We have learned to behave like adults, we have become wiser, but what is wisdom? Making no mistakes? Being solid? But what does this mean?
Christ said that unless you humble yourselves like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of God. Christ doesn’t call us to be solid adults, He calls us to remain children.
What differs a child from an adult? He has no experience, he hasn’t learned to lie so that it is not noticeable. A man grows up, matures and loses what is valuable for eternity.
“In earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He will make them honored, by the way of the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness will see a great Light; those who live in the dark land, the light will shine on them. You will increase the nation, You will multiply their joy. They will rejoice before You, like the joy and jubilation of harvest; as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For You will break the yoke of Israel’s burden and the staff on their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian” (Isaiah 9:1-4).
The Lord promises that He will send a man or people who will reveal the increase of the people through multiplication of joy. This refers to those who are full of the Holy Spirit. Here is our goal.
The purpose of the anointing, the purpose of our meetings, is to increase joy. We sometimes increase problems, complexes, doubts.
A cheerful heart is beneficial. People with cheerful hearts do good. They leave good footprints on the earth, they act for good. They leave a good influence. It is difficult to imagine a scoundrel who has a cheerful heart.
A cheerful heart is a cure. In fact, you heal when you spend time with cheerful people. Let us gain a cheerful heart. This is not psychology, this is the Word of God.
All people suffer. There is not a single one who doesn’t suffer in some way, but a cheerful heart and attitude towards these sufferings makes you either happy or unhappy in one way or another.
All of us have an area with problems both on the physical, and on the mental, and on the spiritual levels. This is your measure of suffering. If it could be measured, it might weigh more than you do. But the attitude to sufferings – this is the whole key. How do you feel about them?
Each of us has troubles – unfulfilled dreams, conflicts, illnesses, lack of money and so on. They constitute suffering. Some teach how to avoid them. But it is unlikely to succeed. Means to solve these things is a cheerful heart.
I want to make you happier through knowledge. Apostle Paul writes: “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin; for He who has died has been freed from sin” (Romans 6:6-7).
Let’s be free. Knowledge as revelation liberates. He doesn’t say we should flee from the world, but know that the old man is crucified and walk in freedom.
One of the things to take into your intellect, into your culture, as a good component is humor.
The church should have a sense of humor. But a sense of humor should increase joy, not coarse joking. It should be uplifting, not offensive. It won’t hurt, but it will make our hearts glad.
It will be a cure for the nations. Imagine a man in the midst of trouble, when everybody feels discouraged, he is trying to support and bring it all up by making people glad. And people hold on to him like a straw. During a grievous time, this man, being in the same situation like any other, tries to humor. It’s like a breath of life.
How bad it is when man is always negative. Some don’t even want to be cheerful – they consider themselves too serious, important, religious. I know what religiosity is – in this “dark world” there is no God.
There is such a beautiful psalm – “Oh, joyful Savior …” How right it is! It’s wonderful! But we often convey a non joyful Christ.
One person said why the world is so dark and suffering – because Christians made it so! – With their sermons, their teachings, their lives Christians have made the world so miserable.
It is considered aerobatics when a person has a sense of self-irony, he is able to laugh about himself. Even kings joke about themselves.
There is black humor, it’s not good. Laughing at curses is bad. But there is good humor, which is from a loving heart. Even to serve a person in illness – to encourage him – after all, this is communication at a deeper level – this means that you are loved and known, this is a more refined love.
Humor in times of stress will be a good medicine. If you ever have trouble, try to joke – the prayer will not be lost, the Holy Spirit will not leave you. When joking in times of sorrow – these are strong people.
See how the Holy Spirit is lifting us up and making us happier. First of all, we must be human.
People with high IQ have a sense of humor, they have a “lively” intellect.
Culture and upbringing in different nations have this component – a sense of humor – this is upbringing. If you walk around harsh, boring – stop “poisoning” the air for others.
We’re not talking about making people laugh. This is low. Humor should be healthy and subtle, not just chuckles. Bad jokes are not sustained by healthy people.
God made even animals smiling. Regardless the events in the world – they continue to rejoice. Birds rejoice every morning, sing.
Gladness is a good indicator of intelligence and spirituality. Cheerful heart. Genuine wisdom changes a person’s face into a smile.
Jokes should be appropriate – you can’t joke about important things and then say that it was just a joke. There is a sense of proportion.
When we have a sense of humor – this is the look of faith on all issues. We sometimes talk about our own affairs in such a way that everyone feels bad. Turn a problem into a grace of restoration. Humor restores. Take any incident and turn it into grace.
This means to have a positive mindset.
I am inviting you to have a kind and cheerful heart. We will spend time with those who suffer. But look at everyday life joyfully, making fun of it, giving it a plus…
You are an absolutely healthy person when you look at life cheerfully. Cosmos is a huge bottomless smile of God. This is the kind, generous, good heart of God. A real mystic goes into the loving heart of the Lord, not into the void. A simple life but with a cheerful attitude is the power of the Spirit.