Joy, Fruit of the Holy Spirit # 2
Fruit of the Holy Spirit Series • Sermon • Submitted
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· 6 viewsGod Gives Joy as a product of the Holy Spirit in our life.
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The Holy Spirit produces joy in our life. Galatians 5:16-26
The Holy Spirit produces joy in our life. Galatians 5:16-26
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 2832 Where Is Happiness?
Where Is Happiness?
Not in Unbelief—Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote: “I wish I had never been born.”
Not in Pleasure—Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone did. He wrote: “The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone.”
Not in Money—Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.”
Not in Position and Fame—Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: “Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret.”
Not in Military Glory—Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent, because he said, “There are no more worlds to conquer.”
Where then is happiness found?—the answer is simple, in Christ alone.
—The Bible Friend
Joy defined part (a) (What it is not)
It is not silliness or just laughter.
They used to have laughter revivals according to CBN.com back in 1993 and 1994. It was said to be an outpouring of the Holy Spirit where everyone laughed and laughed. For obvious reasons, it has not continued on.
There was also a story of a man who went to counseling. This man was extremely depressed. The counselor encouraged him to go to this great comedian who was in town that week. The counselor proclaimed that all this man needed was some laughs in his life. The counselor exclaimed that the show was sold out each night. The counselor said people were practically rolling on the floors in laughter. The man being counseled quietly said that he was that comedian.
I have been astonished over the years by comedians who lives ended in tragedy of drug overdoses or suicide. I think of people like Robin Williams and Chris Farley. Clearly joy is more than funny jokes and laughter.
It cannot be placed in a bottle.
Alcohol can not bring this joy. How many countless souls are depressed as they wake up the next morning only to find their problems waiting for them. Sometimes there problems are at the foot of the bed where they left them the night before. This is a good place to remind ourselves that we abstain from the use and sale of alcohol as FWB Christians. There are many warnings against it in scripture.
It can not be packaged and sold. How many times have you watched your children save and/or wait for that perfect toy they thought would bring joy. It is depressing as a parent to realize they thought it would bring them joy. When they get the toy, you can tell it is not what they expected. We adults have faced the same situation if we are honest. That new car did not drive as nice as we thought it would. Paying that payment has dampened our joy perhaps. We cannot find joy in a bottle or package.
It is not found in a relationship without Christ.
I want to make sure you understand what I am saying here. So many people mistakenly believe that if they could just find the right relationship, then they would be happy and have joy. If we live without Christ, then we will not find the true and real joy that God wants us to have. So many divorce and remarry only to be let down by not finding joy again. Christ is the key. Farrah shared with me the other day of a lady I know from Star City who is separated from her new husband. It was just a year or so ago that he was the best thing ever.
It is not found in a position.
King Ahab was the king of Israel, and he had no joy due to not having one vineyard that belonged to Naboth.
So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food.
Even though Ahab was a king, he still wanted more. There was always more to be had. And just because you are King does not mean that you can have whatever you want. There was a high price to pay for such wickedness perpetrated by King Ahab and Queen Jezebel.
Joy defined part (b) (What it is)
First and most importantly it comes from God. Galatians 5 teaches this clearly as seeing that it is a product of the Holy Spirit. Only God can give us the joy written about in Scripture. Joy Is The Flag
Principal Rainy, of whom a child once remarked that she believed he went to Heaven every night because he was so happy every day, once used a fine metaphor about a Christian’s joy. “Joy,” he said, “is the flag which is flown from the castle of the heart when the King is in residence there.” These words have been made into a popular chorus. Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations
It is real happiness. Closely related to gladness and happiness, although joy is more a state of being than an emotion; a result of choice. One of the fruits of the spirit. Having joy is part of the experience of being a Christian. It is expected of Christians because it is the natural result of having received salvation. The joy comes on account of what Christ has done, irrelevant of whatever other circumstances are happening in one’s life. (Lexham Bible Dictionary) For the biblical writers, joy is rooted in God and what he has done for people in general and his people in particular. (Lexham Theological Workbook) So joy can be missed. If we choose to focus on the wrong things, then it will be missed.
It is for all people.
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
Everyone can experience salvation. This passage in Galatians 5 reminds us that all Christians can experience joy regardless of who they are or what their circumstances are.
It is not conditional. Problems should not and cannot steal joy from a Christian.
So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Rejoice always,
ii. We should choose to have joy no matter what. We do not rejoice or have joy in problems, we have joy that we can serve and suffer for God’s glory! We are laying up treasure in heaven.
It will be experienced eternally in heaven.
i. Read Matthew 25:21
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
Joy Killers
Living in the flesh will kill our joy.
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Focusing on the wrong things will kill our joy.
There are plenty of scriptures that warn us to focus on God. There are serious warnings given in scripture to steer us away from focusing on the wrong things in life.
300 Quotations for Preachers from the Medieval Church Grace Looks to Eternity
Grace looks to eternal things and does not cling to those which are temporal, being neither disturbed at loss nor angered by hard words, because she has placed her treasure and joy in heaven where nothing is lost.
THOMAS À KEMPIS*
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Joy Givers
Obedience to God’s word.
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
Seeing others saved and remaining in the faith.
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Entering God’s joy in heaven.
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
300 Quotations for Preachers from the Puritans The Joy and Light of Heaven
How overflowing then will our joy be when we come to heaven, where our fruition of God shall be entire and eternal! Where we shall see him as he is, and know him as we are known by him! Where the unveiled glories of the Deity shall beat full upon us; and we forever sun ourselves in the smiles of God!
EZEKIEL HOPKINS
Conclusion
A. It is available for all.
B. Live in the Holy Spirit.
C. Enjoy the fruit!