Those who are
saved are called to live by the Word of God.
But what does this life lived out look like? Since we know we will still have hardships
& we know that we will stumble & fail, how do we know we are following
the right path? One of the indicators
the Bible speaks of is joy. But what is
joy & what does joy look like in our life?
Fullness
of joy
·
Joy defined
o
Joy is a state of mind and an
orientation of the heart. It is a settled state of contentment, confidence and
hope
o
It appears 93 times in the OT (simchah);
59 times in the NT (chara)
·
John 15:10-11
If you keep my
commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's
commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my
joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full
·
1 John 1:4
And we are writing
these things so that our joy may be complete
·
The Bible says joy comes from the God’s
Word
o
Why?
§
I can do all things in Christ (Phil 4:13)
§
Ask whatever you wish (John 15:7)
§
Do not worry (Luke 12:22)
§
Why else?
·
Joy outside of God is fleeting
o
Job 20:4-5
Do
you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth, that the exulting
of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment
**
My kid on the swings **
·
Christ was anointed with the ‘oil of
joy’
o
Hebrews 1:9, Psalms 45:7
o
He was joy fully realized
·
Joy is not an emotion that can be
forced, fabricated, or faked
Occupied
with joy
·
Ecclesiastes 5:20
For he will not
much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in
his heart
·
Being filled with joy means being
empty of other things
o
What can occupy us?
o
Is there anything that God cannot
overcome in our lives?
o
Being filled with joy means being
empty of other things
** Example of being occupied by joy **
·
Why we fellowship
o
Acts 2:46
o
They worshiped together at the Temple
each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great
joy and generosity
Know
the path of life
·
Psalm 16:11
·
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures
forevermore
·
What’s the opposite of joy?
o
Uneasiness
o
Double minded & unstable (James
1:8)
o
Tossed to & fro by the cunning of
man (Ephesians 4:14)
o
The right answer won’t contradict the
Word
·
We should look like people who have
been freed from something
o
Repentance allows us not bogged down
with guilt
1 Peter 1:8
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory
