Fruit of The Spirit – Joy
Choosing to Rejoice!
Today we continue our series on the fruit of the Spirit. Let us go ahead and read our text:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Gal 5:22-23 (NASB)
Everyone wants to be happy. If you ask people what their number one ambition in life is, most people will say, “I just want to be happy.” Just recently I watched a show on PBS about happiness. The truth is you can find happy people all over the world – but you can find unhappy people too. All of us have various ideas of what will make us happy. Most of think that if we always have good days – we will be happy. But can you be happy even on the bad days? But what makes a bad day? Here are some ideas:
IT IS A BAD DAY WHEN…
Your birthday cake collapses from the weight of the candles.
It costs more to fill up your car than it did to buy it.
You take your income tax refund to the bank to deposit it and it bounces.
The bird singing outside your window is a vulture.
It may be easy to be happy when everything is going your way. But what about the rest of life? Are you happy only when everything is going your way? If so, you are going to be unhappy for much of your life.
We know that one of the fruit of Spirit is joy – because Paul just told that: “The fruit of the Spirit is…joy.” Paul also reminds that we should:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”
Phil. 4:4 (NASB)
Happiness depends on happenings. It comes from the root word has, which means “circumstances”. “I am happy today because things just happened to turn out right.” But I may not be happy tomorrow because things may not be so good.
Joy is different though. It goes deeper. Joy is an attitude – it is a choice. Joy is an inside job and is not dependent on circumstances. It is your choice to rejoice. You can choose – regardless of the circumstances – to be joyful.
Joy is what makes life – enjoyable.
We Should Have Joy Because…..
1. God Has A Purpose For Our LIVES
We can rejoice because God has a purpose for our lives. In fact He has a purpose for every situation in our lives. The good stuff as well as the bad stuff.
Romans chapter eight verse twenty-eight says:
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Rom 8:28 (NASB)
Have I told you that God is in the life change business? That is what He does. He takes a life and changes it.
That is why the Bible also says in Romans 5:3:
“We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, (brings) hope.” Rom 5:3-4 (NASB)
Whatever happens in your life is there for your good – even the bad stuff.
The Greek word translated “sufferings” here means “distress,” and it refers to anything that puts us under pressure. It is variously translated “trails,” “troubles,” “pressures,” or “problems.”
Many people have the misconception that when they get rid of their problems – when they get rid of the pressures – they will be happy. But we are never going to get rid of all our problems as long as we are alive. Don’t you find that just when you get rid of a big problem – you notice smaller problems you were unaware of while you were focusing on the big problem?
Joy is learning to enjoy life in spite of problems. Joy is not the absence of problems – but it’s realizing the presence of God in the midst of the problems. That is why Paul says we rejoice in suffering – not because of the suffering. Christians can be positive even in a negative situation because we know God has a purpose for it. We have a perspective that non-Christians do not have.
No matter what happens to us – God is ultimately in control – and He is big enough to take the bad stuff and make it work for our good.
It is a matter of perspective – isn’t it?
Maybe you have heard of the letter a college student wrote to her parents. It clearly shows how perspective influences our reactions. The letter said:
Dear Mom and Dad,
I’m sorry to be so long in writing. Unfortunately, all my stationary was destroyed the night our dorm was set on fire by the demonstrators. I’m out of the hospital now, and the doctors say my eyesight should return – sooner or later. The wonderfully boy, Bill, who rescued me from the fire, kindly offered to share his little apartment with me until the dorm is rebuilt. He comes from a good family, so you won’t be surprised when I tell you we’re going to be married. In fact, since you’ve always wanted a grandchild, you’ll be glad to know that you’ll be grandparents next month. I know you’d be happy with all the news.
P.S. Please disregard the above paragraph. It is a practice in English composition. There was no fire. I haven’t been in the hospital. I’m not pregnant. And I don’t have a boyfriend. But I did get a D in Math and an F in Chemistry, and I just wanted to be sure you received this news in the proper perspective.
Perspective makes all the difference in the world. How you you’re your problems makes a huge difference on how you react to them.
Problems have a purpose.
The book of James also speaks on this subject when it says:
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Jas 1:2-4 (NASB)
Notice the word “knowing” – go ahead and circle it. Believer – know – that the testing of our faith produces endurance. It makes us stronger. So strong that we become “perfect and complete – lacking in nothing.
Yes – God a purpose for all the stuff in our lives. So we should rejoice in that fact. But that’s not all:
We Should Have Joy Because…..
2. God Has Given Us A Life Of HOPE
Paul writing to the Romans says:
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Rom 15:13 (NASB)
As Christians we should never be without hope. In any situation we should never feel – hopeless.
It is said that a person can live forty days without food – three days without water – eight minutes without air – but not one minute without hope. But we who are in Christ – should always have hope. Because we have Jesus Christ.
The Bible says:
“Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
1 John 4:4 (NASB)
Isn’t that verse a verse of hope?
Many people have hope – but they have not based it on anything solid. It is an artificial – pump-yourself-up hope. Many people base their hope on the wrong things: the stock market – their good looks – a big salary – a nice job – a good family. But all those things are temporary and can be taken away. When they disappear – and when they do – so does their hope. And when their hope is gone so is their joy. Because joy is impossible without hope.
But Christian – we have a reason to have hope. We have a reason to rejoice. “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” All kinds of things can happen to a Christian in this life – but the fact remains – “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
All the world may be crashing down around me – but guess what? “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
I can always have joy because of this fact.
But that is not all – We Should Have Joy Because…..
3. God Is Always For US
I have already mentioned it but let me mention it again:
“Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
1 John 4:4 (NASB)
But this verse goes right along with it:
“If God is for us, who is against us?” Rom 8:31 (NASB)
Go is on our side. I know of no greater passage that fact then Romans chapter five verse eight:
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 5:8 (NASB)
He gave himself for us. We can be joyful in any circumstances because God is always with those who believe in him – no matter where we are or what we are facing. As believers we have been reconciled to God though Jesus Christ. We have become God’s friends, and this friendship will last forever.
Isaiah 43:1-3 echoes this assurance:
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
Isa 43:1-3 (NASB)
You would do well to meditate on and memorize this verses. It is saying that if you are a believer – God is for you and nothing can overwhelm you – nothing can destroy you. The devil can’t, other people can’t, and God won’t. No matter what you go through in life –you will never go through it alone. That is the reason to rejoice!
Joy is like a muscle. The more you exercise it – the stronger it becomes. Here are some suggestions to become a more joyful person.
First, develop an attitude of GRATITUDE.
First Thessalonians 5:18 says:
“In everything give thanks.” 1 Thes. 5:18 (NASB)
That is the attitude of gratitude. Notice again that we do not have to be thankful for all circumstances; rather, we are to be thankful in all circumstances.
Psychologists say that gratitude is the healthiest emotion.
Second, cultivate inner joy by GIVING.
Jesus said:
'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' Act 20:35
Third, develop inner joy through SERVICE.
"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.” Mark 8:35 (NASB)
The happiest people are usually too busy serving others to ask themselves, “Am I Happy?”Joy comes as we get our focus off of ourselves and concentrate on helping others.
(I wish to thank Rick Warren for the sermon starter ideas.)
