Having Joy Unspeakable Series

Having Joy Unspeakable

Galatians 5:22

Introduction-

Last week we began a series on the Fruit of the Spirit.

We began with patience because everyone does so well with it.

If you will be patient with me this morning, we are going to look at joy, another characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit.

Paul in Galatians chapter 5, was telling the people that if they live a sinful life and abandon the Spirit of God, that you will be in conflict with God and that one day you would be judged for it;

Galatians 5:22- read from the Bible our text.

That is the springboard.

God desires each one of us to live under the direction of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

By doing so, we will bear fruit in our lives.

Today looking at joy! I ask you a question-

Do you have joy in your life? You may think that a silly question, but based on the actions of many believers, I would not know the answer.

A lot of Christians have a reputation of being grumps, gripers, complainers, narrow minded and negative about everything that happens in their lives.

I know that is not any of you, but come on, there even accused of being boring!

Illustration-(Sermoncentral)

There he stood with 1000 island dressing dripping from his hair, over his glasses, down his face, all over his jacket, pants and shoes. What had happened is a waitress carrying a 2 gallon container of 1000 island dressing for the salad bar had paused for just a second while coming through the swinging doors of the kitchen and the doors had caught her and knocked her forward, launching the dressing all over this guy. Well, he went ballistic! He started shouting and cursing at her. You’re so stupid! I can’t believe you could do such a stupid thing! This is a brand new suit and it cost me 300 dollars. His wife chimed in, yeah, you ruined my husband’s suit, and it is the first time he had a chance to wear it. I want to see the manager! Thoroughly shaken, she went to get the manager, and the manager came out. Now picture this, here’s a guy with 2 gallons of dressing dripping from him, and the manager asks, is there a problem? The guy replies, is there a problem? She ruined my 300 dollar suit. It’s brand new, and I want a new suit. The manager says, we will be glad to get your suit cleaned. Accidents do happen, and were sorry about this. No, no, he said, I don’t want my suit cleaned. I want a brand new one, and I demand a check be made for 300 dollars now!. Well, to avoid a bigger scene, the manager goes back to his office, writes out a check for 300 dollars and brings it to him. Still fuming, the customer leaves.

This happened at noon on a Sunday morning! Why would someone be wearing a suit on Sunday morning?

Do you suppose he was just at church?

Do you think maybe he heard a story about “love your neighbor”?

Illustration-

A while back, I read of a little girl who asked her mother, “If God is bigger than us, and He lives in us, wouldn’t he show through?

When we are Christians, Jesus ought to show through.

The Bible tells us to be Christ-like. Unless you have a picture of God as a sour puss and ready to hit you over the head, that would not be Christ-like.

I said a while ago that God was the potter and we are the clay.

That God shapes us and molds us if we will allow him to do that.

The first thing we need to realize and write down is that there is a difference between joy and happiness.

The Bible mentions joy over 330 times and happiness only 26 times.

Happiness depends upon what happens to you. If the circumstances are right, then you will be happy.

Joy comes from inside. You can possess joy even when you are going through a rough circumstance.

Joy is spiritual practice growing out of faith, grace, gratitude, hope and love.

You invite joy into your life when you invite Jesus Christ to dwell in your life.

It is not only about emotions, it is about a relationship.

You may not always feel happy, but you can still have joy in your heart because Jesus Christ dwells within you.

Now after saying that- you are given two options this morning.

Maintain or receive that kind of joy this morning or not maintain it or receive it and allow all the joy suckers to steal it or keep it from you.

You have a choice this morning!

Chief justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers.”