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.”
Yes, clergy, even other Christians can steal your joy if you let them.
Circumstances can rob us.
Joy sucker defined as anyone or anything that robs you of what God intended you to have.
That deep abiding inner peace and joy that Jesus Christ promises when we obey His commandments.
This joy does not depend on circumstances because it rests in God’s sovereign control of our lives.
Illustration-
You all know of my fear and anxiety of roller coasters. I don’t like them. They do not make me happy. But, I will tell you, I will not let a few minutes on a roller coaster rob me of the joy and love I have for the Lord.
You know how much I love a good belly laugh, and if I get this belly going, look out!
I believe laughter is good medicine, but I also know that a good belly laugh can’t last forever or it will hurt.
It goes from enjoyable to painful quickly.
We have to be careful that we don’t let joy suckers steal and we have to get our minds conditioned that we cannot always be in a belly laugh, because that is not good for us either.
Picture a ladder, at the bottom, would be miserable and at the top would be joyous- you want to be striving for joyous, not letting circumstances steal from you and you are intentionally not going to allow yourself to be miserable.
Here we go- some things to think about.
I. you don’t have to lose your joy because of trials in your life
Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called to His purpose.”
God is working things out for those who are called according to His purpose.
People that are living obedient and love the Lord. He is working things out!
You may have lost a job
You may be in a tough relationship
You may have pressure at work
Missed a promotion
Maybe, even someone at church said a wrong thing…. Don’t let them steal your joy!
Isaiah 55:11- “Gladness and joy will overtake them and sorrow and morning will flee away.”
Nehemiah tells us – “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
William Barclay
A gloomy Christian is a contradiction in terms.
I would call it a oxy-moron. Two things that should not go together.
Sometimes the devil steals our joy by unsatisfied expectations.
Most people can never be content where the Lord has us at the moment.
Paul says- “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.”
Contentment doesn’t come when we have everything we want. It comes when we want something and we are willing to wait on God for it.
Lost joy can be restored
David writes- “Restore unto me the joy of my salvation.”
David at this point was a bummed out, depressed believer, where joy was a memory.
He cried out to God, and God restored him. He will restore you too, if you let him.
Billy Sunday
“The trouble with many is that they have just enough religion to make them miserable.”
II. How do you get joy back if you have lost it
Proverbs 17:2
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
Some of you need to go back and have a good belly laugh. Some of you need to realize that you have a broken spirit and only God can fix it.
Here are some keys to joy that God gives
Gratitude- Thank Him for what He has already given you, instead of complaining about what you don’t have.
Compassion- some of you are so wrapped up in your own lives that you miss opportunities God gives you to make an impact in other people’s lives.
Giving to others- Real joy comes from God as we give back to others.
You cannot be stingy with God’s love. It has to be given away so you can receive more.
Contentment- some of you God can’t bless you because you have not learned to be content where He has you right now.
Unselfish, condemning people cannot experience God’s real joy because God’s joy is based upon overflowing love that is poured out and refilled by the Holy Spirit active in our lives.
Evangelist David Ring who has had cerebral palsy for over 30 years. In his service as the people would look at a broken and crippled man , he would say “I have cerebral palsy, what is your problem”?
God is asking us this morning, what is your problem?
I have died for you
I have given you a resurrected life,
I have sent the Holy Spirit to be with you and guide you.. What is your problem?
Why don’t you have joy overflowing?
Why don’t more people have the joy of the Lord in their life?
The last one is forgiveness
You cannot forgive and they have stolen your joy. You can’t do that on your own this morning. That is a God thing!
If you can’t do it- right now ask God to help you.
Cry out like David did “create in me a clean heart Oh, God, and renew a right Spirit in me.’
Restore unto me the joy of my salvation, and grant me a willing spirit!
Closing
If you have lost the joy of the Lord, get it back this morning!
Make a conscious decision that you are going to follow Christ.
The only way to have joy unspeakable is to turn what does not make you joyous over to the Lord.
Jesus says
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
You have to remain close to Jesus!
Joy suckers do not like to be around Jesus, so stay close to Jesus!
“remain in me, and I will remain in you” that is His promise!
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