TESTIMONY OF JOY -MOUNT PLEASANT 11/3/24

G.I.J.N. AND GREETINGS FROM THE NEW HAVEN CONGREGATION.

WELCOME TO EACH ONE ON THIS BEAUTIFUL LORDS DAY MORNING!

I INVITE YOU TO WORSHIP THE LORD THIS MORNING WITH ME AS WE LOOK AT THE SUBJECT OF JOY.

WITH A BEAUTIFUL DAY LIKE WE ARE HAVING IS IT POSSIBLE TO FIND SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT? YES - I BELIEVE - IF WE ARE A PESSIMIST - AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR - IF WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE NEGATIVE OF SOMETHING - WE WILL FIND IT - BUT IF YOU ARE HERE LOOKING FOR JOY - OR A REASON TO REJOICE OR BE JOYOUS - THEN YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO FIND IT.

AS I THOUGHT OF A MESSAGE OF JOY TO BRING TO YOU THIS MORNING I WAS REMINDED OF THE VERSE IN Luke 2:10 WHERE IT SAYS “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

THE ANGELS HAD A MESSAGE FOR THE SHEPHERDS - TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY - WHICH SHALL BE TO ALL PEOPLE - AND I THANK THE LORD THIS MORNING THAT I AM ONE OF “ALL THE PEOPLE” THE ANGELS WERE REFERRING TO.

JUST LIKE BACK THEN - THE ANGELS MESSAGE WAS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST AND THIS MORNING MY MESSAGE IS ALSO OF JESUS -TELLING US - JUST LIKE THE SHEPHERDS THAT HE IS THE ONE WE ARE LOOKING FOR THIS MORNING TO BE CHALLENGED AND ENCOURAGED BY THE TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY THAT HE BRINGS TO US AS CHRISTIANS.

BACK IN JUNE - 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 FOR OUR SCRIPTURE TEXT THIS MORNING - THE PHRASE IN THIS QUOTE GREATEST JOY IS WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE -THE REASON THIS INTERESTED ME IS BECAUSE AS CHRISTIANS - I BELIEVE WE ARE CALLED TO BE A TESTIMONY OF CHRISTIAN JOY - SO ARE WE BEARING FRUIT SO THAT THE EMOTION OR COUNTENANCE OR THE VIBE OF HAPPINESS WE SHOULD BE SHOWING TO THE LOST DARK WORLD AROUND US IS EVIDENT TO OTHERS.

THIS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE TO ME - I THINK OF IT ESPECIALLY ON SUNDAY MORNINGS AS WE TRAVEL TO CHURCH - WE PASS OTHER CONSERVATIVE CHURCH GOERS AND THE EXPRESSIONS ON THEIR FACE IS SO SOBER YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF THEY ARE GOING TO A FUNERAL AND NOT TO WORSHIP GOD. DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME - WE ARE TO BE STABLE - CALM AND POSSIBLY RESERVED PEOPLE -BUT IF JESUS IS LIVING IN YOU - AND YOU HAVE A PEACE AND JOY THAT YOU ARE ON THE WAY TO HEAVEN - AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LOVE OF GOD THROUGH REDEMPTION AS A CHILD OF GOD - THEN WHY IS OUR TESTIMONY OF JOY SO HARD FOR OTHERS TO SEE - SO THIS MORNING I WANT TO LOOK BRIEFLY INTO THIS SUBJECT OF CHRISTIAN JOY - FEW QUESTIONS TO GET US THINKING.

1. SO WHAT IS CHRISTIAN JOY? -

2.HOW DOES THIS LOOK IF YOU WERE TO TRY TO DESCRIBE OR EXPLAIN IT TO SOMEONE?

3.DO WE KNOW WHAT THE FOUNDATION OF JOY IS OR WHERE IT COMES FROM.

4. DO WE PORTRAY THAT CHRISTIAN LIFE IS JOYOUS OR A BURDEN - WHAT WOULD YOUR RELATIVES - CO-WORKERS OR NEIGHBOR SAY IF I ASKED THEM ABOUT YOUR CHRISTIAN WITNESS.

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 THIS MORNING TO GIVE A TESTIMONY THIS MORNING - AND THOSE OF US WHO DID NOT -I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU?

SHOULD YOU AS A CHRISTIAN HAVE A TESTIMONY TO SHARE?

WAS THE REASON YOU DID NOT SHARE - BECAUSE YOU DO NOT THINK YOU HAVE A TESTIMONY TO SHARE?

TO ANSWER THIS - 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 IF WE ABIDE IN JESUS : AND THEN HE TELLS US THIS PROMISE IN VERSE 8 , Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

LETS START AT THE END OF THE VERSE: FIRST? ARE WE - AM I - HIS DISCIPLES? IF WE ANSWER YES - THEN ARE WE BEARING FRUIT? IF YES: IS THE FATHER BEING GLORIFIED? THEN GO BACK ONE MORE VERSE - 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? THEN WE SHOULLD HAVE A TESTIMONY! LETS READ VERSES 7-8 - 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 THAT EACH ONE OF YOU HAS A TESTIMONY IN MIND BUT WERE MAKING APPLICATION TO THE SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS - IN HONOR PREFERRING ONE ANOTHER - SO YOU REMAINED SILENT SO OTHERS COULD SHARE?!? POSSIBLY THIS WHAT IT IS THAT KEEPS US FROM SHARING?

SO THEN: 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 OF 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.

QUOTE I FOUND: 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 THINK ABOUT THAT - AS WE HEAR OTHERS TESTIMONIES IT INSPIRES US TO LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY WHEN FACED WITH CHALLENGES IN OUR LIFE.

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 -

CHALLENGED ME - IF I HAD THE UNWAVERING FAITH AND COMMITMENT THIS YOUNG MAN HAS - WHAT SHOULD OR COULD I BE BEARING TESTIMONY OF IF I DEMONSTRATED A FAITH AND COMMITMENT LIKE ARUN? WHAT IMPACT WOULD I HAVE TO THOSE AROUND ME IF I WAS SOLD OUT FOR CHRIST LIKE ARUN? I BELIEVE THE PHOTO SHOWS SOME OF THE JOY THEY HAVE FROM THEIR FAITH IN GOD.

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

MY CO-WORKER DAN - A SALESMAN OF A DIVISION OF THE COMPANY I WORK FOR CAME IN TO WORK AROUND THE MIDDLE OF MAY 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 - IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO SLEEP SO HE WAS NOT RESTED IN THE MORNING SO IN A SHORT TIME THIS WAS BECOMING A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE -ALSO THE MEDICAL SITUATION WAS THAT EVERYONE WAS UNDERSTAFFED AND BUSY AND BOOKED OUT - SO HE WAS GETTING THE RUN AROUND TRYING TO GET AN APPOINTMENT TO GET IT CHECKED OUT - ONE OF HIS FIRST APPOINTMENTS WAS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 25TH IF I REMEMBER THE DATE CORRECTLY (WHICH WAS OVER A MONTH AWAY) - 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 - IT SEEMED TO BE PUSHING THROUGH HIS RIBS AND MAKING THINGS VERY PAINFUL - CAUSING NERVE AND CIRCULATION ISSUES. DAN’S WIFE IS IN THE MEDICAL FIELD SO SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE CALLS AND GET DAN TO AN OFFICE TO DO SOME TESTS AND SCANS ON MAY 28th THE TUESDAY AFTER MEMORIAL DAY - AND THEN SCHEDULED TO GO BACK IN THE FOLLOWING MONDAY ON JUNE 3RD TO MEET WITH THE DOCTOR TO GO OVER THE RESULTS. SO ON TUESDAY (THE DAY AFTER HIS CONSULTATION) DAN SHOWS UP AT WORK AND WE ALL GATHERED IN THE LUNCHROOM TO ASK HIM - SO WHAT ARE THE RESULTS?

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

BECAUSE I KNEW - THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE PRAYING FOR DAN TO BE HEALED - HOWEVER - DAN HIMSELF - 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.

DAN TELLS US ON MONDAY MORNING - HE WOKE UP PRAISING THE LORD THAT HE HAD SLEPT WELL AND WAS FEELING GOOD AND HAD STRENGTH FOR THE DAY AS HE WAS ANTICIPATING THE DOCTORS VISIT TO SEE THE RESULTS AND START PLANNING THE PLAN OF ACTION.

ON THE WAY THERE - HIS WIFE IS GIVING HIM POINTERS FOR THE CONSULTATION - IF THEY DON'T SHOW YOU THE RESULTS OR SAY HOW SERIOUS IT IS OR DON'T GIVE TREATMENT OPTIONS - THEN IT IS NOT GOOD.

SO DAN AND HIS WIFE ARE SITTING WITH THE DOCTOR AND DAN ASK WHAT DID YOU FIND? DOCTOR SAYS: I AM SORRY - I HAVE BEEN SO BUSY I HAVE NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE SCANS OR RESULTS YET. AND DAN KNEW THIS WAS TRUE - THE DOCTOR WAS SO BUSY - BECAUSE THEY TRIED TO GET THE CONSULTATION MOVED UP SO THEY COULD HAVE THE RESULTS AND HIS SCHEDULER HAD EXPLAINED THAT THE DOCTOR DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER SLOTS OPEN PRIOR TO MEET THEM.

SO 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 HE STARTS CONFIRMING INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE IT IS CORRECT - NAME - DATE OF SCANS AND SO FORTH - THEY MATCH UP THE INFORMATION AND CONFIRM THAT YES - THESE ARE DANS RESULTS AND THERE IS NOTHING - NOT A TRACE OF ANYTHING SHOWING ON THE SCANS - AND THEN DAN FEELS HIS CHEST AND THERE IS NOTHING THERE - NO BULGE OR GROWTH UNDER HIS SKIN - IT IS ALL GONE! 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

SO THIS MORNING I WANT EACH OF US TO SING THIS SONG AS VERBAL TESTIMONY OF JOY - I WANT 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 !

SO LET US 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 TO FIND ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS TO CHRISTIAN JOY

1. WHO IS TO HAVE IT?

2. WHAT IS CHRISTIAN JOY

3. HOW DO I GET IT?

4. WHEN IS IT AVAILABLE

5. WHERE DOES IT COME FROM

6. 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 REQUIREMENTS IF WE LOOK BACK AT- V5 +6 WE SEE THERE ARE ONLY TWO BRANCHES LISTED - 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 - IN GALATIANS 5:22+23 PAUL LIST THEM AS - LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE, - SO WE SEE WHAT IS TO BE EVIDENT IN OUR LIFE SO THAT WE CAN BEAR FRUIT TO BRING HONOR TO THE FATHER.

2. WHAT IS CHRISTIAN JOY - V9 TELLS US: 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 THE WHOLE WORLD THAT WERE YET TO COME - LIKE WE SAW IN LUKE 2:10 -” WHICH SHALL BE TO ALL PEOPLE” -JESUS HAS LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR ALL MANKIND - THIS LOVE IS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE SAYS “CONTINUE YE IN MY LOVE”.

THIS IS JESUS COMMANDMENT TO LOVE AND THIS IS PRECEDING JESUS TELLING US THE WORLD IS GOING TO HATE US -IN THE NEXT CHAPTER 16 JESUS PREDICTS PERSECUTION - TELLS THE DISCIPLES THAT HE IS GOING AWAY AND THAT THE COMFORTER WILL COME - CHAPTER 18 AND 19 IS JESUS SUFFERING AND DEATH. SO EVEN IF WE THINK THE FUTURE IS DARK WE HAVE NO EXCUSE TO FORSAKE LOVING AS CHRIST HAS GIVEN AN EXAMPLE AND ALSO HAS PROMISED US THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP US.

IN ROMANS 14:17 WE SEE THAT THE HOLY GHOST IN RIGHTEOUSNESS GIVES JOY AND PEACE - IS SAYS.

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 THE WORD “ABOUND” IS USED - 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 FOUNDATION OR BUILDING BLOCKS 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 -

THESE ARE ALL PART OF KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS AND ABIDING IN JESUS’S LOVE WHICH IS ABIDING IN GODS LOVE - WHICH IS THE LOVE THAT SENT HIS SON TO BE THE SACRIFICE FOR OUR SIN. CAN WE FATHOM THE DEPTH OF GODS LOVE?

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 FULLNESS 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 TO TAKE ACTION AS TO WHEN WE OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS SO WE WILL RECEIVE THE FULLNESS OF JOY.

5. WHERE DOES 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?”

SO TO SUMMARIZE - CHRISTIAN JOY

WHO HAS IT - DISCIPLES WHO BEAR FRUIT.

WHAT IS IT - RESULT OF THE LOVE OF GOD.

HOW DO WE GET IT - KEEP GODS COMMANDMENTS + COMPASSIONATE LOVE

WHEN DO WE GET IT- WE OBEY AND ABIDE IN CHRIST THE TRUE VINE.

WHERE IS IT FROM - FROM THE FATHER WHO GIVES IT TO US.

IN CLOSING

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 THAT YOU ARE COMMITTED TO INTENTIONAL CHRISTIAN LIVING - THE IDEA THAT WE ARE PURPOSEFULLY LIVING LIKE CHRIST EVERYDAY - ALL DAY SO THAT OUR LIVES ARE A TESTIMONY OF THE JOY OF THE LORD LIVING IN OUR HEARTS.

MAY WE BE CHALLENGED TO SHOW THE WORLD THE GREATEST LOVE - THE REDEEMING LOVE OF GOD.

AND AS WE ARE THE LIGHT IN THIS DARK WORLD THAT WE ARE BEARING A WITNESS AND TESTIMONY OF JOY AS JESUS HAS DESIRED FOR US IN OUR TEXT VERSE.

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

AFTER PRAYER I HAVE ASKED THE SONG LEADER TO LEAD 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.