Where is the Joy?

Where is the Joy?

2006034

Topic # 1245 (joy)

Introduction:

A. Make a list of the things that a person should experience because of a relationship with Jesus. What would you put on your list?

1. Forgiveness? Salvation? Mercy? Grace? Prayer?

2. Worship? Communion? Peace? Fellowship?

3. Anything else?

B. How many of you placed joy or happiness on your list?

C. If God made that list, would He put joy on it? Where would it appear? Top? Middle? Bottom?

D. Spent most of July talking about the joy of Christianity.

1. Joy is a natural product of a healthy relationship with Jesus.

2. Gal. 5:23-24 – fruit of the spirit produces joy.

3. If true joy is lacking in life – it is an indicator that something is amiss w/our spiritual priorities.

E. Let’s pursue the closest possible relationship with Jesus.

1. Let’s grow closer to Him daily, through prayer, study, and meditation.

I. Joy should be a basic reality in the Christian life.

A. Jesus would bring great joy – Lk. 2:8-14.

B. Jesus promised grief would turn to joy – John 16:20

1. Consider the behavior of the first believers who understood that the resurrected Jesus was Christ & Lord.

2. Acts 2

3. Acts 5:40-41 – went away rejoicing after suffering persecution.

4. Acts 8:38-41 – Ethiopian Eunuch

5. Philippians 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:16

C. What was the source of this great joy?

1. Jesus! What is the source of our joy? Jesus!

2. Through Jesus – the Christian has the power to look at his past, present, and future and rejoice! For example:

II. Christians can look at their past with thanksgiving & joy to God.

A. How is our perspective? Can we look back & see God at work in our lives?

1. Experienced things unpleasant at time, didn’t understand, but now looking back, I see how God used situation to improve me for better.

2. Anything that makes us better we need to thank God for!

B. Rom. 8:28 – it is this that Paul had in mind while writing this.

1. Look back & see the good in our lives. Nothing wrong with that.

2. Too often we concentrate on bad things that happen in life & end up bitter.

3. Or…we can remember the good, give thanks to God & be happy.

C. Paul could have concentrated on:

1. wrongful imprisonment

2. beatings/insults/stonings

3. Chose not to look at that & took great joy in how God was there every time for Him.

D. Think of the negative situations you have faced in life:

1. death of a loved one; divorce; betrayal by a friend/coworker

2. financial woes; loss of job; mistreatment by non-Christians

3. loss of health

4. What if we have to face those problems alone? Without God? Where would we be?

E. Truly, we can look at our past & rejoice. Remember happiness is a choice!

III. The Christian can look at his present circumstances and rejoice.

A. We can move forward in our lives w/extreme confidence in God.

1. Our confidence is not so much in self as it should be in God!

2. Phil. 2:12

B. Paul had seen God at work in Philippi – God deserved praise for every good thing that happened.

1. His confidence was in God.

2. His confidence was in the Philippian Christians who were the kind of people in which God could work.

C. Remember…God does not look for perfect people in whom to work. If He did, He would never work in anyone.

1. Rather…he looks for those who will allow Him to work in their lives.

2. We should be optimistic about our present circumstances because of what God is doing now in our lives!

D. God can work through us.

1. Through His word – Heb. 4:13

2. Through events in life – Js. 1:2-3

3. Through people – 2 Cor. 7:6

E. Whatever challenges we face in our present circumstances, if we are faithful children of God we do not face those challenges alone.

1. Let’s take confidence in each other.

2. Let’s take confidence in God!

IV. Christians can look at their future and rejoice!

A. While we do not ignore the realities of life – we will continue to face challenges…

1. But we can look forward with confidence because God is with us…

2. Light at the end of the tunnel of life is not an oncoming train; it is the extreme light of God Himself!

B. This is all contingent upon a healthy relationship with God!

1. Our determination to grow closer to Him must be on an everyday basis.

C. Phil. 1:9-11

1. We must make a commitment to grow in love, knowledge, & discernment.

2. grow in Christian character

3. Grow in fruitful and productive lives.

D. To experience true joy – the focus must be taken off of self & turned on to God!

Conclusion:

A. How much joy exists in everyday life because of our faith in the resurrected Jesus?

1. Do we experience joy because we are Christians?

2. If we experience no joy, no gladness, no desire to rejoice, because of our faith in Jesus – something is basically wrong.

B. When non Christians look upon our faith, heart, and spirit – do they see the joy?

C. When non Christians look upon the Brownsburg family do they

1. See our faith? Heart?

2. See the spirit in worship? Service? Relationships?

3. Do they see the joy?

D. Do you possess the joy that comes through Jesus?

E. I N V I T A T I O N



Where is the Joy? 2006034 Topic # 1245 (joy) Introduction: A. Make a list of the things that a person should experience because of a relationship with Jesus. What would you put on your list? 1. Forgiveness? Salvation? Mercy? Grace? Prayer? 2. Worship? Communion? Peace? Fellowship? 3. Anything else? B. How many of you placed joy or happiness on your list? C. If God made that list, would He put joy on it? Where would it appear? Top? Middle? Bottom? D. Spent most of July talking about the joy of Christianity. 1. Joy is a natural product of a healthy relationship with Jesus. 2. Gal. 5:23-24 – fruit of the spirit produces joy. 3. If true joy is lacking in life – it is an indicator that something is amiss w/our spiritual priorities. E. Let’s pursue the closest possible relationship with Jesus. 1. Let’s grow closer to Him daily, through prayer, study, and meditation. I. Joy should be a basic reality in the Christian life. A. Jesus would bring great joy – Lk. 2:8-14. B. Jesus promised grief would turn to joy – John 16:20 1. Consider the behavior of the first believers who understood that the resurrected Jesus was Christ & Lord. 2. Acts 2 3. Acts 5:40-41 – went away rejoicing after suffering persecution. 4. Acts 8:38-41 – Ethiopian Eunuch 5. Philippians 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:16 C. What was the source of this great joy? 1. Jesus! What is the source of our joy? Jesus! 2. Through Jesus – the Christian has the power to look at his past, present, and future and rejoice! For example: II. Christians can look at their past with thanksgiving & joy to God. A. How is our perspective? Can we look back & see God at work in our lives? 1. Experienced things unpleasant at time, didn’t understand, but now looking back, I see how God used situation to improve me for better. 2. Anything that makes us better we need to thank God for! B. Rom. 8:28 – it is this that Paul had in mind while writing this. 1. Look back & see the good in our lives. Nothing wrong with that. 2. Too often we concentrate on bad things that happen in life & end up bitter. 3. Or…we can remember the good, give thanks to God & be happy. C. Paul could have concentrated on: 1. wrongful imprisonment 2. beatings/insults/stonings 3. Chose not to look at that & took great joy in how God was there every time for Him. D. Think of the negative situations you have faced in life: 1. death of a loved one; divorce; betrayal by a friend/coworker 2. financial woes; loss of job; mistreatment by non-Christians 3. loss of health 4. What if we have to face those problems alone? Without God? Where would we be? E. Truly, we can look at our past & rejoice. Remember happiness is a choice! III. The Christian can look at his present circumstances and rejoice. A. We can move forward in our lives w/extreme confidence in God. 1. Our confidence is not so much in self as it should be in God! 2. Phil. 2:12 B. Paul had seen God at work in Philippi – God deserved praise for every good thing that happened. 1. His confidence was in God. 2. His confidence was in the Philippian Christians who were the kind of people in which God could work. C. Remember…God does not look for perfect people in whom to work. If He did, He would never work in anyone. 1. Rather…he looks for those who will allow Him to work in their lives. 2. We should be optimistic about our present circumstances because of what God is doing now in our lives! D. God can work through us. 1. Through His word – Heb. 4:13 2. Through events in life – Js. 1:2-3 3. Through people – 2 Cor. 7:6 E. Whatever challenges we face in our present circumstances, if we are faithful children of God we do not face those challenges alone. 1. Let’s take confidence in each other. 2. Let’s take confidence in God! IV. Christians can look at their future and rejoice! A. While we do not ignore the realities of life – we will continue to face challenges… 1. But we can look forward with confidence because God is with us… 2. Light at the end of the tunnel of life is not an oncoming train; it is the extreme light of God Himself! B. This is all contingent upon a healthy relationship with God! 1. Our determination to grow closer to Him must be on an everyday basis. C. Phil. 1:9-11 1. We must make a commitment to grow in love, knowledge, & discernment. 2. grow in Christian character 3. Grow in fruitful and productive lives. D. To experience true joy – the focus must be taken off of self & turned on to God! Conclusion: A. How much joy exists in everyday life because of our faith in the resurrected Jesus? 1. Do we experience joy because we are Christians? 2. If we experience no joy, no gladness, no desire to rejoice, because of our faith in Jesus – something is basically wrong. B. When non Christians look upon our faith, heart, and spirit – do they see the joy? C. When non Christians look upon the Brownsburg family do they 1. See our faith? Heart? 2. See the spirit in worship? Service? Relationships? 3. Do they see the joy? D. Do you possess the joy that comes through Jesus? E. I N V I T A T I O N