Paul's Place

My Place of reflection, joy and wonder

Cheerfulness

Cheerfulness is infectious.
Do we spread the joy of the lord where ever we go?
No matter where you are?
Or  what ever you are doing?
Do you think it is important to make a point to infect others with good cheer?

Of course we are not always like this we need to learn through the word just how to keep the joy of the Lord flowing in our lives.

Aim of our study

  1. To be challenged to incorporate the joy of the Lord in your life.
  2. To evaluate and discuss the ministry of cheerfulness.
  3. To understand that Jesus is the author of our joy.
  4. To be inspired in picturing Jesus full of joy and laughter.

Jesus - how do we see him?

How do you picture Jesus? Do you see him laughing?

Some people never see Jesus in a cheerful way. How do I see Jesus? I see Jesus with his eyes shining with love and squinting from laughter.

Some people think that Jesus lived every moment of his life solemn and serious.

Jesus had many joyful times in his life here on earth. If he hadn’t, the children would have never come to Him so readily while they were playing. 

Both adults and children alike were drawn to Jesus because he was a man with a ministry of cheerfulness. How is this statement true?

Jesus was a man who ministered joy, peace and hope while He was here on earth, and he continues to do it today through His Spirit and His word.

John 16.33 Jesus told his disciples “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”.

What does this scripture mean to us?

For me it means when trouble comes, don’t be shocked. Be of good cheer, be reminded that Jesus has overcome this world and every circumstance in it!

Trouble In our Lives

What do you do when the devil sends trouble your way?

Don’t buckle under the devils attack by speaking “Gloom, despair and agony” followed by dark depression and excessive misery.

How do you think you can do this?

For myself I do not major on the tribulation you must major on the fact that Jesus has overcome the world. He has won. We have been made more than conquerors through His victory.

John 16.33 means that even in tribulation, joy does not have to leave you. Jesus said that it is possible to be in peace and of good cheer, even in the midst of tribulation, because he has overcome the world.

Do you have a choice?

It is totally up to you. You have a choice to trust God or to worry. You can choose Joy or anxiety.

Either way you are going to be confronted with trouble in this life. Jesus said it would happen, so there is no changing that.

What can we change?

You can change whether you go through it in misery or overcome it with joy.

I will tell you that from experience, I have tried it both ways, and joy is definitely the way to go.

Just because you have some trouble, does that mean you have to lose your joy?

NO.  You make the choice to be full of cheer, because you know that Jesus has already overcome.

When we do this what are we doing?

Its your part to enforce Satan’s defeat by rebuking him and standing on the word.

When trouble comes into my life this is what I say to the devil,” You have just proved John 16 verse 33 Gods word to be true. And if part of this part is true, then it all is. I am not going to be defeated because Satan you are the defeated foe. Jesus made me victorious through his blood, and it is in his name that I command you to take your hands off my life. I have joy in my life and I enjoy telling you Satan that you are defeated and I have overcome. I laugh at your trouble and enjoy not giving you the pleasure of seeing me buckle under it. Satan get under my feet”

If you give in to trouble, the joy of the Lord in your life is suddenly replaced with worry and anxiety.

How do you keep joy?

Focus on the promise of God not the problem. Jesus has already overcome, and he has given all authority and power to you. Realising and believing that is the key to not loosing any of that precious joy.

What scriptures do you use in times of trouble?

Sickness.

1 Peter 2:24 Who himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed.

Financial Difficulty.

Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Getting Weary

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

  • Jesus has a promise for every problem you have.
  • His promises are always bigger than the problem.
  • Jesus has overcome.
  • The devil is no match for God or his people.

Joy is going to be fired through a relationship with Jesus. Trust in Him, and you will be free in this life. Free to be an over-comer, full of his joy. It is easy to live smiling when you know God has it all under control. He can handle it all.


The Meaning of Cheerfulness

Joy is not an emotion; it is a spiritual force that you live with, day in and day out. God given joy stands throughout every attack of the enemy.

Is it happiness?

No happiness is an emotion that can be short lived and can be reversed by the first signs of trouble.

What is cheerfulness?

It is the behaviour of joy.

It is fixed and permanent.

Mark 14:36 While in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Abba Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will”

Problems and difficulties did not change Jesus. He knew that he had come into the world to defeat death for all mankind on the cross.

Reaching Others

How do you think living in the joy of the Lord will affect others?

Every human on earth is searching for joy. It is the one thing everyone wants in life. If you choose to live in joy others will be literally drawn to you. They won’t know why, they will just love being around you!!! Some will even ask why you are always so cheerful.

Do you believe people like being around you?

How will Jesus use your joy with those who do not know him?

Jesus will use your joy to draw others in so that you can share the gospel with them. He wants to have a relationship with them so badly that he will use every avenue available. He will use you through cheerfulness if you let him.

Cheerfulness is a Ministry

Through cheerfulness, Christ will use you to reach others.

If you choose to allow the devil and circumstances to replace your joy with anxiety, you will have a hard time reaching others for Christ through your witness. You will have to almost chase people down just to tell them about God. And when you finally catch them, you will have a hard time trying to convince them that what you have is worth having.

Do you think this is correct?

Who would want to accept God of someone who lives beaten down and depressed?

If it is not working for you, why should they believe that it will work for them?

It is a fact that people who know you will pay more attention to what you do and how you live, than what you say to them. So be cheerful.

How can we do this?

Replace moaning and groaning, criticizing and complaining with the promises Gods given you in his word.

Stop looking at what the devil has done and look at what God has done.

He has made you more than a conqueror! If he is for you, who can be against you? He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He has overcome this world and everything that is in it. He is living inside you.

Start to believe it. did into his word. Find every promise you can and dwell in the secret place of the Most High. Walk in his spirit joyful every day because He has got places for you to go and people for you to meet. His joy will make you a magnet for the unsaved, broken hearted. You will not have to go to get them. They will come to you!

What do we do if we mess up?

I have learnt not to justify the flesh. I try to be honest with God. He sees all and knows all. So I know I cannot pull the wool over his eyes. When I mess up, I do three main things.

  1. Admit it.

  2. Repent, ask for forgiveness and turn the other way.

  3. Refuse to let the devil hold it over my head.

Standing in God’s Strength

Ephesians 6 10-13

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand to the evil day, and having done all stand.

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. Our struggle is against rulers, powers, and forces of darkness. The devil does not have anything new.

The same things he tricked Eve with are what he uses today.

We must be wise enough to stand against the schemes of the devil and not each other.

When we fight each other, what are we doing?

We are actually fighting God when we fight each other.

How are we fighting God?

When we are fighting each other, we are fighting God because it is the same spirit within us, which should really be bearing witness with the Holy Spirit.

When we stand in Gods strength, we are not helping the devil tear down the Body of Christ.

In Conclusion

How do we stand in Gods strength?

The only way to stand in the strength of God is to spend time with Him. This intimate fellowship with Jesus will sustain you through any storm this life may bring. You do not have to stand alone in desperate situations, weakened by life’s disappointments. God’s strength is available for all.

Matthew 11.28 Come to me, all you labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 

 

A Study Guide by
Maxi Edgington
for
Women of Purpose