"The Foundation of Joy"
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It seems to me that everybody in the world wants to be happy right? Why do you think that this is?
What brings you happiness?
People look for happiness in friendships, sports, music, entertainment, success, possessions, popularity, and experiences.
There is a difference between happiness and biblical joy.
Happiness usually depends on what is happening around us.
Joy depends on what is true within us because of God.
You can have a good day and still not have biblical joy.
You can have a difficult day and still have biblical joy.
Paul wrote Philippians while experiencing extremely difficult circumstances, (he is writing from prison) yet the book continually emphasizes joy and rejoicing.
Proposition - Biblical joy is not built on life's circumstances, rather, it is built on God and a right relationship with Jesus Christ.
I. Joy is established in God Alone -
I. Joy is established in God Alone -
1 Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. 2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. 3 Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
Notice those three important words:
“In the Lord.”
Paul doesn't say, “Rejoice in your circumstances.”
He says, “Rejoice in the Lord.”
Your circumstances can change quickly.
Your friendships can change.
Your grades can change.
Your opportunities can change.
Your emotions can change.
But God is always the same.
6 “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
If your joy is built on circumstances, your joy will constantly rise and fall.
But if your joy is built on God, you have a foundation never moves.
Illustration: A Tree
A tree standing on a shallow layer of dirt may look strong when the weather is calm.
But when the storm comes, the tree's roots are tested.
A strong tree needs deep roots.
The same is true spiritually.
Deep joy requires deep roots in God's truth.
II. Joy is established through Jesus Christ -
II. Joy is established through Jesus Christ -
The Christian's greatest reason for joy isn't that life is easy.
It is that Jesus Christ has saved us.
20 “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”
Jesus told His disciples to rejoice because their names were written in heaven.
Think about that.
Your greatest reason for rejoicing isn't:
“I made the team.”
“I got the grade.”
“People like me.”
“I have a lot of followers.”
“Everything went my way.”
The greatest reason for joy is:
If you belong to Christ, you belong to Him forever.
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Because believers have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ.
That is something worth rejoicing about.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Salvation is God's gift of grace—not something we earn through our accomplishments.
Your value isn't determined by your popularity, athletic ability, appearance, grades, or achievements.
For the Christian, identity begins with Christ.
Illustration: The Championship Ring
Imagine an athlete receiving a championship ring.
The ring is valuable because of what it represents.
But imagine the athlete constantly worrying:
“Is my ring still valuable?”
“I wonder if someone else has a better one.”
“I wonder what everyone thinks about mine.”
The Christian doesn't need to constantly search for another source of worth.
In Christ, we have something far more valuable:
Salvation and reconciliation with God.
III. Joy Grows through Obedience to the Truth -
III. Joy Grows through Obedience to the Truth -
Joy isn't produced by simply doing whatever feels good.
The world often says:
“Do whatever makes you happy.”
But Scripture gives us something better:
Live according to God's truth.
10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
Jesus connects obedience to Him with fullness of joy.
Jesus said:
“These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
There is a connection between obedience and joy.
Sin promises pleasure but produces consequences.
Obedience may require sacrifice, but it produces the blessing of walking with God.
11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
“In your presence there is fullness of joy…”
Real joy is found in fellowship with God.
Illustration: The Cell Phone
A phone can look great.
It can have an amazing screen.
It can have excellent features.
But if it isn't connected to a power source, eventually it will run out of power.
Likewise, you can fill your life with activities, entertainment, friends, and accomplishments.
But if you're disconnected from fellowship with God, those things cannot provide lasting spiritual joy.
Stay connected to Christ.
IV. Joy is Strengthened through the Truth -
IV. Joy is Strengthened through the Truth -
111 I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart.
God's Word produces joy because God's Word reveals God.
The Bible tells us:
Who God is.
What God has done.
What God expects.
What Christ accomplished.
How we should live.
What God has promised.
Where history is going.
16 Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.
Jeremiah described receiving God's words as something that brought him joy.
If you spend all day listening to social media, friends, entertainment, and the opinions of the world, those voices will shape your thinking.
But when you consistently open God's Word, God's truth begins shaping your thinking.
Illustration: Two Voices
Imagine two people giving you directions.
One knows exactly where you're going.
The other has never been there.
Who should you follow?
Your life is filled with voices telling you what will make you happy.
But only God knows what will truly produce lasting joy.
Listen to the One who created you.
V. Joy is seen through Trials -
V. Joy is seen through Trials -
This is one of the most remarkable truths in Scripture.
Biblical joy doesn't mean pretending everything is good.
It means knowing that God remains good even when circumstances are difficult.
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James teaches believers to consider trials with joy because God can use trials to develop endurance and maturity.
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Paul explains that suffering can produce endurance, character, and hope.
This doesn't mean we enjoy suffering.
It means we can rejoice because God can use suffering for His purposes.
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk describes a situation where almost everything around him was going wrong.
Yet he declares that he would still rejoice in the Lord.
That's biblical joy.
Illustration: A Anchor
A boat may be tossed by enormous waves.
The boat moves.
The water moves.
The wind moves.
But the anchor holds beneath the surface.
Your circumstances may move constantly.
Your emotions may move constantly.
But when your faith is anchored in Christ, you have something that holds.
19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,
The Christian's hope is described as “a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.”
Three Reminders -
1. Don't build your joy on things that change -
Friends change.
Feelings change.
Circumstances change.
Trends change.
God does not.
2. Don't confuse pleasure with joy -
Pleasure is temporary.
Biblical joy is rooted in knowing God and walking with Christ.
3. Don't wait for everything to be perfect before you rejoice -
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
“Rejoice in the Lord always…”
You can rejoice today because God is still God today.
SO WHAT?
God is good -
Psalm 100:5
God is with me -
Hebrews 13:5
God has a purpose for my life -
Romans 8:28
Christ has saved me -
Ephesians 2:8–9
God's Word is true -
John 17:17
God hears my prayers -
Philippians 4:6
Christ is coming again -
John 14:1–3
Those truths don't change because you had a bad day.
What is your joy built on?
If your joy is built on popularity, what happens when people stop paying attention to you?
If your joy is built on sports, what happens when you lose?
If your joy is built on grades, what happens when you fail?
If your joy is built on friendships, what happens when someone disappoints you?
If your joy is built on circumstances, what happens when circumstances change?
But if your joy is built on Jesus Christ, you have a foundation that cannot be taken away.
Final Challenge
Build your joy on something that cannot move.
Build it on:
God's character.
God's Word.
Christ's salvation.
God's promises.
The hope of eternity.
11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
