The Best Way to Serve God

✝️ The Best Way to Serve God

Text: John 20:20–24; Deuteronomy 28:47–48
Theme: The best way to serve God is with joy and gladness.

🌟 Introduction

God wants our joy to be full (John 16:24).
A condition for fullness of joy is to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18) so we might bear the fruit of joy (Gal. 5:22).
One way to be filled with joy is to ask and receive from God (John 16:23–24).
We often lack joy because:

  • We are not receiving.

  • We are not receiving because we are not asking.

  • We are not asking because we are not believing (Mt. 21:22).

Deuteronomy 28 shows blessings and curses under God’s covenant. In this terrifying chapter is a golden truth:

“Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things.” (Dt. 28:47)

God rebuked His people for serving Him without joy and gladness, despite His abundant goodness.

I. 💪 Serve the Lord With Joyfulness

“The joy of the LORD is your strength.” — Neh. 8:10

  • Joy is spiritual strength for obedience and endurance.

  • Serving only from fear or duty robs love and delight.

    • Example: Many Christians serve as miserably as ponies walking in circles on a fairground carousel — weary and joyless.

Scripture: Colossians 1:10–11

  • In our walk with God.

  • In our work for God.

  • In our knowledge of God.

  • Joyful patience gives strength to keep serving.

Quotes:

  • 17th c. Richard Baxter:

    “A heart delighting in God makes every duty sweet and every burden light.”

  • 20th c. A.W. Tozer:

    “The man who has found God’s joy in obedience does not count service as sacrifice, but privilege.”

II. ❤️ Serve the Lord With Gladness

“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” — Ps. 100:2

  • Gladness is a heart overflowing with praise. (1 Kings 8:66)

    • They blessed the king.

    • They went home joyful.

    • They went home filled with God’s goodness.

What Glad Service Looks Like:

  • Shouting — joyful noise (Joshua 6:16 – victory shout).

  • Singing — with praise, thanksgiving, and even dancing (Ps. 30:11; Luke 15:25).

  • The abundance of God’s goodness, mercy, and truth.

Quote:

  • 19th c. F.B. Meyer:

    “The glad heart is the singing heart, and the singing heart is the strong heart in the service of Christ.”

III. 🙏 Serve the Lord With Thanksgiving

“In every thing give thanks…” — 1 Thess. 5:18

  • Thank Him for the abundance of all things (Eph. 3:20; Eccl. 5:19–20).

  • Thank Him for:

    • Grace — 2 Cor. 4:15.

    • Mercy — 1 Pet. 1:3.

    • Daily provision and blessings.

Quotes:

  • 19th c. George Müller:

    “Gratitude is the key to joy, even in the darkest of times; thanksgiving turns service into worship.”

  • 20th c. Corrie Ten Boom:

    “The thankful heart sees God in everything and is content to serve wherever He places it.”

  • 18th c. William Law:

    “Would you know who is the greatest saint? It is he who is most thankful.”

🌅 Closing Challenge

  • Israel fell because they stopped serving God joyfully and gladly despite His abundance (Dt. 28:47–48).

  • Many believers lose joy and end up serving the world, flesh, and devil in hunger, thirst, nakedness, and bondage (cf. the prodigal son; Rev. 3:17).

  • Christ came that we might have life more abundantly (John 10:10).

  • Joy is Spirit-born, not circumstance-made (Gal. 5:22).

  • Paul overflowed with joy even in deep affliction (2 Cor. 7:4).

✅ Take-home:
“God wants joyful children — serve Him with joyfulness, gladness, and thanksgiving. If you lose joy, you soon lose service.”

✍️ Reflection

☑️ Am I asking and believing so I can receive joy?
☑️ Do I serve from fear/duty or love/joy?
☑️ When did I last thank God for His abundance?
☑️ How can I express gladness in worship this week?

Jeffrey smith