“Filled With Joy”
Acts:13:47-52
I was wondering; what gets you in a joyful spirit?
There is a difference between “Happiness” and “Joy.”
Happiness is often based with an activity or an outcome.
Joy can be from an event but is also a deeper contentment, given by God, even in the middle of troubles.
I. The Joy Of The Oration
Acts:13:47 “For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”
Oration = a formal public speech, especially one delivered on a special occasion
Glad - to rejoice exceedingly, hail. To be overjoyed. (Sounds like they were excited to hear about forgiveness and salvation).
Glorified - to praise, extol, magnify, celebrate, to honour, to hold in honour
Psalms 122:1 “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.”
II. The Joy Of The Opportunity
Acts:13:49 “And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.”
Word of the Lord - a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea, what someone has said
And the subject is all about the LORD (Jesus).
Published - to bear or carry through any place, to carry different ways, to carry in different directions, to different places.
Throughout all the region - the region with towns and villages which surround a metropolis
When the message is important then it must be spread thought our region.
III. The Joy Of The Opposition
Acts:13:50 “But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.”
These are the ones who reject the message that Paul has spoken because of their envy.
Stirred up - to incite, (through false accusations).
Expelled - to be driven away
IV. The Joy Of The Obedience
Acts:13:51-52 “But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.”
Matthew 10:14-15 “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.”
I must say that this is not easy for anyone with a burden for the lost.
There will come a time that God makes it clear that you must leave them to their own destruction.
Vs. 52. They are not filled with joy over the rejection of the Word of God but rather they are “filled with joy” because they walk in obedience.
There was a receiving of the Gospel message by some and for that Paul and Barnabas had every reason to be filled with JOY.
Conclusion:
So I ask again; what gets you in a joyful spirit?
When someone come to know Christ as Saviour?
When a person joins in fellowship with us?
I am so grateful for God’s Amazing Grace
