TESTIMONY OF JOY

FOUNDATIONS OF JOY

G.I.J.N. - WELCOME TO EACH ONE ON THIS BEAUTIFUL LORDS DAY! WITH A DAY LIKE TODAY IS IT POSSIBLE TO FIND SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT? YES - IF THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR WE WILL FIND IT - BUT IF YOU ARE HERE LOOKING FOR JOY - OR REASON TO REJOICE OR BE JOYOUS - THEN YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO FIND IT.

LAST SUNDAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LAST PAGE OF OUR BULLETIN WE HAD THIS QUOTE:

“AUTHENTIC LOVE IS THE GREATEST JOY THERE IS, BUT IT REQUIRES A THOUSAND LITTLE DEATHS TO SELF”

AS I PONDERED THIS QUOTE I WAS MADE TO THINK OF THE VERSES IN JOHN 15:9-16 YOU MAY TURN THERE AWHILE - THE PHRASE GREATEST JOY IS WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE -THE REASON THIS INTERESTED ME IS BECAUSE I WAS GIVEN AN ASSIGNMENT FOR A SUNDAY EVENING TOPIC TITLED: FOUNDATIONS OF JOY. SO I HAVE BEEN STUDYING THIS IDEA OF WHAT ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF CHRISTIAN JOY - AND HOW DOES THIS LOOK IF YOU WERE TO TRY TO DESCRIBE OR EXPLAIN IT TO SOMEONE - SO THIS MORNING COULD BE VIEWED AS AN INTRODUCTION OR OUTLINE TO THIS TOPIC OF FOUNDATIONS OF JOY.

TITLE THIS MORNING IS: TESTIMONY OF JOY

FOCUS : THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL - HOW TO FIND THIS FULLNESS OF JOY JESUS TELLS US ABOUT

SO BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER - I WANT TO THINK ABOUT THIS WORD TESTIMONY - WE WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A TESTIMONY THIS MORNING - AND THOSE OF US WHO DID NOT -I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU? SHOULD YOU HAVE A TESTIMONY TO SHARE? WAS IT BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE A TESTIMONY TO SHARE? LETS LOOK TO THE GREATEST EXAMPLE WE HAVE AND SEE WHAT JESUS SAYS --LETS LOOK AT VERSE 8 OF JOHN 15 - THE FIRST 7 VERSES ARE TALKING ABOUT JESUS BEING THE VINE AND WE ARE THE BRANCHES IN THE VINE AND IF WE ABIDE IN JESUS : AND WHAT HE SAYS THEN IS THIS PROMISE GIVEN IN V 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. ARE WE - AM I - HIS DISCIPLES? IF WE ANSWER YES - THEN ARE WE BEARING FRUIT? IF YES: IS THE FATHER BEING GLORIFIED? V7 IS GOD ANSWERING OUR PRAYERS? V7 SAYS: (YE ASK WHAT YE WILL AND IT SHALL BE DONE UNTO YOU! BEFORE THAT - ARE WE ABIDING IN JESUS AND HIS WORDS - OBEYING HIS WORDS? ARE WE CONNECTED TO THE VINE? IF SO? DO WE HAVE A TESTIMONY - Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

I TRUST EACH ONE HAS A TESTIMONY IN MIND BUT IN HONOR PREFERRING ONE ANOTHER YOU REMAINED SILENT SO OTHER COULD SHARE?!? IS THAT WHAT IT IS THAT KEEPS US FROM SHARING?

WHAT DOES 1 PETER 3:15. MEAN TO YOU?

1PETER 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

DEFINITION TESTIMONY IN RELATION TO THE BIBLE: STATEMENT REVEALING THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT — TELLING OF AN EXPERIENCE WHICH HAS MADE A DEEP AND LASTING IMPRESSION ON THE SOUL - INDIVIDUAL TESTIMONIES ARE THE FOUNDATION AND STRENGTH OF THE CHURCH.

WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF CHRISTIAN TESTIMONY: IT GIVES PEACE, COMFORT, AND ASSURANCE - IT GENERATES CONVICTION THAT AS THE TEACHINGS OF THE SAVIOR ARE CONSISTENTLY OBEYED, LIVES WILL BE CHANGED, THE FUTURE SECURED AND THERE WILL BE GIVEN CAPACITY TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES THAT CROSS OUR PATH.

SO I HAVE TWO TESTIMONIES TO SHARE - THE FIRST ONE YOU MAY HAVE SEEN YOURSELF - I HAVE HAD THIS APRIL NEWSLETTER FROM GOOD LIFE MINISTRIES LAYING ON MY DESK BECAUSE I WAS TOUCHED BY THE FAITH - TRUST AND COMMITMENT OF THIS YOUNG MAN ARUN.

READ THE STORY -

IF WE HAD THE UNWAVERING FAITH AND COMMITMENT THIS YOUNG MAN HAS - WHAT SHOULD OR COULD WE BE BEARING TESTIMONY OF IF I DEMONSTRATED A FAITH AND COMMITMENT LIKE ARUN?

THE 2ND TESTIMONY I WANT TO SHARE IS ANOTHER TESTIMONY OF FAITH AND PRAYER -

MY CO-WORKER - A SALESMAN OF A DIVISION OF THE COMPANY I WORK FOR CAME IN A FEW WEEKS AGO AND TOLD US THAT HE HAS TWO RAPIDLY GROWING MASS’S ON HIS CHEST - THEY WERE PUTTING PRESSURE ON HIS RIBS AND STARTING TO AFFECT HIS LEFT ARM - 3 OF HIS FINGERS WERE LOOSING FEELING - HE HAD NO GRIP STRENGTH - HE HAD TO HAVE HELP TO OPEN A BOTTLE OF WATER - HE WAS IN PAIN AND DISCOMFORT - VERY DIFFICULT TO SLEEP SO HE WAS NOT RESTED IN THE MORNING SO IN A FEW WEEKS TIME THIS WAS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE - WITH OUR CURRENT MEDICAL SITUATION EVERYONE IS UNDERSTAFFED AND BUSY AND BOOKED OUT SO HE WAS GETTING THE RUN AROUND TO GET IT CHECKED OUT - ONE OF HIS FIRST APPOINTMENTS WAS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 25TH IF I REMEMBER THE DATE CORRECTLY - WHEN WE HEARD THAT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS THAT FAR AWAY IT WAS SADDENING BECAUSE OF HOW RAPIDLY THINGS WERE CHANGING - THE MASS WAS VISIBLE - AND COULD BE FELT - SEEMED TO BE PUSHING THROUGH HIS RIBS AND MAKING THINGS VERY PAINFUL - BUT DAN’S WIFE IS IN THE MEDICAL FIELD SO SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE CALLS AND GET HIM MOVED TO DO SOME TESTS AND SCANS ON MAY 28th THE TUESDAY AFTER MEMORIAL DAY - AND THEN GO BACK IN THIS PAST MONDAY ON JUNE 3RD TO MEET WITH DOCTOR TO GO OVER THE RESULTS. SO ON TUESDAY DAN SHOWS UP AT WORK AND WE THE WORK FORCE ASK HIM WHAT ARE THE RESULTS.

DAN SAYS: IT IS GONE - AND I SAID PRAISE THE LORD! GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!

THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE PRAYING FOR DAN TO BE HEALED - DAN HIMSELF THOUGH WAS PRAYING FOR STRENGTH TO BE ABLE TO FACE WHATEVER IT WAS WHETHER IT SURGERY - CHEMO - TREATMENTS OR WHATEVER AND PRAYING FOR HIS WIFE THAT SHE WOULD BE OK AND TAKEN CARE AS HE WENT THROUGH AND FACED THIS VERY APPARENT MEDICAL ISSUE.

THE REST OF US - HIS CHURCH - HIS CO WORKERS WERE ALL PRAYING FOR HIM TO BE HEALED - TO BE DELIVERED FROM THIS MASS. PEOPLE PRAYED OVER HIM AT WORK - PRAYED OVER HIM AT CHURCH - EVEN SUNDAY MORNING THE DAY BEFORE RESULTS WERE TO BE VIEWED.

MONDAY MORNING DAN WOKE UP PRAISING THE LORD THAT HE HAD SLEPT AND WAS FEELING GOOD AS HE WAS ANTICIPATING THE DOCTORS VISIT TO SEE THE RESULTS AND START PLANNING THE PLAN OF ACTION.

HIS WIFE IS GIVING HIM POINTERS ON THE WAY THERE - IF THEY DONT SHOW YOU THE RESULTS THEN IT IS NOT GOOD.

SO DAN AND HIS WIFE ARE SITTING WITH THE DOCTOR AND DAN ASK WHAT DID THEY FIND? DOCTOR SAYS SORRY - HE HAS BEEN SO BUSY HE HAS NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE SCANS OR RESULTS YET. AND THE DOCTOR WAS BUSY BECAUSE THEY TRIED TO GET CONSULTATION MOVED UP AND HIS SCHEDULED EXPLAINED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER SLOTS PRIOR TO MEET.

THE DOCTOR IS THERE CLICKING AROUND ON HIS COMPUTER AND SAYS THESE ARE NOT YOUR RESULTS - I AM SORRY - THERE MUST BE A MIX UP AND HE KEEPS SCRATCHING HIS HEAD OPENING UP FILES TO LOOK AT THEM. SO THEY MATCH UP THE INFORMATION AND CONFIRM THAT YES - THESE ARE DANS RESULTS AND THERE IS NOTHING - NOT A TRACE OF ANYTHING SHOWING - AND DAN FEELS HIS CHEST AND THERE IS NOTHING THERE - NO BULGE OR GROWTH UNDER HIS SKIN. PRAISE THE LORD.

DAN SAYS THIS IS ALMOST HARDER TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS GONE -SINCE HE WAS PREPARING HIMSELF TO GO THROUGH THIS — SINCE THIS IS NOT WHAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR - THIS HAPPENS TO OTHER PEOPLE NOT HIM - HE DOES NOT FEEL WORTHY - WHAT WAS IT WHERE DID IT GO AND FOR HOW LONG WE DON'T KNOW. BUT DAN CAN OPEN HIS OWN WATER BOTTLE - REACH OVER AND CLOSE THE WINDOW AND HOLD A CUP OF COFFEE.

TURN IN YOU ZIONS PRAISES TO NUMBER - 391

WITH SUMMER BIBLE SCHOOL STARTING THIS EVENING I WANTED TO ENCOURAGE US TO SING LIKE NO ONE IS WATCHING - I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD WHO LOVES TO SING - THE WORDS AND THE TUNE MAY NOT BE QUITE RIGHT BUT SHE SINGS ANYWAY - I BELIEVE GOD AND THE ANGELS ARE LISTENING TO HER TESTIMONY - SO HERE IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A TESTIMONY OF JOY FOR THE LORD !

INVITE YOU TO GIVE A TESTIMONY OF JOY COLLECTIVELY - BY STANDING AND SINGING THIS TOGETHER.

IF YOU KEPT YOUR PLACE IN YOU BIBLE - LET LOOK AT VERSES 9-17 IN JOHN 15

WHO IS TO HAVE IT?

WHAT IS CHRISTIAN JOY

HOW DO I GET IT?

WHEN IS IT AVAILABLE

WHERE DOES IT COME FROM

WHAT DO I DO WITH IT?

JESUS GIVES THESE ANSWERS IN JOHN 15: 9-17

Joh 15:9 ¶ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

1. WHO IS TO HAVE THIS FULLNESS OF JOY? - WE ANSWERED THAT IN THE BEGINNING - SIMPLE ANSWER IN V8 IS: HIS DISCIPLES - BUT AS WE KNOW THERE ARE STIPULATIONS OR REQUIREMENT - V5 +6 THERE ARE ONLY TWO BRANCHES LIST - THOSE THAT ABIDE IN THE VINE AND BRING FORTH FRUIT OR THOSE WHO DO NOT BRING FORTH FRUIT ARE CAST INTO THE FIRE AND BURNED. WE PLAINLY SEE THAT WE AS DISCIPLES ARE REQUIRED TO BRING GLORY TO THE FATHER BY YIELDING FRUIT - AND WHAT ARE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT THAT BRING GLORY TO THE FATHER GALATIANS 5:22+23 LIST THEM AS - LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE, - SO A LOT OF WAYS WE CAN BEAR FRUIT TO BRING HONOR TO THE FATHER.

2. WHAT IS CHRISTIAN JOY - V9 IT IS THE LOVE OF GOD - THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST ABIDING IN US THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE CHALLENGE COMES IN THE LAST PART OF THIS VERSE - CONTINUE YE IN MY LOVE - AS I THINK OF ALL THE LOVE CHRIST SHOWED TO HIS FATHER IN HEAVEN - HIS DISCIPLES - THE ONE WHO REJECTED HIM - EVEN THE ONES WHO KILLED HIM AND EVEN THE PEOPLE OF WHOLE WORLD THAT WAS YET TO COME -HIS LAYING DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THEM - HE SAYS CONTINUE ON IN THIS LOVE.

THIS IS JESUS COMMANDMENT TO LOVE AND THIS IS PRECEDING JESUS TELLING US THE WORLD IS GOING TO HATE US - CHAPTER 16 JESUS PREDICTS PERSECUTION - THAT HE IS GOING AWAY AND THE COMFORTER WILL COME - CHAPTER 18 AND 19 IS JESUS SUFFERING AND DEATH.

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

Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

REQUIRES THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CONTINUE ON IN CHRIST LOVE - FILLING US WITH JOY AND PEACE AND THEN IS SAY TO ABOUND WHICH MEANS TO EXCEED OR GO BEYOND - OVERFLOWING WITH HOPE OR CONFIDENCE AND FAITH - WE DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS ALONE BUT THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL GUIDE AND HELP US.

3. HOW DO I GET THE FULLNESS OF JOY. V10 IF YE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS AND ABIDE IN GODS LOVE. WE MAY ASK WHAT DOES THAT MEAN - BUT JESUS MAKES IT PLAIN IN THIS VERSE IN THAT HE HAS BEEN THE EXAMPLE WE NEED TO SHOW US HOW THIS IS TO BE DONE.

SOME OF THE FOUNDATIONS THAT I BELIEVE ARE PART OF HAVE THIS FULLNESS OF JOY ARE:

RECEIVING THE ATONING AND REDEMPTIVE BLOOD OF JESUS TO WASH US AND MAKE US NEW CREATURES IN CHRIST.

ALLOWING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE YOUR GUIDE AS YOU FOLLOW A NEW MASTER JESUS CHRIST.

SELF - DENIAL NEEDS TO BE PART OF THIS - EMPTIED OF SELF TO BE FULL OF JOY

COMPASSIONATE LOVE DESIRING THE WELL BEING OF OTHERS

4. WHEN IT THE FULLNESS OF JOY AVAILABLE? V16 - IT IS AVAILABLE ALL THE TIME - JESUS HAS MADE IT AVAILABLE WHEN HE CHOSE TO DIE THE DEATH ON THE CROSS - WHEN HE SUFFERED AND DIED FOR US AS WE SEE IN V 13 WHERE IT SAYS THAT THE GREATER LOVE CAN NOT BE HAD EXCEPT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS AND V14 JESUS SAYS YE ARE MY FRIENDS - HE MADE THE CHOICE - HE LAY DOWN IS LIFE SO HE PROVED WE ARE HIS FRIENDS AND CAN HAVE THE FULNESS OF JOY - BUT THERE IS ACTION REQUIRED - WE MAY RECEIVE IT AND THEN IT COMES WITH INSTRUCTIONS -LAST HALF OF V14 - IF YE DO WHATSOEVER I COMMAND YOU. WHAT ARE THE COMMANDMENTS - IT IS ALL PART OF US DYING TO SELF AND TAKING UP THE CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS. V4 OF THIS CHAPTER TELLS US WHEN WE ABIDE IN ME WHICH IS JESUS THE TRUE VINE - THEN WE CAN ENJOY BEING CONNECTED TO THE VINE AND BEAR THE FRUIT. FULLNESS OF JOY IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE - IT IS UP TO US AND OUR ACTIONS AS TO WHEN WE WILL RECEIVE IT.

5. WHERE DO THIS JOY COME FROM - LAST HALF OF V15 IS ONE OF THE PLACES WE CAN FIND THIS ANSWER - FOR ALL THINGS THAT I HAVE HEARD OF MY FATHER I HAVE MADE KNOWN UNTO YOU. - AND LAST HALF OF VERSE 16 ; THAT WHATSOEVER YE ASK OF THE FATHER IN MY NAME, HE MAY GIVE IT TO YOU. SO THIS GREAT GIFT OF JOY - THIS FULLNESS OF JOY IS FROM OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN WHO DESIRES TO GIVE TO ALL MEN FREELY - James 1:17“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” AND THE LAST PART OF THE VERSE IN Matthew 7:11 “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

6. WHAT DO I DO WITH THE JOY OF LORD. V17 THESE THINGS I COMMAND YOU, THAT YE LOVE ANOTHER. JESUS JUST TOLD US HE CHOSE US - HE HAS LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US HIS FRIENDS AND IS TELLING US TO GO AND DO THOU LIKEWISE - GO AND PRODUCE FRUIT SO THAT WE CAN HONOR AND GLORIFY THE FATHER. THIS IS THE GREATEST TESTIMONY - WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THE GREAT LOVE THAT WE HAVE BEEN OFFERED OFFERED AND ACCEPT THAT WE ARE THESE NEW CREATURES AND THE WORLD AROUND US CAN SEE WE HAVE THIS GREAT LOVE IN OUR HEARTS THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING JESUS COMMANDMENTS TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER - THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL! I TRUST THAT BY YOUR PRESENCE HERE AND AS WE GO THROUGH THIS WEEK OF SUMMER BIBLE SCHOOL IT IS A TESTIMONY OF THE JOY OF THE LORD LIVING IN OUR HEARTS. MAY WE SHOW THE WORLD THE GREATEST LOVE AS WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THIS DARK WORLD BEARING A TESTIMONY OF JOY AS JESUS HAS DESIRED FOR US.

Joh 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

I HAVE ASKED SONG LEADER THE SONG - JOYFUL JOYFUL WE ADORE THEE - THAT WE CAN SING IT AS OUR RESPONSE AND TESTIMONY OF THE LORD OF LOVE AS JOYFUL MUSIC LIFTING US SUNWARD IN THE TRIUMPH SONG OF LIFE.

KNEEL FOR PRAYER.