When Joy Becomes Your Job
Introduction
Good morning. Today, we explore a powerful truth about the nature of joy in our relationship with God. Before the fall, Satan's joy was to worship and glorify the Lord. But at some point, he stopped viewing worship as joy and began seeing it as a mere obligation. This shift led to rebellion and his downfall. But what about us? Through God's grace, we are given something Satan lost—free will. And with that, we get the freedom to choose joy in all we do for God. I don't have to worship; I get to worship. I don't have to tithe; I get to tithe. I don't have to praise; I get to praise. Because in Christ, what may seem like a duty is actually a joy.
Scripture Reference: Psalm 100:2
"Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing." (Psalm 100:2)
Satan's Fall: When Worship Became a Job
1. Satan's Role Before the Fall
- Before his fall, Satan was a high-ranking angel with the responsibility to worship and glorify God. He had a position of great honor in heaven, and it was his joy to reflect the glory of God through worship. Yet, at some point, that joy turned into an obligation. He saw worship as a job, not a privilege. In his pride, he wanted the glory for himself.
- Scripture Reference: "Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor." (Ezekiel 28:17)
2. The Danger of Viewing Worship as a Duty
- Like Satan, when we see worship, service, and praise as something we have to do rather than something we get to do, it loses its meaning. What begins as a joy can easily turn into a burden if we lose sight of God’s grace. The moment we stop seeing worship as a privilege, we risk falling into the same trap as Satan—making it all about ourselves instead of God.
The Gift of Free Will: I Get to Worship
1. The Grace of Free Will
- Through Jesus, we are given the gift of free will. God doesn’t force us to worship, serve, or praise Him. We have the freedom to choose, and when we choose to worship, we choose joy. It’s not that I have to tithe—I get to tithe. It’s not that I have to pray—I get to pray. The difference is profound. When joy becomes your job, it transforms every aspect of your life.
- Scripture Reference: "For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17)
2. Joy in Worship, Service, and Giving
- The freedom we have in Christ turns every act of service into an act of joy. When we worship, we are reminded of the grace we’ve been given, and it becomes a joy to lift up the name of the Lord. When we tithe, we’re not giving out of obligation, but out of gratitude for what God has given us. When we praise, we do so with hearts full of joy because we know we’re honoring the One who gave His life for us.
- Scripture Reference: "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)
The Joy of Serving in Jesus’ Name
1. Turning "I Have To" into "I Get To"
- It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking, “I have to go to church,” or “I have to serve in this ministry.” But when joy becomes your job, those "have to" moments transform into "get to" moments. We get to serve because we’re part of God’s kingdom. We get to praise because we’ve been redeemed. We get to worship because we know the King of Kings.
- Scripture Reference: "I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips." (Psalm 34:1)
2. Joy as Our Strength
- The Bible reminds us that “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). When joy becomes your job, it strengthens you. You no longer see worship, service, or giving as burdens, but as opportunities to connect with God. This joy fuels our spiritual growth and sustains us even in difficult times. It’s a joy that Satan can never take away.
- Scripture Reference: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)
Application: Living in the Joy of the Lord
1. Joy in Every Task
- Whether you’re serving in a ministry, giving your tithe, or simply worshiping on a Sunday morning, remember that it’s a privilege. You get to do these things because of what Christ has done for you. As we embrace this mindset, we find joy in everything we do in His name.
2. Guarding Your Joy
- Satan lost his joy because he took his role as worshiper for granted. We must guard our joy by remembering the grace we’ve been given. Every act of service, every prayer, every offering is a response to God’s love and mercy. Let us never take that for granted.
Conclusion
When joy becomes your job, everything changes. You don’t have to worship—you get to worship. You don’t have to give—you get to give. And when you live in that freedom, you experience the fullness of life in Christ. Let us rejoice in the Lord, always remembering that the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of joy in our lives. Help us to always remember that we get to worship, praise, and serve You, not out of obligation, but out of joy. May we always be filled with the joy of the Lord, and may that joy strengthen us in every aspect of our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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