As we continue our discussion on living LIFE BY THE SPIRIT we now look at the attribute of JOY. Our focus verses are Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
We live in a world that is full of crime, disorder and disappointment. We see daily accounts of horrific crime and for some of us the economy has had a devastating effect on our everyday life and on our plans for the future. Some have lost jobs and remain out of work, others have had their salaries reduced and many within our community of faith face loss of their homes.
Many who do not have a personal relationship with Christ try desperately to convince themselves that they are happy. They fool everyone but themselves. Or they know they are not happy and try to drown their sorrow in drinking, drugs, sports, work or something else to keep their minds off their unhappiness. We believe there is only one kind of true, lasting, joy: Christian Joy.
Others are church members, but find no reason for joy. Because of the weakness of their faith, and the temptations that so easily beset, some have a hard time seeing the joy of salvation.
I’d like to share some of the sources for our Christian joy.
Joy is a consequence of faith.
Joy comes from having a confident trust in God.
Without faith in God and Christ, we cannot experience abiding joy.
Faith is essential to joy because it dispels the attitudes that prevent joy from occurring. Attitudes such as worry, doubt and fear evaporate in the presence of faith.
Joy is also a result of obedience.
Obedience to the Word of God fosters joy in the heart of the obedient.
Conversely, disobedience dispels joy and produces fear. Hebrews 10:26-27, If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
Lack of joy could be an indication of a lack of obedience.
Joy is based on forgiveness.
The guilt of sin is a major reason many people lack joy.
Awareness of such guilt causes stress, unhappiness, and worry.
Even as Paul illustrated in describing his condition as one struggling with the problem of sin. Romans 7:22-24, For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
But where there is forgiveness, there can be joy! When you get a chance read the 32nd Psalm of David.
If you have not yet received the forgiveness found only in Christ, there is no way to experience the abiding joy that comes only in the Lord.
Joy also comes from Christian fellowship.
Paul experienced joy by witnessing love and fellowship in Philemon 1:7 says, Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
Are you developing and nurturing the kind of Christian fellowship that adds to your joy?
Joy comes from Christian service.
There is the joy of spreading the gospel.
Barnabas rejoiced in the conversions at Antioch in Acts 11:20-23.
The Christian Jews delighted to hear of the conversion of the Gentiles in Acts 15:3.
There is great joy in seeing the spiritual progress of others. To watch as others come to know our Lord and grow in the Lord.
Joy comes from giving.
Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
Every believer that is willing to become involved in serving the Lord, whether it be through teaching or the giving of one's time, energy or money, will experience joy from such service!
The theme of the epistle of Galatians is Christian freedom. Regardless of the circumstances of life, believers should be able to rejoice or have joy in the freedom that is in Jesus Christ.
We have joy because of our place in Christ
We have joy because of our purpose in life.
We have joy because of our perspective of eternity.
The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is your strength. This is why it is so important that every Christian have some level of God’s joy operating through them in this life. Without God’s joy operating in your life, things can begin to dry up. Nothing is ever fun anymore. Living life by the Spirit is living a joyful life, a life blessed with the joy of salvation.
To be continued….
Tommy—one counted among the redeemed
Excellent series Tommy, quite compelling and sooo true. I hope most 51+1 Team Members come to this blog at least once a week; Let's promote it Sunday night at the meeting and perhaps try also to muster feed back on this blog on what is the Lord doing in our witness lives right now!
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