FROM SORROW TO JOY FROM TEARS TO LAUGHTER Luke 2: 9 – 14 There are extreme case of sorrow that God turned into joy. We shall look at some of them.
ISRAELITES IN EGYPT Exo 3: 7 – 10God knows your sorrows. He knows what is troubling you, Exodus 3:7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; 8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. God said –
I have seen their afflictions
I have heard their cry
I know their sorrows
I have come down to deliver them Whatever power is contending with you, the Lord will deliver you in Jesus’ name. The way that The Lord disgrace Pharaoh, God will disgrace your enemies in Jesus’ name. Whatever power says you will not go forward, will be disgraced in Jesus’ name. This is the time of celebration and The Lord will give you joy in Jesus’ name. Israelites looked behind them and saw the dead bodies of their enemies you will see the complete and total destructions of your enemies in Jesus’ name.
HANNAH 1Sam 1: 6 – 18, 27; 2: 1 Hannah was being provoked because of her situations and she was being insulted and disgraced. Whatever the enemy is using to insult you shall be reversed in Jesus’ name. 1Samuel 1:9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. Hannah rose up – so you must raise up your head and stop worry, thinking on negatives and crying. The provocation moved her to go to God. No problem must hinder you from going to The Lord. 1Samuel 1:18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. When you carry your sorrow to the Lord, leave it there. 1Samuel 2:1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. God turned her tears to laughter.
JABEZ 1Ch 4:9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. THE PRAYER OF JABEZ Bless me indeed Enlarge my coast Be with me Keep me from evil Remove grief from me We do not know what brought sorrow to the mother of Jabez and she transfer the sorrow to her son. Imagine if your name is called sorrow! Jabez was not satisfy with such a name and he prayed and the Lord changed everything for him. Jabez become honourable because he went to God to remove the sorrow in his life. His life was totally changed because he prayed. Every inherited sorrow must be removed. Everything that has brought sorrow into my life or made sorrow to stay in my life should be removed in Jesus’ name.
THE WIDOW OF NAIN Luke 7: 11 – 16 Her husband had died, she had only one son and now the son had died. Satan wanted her to live and die in sorrow but Jesus met her. Jesus said, weep not. Stop your tears and look up to Jesus. Direct your attention to Jesus and your tears shall change to laughter in Jesus’ name. Human comfort had no solution but the words of Jesus carries weight. There was erratic jubilation for the woman, the son and all the people. Jesus spoke to the problem of this woman and Jesus has come to speak to your problems. God is compassionate God knows what we are going through Jesus is the only one that can change our sorrow to joy. God is loving He cannot see me weeping and turned away from me. He showed love to Israelites in Egypt. He showed love to the widow of Nain so, He will show His love to me.
MARY AND MARTHA John 11: 1 – 45 Mary said, “But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.” John 11:22 Jesus said, “Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.” John 11:23 Whatever the enemy had done for you, or saying about you, Jesus has the final say.
DORCAS Acts 9: 36 – 41 The believers in Joppa truly believed in God and they sent for Peter. God has the final say over your life WHY WILL GOD ANSWER YOUR PRAYER? God will answer your prayers because of His personality – He is a compassionate God He is powerful – Omnipotent His promises – Matt 11: 28 1John 3: 8b His plan – “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11 The place of prayer is the arena of joy Preached by ELIZABETH OLADIMEJI