Complete Joy—Maintaining The Glow!
John 15:11NKJV
The Lord Jesus Christ fully paid for every believer to walk in complete-lasting-joy.
Only God can give you the joy you want. Do you desire a joy that is forever; Not fleeting, not just moments of pleasure, but a joy that goes on and on, with no end.
“Do you want complete joy?’ ‘Joy is one of the fruit of the spirit, and it’s readily available; however, just like all fruit individuals have to decide to walk in it.” P.H
Joy is not an emotion, but an attitude—a state of mind or manner of being. Isaiah 61:3, talks about putting on the oil of joy and a garment of praise like you would a healing salve or a protective cloak.
Joy is to be applied and worn. It is putting on an attitude of gratitude, no matter the situation or circumstance.
Joy is sometimes a blessing, but it is often a conquest.
In today’s text, Jesus said in, John 15:11NKJV “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
Writer—C. W. Metcalf was working as a hospice volunteer when he met 13-year-old Chuck, who was terminally ill. One day young Chuck gave Metcalf half-a-dozen sheets of paper with writing on both sides and said, "I want you to give this to my mom and dad after I die. It's a list of all the fun we had, all the times we laughed." Metcalf was amazed that this young boy on the verge of death was thinking about the well being of others.
Metcalf delivered the list. Years later, he decided to make a list of his own. Surprisingly, he found it difficult at first to compile his "joy list." But as he began looking each day for the moments of laughter, satisfaction, and joy, his list began to grow.
John 15:11TM “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.
Again Jesus said in, John 15:11AMP I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.
Overflowing is the key word—When this verse is put in context, the believer finds that complete joy occurs as he or she remains, or abides in Jesus Christ—I call it the abiding factor.
Is you joy complete? If it isn’t, why?
What is diminishing your joy? ‘Who’ or ‘what’ is robbing you of joy?
Maybe you are confused about what will produce that complete joy.
Sometimes we think people, accomplishments, or pleasures will bring us the joy we desire, but they all leave us wanting.
The interesting thing is that God wants you to have complete joy—He created you for it.
Here’s a fact, Jesus came so that you could be immersed in complete joy.
David wrote in, Psalm 16:11NIV 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.
Bill Shapiro wrote a book called—A collection of interviews. Each person tells of a single item that holds such importance and joy that he or she would never part with it.
For one person it’s a locket, another, a picture, still another, a recipe book etc.
Isn’t it something that most of the time, joy stealers are the very things we pay for, invest in, Wrong thoughts, warped ideas, anxieties, money, wrong property, car decisions, wrong people, wrong places, and most of all— sin.
Romans 12:1, tells us to be—“fervent in spirit.”
The Weymouth translation says, “Be thoroughly warm-hearted”
The Revised Standard Version says, “Be aglow with the Spirit.”
The Moffatt translation says, “Maintain the spiritual glow.” I like that one best—That’s the will of the Lord for our lives.
God wants us to—maintain the glow of the Holy Spirit.
Being filled with the Spirit, and maintaining the glow is God’s will for us, because it’s written in His Word. And we know that God’s Word is God’s will.
There’s an old song by Shirley Caesar, that goes like this:
This joy I have the world didn’t give it to me,
This joy I have the world didn’t give it to me,
This joy I have the world didn’t give it to me,
The world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away.
Let’s go back to today’s text—John 15:7-10AMP If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples. 9 I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. 10 If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
Listen, the gospel is intentional; therefore, if you want the gospel—God's will for you is to be intentional.
God’s word is the blueprint to complete joy.
The Apostle Paul wrote from a prison cell in Philippians 4:4AMP Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice!
What we often keep stashed away in our hearts, though, are things that have brought us great unhappiness: Anxiety—hidden, but easily retrieved. Anger below the surface, but ready to strike.
The apostle Paul addressed a more positive way to ‘think’ in this letter to the church at Philippi. He encouraged the people of the church to always rejoice, to be gentle, and to bring everything to God in prayer.
In other words, “Maintain the glow!”
Jesus said in Matthew 12:34b…For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
Question—Being honest, where’s your joy level; How full is your joy tank? Running on empty, Quarter, half, three quarters, or full?
Listen to his words in Philippians 4:4-9TPT Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let joy overflow, for you are united with the Anointed One! 5 Let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near. 6 Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell Him every detail of your life, 7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. 8 So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always. 9 Follow the example of all that we have imparted to you and the God of peace will be with you in all things.
Paul's uplifting words on what to think about helps us to see that it's possible to push-out our thoughts and allow His peace—the peace of God, to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Going back to the text in John 15, Jesus teaches us, to abide, to remain, to be intentional, to ask.
The Lord spoke this to my spirit—Some of you aren’t asking. For whatever reason, you’ve quit asking.
You might say, He doesn’t answer my prayers, so why should I ask. Can I tell you that God answers every pray.
This is what I’ve learned:
* If your request is wrong God will say no.
* If your timing is wrong God will say slow.
* If you are wrong God will say grow.
* However, If your request is right, your timing is right, and you are right God will say go!
Jesus teaches in John 15:8, as you abide, the Father is glorified; As remain fruitful, the Father is honored.
Joy is the result of something strikingly simple, though not necessarily easy—Consistently thinking joy-producing thoughts.
Again, John 15:9, Jesus’ plea is for believers to remain in the Father’s love, Abiding in His secret place.
To choose joy is to acknowledge the presence of God in any situation.
Hebrews 12:2NKJV looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus chose joy, we can too.
James 1:2-4NKJV My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
We can—choose to rejoice because we are living for something greater than anything that temporary circumstances can defeat.
We are—living for something deeper. Something more beneficial to those around us.
Something rooted in seeing more of the kingdom of God manifested through our actions, decisions, and obedience to the calling of our hearts.
Again, I say to everyone of you, “Chose complete joy, chose to maintain the glow!”
Benediction.
