Consistent Joy

I feel in my spirit that there's somebody in here this morning that there's just been this thing going on. Yes. And the thought that came to your mind was, I've tried everything else. And the feeling of my spirit is you're you're at that wit's end, and God wants to tell you you are not alone. You will make it through this. And that applies to every one of us declaring I will make it through, but there's a surn in my spirit right now. I don't know who it is, and yet I'm not calling you to come out, but know that God is telling you, I see you, and I will get you through this. I will hold you through. [00:32:56] (52 seconds)  #YouAreNotAlone

``A little bit gave you satisfaction for a moment, but then it wasn't enough, and it wasn't enough, and it wasn't enough. But I'm here to tell you this morning that when we surrender our life to God, and Jesus comes to live inside of our heart, there is a joy that comes at that moment of salvation. It is God's strength in us, and that strength, no matter the circumstance, will be able to withstand. When we are in the fullness of joy, no matter the circumstance, no matter what comes, as pastor Bai said a minute ago when she was leading during that song, storms will come, rain will come. [00:48:16] (36 seconds)  #FullnessOfJoy

Like, how are we gonna respond when things happen? Because as long as you and I are alive, things will happen. But when we've got Jesus in our heart, we can look and say, no matter what circumstance comes, I'll remain steadfast. Why? The joy of the Lord is my strength. The joy of the Lord is my strength. Come on. The joy of the Lord is my strength. [01:01:28] (24 seconds)  #JoyIsMyStrength

I've had moments in my life where I'm by myself and something's going on, and I'm irritated, or I'm frustrated, or I'm down. And I have to make the choice, don't stay there. Start to worship until you encounter his presence. And all of a sudden, his joy comes back in, and the weight that I thought was crushing me, God's joy says, nope, my strength is enough to carry the pressure of that circumstance. [01:06:22] (32 seconds)  #WorshipRestores

Can I tell you something? When I'm intentionally purposely fasting for God to get closer to him, I don't get hangry, and I don't get the headaches. And if I'm fasting out of religiosity, I'm a go there. Because sometimes, oh, I'm just gonna I'm gonna fast today. And I'm doing it out of religious, not because God put it in my heart to do it to get closer to him, or I just do it to, like, check a box. On those days, that anointing don't come. I start getting irritated. I start getting thinking I better get a croqueta or something because you're gonna wanna talk to me at that point. But fasting and praying helps you encounter God and fill up your tank. Worship. Oh, pastor. I I I don't do it because I can't sing. I'm not telling you to come audition and be part of the worship team. I'm talking about in your car, in your bathroom, as you shower. [01:13:11] (61 seconds)  #FastToEncounterGod

Listen, when you and I read the word of God, we encounter him, and our tank is filled. I can't tell you how many times I'll read something, and in that same day, I'll encounter somebody that I'll mention. It could be at the grocery store, it could be in the pickup line, it could be somewhere, and somebody says something, he's like, you know what? This morning, I read this verse. Let me share it with you. But if we're not filling up, we can't do that. We can't give what we don't got. [01:17:45] (33 seconds)  #FuelUpOnTheWord

Here's the next one, obedience. Obedience. Yep. Obeying what God tells you to do keeps you in his presence. Disobedient casts you out of it. Pastor, what are you talking about? Yeah. One of the things that Jesus said right there in John fifteen eleven. If you obey that's what he says. I teach you these things so my joy may be in you and that you may have the fullness of joy. Read two verses before that. If you obey my commands, if you abide in me and do what I say. [01:19:11] (28 seconds)  #ObedienceKeepsYouClose

And there's some of us that we look and we say, I don't get it. I don't get it. I'm praying for this. I'm fasting. I'm trying to worship. I'm reading the word, but I don't see anything change. Here is the million dollar question. Are you obeying what God told you to do? Because if you're not obeying God, I wanna remind you what scripture says. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Obedience. God told you to jump, start jumping, he tells you to stop. [01:19:53] (28 seconds)  #PrayWithPurpose