher seat or the greater award--it goes against the flesh. A group of Pharisees may be law-abiding and regularly go to church--but that doesn't mean they love GOD, are happy, or acknowledge others.
- #3: GIVE CHEERFULLY
  - 2 Corinthians 9:7: The best example of giving cheerfully is tithes and offerings at church. GOD is not bound by your need to give. He knows where all the gold, silver, and rubies veins are in the earth. GOD doesn't want you to give out of necessity or duty but because you're happy to give and, in effect, help others to find Jesus Christ.
  - Some people get personal satisfaction from giving--and feel good about it. They feel privileged; While the stock market can crash, Jesus Christ always brings increase and pays back boundless dividends.
  - Giving is contrary to the carnal man (flesh).
- #4: CHEER UP THY WIFE
  - Deuteronomy 24:5: Cheer is so important to GOD, it's not only commanded today (New Testament) but in the Old Testament, as well. Cheer up your wife and let her know she picked the right man.
  - Men will never find the right woman and provide for her needs for the household if man does not have an inward heart towards GOD.
CLOSER
Merry hearts and a cheerful countenance will not come from external sources (worldly things, pleasures, lusts) but from the Word of GOD.
Merry hearts and a cheerful countenance are what GOD wants us to have.

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