Jesus Restores Joy

Jesus restores Joy

Phil 4:10-13

Good Morning church glad to have you with us-

I would like us to look at Paul and his pursuit of Joy instead of happiness.

In the pursuit of happiness most give up Joy.

Joy is what more people lose in their heart and then wonder why they are not happy.

Who’s willing this morning to ask the Lord for Joy? Joy unspeakable and full of His glory!

Prayer-

Joy is most of the time associated with money and doing everything you want when you want to do it.

If that is the case then all rich people should be happy… and we know that is not true.

If that is true, then we would not have such a rate of divorce, murder, job changes, road rage.

We wouldn’t see a society that looks like they have sucked on a lemon

We wouldn’t have a society where people have fewer friends and most do not have a good friend.

Remember the story of the paralyzed man in the bible needing 4 friends that would be willing to drop him from a roof top down in front of Jesus. In some cases we don’t have 4 friends like that.

Can you imagine, if money was the only thing that brought us joy, there would not be a lot of people being able to experience joy?

Phil 4:10-13 read from Bible

pastor, this seems like an odd sermon in the third week of Advent- listen, Christmas time should be a time of reflection of Jesus and we ought to have a face that beams with joy with what the Lord has done for us- yet many struggle to find joy at Christmas because of all the stress and pressure put on Christmas.

So to kick off this sermon about Joy we see one scripture from the apostle Paul talking about being content where he is at.

He has known hungry and he has known what it was to have plenty.

He says that he has learned a secret from living that has shown him that truth.

In everything, no matter what he has gone through or is going through, he says that he is content where God has him… so how do we get there?

Would you have to say this morning, you would like the answer to that question?

He ends this text with “I can do all things through him (Christ) who gives me strength

Joy is a choice

Joy is not determined by your situation. Circumstances may change but joy does not have too.

Now, you need to understand that the man that makes these claims the apostle Paul has not always known that kind of joy. He was a Pharisee, a well educated and well respected man who took great pleasure coming after Christians because they did not line up with his beliefs.

He had money, he had respect, the very things that most men are after.

He thought that he was doing God’s will.

He has a Damascus road experience with Jesus (Acts 9) and everything changes.

After his encounter with Jesus, after he is walking with Jesus, he finds that joy doesn’t come from what you do or who you are but who you are putting your trust in.

Obstacles Paul faced after coming to Christ

His message was rejected

He was beaten/stoned

He was deserted by some of his friends

Some of his converts had already backsliden

Lack of money

Plots to kill him

Persecuted/oppressed

Bite by a poisonous snake

Shipwrecked several times

Shackled and imprisoned

Sounds like if you are trying to find joy in stuff, people, jobs, money, he is living proof it doesn’t work- he had worldly joy before he came to Christ but he found lasting joy by making the choice that joy was going to be found in Jesus.

A joy found that would last longer than a fleeting moment of time.

Paul had every right from what he went through and going through to not have joy but Paul choose to be content where God had him

Paul is writing about being content while locked up… hardly the place we would write these words as we are going through some of the toughest times of our lives.

Ever notice the ones who are under such stress and turmoil yet can keep joy and their faith as they go through those hard times.

You look at their lives and those without Christ cannot understand how a person is able to do that.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice……………Phil 4:4

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer…………..Romans 12:2

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13