Fruit of the Spirit - Joy

What brings you happiness?

Motorcycle ride in the country

Visiting a friend

Gardening

Read a good book

For me - beach

Study 2015 - millennials

asking what would make them happy?

80% - get rich

50% - get famous

Harvard study of adult development - 75 years

724 men

1938

Good relationships keep us happier and healthier

Their conclusion “we are human and we desire a quick fix, relationships are messy and take hard work”

Their solution “replace screen time with people time, go on a date night, reach out to the family member you haven’t spoken to in years”

Spend quality time with others = happiness

Likewise - spend time with God - happiness

More than happiness - Joy

Difference between Happiness and Joy?

Over the last few months as we have been looking at the book of Galatians

We have learned about the freedom that we can have

When we are formed by Christ and turn away from the laws of the world

And instead focus our hearts on the truth of the gospel

Now as we look at this list of the fruit of the Spirit over the next few weeks

We need to understand that we have the same freedom

To choose to practice these things in our lives

Instead of serving the desires of the flesh

We have the choice to be formed in Christ and allow the fruit of the Spirit to shape our lives and live counter culturally

As Pastor Mike mentioned last week the word fruit here in Greek is Karpos

Which is referring to an assortment of fruit all from the same source

That source is the Holy Spirit

Joy?

Worldly definition

Definition - the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying;

The world is telling us that joy equals happiness

and happiness as we see the results of this study according to the world

comes from people and things

The world tells us a spouse will complete us

…sex will complete us

…the perfect number on the bathroom scale will complete us

…the perfect job will complete us

…a big bank account

…large house, boat, 3 car garage

When we have “arrived” we will be happy

Biblical definition

Closely related to gladness and happiness, although joy is more a state of being than an emotion

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

This morning as we look at the fruit of the spirit, let’s read what God’s word says about Joy

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Greek - chara

Character or quality

Given to us

Within

Hebrew - Simah

Outward expression

Joy is a decision within to worship God regardless of our circumstances because of His promises

In OT often Joy is related to victories, triumph, when good things happen

OT - defeat over one’s enemies

Psalms - joy being taken away when in exile

Psalms - joy returns when people are restored

In NT joy is regardless of our circumstances

NT - not our victory but because of salvation

Because of What God does there is a result

Expression of what God does to provide the way - the true gospel

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit

Often fruit does not grow in a desert

When we are living in the desert

Of loneliness

depression

addiction

defeat

When we struggle to remember the victory we have through Christ

And are consumed by the battles that we are facing

We are living in the desert

we will bear no fruit

When we abide in Christ, the springs of living water

Will water that seed within us

And give us the hope we need to produce the fruit

Through the power of the Holy Spirit

Joy and happiness are similar words but not the same

Joy is not always happiness

If I describe someone as a joyful person,

that doesn’t mean to say that they are happy all of the time;

it means that there is joy that flows out of them and reveals its face in the form of happiness.

Having the fruit of the spirit does not mean we will not experiences hardships

It means that we choose to have that fruit regardless of how hard things seem to be around us

James 1:2 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,”

1 Peter 4:12-13 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

It is an intentional decision to be joyful.

And it is more than just a decision to be joyful about me and my own life.

It is a decision to be joyful whenever I see evidence of God working and moving in anyone’s life.

15 Testimonies given in baptism 2 weeks ago (joy)

Even in life’s trials - joy

What God does to provide the way to follow Him in faith

True and genuine joy originates from God and

is a fruit of the spirit not a fruit of the flesh

True Joy begins with the gospel of Jesus Christ not the lies the world tells us

Let’s look at how God originally designed joy,

how he has the power to give it to us when we are lacking it

And why he desires for us to have it in our lives

God’s Plan for Joy

God’s plan for true joy began with the birth of Jesus Christ

Luke 2:10 “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

The people may not have understand the circumstances

and were confused at the method that he chose to demonstrate his power

But the angels, the shepherds, the magi, all bowed down in worship, filled with joy

Joy is a decision within to worship God regardless of our circumstances because of His promises

These were not the circumstances the Israelites thought of when they thought about a Messiah

Studying - most content about joy - Advent

OT knew joy

But they did not experience the same Joy found in Christ in NT

As Christ came his birth brought joy

Joy demonstrated throughout his life

Acts 10:38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

Watching “The Chosen”

Incredible show

Life of Christ

The incredible things

Brings joy to me as I am watching his miracles

Imagine how disciples felt

Christ also brought joy through his death

John 1:36 “and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!””

God’s plan for his Spirit to fill us with Joy began with the death of His son, The Lamb of God

Who was slain

So that no longer had to make sacrifices for our sins

But so that we were completely forgiven

As believers we just remembered this a few weeks ago on Good Friday

When we think of the death of Christ

Hebrews 12:2 “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus was not clapping his hands in happiness when he bore the cross for us

But Jesus did have joy in that moment

Because he knew that he was obeying his father

And providing a new life for us

It is hard to find Joy in that moment

It is hard to find joy in those circumstances

But our praise is not based on our circumstances

Our worship is not based on our happiness

Our joy is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ

John 14:19 “Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”

Our joy is found in his plan, his will, that we might some day be reunited in heaven with him

John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,”

As Nick said in our baptism two weeks ago, we all need a second spiritual awakening

To be reminded that no matter how hard we try to fill our lives with happiness

True Joy can never be obtained

Until we understand

Our Faith in Christ is good enough

We follow and do things because we want to honor God

But our victory is not because of anything we do

But because of the life and resurrection that He provided through the cross

Joy is a decision within to worship God regardless of our circumstances because of His promises

Joy is something that cannot be produced by us

It is only produced by the Spirit

That is why it is a fruit of the spirit

CS Lewis puts it this way - Joy is different than happiness or pleasure and it is never in our power.

So how does God produce this fruit within

When we are a dry and barren desert?

How can he produce this fruit?

We must abiding in the streams of living water

Pastor Mike looked last week at

John 15:1-5 ““I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Let’s look closer at

God’s Power to produce Joy

God’s word tells us that He wants to be our Joy

John 16:24 “Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

We must remember that Christian Joy is not natural but spiritual

What do I mean when I say that?

Spiritual means that something comes from the Holy Spirit

and takes on the character of the Holy Spirit.

When we look at the desires of the flesh in

Galatians 5:20-21 “idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

These are natural things

They come from our inner spirits and are not spiritual

They are called natural, because there is no influence of the Holy Spirit that is needed to produce them.

We produce these things by our own nature.

So they are called natural.

When something is spiritual it is produced under the influence of the spirit

and takes on the nature of the spirit

When we are formed in the spirit

We put off the ways of the flesh and put on the ways of God

We are formed in His likeness

we are filled with the Joy that only God can produce

When we look at the difference in terms here

Paul calls our desires of the flesh in verse 19

Works of the flesh

But in verse 22 he calls them fruit of the spirit

Why did Paul not call the fruit of the spirit the works of the spirit?

I believe Paul’s choice of terms highlights the fact that ultimately it is the Spirit

As we rest in his power, who produces his fruit in us.

As we already looked at earlier our faith is enough for our salvation

There are no works that we can do that justify us

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Paul was calling out the false teachers

Who through their own works were trying to produce the righteousness that God requires

God fulfilled those requirements through Jesus

Only through God’s power can we be restored and given the power of the holy Spirit

When we allow God’s power to produce true Joy within us

We are reminded

Joy is a decision within to worship God regardless of our circumstances because of His promises

Christian joy is deep within regardless of our pain and suffering

God’s power to develop this true Joy continues the divide between the Joy of God

And the happiness and pleasure that the world desires

God’s purpose is to create authentic and firm joy within us that stands against all trials that we face

1 Thessalonians 1:6 “And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,”

2 Corinthians 8:2 “for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.”

Romans 5:3 “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,”

Joy is not something that we can produce on our own but only through the power of the Holy Spirit

When we are filled with the qualities and characteristics of Christ, like Joy

When these trials come our way we do not place our hope in our own strength

But in the power of the Spirit who provides us victory in all things

When we are rooted to the vine

The fruit that Christ produces is not just a flimsy happiness that the world can obtain

But a true Joy that is only found in Christ

We must be filled with the Spirit and allow the spirit to create that joy deep within our hearts

John Piper says

Sermons from John Piper (1980–1989) (The Fruit of Hope: Joy)

So there is plenty of biblical evidence that Christian joy is not the mere product of the human spirit in response to pleasant circumstances. It is the product, or fruit, of God’s Spirit. And it is not just a human joy; it is the very joy of Christ fulfilled in us

So we have seen God’s original plan for our Joy

How his power through the Spirit creates that Joy within us

Now let’s look at why we are commanded to have joy

God’s Purpose for Joy

When we have an understanding that Joy runs deeper than happiness

Joy is more than just our emotions

Joy begins within us when we are formed in Christ

Joy is a fruit of the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives

We will understand that we can have Joy at all times

We can choose to worship Him because He is always faithful

And even when we feel we are lost in the desert

Surrounded by the ways of Satan

God is still faithful to produce fruit in our lives

He is still worthy of our praise

And we can find our true delight in Him

Paul reminds us that

2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

God’s grace is reason enough to give us Joy

On the mountaintop

In the bottom of the darkest valley we can imagine

In health and in sickness we have reason to worship Him

Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

All things

Not some things

He works ALL things

Now that is not to say it is for our purpose

Or our will

That is not to say we will not experience those weaknesses as Paul describes

As believers and followers of His word, we will face persecution and hardships

2 Tim 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

But we know is that He has a plan

And is holding us in his hands

And we must trust Him, place our hope in Him, at all times

So when the persecution and suffering come, we have a choose to make

We can allow the struggles to make us feel isolated and alone, lost in the wilderness

Make us feel like we have no fruit to offer

Or we can choose to sing praises to God with Joy in our hearts for who He is

We live in a broken, fallen, sinful world.

And as we live in this world we encounter things like:

being mis-treated by people who are suppose to love us…

being treated un-fairly at work or at school…

being let down by our friends.

In a fallen world we are subject to getting things like cancer…

and having heart problems…

or diabetes. In a broken, fallen and sinful world…

people we love die.

But we cannot be defined by these things of the past

That is no longer who we are

We no longer give up hope when things don’t go our way

We don’t surrender when we are faced with trials

We don’t let satan ever get the victory

Because we are no longer just happy

We are filled with Joy

Because we are found as His

We are redeemed

We are set free

We are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit

And with His strength we are able to tell that mountain to move out of our way

With His love we are pulled out of the dark valley

With His gentle loving hands we are picked up and put back on our feet

We are given the fruit of the Spirit

And we must choose to worship because of the Joy that we have within us

Paul and Silas found themselves in a literal prison

Suffering for the Lord

And what do they choose to do

Acts 16:25 “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,”

We can choose to worship and praise His name

For He is faithful at all times

Even when we cannot see it

And when we do, we are being a light to the rest of the world

Rory Nolan puts it this way

Worship is forgetting about what’s wrong with you and remembering what’s right with God. It is like hitting the refresh key on your computer. It restores the joy of your salvation. It recalibrates your spirit. It renews your mind. And it enables you to find something good to praise God about even when everything seems to be going wrong. Is it easy? Absolutely not. Nothing is more difficult than praising God when nothing seems to be going right. But one of the purest forms of worship is praising God even when you don’t feel like it, because it proves that your worship isn’t circumstantial.”

Producing fruit is not an easy task

My kids love fruit

I went to a green house the other day and asked about fruit trees and bushes

As the lady began to describe the task of getting fruit to grow

Digging, planting, watering, pruning, covering, picking,

I began to question if it was worth the effort

Could’t I just go to the store and buy that same fruit?

Couldn’t we just let others grow the fruit for us?

Do I really want to have to put in the effort to produce fruit?

The happiness that it brings to my children when we have done something on our own

The pleasure and pride it brings in my heart when I have put in the effort

And the benefits of seeing that fruit grow over time

And then getting to enjoy it

The benefit of getting to see others around us not understand why we choose to worship when all of life seems to be crumbling

The example we can be to others when everything else seems to be going wrong

But we keep our eyes fixed our Christ

And allow the power of the Holy Spirit to produce the fruit of Joy in our lives

And worship Him because of who He is

Is worth the effort

And also knowing that we do not have to go it alone

that we have a God who has planned from the beginning that we should fill ourselves with this fruit

That he has the power to give us the Holy Spirit so that we might be able to bless others through the gift of this fruit

Having joy is part of the experience of being a Christian

Romans 5:2-5 “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

Rejoice in hope of the glory of God

Romans 5:5 “and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

God’s love as Pastor Mike talked about last week is the foundation of our hope

That hope brings us Joy

John Piper

Sermons from John Piper (1980–1989) The Fruit of Hope: Joy

Now we can put the pieces together: first, there is the love of God which chooses us and calls us and justifies us and guarantees for us a share in the glory of God. Then, there is the work of the Holy Spirit that pours the love of God into our hearts so that we recognize it and cherish it. Then, out of this deep experience of the love of God grows an unshakable hope even in the midst of suffering. And finally, in this hope we rejoice.

Joy is a decision within to worship God regardless of our circumstances because of His promises

Story of worship leader -

Once a story of a worship leader Leo

2009 lost 24 year old daughter Meagan to auto accident

Drunk driver

Five days later memorial service

Auditorium packed

Service started with a moving video showing her life

Just days before passing Meagan quoted

Phili 1:20-21 “as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

After the video Leo got up

Welcome

Read scripture and then said

As a worshiper and a worship pastor, the reason that I wanted to start this service is because I refuse to stand before you on Sunday morning and worship God when things are good and not be willing to worship him when things are not so good.”

Without glossing over your pain

Know that no matter what happens

God is still sovereign

He is still good

And he is worthy of all of our praise

Romans 12:12 “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

Be looking this week for examples of God’s power demonstrated in your own life

As well as in others around you

Be reminded of the power of His Holy Spirit at work in your life

And find a way to worship Him regardless of how difficult things may seem to be in your life

Because he is worthy of our praise at all times.

Be joyful this week.