Joy vs Happiness
Joy vs. Happiness • Sermon • Submitted
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· 6 viewsJoy is experienced naturally in many circumstances of life and in human relationships. It is especially important in the life of God’s people, who experience joy in response to all that God has done for them.
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Joy vs. Happiness
Joy vs. Happiness
There is a story of a lawyer who acquired great wealth in the late 1800’s and he made significant investments into property through out Chicago, he was faced with the disasters of losing his 4 year old son to the 1871 Chicago fires along with a great deal of his property so he suffered great loses in his financial investments as well. Plus in 1873 the remaining investments he had took a turn for the worse when there was an economic down turn. His family was planning to leave on a trip to Europe when he got delayed due to some zoning issues with some of his property, so he sent his family ahead of him, only to receive a telegraph from his wife stating that “Saved alone” For you see the ship they were on sank to the bottom of the Atlantic ocean and all 4 of his daughters perished. As Mr. Spafford’s ship passed where his daughters lay at the bottom of the ocean, a calm came over him and he was inspired to write the famous hymn “It Is Well with My Soul”. But what does that mean to find a sense of peace when there really is no peace? When there is turmoil and calamity all around you. When there is no happiness for you. What does that really mean..
17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
See, happiness is fleeting and it changes directions like the blowing of the wind, you don’t know, what it will bring tomorrow, for it is so temporal. As children of God we must not reflect on the temporary, but lean into the extraordinary. Let me say that again!
See Hope is extraordinary! Because Hope produces patience, patience produces desire, and desire produces expectancy.
What are you expecting my friends? What have you been desiring that the Lord has put in your heart? What have you patiently been waiting for… What are you hoping for, that God has promised to deliver to you?
1 Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.
Joy produces faith in the things of God!
Joy is interlocked with salvation and Salvation produces Joy.
11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
Joy is also a fruit of the spirit.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Ancient philosophers believed happiness was derived from those things the individual did or the presence of pleasure with the absence of pain.
The problem with this for the believer is that life is full of pain because we live in a sin fallen world with sin fallen people and a desire you always rebel again our sinless creator. Which in turn produces sin and then sin produces death and death produces pain. Thus the lack of happiness.
You cannot find true happiness until you find a sense of hope and hope only comes from the spirt of God, which in turn produces Joy. Joy produces faith in knowing that someday all this sadness will pass away.
1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Christian Contagion
William Barclay told of a bright young woman who contracted a crippling disease that left her partially paralyzed. She had been an outdoor person, loving sunshine and sports, but now her world had turned into shadows. One day a friend brought her a book on the theme of Christian joy, written in a vivid, radiant style. As the girl took the book in her gnarled fingers, she spoke quietly, “Certainly, I know this book.”
Her friend replied, “Have you read it before?”
“Yes,” replied the cripple. “You see, I wrote it.”
Some of the greatest trials you will face, will bring the greatest joy out of you.
23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. 25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.