The Gift of Joy

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The Gift of Joy

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Southeast SDA (7/11/20)—Senior Pastor Stan Hood continues the four-part sermon series “The Gift” with part two, “The Gift of Joy.” Pastor Hood delivered a message that is especially relevant in these troubled times.

The immediate take away from this sermon can be found in these words, “If you worship God in the spirit, you will always have joy. If you worship in the flesh, you will always have lack.” What does this mean? Pastor Hood uses an example to illustrate the meaning. A professional athlete is given a multi-million contract and is grateful and joyous, but then he looks around and sees another athlete given a more lucrative contract. Instead of remembering how blessed and happy he was with his original deal, the athlete believes he deserves more. He then desires more, becomes unhappy with what he already has and as a result, loses his joy. According to Pastor Hood, “You need to know who you are and why you’re here. The minute you stand for who you are, you experience freedom and God will give you joy.”

The gift of joy is also a matter of perspective. There is the example of Joseph, who still found joy in the bottom of the pit. John 4: 24 states, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” The first sermon, “The Gift of You,” was taken from I Kings 12-13 and touched on God’s relationship with us and how precious humanity is to Him. Pastor Hood stated, “When the Holy Spirit comes into you, you become a gift.”

Pastor Hood added that “God doesn’t let your life be all roses—you need to feel the weight and value of your salvation. God allows the devil to come into your life to first prove to the devil that he gave you this world as a gift, and second, to give you joy. If there were no sorrow, you’d never have joy.”

A provocative question was asked, “Why is the Church miserable?” The church is looking for Jesus to come, but he should already be in the heart. The church should be possessed by the spirit of God and proclaiming “the presence of the Lord is here!”

The sermon shifted to the story of the woman at the well. This woman realized, after talking Jesus that He was the one who would bring her joy. So happy and joyous upon learning this, “leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, Come, see a man…” (John 4:28-29).

In James 4:2-3 we are told, “We have not, because we ask not.” The Gift of Joy is ours for the asking.

--Cecily Bryant The sermon, “The Gift of Joy” can be viewed on YouTube and se7day.org. Please join Pastor Stan Hood and Southeast SDA Church on Saturday, July 18, as we unwrap, “The Gift of Power.”

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