Abundant Joy

INTRODUCTION

1 Peter 1:3–9 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 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, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1) Jesus is the Source of Joy (v.3)

Joy is a state of being that is expressed in happiness and satisfaction.

Joy is not an emotion, it is a lifestyle.

The world cannot give true joy because the pinnacle of joy comes from Jesus!

In order to truly live in joy you must “be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”

The “happiness and satisfaction” this world promotes is a cheap substitute that is never sustained.

Pure joy that leads to living wholly satisfied and happy comes from Jesus alone because Jesus alone can save!

Nothing in this world can save us.

No objects

No philosophy

No religion

We cannot save ourselves.

We can out perform and out measure others, but we cannot be holy, perfect, and blameless before God.

Only Jesus saves, and only Jesus can be the source for Joy!

2) Salvation is the Driver of Joy (v.4-6)

Joy is not derived from circumstances.

Hebrews 12:2 “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.”

James 1:2–4 “2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Joy is motivated and driven by our salvation!

We can live a joyful life, full of hope, that is not brought low by our circumstances because we know we have been gifted an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.

When it would be easy to get lost in the despair of the brokenness of this world, we turn our eyes to Jesus and realize that this broken world is not our home.

This life is but a short part of an eternal story!

We live in joy, not because of what is happening, but because of what has happened (Jesus saving our souls) and what will happen (the inheritance that God has gracious and richly bestowed upon us will be realized).

If you have surrendered your life to Jesus, you can be devoid of all this world offers and still live joyfully because your salvation is secured in Christ!

You can lose it all except for Jesus’ grip on your life and you will still have more than enough!

You may say, “Well pastor, I’m saved but I don’t live in joy so I don’t believe you.”

Well friend, if you don’t live in the joy of your salvation then one of two things is happening in your life:

1) You don’t truly have salvation and you need to quit giving God your words and religion and give Him your heart and your life.

2) You are putting too much stock in this world and are living in rebellion to your Lord and Master and you need to cry out like David in Psalm 51:

Psalm 51:10, 12 “10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

Real Joy is not driven by circumstances, its driven by our salvation that comes by grace, through faith, as we draw nearer to Jesus!

3) God’s Glory is the Purpose of Joy (v.7-9)

The joy we have in Jesus, driven by our salvation, is a proclamation of God’s glory!

Every lost sinner who joyfully becomes a saved saint is a beacon of God’s power and love.

The tested and established faith in Jesus, whom we love and believe wholeheartedly in though we have not physically seen Him, is a purposeful fulfillment of God’s divine glory!

As we live in joy and express joy we make much of God and highlight His Holiness that separates Him and us from this world.

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him!” - John Piper

God is worthy of all glory and honor and praise.

As we joyfully live, even when we face hardships, we rightfully display God’s glory, honor, and praise.

If we are only happy and satisfied when things are going our way we do not live for God’s glory and honor; we are only living for our own honor, glory, and praise.

This is the root problem with the false prosperity Gospel and name it claim it heresies: it uses God as a vehicle for my glorification which is nothing more than manipulative self-idolatry.

God is not to be used for my glorification. I am not worthy to be glorified. I am not worthy to be praised. I am not worthy to honored.

God alone is worthy to have the spotlight, and when we live joyfully, even while our faith is being tested in a variety of ways, we put the spotlight on Him!

The testing of our faith does not just come through illness or hard times.

The greatest testing of our faith in present days comes through what is going to be the object of our our Joy!

If your occupational success is the object of your joy, your faith is misplaced.

If your kids’ athletic success is the object of your joy, your faith is misplaced.

If your retirement goals are the object of your joy, your faith is misplaced.

If hitting the big one at the casino is the object of your joy, your faith is misplaced.

If your health or lifestyle is the object of your joy, your faith is misplaced.

Even if your family is the object of your joy, your faith is misplaced.

The only thing that should make us the most happy and satisfied is when God is glorified in all that we do and in all that we think.

We experience pure joy when God is glorified…

…in my profession

…in how I raise my children

…in how I spend my later years on this earth

…in how I live life each day

…in my family

…in my daily walk with Him

CLOSING

Our joy should come from Jesus, be driven by our salvation, and have God’s glory as it’s purpose!

When we get these three perspectives in proper alignment in our lives then we will experience the Abundant Joy that comes with Abundant Life!

THOUGHTS FOR LATER

Do I experience pure and full joy that only comes from Jesus?

Do I often consider my salvation and the fullness of what it means to be saved?

What does it mean to me to be saved and does my understanding match fully what the Bible teaches?

What are some things in this world that I find happiness and satisfaction in? How have these things failed to measure up to the complete and sustained joy that Jesus gives?

Pastor Justin said, “You can lose it all except for Jesus’ grip on your life and you will still have more than enough!” Do I believe this? Do I really believe that Jesus can bring me that much joy?

What are possibly some areas of my life that rob my joy as a result from living in opposition to Jesus? Am I willing to spend serious time in prayer confessing these things to God, relying on the redemption Jesus has already brought to me, and asking God to start the work of changing my heart and renewing a right spirit within me?

What are the specific areas of my life I put time, energy, and effort into? How can I glorify God in each of these? Are there any areas I need to eliminate because they don’t glorify God properly? Do I consider God worthy of such bold moves?