Fruit of the Spirit: Joy
Notes
Transcript
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Ho Hum
Ho Hum
Inside out
“Sadness”
Joy :“Think of something funny”
Sadness: “How about that time the dog died”
Joy: “How about something else?”
Sadness: “How about rain?”
Joy: “Rain can be fun”
Sadness: “It’s cold and makes me soggy.”
WBTU
WBTU
Sometimes we are guilty of not being a joyful group of people when we have the greatest reasons for being joyful:
Sin - being a people who act like the world, without joy
How do we avoid this sin of being “sadness”
FI
FI
Jesus: Our reason for joy
If we seek after Jesus with intentionality we will have joy
Rioters and social justice warriors: Justice is not the answer. It is an unattainable utopia.
Remembering our salvation should bring us joy
His HS brings us joy
Through His Word
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Brian Head Welch
Lead guitarist for a band called KORN
Impressive conversion of a partying alcoholic and drug addict
Became a Christian and left the band to follow Jesus
Addicted to Meth, had suicidal thoughts, lost all hope.
idol was money and he was getting into buying land
The guys he partnered with were Christians, goes to church and hears the gospel
Was saved by God
“Had money, fame, success, but didn’t know who I was”
Jesus cleaned him up
Others: the participants of our joy
God may use others to show us the joy in the Lord
The Apostles often rejoiced in the people of God
John
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Paul
13 Therefore we are comforted.
And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all.
Zoe, Grace and Elsbeth
The girls scared Elsbeth and they all laughed
God uses his people to bring about Joy in each other
You: the instrument of joy
Through our response of joy God is glorified
Suffering
Paul rejoiced in suffering as Jesus suffered
17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
Work
King Solomon attempted to find meaning in all kinds of things: Work, Wisdom, Material things, pleasure, etc . .
He concluded: We should recognize God is our creator and obey him.
We are to do it with Joy in this life:
9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.
14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. 15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.
So What?
As Christians we are to avoid acting like the world. We are to be a people of joy, because we have hope.
Message:
We do often look like the world: lack joy and depressed, overwhelmed with work, etc . . .
We can come to Jesus and bring all of this stuff to him, and in faith, become a joyous Christian again
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Our hope and joy is in our salvation and the benefits to come.
When we put things in a proper perspective we cannot help but have Joy.
When God is before us, our salvation, our victory, our future blessings, we can truly have joy, even in these trying times.