DAD'S DAILY BREAD

Sermon notes Pastor Graydon Cress

11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Col 1

Where do you go to find joy? Do you pursue happiness from the world or does it come from the Lord? Finding joy from the world is good to a certain point. If your not careful that thing that brings you joy and comfort will quickly become an idol. Just ask yourself one question: Do you have to sin to get it or does it cause sin in your life if you don’t get it?? If the answer is true to either one of these then you have created an idol in your heart and you will be serving that idol until decide to confess, repent and change. The heart is an idol factory so you have to battle your flesh daily, to remove those idols, and put Christ back on the throne of your life!

Check yourself daily when it comes to what you do for joy and pleasure. As soon as you find yourself loving the gifts and the feelings over the Awesome One who gave it to you then you definitely need to change your perspective! There is only one place to find true lasting joy and peace and that’s from the Gospel!!! ECCL 2:10-11

The Gospel is our joy that NEVER fades! First God gives us strength for endurance and patience with joy. True joy comes when you see God’s work happening in the world! Watching so many people worshiping the Lord in the midst of so much pain was joyful! Despite the fact that what happened to Charlie was so sad! God will use it for His glory and that also brings me joy. PHIL 4:4 / HABAKKUK 3

We cannot always change our circumstances but we can control our attitude and the way we react to things. JAMES 1 / ROMANS 5

If you’re facing a trial or you have an idol in your heart don’t minimize it! Deal with it. Take it to God. Take it to the people God has put in your life. Don’t let the enemy keep you dwelling in darkness! We cannot be Christ’s light in the world when we are harboring darkness in our own lives! Confess, repent, and change! Jesus is our light in the darkness! PSALM 23

God gives us strength for joy in Christ through: HIS WORD, HIS HOLY SPIRIT, AND HIS PEOPLE. We were never meant to do this on our own! NUMBERS 11

If we are not reading God’s Word everyday then we are not tapping into His strength. Like an athlete that only shows up on game day and wonders why everyone is so much faster and stronger than he is. Or like a weight lifter that wants to gain weight but refuses to eat food… You can work out all you want but if you’re not feeding your body its not going to turn into lasting strength! Check yourself daily to see what sources you’re tapping into as you go through your day! You don’t have to muster up joy on your own. God freely gives to those who ask in His name!

Lasting joy comes straight from Jesus- who He is and what He has done! We have an inheritance! Are you going to inherit all the things of this world that are rotten and decaying or will you accept the free gift of salvation from the Lord and inherit eternal life? We have been delivered from darkness. Jesus is the source of our light and our strength. He gives us access to the Kingdom. We are redeemed and forgiven!! We were in darkness but now we are children of the light. EHP 5 / ROM 3 / JOHN 4:13-14

Jesus Christ is the only one that will satisfy that space in your heart! Stop trying to fill it with meaningless possessions and feelings that will only last for the moment! Surrender to Jesus now! Confess, Repent, and Change!!!!

Seek the true and lasting joy that can only come from our savior! The Gospel is our joy and it will NEVER change!! MATT 5 / PSALM 34

IN HIS NAME