Jesus, the Source of All Joy
Jesus Christ is the source of all joy, and those who walk closely with him will obtain the joy of his Spirit.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that Jesus is the ultimate source of joy, contrasting the prideful nation of Moab, which fell under God's judgment and lost all joy, with the hope found in Christ. He draws parallels to modern America, highlighting the loss of innocence and joy following tragic events, and reminds believers that true joy comes from a close relationship with Jesus, who is anointed with the oil of gladness. Wilkerson encourages Christians to return to God with trust and faith, assuring them that they can regain their joy despite surrounding calamities.
Text
Isaiah 16:6 vividly describes what happens to a proud nation that falls under God's judgment: "We have heard of the pride of Moab ... of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; but his lies shall not be so." Throughout Scripture, the nation of Moab serves as a symbol representing all self-reliant people who turn their backs on God and fall under his judgment.
In biblical times, harvest was always a time of great celebration, yet after judgment fell on Moab, there were no shouts of "Harvest!" ringing through the streets. Any trace of joy in Moab became a thing of the past and a cloud of sadness and grief hung over the society.
Let's consider the landscape in America today. What do you see and hear? Our proud, haughty nation has fallen under God's divine wrath and there is a great deal of fear. When destruction hit the Twin Towers in New York City, the cry was, "This is going to change our nation forever," and that was true. The innocence, joy and gladness that many Americans once knew are gone forever and will never be recaptured.
What we need to know is that Jesus Christ alone is the source of all joy. The Psalmist says of him, "God ... has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions" (45:7). The oil mentioned in this psalm represents the Holy Spirit. The writer is saying, "Only those who press in to a closer walk with Jesus will obtain the joy of his Spirit."
We who know Christ's righteousness are not to live as those who are without hope. We have been blessed with both the love and the fear of God and he is saying to us, "The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing" (Isaiah 51:11). In other words, "I'm going to have a people who return to me with trust, faith and confidence. They'll take their eyes off their conditions and the calamities surrounding them and get back their song of joy."
Sermon Outline
- I. The Consequences of Pride
- A. Judgment falls on self-reliant nations
- B. Loss of joy and celebration
- II. America's Current State
- A. Fear and destruction
- B. Loss of innocence and joy
- III. Jesus as the Source of Joy
- A. The Holy Spirit brings gladness
- B. Closer walk with Jesus leads to joy
- IV. Hope for Believers
- A. Blessed with love and fear of God
- B. Return to God with singing and joy
Key Quotes
“We have heard of the pride of Moab ... of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; but his lies shall not be so.” — David Wilkerson
“Only those who press in to a closer walk with Jesus will obtain the joy of his Spirit.” — David Wilkerson
“The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Believers should not live as those who are without hope, but rather return to God with trust, faith, and confidence.
- A closer walk with Jesus leads to joy and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
- We must press in to a deeper relationship with Jesus to obtain the joy of his Spirit.