Today, we will be meditating on laughter! 

Church does not have to a somber occasion every time we meet. Laughter helps Foster our church family: Shared laughter helps break down social barriers, build relationships, and create a sense of unity and camaraderie among church members. 

A joyful laughter and a less somber atmosphere can be more welcoming to visitors, showcasing the hope and gladness inherent in the Christian faith. 

However, our enemy has influenced comedy. People laugh at things that are not humorous. There is a mean, spirited that passes for comedy today.

The Bible tells us this is not good..

Ephesians 5:4 states that “no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving” should be heard among believers. The verse is a command to avoid unwholesome speech and instead speak words of gratitude. This is part of a larger passage that encourages believers to live a life worthy of their calling by being imitators of God, living in love, and avoiding immoral or impure speech

Where is the childlike laughter? Where is the innocence of joyful delight?

Children laugh, 300 times per day, but adults only live 4 to 15 times a day. 

Why does scripture tell us a merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones? Proverbs 17:22.

Proverbs 17:22 teaches that one’s emotional and mental state has a direct, significant impact on their physical health and overall vitality. 

• A “merry heart does good, like a medicine” means that a joyful, positive, and contented attitude promotes health, strength, and healing. Joy is a source of inner strength and resilience that can help a person navigate difficulties and even resist physical illness. This “medicine” is an inner state of peace and hope, often rooted in faith and gratitude, that benefits both the soul and the body.

The source of strength that Nehemiah 8:10 exclaims is that joy is a Source of Strength: laugh for refreshing and strength

And a True spiritual strength to face life’s challenges and overcome grief and guilt comes from a deep, abiding joy rooted in a right relationship with God, not from our own abilities or favorable circumstances.

Now, I’ve given some congregational members some scriptures to read this morning. 

1. Let’s have qread about what Paul said in Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”  This scripture indicates that joy is not a passive emotion, but an active choice and a duty for believers.
2. Now let’s flip back a couple of scriptures in the Bible.  Genesis 21:6 6 Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”

The story of Sarah laughing at the seemingly impossible promise of having a son (whom she named Isaac, meaning “he laughs”) is a prominent example of holy, faith-filled laughter in the Scripture. Jesus also used humor and irony (e.g., a camel through the eye of a needle) in his teachings.

3. Job 8:21 21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter. and your lips with shouts of joy. Laugh in victory. 

4. Ecclesiastes 3:4    A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,”

5. Psalm 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”

6. Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

7. John 15:11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

8. John 16:22 “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”

9. 1 Peter the message 1:8-9 “You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation.”

10. Proverbs 17:22 “a merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.”

Now let me give you a couple quotes from Reverend Charles swindoll and Martin Luther.

Reverend Charles swindoll  said “Laughter is the most beautiful and beneficial therapy. God ever granted humanity.” 

Martin Luther said  “ you have as much laughter as you have faith. If the Earth is fit for laughter, then surely heaven is filled with it. Heaven is the birthplace of laughter.”

Martin Luther “ I often laugh at Satan, and there is nothing that makes him so angry as when I attack him to his face and tell him that through God, I am more than a match for him.”

God said three statements here:

1. lift up your eyes in psalm 122:1-2

2. Lift up the Lord John 12:32

 3. Lift others out Matthew 12:11

Let’s first examine Palm 122:1-2 I rejoiced with those who said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord.” 2 Our feet are standing. in your gates, Jerusalem.

• Verse 1: The psalmist rejoices when fellow worshipers suggest going to the house of the Lord, indicating that this is a joyful and anticipated event, not a burdensome one. 
• Verse 2: The phrase “Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem” signifies that the journey has been completed and the participants have arrived at their destination for worship
  

Now let’s meditate on the phrase: Lifting up the Lord John 12:32

Lift up the Lord John 12:32

John 12:32 states, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself”. This verse is a quote from Jesus, referring to his crucifixion as the act that will draw people from all walks of life, both Jews and Gentiles, to him. It signifies that through his death, he will be exalted and his message will spread universally

Lift others out Matthew 12:11

Matthew 12:11 “What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?”

This is where we have the opportunity to lift people out of darkness by showing them the way, the truth, and the life.

Let me tell you what LIFT MEANS

L laughter

I In

F fitness

T Training

When I took my first lift class, I thought the instructor was out of left field somewhere or that she was pretty witty. But then I realized that Jesus did some radical things. For example, didn’t he spit into some dirt and make her mud? Then he rubbed it on a guy‘s eyes , bless him, and he restored the blind to site?

Sometimes we are called to do a different work. This different work reaches people in a different way so today I ask you to keep a very open mind and just remember that Jesus in his time also did some radical behaviors and we are supposed to follow and mimic his behavior.

Laughter may boost immune function, pain tolerance, cardiovascular health, and memory. Laughter changes the body’s chemistry by raising hormones responsible for happy feelings and lowering stress related hormones. Because laughing causes a shift in the way people breathe, it may also help the heart. There is evidence that laughter affects the immune system, by leading to a slight and temporary boost of certain immune cells.

Laughter both shuts down the release of cortisol a harmful stress hormone, and releases endorphins, the brain chemicals known for the feel good effect. It’s not a joke that sets the reaction in emotion but the physical act of emitting a hardy ha ha is good for our health. For me it helps with my depression and anxiety.

Laughter appears to cause all the opposite effects of stress. laughing changes the bodies very chemistry.

Don’t laugh much? No sense of humor? No worries! Laugh on purpose “fake it” or “faith it!” Use intentional laughter. The human brain is unable to distinguish spontaneous laughter from self induced so laughing on purpose can produce the same health related benefits as spontaneous humor according to a 2010 report in the alternative therapies in health and medicine magazine. 

Today in our lift session, we are going to use intentional laughter. Something may strike you as funny during our session, however, this can yield natural laughter, which is, of course, a wonderful bonus. But we are not going to use humor to induce laughter. 

Don’t get nervous! We’re going to do this together. For the last three weeks, I’ve been practicing 10 minutes of laughter a day, and it has seemed to promote relaxation, improve my sleep, improve my overall attitude, and produce a sense of well-being. it has decreased my depression and helped relieve me from my anxiety.

Now I’m going to invite you to experience and explore the spiritual side of laughter, as an extension of rejoicing in the Lord.

These exercises are really, really easy and fun. However, we will feel a bit foolish doing them. But take heart John 14:16 says that Jesus left and he gave us a comforter the Holy Ghost.

We areLaughing for refreshing and strength. Nehemiah told us in 8:10. The joy of the Lord is his strength.

We are Laughing in Thanksgiving psalm 126: one– three. The mouth was filled with laughter among all the nations for all of the things that God had done.

We are Laughing at the plans of the enemy and Job 5:28. We laugh at his destruction and his wicked plots that do not prevail.

Here are some guidelines. 

1. When in doubt don’t do it. If you have a medical condition that concerns you get the advice of your healthcare provider before starting any exercise program.
2. Take it easy and enjoy everything you do.
3. No Pain! Avoid extreme. Stop immediately if something becomes painful or uncomfortable.
4. Laughing dehydrate you; so drink more water today.

We do include and incorporate clapping in our exercises. Did you know that clapping is known to improve the brain function and to concentration. Clapping stimulates the lymphatic system, helping immunity by boosting white cells, which are essential providing germs and infections. Clapping is also shown to reduce instances of insomnia, depression, and anxiety so, it goes hand-in-hand with laughing.

There is an element of improvisation in L.IFT. If you watch improvisations on TV, you notice they will always say yes! For example, if one actress says there is a pear on your head. The next actor will always confirm with. Yes there is.

Yes promotes positivity! Yes, also encourages and gives us optimism. So when I asked you to do something in the next few minutes just say yes and give it a try.

Realize we are stepping outside of the cultural and societal norms by laughing intentionally. Psych accepts laughing at things that are humorous. The idea of taking the initiative to laugh on purpose and not as a reaction to something funny it’s a bit foreign to most.

let me remind you of Jesus‘s words: assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter in it. Mark 10:15.

Let’s start by rating how you feel on the scale of one to 10? One is awful and 10 being terrific. Remember that number write it on the palm of your hand.

1. Let’s try some hallelujah clapping. Front and into your neighbor on each side. One side and then the other. Front for two syllables and then to one side for three syllables. Like this, hallelujah, hallelujah, and hallelujah

OK, do what I do and say what I say.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

This is good! Surely heaven is full of laughter.

2. OMG (oh my goodness) celebration. Clap the word three times and then say oh my goodness. I shoot my hands up in the air saying that is wonderful.

Give them the example. My name is Pastor Jessica, and I feel the joy of the Lord. -respond with oh my goodness that’s wonderful.

Then ask Becky how she feels. Then respond with all my goodness that’s wonderful. Repeat as many times has wanted.

3. Deep diaphragm, breathing with laughter.

Breathe in for three – hold for three, laugh for three on ha – ha-ha – ha

4. Please close your eyes. Remember a happy time when you were relaxed and surrounded by people you love and who love you – a time when you all laughed about something. Maybe it was recent or at any point in your life. When you have it, laugh now as you laugh then.

5. Put on your laugh stick. Instead of Chapstick, you have a tube of laugh stick.

Put a dab on the corner of your mouth and laugh a little.

Put a dab on the other corner of your mouth and laugh a little more.

Apply your luaghstick on the entire bottom lip And laugh a little bit!

Finally, apply it on the upper left and as needed and give a big belly laugh.

6. Last exercise! Pretend we are going fishing. Cast your fishing line out with a long ahhhh! Yell! Ha when it hits the water. Fill a tug on the line and roll it in, laughing and laugh at what you caught!

7. Now, look at the palm of your hand, how are you feeling on a scale from one to 10? I’m hoping that you have increased your number? I know I have.

There is a difference between spiritual laughter and holy laughter. Let me tell you about this personal story to illustrate what I mean. In the early days of my Christian walk, I went to a large gathering. The auditorium was full. I’ll never forget the first time I heard the wrestling of thousands of Bible pages turning to a proportion of scripture all at once. It sounded like the waves of a sea passing over us. During the service, a spirit of joy broke out and people all over the church began laughing.

A sense of pure joy filled me, and I began to laugh. I know I could’ve stopped if I wanted to, but it felt so wonderful, I did not want to stop laughing. There was nothing funny or humorous. I wasn’t laughing at anyone or anything. I was laughing out of pure joy. I felt such love and gratitude for Jesus!

The Holy Spirit brought to me what Peter said, in Acts 2:15 “ these are not drunk like you suppose…” many of my friends were laughing. I said to my friend, as the realization struck me, “ this is what I was looking for all those years.

The humor of that thought made me laugh, even more. Now, I could sense the difference between laughing in the spirit with joy and the humor driven laughter of my realization that this is what I’ve been looking for all my life.

Hopefully, after today’s lesson, you can tell me the difference between humor laugh and joyous laugh.