The Joy Of The Lord | Celina Tan

You're listening to a message to go from acts Church.

We hope this message will light up your day.

The message that I'm going to share with all of

us is derived from the Team Christmas, where we talk

about Christmas. What can we remember apart the birth of

Jesus is the word joy.

Okay.

So this morning I'm gonna share with you on the

topic joy that is in line with Christmas and also

it's in line with our team that all may know.

Okay.

So let's straight from the scripture. Take them from Nihim

chapter eight, verse ten.

Okay.

So the word of Lord says, then he said to them,

go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and

same portion to those for whom nothing is prepared for

this day is holy to our Lord, do not be sorry,

for the joy of the Lord is our strength.

Right.

So, I think this scripture is very familiar to many

of us. Sometimes when we really run out of strength,

we always say that, you know, Lord, I want your

joy because the joy of the Lord is our strength.

Okay.

And this is a very scripture that I hold it

very dearly to myself.

Okay.

So every time when I face with challenges, I will

always remind myself that you know, the joy of the

Lord is my strength, all right, But what is all

this joy of the Lord is my strength about?

Okay?

So just now when I mentioned that, you know, December

is the month of Christmas, and all of us are

very happy, you know, thinking what present to buy for

our friends, our families. We are celebrating, you know, thinking

how should we celebrate our Christmas? Most of us we

are very excited. But during this season we also have

to remember there are also a group of people that

may not be so happy.

Okay. Probably they are the people who are.

Alone, feeling lonely during this time, or said because they

have lost someone. Or maybe they are people who are

struggling with personal hardship or losses. Maybe they are people

who have lost hope and the meaning of life. That

to them is like December is just another day to

go through.

All right.

So what is our role, you know, as a believer

of Christ in this season is to share.

The joy of the Lord to the people that's around us.

You know, when I say share the joy of the Lord,

it's not to say that, oh, okay, I take out

my money, No no, no, I'm sharing my joy to you, Okay,

it's not that, okay, that that is just physical happiness

that you're sharing and it's just a flitting moment. You know,

it's not something that will last you forever.

Okay.

But what I'm gonna share with all of us here

today is that something that it will remain in us forever,

and it is something that we can pass on to

another person that they can remain in them forever.

Okay. So let's first look at the word joy.

Okay, when we look at the meaning joy in the

dictionary is very straightforward. It just simply means a feeling

of great pleasure and happiness. So a lot of times

when we look at the word joy, right, we were

equated with the term happy. Right, So when we say that, oh,

I'm very happy, it's all I'm very joyful, Okay, We

always equated with that. But we know that our life

is always full of a lot of challenges, a lot

of demands, a lot of things for us to balance

enhance maintaining this level of joy that we understand with

our own brain, we will find it really challenging because

when the world trow challenges at us, we tend to

lose the joy that we understand with our brain, right,

that is what we understand.

Joy from the world will perception.

But what I want to share here today is that

joy is not just an emotion, okay, but it's a

state of being that comes from within, that is from

inside out, okay. And it's a peace and purpose that

can only be found in Christ Jesus, regardless of circumstances.

Okay.

It is something that comes from within that can only

be found in Christ Jesus. So I went and do

some check from the you know, the Concordance, okay. So

what is the meaning of joy in the Concordance?

Okay?

And it gave a very simple definition as well, rejoice,

be glad, be cheerful. But when I read further on

about the bibical understanding of what joy means, okay, it

says that joy is not just and emotion in a person,

but a fruit of the spirit. How many of you

remember the fruit of the spirit. How many attributes are

there in the fruit of the spirit.

Very good? Well, what is it?

Goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and very good?

Well done?

Okay, So all of us know the attributes in the

fruit of the Spirit. And this joy, okay, you know

it is from the first street love, joy and then

peace okay. And joy is a fruit that will burth

froth okay, from our relationship with God.

Okay.

It's a reflection of our relationship with God. And it's

a deep sense of peace and contentment comes from knowing

and trusting Him okay. And it's a fruit that burths

out from our intimacy with God.

Okay.

So, which means as you continue to spend time with God,

as you continue to build a relationship with Him, this

joy is the fruit.

That will both out from us okay.

So that's why in the world of God, it tells

us that we always have to abide ourself with Him.

And how can we abide it? Spend time? You know,

I think all of you will. She'll say what every time, Selena,

pretty right? He will. She will sure remind us to

spend time with God.

Yes, that is very important, spending time with him, work

with him, okay.

And the joy that we get.

From him will be the genuine joy okay. Because why

we know that it is from within. You know, when

a tree grow, right, it cannot grow from the surface.

So this is a soil. It cannot grow on the surface.

If we grow on the surface. What will happen? I think, yeah,

no roots and no roads. Within how many days it

will die? I think within one day it will definitely die. Okay,

But if it's from within, when the roots grow deep, Okay,

the roots grow no matter you forget to water how

many days? Right, it will still survive for how many

days until you water? But please remember to water the plants.

If you are the person who plant, don't be like me.

Every plan that comes to my hand died, okay because

I always forget to water my plant.

Okay. So yeah, we are just like the plant.

Don't forget to water ourselfs read the word of God.

If we want to grow deep, we have to water

ourselves with the word of God.

Okay.

So that's why every time I preach, I will remind

myself and all of us to read the Word of God.

That's why having physical Bible is impottant. And we need

to work with him. Okay, how do we work with him?

The Word of God teachers, which is the right way

to walk? How can we walk? So we will have

to walk with him. And when we walk with him,

and when we both out, the joy that comes from

spending time walking with him we know that we are

able to withstand any external forces.

That will come our way.

Okay, because why we always say that, you know, the

word of God is part of the armor of God

that will shoe us right, that will shield us from

every fary that's of the enemy, and hence it's important.

Okay.

So having said that, we also know that we always

battle against not flesh and blood. We always battle against

the principalities. And there is always a lot of things

that are coming our way that will try to rob

us from rob us of our joy. That the joy

that God has given to us. Okay, I think can

change light sading okay. Okay, So here it says that,

you know, joy, it's so hard to maintain and keep

why all right, because of the enemies. They are always

lurking around to try to rob it from us. No,

the enemy does want us to be happy one really,

the enemy doesn't like to see us being happy, doesn't

like us to see us being contented, doesn't like us

to see us, you know, having the peace.

That's why the enemy.

As you can read from John Tanton, it says that

the teeth does not come except to steal, kill, and destroy.

Okay. So that is what the teeth tries to do.

That is our enemy. Okay.

But what the word continue on says. It says that

I have come that they may have life, that they

may have it more abundantly. And that is what God

wants for us. God want us to have life and

have it more abundantly. God's will is to bless us.

But the enemy's intention is to rob us and to

kill us and to destroy us. And don't think that yeah, yeah,

I don't think it happened to me or not trust me.

It will happen to anyone of us, anyone, Okay, no

matter whether you are. You know, we always say you

don't think that you're just a small pert that thought.

The enemy will not come and destroy you.

Will don't think that you're high up there. You know,

everybody is like how how do you? And you will

not be attacked. You will get attacked even more.

Okay. So the enemy is just.

Here to attack us, especially those of us who really

love God.

Okay.

So why the enemy is doing this Because the enemy

is trying to distract us and pull us away from

the giver of joy okay, which is Christ Jesus. The

enemy doesn't want us to have peace. The enemy doesn't

want us to receive the blessing that God has prepared

for us.

So remember this. Okay.

So the enemy is always around and it's always disguised

in any form.

To distract you. Okay. So that is one, and then

what else worldly troubles? Okay.

In John sixteen verds the detree, it says that these

things are spoken to you that in me you may

have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But

be of good child. I've overcome the world.

Okay.

So we all know we are living in the world

that are full of challenges. We are living in the

world that is full of pressure. For those of you

who are working, I'm pretty sure that you will face

pressure up down life, right Okay. In your family there

are pressure, in your school, there are pressure. There are challenges.

In relationship, there are pressure. There are challenges, and there

are troubles as well. Sometimes these troubles and these challenges,

it can really cause you.

To lose sight of God. Okay.

Sometimes it is so big that you just it just

will distract you to just focus on.

How to solve the challenges, a solve the issue.

Or sometimes you may be so into the challenges that

you kind of like, I don't care anymore. I just

want to hide in my corner and I just don't

want to think of the world, okay, And eventually you

will lose sight that hey, even though you face with challenges,

you can actually run to God, you know. And I'm

not speaking these out of you know, something that I

read online or word, but it comes from my own

personal experience as well that when I face with very

heavy circumstances, my first reaction is to run away from

people and to hide from people, and do not want

to talk to people. And I don't even want to

open the word of God.

I don't need to even.

Listen, because sometimes when you're facing with challenges, right, God

always has you to do opposite then your common sense,

and you're like, no, I don't want, you know, And

eventually you will lose that of God, and you will

lose the happiness in you, and slowly you will just

you know, mellow down into deep pit and you just

cannot find peace or hope anymore. And this is how

Warly troubles rocked you away from the giver of joy.

Okay, So that is Wally troubles. And then what else

our own flesh, right, our own flesh.

So in Romans, chapter seven was eighteen to ninety eight says,

for I know that in me, that is in my flesh,

nothing good dwells. For to will is present with me.

But how to perform what is good I do not find.

For the good that I will to do, I do

not do. But the evil I will not to do,

that I practice. So all of us leave to our

fleshly desired, all of us. Sometimes when we look at

certain things, we know that that it's wrong, but we

still do it.

Right.

When you know, I teach young children, right, I always

killing my copala, I always shake my head. They knew

that when they do the thing, they will get into trouble.

Yes, they still do it.

And then they were coming tell me, but teacher, I

do not know. Oh, I'm like yeah, right, you sure

you do not know. Then they were like give me the.

Guilty load and then' like sorry, teacher. And I think

parents can can can attest to that as well. Okay,

they know it very well. The things is wrong, they

still do it. I do not know why.

Okay, Like I said, I don't know why the kids

still do it. Right, same thing, to us. We know

it's wrong, we still do it.

Why? Really?

Why is it because of pre pressure or is it

because it looks cool? Or is it because of I

don't know, But that is our sinful nature. If you're

asking why, that is our sinful nature, because why committing

something that is not right? It's always easier than doing

something that is right, Okay. Think about it. Doing something

that is not right is always easier than doing something

that is right, okay. And our sainful nature is constantly

battling against the spirit that dwells in you know, we

say right, our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is always there to tell us that Selina,

that is wrong, don't do. Then I would say, but

I easy to do, Okay, better, better, okay, And then

I lose okay to the Holy Spirit. I'm like, okay,

I don't want to listen to you al ready. And

then I go and do the wrong thing.

And then my heart convicted, know, the Holy Spirit convicted

me that it is wrong.

And then because I already did it right, I feel

the guilt, I feel the shame, I feel the you know,

whatever thing is that I feel, and eventually I would

say that I'm useless, like, can I nobody love me?

La?

I think God also don't love Mela. I do do

so many simful things.

Really, then I start to draw away myself from God

and eventually my true source of joy.

It gets disconnected. Right, So that's our own flesh. Okay.

So that is also another way.

Of how the joy will be robbed away from us

and then the last one people Okay. In Prosapter thirteen,

verse twenty, it says he who works with wise men

will be wise? So what with wise man?

Okay?

People, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. So

what does it mean? The people around us are constantly influenced,

influencing us whether you like it or not. The people

that you hang out with will influence you, okay. So

when you are surrounded with people of negative influencers or

toxic relationship, your peace and joy will be disrupted, especially

when people will always tell you on commented when you

say that, oh no, I think I do something wrong

with my programming.

How and then you're gonna tell your clique.

You can say, you know, like Edy, okay, he does

programming easier to talk, and he's like, oh I do

something wrong.

It probably will cause a million to the company.

And then he went tell the colleague, thinking that the

clique will have your solve problem.

Then say you did something wrong, Diala, come from Diala.

I think I had the boss.

I was your fire you were I think You'll be

said back to Nigeria like Hai, yeah no, nay lie yeah,

Selah tell you a ready, don't do mestay right see

se see tell you Okay. Toxic relationship okay, So okay, Andie,

it's quite up there with that for here could make mistake.

I think it's very anymore. Okay, So that's why you

see as an example. Okay, so these are the people.

If you're constantly surrounding with you like that, right, you

will eventually see the negativity of life more than the positivity.

And then you would think that, yeah, I think I'm doomed. Okay,

I probably will cannot be happy anymore. Okay, I'm gonna

cast a company millions, and then I think I have

to work for them for twenty years, so not enough

to pay back what I cost the loss and all.

And then eventually you will go into working every day

with the square face. Okay, I'm just paying come, money back,

money coming, then you eventually lost the joy and you

will just keep working to pay back. And you were

like Selena ask me cotution, and I need to work.

Selena asked me to handle activ need.

I need to work.

Okay, Eventually you will get this connected from God as well. Okay,

So recognize this. That are the things around us that

will rob us from our joy and you look at it, right.

It is something that we face every single day. This

is no rocket science. It's something that we face every

single day. And if we are not careful anytime, we

will lose to this four categories here. That's why we

have to constantly remind ourselves that we are God's children.

We need to be with him. We need to.

Spend time with him, Okay, in order not to allow

all these external forces to distract us to rock us.

Okay.

So understanding that what causes our causes us to lose

our joy, now let's look into what the Bible says

about joy.

Okay. So just now we talk about that.

You know, joy is not just an emotion, but it's

a fruit that burns out from the spirit.

Right, So now let's look deeper into it. Okay.

So the first one, joy beyond happiness. So remember that

joy doesn't equate to happiness. Okay, It's more than the

surface level happiness that we know. Okay, why a lot

of time we equate it with happiness because we only

think of how the world perceived joy is. You know

how the world perceive joy. If I get uh, you know,

if let's say I study, let's PM, if I get

straight A, I would have joy. If I get into

the company in Malaysia, I will have joy. If I

marry the most handsome husband, then I will have joy.

And then people say that if I have one I

have two kids, one boy, one girl means I'm quite

successful in my marriage, I will have joy.

If my kids grow up getting straight in like me,

I will have joy.

If I earned my first million at the age of thirty,

I will have joy. That is how the world equates

joy with, But that is not how God equates joy with.

Okay.

So in some sixteen verse eleven, it says that you

will show me the path of life in your presence

is fullness of joy at your right hand, a pleasure

forever more.

Okay. And this scripture it.

Tells us that our joy is found in the presence

of God is not on the worldly material, okay. And

Philippin's fad was forced reminded us that rejoice in the

Lord or ways. He didn't say rejoice in the Lord

when you are successful. It didn't say that rejoice in

the Lord when you achieve your dream. It didn't say

rejoice in the Lord. When he says rejoice in the

Lord all ways. And what does always mean? Always mean

that in good times and bad times, we need to

rejoice in the Lord.

Okay.

We rejoice not when circumstances situation improved, but we rejoice

knowing that the Lord is good, knowing that he is

a God that will help us overcome it all.

Okay.

So remember that joy found in the presence of the

Lord is beyond the surface level of happiness. It is

found when we spend time with him. And then it

continued on to say that joy in all circumstances.

Okay.

So remember just when I say that, you know our

joy is not rooted in the smooth saving life okay,

but in our unwavering faith.

Okay. We need to have faith in Him.

We need to plan ourselfs, be rooted in God and

continue to walk by faith and trust that He is good.

You know, sometimes when you are facing the challenges right,

it's very hard to trust. I know when when I

face the situation that even with my own logic, my

common sense, and my whatever says that I can find

in me tells me that it is a dad end.

But the word of the Word of the Lord.

Says trust me. And I find it very hard as well.

But I still have to because why when I cannot

proceed anymore, I still need God to make way for me.

And the only way I can allow God to make

way for me is to trust him. Even when he

said that step out and I feel that, no, I

don't think it works, I still have to step out nonetheless.

And that is what trust means, okay. And we need

to hold onto our faith and knowing that He's always

with us, Okay. Knowing that God is with us, we

are able to overcome all the obstacles that comes our way.

And when we hold on to Him and when we

receive the joy that's from Him, the very joy that

is in earth, will be our strength to face what's

a hit of us. Okay.

So God is able to shield us, okay, from every

frider of the enemy, because why he is our protector.

Okay, he's our defender and.

He will he his word is like the light that

like a path, that is the lamp onto our feet.

That every path that we walk, even though in front

of us is dark. You know, you say that God,

I can't see what's the end. But the Lord say,

look at your feet, one step at the time, one

step at the time, and he eventually he will bring

you towards the destination that he wants you to go.

And why God doesn't show you the final end because

if you're able to see the final end, you will

not trust him. That is the reason why he said

that my word is the lamp onto your feet. He

didn't say that my word is the lamp that is

on your head. Because when the lamb is on your

head for those of you who go hiking and whatever, right,

you know, right, when the lambo on your head, you

can see further. Right.

But if the lamp, try that that's how you're hiking.

You put it on your feet, try and say, okay,

if you fall from the okay you would even though

it's friend.

Okay, on the feet you can only see like probably

this much you need right by this is on your head.

You can see further slightly further, but not very far

unless your lemon is like superpower wor not.

Okay. So that's why we need to hold on to

his word.

And that is the very word that will give you

the joy that will both out and will give you

the strength. So in Medial chapter eighteen, verse twenty, it says,

I am with you always, Deuteron on me that the

one verse eight he says.

That he will be with you.

He will not leave you, nor for sake you do

not fear, do not be dismay he rose thirteen verse

five to six. He says that I will never leave

you nor forsake you. The Lord is my helper. I

will not fear what can man do to me? So

this Trae scripture is a reminder to us that Jesus.

Is always business. Okay.

He is always with us, no matter where we are,

what we are doing, how far we have run away, okay, he.

Is always with us.

Or even when things don't go according to how we

plan it. All right, Jesus is always with us. He

will never leave us nor for saxes. Remember that, okay.

And Psalms one hundred words one to two. It says

that make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands,

serve the Lord with gladness, come before his presence with singing.

So the Book of Some is really a very good

book for all of us to meditate upon because it

always reminds us. Okay, the Book of Sam's is written

by the Psalmis, and some of it is written by

King David. You'll known the different circumstances that King David

went through, right, and did he like I lost the war? Ready,

maybe I don't want to serve God anymore. No, God

take my child. Ready, I don't to serve him anymore?

You know he did not. But yet he come up

alive again, and he praised the Lord. No in his situation, right,

I always every time when I read the story of

King David, right, and I always tell the Lord, if

I am in his position, Lord, I probably would have

scored you, like I don't know one one time? Ready,

why do you put me in this situation?

But yet King.

David never, he will just like probably go into mourning

for a while, and he come up and he prays

God again. And that's why in the Bible he is

called the man after God's own heart, So that is

something we can do as well, regardless of your circumstances.

Sometimes you can be very angry with God.

Is like, no, Lord, I pray so hard, Why you

didn't answer my prayer? You know? But be like King David.

Still praise him. And how can King David do that?

That is because he has the joy that is in him,

knowing and trusting that God will make things true for him.

Amen? All right? And some study was fivee.

It says that whipping me and you're for a night,

but joy comes in the morning.

Okay.

He remind us to continue to trust him that God's

joy will transcend our sorrow. Okay, things may be difficult,

but remember that his promises are always yes.

An Amen. It will bring hope even in grief. Okay.

He keep trusting, keep believing, and keep praying. All right.

And James chapter one.

Verse to the Tree, it says, my brethren, counting all

joy when you fall into various trials. You know, being

a believer of Christ is never a bit of roses.

Let me tell you that.

Okay, My goodness to you is that Jesus will be

with us. But there is nothing shot off challenges when

we walk in His way. Why are there always challenges

is so that our faith can be strengthened. Right, And

when we go through these various trials, always remember that,

you know, God, the purpose of God put us into

trials is not to torment us, but it's to build us,

to train us.

You know.

It's just like when we study right exams. Okay, probably

someone you're back to differ. It's not to torment us,

but it's actually to train us to make sure that

we are able to internalize what we have learned.

Okay, Yeah, I know.

Malaysia education system is to train us to memorize textbook

and work omit everything out Okay, because I can.

That's me. Okay, that's me. Okay.

So that's why why I say that's me. Many of

you doesn't know that I'm an IT graduate. Don't ask

me right program, because why I memorized the whole textbook

like it. I went to exam hall, I wanted everything

out and then I come out and I passed. And

every time I tell you I did that, he was like, yeah, okay,

Malaysia education system double a back guy, Okay, but yes,

we are trying to make changes, Okay, there's why with

us as a teacher, we're trying to make changes that

the children will be able to enjoy learning. Okay, but

yes there is education. But come back to trials. Okay,

the trials of this world is our exam It's not

to not to really torment us, but it's to build us.

It's to build us to be a person that is better,

to build us so that we can, you know, be

aligned with God's build and purposes for us. Okay, So

through perseverance, you will eventually reach the other side.

Okay, the other side.

You know, just when I say you walk step by step, right,

you don't know what other challenges. But when you reach there,

you realize that, oh no, there's a big hole that

I need to walk across.

How I can't swim? I can't walk across.

Okay. For those of you who listen to the story

the Bad Hunts, you will know well across it cannot

go underneath. Cannot then how swim through it? Okay, pro

you say that, but I can't swim, But don't worry.

The Lord is there. The Lord will hold you, true,

will bring you true, and eventually, with perseverance and trust,

you will reach towards the finishing line. Right. So yeah,

so remember that counting all joy when you fall into

various trials. I met you, Chapter five, verse eleven to twelve.

It says that blessed are you when they revive and

persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you

falsely for my sake, rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for

great is your reward in heaven, For they persecuted the

prophets who were before you.

So as you.

Continue to trust God, remember that people will persecute you

when you.

Stand firm believing in him.

People will say that, hey, you Jesus freak. People will

say there are not People will say that, yo, why

you so holy one? Okay, they may not call Jesus

freat like because probably they don't even know what's the

meaning of free.

They will say that, wait, so holy one. Well you

go to church every some day, come to work?

Know why?

Why why must you go to church? Playing like pickaball?

Sunday morning the best time? You say today, weather's so

good to play pickaball?

You know?

Or maybe you're like a yo, why are you going

sthing extra? The wake up so early? Come not go hiking?

With me very early on, or maybe you know you're

supposed to teaching X kids. No go es kids have

followed me go marathon.

Okay, I'm not I know this once thought I hit

a lot of people here, but I don't care. All

of you are my friends, right, okay, nobody trade shoot

at me. Oh yes, all good?

Okay. So a lot of things happen.

Okay, yeah, but people will constantly say and when you

tell them that, no, Sunday is the time that I

go to surf God, and they were like, ah, yeah

you are what's the weather always called? Okay, never mind?

Yeah you super holy? And I cannot Yeah, you know

people were saying that to you. I got it a

lot of times during my teenage. No, my campus years. Okay,

all my college friends will say that, hey, Selena, Sunday morning,

let's go Yamta. I say, oh, I'm going back clan

because then you go to church.

Okay.

I used to study in Thai, how you see, and

I stayed in Satapa. So on Friday, last class, regardless

of what time, I'll pack my back and then I'll

go back to Clank. Okay because that time my church

is in Plank. And all of them will say that

you one day, don't go back clan will dievon?

Is it no? Won't die?

But why are you every time you cannot wait until

the next day because my youth group is on Saturday,

so I have to be back, you know, on Friday,

so that I attend youth group on Saturday. Then they

say that what happened if the class is on Saturday morning,

never min after class, I will rush back. Then they're like,

you don't go to church with divon?

Is it no? Won't die? But I will still have

to go to chescha.

And then they always they always give me this uh

what they call it attack line. Never date Selena on

Saturday Sunday.

You will be rejected.

And then they will always say if you want to

date her, you have to book her. Don't know how

many months that once they used to say that. Yeah,

So I say, huber last Saturday Sunday is my day

that I give to God. You want to meet me,

you want a young child with me, you have to

meet me on Monday to Friday at night.

Okay, So that that is what I do.

Okay, But when you make a stand for God, especially

now in the working world, people will always say on

I don't think I want to promote John. Okay, because

why every time ask him to OTI, he will tell

me that I need to go prayer service.

I don't think I want to promote Leona.

Every time asked her to come to work on Sunday

for affairs, she will say that she has to play

keyboard for church.

I don't think I want to promote Eddie.

Every time asked him to come to work OTI on Saturday,

he tells me he got leaders training.

These are the sacrifice that we make when we stand

for God.

But when we don't get the promotion, does that mean

that we are not successful? Does that mean that we

will have to lose the joy? No? Because why we

always believe that promotion comes from the Lord, and the

things that we get back when we put our steps

with God will be greater than what we can see

with our physical eyes. You know. So before I close,

I'm just going to share not a testimony, but more

of a something that I overcome and and how.

This message came about.

Uh, you know when when I shared, when I when

I prepare this message, I wasn't planning to share any

testimony or any of my personal story. Then I sent

to pass any help you know to go through my message.

Okay.

So, just in case you're wondering, does Selena just come

out the message on her own without anyone prof reading? Yes,

our senior minister prof read my message okay, and she

said that Selena, probably you want to add a personal

story to make it more relevant okay to the hero.

Oh God, what story should I share? And God reminded

me of this situation that he helped me overcome. And

this is a story that I have never shared with anyone,

and most of the time I don't feel comfortable sharing.

But I felt that somehow God wanted me to share

because maybe it will blessed at least one person here

or help someone here to even overcome your situation.

Okay.

So for those of you you probably do not know,

but majority of you here know that I'm married, right Okay.

My husband is not here because he is uh serving

in this Royal Rangers ministry to help to set up

this ministry for another church that is in Churrus.

Okay. So so he is there doing the work of

the Lord. Don't worry. Okay. So I'm married.

And we have been married for thirteen years.

Okay, We've been married for thirteen years. Time really flies.

I so do not know how the it became like

the thing years, like just bling off an eye. Okay.

And you know when people found out that I'm married.

This is really a very Asian thing. Everywhere I go,

people will ask how many kids do you have? Oh?

Look at them?

None?

And they will always say that why why you don

want to have a kid? You know, why you don't

to have a baby.

And most of the time I would use a very

superficial and very general, uh what do you call it

answer to them when they ask why you don't have kids?

Now?

Like I say to already, la, okay, yes I'm old. Okay.

If I say I have a baby now, I'll be

the yeah it's no oh oh okay.

You know they will ask okays.

Just just yesterday, I brought my dad for a Christmas

party from from another church for the senior citizen. And

then I met this lady who sat beside me and

she and she asked, oh, how many kids do you have?

I said none? And then the statement that she gave

me is that, wow, you modern lady. I'm like, yoah,

I'm a modern lady.

Okay.

Yeah, So sometimes when maybe family and they will ask, like,

you know, you're married so many years, readly, why you

don't want to have kids and all. Yeah, I just

said that I will always give this reason, Noah, I

don't want to have kids.

Why I want to have kids?

For with kids, there's a lot of things that I

cannot do. Okay, I think I like my life now.

I can do a lot of things without having any

minions behind me.

Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy.

Okay, yeah, So these are the reason that I always

give to people, and people who knows me well, they

will know that I love children.

I love children.

And if you ask me when I first got married,

do I have a desire to have kids of my own?

Of course, So it is not a.

Decision by choice, right, It's not a decision by choice.

And it is due to circumstances that I cannot have kids. Okay,

don't ask me what circumstances. It's very p andc to share,

so I'm not going to share. So I can tell

you that it's due to circumstances I cannot have kids.

And then of course there are people will say that

hi you can go and do I v efma, you

can go?

And what was that adult?

Ma?

And all?

And then I can tell you that beyond circumstances that

I cannot have kids. If to think about all this

doneline line alternative, I cannot afford it, Okay, I cannot

afford it. And hence I told God that you know, Lord,

why like that?

You know?

Every time and when I hear people who tells me

that I'm struggling, you know, I think I'm going to

depression because I married for so many years, I cannot

have kids, you know, Or I hear from people that

you know, I finally saw pray so hard that I

have kids, and then I got a miscarriage, and all

I think, I don't think I'll be able to find

happiness anymore. And they went into depression and all, and

I will go home and I pray that, no, Lord,

I do not want to be in this situation. I say,

whatever it is, I'm going to trust in you. I'm

going to trust that whatever decision that you made for

me is right for me. And if you say that

in this life of mine I will not have kids,

I would trust you so that that is me and

I always, you know, even though, like I said, I'm

old now, okay, and I was thinking that, no, Lord,

how nice it is that I have my own kids.

But eventually I kind of like, you know, a roda. Okay, God,

if you say no, miss Nola, I'm not going to

think so much much. And in this whole process, right, well,

while I'm battling with God, a lot of times I

will go into self pity, you know, I will go

into like just now we say that, who is there

to rob our joy? You know, if I'm not careful,

I will fall into the category of running away from God.

Because Lord, I've done so much for you. You call me,

I go. You tell me to serve.

I serve.

Why is it that my deepest desire you cannot grant me.

I can always say that, you.

Know, I'm not happy anymore. But God is good.

You know. I trusted him, and I keep telling myself

the joy of the Lord is my strength.

No kids, so what?

But the best part is, like I say, right, I

cannot afford to have kids, right, even if you're asking

to girl adout one, I cannot afford because it's like

over night, suddenly have a kids at home?

Okay, how am I going to take care of it?

That is one thing.

But I cannot have a kid on my own. But

God has given me more kids, you know, in the

sense of God children, right, you know, I have never

thought of this. To me, It's like, okay, God children,

probably only the children of my own best friend now

that will be my god children. But I have a

group of girlfriends where all their kids are really really

close to me, and they really love me like I'm

their second mother. And the best part is they always

say that, you know, when I'm not around, you're the

second mother. I have this friend of mine that she's

super hilarious. She always said that I think my son

look like you more than look like me when we

go out, right, you look like the mother more me.

I'm like, hello, excuse me, I say, how is that possible?

She said that every time I go out with you

and my kids, I look like the behind you.

And guess what.

She can never be my cack okay, because her level is,

her level.

Of wealth is beyond me. How can she be my?

But she is to me.

It's like, it's so hilarious that she always say that,

I'm like, no way, But then she say that yeah,

whatever it is, it's just a joke.

But she always reminded me that my kids love you.

And to me is that that itself, it's a reward.

I may not have the kids of my own flesh

and blood, but I have my you know, my my

spiritual children with me, you know, to me in Ampanghua,

my spiritual children harper, my pal paid, I love my

ya noah or my pal paid, you know. And and

the best part, like I say that you know a

lot of parents that they go holiday right their kids

not with them. Their kids are like, oh I missed

my mommy and all you know, I also have you know,

I went for missions. I have I love texting me.

They just certainly I don't forget to eat, right, It's okay,

you know. And and that itself is a reward that

God has shown to me that Hey, though you may

not have kids of your own flesh and blood, but

I have given you spiritual children that will be with

you too.

Okay.

But of course you know Asian, very Asian, right. No,

I want my kids home when I already want the

care of me. But never mind, the Lord will take

care of me, right. But that is something that I

struggle with, you know, but I told God that Lord,

I do not want to lose my joy. I want

to continue to serve you in my own capacity. And

that's why I told God that, Lord, maybe it's your

will that I do not have kids so that I

can continue building your kingdom, so that your kingdom will

have more of your children, you know. And that is

how you know, I overcome my circumstances and how I

understand that. You know, joy is beyond what the world

tells us it is.

So yeah, so.

The next time when you're asking me, you know, when

you want to have kids, you know my answer already,

I told Oh, okay.

All right.

So yeah, so understanding all these I'm just gonna quickly

go go into reminding all of us who can and

who will give us the joy that will give us

the strength to face what's ahead of us. So we

started off reading my chapter eight, verse ten. It says

that do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord

is our strength. Okay, So a little background of this,

How this scripture came about. It was when you know,

Ezra was reading the law to the people after they

return from exile. Okay, so we know when when when

the Law is being rich to you one by one,

you will realize that, oh no, all the things that

have been practicing for so long is wrong.

Okay.

So when Ezra read the Law to the people, they

realize their sin and then they feel like, you know, okay,

I'm not worthy anymore, I'm not worthy of God. But

Ezra encouraged them to find strength in the Lord because

God is doing a great work in them. God is

trying to transform them. God is trying to bring them

out there from the situation where they feel they are

not worthy into someone worthy.

To be loved by God. So it's the same thing.

You know, when you.

Feel convicted of the wrongdoing that you have done, don't worry.

God is doing a great work in you, and God

will restore the joy that the enemy has stolen. And

the joy that God will restore to you. It will

be your strength to overcome every circumstances, all right.

So p.

Sixteen, verse eleven, it says that, okay, he will show

us the path. Okay, in the presence of God. That's

fullness of joy. So remember that spend time in the

presence of God. Spend time in the presence of God

every time you feel that you want to be defeated.

Remember what I said, God, I do not want to

be in a defeated situation. I want to be in

your presence. I want to find peace and contentment in you,

knowing that every step that I take you will lead

me towards the.

Final destination. Amen. So how you can do that?

Spend time reading his words, spend time praying, spend time

worshiping him in your prayer closet. Okay, And then, last

but not least, John fifteen, vers. Four to nine, The

word says, abide in me and I in you. As

the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides

in the wine, neither can you unless you abide in me.

I am the wine. You are the branches. He who

abides in me and I in him bears much fruit.

For without me you can do nothing. If anyone does

not abide in me, he is cast out as a

branch and is readed. And they gathered them and throw

them into the fire, and they are burnt. If you

abide in me and my words abide in you, you

will ask what you desire, and it shall be done

for you. By this, my father is glorified that you

bear much fruit, so you will be my disciple. So

the key what here is abide in Him, that you

will bear much fruit. What fruit, which is the fruit

of the Spirit. So when we abide in Jesus, our

source of strength, our source of hope, our source of joy,

we will bear the fruit of the Spirit, and one

of it is joy, and we will have the joy.

Okay.

So if you desire the joy of the Lord, you

just need to cling on to Jesus, Okay, Only then

you will truly experience the fullness of joy.

Amen.

So let's remember that you know, Christmas is not just

about decorations and gifts.

Okay.

It is not about going to different shopping malls to

find the best Christmas decoration. Okay, But that also doesn't

mean that you don't go last still go okay, but

remember the whole purpose of Christmas.

Okay.

If you're wondering what gift to get for your loved ones,

give them the gift of salvation. Give them the of

joy that you have found in Jesus. So remember that

the joy that I mentioned today is that it is

not the temporal joy that we are looking for.

It's not the worldly joy that we want. But it

is the.

Spiritual joy that will remain step fast, the spiritual joy

that would last forever, the spiritual joy that will be

able to help us to push thrue every circumstances. And

the only way we can receive this spiritual joy is

to receive Jesus into our heart.

So remember that Christmas.

You know, it's a time for us to remember that

God's unfeeling love towards us. It is the best gift

that God has given to us, the best gift that

God has given to mankind. It is because of Jesus

can have eternal life. It is because of Jesus that

we can come back to our other Father once again.

It is because of Jesus that we can be set

free from our circumstances. It is because of Jesus that

our mind can be renewed and that our hearts can

be changed, so that you know, we can live a

life that is free from the bondages of sin, free

from the situation where the enemy wants us to be in.

So this morning, now it's already afternoon, that as you

come into this place, I just want to pray for

all of us.

Maybe you have come into this place.

And you will find it hard in this season to

find joy once again. Maybe you are going through certain

circumstances that you know you say that.

I don't think there's.

Any way out, Or maybe you have come into a

place feeling hopeless and you want the joy once again.

I want to pray for all of us here. You know,

Let's not lose the joy that God desire for us.

Let's not allow the enemy to have any position in

our life. Let's continue to take some time to look

at God's hand in the little moment of our daily

life and start.

Giving thanks to Him.

So remember that you know, we are not alone in

this journey. We are not alone in our struggles. We

are not alone. We may be alone physically in this world,

but we are not alone in our journey with God.

He is always here with us.

If you are.

Coming with a situation that you know, you feel that,

I don't think people will understand, just like my situation

that you know, all this while I struggle with God,

and I say that, no, Lord, I seriously do not

know how to articulate the struggle that I have too people.

I really do not know how to tell people what

I really wanted I really don't know how to share

this situation with people, because why a part of me

is that, Lord, I do not want to hear all

the one thousand and one suggestions people will give it

to me, and I do not want as people give

me the suggestions, only for me to tell them that

you know, I can't this, I can't that. And it's

really a very tired journey.

But Lord, I know that when I tell.

You, you will never give me a suggestion.

You will always give me a direction.

And the direction that the Lord has given to me

is to look at him and trust him. So the

same thing that I'm gonna share with you all, maybe

you will have come into a situation just like me

that Lord, I really do not know who I can

tell and how I can tell. But Lord, I know

I can tell you. I know that I can trust you.

I know that when I hold on to you the

joy that is in me that is slowly.

Diminishing, you will be there to fend it up again.

You will fend the fire once again so that I

can continue to be joyous in serving you.

I can continue to be.

You know what in this journey with gladness, with fullness

of joy, Amen.

We hope you've been blessed by this message. For more

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this week is going to be a good week, a

hit for you.

God bless