This Is That |  “Joy Is Not Optional” Sermon

SERIES: “This Is That”  —  SERMON: “Joy Is Not Optional”

Acts 2:16 “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;”

(NLT) “No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:”

John 17:13 “But now I am coming to You; and I say these things [while I am still] in the world so that they may experience My joy made full and complete and perfect within them [filling their hearts with My delight].”

“Real faith has perfect peace and joy and a shout at any time. It always sees the victory.” 

      Smith Wigglesworth

“Our apostle speaks of rejoicing as a personal, present, permanent duty to be always carried out by the people of God. The Lord has not left it to our own option whether we will sorrow or rejoice; but he has pinned us down to it by positive injunction — “Rejoice evermore.”    C.H. Spurgeon

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 

MD Anderson Hospital  Houston “Laughing Class”

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

“It is only in our ‘hours-off,’ only in our moments of permitted festivity, that we find an analogy. Dance and game are frivolous, unimportant down here; for ‘down here’ is not their natural place. Here, they are a moment’s rest from the life we were placed here to live.

But in this world everything is upside down. That which if it could be prolonged here, would be a truancy, is likest that which in a better country is the End of ends. Joy is the serious business of Heaven.”    C.S. Lewis    (Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer 92-93)

JOY:– Intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness, or the expression or manifestation of such a feeling. Joy 600x’s in the O.T.  – The Hebrew language has 27 words for expressing joy.

The Object Of Joy

Psalm 43:4 “Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy:” 

Philippians 4:4  “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” 

Joy is more relational than it is emotional.

John 15:11   “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

Acts 13:52  “They left the new converts in Antioch overflowing with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13   “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

The Quality Of Joy

Divine  John 17:13 “…the full measure of my joy within them.”  

Everlasting   Is 35:10 “…and everlasting joy upon their heads:”

Unlimited  Acts 13:52 “…continually filled [throughout their souls] with joy and the Holy  Spirit.” 

The Reasons For Joy

Healing   Pr 17:22  “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:” 

Recovery  Jeremiah 33:11 “The voice of joy …For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the First, saith the LORD.”

Strength   Neh 8:10  “…the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 

Nehemiah 8:10 “And Nehemiah continued, ‘Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!.’”

RESULTS Hebrews 11:11 “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.” 

Genesis 21:6 “And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.”  

Psalm 2:4 (AMP) “He who sits [enthroned] in the heavens laughs [at their rebellion]; The [Sovereign] Lord scoffs at them [and in supreme contempt He mocks them].”

Acts 5:41 (TPT) “The apostles left there rejoicing, thrilled that God had considered them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.”

Book Of James:

Brother of Jesus.     Pastor of 1st Church Of Jerusalem

Believers experiencing incredible persecution by authorities.    Wants to encourage the church.

James 1:2-4 (NKJV) “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

“… count it all joy…” Count It (hēgeomai) :— Rule, Command, Govern, Engage in leadership, Take charge.   Put your trials in a JOY headlock!

James 1:24 (TPT) “My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.”

“… you fall into various trials,”

Unavoidable — Encounter  Trails come to everyone.

Unpredictable — Various. Often sudden and random.

Uncomfortable — Trials.  Testing or proving of your faith.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NRSV). “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”

Trials Don’t take something from you, they manifest the richness of God’s provision in you!!!

“…it stirs up in you the power of endurance…”. Trials PROVE your FAITH!

1 Peter 1:8-9   “Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.  

Believing – Rejoicing – Receiving

Joel 1:12 “The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree,  the palm tree also, and the apple  tree,even all the trees of the field, are  withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.”

Lose your joy – Lose your stuff.

“Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?”   Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones