“Developing Joy”
Gal 5:22, John 15:1ff
Introduction:
Last week we started our series "Developing Character" (PP#1) and tackled the issue of "Obedience" to God. If you remember I said that outside of obedience to God you are settling for second best in your life. We looked at three areas of obedience: Recap.
-Obedience brings forth Self-examination.
-Obedience brings forth blessings.
-Disobedience brings forth consequences.
Listen folks we have to make sure that we don’t fall into the same scenario as this young girl.
It’s not enough to hear and know what God wants from us, we have to get up, be obedient, and "Jut Do IT" (our slogan this year).
And now this week we are going to look into an area that Christians seem to modulate in and that’s "Developing Joy" (PP#2).
I want to take a survey this morning:
-How many of you would like to live a "Joyful life?"
-How many of you rate "Joy" on their top ten list of importance?
-Now the real question, how many of you are experiencing a life of "Joy"?
Wouldn’t it be great if every day that we got up to face the world the sun was shining, the birds chirping, and we hadn’t a care in the world?
But in reality we face rainy days, the birds have gone south, and the trials of life overwhelming.
Many times we struggle to find any kind of joy in our lives. Have you been there when it feels like all the joy of your life has been drained right out of your very being? Are you there now?
Look at this poor fellow he was having a great day and then lost everything.
Video Clip: Monsters Inc. code 2319 (where the sock is found on the back off one of the scarer’s).
His hair will eventually grow back, but I do think that his pride will take a little longer.
ILL: C. S. Lewis said, Do not let your happiness (Joy modify) depend on something you may lose... only [upon] the Beloved who will never pass away.
If you have your bibles with you this morning turn to Gal 5:22 and lets define this component called "Joy". Read the nine elements of the "Fruit of the Spirit" and single out "Joy".
The very word joy or (care-e-o) in its original language means to be "cheerful", happy, well off, glad, and joyfully rejoicing.
Paul talks about what produces that kind of "Joy" 1 Thess 2:19 "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?"
Our "Joy" needs to be focused on the very fact that we will eventually in the presence of the Lord.
I believe that most Christians desire to have "Joy" in their lives. However, I have met a few that challenge the theory that Christians are "Joyful" and they don’t even have to say a word.
ILL: Eleanor Roosevelt said, "One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words. It is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.
When we choose to cultivate "Joy" we reap incredible benefits.
Jesus tells us in John 15 that He wants us to be full of "Joy"
However, if you fill your life with strife, hatred, jealousy and envy you will reap the byproducts of your actions.
Every Christian has the capacity to have "Joy" within his or her lives, Gal 5 tells me that. It tells me that "Joy" is a vital part of my make-up when I become a Christian and cannot be separated from my "Christian Character."
Don’t believe me? Take a look back to verse 19 where the scriptures talk about "the works of the flesh" (plural). Read 19-21. These are individual offenses that I can commit.
Now take a look at the "Fruit" (singular) vs.22 this concept tells me that my entire Christian package includes all these: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
These are all critical elements that build one upon the other in order to produce a well-balanced Christian. One increases the value of the other i.e.:
-Love builds upon joy and peace.
-Which produces happiness
-Long-suffering builds upon gentleness, goodness and faith.
-Which produces compassion.
-Meekness builds upon self-control.
-Which produces spiritual discretion.
The problem is that when I don’t work on developing the individual components of the "Fruit of the Spirit" I end up with a lopsided or disproportionate fruit.
ILL: When I was younger and lived in Oregon there was an old cherry tree orchard that a buddy and me loved to play in. Far into the woods I don’t think anybody remembered that this orchard still existed. Overgrown and abandoned we claimed it for our own. I remember on those warm summer days climbing to the top of those trees where the biggest, juiciest cherries grew. We would stay up there for hours hanging out in the sun and gorging ourselves one some of the tastiest cherries around. We would have a contest to see who could find the biggest cherry and also the funniest looking one. Many of the cherries we found would be deformed, growing together, lopsided, or extremely out of shape.
It’s the same when we understand "The fruit of the Spirit". We have the "Fruit of the Spirit" in us, but if you are not developing it evenly then you will become lopsided and deformed.
You might be growing in temperance or love, however your "Joy" may be starving.
So, this morning we are going to look at how to cultivate and grow healthy "Joy" (because we know its there) and I believe that we can. But we have to ask two questions about "Joy"
First, What is Joy?
Second, How do I get it?
Let’s tackle the first question. What is Joy? Let me start off by telling you what "Joy" is not.
1."Joy" is not happiness
a. Now don’t get confused between "Joy" and "happiness" because they are two different animals. The Bible mentions "Joy" or "Rejoicing" 330 times and "happiness" only 26 times.
b. Happiness is something that is rapidly changing. I might wake up one morning feeling happy, however there is no guarantee I will remain that way through the day. Things happen, problems arise, and by the end of the day I might feel anything but happy.
2. "Joy" is not elation
a. It’s not an enthusiastic state that I have to work myself into.
b. "Joy" is not something that has to be mustered up.
3. "Joy" is not dependent on circumstances.
a. If you think that cars, money, position, or power will bring you "Joy" you are grossly misled.
What is "Joy"?
1. "Joy" is an indicator
a. It’s an indicator of a genuine growing relationship with the Savior.
Phil 2:12-13
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
b. We are subject to the continual cultivating of "Joy".
- That (conj.) introduces "My joy."
- May (v.) shows what it’s going to do.
2. "Joy" is codependent on Christ.
a. "Joy" flows from a relationship that you have with Christ.
3. "Joy" is present at all times.
a. "Joy" doesn’t go on vacation.
Paul and Silas’s understood this.
Acts 16:21-25
21Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
- I don’t know about you, but I haven’t been beaten by any rods, fastened into any stocks, or thrown into the deepest parts of prison lately.
- Paul and Silas had every reason to loose heart and doubt their immediate future, but even when things where at there worst, they still had that inner "Joy".
- Joy is present in times of persecution/from without.
James understood:
James 1:2-3
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
- Joy is present in times of trials/from within.
Peter wrote:
1 Peter 4:12-14
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
- The completion of “Joy” is when we stand in the presence of the Savior.
- Joy needs to be present for the long haul.
4. "Joy" is also a barometer; it measures the inside spiritual condition.
a. Do you know what a barometer does? It’s gives notice of fluctuations i.e the weather changes, market indicator.
b. The spiritual barometer is ‘Joy”
-Low- bad relationship
-High- strong relationship
c. You don’t have to be around somebody for too long before you begin to see what their barometer is doing.
-It doesn’t take long to understand what is truly important in their life.
d. Didn’t Jesus teach that you would know a man’s heart by his actions?
5."Joy" is character.
a. All Godly men and women have one thing in common, their "Joy" barometer runs on full tilt. There is something glowing on the inside. They want nothing more that to be connected with God’s will for their lives and tap into the love of the Savior.
-I love to be around them because they excite me.
-I feel God’s energy from them.
-I like to be around them because the encourage me.
-I Feel God’s love flow out of them.
-I like to be around them because they challenge me.
-I desire to be more like them.
6. "Joyful" Christians are different.
a. Joyful people think different.
-They don’t allow negative thoughts occupy their minds.
-They’re not going to let the cares of this world still their "Joy".
b. Joyful people act different.
-Their attitude is different - its positive
-Their behavior is different - its God honoring
-Their speech is different - its uplifting
c. Joyful people re-act different.
-They don’t respond harshly but encourage lovingly.
-They encourage not discourage.
-They build up not tear down.
How do I find Joy?
A Relationship with Christ brings "Joy". Isa 61:10
"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God;" Why:
a. "For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He offers salvation to me.
-God offers us the only true source of joy "Salvation".
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
-God’s heart is to see everyone accept that gift.
John 3:16-18
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
-God rejoices when we do.
Luke 15:10
10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
b. "He has covered me with the robe of righteousness," He justifies me
Rom 3:22-24
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
- Justification = Just-if-I-had-not-sinned.
- We don’t deserve this He graciously gives this to us.
- Christ redeems me from my sinful ways.
c. "As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,"
- He wants the best for me in my life, my future, and for eternity.
John 14:2-3
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
- If you have a personal relationship with the Lord you have every reason to be joyful.
- If you don’t Jesus stands at the door of your heart saying "Let me come in, Let me bring Joy to you."
Rev 3:20 I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Abiding in Christ brings "Joy". John 15:1-4
Abide is a primary verb (an action) and means; to stay in a given place, state, or relation) to continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry
When you abide you will:
Vs.5 You life will bear "much fruit"
- Your life will count for much so when you stand before God you will hear those words " Matt 25 Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.
Vs.7 You will be able to "Ask"
- You will have an open line of communication.
- You will be an acting agent for the work and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Vs.8-9 Christ’ love will abide in you.
Vs.10 The Fathers love will abide in you.
Vs.11 because of all this your "Joy" will be full.
Conclusion:
Maybe your hear today and have fallen away from the Lord and your "Joy" is depleted and you need to pray as David did in Ps.51
Ps 51:12
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
Maybe you’re here today and you have never been grafted in and its time to ask the Savior to come into your life.
Maybe you’re here today and you need to start spreading your joy around why wait, start today!
