Hope Today 035 - Where do you find joy?

A weekly program of word and music featuring an eclectic mix of Christian music and teaching by Pastor Tom Cullen and Brian Evans.  Mac Wigfield starts the program with southern gospel classics.

Produced at Straight Path Studio in Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada.

Christian Artists featured are:

Tribute Q

McKameys

Janet Paschal

Karen Burkhart

David Crowder Band

Hope Darst

Master's Four

Amy Grant

The Speers

Jon William Buller

Robin Marks & Integrity's Hosanna! Music

Thank you for listening to HOPE TODAY. This is a program developed at Light & Life Programming, a registered charity. We are listener supported. If you would like to help with this ministry, donations can be made through our website at www.lightnlife.ca.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:06

Thank you for joining us once again for Hope Today. We are so glad to be with you as Pastor Tom Cohen answers the question, where do you find joy? Deep down happiness is sometimes very elusive. Look for answers today during these next moments. But first, let us rejoice with wonderful gospel tunes as Matt Wigfield begins our program.

SPEAKER_02 0:33

Well thank you, Brian. Good to be with you this morning. Let's begin with a song from the Tribute Quartet. They should introduce our topic, I think, fairly well. Singing for us, I've been with Jesus.

SPEAKER_05 0:59

You may ask me why I'm singing, I can hear the joy bells ringing. I've been on a visit so inspiring. There's within my heart a feeling, I can hear the spirit stealing. And I know from sin I am retired. I've been with Jesus.

SPEAKER_07 1:23

And I'm so happy, so happy. I can feel I can feel it in my soul. In my soul with love, he saw, with love, with bloody bomb, with bloody bomb.

SPEAKER_05 1:37

I've been with Jesus, and I'm whole. Soon I'm going to make a journey, one from which I won't return. I will live forever in his glory. But until that drive tomorrow in this world of sin and sorrow, everywhere I go, I'll tell the story. I've been with Jesus, and I'm so happy.

SPEAKER_07 2:10

I'm so happy. I can feel I am feeling my soul. My soul with love is all with lovey sun, with bloody ba bloody ba. I've been with Jesus and I'm whole. I've been with Jesus and I'm so happy. I can feel him in my soul with love eason me. With bloody body I've been with Jesus and I'm whole with love is on me with love before with bloody but bloody but I've been with Jesus and I'm whole.

SPEAKER_02 3:03

Nice song. And you know what being with Jesus produces? Ideally, yes, it produces some problems, but the McCaymese would tell us that in that journey with Jesus there is joy.

SPEAKER_09 3:24

I am filled with eternal plations as I walk in the path of life.

SPEAKER_07 3:40

Oh what shit can be patient with my savior I myself there are trials that I often face Jesus is my saving grace He's my strength and he's my joy And in his presence I will be joys There's joy in the change as I world that's waiting I am at home My heart to say my Jesus He's been surprised all these joy is taken out This is Joyce This is Joy in the church I learned something new in listening to Janet Bascal.

SPEAKER_02 6:27

Joy can be a verb. I will joy in my Savior.

SPEAKER_07 6:32

I have everlasting gladness in the God of my salvation. There is fullness overflowing from the source of liberation, such a grace my mind dare not conceive. Eternal life, I hoped would be, has now become reality. I will joy, I will joy in my save for in his sacrifice I am restore, I will joy, I will join in such favor all my days in his grace, I will join joy in the fruit of his sweet spirit. There is always celebration, a great feast forever marking my release from condemnation. Now I can come before God's throne, so undeserved, and yet I know that I no longer am my own, for I have reaped what Christ has stown. I will joy, I will joy in my stay for religious that could find, I am restored, I will joy, I will join in such a taste in his grace, I will join, I will joy, I will join in my stadium for in his sacrifice, I am restored, I will joy, I will join, in such a days, in his grace, I will join all my taste in his grace I will join, I will do, I will I will join, I will joy, I will join.

SPEAKER_00 9:56

Isn't Mac a joyful person? You've never met him, but just from listening to him, you can sense that he has a deep-seated joy. Why? Where did he find that joy? Where do you find joy? We seem to be living in a joyless time right now. So let's explore this important question together on Hope Today as we join our spirits with Karen Burkhart and begin to praise.

SPEAKER_06 10:27

Bow down before him, worship and die, for he's worthy of you. Praise our Lord. Begin to praise, soul, begin to pray. Give up my fear to flay. I'm going to lay down every distraction.

SPEAKER_07 10:56

Lift up my hands and begin to pray. I want to put my eyes on beyond sea. I'm going to lead sorrow into surrender. Lift up my hands and begin to pray.

SPEAKER_06 11:30

It reaches deep and breaks up every part that stands against the very truth of God. Begin to praise, so begin to pray.

SPEAKER_07 11:50

Give up my fear to face. I want to lay down every distraction. Lift up my hands and begin to pray. Breathe in the window breaks. I want to leave sorrow into surrender. Lift up my hands and begin to pray. What do you mean it's a lamb? You want to keep on the room? You are the great I am. What do you mean? Hallelujah. You are the king of glory. Hallelujah.

SPEAKER_09 12:59

You are the great I am.

unknown 13:02

Hallelujah.

SPEAKER_00 13:10

Where do you find joy? It's a quality of life that God's people are promised. The prophet Isaiah said that the redeemed of the Lord would be crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and sighing would flee away, gladness and joy will overtake them. And in John chapter 15, 16 and 17, Jesus tells his disciples that they will receive his joy, a joy that cannot be taken away, and a joy that is full. But we not only see that joy is promised to God's people, it is a reality among God's people. Here is King David, who writes about his relationship with God in the Psalms, saying, You have filled my heart with joy. And then we see him so filled with the joy of the Lord that he's dancing, dancing of all things, and dancing and leaving celebrating with all the Lord and the heart of the covenant. Jesus Christ fills us with an inexpressible and glorious joy. It's inexpressible because it cannot be compared to anything experienced in this world. It's glorious because it's not of this world. It is a gift from Jesus Christ. Oh, what fellowship, oh what joy divine! Leaning on the everlasting arms. Here is the David Crowder band.

SPEAKER_08 15:21

What a blessedness, what of peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, safe and secure from all alarms. Leaning, who am leaning, leaning on me, everlasting arms. Oh how sweet to walk in the pilgrim wave, leaning on me, everlasting arms. Oh how bright the path grows from day to day. Lean in on me everlasting arms. Oh, I'm leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all the laws. Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting ones. Leaning on the lasting arms. I have blessed peace with my Lord so near. Leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh I'm leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all arms. Leaning, oh I'm leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. How I trust you, how I prove you know Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, oh for grace to trust him more. Just to take him at his word, just to rest upon his promise, just to know the saving Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him, how I proved him more in Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, oh for grace to trust him more, oh for grace to trust him more.

unknown 19:18

Oh for grace to trust him more.

SPEAKER_00 19:26

One of the great gifts that Jesus gives to us is joy. When you believe in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes and takes up residence within you. And there is a joy that is inexpressible and glorious. It is the joy of God Himself. Let me be more specific. In 1 Peter chapter 1, we read that the cause of our joy is the fact that He has great mercy. He has given us a new birthday of a living hole into the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Joy that deserves because we know that it is life. Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. We are forgiven. We Christians have joy. Because we have a living hope. Is it emotional? Yes. We have an emotional faith. It's rational too. Never apologize for expressing emotion in your worship and in your adoration of God. We have a faith that is filled with joy. How can it be otherwise? For we have been given a living hope. The hope of Jesus will not fail. Here is hope of yours.

SPEAKER_07 22:00

I can answer this. I think my life on this. The hope of Jesus will not fell. And never has, and never has, and never has. The hope of Jesus will endure forevermore, forevermore, forevermore. And for freedom I have been set free. And my Savior holds every victory. Oh, I am convinced of this. I save my life on this. Oh, I am convinced of this. I save my life on this. Every lie, every chain, every sickness, it will break, every fear, on my shame, it stays buried in the grave. Every lie, every chain, every sickness, it will break. Every fear on my shame, it stays buried in the grave. Cause he told through the head, and just throw the gates of hell.

SPEAKER_09 24:16

It's a lie, it's a late, so it's a lot.

SPEAKER_01 26:15

Born in 1852, Henry Van Dyke lived a very accomplished life. He became a pastor of the Brook Presbyterian Church in New York City. He later became professor of English literature at Princeton and authored a number of books, including the popular title The Other Wise Man. He was appointed the American Ambassador to the Netherlands by his friend Woodrow Wilson. During World War I, he was the Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Chaplain. He was commander of the Legion of Honor and president of the National Institute of Arts and Letters. In 1907, Henry was invited to preach at Williams College in Massachusetts and was inspired by the Berkshire Mountains. At breakfast one morning, he handed the school president a paper explaining that it was a hymn that needed to be sung to Beethoven's music, Hymn of Joy. He went on to say that this hymn should be used by people who are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy religion or any revolution on earth will overthrow the kingdom of heaven. It is a hymn of trust and joy and hope, he said. May you be drawn to higher levels of joy. As Amy Grant sings, Joyful, Joyful, we adore thee.

SPEAKER_06 27:39

Joyful, joyful, we adore thee.

SPEAKER_07 27:44

God of glory, Lord of love. Hearts unfold like flowers before thee. Opening to the sun above. Melt the cloud of sin and sadness. Drive the dark of death away. Give her a mortal blendness. Fill us with the light of dream. All thy works will have joy surround me. Birth and man reflect thy rays. Stars and angels sing around me. Centre of unbroken praise. Field and forest, veil and mountain, flowery meadow flashing sea. Chanting word and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in the middle of the way.

SPEAKER_00 30:21

We continue to read in 1 Peter that through faith in Jesus Christ we have been given a new birth into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, unfading, kept in heaven for you. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are given an inheritance of a right standing before God, of everlasting life that is imperishable. No one can take away the inheritance that is yours in Christ. The government can't tax it, thieves cannot steal it, and rust and rot and cannot diminish it. It is undefiled, it is unstained, pure, and unfading. And so the basis of our joy is knowing that God gives to us and do not change with time. We do not need to worry that God is like some celestial Santa Claus who looks down from heaven and notice when we are naughty or nice, and every time we're naughty takes something away from us. Our inheritance is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. Because it's been secured for us through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Of course, we can act any way we like. That's not the point. The point is that we can rest that God is faithful. We can live this life with the joy that we are forgiven by God, loved by God, and have a future with God. Hell by those inside the church. Faith in Jesus Christ makes you narrow, inhibited, guilt-ridden, and negative. And unfortunately, some Christians have confused the idea of taking life seriously with taking life solemnly. They think they must walk around with a frown on their face and in their souls. If that's the case for you today, reacquaint yourself with the inexpressible and glorious joy that is yours in having Jesus Christ as your Savior. And allow yourself to rejoice. Again, I say, rejoice. Here are the Masters for, with When We All Get to Heaven.

SPEAKER_07 32:42

When we hug, when we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be.

SPEAKER_03 32:50

When we hug, when we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory.

SPEAKER_07 33:02

While we want the pilgrim pathway, clouds will overspread the sky. But when traveling days are often, not a shadow, not aside. Let us then be true and faithful, trusting, serving every day. Just one glimpse of him in glory. Will the toils of life remain? When we hope when we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be When we come, when we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shall the victory. When we come, when we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be.

SPEAKER_00 35:52

So for Christians, we're able to rejoice even in the darkness of life. Not because we deny its reality, but because we know God in the midst of the darkness. The spears sing, it will be joy.

SPEAKER_04 36:07

Battles all around me, troubles are abounding, a lot of confusion everywhere. Things taking place that I never dreamed of. Such an uneasiness in the air. I don't know how long the Lord's gonna tarry, but I'll be ready when he calls for me. It'll be joy when my Savior carries me home.

SPEAKER_03 36:26

Joy when I hear the trunk sound.

SPEAKER_04 36:34

It'll be good just to see him and straight love. Go to dream. It'll be joy when my Savior carries me home. Promises broken in the extra bonery hand. No use to think that I'm gonna change it. These are the seeds of mortal men. But the Lord has promised me heaven, a beautiful place, not made with hands. Give me joy when I say just to see the man with gonna be a little bit joy with my fake. Just sing a man, I'm gonna be a man with me. Just like a new beast, just a bowl shop. Hallelujah, singing shout, Hallelujah, everybody shout, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, wave a little more shop, hallelujah, Hallelujah, people.

SPEAKER_00 38:22

The prophet Isaiah writes, Why do you say my way is hidden from the Lord? My cause is disregarded by my God. Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. John Buller puts it in song with Comfort My People.

SPEAKER_07 38:43

Do you know? Have you not heard? Has it been sold in from the curse? Have you not understood? From the forming of ear. He sits in the throne above the world and spreads the heavens like a place for us to live in. A place for us to live. Do you know? Who has marked off the heavens with the breadth of his word? Do you know? Come for my people. Come for my people, says the Lord. He brought out Starry Host, and one by one he called them by name. But he used to complain that he doesn't know your way. Lift your eyes and look to see. Who created no lovee? Never more complain that it doesn't know your way. Do you know? Do you know? Who has marked off the heavens with the breadth of his word? Do you know? Do you know? Come for my people. Come for my people, says the law says the do you know? Have you not heard? Has it been sold you from the first? Have you not understood from the forming of the earth? I lift my eyes and look to see that you created all of these, and I will not complain because I know you know my name. Yeah. Come for my people. Come for my people. Yeah, come for my people, says the Lord.

SPEAKER_00 43:13

Christian joy is not based on circumstances. But the question arises, how can we have joy when we're facing all these difficulties and stresses? And the answer is we have joy not in our circumstances, but in our Savior, Jesus Christ. We Christians don't deny the difficulty of the circumstances we now face. This pandemic is terrible, and we pray to God for a solution to it, and we seek to serve and minister in the midst of it. But through it all, we have a joy in knowing that this trouble is not bigger than God. And even in this, he is able to work and bring about his will. Robin Mark and Integrity's Hosanna Music Sing the Truth with All Is Well.

SPEAKER_07 45:00

He lowers us to raise us so we can sing his praises. Whatever is his way, all is well. That we might trust him more. Whatever is his way, all his way. All my changes come from him. He who never changes. I'm held firm in the grasp of the rock of all the ages, all is away. He closes now and strips us. Yet with his word he quips us. Whatever is his way, all his way. And though our seasons change.

SPEAKER_01 47:39

We would love to hear from you. You can reach us by email to listener at hope today-lp.ca. Once again, send your notes to listener at hope today-lp.ca. Hope Today is produced at Straight Path Studios. We look forward to being with you and your friends next time for another program of assurance. Until then, keep looking up. Jesus is coming again.